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great_a decay_n of_o piety_n so_o that_o it_o be_v enough_o to_o make_v a_o man_n be_v nickname_v a_o fanatic_a if_o he_o do_v not_o run_v to_o the_o same_o excess_n of_o riot_n with_o other_o and_o shall_v it_o not_o be_v lament_v for_o it_o can_v be_v deny_v there_o have_v be_v in_o some_o a_o dreadful_a atheistical_a boldness_n against_o god_n some_o have_v dispute_v the_o be_v of_o god_n and_o his_o providence_n the_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n the_o life_n to_o come_v and_o immortality_n of_o the_o soul_n yea_o and_o scoff_v at_o these_o thing_n there_o have_v be_v also_o a_o horrid_a profanation_n of_o the_o holy_a and_o dreadful_a name_n of_o god_n by_o curse_v and_o swear_v ah_o there_o have_v be_v so_o much_o swear_v and_o forswear_n among_o we_o that_o no_o nation_n under_o heaven_n have_v be_v more_o guilty_a in_o this_o than_o we_o some_o by_o swear_v rash_o or_o ignorant_o some_o false_o by_o break_v their_o oath_n and_o impose_v
a_o historical_a relation_n of_o the_o late_a general_n assembly_n hold_v at_o edinburgh_n from_o octob._n 16._o to_o nou._n 13._o in_o the_o year_n 1690._o in_o a_o letter_n from_o a_o person_n in_o edinburgh_n to_o his_o friend_n in_o london_n license_v april_n the_o 20_o 1691._o london_n print_v for_o j._n hindmarsh_n at_o the_o golden-ball_n in_o cornhill_n near_o the_o royal-exchange_n mdcxci_o a_o letter_n from_o edinburgh_n to_o one_o in_o london_n etc._n etc._n sir_n i_o receive_v you_o and_o do_v not_o think_v it_o strange_a that_o those_o of_o england_n be_v so_o desirous_a to_o know_v the_o act_n and_o proceed_n of_o our_o general_n assembly_n in_o scotland_n for_o not_o only_a curiosity_n but_o interest_n may_v prompt_v they_o thereto_o i_o will_v ready_o serve_v you_o in_o this_o matter_n and_o intend_v though_o you_o have_v not_o require_v it_o to_o have_v give_v you_o a_o account_n of_o it_o that_o you_o may_v have_v occasion_n of_o gratify_v your_o worthy_a friend_n and_o acquaintance_n it_o be_v true_a i_o be_v not_o eye-witness_n of_o what_o past_a for_o you_o know_v my_o circumstance_n will_v not_o allow_v that_o and_o the_o brethren_n as_o they_o call_v themselves_o endeavour_v to_o keep_v out_o all_o that_o be_v not_o of_o their_o own_o party_n or_o who_o may_v tell_v tale_n forbid_v the_o keeper_n of_o the_o door_n to_o admit_v any_o without_o a_o leaden_a ticket_n in_o the_o shape_n of_o a_o heart_n which_o be_v the_o pass_n give_v they_o which_o be_v not_o so_o easy_o obtain_v except_o for_o their_o particular_a friend_n and_o if_o any_o of_o the_o episcopal_a party_n be_v discover_v there_o be_v a_o cry_n present_o conformist_n be_v here_o and_o the_o officer_n be_v send_v to_o thrust_v they_o out_o however_o notwithstanding_o of_o this_o strictness_n there_o be_v always_o two_o or_o three_o discreet_a and_o intelligent_a person_n of_o my_o acquaintance_n present_a at_o every_o session_n from_o who_o i_o have_v what_o i_o write_v to_o you_o and_o i_o assure_v you_o that_o you_o may_v trust_v the_o ingenuity_n and_o faithfulness_n of_o the_o relation_n but_o before_o i_o come_v to_o the_o assembly_n itself_o there_o be_v some_o thing_n previous_a to_o it_o which_o you_o ought_v to_o be_v inform_v of_o a_o general_n assembly_n in_o scotland_n you_o know_v be_v much_o of_o the_o same_o nature_n with_o the_o convocation_n in_o england_n or_o a_o national_a council_n and_o of_o no_o less_o authority_n here_o nay_o our_o presbyterian_o exalt_v the_o authority_n of_o their_o assembly_n above_o that_o of_o king_n or_o parliament_n and_o there_o be_v some_o stand_a act_n of_o their_o assembly_n against_o act_n of_o parliament_n and_o which_o discharge_n obedience_n to_o they_o whereupon_o our_o presbyterian_o be_v not_o content_a with_o what_o the_o parliament_n have_v do_v for_o they_o nor_o think_v their_o authority_n sufficient_a for_o set_v up_o their_o government_n they_o require_v a_o general_n assembly_n by_o who_o authority_n which_o with_o they_o be_v supreme_a and_o next_o to_o that_o of_o jesus_n christ_n their_o government_n may_v be_v firm_o establish_v and_o all_o their_o act_n and_o proceed_n ratify_v and_o approve_v by_o it_o yet_o they_o know_v that_o a_o free_a assembly_n of_o the_o clergy_n and_o laity_n throughout_o the_o kingdom_n will_v rather_o defeat_v than_o advance_v their_o design_n therefore_o they_o consider_v how_o they_o may_v prevent_v that_o by_o some_o method_n which_o will_v exclude_v all_o who_o be_v not_o well_o affect_v to_o their_o interest_n or_o zealous_a for_o the_o good_a old_a cause_n in_o order_n hereunto_o they_o prevail_v with_o the_o parliament_n to_o lodge_v the_o whole_a government_n and_o management_n of_o church_n affair_n in_o the_o hand_n of_o those_o few_o old_a preacher_n who_o go_v off_o when_o episcopacy_n be_v reestablish_v an._n 1661._o and_o such_o as_o shall_v be_v admit_v and_o approve_v by_o they_o when_o these_o minister_n off_o the_o episcopal_a persuasion_n who_o have_v comply_v with_o the_o present_a civil_a government_n hear_v this_o they_o think_v themselves_o injure_v and_o therefore_o address_v to_o the_o parliament_n to_o be_v admit_v to_o a_o share_n of_o the_o government_n or_o at_o least_o not_o to_o be_v absolute_o subject_v to_o they_o who_o be_v their_o state_v and_o profess_v enemy_n this_o they_o claim_v as_o due_a to_o they_o not_o only_o upon_o the_o account_n of_o their_o be_v lawful_a minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n but_o also_o upon_o the_o account_n of_o the_o public_a faith_n which_o promise_v they_o protection_n upon_o their_o compliance_n with_o the_o civil_a government_n notwithstanding_o which_o their_o petition_n be_v disdainful_o reject_v and_o the_o act_n continue_v as_o before_o in_o favour_n only_o of_o the_o abovementioned_a presbyterian_a preacher_n by_o which_o mean_v all_o the_o present_a episcopal_a clergy_n and_o such_o of_o the_o laity_n as_o favour_v their_o interest_n and_o have_v comply_v with_o they_o be_v render_v incapable_a of_o bear_v any_o office_n in_o the_o kirk_n and_o of_o sit_v and_o vote_v in_o their_o meeting_n this_o the_o episcopal_a party_n just_o complain_v of_o and_o say_v that_o though_o episcopacy_n be_v abolish_v mere_o upon_o a_o unjust_a and_o false_a pretence_n that_o that_o government_n exercise_v tyranny_n over_o the_o church_n yet_o now_o a_o real_a presbyterian_a tyranny_n be_v establish_v that_o instead_o of_o fourteen_o bishop_n sixty_o be_v set_v up_o who_o will_v lord_n it_o over_o their_o brethren_n more_o imperious_o than_o they_o either_o do_v or_o pretend_v to_o do_v and_o that_o presbyter_n be_v subject_v to_o they_o who_o own_a themselves_o to_o be_v no_o more_o than_o presbyter_n which_o have_v no_o precedent_n in_o the_o catholic_n church_n but_o also_o they_o who_o can_v not_o be_v deny_v to_o be_v lawful_a minister_n be_v exclude_v from_o any_o share_n of_o the_o discipline_n and_o government_n of_o the_o church_n which_o be_v contrary_a to_o the_o very_a principle_n and_o tenet_n of_o the_o presbyterian_o themselves_o who_o make_v every_o private_a minister_n to_o be_v invest_v with_o the_o authority_n of_o rule_v as_o well_o as_o of_o teach_v and_o who_o affirm_v it_o unlawful_a for_o any_o minister_n to_o part_v with_o that_o right_n and_o who_o therefore_o be_v wont_a to_o exclaim_v against_o bishop_n because_o they_o seem_v to_o usurp_v it_o whole_o to_o themselves_o all_o the_o excuse_v make_v for_o this_o be_v that_o they_o can_v no_o otherwise_o make_v their_o government_n sure_a and_o that_o the_o episcopal_a party_n deserve_v to_o be_v thus_o treat_v for_o their_o apostasy_n in_o betray_v and_o renounce_v the_o true_a right_n and_o interest_n of_o the_o church_n by_o comply_v with_o episcopacy_n hence_o it_o be_v infer_v that_o presbyterian_o do_v juggle_v both_o with_o god_n and_o man_n for_o whereas_o they_o will_v have_v the_o world_n believe_v that_o their_o model_n of_o government_n and_o form_n of_o discipline_n be_v so_o much_o of_o divine_a right_n that_o they_o can_v submit_v to_o no_o term_n of_o composition_n with_o man_n about_o they_o so_o when_o it_o make_v for_o their_o interest_n they_o can_v without_o any_o scruple_n introduce_v essential_a alteration_n thereof_o for_o parity_n which_o they_o make_v the_o institution_n of_o christ_n be_v now_o take_v away_o and_o out_o of_o the_o pretend_a exigence_n of_o the_o church_n nine_o hundred_o minister_n be_v suspend_v from_o one_o half_a of_o that_o power_n give_v they_o by_o christ_n which_o at_o other_o time_n be_v say_v to_o be_v so_o essential_a to_o they_o that_o they_o can_v be_v minister_n of_o the_o gospel_n without_o it_o short_o after_o the_o pass_v that_o act_n of_o parliament_n for_o set_v up_o the_o presbyterian_a government_n and_o commit_v the_o care_n and_o management_n thereof_o to_o these_o few_o survive_a presbyterian_a minister_n who_o have_v not_o comply_v with_o episcopacy_n there_o be_v a_o meeting_n at_o edinburgh_n of_o presbyterian_a minister_n and_o lay-elder_n to_o advise_v about_o the_o affair_n of_o the_o kirk_n and_o to_o lay_v down_o method_n how_o a_o general_a assembly_n shall_v be_v call_v and_o constitute_v because_o as_o i_o have_v observe_v one_o can_v not_o be_v have_v according_a to_o their_o mind_n after_o the_o old_a manner_n and_o stand_a rule_n of_o general_a assembly_n by_o virtue_n of_o the_o act_n of_o parliament_n none_o have_v the_o right_a to_o meddle_v with_o the_o government_n and_o affair_n of_o the_o church_n but_o such_o minister_n as_o have_v be_v remove_v by_o the_o restoration_n of_o episcopacy_n and_o certain_o these_o man_n be_v great_o oversee_v when_o they_o part_v with_o that_o privilege_n and_o admit_v other_o to_o share_v with_o they_o before_o they_o have_v settle_v the_o church_n according_a to_o their_o mind_n for_o by_o these_o mean_v they_o be_v overpower_v and_o outvote_v and_o force_v to_o yield_v to_o
see_v there_o be_v so_o much_o babble_n &_o in_o their_o print_a &_o consequent_o more_o deliberate_a discourse_n a_o acquaintance_n of_o you_o have_v make_v a_o rare_a collection_n of_o note_n of_o their_o sermon_n both_o print_v and_o unprint_v to_o which_o i_o refer_v you_o for_o instance_n to_o prove_v the_o truth_n of_o what_o i_o have_v be_v say_v the_o last_o sermon_n that_o be_v publish_v come_v forth_o the_o first_o week_n of_o the_o ass_n the_o author_n be_v one_o mr._n james_n clark_n who_o preach_v in_o the_o meeting_n house_n at_o dumbar_n it_o be_v a_o sermon_n ad_fw-la clerum_fw-la preach_v as_o be_v say_v at_o the_o depose_n of_o the_o parson_n of_o old-hamstocks_a which_o be_v a_o extraordinary_a occasion_n something_o better_a then_o ordinary_a be_v expect_v but_o there_o never_o appear_v a_o more_o silly_a and_o empty_a discourse_n nor_o be_v it_o possible_a that_o you_o can_v conceive_v so_o mean_o of_o it_o as_o it_o deserve_v it_o be_v even_o far_o below_o mr._n andrew_n gray_n sermon_n the_o very_a presbyterian_o who_o gust_n crave_v no_o fine_a thing_n be_v ashamed_a of_o it_o my_o lord_n czawford_n to_o excuse_v it_o lay_v the_o blame_n on_o the_o printer_n and_o complain_v of_o he_o at_o the_o council_n table_n for_o offer_v to_o publish_v it_o without_o a_o licence_n allege_v also_o that_o it_o be_v without_o the_o author_n consent_n and_o that_o the_o copy_n be_v a_o imperfect_a uncorrect_a one_o which_o some_o ignorant_a or_o malicious_a person_n have_v take_v from_o the_o author_n mouth_n but_o when_o the_o printer_n be_v examine_v he_o produce_v a_o authentic_a copy_n from_o the_o author_n himself_o and_o declare_v that_o he_o revise_v the_o sheet_n as_o they_o come_v from_o the_o press_n so_o the_o printer_n be_v free_a of_o the_o fault_n that_o be_v in_o it_o and_o they_o can_v be_v only_o charge_v on_o mr._n clark_n who_o it_o be_v believe_v show_v all_o the_o learning_n and_o eloquence_n he_o be_v master_n of_o but_o it_o be_v fit_a now_o we_o return_v to_o the_o ass_n and_o give_v you_o a_o account_n of_o what_o act_n they_o pass_v for_o regulate_v the_o discipline_n of_o the_o church_n for_o the_o future_a the_o first_o of_o this_o kind_n and_o the_o first_o also_o of_o any_o other_o that_o pass_v in_o the_o ass_n be_v a_o act_n against_o marriage_n without_o public_a proclamation_n as_o also_o against_o the_o private_a administration_n of_o the_o two_o sacrament_n baptism_n and_o the_o lord_n supper_n mr._n gilbert_n rule_v press_v that_o the_o sacrament_n of_o baptism_n may_v not_o at_o all_o be_v administer_v but_o in_o public_a and_o after_o sermon_n and_o call_v the_o private_a administration_n not_o only_o superstitious_a but_o also_o sorcery_n and_o charm_v and_o say_v further_a that_o the_o same_o be_v contrary_a to_o scripture_n and_o antiquity_n mr_n kirkton_n take_v he_o up_o brisk_o and_o say_v that_o be_v disputable_a that_o he_o can_v buckle_v he_o or_o any_o man_n upon_o that_o point_n but_o will_v not_o debate_v it_o now_o he_o add_v that_o by_o their_o rigorous_a imposition_n of_o indifferent_a thing_n he_o have_v lose_v five_o man_n of_o considerable_a note_n the_o last_o week_n and_o conclude_v tho_o there_o be_v a_o thousand_o act_n against_o it_o he_o will_v rather_o baptise_v in_o private_a then_o suffer_v the_o child_n to_o go_v to_o the_o curate_n some_o highland_n minister_n cray_v that_o they_o may_v not_o be_v liable_a to_o that_o act_n because_o it_o be_v impossible_a to_o bring_v all_o the_o child_n of_o their_o parish_n to_o the_o kirk_n by_o reason_n of_o the_o vast_a distance_n some_o of_o their_o people_n live_v at_o from_o they_o but_o whether_o they_o intend_v to_o give_v a_o dispensation_n be_v not_o express_v the_o moderator_n to_o excuse_v their_o own_o practice_n heretofore_o say_v there_o be_v a_o distinction_n both_o of_o time_n and_o place_n for_o say_v he_o in_o time_n of_o persecution_n i_o think_v a_o honest_a minister_n ride_v on_o the_o way_n may_v go_v into_o a_o man_n house_n baptise_v a_o bairn_n and_o come_v out_o and_o take_v his_o horse_n again_o though_o while_o they_o be_v under_o restraint_n they_o make_v no_o scruple_n of_o baptise_v private_o the_o child_n of_o those_o of_o their_o own_o persuasion_n yet_o now_o they_o refuse_v to_o baptize_v any_o except_o in_o public_a nor_o will_v they_o do_v it_o but_o when_o there_o be_v a_o sermon_n and_o they_o be_v so_o strict_a upon_o the_o point_n that_o they_o suffer_v the_o child_n to_o die_v rather_o then_o slacken_v their_o rigour_n in_o the_o country_n the_o benefit_n of_o baptism_n can_v be_v only_o have_v on_o sunday_n because_o then_o only_o there_o be_v preach_v and_o if_o child_n can_v live_v so_o long_o they_o must_v take_v their_o hazard_n of_o depart_v without_o that_o sign_n and_o seal_v of_o their_o salvation_n i_o know_v a_o parish_n where_o two_o or_o three_o person_n importune_v the_o minister_n to_o baptize_v their_o child_n public_o or_o private_o as_o he_o please_v but_o he_o peremptory_o refuse_v to_o do_v it_o on_o a_o weekday_n though_o they_o who_o intend_v to_o have_v be_v present_a at_o the_o baptism_n will_v have_v make_v a_o competent_a number_n for_o a_o ordinary_a country_n sermon_n and_o before_o sunday_n two_o of_o the_o child_n die_v we_o have_v late_o in_o this_o city_n a_o more_o notable_a instance_n of_o the_o stiffness_n of_o their_o humour_n in_o this_o particular_a a_o certain_a citizen_n design_v to_o have_v his_o child_n baptize_v on_o a_o week_n day_n at_o the_o ordinary_a time_n of_o sermon_n he_o with_o the_o gossip_n come_v in_o time_n enough_o to_o the_o church_n but_o because_o the_o child_n be_v bring_v in_o about_o the_o close_a of_o the_o sermon_n neither_o mr._n kennedy_n who_o preach_v nor_o mr._n erskine_n the_o minister_n of_o the_o parish_n can_v be_v prevail_v with_o to_o administer_v the_o sacrament_n to_o the_o infant_n but_o they_o cause_v it_o to_o be_v carry_v home_o again_o 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and_o suitable_a to_o the_o present_a state_n of_o affair_n and_o wave_v the_o declaration_n of_o their_o sentiment_n concern_v the_o rest_n four_o because_o the_o ass_n can_v not_o sit_v so_o long_o as_o be_v necessary_a to_o determine_v all_o particular_n and_o to_o give_v rule_n and_o measure_n for_o the_o settle_n of_o the_o church_n in_o this_o juncture_n nor_o be_v it_o sit_v it_o shall_v do_v it_o therefore_o they_o resolve_v to_o choose_v a_o committee_n who_o may_v sit_v after_o the_o dissolution_n of_o the_o ass_n who_o shall_v have_v full_a and_o supreme_a power_n to_o act_n in_o all_o thing_n that_o relate_v to_o the_o church_n it_o be_v say_v that_o this_o overture_n be_v first_o make_v by_o the_o moderate_a man_n who_o think_v by_o this_o mean_n to_o reduce_v affair_n to_o a_o better_a temper_n than_o the_o
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