false For it was for praying for King James as the account which he himself giveth doth make manifest All that he observeth on the Proclamation ordering to whom the Bishops Rents should be paid they being now laid aside is That Alexander Hamiltoun of Kinkel who was imployed as receiver for St. Andrews was at Bothwel Bridge and by the Clemency of the then Government had his Life spared If all this were true what doth it make against the Presbyterians He is known to be a faithful Man and why might not the Government imploy him seeing the former Government had spared him But in truth it was not so much the Clemency of the former Government as no Crime could be proved against him that saved his Life His last Paper for it seemeth that he is now at a Close and can say no more is a draught of an Act for the Establishment of the Government of the Church given in to the Parliament by the Kings Commissioner which he saith that the Presbyterians would not admit of because it restrained them from medling in State Affairs Ans Many other Acts as well as this were given in being drawn by private hands to be considered by the Parliament and were rejected or amended That the Parliament rejected any of them it was because they saw them or somewhat in them to be inconvenient but that he will fix on the particular cause and lay this on the Presbyterians is saucy boldness Not only medling with the designs of the Legislators which is not fit for a private Person but with the secret thoughts of Men which is fit for no Creature § 15. The conclusion of his Book consisting of five or six pages I shall not much be concerned with he there more than before which was needless venteth his Spleen against the present Government of the State And that in very undecent terms He dealeth in most of it with the Observator whom I leave to plead his own cause Though I have above Asserted and Vindicated the Truth of most things for which he challengeth the Observator His note about the Earl of Crafurd's Letter is a groundless Cavil His Lordship doth not own that the Council took probation of Crimes of another Nature beside not Reading and Praying but on the contrary said that though they who framed the Libels against the Episcopal Ministers did ignorantly in their Libels accuse them either for their Opinion about Church Government or Immoralities in their Conversation yet no regard was had to these nor any question made about them He next taketh to task a Book Intituled A brief and true account of the sufferings of the Church of Scotland from the Episcopalians since the year 1660. which he saith is written by a true-paced Presbyterian And imputeth all the Assertions and severity of Stile in that Book to the Presbyterians This is an unfair and injurious and false imputation Presbyterians disown both the Stile and many Principles vented in that Book it was written by a Cameronian while that party stood at a distance from the sober Presbyterians and from the Generality of them who bear that Name as much as from the Prelatists Though on the other hand we know that there are many undeniable truths in it as to the matter of Fact concerning these Sufferings which I wish he or any of his party would undertake to disprove But it is strange that this Gentleman should quarrel the stile of that Book seeing it is exactly conform to his own in the bitterness and ill nature that appeareth in it Only things are not there so foully mis-represented as in his Paper The Queries with which he shutteth up this his Work we are the less concerned in because most of them are built upon the principles of that Book which we do not own And others of them on some Actings of this Church in a time when both contending parties run a little too high in the heat of debate Of which I have spoken what is sufficient in my Former Vindication Only a few things not met with in that Paper I now take notice of That the presbyterians have risen twice in Arms in King William ' s time is an impudent and false Assertion For the first time that he mentioneth it was a Rabble of Cameronians not in a Body but here and there to throw out some of the Clergy who had severely oppressed them Of which I have told my Sentiment above The other A formidable number in an Hostile manner making an Address to the Council telling them That they would not lay down their Arms till the Council had discharged all Judicatories to pronounce any Sentence in Favour of Episcopal Ministers This was never heard of before and certainly this Gentleman hath either Dreamed it or Invented it Page 107. He hath amassed a heap of gross Lies viz. That they had Voted King William out of the Supremacy That they have Vâ—urped it to themselves having without his leave Convened at Edinburgh and Voted themselves into a free General Assembly That they daily draw up Instructions for regulating the Parliament That they Meet and Adjourn at their pleasure For the first of these it was not the Ministers but the Parliament to which the King gave his Royal Assent which Voted away the Supremacy And that not any Supremacy that is due to any Man on Earth but such a one as the Pope had usurped over the Church of God and which some of our Kings had assumed and under the former Government had been scrued up to that height that the King might overturn our Religion at his pleasure And it is highly to the Commendation of our Gracious King that he was pleased to give to God that which was his and to reserve only to himself what was Caesars For the second the Presbyterians usurp no Supremacy no Legislative nor Coercive Power They pretend to no more but a Ministerial Power in declaring the Laws of Christ by his Authority and in executing the Censures which he hath appointed for the breakers of these Laws Thirdly It is most false that they convened in the General Assembly without his leave they had an express Act of Parliament for it neither did the Assembly Meet or Adjourn without the Kings Commissioner at any time other Judicatories are by Law allowed to Meet and Adjourn as they think fit and therefore their so doing is not without the Kings leave We think it no small mercy to have the Magistrates Countenance to our Meetings tho' we think to deny any Intrinsick Power in the Church to meet about the Affairs of Religion were to condemn the Apostles and to allow Rulers if they should be either open or secret Enemies to the Truth a power to Ruin all at their pleasure Fourthly That they either daily or at all draw up Instructions for Regulating the Parliament is an Assertion so false and malicious as none but a Man of this Authors Temper could be capable of Nor can I imagine
men came to his house he was not within but in a Neighbours house hard by His Wife said to them that he was in Edinburgh he withdrew a little and returned as soon as they were gone and said that he would not have fled if he had thought they were so few but have Pistoled them both it is also false that any came out of the Preachers house on him as he Rode but these two young men being provoked with his speaking of Pistoling them came out of another House and called to speak with him He fled the Preachers man came out to see what the Fray was one of the young Men followed him on Horseback did no harm to him but reasoned the Case with him He alledging that all the Honest men in the Parish owned him They brought ten or twelve whom he Named as such who yet disowned him It is most false that he was hindred to read the Proclamation he did read a part of it It is true some moved to hinder him from Preaching but the Presbyterian Minister restrained them It is a gross untruth that he was willing to read and Pray and yet deprived for it For he said before the Council that he had not Prayed for King William and Queen Mary That his Gown was torn is also a gross Lye § 12. The Story of Mr. Little which nextfolloweth is above answered in Answer to Account of Persecution Letter 2. Sect. 13 Next we have account of the Sufferings of Mr. Archibald Ferguson Minister at Kirkpatrick whom the Rabble Men and Women Assaulted in his House When he calmly asked the reason they knocked him on the Head with a Pistol so that he fell His Wife daily expecting the pains of Child-birth they knocked down with the Butt-end of a Musket He received many merciless Blows and was sorely bruised Himself they dragged into a puddle the Women cut and tore off his Cloaths even to the uncovering of his Nakedness be at him on the Shins with a Club commanded him to be gone and forced him in his Wounds to leave his House Family and Church Before I examine the matter of this Story I take notice of the bitter Sarcasms and cruel Mockings against all the Presbyterians with which it is interspersed as if this Fact were to be charged on the Party who yet do abhor such practices as much as any Men can do He saith these Barbarities were committed by the pretended Godly Presbyterians That they have separated themselves from the Society of the Catholick Church because they do not observe Easter with the same superstition as some others do He addeth that the Womens Daggers were prepared for a through Reformation And many such bitter Reflections he throweth out against us all from the irregularities of a wild Party whom persecution from his Party had made mad and in whom we are no further concerned than to Lament their Principles and Practices A further Answer was delayed when this was written expecting Information from such as know the Circumstances of this Story But that Account not being as yet come to Hand when this sheet is printing off by whose fault I know not I can only say that the many Lying Stories that are in this Book may derogate from the Credibility of this If it be true we abhor the Fact and wish that the Actors may be brought to condign Punishment for such Inhumanity § 13. In his third Collection of Papers which concerneth them who complied and yet suffered he beginneth with Mr. William Hamilton who first at Irwin then at Kirk-newtoun was put from his House and Church by the Rabble and very hardly used Ans That these things acted against him were not the deed of the Presbyterians nor approved by the Church is evident from this that Mr. Hamiltoun is in good esteem among the Presbyterians and is now received as one of themselves into a share of the Government with them Wherefore if such things were done against him it was not by the sober Presbyterians but by a sort of Men who are not of our Communion and who have shewed dislike against us also For the Truth of what he alledgeth to have been done I can meet with none who can affirm what our Author saith and therefore have cause to suspect it as of the same strain with others of his Affirmations He telleth us next how Mr. Samuel Nimmo was hindred to Preach by some of the Earl of Argile ' s Regiment If this were true it was the Deed of some Cameronians not approved by the Presbyterians And I hope hindring a man to Preach tho we allow not that it be done in a disorderly way doth not amount to so horrid a Persecution as he crieth out of His next complaint concerneth Mr. Selkirk at Glenholm in Tweddale who Read and Prayed was threatned by some of the meanest of the People to remove from his Dwelling obtained from them a fortnight for that end some put another Lock on the Church door to keep him out Of this he had no Redress This we are far from allowing but still here is nothing like the French Dragooning He saith that he complained and had no Redress But we neither know whom to blame nor how to make enquiry about the Truth of it seeing he is not pleased to let us know who did thus deny Justice to him It is sufficiently attested that this was done by Strangers that they took two of Mr. Selkirks Elders into the House with them who might witness that they used no violence and that he and they parted peaceably And that afterward he dimitted his Charge and the Presbytery gave him a Testimonial Mr. Burgess he doth not tell where he was Minister is the next subject of Complaint His Church was possessed by the Rabble sent by Mr. Walker Preacher in the Meeting-house by the connivance of Mr. Mowat who is Old and Infirm The Heretors were offended that Mr Walker invaded Mr. Mowats right The Rabble hindred Mr. Burgess to Preach and when he objected King Williams Authority they spoke of it with contempt Ans Mr. Mowat and the Parish had called Mr. Walker to his help The people hearing of the Act for restoring the old Ministers not considering that it was only Voted but had not the Royal Assent which it afterward had met in the Church Mr. Walker disswaded them Yet was forced to Preach to them there There was no Tumult the whole Parish was met Mr. Burgess's Bedle opened the Church door to them It is false that any of the people did contemn King William's Authority There were indeed three young Men who some days after discharged Mr. Burgess to Preach But this was not approved by the rest nor was ever any violence offered to him What the Paper saith of Arms and beating a Drum is false The Parish had been at a Rendezvous whence they came to a Burial but that they made use of Arms or Drum at or near Mr. Burgess's House is altogether false The
from whence he could take rise for such a Fancy He hath another foul Untruth That the Covenant is again Voted the Standard of all pure Religion I desire to know of him where when or by whom this was done For they that live in Scotland know nothing of it His talk of some holding that King Charles fell from the Crown because he brake the Covenant and King James had no Right because he took it not might perhaps be the principle of some of the wildest of the Hill-men but never were the Opinions of sound Presbyterians His third Query deserveth little Answer We are far from thinking King William an Idolater tho' we dislike the English Service And our principles are known that we owe Loyalty and have paid it even to an Idolatrous that is a Popish King The fourth Query tendeth to engage the Rulers to bear down the Presbyterians in the North of Ireland that Popery might prevail there against which they have been the greatest Bulwark of that Nation His fifth Query quarrelleth the Dissenters in England for praying for their Brethren in Scotland how reasonably this is blamed let the Reader judge I never heard that they prayed for Scotland as their Mother Church In his sixth Query he shamelesly blameth Presbyterians for being against Toleration this I have answered in my former Vindication whereas his own party are as rigid that way as any except Papists or these in Japan For his last Query which concerneth the Moderation of Presbyterians it is our design and endeavour to grow in this and in other Graces and not to confine our selves to our own attainments or to what others had attained who went before us And to set no bounds to it but what the Scripture setteth I hope all this considered the design of his Queries is lost which is to represent the Presbyterians as not Loyal nor firm to King William Many wise Men think that he hath few in this Nation beside them who are Cordially for his Interest AN ANSWER To a Pamphlet Intituled A late Letter concerning the Sufferings of the Episcopal Clergy in Scotland printed 1691. THE party finding some acceptance with their easie Believers of their former Lying and Reproachful prints thought fit to add this as a further knock of the Hammer to drive the Nail to the head That it might now be beyond debate with them who will give them Credit without trying the Truth or Ingenuity of what is reported that the Presbyterians are a Cruel party and have oppressed the Clergy And indeed this piece is behind none of the rest in effronted and bold Lies And to say this might be a just Refutation of the whole Book Tho' no more were said If they who know our Affairs can but read the Book with impartial Eyes and if Strangers will give equal Credit to the one party as to the other Yet lest they should say that there is no Answer to it I shall with much brevity take notice of such passages in it as are most material Page 4. There is a notable Lie viz. He will have it thought that there were no more Nonconformists in the Presbytery of Stranrawer but two Women and one Minister whom yet he doth not own for such but saith he was so reputed this is an Untruth so broad-faced as may disparage the veracity of the Author and make all his assertions be disbelieved For many if not most of the Inhabitants of the Parishes in that Presbytery were Fined Imprisoned and Ruined for their Nonconformity Dragoons were kept there as a necessary maens to force the people to comâ—… 〈…〉 An Account can be shewed of above 1000 l. Sterling levied of the Parish of Glenluce for Nonconformity And scarce a Family in Straâ—rawer of any Note but were Fined and Imprisoned till they paid their Fines He who after such an impudent and broad Lie will believe any thing that this Author writeth on the Authority of his Testimony may also believe that there hath been no Persecution of late years in France And if any of the distressed people did at last comply it doth not more follow that they were Episcopal than it can be concluded that all the French Protestants are Papists who were forced to be present at Mass That there was no Presbyterian Preacher in these parts except Mr. Bell is not strange seeing by the fury of the Persecutors none might be seen That he had freedom in his mind to hear the Incumbents that then were and that when the Liberty was given he set up a Meeting-house is a practice not to be blamed The people generally either could not hear or did it renitente Conscientia And it was but reasonable that a Minister who before could not edifie them should do it when a liberty was granted for so doing § 2. It is also a gross and malicious Lie page 5. That William Torbran fled to Ireland for the Murther that he had committed on a Child of Mr. Hutchison ' s. Mr. Hutchison never charged Mr Torbran with the Murther of his Child but William Torbran was forced to flee to Ireland to escape the severe Persecution that he endured from the Souldiers at the instigation of the Minister of the Parish such a bold Calumny might be of dangerous Consequence if Lex talionis were put in due Execution Page 5 6. He telleth a long Story about Building a Meeting-house and calling another to be Minister at Stranrawer than Mr. Bell about which I have no Information neither is it material or to our purpose But what he saith of Lairds and Ladies by Threatnings compelling their Tennants and by other indirect means prevailing with others to concur for maintaining that Meeting is a shameless Lie It 's well known that the People of that Countrey did forwardly and chearfully go along in that design and generally the meaner sort shewed as much Zeal that way as they of better Fashion did If he had mentioned who these Gentlemen were who made gain by the Collection for maintaining the House Or who the two were who beat their Tennants first to take the Test and after to leave the Church and go to the Meeting The truth or falshood of these Assertions might have been inquired into But since it hath not pleased him so to do I hope it will be no breach of Charity to look on them as slanderous Forgeries like unto many passages in his Book already noted or to be noted It is not enough for this Gentleman to reproach the Presbyterians but page 7. He most maliciously belieth his Nation as if there were neither Law nor Justice in Scotland nor any remedy for such as are oppressed While he saith That they deal no otherwise with their Farmers than with Slaves that if the Tennant die Rich the Laird must be Tutor to the Children I know not what this Author hath observed but other Scots men are unacquainted with these things And if there be oppression as alas there is too much every where
Bishops Reformed as Dr. Gordon of Galloway and Adam Bishop of Orkney he bringeth no proof for the former but for the latter he was Excommunicated for Marrying the Queen to the Earl of Bothwel which had been Incongruous if he had not been of the Protestant Communion Answ 1. That two who had been Bishops joyned in the Reformation is but a small evidence that the Reformation was not managed by Presbyters but by Bishops 2. That the one of these complyed with the Reformation he barely asserteth and his proof for the other is insufficient Such things have been done Protestants have Excommunicated Papists as Papists daily Excommunicate Protestants How congruous this is I need not now debate 3. If these Bishops had any hand in the Reformation it is nothing to his purpose unless he can prove that they exercised Episcopal Jurisdiction in the Protestant Church which no History can Countenance if they Acted as Church-men at all they Acted as Presbyters for it is certain that in the beginning of our Reformation none exercised any Jurisdiction among the Reformed above that of Presbyter He saith That where there had been Popish Bishops there Protestant â—ishops were appointed in their places under the Name of Superintendents Here is a double mistake One that the Super intendent were Bishops Another that they were put into the Places and Revenues of the Popish Bishops The falshood of both which I have shewed in my Former Vindication upon Query 1. page 10. That the Revenues of the Popish Bishops were setled on the Superintendents is an Assertion that proveth either that this Author is a Stranger to our History or that he regardeth not the truth or falshood of what he affirmeth What followeth page 29. Of the late bringing in of Presbytery into the Reformed Church of Scotland I have fully disproved in the place last cited page 3. After the most spiteful Venom spued out that could lodge in a humane Breast against the Presbyteriaâ—… which it is fit to despise rather than Answer he concludeth his Letter with an Assertion no less false than the rest of his Allegations are viz. That his party suffer neither for Breach of Divine nor Humane Laws but only for Episcopacy If any honesty remain with him it would oblige him to give some instance or proof that the Presbyterian Church of Scotland for he ascribeth their sufferings to their opposition to the Fanaticks of the Kirk did ever trouble any of them either for their Opinion about Church Government or meerly for their compliance with Episcopacy when it had the Law on its side on the contrary we can shew to the conviction of all unbyassed Men that such as have suffered by the State did suffer for their Breach of the Law of the Nation in not owning the King and Queen as the Law required And that such as were Censured by the Church except two or three whose Sentences were taken off by Superior Judicatories of the Church suffered for the Breach of Divine Laws viz. For gross Immortalities One Instance I shall give Ex re praesenti out of the Presbytery of Stranrawer about which his whole Letter is Conversant Mr. Ramsay late Minister at Stranrawer was by the Synod of Wigtoun put from his place on these Grounds Frequent Drunkenness on the Sabbath day proved by the Oaths of Baily Vause and Andrew Mackennel Beating his Wife on the Sabbath before he went to preach sworn by Andrew Mackennel and Robert Gordon the said Robert Gordon's Wife deponed that she saw at that time Mrs. Ramsay Bleeding Frequent Swearing proved by the Oaths of Provost Row Baily Vause and Robert Gordon I should not thus have exposed Men who once bare the Character of Ministers but the Impudent Accusations of this Scribler and the obligation that lyeth on Persons and Churches to necessary self defence do constrain me ANIMADVERSIONS On a PAMPHLET called A Memorial for His Highness the Prince of Orange in Relation to the Affairs of Scotland HAving proceeded thus far in contributing my poor Mite for Vindicating the Presbyterian Church of Scotland and meeting with this Print of the same strain with these others above-answered that is full of bitter and unreasonable invectives against Presbyterial Government I could not shun making some Observations on it whereby Truth and Innocence may be vindicated against Lies and Railing The design of this Print is manifest to be to dispose His Majesty to preserve Episcopacy in Scotland and to hinder the Setling of Presbytery And it is a real and effectual refutation that our Wise and Gracious King hath not found such weight of reason in it as to be moved by it but hath acted quite contrary to the malicious Insinuations of this Author This Paper is nothing short of the rest for most gross Falsehoods in matters of Fact and most injurious Mis-representations of our Way and Principles It is said to be done by two Persons of Quality One Wit might by a little labour have brought forth a more perfect Birth What is the Quality of the Author or Authors for worldly Dignity I enquire not but his or their Moral Qualities may by the Book be seen to be none of the best We have First a parcel of False and Malicious History as ever was written in so few Lines Next some Counsels to his Highness 3. He refuteth a Paper that he falsly calleth An Address from the Presbyterians to the Prince of Orange And then concludeth as he began with Lies and Railing § 2. The first passage in his Historical Account is a foul mistake to call it no worse viz. That the rise of our Animosities and why they are Warmer here than in England is England was Reformed by the Royal Authority and therefore their Church was suted to the Monarchy But Scotland was Reformed by Force and Violence and some of the Reformers coming from Geneva and Switzerland inspired many of their Converts with an Aversion to Monarchy A Man who taketh Liberty to slander at this rate of Impudence deserveth rather Chastisement than an Answer For 1. With what Brow can he say that our Reformers were averse from Monarchy or that the Antimonarchical Principle did ever get much footing in Scotland as we know it did in England for all their being Reformed by Royal Authority Did ever Scotland set up a Commonwealth as England once did It is known what they Adventured and Suffered for the Monarchy when England abjured it And what yielding there was in Scotland to the Antimonarchical way was by Force from England And it is known to all who lived in those days that the Presbyterians did cleave more firmly to their banished King and prayed for him with more Constancy and Resolution than that party did who after appeared for Episcopacy 2. That Scotland was Reformed by Force and Violence is false it was by the States of the Nation and at last confirmed by King and Parliament The chief difference as to the Original of the two Reformations lay in this
narrated It is false that he was deprived of his Church for he was never orderly settled in it neither in the Episcopal nor the Presbyterian way It is also false That he was discharged the exercise of his Ministry He may preach where-ever he hath an orderly Call Only he is discharged to exercise it at Fawkirk and in the bounds of the Presbytery of Lithgow unless he be allowed by the Presbytery And indeed it is not allowed that any man should Preach within the bounds of any Presbytery without their allowonce Mr. Sleerie acknowledged his Fault in continuing to Preach there having no orderly Call nor being permitted by the Presbytery and declared before the Sentence his willingness to forbear Preaching there And the Assembly upon his desire represented his want to my Lord Commissioner and the Earl of Crawford and they promised to deal for some Relief to him from the Council For asking him about the Doxology and whether he repented of his conformity I do not remember it I am sure it was not appointed by the Assembly to be done The following process against Mr. Forsyth our Author approveth as the only justifiable Act of the Assembly It is well they please him in one thing at least Mr. John Mackenzies case he narrateth very unfairly hardly any came to hear him And he had no due Title to that charge because his Edict which even by the Episcopal way should have been served at Kirklistoun was served at St. Andrews So that the people of Kirklistoun had no occasion either to object against him or to consent to his being their Minister And he seldom preaching to that Congregation the Presbytery removed him from that Church but did not take away his Ministry he appealed to the Assembly but did not prosecute the Appeal Wherefore the Assembly could not shun confirming the Sentence of the Presbytery What is said to have been spoken about the matter by this and other persons I am not concerned to enquire nor do I know or believe to be true what he confidently setteth down As to what he saith of Mr. Heriot I have above told why he was referred to the Synod About Mr. Wood he doth not tell the truth he was neither referred to the Presbytery nor Synod but to the Commission of the Assembly who have taken his Case into consideration § 17. His invective wit stoppeth very low having little to work upon when he taketh notice that among the Ministers who were to be called from abroad as having Relation to this Church one was mentioned who was dead and another who was prisoner in Dunkirk As if every Member of the Assembly were obliged to know the History of every private person That the Presbyterians set light by Learning and Knowledge and do often run it down And that Zeal for the good Cause is the chief Qualification and instead of these is an Assertion so notoriously false that nothing but Malice could prompt him to it Our Intrants to the Ministry are able to vie Learning with the Episcopal Candidates and are far before them That Brewers and Illiterate Trades-men are set up to be Ministers is false and slanderous I deny not but some who in the late Persecution were forced to follow other Imployments for a livelihood have now resumed their former Studies But they are not admitted without giving good proof of a Competency at least of knowledge in the Scriptures and in the Controversies in Divinity And the same fate hath befallen his own Party that he reproacheth us with Some of them now follow other Imployments particularly some are turned Brewers as Mr. Norman Mackenzie late Minister at Midcalder and Mr. George Henry late Minister at Corstorfine have set up a Brewery in the Suburbs of Edinburgh which I mention not to reproach them for it is commendable to follow a Lawful Calling rather than to be Idle or to be chargeable to others but to stop the mouth of this Reviler The Instance he giveth of Mr. Russel in his Tryals that he denied the Major of an Enthymem that he desired the terms of the Minor of a Hypothetick Syllogism to be explained which was Sed verum prius That the Presbytery said that he wanted Learning yet he had Grace and upon that admitted him Every word of this is false Every Minister in that Presbytery is ready to witness the contrary And I have what I affirm under the hand of one of them who was present at all his Tryals whose understanding and veracity none who knoweth him will question Mr. Russel hath the Testimony that he hath a measure of Learning which is no ways despicable That he hath a very good gift of Preaching and Praying His complaint p. 48. Of the Desolation of the Colledges and the insufficiency of these who are placed in them is surely not from Knowledge but from Malice and a resolution to reproach it is a Foolish contest who are the more Learned Till it can be put to the Tryal Not only the esteem of knowing and impartial men neither of which properties this Author hath given proof of in his Book and the Judicia of Learning that any have given must carry it To both which men of our side can appeal when they are compared with their Predecessors whether in knowledge of Books in any part of good and useful Learning or in Capableness to direct the Studies of the youth Yea in Grammar and knowledge of any of the learned Languages Tho' I think neither party hath much cause to brag of their Abilities Except in comparison It is a base Calumny to call the Presbyterian Spirit Narrow and an Enemy to Knowledge much more is it so to Assert that we count it impiety to call commonly received Principles into question Or that we reckon a free and Rational inquiry into the Reasons of them to be Dangerous It is the bent of our studies to search the Scripture and to consult sound Reason both that we may know what is Truth and how it appeareth to be so It is an Ignorant mistake to say that we count the Cartesians and other Systems of new Philosophy to be gross and Damnable Heresie there are among us who have opposed many of the old commonly received Aristotelian Principles more early and may be with more strength of Reason then such as he are capable to do For the Cartesian System he might know but that his knowledge is so narrow as to be confined to his own Party that there are Presbyterian Cartesians as well as Episcopal Cartesians For mine own part I very much value many things in that Learned and Thinking Author but I durst never swallow down all his Notions as I see some men do I averr and will maintain it that some of them lead to Atheism others to unhinge some of the Truths of the Gospel others are without ground or reason tho' they be of no dangerous Consequence But his impertinency hath led me into this Digression I wish he had
told us who are Enemies to Mr. Gregory whom we as he doth do esteem the Learned Professor of the Mathematicks in Edinburgh They of Edinburgh are so far from being his Enemies that they have adventured to keep him in his place which some think to be against Law Who they are that say the Mathematical Sciences are useless or dangerous I know not If I shall meet with any such I will contradict him to his Face It is another Calumny that we slight the Hebrew and other Oriental Tongues We do highly prize them and wish they were much more common than they are both among his party and ours For thrusting out Mr. Douglass the Professour of them Himself and others can bear witness that the Commission of Parliament for visitation of Colledges did with much reluctancy remove him from his place and were earnest that he should have qualified himself He knoweth also that the Magistrates of Edinburgh who are Patrons of the Colledge have offered to readmit him to that Office If he will qualifie himself as the Law requireth and that some of the Masters of that Colledge who are Presbyterian have often and earnestly dealt with him that he would not refuse the proffer that the City hath made to him and that the place hath been now a year kept Vacant and a door left open for him to return So much do we value men of Learning But Presbyterians have no dispensing power And the Law is plain The Favourable aspect that the Jewish Synagogue casteth on Episcopacy we deny not But it looketh as broadly toward a Papacy That the Trade of Books is fallen on the occasion of this Revolution is his groundless Fancy For in Edinburgh there are of late more Booksellers than were before but I am sure in 1661. and 1662. I have heard Booksellers sadly complain of it The Books that he mentioneth as The standard of Presbyterian Learning We do not despise But it is known that there are no Books truely valuable among his Party but such as we use and that diligently when many who Brag of their Books are worse Imployed The Sermons of Presbyterians he taketh some pains to disparage The Sermons that were Printed here were so appointed by Authority and are able to endure the Censure of rational Men not of railing Scriblers who resolve to Censure and to condemn all on that side without Wit or Discretion the Collection of Sermon Notes that he speaketh of if it be of what was indeed spoken and candidly represented we fear it not tho' neither his Party nor ours can answer for all that is spoken if it be of the strain of this Pamphlet that is a heap of Lyes and Railing We will dispise it Mr. Clerks Sermon that he speaketh of I have not Read He is able to answer for himself His speaking with contempt of Mr. Gray's Sermons sheweth his skill in the things that concern the Actings of Grace in the Soul Ye know of whom it is said that they cannot discern the things of the Spirit of God § 18. He had thus far digressed wanting matter to fill up his History He now returneth to the Assembly p. 51. A Debate about an Act against private Administration of the Sacraments he representeth as he useth to do that is falsly and without Ingenuity That the private Administration of Baptism was by Mr. Rule or any else called Sorcery and Charming is grosly false He professeth he never said nor thought so and I who heard all that he said on that Subject heard no such Words nor Words to that effect But here is an Evidence of the Learning and Judiciousness of this Pretender to Learning or of his Wife Informers May be he might say that many who were bent for private Baptism are so ignorant as to look on Baptism to have its effects ex opere operato or as a Charm and this is taken for saying that private Baptism is a Charm He doth falsly represent Mr. Kirtons Words He did indeed plead against that Act but his Discourse was neither so unpolished nor so peremptory as our Author maketh it It is false that Baptism in the Countrey cannot be had but on Sundays A Minister may Baptize every day of the Week if notice be given to the Congregation to meet for hearing the Word If any Minister do refuse to Baptize a Week day so as in no case he will do it he hath no Countenance from this Act. I know not why a Minister may not call the Congregation together to hear the Word on occasion of Baptism to be Administred If few come it is their own blame and needs not hinder that Ordinance We did not scruple to Baptize in private when we with all the Ordinances Administred by us were driven into corners but we always held that this Solemn Ordinance of God should be as publick as the other Ordinances are it being a Seal of that Covenant which is held forth by Preaching of the Gospel we think it should not be done in a Corner when the other is publickly dispensed But I shall not now fully dispute this point If any of our Opponents please to let us hear their Arguments against it we shall consider them The Story that he telleth of a Child sent away from the Church unbaptized because it was not brought to Church till about the close of the Sermon This Story I say is not true nothing is more ordinary with us than that the Children come late even when the Sermon is almost ended Yea some of us have Baptized Children whom we knew not of till the other Children were already Baptized The Child that he speaketh of was not presented to be Baptized till after Prayer and Psalms and the Blessing and the People were dismissed and the Minister was gone out of the Pulpit It is false that the People are Displeased with this It is but some of them and these either the less Intelligent or such as are inclined to the Episcopal way That Mr. Kirtoun did Preach against the Superstition of the Ceremony viz. of Baptism is not only false but so consistent with his way and Principles that it is a wonder that this Author could alledge such a thing or be so forgetful of what Mr. Kirtoun had said as himself relateth it but in the former page The Assembly appointed a List of Acts to be drawn which were fit to be observed And this Authors malevolent pen representeth this as if They durst not approve of some Acts and yet would not censure them Whereas they intended no more but that there being many Acts suted to the time when they were made but might be inconvenient for this time Others that were fit for our Circumstances might be distinguished from these and is not this a common practice in Parliaments without having such malicious Reflections made on it That We receive all the Acts of Assemblies as if they were Scripture and pay no less regard to them Is an Assertion as false as
I payed formal Canonical Obedience so that the asserting of this may be reputed a thirteenth of this Authors lies Yet if he or any else can shew me wherein I have complied contrary to my Principles or to the just offence of others which I have not confessed already I am ready to acknowledge it was my fault but this I can say the Bishops themselves did not judge me a favourer of Prelacy and my intimates knew me to be Presbyterian in my Principles and I did never wittingly desert these Principles For it 's a manifest untruth which this Author asserts that I swore and subscribed the Declaration when I was admitted Rector in the Mareschall Colledge in Aberdeen I neither took it then nor at any other time anent which I appeal to all records Nor indeed was it required of me nor did the Act mention Rectors It was not the least Cause of my refusing the Test that I was obliged thereby to declare that there lay no Obligation on me to endeavour any Alteration in the Government of the Church For I profess I did judge it Duty in my Station and according to my power did endeavour to promote the Alteration and the removal of Prelacy And do not deny I did Bless God and Call the people of Aberdeen to Bless him for the removal of it and pray that it may never return But that ever I used Bitterness or Severity against any of that party this Author cannot prove And all who know me do know these are things which I abhor and my desire is to promote Meekness and Charity among Men These also who were of the Prelatical way and Intimately acquainted with me know the Falshood of what he says of my breaking off all Correspondence with them in any thing which Civility and Friendship obligeth me unto Yea I am confident not only they but all of that way who know me will allow me this Testimony that whenever they desired yea on all occasions according to my p ower I was ready to do them Acts of Kindness And when I was last in Aberdeen the present Incumbents of that place and I did Friendly Visit one another It 's true one of them being occasionally in a Neighbours House came to me as I lighted from my Horse and desired me to preach for him the next Lords day but neither he nor any else did it afterwards And I hope he will not say but I gave him a Civil and as I conceive an Answer which might have satisfied him As for what this Author saith That it was Pique which moved Me to strike in with the Presbyterians because I was not permitted to return to the Exercise of my Ministry at Aberdeen This is a presumptuous ascending Gods Throne to judge my Heart and Motives As also what he saith afterward That Pique Interest and Popularity were my Temptation I can comfortably say He that knoweth all Things knoweth this is false It was Conscience and not such base Motives that moved Me And I think I may obtain Testimony from these who know me both in the North and West that they have other Thoughts of me than that I am led by such base Motives It 's true the Town of Aberdeen to whose kindness I always was and am on all occasions much obliged when they conceived any hopes of obtaining my regress to them without any Obligation or Oath did move for it But neither this Author nor any else can prove that I did desire it or made any Applicatiom to the Bishops for it How far some of the Bishops complied with a great person of the Popish perswasion to obstruct that design tho it was known that it was difference of Religion that engaged him against it the Town of Aberdeen know in part and I leave it to the Bishops own Consciences to judge For ingenuously profess I never had any Pique at them on that account nor was it Pique but Conscience which moved me to joyn with the Presbyterians for I being such in my judgment and about a year after the time he speaks of by an unexpected Providence receiving an Unanimous Call from a Noble Person who also was Patron of the Parish and other Heretors and Body of the people of the Parish of Kilwinning an united Parish which for divers years had been vacant I did by the Approbation of the Presbytery of Irwin come and Labour among them in the Work of the Gospel Yet there is more than one falshood insinuated by this Author in that which he saith in the beginning of this Paragraph concerning Me that ever since King James's Indulgence I did Preach in a Meeting-house for it was a year after that Liberty was given that I entered here and for these two years without the Reluctancy of any have Preached in the Church It is true in the year 1688. the Congregation Assembled in another House than the Church the Law not allowing us the same tho' all that time it was empty except that Mr. Bell being after my coming here presented by the Bishop came and Preached to his opwn Servant and two or three more who were sollicited to hear him at two several times in the Forenoon and went off in the Afternoon and having for that obtained half a years Stipend was presented to another Church where he had little better Reception It is also false which he saith in the end of this Paragraph that at first I pretended that I would only attempt to reclaim the deluded people of the West from their Errours and Extravagancies Perhaps he designeth by this to breed in the people a dislike of me But I hope they will not believe him And it is most false that ever I exprest my self so concerning the people of the West or my design in going among them My design was to Preach the Gospel of Christ and to advance Truth and Holiness and Peace and Love among Men. I acknowledge if a Minister find any Errours or Extravagancies among a people his endeavour should be to reclaim them but I bless God this Author cannot justly charge this Congregation with these things As for what he saith was foretold by a Person of Quality and great Worth I neither know of whom he meaneth nor yet the prediction and perhaps this is of the same kind with the rest of our Authors Assertions Sure I am diverse Persons of Quality and Worth to whom I did shew my Call did approve my Acceptance of it tho' in their Affection they regrated my going from the North. In fine tho' this Author hath said that it could not be denied that I carried my self well and gained the good Opinion of all while I kept my place at Aberdeen and instanceth me as a judicious Person tho' under Temptation Yet he is so discreet in the end as to represent both this people and me as ensnared in extravagant Fooleries but I forgive him It is a small thing for me to be judged of Men better than I have been rated as Fools But in love to his Soul I commend to his Meditation Mat. 5. 22. and Rev. 22. 15. I am really weary in insisting so long on things relating to my Person I do acknowledge the World would be at no great loss tho' I were buried in the Dust and my Name in Oblivion and were it not for my respect to the publick Interest which this Author endeavoureth to hurt by exposing me I should not have troubled my self and the Reader with this Vindication being hopeful that his defaming of me cannot hinder my acceptance nor the success of my Labours where I am known I hear there are some other things in that Pamphlet which relate to me but my Friend gave me no transcript of them nor have I seen the Book and I am told they are of no great Moment and but By-blows to me while he is reflecting on other Persons and Things and perhaps you may sufficiently Vindicate them without my help I am told he acknowledgeth I preached a Sermon for Moderation but added such Cautions as made all ineffectual To which I shall only say I know none that deny but there is need of Caution lest Men under the Name of Moderation degenerate to Lukewarmness and excluding of Zeal but I know no Caution I gave which had not a Scripture warrant And if this Author had heard it I think he hath good will enough to represent it could he catch at any shadow of ground for it I am also told he reflects on me about a Paper said to be given in to the General Assembly wherein it should have been said the Gospel had not been preached in Aberdeen these 30 years but not having seen the Book nor any Transcript of that matter I can give no distinct Answer But as it 's related to me it seemeth of a Piece with the rest of his Assertions only to satisfie any sober person who may be stumbled at such an Expression I do publickly profess I am so far from thinking so or approving any who should think or speak it that I Assert and Declare I have in that time often heard to my great Comfort and Edification the Gospel both plainly and powerfully preached at Aberdeen But I fear I have wearied you and shall only add that I shall not cease to pray the Lord would preserve you long to do him service in his Church and shall continue Your Brother and Servant in the Lord G. M. Kilwinning September 28. 1691. FINIS