the Sessions are subject to the Presbyteries so are the Presbyteries to the Synod which meets always at set times twice every Year there the Bishop himself preâ—ides or in case of his necessary absence one commissionated by him and all things are carried by the Plâ—rality of Votes and the Acts made that way are the only Canons or Rules we use for Discipline As the Presbyteries are subject to the Synod so the whole Synods of the Nation are to the General Assembly where by Law the Archbishop of St. Andrews is always to preâ—ide and if I be not mistaken has a negative Voice tho he was never known to use it Now I leave the impartial World to judge whether Presbyterians that had any Moderation would not be well contented and live quietly under such a moderate Episcopacy where indeed except the Power of Ordination which is always to be performed with the consent and assistance if the Brethren of the Presbytery and the Title of Lord which the King is pleased to confer upon them the Bishops are truly but Constant Moderators which the Presbyterians themselves because of the great Divisions which often happened among them at the electing of Moderators were at length necessitated to sit down with Now then let any moderate Presbyterian abroad say whether indeed it be matter of Conscience or Humour that makes Presbyterians with us separate from a Church so Constitute or whether the difference between our Church and their Kirk be such as can justisie Men in raising so many publick Rebellions and drawing so much Misery and Confusion upon the Nation and themselves as our Zealots have often done and whether their own Consciences can plead Not Guilty at the last Great Tribunal where they must answer for all those Murthers and Butcheries all the Cries and Tears of Widows and Orphans and ruined Families which will then testifie against them Or what can they answer now to the World for the many late Barbarities they have committed against their Protestant Brethren themselves knowing not for what and therefore being ashamed of their Practices they are fain to conceal and deny them abroad But to prevent their endeavours that way and that they may appear to the World in their true colours I have here for the proof of this Modest and Impartial Narrative inserted some few Particulars of the Sufferings of our present Episcâ—pal Clergy attested by their own Hands and by the Hands of Gentlemen of great Integrity who were Eye-witnesses to the Proceedings many other of this Parties more cruel Practices against the Clergy might and may hereafter be published and attested by the Hands of the most significant Gentry in the several Parishes where the Ministers were persecuted only here these are singled out now because all these Papers as they are attested and here published were shewed in the original authentick Copies to most of our Governours both in Scotland and England and the greatest part of them sent by a particular Commissioner to King William then Prince of Orange in the beginning of our Troubles The publick Acts and Proclamations are also added that Men may not be deceived by thinking as some would represent it that the Persecution proceeded only from the Rabble and that in a Iumble of the Times when the Government was not in a condition to protect the Leiges and by the fourth Collection of Papers I think it 's plain that the most fatal Blows were all given by the Scots Presbyterians who were and are at the Helm and that without countenance from these the Rabble durst never have attempted what they did against all the Laws of the Kingdom Religion and Humanity which plainly shews that Presbyterians howsoever dignified or distinguished are all of a piece Considering all this one would be apt to think that the present Episcopal Clergy in Scotland needed as much the assistance of the Prayers and charitable Collections of the Church of England as either these Protestants in Piedmont France or Ireland especially since there seems to be something harder in our Case than in any of theirs for in those foreign Parts if a Man complies with the Commands of his Superiors which I confess would be sometimes most irreligious in him to do then he would have the same Protection and Benefit that other Subjects of his quality are allowed to enjoy But with us it 's far otherwise for as it plainly appears by the third Collection of well attested Papers let men comply never so much with the Commands of their Governors yet they are in the same sad Case with those that do not in the least comply for nothing less than the utter and universal ruine of Episcopacy being according to the Covenant designed the Superstructure as well as Foundations must be destroyed and the Presbyters as well as the Prelates quit rooted out like Philistines from the holy Land And is this nothing to you O all you that pass by give Peace in our time O Lord because we have none other that fighteth for us but only thou O God Advertisement to the Reader BEcause the Publick Papers in the Fourth Collection have not been printed in their due Order therefore the Reader is desired to take notice that upon the Margin of the second Page of The case of the Present Affâ—icted Clâ—rgy c. instead of Vide first Paper being a Declaration from the Prince read Vide Declaration by His Highness the Prince c. in the fourth Collection of Papers and on the Margin of that second Page for Vide second Paper being a Proclamation read Vide a Proclamation from the Convention in the Fourth Collection and at the foot of Page six on the Margin for Vide first Proclamation read Vidâ— Declaration by His Highness the Prince c. in the Fourth Collection Some other Errors have escaped the Presâ— because of the Authors great disâ—ance from it he living in Scotland but those being not very maâ—â—rial it 's hoped the Reader will be pleased to excuse and correct them himself THE CASE Of the Present Afflicted Episcopal Clergy in Scotland SIR AS nothing but a Charity agreeable to its Divine Original could move you to be so solicitous to know the present Afflicted State of the Episcopal Clergy in Scotland so nothing but your Command could have obliged me to this short and plain account of it Upon what Ground the present Parliament of Scotland have thought â—it to abolish Episcopacy out of that National Church I will not at present strictly enquire into Only I may be allowed to say without offence That since this Parliament has not judged convenient to abolish it as a Government either Antichristian or contrary to reason or Scripture or Antiquity or the Universal opinion of Protestant Churches abroad or Learned Men in all Ages but only as contrary to the Inclination of the People and as such a Grievance It may be considently hop'd That when Presbytery or the Usurped Authority of Presbyters without Bishops shall become
read from the Pulpit the Proclamation for the Fast. Now my Lord replied Mr. Ramsay you have nick'd me indeed I did not intimate that Fast. But why did you not For many Reasons my Lord said he But pray said my Lord let us hear some of those Reasons Excuse me my Lord replied he it 's sufficient that I confess that I did not read it But according to the method of their Inquisition of Screwing out Mens minds and provoking them to speak that they might get occasion against them they press'd him to name some of his Reasons he said being they urged he would give them one That it was against the Practice of the universal Church and primitive Canons to Fast on Sunday And he said Tho there were no other Reasons but that oneâ— he could not intimate that Fast. He gave this Reason as that which he thought would give them least Offence They ordered him to remove till they had deliberated what to do with him and then cause call him in and deprived him for not reading the Proclamation for the Fast. Dr. Gardner a Man of great Parts and Piety and one of the Ministers of the Talâ—â—ooth Church in Edinburgh was deprived upon the same account of not intimating that Fast tho he had complied in every thing else which they demanded A Proclamation Discharging the Payment of the Rents of the Bishopricks to any but the Persons named by the Council At Edinburgh September 19. 1689. WHereas the Meeting of the Estates of this Kingdom in their Claim of Right of the Eleventh of April last Declared that Prelacy and the Superiority of any Office in the Church above Presbyters is and hath been a great and insupportable Grievance to this Nation and contâ—air to the Inclinations of the Generality of the People ever since the Reformation And that their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament have by their Act of the Date the Fifth day of Iuly last bypast abolished Prelacy and all Superiority of any Office in the Church above Presbyters And His Majesty considering the prejudice it may be to His Interest if fit Persons be not appointed to look after and receive the Rents and Emoluments particularly those consisting of Tiâ—hes which formerly did belong to the Bishops Hath therefore signified His Royal Pleasure That the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council should give Warrand to Alexander Hamilton of Kinkell for Drawing and Upliâ—â—ing the Tithes and other Rents of the Archbishoptick of St. Andrews he giving sufficient Security for his Faithful performance of his duty in the said Office and hath also left it to the Council to appoint fit persons for Drawing and Uplifting the Tithes of other Bishopricks for this present Cropt and Year of God 1689. that none concerned suffer prejudice Excepting the Bishoprick of Orknay which His Majesty is resolved to have Uplifted with the Rents of the Lordship And the saids Lords of Privy Council having in Obedience to His Majesties Commands Nominat and Appointed fit and qualified persons for Drawing of the Tithes and Uplifting of the Rents formerly belonging to the Bishops Deans or any other person of superior Order and Dignity in the Church above Presbyters And least before the time that some of them can be able to come to this place and find Caution for their faithful discharging of that Trust and make Intimation of their respective Commissions to Uplift the saids Rents for the said Cropt and Year of God foresaid to the persons lyable in payment thereof The Teinds and other Rents of the Archbishopricks and Bishopricks and others foresaids may be Imbazled and Intromâ—tted with by persons who have no Right thereto Therefore the saids Lords of Privy Council in their Majesties Name and Authority foresaid prohibit and Discharge all and sundry Heretors Feuers Liâ—erenters Taxâ—-men of Teinds Tennents and others whose Teinds were formerly in use to be drawn and who were lyable-in payment of any Rent or Duty to the saids late Archbishops or Bishops or others foresaids to draw or suffer their Teinds to be drawn and from payment of any Rental-Bolls Feu Blench or Tack-Duties and other Rents Casualties and Emoluments formerly payable to the saids late Archbishops Bishops and others foresaid except to such persons as shall be authorized by the saids Lords of Privy Council for uplifting thereof with Certification to them if they do any thing in the contrary hereof they shall be lyable therefore notwithstanding if any pretended Discharge that may be Impetrat or Obtained from any other person or persons for the said Cropt and Year of God foresaid And Ordains these presents to be printed and publishâ—d by Macers of Privy Council at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh and by Messengers at Arms at the Mercat-Crosses of the Heâ—dâ—Burghs of the other Shires within this Kingdom that none may pretend Ignorance Per actum Dominorum Secreti Consilii GILB ELIOT Cls. Secreti Concilii God Save King William and Queen Mary This Alexander Hamilton who is here appointed to uplift the Rents of St. Andrews Archbishoprick was taken in actual Rebellion at the time of Bothwell bridge Rebellion and by the Clemency of the Government then had his Life spared altho he was always a great Ring-leader of that Rebellious Rout which so much plagued the Nation before and since that time A Draught of an Act for Establishing the Church-Government Presented by his Majesty's High-Commissioner July 22. 1689. FOrasmuch as the King and Queens Majesties and the Estates of Parliament by their Act the Fifth of Iuly instant Abolishing Prelacy and the Superiority of any Church-Officers above Presbyters in this Kingdom did declare That they would settle that Church-Government in this Kingdom which is most agreeable to the Inclinations of the People And considering That the Church-Government by General Provincial and Presbyterial Assemblies with the Sessions of the Kirk as it was established by the first Act of the Twelfth Parliament of King Iames VI. holden in Iune 1592. is most agreeable to the Inclinations of the People Therefore the King and Queens Majesties with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament Revives and Renews the said Act of Parliament in the whole Heads Points and Articles thereof with this express Declaration That the necessity of occasional Assemblies be first represented to His Majesty by humble Supplication And Statutes and Declares That it is and shall be lawful to the Presbyters of this Church to admit Ministers upon Presentations from the lawful Patrons or Iure de voluto which shall happen hereafter or into Churches which fall not under Patronages but were Mensal and Patrimonial Churches belonging to the Bishops sicklike and as freely as they did or might have done of before by the foresaid Act of Parliament in the Year 1592. and to do all and every thing which before pertained to Presbyteries and were exercised by the Bishops And Ordains all the Ministers in this Kingdom to submit and conform themselves to the Church-Government
a Grievance to the People for what has been so heretofore may be hereafter and so contrary to their Inclination that then and in that Case Episcopacy may for the same reason by Authority of another Parliament be restored again This is no new thing for before this Revolution Episcopacy in Scotland has been abolished twice by Act of Parliament but so was also Presbytery It 's now abolished the third time and so Presbytery may be But with this difference That Presbytery was never setled by Law in Scotland but when either our Kings were involv'd in Intestine broils or when the Civil Government was under some great convulsion occasion'd most ordinarily by the practises of that Party which put them under a kind of necessity not choice to allow it But no sooner did either our Kings or the Government reassume their just freedom and vigour but as soon was Episcopacy both restored and established by Law So that Episcopacy having been always setled in our Church in time of peace or at the Restoration of it May it please God to restore peace to the State that order in the Church may be it's happy effect And may we make better use of these two blessings then we have done hitherto But as for the inferiour Clergy of Presbyters who were received into the protection of this Government first by a Declaration from the Prince of Orange in Ianuary 1688 9. And in April thereafter by a Proclamation of the Convention of Estates By which Proclamation and Declaration all persons whatsoever were strictly forbid upon the highest pains to molest disturb or by any manner of way interrupt or hinder the Clergy in the exercise of their Ministry and peaceable possession of their Livings They demeaning themselves as it became peaceable and good men As for them I say to be turned out of their Churches in so great numbers may justly make strangers think these men guilty of hainous villanies and crimes which have provoked the Government against them and obliged it to turn them out of their Livings and forbid them all exercise of their Ministry to declare their Churches vacant and to order themselves and families to remove from their dwelling-houses in the middle of winter To Set then this matter in its true light it will be necessary to look a little back upon some things which happened before the proceedings of the Privy Council against the Episcopal Clergy Be pleased therefore to know that there have been Ministers turned out and deprived since the beginning of this Revolution by and under a threefold Authority The first turning out was by the Authority or rather Violence of the Rabble in the Western and Southshires only The Second was by a Committee of the Convention of Estates during the Interval betwixt the Convention and turning it into a Parliament The third was by the Privy-Council since the first Adjournment of Parliament As for the first tâ—rning out by the Rabble it being executed in a time when the Government of the Nation was in a manner quite dissolved there is less wonder that disorders of that kind fell out then it is accountable why they should not be redress'd now upon this Governments assuming its Authority and having Power to make it self obeyed But before I give you the true matter of fact of this highly presumptuous and unparalell'd attempt of the Rabble upon Ministers It will be first convenient to set before you the then State of those Western Shires in matters of Religion What was their behaviour towards the Clergy Established by Law as also how they stood affected to the Presbyterian Ministers then Tolerated by King Iames to hold Meeting-Houses And first Tho' it must be confessed that the Western Shires of Scotland have been and are the most disaffected Party of the Kingdo â— to Episcopal Government and have suffered much for the Rebellions which their prejudices against it occasion'd yet it 's as true that before the last Indulgence granted by K. Iames An. 1687. they were Universally in a good Understanding with their Ministers tho' not in that degree as the Relation betwixt Minister and People doth require it being more in shew then affection For tho' they came generally to Church and owned that they had overcome their Scruple of Conscience of not having freedom to hear them Preach yet they still separated themselves from partaking of the Holy Communion when offered Making it a greater matter of Conscience to receive that Sacramâ—nt from their hands then the other of Baptism for their Children It is also to be presum'd tho' not much to their credit that there was more of constraint for fear of Penal Laws then a willing mind in this little Conformity they yielded in coming to Church all which soon appeared For in the next place upon K. Iames his Declaration of â—â—dulgence or Tolleration to Dissenters the People in those Western Shires run immediately into it accepted of it and 〈◊〉 agreat zeal to build Meeting-Houses to call Presbyteâ—ian Preachers to these Meeting-Houses and to contribute for their Maintenance With this State of Affairs they seem'd so well satisfy'd that they made Addresses of thanks to King Iames in terms which were no less acceptable to the then Court than Scandalons to all Judicious Protestants in both Kingdoms * But these Addresses having been Printed and Published in Gazetts I shall take no more notice of them They were often told by wise Men that they were running a course in accepting of that Tolleration most destructive to the Interest of the Protestant Religion and that it would be much safer for them to continue in their Parochiall Churches as by Law Established since every thing that weakened that fence tended to the letting in of the Popish Party which in time might destroy us both that Tolleration being granted in both Kingdoms in order to bring in Popery and by the means and favour of Papists at Court obtain'd and managed Tho' many yea most of the Inferiour People of these Western Shires at the first went into this snare yet the Persons of greatest Quality and interest among them did not so soon comply And for the other Shires in Scotland in some there were not above two Meeting-Houses in the whole Shire in others none at all which by the by is a kind of demonstration how little fond the Generality of the Nation was then of that way and how the inclination of the People was then set now so much talked of But next to show you how the Presbyterians stood affected to one Another and among themselves be pleased to know That there was a Presbyterian Party then in the West of the meaner sort of the People indeed truly Acting more consequentially to the Presbyterian Principle and Practice in former times who for all that was done would not accept of this Tolleration given by King Iames But did openly by their Sermons and Pens declare their dislike of it and said much more bitter
THE CASE Of the Present Afflicted Clergy IN SCOTLAND Truly Represented To which is added for Probation The Attestation of many unexceptionable Witnesses to every Particular and all the Publick Acts and Proclamations of the Convention and Parliament relating to the Clergy By a Lover of the Church and his Country Father forgive them for they know not what they do Luke 23. 34 Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of Luke 9. 55. Rejoyce not against me O mine Enemy when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me Micah 7. 8. LONDON Printed for I. Hindmarsh at the Golden Ball over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill 1690. THE PREFACE Christian Reader THE following Narrative was writ in a Letter several Months ago from Scotland by a Person of great Moderation and Integrity well acquainted with the Humour and Constitution of Scotland it has been read and approved by Persons of the best Quality both in the Church and State iâ— England and is now at their desire published because it represents shortly and impartially the various Methods under which the Church of Scotland suffered since the late Revolution That thereby all good Christians especially the most charitable church of England may See the sad Effects of Rampant Presbytery Pity their Brethren that have so severely smarted under it Consider the fatal Consequences of Papal Supremacy in a Protestant â—irk and speedily bethink themselves how to quench those Flames in their Neighbours House which so visibly threaten Destruction to their own Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum Some say and I hope it 's true that there are many Moderate Presbyterians to be found abroad in the World altho with us they have been all ever bent to Persecute when they had Power and think they do God good Service when they Murther Bishops and quite raze out their Adherents in Church and State as is too visible by the late and present Proceedings of that Party amongst us Dr. Burnet now Bishop of Salisbury in a Sermon at the Election of my Lord Mayor of London on the 29th of September observes very well Some Plead now says he for Moderation tho they have forgot it shamefully where they have Power as the Congregations now in New-England impose under the pains of Banishment and Death in case of return not only the Religion of the State but many speculative Points in Opinion and other things that are certainly indifferent The Presbytery in Scotland imposed the Covenant under the pains of Excommunication upon which followed a Forfeiture of the Personal Estate and a Sequestration of the Real he might have added and sometimes Death or Banishment to the Person but he goes on and this Covenant all Persons Men and Women he might have said Children too were forced to Swear tho few could understand it and one Particular was not far from an Inquisition that every one should discover all Malignants and Enemies to their Cause in order to bring them to condign Punishment by which every Man was Sworn to be a Spy and an Informer The following Book shews in part what Gospel like Methods that Party now use to have the same Principles and Practices again revived in the World and from it I wish these Moderate Presbyterians which they say are abroad to beware of that Poison that has made the Brains of their Scots Brethren so Giddy that their Zeal against Episcopacy may not run them quite out of their Christianity as it 's too palpable with us it hath done to many Any Moderate Man will certainly think the difference between our Scots Episcopacy and Presbytery not worth the Heat or Danger of a Dispute For First as to the Doctrine both Parties are agreed the Confession of Faith made by Mr. Knox and ratified in Parliament by King James VI. and revived again in the Test Act by King Charles II. this together with the Westminster Confession both agreed on by the General Assembly of Presbyters are owned next to the Word of God by both Parties as the Standard of the Doctrine of our Church Secondly As to the Worship it 's exactly the same both in the Church and Conventicle in the Church there are no Ceremonies at all injoyned or practised only some Persons more reverent think fit to be uncovered which our Presbyterians do but by halves even in the time of Prayer we have no Liturgy nor Form of Prayer no not in the Cathedrals the only difference in this Point is our Clergy are not so over-bold nor fulsome in their extemporary Expressions as the others are nor use so many vain Repetitions and we generally conclude one of our Prayers with that which our Saviour taught and commanded which the other Party decry as Superstitious and Formal Amen too gives great Offence tho neither the Clerk nor People use it only the Minister sometimes shuts up his Prayer with it The Sacraments are Administered after the same Way and Manner by both neither so much as kneeling at the Prayers or when they receive the Elements of the Lords Supper but all sitting together at a long Table in the Body of the Church or Chancel In Baptism neither Party use the Cross nor are any Godfathers or Godmothers required the Father only promising for his Child The only Difference in this Sacrament is the Presbyterians make the Father Swear to breed up his Child in the Faith and Belief of the Covenant or Solemn League whereas the Orthodox cause the Father repeat the Apostles Creed and promise to breed up the Child in that Faith which himself then professes Thirdly As to the Discipline it 's exactly in our Episcopal Church if it may be so called according to the Model of the Presbyterian Mother Kirk at Geneva for conformable to the Consistory direction not Rubrick for that 's a Superstitious word we have in every Parish a little Court which we call the Kirk-Session composed of the Minister or Ministers if there be two belonging to that Church and some Lay men which we call Elders and Deacons too forsooth the business of this Court is to enquire into and punish Scandals and to collect and distribute the Money which good People are pleased daily to offer at the Church-doors for the Poor This Court or Session is lyable to the Inspection and Iurisdiction of the Presbytery who may visit the Sessions inspect their Records and receive Appeals from them upon occasion By Presbytery we mean again a Court of Presbyters inferior to the Synod for every Synod or Meeting of the whole Diocies belonging to a Bishop is divided into several Classes or Presbyteries in each Presbytery there is about eighteen or twenty in some twenty four Ministers who with the consent of the Bishop chose their own Moderator or President they meet ordinarily once every Month or oftener if they think their Affairs require for they have power to adjourn and meet at their own Discretion As
established by the foresaid Act and to take the Oath of Allegiance under the pain of being deprived of their Churches and losing their Benefices And it is Declared That all Ministers that shall submit and conform to the foresaid Church-Government and to take the Oath of Allegiance without being obliged to take any other Oath shall enjoy their Churches and Benefices and shall not be deprived of the same except for Scandal or Insufficiency But in respect there are several Ministers that were put out of their Churches and Benefices since the year 1662. for not complying wiâ—h and conforming to Prelacy and others since the year 1681. for not taking the Test And now seeing Prelacy is Abolished and all Acts relating thereto it is just and reasonable that these Ministers that went out and were laid aside for not conforming to and complying with Prelacy and for not taking the Test should be restored to their Churches and Benefices Therefore the King and Queens Majesties with Advice and Consent of the saids Estates of Parliament do Ordain the saids Ministers that went out or were laid aside upon the account foresaid to be restored and reponed and do hereby repone and restore them to their respective Churches and Benefices And the King and Queens Majesties and Estates of Parliament declares That they will take care to provide these Ministers that are now serving the Cure at the saids Churches with other Churches and Benefices as occasion shall offer they submitting themselves to the Government of the Church established by this present Act and taking the Oath of Allegiance and being sufficient and qualified for the Office of the Ministry and without Scandal As also it is Declared That Intrants to the Ministry shall not be holden or obliged to take any other Oaths at their Admission but the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath de fideli And in regard that much trouble hath ensued unto the Estate and many sad Confusions and scandalous Schisms have fallen out in the Church by Church-men meddling in matters of State Therefore their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament do hereby discharge all Ministers of the Gospel within this Kingdom to meddle with any State-affairs either in their Sermons or Judicatories publickly or privately under the pain of being holden as disaffected to the Government and proceeded against accordingly And declares That the Jurisdiction of the Church consists and stands only in the preaching of the True Word of Jesus Christ Correction of Manners by Ecclesiastical Censures and the Administration of the Holy Sacraments conform to the 69th Act Iames 6. Parl. 6. And to the effect there be nothing treated or concluded in the Church-Judicatories that concerns the Affairs of Sâ—ate or Civil Matters it is declared That Their Majesties if they shall think fit may have always one present in all the Provincial and Presbyterial Assâ—mblies as well as They have Their Commissioner present in General Assemblies that in case any Affair that concerns the State or Civil Matters that dâ—es not belong to the Jurisdiction of the Church shall come in before the saids Assemblies the said Person appointed by Their Majesties shall inhibit and Discharge the Provincial or Presbyterial Assembly to proceed in any Affair that concerns the State or Civil Matter before Their Majesties and Their Privy Council shall be acquainted with the same that They may declare Their pleasure thereanâ—nt And because there are many things to be settled in relation to the Policy and Discipline of the Church therefore Their Majesties declare That They by the Advice of the Estates of Parliament and Judicatories of the Church will enact such Rules concerning the Policy Discipline and other Matters to be observed by the Church as shall tend most to the curbing of Vice the Advancement of True Religion and Piety and the Preservation of Unity and Peace amongst the Subjects And Their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the saids Estates of Parliament Râ—â—â—inds and Annuls the first Act of the 15 Parl. K. Ia. VI. anent Ministers provided to Prelacies should have Vote in Parliament and the second Act of the 18 Parl. Ia. VI. anent the Restitution of the Estate of Bishops and the eighth Act of the 19 Parl. Ia. VI. anent the Commissarioâ—s and Jurisdictions given to the Archbishops and Bishops and the first Act of the 21 Parl. Ia. VI. anent the Ratification of the Acts of the Assembly of Glasgow in the year 1610. and the first and second Acts of the 22 Parl. of K. Ia. VIâ— in the year 1617. anent the Archbishops and Restitution of Chapters without prejudice always to the Ministers serving the Cure of any Emoluments allowed to them in part of their Stipends and the first Act of the 23 Parâ— of K. Ia. VI. in the year 1621. anent the Ratification of the Articles of the Assembly holden at Perth And rescinds and annuls all and whatsomever Acts Laws and Constitutions in so far as they derogate and are prejudicial to the Church-Government by General Provincial and Presbyteral Assemblies and Kirk-Sessions and in so far as they are conceived in favour of Archbishops Bishops Abbot Priors and other Prelates or Church-men whatsomever their Dignity Title Power Jurisdiction and State in this Church and Kingdom or in favours of the Civil Places or Power of Church-men or of whatsomever sort allowed or disallowed for their Ruling Sitting and Voting in Parliament either as Church-men or the Clergy or in name of the Church or as representing the Church either in regard of their Ecclesiastical Titles Offices Places and Dignities or in regard of the Temporality or Spirituality of Ecclesiastical Bâ—nefices or other pretexts whatsomever with all Acts and Constitutions of Convention Council or Sâ—ssion or other Judicator whatsomever and all Practices or Customs whatsomever introduced in favours of the saids Offices Titles Benefices or Persons provided thereto and all other Acts Statutes or Practices which are contrary and prejudicial to or inconsistent with this present Act and declares the same to be void and null in all time coming And seeing by the abolishing of Prelacy the is at present no Meeting of the Presbyteries or Provincial Assemblies and it being necessary that there be a time and place appointed for the first Diet of Meeting therefore Ordains the Ministers of the several Presbyteries on the South-side of the River of Tay to meet and convene upon the second Tuesday of August next at the ordinary places where the Presbyters are in use to meet and these Ministers of the Presbyteries on the North-side of the River of Tay to meâ—t and convene upon the first Tuesday of September thereafter at the ordinary places where the Presbyters are in use to meet and appoints these Ministers that shall meet in the respective Presbyteries to chuse their own Moderator and ordains the Moderator first to take and subscribe the Oath of Allegiance himself and then administrate the said Oath to the rest of the Brethren that they may
they were allowed to take the open Air in England When the new Observator upon March 26. last published my Lord Crasurd's Letter dated Edinburgh March 16. 1690. he might have observed that in that Letter my Lord fairly owns that the Council did at the same time that they proceeded against Ministers for not praying for King William take probation of Crimes of another nature also against them tho the Cognisance of them did no way belong to the Council these are the very words of the Letter for if this be true the Proceedings of the Council against the Ministers must be acknowledged not to have been fair and legal for the Observator himself who once pretended to an inferior kind of Practice in the Scots Law knows I hope so much as that no Court ought to hear probation of Crimes whereof they have not the Cognizance nay the best of Men may be abused by such Proceedings for if the Court be not competent the Defendants cannot be admitted to object against the Insufficiency of the Probation and so the worst things may be proved against the most innocent People But of all them that have written or spoken against the Account given in those Lettert we owe the most Thanks to one downright true thorough-paced Presbyterian who writes a Pamphlet against it called A Brief and true Account of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland occasioned by the Episcopalians since the year 1660. The Book is indeed worth the reading because in it the Author has fairly pulled off that Mask which others more Cunning but less Honest love to act under I shall not here hazard the turning of the Readers Stomach by repeating any of these his most fulsâ—me Expressions which he liberally strows in every Page of his Book only this I must say That it 's not possible for a Devil to bring more Railing and false Aâ—cusations against the Brethren than this pure Presbyterian does against our Clergy and States-men he has learned it seems of his Friend Matchiavel to calumniate boldly hoping that if he throw a great deal of Dirt some of it may stick but his Mallce is too large to be confin'd to Scotland and therefore he opens foully against the Church of England too for he says That Dr. Oates a modest Man like himself did the Nation more Service than the seven Idolized Stars so many of whom are now turned Dark-lanthorns Neither must the Complying Bishops escape his Fury for of them he says That as they have the Dishonour of being the Mother of that Helâ—ish Monster Possive Obedience they have also the Ignominy of being the Murtherirs of it having new basely cut its Threat as Harlots use sometimes to do with their spurious Breed Then as for the English Clergy in general he says That let their Hyperbolical Pretentions to Zeal for Religion and Loyalty be what it will yet if the King put forth his hand and touch them they will Curse him to his face and rather than part with on inch of Superstition or a Swinish Lust will as the Party have always done lay a Confideracy with Hell and Rome as times past and present do evidence beyond Contradiction from the Reformation to this day In another place he says That their dayly Prayers are that God would pull down the Antichristian Hierarchy also in England and why says he may we not do it as well as the English Prelates and Clergy Plot Drink and plead against the Scotch Presbytery Then he soretells the Downfall of the Church of England Notwithstanding their Sessions as he speaks at the Devil to prevent it and for the fulfilling of this his fatal Prephecy he declares War against them and bids them blame themselves for it if another Invasion from Scotland prove as fatal to them now as it did in Bishop Laud's time and that the Godly Women will with their Folding-stools once mere arm against them as they did in King Charles I. time This is a true Specimen of the Love and Charity that the Scotch Presbyterians have to the Church of England and it 's but a little part of that Fire and Slaughter which our Author breaths out against them Further yet he condemns all the orderly Churches in 〈◊〉 for says he All those who use Set Forms of Prayer are Strangers to the Power of Godliness So that neither the Presbyterians themselves in Holland nor in France no nor in Geneva must escape the Lash of our Scotch Reformers until they be purified according to the Pattern in the Mount the Covenant Standard But that I may not rake any longer in this Dunghill our Author is as far from Truth in the Points of History he relates as his manner of Expression is from the Spirit of Meekness and Charity and his whole Discourse is as inconsistent with that as his beloved Doctrine of Resistance is with the Thirteenth Chapter to the Romans and that they who shall please next to draw their Pens against us who are already sufficiâ—ntly persecuted by their hands may find some Matter as well as Words to fill their Weekly Papers I shall take leave of them in some few plain Queries First Considering the Great Charity which the Scotch Presbyterians have for the Church of England as you have heard and their Intention of visiting them again which the Author has threatned as they did in the year 39. when Plate Jewels Money Houshold-goods Cattle and all Moveables were declared Malignants and they grew witty in their Zeal and told they came for all their Goods And considering that they are more Numerous now than they were then and if they be establish'd by Law will be much more Formidable because all will be forc'd to joyn with them or suffer their utmost Persecution for they have declared Toleration to be Aâ—tichristian And considering that their Solemn League and Covenant obliges them to root out Episcopacy in England and Ireland and never to desist till they have effected it I say considering these things and what they have formerly done upon the same Principles Query whether the Settling Presbytery in Scotland be reconcilable to the Securing Episcopacy in England 2ly Whether even King William can secure himself in the Monarchy against those who formerly refused to Dissolve at the King's Command in the Assembly of Glasgow in the year 38. who preach'd the Subjects into a furious Rebellion and to the delivering up the King his Grandfather to be murdered who by Act of their General Assembly in 48. declared his Negative Voice inconsistent with the Liberty of the Subject and who since himself was made King have risen twice in Arms once to the number of some Thousands who threw out the Episcopal Ministers by their own Authority which our Author says was Deservedly enough Beating Wounding and Tormenting them Another time a more formidable number in a hostile manner made an Address to the Council telling them That they would not lay down their Arms