door to preaching Nor is it of simple preaching that I am here speaking and they shall never be able to make it appear that it is a necessary duty to do as they have done considering what is already said and what shall yet further be said 10. There is another particular in the Letter worthie of a remark and we shall but here name it and that is Tha◠the councel is to allow Patrons to present to vacant Churches such Ministers as they shall approve of Whence it is clear that without this consent of the Patron which is his real or virtual Presentation the Ministers approven of by the Councel cannot have access unto these vacāt Churches Therefore their accepting of the Indulgence unto Vacant places after this manner is an approving and an establishing of the power of Patrons whereby they did condemne all such Ministers and possibly some of themselves who formerly had suffered ejection according to the Act of Glasgow because they had no clearness to accept of this Presentation even though the Patron would willingly have granted it and did of his own accord offer it Did they not hereby also condemne that laudable piece of our Reformation Anno 1649. When these Presentations were abolished and the people restored to their liberty of Electing their own Ministers 11. We may also take notice That all this contrivance is not in order to reduce our Church in whole or in part to her former Presbyterian state and lustre or to weaken or in the least deface the re-established Prelacie but rather to confirme the same for in the Letter we see these Indulged are to be enjoined in the Kings name and by his authority to keep Presbyteries and Synods that is the Prelats meetings so called for there was no other As also encouragment was given unto them to take the Prelates Collation So that this contrivance as it was to gratifie a few so it was to corroborat the abjured Prelats in their possessiō of what they had obtained as their quid mihi dabit is And further they were discharged to exerce any Ministerial function towards any of the neighbour Parishes where there were Curats serving Now all these Injunctions being manifestly sinful and unlawful might have sufficiently cautioned them against the receiving of a favoure so strangely clogged with sinful conditions or at least prompted them to have remonstrated freely and faithfully all these evils and plainly declared their fixed aversness from ever submitting unto these Injunctions 12. The last particular which I shall remark here is the Result of all this or that rather which is the end mainly driven at howbeit couched in words not so manifestly expressive of a mainly designed end The words are in the last part of the Letter And seing we have by these orders taken away all pretence for Conventicles and provided for the want of such as are and will be peacable if any shall be found hereafter to preach without authority or keep Conventicles our express pleasure is that you proceed with all severity against the Preacher and Hearers as sedicious person and contemners of our Authority In the by we may here take notice that according to the import and meaning of this letter no Minister must preach either in or out of Conventicles without a borrowed Authoritie from the Magistrate otherwise they are to be looked upon as sedicious persons and as contemners of Authority So that this licence or indulgence was a reall clothing of the Indulged and licensed in the sense of the Court with authority to preach as if all they had from Christ conveyed to them by the ministrie of Church officers according to this Appointment had been null and altogether insignificant Which one thing in my apprehension had been enough to have scarred any that minded to stand unto their Presbyterian Gospel and anti-Erastian Principles from accepting of licences of this nature so destructive to the very being of an Ecclesiastical Ministrie and to its dependance on emanation from Christ Jesus the only Head and King of his Church and sole Fountaine of all Power and Authoritie communicated or communicable to his Servants and Officers as such and so repugnant unto the methods and midses of conveyance instituted and ordained by Christ and practised in the primitive Church But the other thing here chiefly to be noticed is That as we see this device of the Indulgence was batched and contrived of purpose to beare down these Conventicles and to give a more colourable shew of justice in persecuting the zealous Conventiclers It is true the Persons Indulged were not of those chiefly who keeped Conventicles especially in the Fields for if so they had not been such as lived peacably and orderly And so the Conventicle-Preachers were not much diminished in their number hereby yet it was supposed that none of those who lived under the Indulged their Ministerie would much trouble themselves to go to Conventicles and field Meetings wherein in a very great part their supposition failed not But now with what Conscience shall we suppose this Indulgence could be accepted seing thereby every one might see a further bar and restraint put upon those worthies who jeoparded their lives in the high places of the fields in preaching of the Gospel and were owned and contenanced of God to admiration in the rich yea wonderfully rich blessing of God upon their Labours and Ministerie dispensed by the sole Authority of Jesus Christ yea and those of them who were present before the Councel August 3. 1672. might have seen more cruelty breathed-out by severe orders against those who still followed the Lord in Houses in Valleyes and in Mountaines though contrarie to the Law For that same very day a Proclamation was issued out commanding all Heretors timeously to declare any who within their bounds shall take upon them to preach in such unwarranted Meetings as they were called and make their Names known to Sheriffs Stewarts Lords and Bailiffs of the Regalities or their Deputes and all others in publick trust within whose Jurisdiction they may be apprehended And Authorizing these Sheriffs c. to make exact search and enquirie after them to apprehend and incarcerat their Persons and to acquaint the Councel of their Imprisonment And requiring the Magistrates of Brughs to detain them prisoners till further Order and that under the highest paine And also declaring that they would put all Lawes Acts and Proclamations vigorously in execution against withdrawers from the publick worshipe in their own Paroch-Churches And thus was there a new fiery persecution raised both against faithful Pastors and People May it not be thought that they had carried more honestly and ministerial-like when seeing this End and Designe which could not be hid if they had freely and plainely told the Councel they could accept of no such Courtesie unless the like were granted to all the faithful and honest zealous Ministers in the Land or at least had declared and protested that what was
Christ to appoint the Qualifications of his own Officers But here the Magistrate doth by his Magistratical Power appoint and determine the qualifications which he will owne as such in reference at least unto the exercise of the Ministrie and this is not done ministerially and consequently in contradiction to the sole power and Prerogative of Christ. The accepters therefore of this Indulgence granted onely to such as are so and so qualified do not onely acknowledge themselves to be so and so qualified but do sweetly in so far acquiesce unto the Magistrat's Autocratorical determineing of these qualifications and unto his assuming a Supreame Nomothetick power in Church-matters As for these qualifications we have seen above what they are See our 3. remark upon the Kings Letter 8. It is also a part of Christ Prerogative Royal to prescribe and set down the way how he will have such and such an Officer in Particular set over such or such a Flock in Particular that so the Minister so fixed to his special work may have ground to say that this is the Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made me an Overseer But here in this Indulgence the matter is so conveyed as that the Indulged can not with good ground say the Holy Ghost hath set me over this people but only this is the flock over which the King his Councel have made me the Overseer But against this it is said May not the Man who returneth to his own Congregation from which he was unjustly thrust away say this And may not he also speak thus who hath the Cordial Invitation and call of those concerned And what shall then be said of them who preach in the fields Answ. 1. If the Minister's returne to his own place were faire and cleanly and so as the old method and ground were not questioned or weakened then he might indeed so speak but it is not so here for his returning to where he was before was a meer accidental thing and his ground is not his former relatione unto that people but the Order of the Councel which was of the same nature with the Order given unto others as we saw above and so he can only now say though this be the flock over which the Holy Ghost did once make me an Overseer yet now I am set over it by the Councils Order 2. As for that Cordial Invitation which some possibly did obtaine it was no such call as Christs Law alloweth it was not the rise fountaine of those Ministers going to those places but a posteriour meer precatious thing whereby the Ordinance of Christ was rather prostituted than followed It is sufficiently known that the Councel made the free Election and not the Parish And withal where was the Act of the Presbyterie giving them Ministerially a Potestative mission This belongeth to the Methode that Christ hath Prescribed but here the Council both called choosed and sent and so were both the Flocks and the Presbytery 3. As for the third Particular every one may see how impertinent it is for this preaching in the Fields or Houses is no fixed stated Oversight over a distinct company as is that of a Minister over a Particular Flock but a mâ—er occasional Act depending upon a Providential call from God and the cordial entreatie of this Persecuted people which is all that is requisite thereunto 9. There were among these Instructions given by the Council several Restrictions and Limitations in and about the administration of Christs Spiâ—itual Institutions as of Preaching of Administration of Baptisme and of the Lords Supper as also of Discipline And these Restrictions and Limitations not being made by a Ministerial Power with a Ministerial Authority explaining and applying the General Rules given by Christ thereanent as Church Officers and Church-Judicatories do but by the Magistrat who acteth with a Magistratical Migisterial and Autocratorical power that is by a power which in Spiritual matters of the Church belongeth to Christ only who is sole Head and King thereof The receivers therefore of this Indulgence thus conveyed and accompanied with such Limitations Restrictions in and about the Administration of Christs Ordinances do contribute their concurrence unto this Invasion But against this and other Particulars formerly mentioned taken from the Prescriptions Rules and Instructions wherewith this Indulgence was attended it is said That in the accepting of this Indulgence there was a simple use making of a favour offered and no formal engagment unto the prescriptions which the Magistrat did not expect plainly resting upon the intimation of his own will For here the Magistrate was not treating and expecting our formal consent or security for performance of what was required but did simply appoint and command as they would be answerable So that the embracer of the Providential favour giveth no complex consent unto the Prescriptions I Answere The favour offered was no favour indeed as circumstantiated nor could there be a simple use making of that supposed favour which was so attended with imposed Conditions Instructions and Limitations without at least a virtual acknowledgment of a Right Power in the Magistrate to make and impose such Conditions c. for howbeit the Council propose the matter by way of Command as thinking it below them to Act otherwise yet both the Nature of the thing and the concomitant Acts made of purpose of Restrick Limite and Qualifie the favour proposed and to Instruct and Oblige the Receiver say that the accepting of the first is with an engagement to performe the second both being but one complex thing Nay the Council as we say above in their Acts and Proclamations do expressy hold forth the favour to be granted and accepted condition wayes and Mr A. Blair for renouncing of the conditions was deprived of the favour Who accepteth a favour offered with its burdens in accepting the one accepteth both and taketh the favour cum onore and this cannot be otherwise understood howbeit the Council did not waite for their express consent unto the Conditions for their receiving of the favour so offered was sufficient thereunto as when a Father granteth such or such a piece of land to his Son but withal layeth this burden on that favour that he must pay so much debt if the Son accept of the land so clogged he cannot but take on the debt though he gave no express consent thereunto before II. How contrary it is unto Presbyterian Principles We shall in the next place show how injurious the accepting of this Indulgence was unto our Presbyterian Principles what wrong was hereby done unto the Church as to her Privileges and that Power which Christ hath granted unto her 1. It belongeth to the Church and to Church-Officers to try and examine the gifts and Qualifications of such as are to be exercised in the Ministrie and to declare Ministerially by explaining and applying of Christ's Rules and Lawes who are fit and qualified for the work of the
a course as this when Arian Emperours by their own sole power thrust-out faithful zealous and Orthodox Ministers and put-in Arian hereticks in their places and now by this Indulgence the way is paved for the same Course so that now the Magistrate hath no more to do to get all the Ministery on his side and to carry on some corrupt erroneous designe but to thrust-out honest faithful men and put-in brevi manu whom he will Who will scruple at this now after the Indulged men have thus broken the ice and who will once question the Magistrates power to do this seing they have so sweetly submitted in the beginning Turpius ejicitur quam non admitiitur hospes it is better holding-out than thrusting-out 2. Our own History sheweth us how noxious it was to our Church when K. Iames obtained but so much as to have an eminent and active hand or a negative voice directly or indirectly in the planting of all the eminent places of the Land especially of Edinburgh though he never had the confidence to seek a liberty to do it brevi manu but did it by collusion with the Commission of the Kirk which was made to his mind How quickly had he overturned all if he had assumed the power to have transplanted Ministers as he pleased and if Ministers had complied with him therein and upon his sole call or act of Councel had left their own Charges and gone to places whither he sent them And what would these worthies who opposed all his designes in maintainance of the Established Order of the Church and of her Power and Privileges if alive now say to see so many Ministers under so many obligations to maintaine the Liberties of the Church willingly obeying the Councils Call and Act 3. If according to this Method and the way now laid down put in practice our Magistrates in all time coming should follow this course and put away what Ministers they pleased from one place and thrust others in where and when they pleased and in all this should meet with nothing but sweet submission how long should our Church enjoy purity And how long should the Gospel be preached in power in any eminent place in the Land How long should Gospel freedom be keeped up the Gospel flourish And if all this should be whom have we to thank therefore but the Indulged Would not they have all doing as they have done Are not they a sad preparative May not their example prove noxious to the following Generations And whither shall we then cause our shame to go 4. According to this Example the Magistrate might quickly banish all purity out of the Kingdom and turne all the Land over into Popery by sending all the Orthodox Ministers to the Highlands or to some one small and inconsiderable corner of the Land according as in the late Act of Indulgence so many scores were cantonized to one or two Diocies and suffering Papists to preach where they pleased or fixing Popish Priests in every Paroch And if such a thing were intended hath not the Indulgence broken the ice thereunto 5. Nay we see that in the very Indulgence some such designe is carried on foâ— by it the far greatest part of the Non-conforme Ministers were Cantonized and shut-up in twoes or threes together in one Corner of the Countrey and all the rest of the Land was given over to the will of Prelates Papists or Quakers And if all the Ministers named had followed the example of others what had become ere this day of the greatest part of the Land Was then this Indulgence the thing which the General good of the Church and Kingdom called for Were the Indulged put in best capacitie by the Indulgence to serve their Generation according to the necessity of the day Was this the only duty of the day Or did the Lord call for nothing else Well is it that we have such a proof of the contrary this day legible upon the face of that Land and that the very prisones can declare some other thing 6. It being beyond all doubt now that the Assemblies of the Lord's people in Houses or Fields to partake of pure Ordinances with full freedom of Conscience hath been signally owned and blessed of the Lord and hath proven a mean to spread the knowledge of God beyond any thing that appeared in our best times whereby the Lord preached from heaven to all who would hear and understand it that this way of preaching even this way was that wherein the Soul of God took pleasure and to which he called all who would be co-workers with him this day to help forward the Interest of his Crown and Kingdom Now when in despight of this signal appearance of God and out of enmitie to the good done in these meetings wayes of cruelty are fallen upon to suppress utterly all these Randezvouzes of the Lord's Militia and these coming short of effectuating the thing Midianit ish wiles are fallen upon of which this of the Indulgence was the chiefe of purpose to keep the Countrey free of these solemne occasions of the Lords Appearances can it be thought to be the duty of the day and that which the Lord is calling to to contribute our concurrence unto these stratagemes of Satan welcome an Indulgence devised of purpose to destroy the work of God I leave the thoughts of this to themselves when they are thinking of appearing before their judge 7. I shall not insist on that yoke of bondage in the matter of stipends which was hereby begun to be wreathed about the necks of Ministers to the inexpressible hurt and prejudice of the Church See what was remarked in the 4. place on the Kings Letter 8. It will be more to our purpose as in it self it is of greater moment to consider how hereby a Path-way was made to make all the Ministers of the Land in all time coming wholly subject unto the Council even in all Matters Ecclesiastick whether concerning Doctrine Discipline or Manners For hereby they became wholly subject unto the Council as being accountable only to them and were so wholly at their Devotion that they were to stay in the places where they were set only dureing their pleasure and so might be couped from Kirk to Kirk as some of them were no otherwayes than the Prelates Curates are at the pleasure of the Prelate Thus was the yce broken to the bringing of the Ministrie under perpetual Slaverie and what should then become of the glorious Liberty of our Church 9. Nay as we saw above attested by open Printed Proclamations of the Council there was in this Indulgence a base and sinful compacting for the same which to me is the basest of Simoneie A conditional accepting of the supposed favour and as it were a formal barganing for it by taking the liberty to preach and performe the work of the Ministrie on sinful Conditions even such Conditions as contained a giving up of the Cause to
the Severities exerced against the same if I say this be made probable and likely we will have upon this account a new Head of Arguments against the accepting of this Indulgence which deserve some Consideration here What have been the Tossings Harassings Afflictions Vexations and Sufferings that the Servants and People of God have met with because of their following of this Necessary and Signally blessed Duty none of the Inhabitants of the Land can be ignorant of and the Jailours can abundantly witness unto this very day together with the Barbarous Souldiers who readily did and do put in execâ—tion the cruel Commands of their enraged Masters And it would be too long and too Tragical an Historie to make a full and faithful relation of the same It would be too tedious also to make mention only of all the Acts Edicts Proclamations and other things of that kinde that have been made and emitted against the saâ—ds Meetings breathing forth nothing but the height of cruelty and rage imposeiâ—g exorbitant fines upon all Persons found at those Meetings threatning death to he Ministers giving encouragement to Souldiers to apprehend the hearers by the pomise of their fines and escheats and to apprehend some certain Ministers by the Promise of two thousand Merks and to apprehend all others preaching at â—uch Meetings by the Promise of one thousand Merks besides other rewards It wâ—uld likewayes prove too long to give but an accâ—unt of the Letters of Inter commuâ—ing against multitudes both of Ministers and Professours simply upon this account Datted Aug. 6. 1675. Whereby all the Subjects were prohibited to Reset Supply or Intercommune with any of the Persons therein mentioned or to haue intelligence with them by Word Write or Message or furnish them with Meat Drink House Harbour Victual or any other thing useful under the paine of being repute aiâ—t and part with them in the Crimes of Rebellion mentioned and pursued therefore with all rigour Only from all these it is manifest what an eye-sore these Meetings have been and yet are unto the Rulers and with what edge and eagerness they have laboured by all meanes possible to suppress and quite destroy the same This premised in order to our Designe here we desire that these following Particulars may be pondered 1. It hath been manifest above both from the Kings Letter and other Particulars beside the notoriety of the thing it self that the Indulgence was contrived of purpose for this special end among others to bear down and extinguish these Meetings nicknamed Conventicles 2. It is certaine that all such as have accepted of the Indulgence have for the most part laid themselves wholly aside from this necessary work of the Lord this day and have received a Letter of ease from this troublesome and hazardous imployment of carrying the newes of the Gospel from mountaine to hill to which the Lord is calling aloud this day and graciously encouraging by his wonderful blessing the laboures of these few who yet venture and have given themselves to rest under the covering of the Supremacy 3. It is likewise manifest that if all the rest of the Ministers named in the Councils Acts had done as they have done and had accepted of that supposed favour and submitted unto their Order of Indulgence and Confinement there had been few left to have carried on that great work of the day which appeareth to be the work that God is in a special manner calling unto 4. If all had refused to accept of that Indulgence and had concurred with one shoulder to carry on that great and necessary work of the Lord the Rulers had been utterly frustraâ— in their designe of banishing these Solemne Assemblies these Royal Rendevouzes of Christs militia and these solemne occasions of the Lords appearing in the power of his grace out of the Land And on the other hand the accepting of the Indulgence hath encouraged them in their wicked Purpose fortified them in their Resolution and animated them unto a following forth of their Designe by all their cruel Acts and bloudy Executions 5. By accepting of the Indulgence not only have the Accepters laid themselves aside from this necessary and blessed Work but likewise all these people over whom they are set by the Council are with-held or withdrawn from waiting upon the Lord at these blessed and wonderfully countenanced Occasions Whereby the Followers of the Lord are broken divided and weakened and so become a more ready prey unto the Adversary For 6. If all the outted Ministers had faithfully and diligently gone about this Work and had for that end divided themselves thorrow the Land the work had been more succesful the Followers of the Lord had multiplied and had remained unite in one intire Body the Adversaries had been put to a demurre and had not gote such Advantage as now they have gote and the people of the Lord had had more Freedom to serve him and had been more secured from Danger Whileas now when reâ—â—cted to a few number their Assemblings are the more laid open unto the persecution and fiery pursuite of Rulers and exposed more to hazards and grievous Difficulties as experience hath proven 7. Wherefore seing by accepting of and submitting to this Indulgence there is a contributing of a concurrence with the Rulers in their wicked Designe of banishing all these Meetings out of the Land which manifestly had been defate by a plaine positive refusal of that supposed favour and seing the same is so inconsistent with the keeping up of these Meetings and infallibly effectuateth a relinquishing of them by many and a diminishing of their number it is undeniable that the Accepters of this Indulgence have in so far and upon the matter condemned all those Meetings and consequently approven all the Opprobâ—ious and false Epithers given unto them and persecution made against them by the Rulers 8. Having thus exposed the residue of the faithful of the land who through grace are resolved to follow the Lord with full purpose of heart unto the furie of the Adversaire They become interpretatively guilty of and accessorie to all the Cruelties and Barbarities used and exercised upon Ministers and Professours for adherâ—ing unto that way These things might be further enlarged and exaggerated but I choose only to mention them and proceed XII How Scandalous and Offensive it is The reall ground of Offence that was in the accepting of this Indulgence and the Scandal that was thereby given to one and other is valide enough alone to militate against it and sufficient to condemne it unto all who understand the nature of Scandal and the dreadfulness of the sin of giving scandal by any thing we do whether as to Matter or Manner and who remember what Christ and His Apostles have said of this Matth. 18 6 7 8 9. with the Parallel Places Mark 9 42. and Luk. 17 1 2. Rom. 14. throughout 1 Cor. 8 and 9 and 10. Chapters And there is no way to eviâ—e
Minister To acquaint the Councel of their Names and place of their Imprisonment that such course may be taken with them as they shall think fit And further the said Sheriffs are ordained and commanded to enquire how the Ministers confined and allowed to preach in their several Jurisdictions do obey the Rules prescribed to them and contained in another Act of Councel of the date of thir presents and whereof extracts are to be sent to the several Magistrates foresaid who are hereby appointed to report to the Councel there anent every six moneths and betwixt and the first of june next their diligence in the execution of the order contained in the Act certifying them that if they shall be negligent or remisse in the execution of the orders given to them herein or falzying to give in the said account they shall be proceeded against and censured according to their demerites By this Act we see what course was laid down to have all the outted Ministers cantonized and brought under restraint that so the Word might also be under bonds and restricted to these bounds to which they had been pleased to extend the Indulgence We see also how the Councel looked upon such as had been ordained but not by Prelates and how they were to be persecuted by their Order We see also how the ministery of those who were thus to confine themselves in places where Indulged men were is restricted by their Prescriptions in its exercise But by the preceeding Act of Indulgence we saw a number of Ministers Indulged who were to repaire to the several places specified and to this end every one of them were to receive their own particular Act or Summonds to this effect Halyroodhouse Septemb. 3. 1672. THe Lord Commissioner's Grace and the Lords of his Maj. Privie Councel considering the disorders which have lately been by frequent and numerous Conventicles being willing to remeed so great an evil in the gentlest manner could be thought on and his Maj. Commissioner being sufficiently instructed herein They do hereby order and appoint ... to repaire to the Paroch Kirk of ... and to remaine therein confined permitting and allowing him to preach exercise the other parts of the Ministerial function in the said Paroch with ... formerly Indulged But where no Minister had been formerly Indulged this last clause was left out As also there was sent alongs with this act to every one of them an extract of the Councels Instructions of the date thereof Here we see the Former Injunctions renewed and pressed on all formerly and now of late indulged and moreover we finde some new Injunctions superadded to wit concerning the time of their celebrating of the Lords Supper of purpose to hinder the greater Good and Edification of the people who used to go to other Churches than their owne to partake of that Comforting and Strengthening Ordinance Whereby also an insupportable yock was put upon their necks to celebrat the Sacrament at times as to some in particular possiblie most unseasonable when neither they nor their people were in case and when the season of the year might prove an impediment in Landward Kirks though none to Towns And further they are injoined not to preach without the Walls of the Kirk nay not so much as in their House such hatred and indignation had these Rulers at all House and Field Meetings that they would not suffer even their own licensed and warranted Ministers to do any thing that might carry the least appearance of any such thing So they are ordered to acknowledge their subjection unto the Prelates Courts by referring cases usually referable to Presbyteries unto them as also to testifie their acknowledgement of the Prelates Courts by paying their proportion of the Salarie now alledged to be due to the Clerks of these Courts Any may see what snares were laid here and what obedience was given hereunto by these Ministers who accepted of the benefite of this Indulgence I know not It is sufficient for me to note here that these Injunctions flow from an Usurped Power and are not proper Magistratical Acts circa sacra but Intrinsecally Church-Constitutions at least several of them and therefore the accepting of these which were a piece of the complex Business of the Indulgence as tendered and granted by the Rulers bewrayed their falling off in so faâ— from former Principles owned and sworne unto And beside this addition of New Instructions did show that the Councel looked upon them as their Curats and as Obnoxious to their Orders in Church-Matters and what concerneth the manner and way of their exerceing of the ministerial function as the other Curats are unto the Prelates or as â—ver any Minister was obnoxious to the Canons and Constitutions of General or Provincial Assemblies in our best times And let me enquire of these Accepters how they think such an act as this had it been done while the Church was in possession of her Power would have been looked upon And how our General Assemblie would have looked upon such Ministers as should have submitted unto the like then as they have done now I suppose they will think that if they had done so they would have met with no less than Deposition And then let them consider if that can be a commendable duty now which would then have been such a Transgression And let them say whether or not such do them great wrong who adhering to their former Principles must needs look on them as ipso jure deposed It deserves to be noted here that a Lybel was formed against one Mr William Weer at this time Indulged and permitted to preach in West-calder and he was looked upon by the Councel as one that most basely slighted their Favour and Indulgence and was severely to be punished because he thought it not sufficient to enter unto that charge meeâ—ly upon the Act of the Councel but to satisfie himself the more as to his ground of enâ—rie did receive a call from some of the Heritors and People and because in his first preaching to that people he declared his adherence to the Soâ—emne League and Covenant and that he did not acknowledge the power either of King of Bishop in matters belonging to the Church of Christ And in his next Sermon said that neither King nor Councel were the Treasurers of the Gospel or of the Ministrie of it And because the following day he preached against the Supremacie in matters Ecclesiastical and against Prelacy And because he had in preaching declared that the Civil Magistrate had no power to appoint a day to be kept holy and observed in holy worshipe By which we see That the Councel taketh upon them to make this man a Minister though they plainely shew that he was never owned as a Minister by the Church-Judicatories Further we see That the Councels Act thus ordering these Indulged Ministers to the respective Kirks was all the call they had or that they would acknowledge should be had or
be said Then quo jure By what Law can the Church be robbed of this Power And by what right can the judgement of this matter be committed in prima inflantia at the very first unto the Magistrat or rather wholly and solely unto him For thus the Ministers are altogether excluded when it is said that the Magistrate can give Instructions in these matters For the granting of this power unto the Magistrate will necessarily bring the examination and judgment of Ministers as to the Acts of the exercise of their function unto the Civil Court either wholly or in the first place at least contrare to the Orthodox Anti-Erastian Doctrine I think then that all who minded honest and plaine dealing in this day of tryal and of witnessing to the truth and to that truth that so neerly conceâ—ned Christ as King and Head of the Church should have consented unto this Assertion and in plaine termes have told the Councel That they were to receive no Instructions from the Magistrat to regulat them in the exercise of their Ministrie He tels us next that Some supposed this question was determined in the Concessions that were in the Introductoâ—y part of the paper wherein the Magistrat's power objectively Eccâ—esiastical is asserted Buâ— if all those concessions set down in the Introductory part of the Paper issued in the clearing of the Magistrates power to be objectively Ecclesiastical they expressed nothing to weaken the fore-mentioned Clause For who will say that because the Magistrat's power is objectively Ecclesiastical Therefore he can give Instructions to regulat Ministers in the exercise of their Ministrie It were as good a consequence to say The Magistrat is keeper of both the Tables of the Law Ergo he may set down Instructions Limitations and Rules shewing when the Law oâ— God shall oblige as the Law of God and when not And to lay Because he hath the Scriptures for the object of his care Therefore he may set down Rules how this or that Prophecie this or that doctrinal Book or History should be understood and Interpreted So to say Because his care reacheth to Doctrine and he must countenance the preaching of Truth and discountenance the preaching of Errour Ergo he may appointe Ministers what to preach and what not and command them to preach of the Seven deadly sinnes and not of Predestination as the King said in his Letter to the Archbishop of York And because his power objectively reacheth to the Worship of God therefore he may do as Ieroboam did So because Discipline and Government are also the object of his care therefore he may give Rules and Instructions how the Chuâ—ch shall be governed that is to say whether by a Pope or by Prelates or by the People or by Himself and his Under-magistrates Yea and from this power objectively Ecclesiastical it may as well be Inferred that he may regulat Controversies and other debates handled in Church Assemblies and prescribe what Arguments pro and what Arguments contra shall be used what sins shall be so and so Censured c. Yea in a word we may as well inferre from this objectively Ecclesiastical power all that is summarily contained in the Explicatory Act of Supremacy As that he may give Instructions to regulat Ministers in the exercise of their Ministrie How did this debate issue He saith in end some made a motion which with common consent so far as could be discerned was embraced And what was this That the Assertion should be thus qualified That we would not receive from the Magistrate Instructions Formally and Intrinsecally Ecclesiastical to regulat us c. Which in my judgment was either nothing to the purpose or which is worse was a betraying of the Cause For either this was understood in reference to these Rules which the Councel prescribed in their Act Sept. 2.1672 or not If not what was it to the purpose then in hand If it was understood with this reference then either hereby they meant to justifie and defend their refusing to accept of these Instructions or to justifie their accepting of them but not of others If the former be said Then 1. Why was Mr Blair so much condemned who did but refuse the accepting of these that had been expressed in the Act and were then exhibited 2. Why was it not plainly affirmed that they would not receive these that the Councel tendered unto them 3. Why was there so much debate in private about a general Thesis when the clear assertion of the Hypothesis would have salved both Credite and Conscience If the Assertion was thus qualified to justifie their accepting of these Rules then sure the cause was betrayed And if they were clear to accept of these Rules what necessity was there for this general blinde If they intended it for a Testimony was that a fiâ— season for a Testimonie when they were resolved to yeeld to all that was at that time desired without hinck or scruple Further I suppose it wil be found that some of these Instructions were indeed formally and intrinsecally Ecclesiastical And if these were excepted they should have been particularly mentioned that all might have been clear for in Testimonies we cannot be plaine and clear enough If they were not clear to embrace these Instructions why did they not unanimously agree to tell this in plaine termes And if reasons of their refusal had been demanded ingenuity and plain dealing had furnished them with reasons sufficient taken both from the matter of the Rules the manner of enjoining them and from the sad consequences of obeying them beside several other circumstances not to be despised When all agreed unto the Assertion thus qualified and so to the whole Paper that was drawn up he tels us there fell out another question whether that Paper should be made use of as a Directory when they should be called to speak before the Councel or if it should be subscribed by all and so given in as their answere and sense of these Matters This was no doubt a weighty debate and such as might have occasioned their breach among themselves But when the Lord is away what Light or Counsel can remaine Well what came of this question The generality he saith were indeed for the subscribing of it Which I confess I would not have been for Nor yet for using of it as a Directorie for reasons already given But now the generality being for the subscribing of it what became of it Was it subscribed indeed No saith he and thus the Minor part prevailed But he saith there were Reasons moving hereunto And I shall be glade to hear these The first is One who was then withdrawn about some necessary affairs had declared before upon reasons ponderous to him that he was not free in his mind to subscribe any such Paper at that time It seemeth strange to me that the unclearness of one should have proven such an effectual meane to stop the rest in that whereabout they had
Apostles tels us that such Commands are not lawful nor to be obeyed for they preached publickly where occasion offered notwithstanding of the prohibition of the Magistrate 4. The Magistrates lawful Power reacheth privat places as well as publick places as D. Voetius maintaineth against the Arminians If he may hinder an Heretick from preaching Heresie publickly so may he hinder him from doing it from house to house And therefore by the same Argument that he may hinder publick preaching he may hinder the whole exercise of the Ministrie Obj. 3. Our Second Book of Discipline Chap 10. granteth That Magistrates may place Ministers when the Kirk is corrupted and all things are out of Order And so it is now with us Answ. Yet it is added in that same place That where the Ministery of the Kirk is once lawfully Constitute and they that are placed do their Office faithfully all Godly Princes and Magistrates ought to heer and obey their voice and reverence the Majestie of the Son of God speaking in them And though our Divines grant that when the Church is not Constituted or is wholly corrupted Godly Magistrates after the example of some Godly Kings of Iudah and diverse Godly Emperours and Kings also in the Light of the New Testament as the words run in the place cited in the Second Book of Discipline may do much more than at other times Yet I suppose none for shame can make use of such a Concession now seing our Church was a Constituted and well ordered Church and had all her Rights and Privileges ratified and confirmed by Law and all the Magistrates of the Land from the highest to the lowest were under Solemne Vowes and Covenants to maintaine her Constitution and Order And what could be more desired in order to the settling of a Church Whence then the Confusion that now is is come we all know And when the Magistrates with their own hand overturne all shall this Objection be made use of to countenance their After-practices That were indeed to teach Magistrates a way how to usurpe and take to themselves all Church-Power Viz. Let them once by Iniquity and Tyranny break the Glorious Order of the Church and bring all into Confusion and then forsooth they may warrantably assume to themselves and exercise all Church Power according to their minde Obj. 4. Hezekiah did apply his Regal Power to the Reformation of the Levites and to the purging of the Temple 2 Chron. 29 v. 5. and did also appointe the Courses of the Priests and Levites every man according to his Service 2 Chron. 31. So likewise did Iosiaâ— 2 Chron. 35. Answ. Neither of these Kings did destroy the Order and Beauty of the Church but reformed what their Predecessours had corrupted Neither of these did take away the just and legal Power of the Priests as our Rulers have taken away Presbyteries and their Power that they might exerce it themselves as our Rulers do immediatly what Presbyteries should do in the matter of the Indulgence Neither of these Kings gave new Instructions out of their own Heads unto the Priests and Levites that they might thereby formally subject the exercise of the Ecclesiastick Power unto themselves as our Rulers have done But beside what hath been said to this before I shall only subjoine the Answer of Worthie Mr G. Gillespie in his Aarons Rod Blossoming Pag. 138.139 Hezekiah saith he in exhorting the Levites to sanctifie themselves and to cleanse the Temple doth require no other thing than the Law of God did require Num. 8 v. 6 11 15. and 18 v. 32. Which Hezekiah pointeth at 2 Chron. 29 11. And why should nor the Magistrat Command Ministers to do the duties of their Calling according to the Word of God As for his appointing of the Courses of the Priests and Levites he did nothing therein but what the Lord had commanded by his Prophets 2 Chron. 29 25. The like I answere concerning King Iosiah for it is recorded that what he did was according to the writting of David and Salomon 2 Chron. 25 4. and according to the Commandement of David and Asaph and Heman and Ieduthun the Kings Seer Ver. 15 as it is written in the Book of Moses Vers. 12. thus he and thus wiâ—hall we see how impertinent this is to the present purpose Obj 5. But what can be said of such of the Indulged as were sent to their own Charges Several of the Arguments adduced cannot strick against them Answer Though some of the Arguments will not militate against them directly yet the most part will And further let these things be considered 1. That it was a meer accidental thing that they were sent to their own Charges viz. because at that time they were vacant and so had they not been vacant these Ministers had been appointed and ordered either to go elsewhere or not indulged at all 2. They were not barely permitted to go to their own Charges by rescinding the Act of Glasgow or taking off the Sentence of banishment by vertue of which they were put from the Actual Exercise of their Ministrie in their own Congregations which might easily have been done if the Council had intended no actual Invasion of the Power of the Church nor had designed the Subjection of the Exercise of the Ministrie unto their own Authority But 3. They get the same immediat Right to the exercise of their Ministerial Function which others gote who were ordered to other places and this Right is nothing but the Councils Order and Appointment 4. And thus in a manner their case is worse than the case of such as were sent to new flocks for upon the matter they did renounce their old right to the exercise of the Ministery in those Congregations where once they had been settled according to the Order of the Gospel and took a new Right from the Magistrate and acted upon his Order 5. And why may they not also repaire to the Presbyteries and Synods upon the Councils Order as well as to these Congregations seing they had a right formerly to exerce the Ministerial Function in the one as well as in the other and the Magistrats discharge can no more invalidate the right to the one than to the other Obj. 6. If it be a ground sufficient to reject the benefite of this Indulgence because it is supposed to flow from the Supremacy then much more might we refuse to preach if the Magistrat should command it expresly by vertue of his Supremacy And if this be yeelded then it is manifest that the Magistrate if he had a mind to banish all preaching out of his Dominions needeth use no other medium than onely tell the Ministers that he commanded them to preach by vertue of his Supremacy Ans. 1. We do not condemne the accepting of the Indulgence upon a meer supposal that it floweth from the Supremacy having seen and manifested what a real relation it hath thereunto and dependance thereupon 2 Nor is its being a
all the outted Ministers now on life were restored to their former Charges many places would remaine void of faithful Pastors Now this should be guarded against that the more carefully at this time when by Reason of the prevailing course of Apostasie so great a part of the Land hath been drowned in Ignorance and led away with a prejudice against the work of God For every Minister of the Church of Scotland is bound before God to do what in him lyeth to remedie this evil If any should say what can be more required of a Minister at any time than to be faithful in his particular station seing he hath no oversight over the whole Church and he is not to carry as an Apostle I Answere Every Minister hath a pâ—ior relation to the Church universal and a neer relation to the particular National Church whereof he is a Member and this Relation is antecedent to his relation to a particular flock in order of Nature And as in a Church well ordered and constiâ—uted the edification of the whole requireth that each Minister be particularly fixed in the ordinary exercise of his Ministrie to a particular Charge with a capacitie to officiat elsewhere as providence calleth But in a time of general corruption the edification of the whole body requireth that Ministers when few be not restricted or limited to particular places to the manifest and inevitable prejudice of the whole or of the major part of the Church Seing then providence hath nâ—w loosed these Ministers from the actual exercise of their Ministrie in their respective paroches I think they are called to consider how and on what termes they bâ—come fixed againe especially to see that their fixing be not to the undeniable prejudice of the Church National and be not a virtual denying of their relation to the 〈◊〉 Further by this confinement they should be out of all capacitie to meet together for the exercise of discipline in Presbyteries and Synods conforme to our pâ—inciples as also to ordaine a succeeding Ministery and to provide for other vacanâ— places which this time calleth for as also they should be out of a capacity to help others at Communions according to our laudable custome and to preachto such as are under Soul murderers and Traitours to Christ and his Interest in this day of deâ—ection 4 If it be without this Confinement then it will either be with some one or other of the Prescriptions Rules Instructions and Conditions with which the present Indulgence is clogged or not If it be then the same reasons that militat against the present Indulgence upon that account will equally militate against this 5. If it should be free of all these entanglements and grounds of scrupling I leave it to Christian prudence to consider Whether as matters now stand the Lord be not rather calling them to preach his name on the mountaines seeing this way hath been so signally blessed of the Lord and is daily more countenanced of him than their labouring in their respective Particular Charges usually hath been and seing it is undeniable that the Adversaries are not as yet really repenting of their opposition to the work of God and therefore that any such permission if granted could not be supposed to flow from any love to the Prosperous progress of the Gospel but rather from the contrary as is clear in the Indulgence already granted and to flow from a purpose to entangle and ensnare yea and endanger both Soul and Body if not from a purpose or designe to destroy all at once Obj. 8. The benefite of freedome and liberty of preaching the Gospel is so great and the duty is so lawful and necessary and of so great import to souls that many things may be warrantably comported with in order to the obtaining of it Ans. I willingly grant the lawfulness and necessity of this important duty of preaching the Gospel But I see not the strength of this Argument for the Gospel was never in bondes except by our timorousness and sinful relinquishing of duty because of a supposed Lion in the way The Gospel might still have been preached with no greater Inconvenience than it was by the Apostles and others in the primitive times and possibly with much more success than it hath been done by the Indulgence And every one may see that the Indulgence was granted by such as did not designe the Gospels advancement but the imprisoning of the same rather with the preachers there of both by confineing the Persons Indulged and by hindering so far as they could the remarkable progress of the Gospel in the blessed Assemblies in Fields and Houses This objection then can have no force seing the Gospel was and might sâ—ill have been preached without this Indulgence though it is true with less ease peace and quietness to the preachers and hearers yet I am sure with more inward quietness of mind and acceptance with God and with more ground of hope of a rich blessing to follow their paines as experience hath proven Unless it be said that the Gospel should not have been preached without freedom and liberty granted by the Magistrat and if this be said not only shal all those who have preached at Conventicles as they are called be condemned but even Christ himself and his Apostles who preached to few Assemblies but such as might have been called Conventicles shall be condemned also Obj. 9. The outed Ministers having hitherto groaned under Edicts which they no otherwayes acknowledged than by a submission purely passive the present licence abstracted from its offensive circumstances is such a relaxation that if onely limited to its rigide measures by casual impossibility it would not be rejected Wherefore unless it be proven that the use-making of this favour doth Homologate with these exorbitancies the rest is nothing material Ans. The outted Ministers groaning under and no otherwayes acknowledging than by submission purely passive such Edicts as respected their Persons and Estates firstly and Principally can say nothing for an active submission unto such Edicts as more neerly relate to their Office and Function or for acknowledgment of such Edicts as are made and emitted by such as act from a Principle of Usurpation and in order to the strengthening of themselves in the same seing the difference is vast betwixt an Active and a Passive Submission and an acknowledgement herein by an Active Submission contributeth to the iniquous ends proposed by the Supremacy which is sufficiently confirmed by the Magistrat's projecting in this offer made and accepted his further Establishment in the Usurpation 2. Hence we see that this Licence as it is called if not abstracted from its offensive circumstances will be granted to be such a Relaxation that though limited to its rigide measures even by a casual impossibility could hardly be accepted And though in our imaginations we may abstract Actions from their offensive circumstances yet in point of Practice of moral Actions such abstractions cannot be
it is well enough known tha◠〈◊〉 the first not a few Ministers were in the dark as to the question of hearing of the Curats and upon one ground or other did not perceive that peopâ—e were called of God to withdraw from the obtruded Hirelings so durst-not positiâ—ely advise thereunto who now I hope will be as loath to advise people to forsake other occasions and go hear the Curats And what wonder if the matter was so as to the Indulged Seven or Eight yeers ago Obj. 3. But till of late that some few inconsiderat Persons took this in their head to preach against the Indulgence and to cry-out against the unlawfulness of hearing of the Indulged as if that had been the only thing necessary for which many even of the Non-Indulged are offended with them there was not so much as a murter heard but people heard the Indulged without scruple and were edified by their Ministrie Ans. The Curats might alleadge the same as well as the Indulged But as it would not help them so I suppose It can not well help the Indulged Whether these Persons be considerat or inconsiderat I am not fit to judge to their own Master they stand or fall only I wish that such who call them Inconsiderat would examine their grounds remember that judge not lest ye be judged c. If this be founded upon some expressions of theirs whether true or false I know not I wish that the Expressions of others gave not ground for the same judgment I know not a few are offended with them but considering what is said above concerning the sinfulness of the Indulgence c. I dar not be offended with them I would faine hope that second thoughts of the matter shall worke a change on these Brethren But must rather blesse the Lord on their behalfe judge them worthie of praise who over the belly of so many discouragments did set the trumpet to their mouth to shew Scotland the Ministerie and People thereof that great sin and this I know is conâ—istent with their insisting upon the one thing necessary which I hope also their practice declareth and the fruits of their labour proclaime But as to the long silence that hath been I shall say little yet it is known that at the very beginning people were calling the Indulged the Councils Curats how it came that this spark did not break forth into a general flame I shall not enquire acquiescing in this That the Lord had a further discovery to make For had the first Ten who were Indulged been thus discountenanced we had seen no moe accepting of that supposed favour yea the first accepters had quickly shaken that onerous favour off their shoulders It may be also that some suppressed their judgment concerning the not-hearing of these Indulged or did not countenance any such motion when made either out of a preposterous affection and tenderness to the Brethren whom they honoured and much esteemed and that deservedly for their eminent Enduements and sometimes Usefulness unto the Church or out of a tender care of keeping up of Union and guarding against all motions apparently tending to troublesome Distractions Divisions or upon some other account best known to themselves Neither is it unlike that many were really in the dark as to the thing But however light is light whoever they be that bring it to us and as God may Imploy whom He will to this enâ— so how inconsiderable so ever the Instruments be who are imployed and whether they come sooner or latter the light when it is come should be welcomed because of Him that sent it yea and embraced with thankfulness and with humble submission Obj. 4. All or most of the Non-Indulged Faithful and Zealous Ministers in the Land are for hearing of the Indulged and only a few and these of the younger sort with the ignorant people are against it Answ. Though I would hope few should lay any weight on this Objection and it were enough to desire such who did lay any weight thereon to consider Iob. 7 v. 47 38 49. with Mr. Hutcheson's Notes thereupon specially the 7. and 9. Yet I shall only say That an Impartial Observer will finde that for the most part in all the steps of our trial since this last overthrow came God hath made use of the nothings to break the ice to others Holy is our Soveraigne who doth what He will This might be made out by Instances but I suppose the matter is so manifest that I need not insist thereupon the matter about hearing of the Curats being a sufficient evidence of what I have said Obj. 5. Now when we are in hazard to be over-run with Popery is it seasonnable that such questions should be started to breake the remnant in pieces and thereby to make all a prey for the man of sin Were it not better that we were all united as one to withstand that Inundation Answ. I grant the apprehensions of the Man of sins's stretching out his wings filling the breadth of Immanuel's land seemeth to me not altogether groundless yea it is much to be feared that by Popery and Bloud the Lord shall avenge the quarrel of His Covenant and the contempt of His Gospel And therefore I judge it were our duty this day to be preparing ourselves to meet the Lord thus coming to be avenged on a generation of His wrath with ropes about our necks giving Him the glory of His Righteousness and acknowledging ourselves the basest of sinners that so we may be in case to say in the day when the small remnant of the glory that is yet to be seen on the mountains shall depart out of sight Blessed be the Glory of the Lord from his place Our Union while the accursed thing is among us will be but a conspiracy and will really weaken us before the Lord. If we be not tender of Christ's Headship and of what depends thereupon and of the least pin of his Tabernacle pitched among us how can we expect His help when we are to run with the horsemen Will they not have most peace in that day who have been Jealous for the Lord of hosts and for his Crown Interest And who knoweth but they shall finde a shelter and a chamber of Protection in the day when he overflowing scourge shall come who are now following the Lord and his Glory through Mountains and Valleyes and are upon that account suffering Tossings Hardships and Harrassings How little security I pray shall the wings of the Supremacie be able to give in that day our Union in Duty and upon the old grounds of our received and sworne Principles and Maximes would prove our strength But if this shall not be had as then every one may certainly conclude that there is a dreadful stroke at the doores and that this division upon such an account is a certaine fore-runner of a dark and dismal Dispensation so it will be every mans duâ—y who would have peace in the day of God's contending against a generation of Backsliders and Revolters to be mourning for the abominations of the Land and for this of the Indulgence among the rest and to be adhereing to the Lord and unto our Principles which the Lord hath owned and countenanced though he should in a manner be left alâ—â—e Will not I pray many of these who have complied with Prelacie and with the courses that have been carried on profess an abhorrence at Popery And is this ground sufficient for us to think of uniting with them notwithstanding of all they have done that we may be the more fortified to withstand that torrent Alas this our strength will prove our weakness Let us remember that Esai 8 ver 11 12 13 14. For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people saying Say not a confederacy to all them to whom this people shall say a confederacy Neither feare ye their fear nor be afraid Sanctifie the Lord of hosts himself and let him be your fear and let him be your dread And he shall be for a Sanctuary c. It were more sutable for us to be considering that word Amos 4. v. 12.13 Therefore thus will I do unto thee and because I will do this unto thee prepare to meet thy God O Israel for lo he that formeth the Mountains and createth the winde and declareth unto man what is his thought that maketh the morning darkness and â—readeth upon the high places of the earth The Lord the God of hosts is his Name And in order to a Christian compliance therewith to be separating our selves from every sinful course mourning for our former miscarriages and utterly forsaking such wayes whereby we have provoked the Lord to wrath I shall close with that Zeph. 2 vers 1 2 3. Gather yourselves together yea gather together O Nation not desired Before the decree bring forth before the day passe as the chaff before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you before the day of the Lord's anger come upon you Seek ye the Lord all ye meek of the earth which have wrought his judgment seek righteousness seek meekness it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger And let us all pray Thy Kingdom come and thy Will be done AMEN FINIS Among the persons Indulged Mr Anthony Shaw indulged to Loudown oâ— Newmile and Mr Anthony Murray Indulged to Carmichall are omitted and possibly some others through want of full Information or through the neglect of Transcribers