to Exercisâ—… the 〈◊〉 of the Clergy to see themselves so â—…njuriously Pâ—…rsecuted and Reviled But they had thiâ—… for thâ—…ir comfort that they received no worse Usagâ—… than their Master had done beforâ—… thâ—…m It is enough for the Disciple that he be as his Master and the Servant as his Lord if they have called the Master of the Housâ—… Beelzebub how much more shall they call them of his Houshold But thanks be to God thâ—… Lives and Conversations of the far greatest â—…art of our Clergy are so apparently Pious and Exemplary so exactly conform to the Character they bear of bâ—…ing Spiritual Guides Buâ—…ning and Shining Lights that as the Calumniâ—…s of their Adversaries cannot much injure their Reputation in this World so far less will thâ—…y be able to diminish that Eternal Reward laid up foâ—… them in the Life to come However when the Clergy are thus maliciously and unjustly Slandered and Reviled Religion does often suffer thereby and therefore in thiâ—… Case I think it is the Duty of every Christian to Espouse the Interest of Religion and to Vindicate the Clergy from those Aspersions their Enemies load thâ—…m withal There is not a more certain fore-runner of Atheism and Irreligion in a Nation than a contempt of the Clergy and it may justly provoke God to remove his Candlestick quite from us if we suffer his Ministers and Ambassadors to be Treated with such Reproach and Contâ—…mpt it is a shrewd Sign we have no great Respect for a Prince if we affront his Ambassador Although I am not in Holy Orders my sâ—…lf yet I have such a Veneration and Esteem for that Sacred Function that it raises my Indignation to a great height to see Ingenious and deserving Men Buffoon'd and Ridiculed meerly for their having devoted themsâ—…lves to the Holy Ministry for having Received the Title of being Christs Ambassadors to his Saints here on Earth Were they of any other Profession their Parts and Piety would make them to be much Regarded by all Men but because they have entred into the Office of the Holy Ministry that Office which our Saviour did not disdain to take upon himself and his Holy Apostles Gloried in they must therefore suffâ—…r all Indignitiâ—…s and Affronts â—…nd be Treated with greater Contempt and Igâ—…ominy than the meanest Artizan Is not this to Crucifie afresh the Lord of Life â—…nd Glory to put him again to opâ—…n shame to Mock him and to Spit upon him as the Jews â—…id bâ—…fore his Crucifixion For whatever Indigâ—…ity we offer to his Ministers here on Earth he â—…akes it as done to his own Person He that depiseth them despiseth him that sent them It was tâ—…is Respect alonâ—… which I have for the Ministeâ—…al Function that moved me to Write these few Remarks upon a late Scurrilous Libel against our Clergy Publishâ—…d by an obscure Anonymous Author who seâ—…ms to be more influenced by tâ—…e Spirit of Malice and Envy than of thâ—… Christian Râ—…ligion I was not a little concernâ—…d â—…o see so many Eminent and Deserving Men thus injured in 〈◊〉 Fame and Reputation and thaâ—… among Strangers to whom they were wholly unknown Were these Stories Published only in thâ—…ir own Country where the whole course of thâ—…ir Life is sufficiently known they might bid defiancâ—… to â—…he utmost Malice of their Enemies and to Anâ—…er any such malicious Libels against them thâ—…re would be altogâ—…ther superfluous Buâ—… when thâ—…se Râ—…ports are propagate amongst Strangâ—…rs who have no personal knowledge of the Mâ—…n who arâ—… thus abused it is nâ—…cessary to Write somâ—…thing in their Vindication and to prevent Peoplâ—…'s being farther imposâ—…d upon by such Liâ—…s and Calumnies This Author hath Writ a sâ—…cond Part of the Treatisâ—… which is herâ—… 〈◊〉 but that bâ—…ing already takâ—…n to Task by another Hand I take no Notice of it My businâ—…ss is only with his first Pamphlet wherein I have sufficiâ—…ntly shewn his Gross Prâ—…varications and Falshoods and confuted all the Shadows of Reasoning tâ—…at lyâ—… scattered in his Book My present Circumstances would not allow me to make an exact inquiry concâ—…rning all the particular Persons whom hâ—… hâ—…re Accuses of Immoralities I being at too great a distance from the Places where they do residâ—… But I have pick'd out the most considerable instances thosâ—… Persons whom he chargâ—…s with the most Atrocious Crimes and in his Accusations against them I have evidâ—…ntly provâ—…d him guilty of the highest Malice and Injusticâ—… which I think is sufficient to Ruin the Crâ—…dit of his Book in the râ—…st of the Instances among all Sober and Judicious Mâ—…n THE CONTENTS Introduction THE Uncharitableness and Inhumanity of this Author's Design Pag. 1 This method of Writing inconsistent with the Principles of our Religion and the Laws of Humane Society 3 The occasion of publishing the Scots Presbyterian Eloquence 5 Chap. I. THis Author's Reflections upon the Church of England and soâ—… of â—…he Ministers of State considered Pag. 9 Episcopacy established in Scotland not by the force and tyranny of our Rulers but by the consent and approbation of the whole Nation 10 The Bishops in Scotland investâ—…d with full Authority belonging to Bishops 11 A short account of some of our Church Judicatories Kirk-Sessions Presbyteries and Synods Ibid. These Judicatories shewn to be no Encroachment on the Episcopal Power 12 Our Author's disingenuity in his slanderous Reflections upon the Clergy 13 Some few of the Episcopal Clergy offering to joyn with the Presbyterians can be no sufficient Vindication of the Lives and Morals of the Presbyterian Party 14 Tâ—…e Episcopal Clâ—…rgy have charged the Presbyterians with nothing relating to their barbarous Persecution but what they have been ablc to prove from irrefragable Authorities 15 Episcopacy the first Government of the Church of Scotland after the Reformation and never there by Law abolished till the unhappy Civil Wars â—…nder the Râ—…ign of K. Charles the First broke out 16 〈◊〉 occasion of settling Superinâ—…endents in the Church of Scotland upon the Reformâ—… 17 The Superintendents invesâ—…ed with the whole Episcopal Authority and Jurisdiction over the Clergy of their Diocesses Pag. 18 The Mission of the Superintendent 's plainly different from that of other Ministers Ibid. Tâ—…e Superintendents no ways Temporary as to their Office but only as to the Namâ—… 19 The Superintendents giving an account to a National Synod of their Diligence in their Functions no Argument against their being Bishops 20 Tâ—… Enacting of these Pâ—…nal Laws against thâ—… Presbyterians which this Author has scraped together occasioned meerly by the frequenâ—… Rebellioâ—…s of that Party 21 Tâ—… Nation had sufficient ground to Enact these Laws against the Presbyterians from their Treasonable Practices under the former Râ—…igns of K. James the Sixth and K. Charles the First 22 â—…at this was the true occasion of Enacting these Penal Laws appears from our Author 's oâ—…n Concessions 23 〈◊〉 â—…s been the constant practice of the Presbyterians to shelter their Treasonable Designs under the Name of
Errors and Superstitions should be allowed to exercise their Spiritual Jurisdiction in the Church and therefore they were excluded therefrom and others of the Reformed Communion being Vested with Episcopal Authority were surrogated in their stead and called by the Name of Superintendents the Sees of the Popish Bishops not being Esteemed void but supplied by Protestant Superintendents who did not enjoy any of the Temporal Priviledges and Honours annexed to the Bishopricks For although the Popish Bishops were restrained from the exercise of their Spiritual Power yet such respect was had to them that they were allowed during their Lives to possess all the Revenues of their Bishopriâ—…ks and to Sit and Vote in Parliament as Peers of the Realm But such of the Bishops as went along with the Reformation were allowed not only to enjoy all their Temporal Priviledges but likewise to exercise their Spiritual Authority in the Church and no Superintendants Named for their Diocefes as was for those of the Popish Bishops Now although we should grant our Author that their Form oâ—… Ordination was not diâ—…ferent yet it cannot be denied that they were invested with the whole Episcopal Authority and Jurisdiction over the Clergy of their several Dioceses which is the only Bugbear in Episcopacy with which the Presbyterians pretend to Quarrel because they Usurp Lordship and Dâ—…minion over their Brethren They were cloathed with full Power of Ordaining Presbyters of Suspending and Deposing them from their Sacred Function of censuring and punishing the Clergy according to their several Crimes and all this they were Authorized to do without asking the Advice or Consent of the rest of the Clergy which is more than our Bishops at present do ‖ All Appeals from Presbyters and the Inferiour Clergy were to be made to the Supâ—…rintendents they were to decide all Controversies in the Discipline of the Church to preside in Synods and to direct the Church Censures inslicted by the rest of the Clergy All the Presbyters within their Dioceses were required under the pain of Deposition to be subject to their Government and Authority and were not allowed without the consent and approbation of the Superintendents to transact any thing of moment in the Church So that they were invested with the whole Power and Jurisdiction that belongs to Bishops and this methinks should be enough to stop the Mouths of the Presbyterian Party who as I have already said exclaim against nothing in this Sacred Order but the Authority which Bishops are allowed to have over the rest of the Cleâ—…gy And as for their Ordinaâ—…ion it seems at lest that it was different from that of other Ministâ—…rs since those who were Nominated to be Superintendants were chose out of the Number of such as had already received the Orders of a Presbyter and yet upon their Election to a Superinâ—…endency they were again solemnly set apart by Prayer for â—…hat Oâ—…ice Now it cannot be imagined that they should again receive the same Orders of a Presbyter which had been already conferred upon them and therefore this second Mission mentioned upon their being chose Superintendents can be meant of nothing else but Episcopal Consecration or something in the sense of the Church at that time equivalent to it They â—…ad long before received the Ordination of Presbyters and now when they were Elected Superintendents they were set apart for that Office by certain solemn Rites and Ceremonies which is a plain Demonstration that they were in a manner Consecrated anew to that Sacred Function Besides it is not to be conceived how they above other Presbyters could be invested with this Power of conferring Orders and exercising other Acts of Jurisdiction which belong only to Bishops unless it were by having this Episcopal Authority conferred upon them by the hands of other Bishops and this they could without any difficulty obtain from the hands of those Bishops in Scotland who had imbraced the Reformed Communion However it is not peremptorily said here that the Ordination of Superintendents to the Episcopal Ofâ—…ice was altogether â—…anonical It is enough for our purpose that they being of new solemnly set apart for a more eminent Oâ—…ice in the Church The Clergy and Laiâ—…y had such a regard for the â—…piscopal Order That they considered the Superintendents as such and payed the same deference to them that formerly was due to the Bishops so that tho their distinct Ordinations would not bâ—… madâ—… evident from Hiâ—…tory to be Canonical yet their Power was undoubtedly Episcopal There is nothing more notoriously false than what this Author urges in the second place against the Superintendents That their Office was Temporary during the Exigence of the Church For in the Form of Church Policy which the Protestant Clergy offered to the Parliament in the year 1561 one of its Heads is concerning Superinâ—…endents and it is there appointed that the Election of Superintendants in after times should be stricter than the present circumstances would allow and the last Head of that Policy prescribes some conditions to be kept in future Elections of 〈◊〉 which is an evident proof that our first Reformers did not look upon the Office of Superintendents only as a Temporary thing The Name I grant indeed to have been temporary and to have laâ—…ted no longer in the Church than during the Natural Lives of the Popish Bishops For while they were alive their Bishopricks with respect to their Temporalities were not esteemed vacant and the Protestants who were set over their Dioceses were called by the Name of Superintendents they not being invested with the Temporal Priviledges of a Bishop but only with the spiritual Authority and Jurisdiction belonging to that Office but upon the Death of the Popish Bishops we find that whosoever was presented to any of these Dioceses now falling void by their Death they were not presented under the Name of Superintendents as thâ—…y had been formerly while the Popish Bishops were alive but had now the Title of Bishops given them and were invested with all the temporalties annexed to the Bishopricks Thus it is we sind in the Infancy of the Reformation both Bishops and Superintendants contemporary in the Church but in a few years after we have no mention of Superintendents and all the Governours of the Church go under the Name of Bishops And this I should think were enough to convince any unbyassed Reader that in those days the Office of Episcopacy and Superintendency were both the same The Third Argument which he brings against the Superintendents is That they were accountable to the Presbyters which is altogether inconsistent with Episcopacy Although Bishops at their first Institution were invested with an Absolute Power over their Flocks independent of any Authority but that of Jesus Christ their Head and were accountable to none for their right Administration of their Office but to him alone Yet in after Ages by a mutual compact among themselves they did agree that for the
Assembly could have no such Pretence against those few Episcopal Clergy that â—…esired to be United to them in a share of the Government They were willing I suppose to own the same common Principles of Unity with the Presbyterians in reference to the Discipline of the Church that is to be governed by the major part of all their Assemblies and to submit always to what is carried by a Plurality of Voices in their Meetings though sometimes they themselves when they see it for their Interest destroy this Principle of Unity so fundamentally neceâ—…ary to all Democratical Societies and allow the lesser Number to preponderate the greater as in the Case which happened in the Synod of St. Andrews an 1591 about settling a Minister at Leuchars And this methinks is enough to shew that the Church of England had far more reasonable Grounds to oppose the Comprehension with the Dissenters than the Scots Presbyterians had to reject the desire of the Episcopal Addressers But this Author will needs have the Disadvantage appear wholly on the Church of England's â—…ide and therefore we must consider a little the Reasons he brings for his Assertion His first Reason is Because the King is really the Fountain of all their Church Power as â—…aving the making of the Bishops and does still remain Head of thâ—…ir Church whereas he hath actually renounced Name and Thing in Scotland where the whole Ecolesiastical Jurisdiction is by Law settled in the Church The King is indeed owned by the Church of England to be in his own Dominions Supream over all Persons and in all Causes Civil and Ecclesiastical but that he is the Fountain of all their Church Power is what I believe the most Erastian Principled among them never dreamed Their 37th Article asserts the contrary in as plain words as can be desired where it is said ' ' That they give not to their Princes the Ministring either of God's Word or of the Sacraments but that only Prerogative which they see to have been always given to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself that is That they should rule all Estates and Degrees committed to their Charge by God whether they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal and restrain with the Civil Sword the stubborn and evil Doers From whence 't is plain that the Church of England in her Articles allows the Civil Magistrate no Power or Jurisdiction in Matters purely Spiritual he cannot Administer the Sacraments nor Consecrate either Bishops or Priests neither can he inflict any Spiritual Censures upon obstinate Offenders The Civil Power may for strengthening the Hands of the Church and making her Discipline the more dreaded and regarded inforce her Spiritual Censures with Secular Punishments but can lay no claim to the Power of the Keys as his own Right It is from him the Church derives that Power of having Civil Penalties inflicted on such as contemn and despise thâ—… Ecclesiastical Censures as in the case of Excommunication which renders the Party excommunicated obnoxious to Temporal Imprisonment and incapacitates him from carrying on any Suit or Action in the Civil Courts The Church cannot by her own Authority use the Civil Sword to punish the stubborn and evil Doers and therefore in so far as the Civil Magistrate extends the Churches Jurisdiction to some Secular Matters and impowers her to inflict Civil Penalties for the better preserving of her Ecclesiastical Discipline the Clergy must own the King to be the Fountain from whence they derive this Power But as for their Spiritual Authority and Jurisdiction which only can be called properly the Church Power they derive it from a higher Original from God himself who is the true â—…ead of our Church and it cannot be conveyed to us by the Hands of any Lay-Person God has instituted a distinct Order of Men in our Church whom he has authorized to transmit this Spiritual Power down through all the Ages of Posterity that there might still be a constant Succession of Pastors and Governors in the Church to administer his Worâ—… and Sacraments to his People And it is from this Sacred Order of the Divine Appointment that our Clergy derive their Spiritual Power it is from their hands they receive Holy Orders and a Power of Ministring in Holy Things and none but they alone can Divest them of this Authority Our Author's Expression of the King 's having the making of the Bishops is somewhat ambiguous If he means that the King is allowed by the Church of England a Power to Consecrate and Separate the Bishops for their Sacred Function it is such a notorious Falshood as needs no Confutation the practice of the Church to the contrary being so visible But if his meaning is That the King has Power to Nominate any Clergy-man to a vacant Bishoprick it is no more than what they themselves allow to the Laity in their popular Elections And if the Laity in these Elections may be allowed to Nominate their own Pastor and Spiritual Guide I see no reason why the Church should be blamed for allowing the King to Nominate and Recommend to them a Person â—…itly Qualiâ—…ied for the Sacred Office of a Bishop especially since 't is to his Bounty they owe all the Temporal Priviledges and Honours which are annexed to the Episcopal Sees The same Power in the external ordering of Spiritual Matters with which the â—…ing is Invested by the Constitutions of this Church and Nation does likewise belong to him by the Laws of Scotland â—…e has the Power of Nominating the Bishops and 't is by his Authority the Clergy of that Kingdom are allowed to meddle in Secular Matters and to inâ—…lict any Civil Penalties upon such as dâ—…spise their Spiritual 〈◊〉 What this Author alledges about the Resâ—…inding of the whole Supremacy in Scâ—…tland by Act of Parliament since this Revolution is a gross mistake as may easily appear fâ—…om this short Narrative thereos By the 129th Act Parl. 8. â—… Jamâ—…s VI. the King 's Royal Prerogative of Supremacy over all Estates as well Spiritual as Temporal is acknowledged and ratiâ—…ied and it iâ—… dâ—…clared That none shall dâ—…cline the â—…ing's Power in 〈◊〉 Premisses under the pain of Treason Thereafter by the â—… Aâ—… 2. Parl. K Charlâ—…s II. there is an Expâ—…ication of this Act and Prerogative whereby it is declared That whatever Constitution the King sâ—…all make concerning the ordâ—…ing and disposing of the external Government of the Church shall be obeyed as Law This last Act was thought to give â—…he King too much Power since he might thereby have aboliâ—…hed the Government of the Church by his own immediate Authority and so there was some pretext for Rescinding this last Act and it is Rescindâ—…d by the first Act of the second Session of Parliament of â—… Wâ—…lliam but the â—…irst Act is not Rescinded and there was an 〈◊〉 Order to the Commissioner not to consent to any Act in prejâ—…dice theâ—…eof So that the King then by virtue
after the Reformation The Synod is a Convocation of the whole Clergy of a Diocese with their Bishop who meet twice every Year to consult about Matters relating to their own particular Province National Synods commonly called General Assâ—…mblies consisting of all the Bishops and their Deans together with the Moderators of the several Presbyteries in their respective Dioceses and one Commissioner from each Presbytery joyned with the Moderator are called by the King Pro re natâ to Deliberate concerning the Affairs of the whole National Church In the Provincial Synods the Bishop takes care to examine iâ—… the several Presbyteries be diligent in their Duty of Punishing Offenders and if â—…ny of the Clergy be obnoxious to Censure hâ—…e they are Prosecuted â—…or their Misdemeanors Now â—…ese Judicatories are so far â—…rom being prejudicial to the Biâ—…hops Powâ—…r that they are rather a great Assistance to them for promoting â—…he Discipline of the Church and upon that account weâ—…e â—…irst Erected with the Consent and Allowance of the Bishops â—…hemselves they judging it very proper and convenient not to do any thing of great consequence to Religion without asking the Advice of their Clergy how they should behave themselves in a Matter of so great Importance And these Courts could not be look'd upon as any Encroachment upon the Episcopal Power since they so entirely depended on the Bishops Authority that without his Consent no Act of theirs could be valid But I think truly the Discipline of our Church is none of the things most to be blamed for we have some remains of the Primitive Discipline as yet among us which are to be found but in few National Churches at this day as appears from the Vestige we have of that Ancient custom of Communicatory Letters among the Bishops of the Primitive Church And as there is some Resemblance of it amongst our Bishops by dimissory Letters so it was still in force among the Inferior Clergy who were obliged to receive none into their Congregations till they first brought â—…ertificates from the Minister in whose Parish they formerly Lived testifying that during their residence among his Flock they had behaved themselves Christianly and Soberly and that â—…e knew nothing against them why they might not be admitted into any Christian Congregation without this they were never allowed to have the benefit of the Sacraments Had not â—…he Presbyterians by their Tumults and Commotions envied us the happiness of having the English Liturgy settled among us the Conâ—…titution and Discipline of our Church was such as made us inferiour to few National Churches And here I cannot but wonder at the Impudence of that Party that although they refused to joyn in Communion upon any Terms with the Episcopal Church as by Law Established yet they would take upon them to hinder them from settling among the Members of their own Commâ—…nion such a Form of Worship as they thought most agreeable to the Word of God and consonant to the practice of the Primitive Church Our Authors transient Reflexions upon the Clergy are dressed up in such Scurrilous and Obscene Language as must needs make any Man of a Virâ—…uous Education blush to Read them and therefore lest I should offend the Ears of the modest Reader by Repeating them I shall pass them over in silence till I come to consider his Third Part and aâ—… present only take Notice of those things in the Book which relate either to matter of Argument or matter of Fact And here I cannot omit his great protestations of his Ingenuâ—…us and fair Dâ—…aling in this Work whereby he thinks the more easily to captivate unthinking Readers into a belief of his Liâ—…s and Calumnies He pretends â—…o have inserted nothing but what he has Received from Credible Hands but he thinks it not fit to gratifie his Reader with an Account of the Names of those Câ—…edible Persons whose Authority he avouches for the Truth of his Aspersions Had he given us the Names of the persons with attested Declarations under their hands asserting the Truth of these things alledged against some of our Clergy we could have then known of what Credit and Authority the Testimony of those Persons ought to be had and it had been an easie matter to convince the World of the Falsehood and Forgery of his Calumnies and to purge those innocent persons from the Slanders cast upon them out of meer Malice and Envy But as â—…or our Authors Ingenuity in his Collection he has scraped together a great many Stoâ—…ies many of which are most notoriously False and have not the least shadow of Truth in them as I shall aâ—…terwards make appear and for the proof of some of them he Appeals to Records where no such thing is extant or to be seen as I have had particular occasion to enquire Some of his Accusations â—…re against such of the Clergy as were either Suspended or Deposed by the Church for their Immoralities and yet this Author imputes the Faults of these Men to the whole Society and is so disingenuous as not to acquaint his Reader with the Censures passed upon them by the Church Others again are Passages related of some Clergy-men who â—…ived under the Presbyterian Government duâ—…ing the times of its last Usurpation in that Kingdom which this Author is pleased to charge upon the present Episcopal Church and whether this be Fair and Ingenuous Dealing I appeal to any unbyassed Reader This Author insists much upon the Address presented to their General Assembly by some of the Episcopal Clergy desiring to be admitted into a share of their Church Government This he urges as a sufficient Vindication of the Lives and Morals of the Presbyterians or at least as an Argument that these Episcopal Addressers were no Honest Men themselves who desired to be associated with such Knaves as they 〈◊〉 the Presbytâ—…rians out for This Address was opâ—…osed by a great part of the Church of Scotland most of them looking upon it as unlawful and altogether inconsistent with the Prinples of Christian Communion to joyn any ways in Communion with thosâ—… whom they owned to be notorious Schismaticks as long as they persisted in their Schism so that it was but a few of the Clergy that were concerned therein and this they urge in their own Defence That notwithstanding the Nation was in a distracted â—…tate and Condition yet it concerned every individual Christian especially Clergy-men to lend their Assistance for the punishing of â—…candalous and Vicious Persons and therefore that although the Presbyterians had Usurped the Government of the Church yet the Episcopal Clergy who still retained possession of their Churches might consistently enough with their Principles joyn â—…ith them in â—…he puâ—…ishing of contumacious Offenders â—…specially since they were not obliged by this Act of Union to concur with them in their Presbyterian Ordinations or to own their Authority in matters purely Spiritual but only to Unite with them as a Company of Laicks
the Animadversions that you made upon one of the Libels printed against the Scots Clergy The Methods lately taken to ruin that Order of Men in Scotland are as Unjust as they are Diabolical It is a good while ago since I knew who was the Author of that Scurrilous Book and this made me think that the Archbishop of Glasgow needed no Apology against the Attempts of such a despicable Wretch yet it 's possible that what is once made Publick may fall into the hands of several Persons who are very apt to be abused and therefore I have sent here enclofed the Letter that the Archbishop wrote to me upon occasion of that Inâ—…amous Pamphlet I let it go abroad the rather that I am so seriously appealed to in the Letter it self I give you my hearty Thanks for your solid Confutatioâ—… of several malicious and obscene Lies propagated by that Calumniator I continue in all Sincerity and Affection Your Real Friend and Servant For my worthy Friend Mr. Edinburgh-Castle Jan. 21. 1693. Reverend Brother WE may say with Hezekiah This is a Day of Trouble and of Rebuke and of Blasphemy Just now when I am ordered to remove out of these Three Kingdoms and so to part from my numerous Family and ten Motherless Children when they most need my Care I am surprised to find in an obscene and virulent Pamphlet written undoubtedly by one of the First-born of the Father of Lies who dares not own his Villany Entituled An Answer to the Scots Presbyterian Eloquence Some Paragraphs and Passages impudently painting me as one of the most impure and 〈◊〉 Wretches that ever was cloathed in Human Flesh which if true should justly expose my Name to Infamy and my Life to Justice as the most viâ—…e prophane and sacrilegious Monster that ever bore a sacred Character Which I no sooner read than I fell on my Knees and as the same good King â—…ezekiah did with Senacherib's blasphemous Letter I spread it before the Lord in Prayer and in the innocence of my Heart and integrity of my Life I appealed to him â—…or a just Vindication not that I needed it amongst them to whom my Life and Manners are known but only amongst such as are Strangers to me and to this Kingdom upon whom this impudâ—…nt Son of 〈◊〉 designs to impose Not only the sense of Religion and Purity but even my Native Modesty sor attesting of which I do appeal to all the Men and Women in the World with whom I ever conversed whom I earnestly obtest ingenuously to declare if ever they heard one single obscene Word drop from my Tongue or ever perceived any immodest Insinuation either directly or indirectly in my Actings or Practice made me read these obscene Passages with great aversion and horror most of which I declare in the Presence of GOD I never heard nor read to be said or done by or charged upon any Mortal till I found them there asserted as things notoriously known of my self by this infamous Monster of Prophaneness as well as of villanous and impudent Lying Modesty will not allow me to repeat them since they deâ—…ile the Air and needs must pollute the Eyes of Readers and Ears of Hearers and therefore to convel and 〈◊〉 them I shall only say this That if the wicked Author will be so just to himself and to his Party as to come out from behind the Curtain pull off his Mask and prove any of these infamous Articles or Passages he asserts against me by two nay by any one single Witness or Person of known Virtue and Probity and of irreproachable Fame I shall not only offer my Name to Infamy but my Life to Justice and to encourage him so to do I hereby promise him as a Reward and shall find him good Surety for it tho my Circumstances are now very low of Two hundred Pounds Sterling and perhaps the silly Author needs such a charming Bait if he shall prove any single Article or Instance of those infamous and diabolical Aspersions and Calumnies Now if after this open Appeal and Challenge and offer of this Reward he shall not appear and avow himself the Author nor make at least any one Article of his many Instances against me appear to be true I shall then leave it to all mankind to judge if he is not the most wicked impudent lying Villain that ever put Pen to Paper or if I need any further Vindication especially considering that he asserts so many Persons to be privy to those impure and obscene Passages so that he cannot be straitned for want of Evidence and Witnesses and is very sure that the present Judges for I shall decline none will not provâ—… Partial upon my side I render devoutly Thanks to GOD who hath continued my Life thus long and granted me this opportunity thus to appeal and charge this wicked Author that so I may satisfie the World of my Innocence and that this may remain as a solid Witness sor me and my good Name after my Death against a Spirit of Lying and Calumny which as formerly against our pious and worthy Predecessors is now like to go sorth enraged and rampant against those of my Perswasion Order and Character from such who have long made Lies their Refuge Dear Brother You know I have lived long in this Church and Kingdom and have born a greater and more eminent Character both in Church and State than my weakness and imperfection did deserve you know also I did not want many and some of great â—…uality and Power who sometimes have been Enemies to me so that had â—… been such an abominable wicked and notour Monster as this infamous Scribler endeavours to paint me I had been as certainly as justly thrust out from the Counciâ—… Table and the Sacred Episcopal Office with disgrace and infamy for nothing could have supported such a villanous Wretch from feeling the Justice of this Church and Nation You have long conversed with me and I appeal to you and to all my Reverend Brethren Bishops Presbyters and Deacons to whom I am known nay to all mankind with whom I ever conversed and I conjure you and all them to declare to all men when occasion offers as in the fight of our great and omniscient Judge if ever you or they heard or perceived any manner of impure or so much as an immodest Word or Insinuation to flow from me and I am ready to stand or fall at that Bar accordingly There is a Party of Men in the World who Treat us as some Persecuting Heathens did the pure Primitive Christians whom they sowed up in Skins of Wolves Bears and other Savage Beasts and then hounded out their bloody Dogs to devour and tear them in pieces is it not enough that our Sacred Order is abolished our selves turned out of our Livings and Benefices so that many of us alas are reduced with our numerous Families to a state of starving that our Persons are assaulted and beaten in the open
Deâ—…amations may be credited among the Credulous or Prejudicate Vulgar yet I presume by this way you will not gain many Proselytes among those that are Good and Wise â—…or who that are endued with the common Principles of Justice and Charity will believe men guilty of groâ—…s Crimes upon your bare and naked Narration wiâ—…hout adducing the Attestation of any Witnesses or yet aâ—…y seeming or just Proof Or who that is endued with the sense of Reâ—…igion and Godliness can approve of the methods of â—…itter Malice Revenge and Unchristian Calumnies so contrair to all the Ruâ—…es of Humanity and Christâ—…anity foâ—…â—…upporting and promoting of any Party or Interâ—…st whatsoever And as equal Tenderness is to be had to a man's Reputation as to his Life I allow you to search and examine my Conversation and Life hitherto and Treat me but by the Rules of common Justice and I am Proof against your Malice What we have already observed concerning our Author's malice and disingenuity in these Instâ—…nces we have taken notice of may sâ—…rve I think as a sufficient Caution to all ingenuous and impâ—…ial Readers not to lay too great stress upon the Calumnies and Aspersions of this Author nor to entertain any the harder Thoughts of our Clergy for being bespattered by the Pen of this virulent Scribler For the candid Treatmâ—…nt which these Persons I have mentioned have met with in this Pâ—…mphlet may in a great meâ—…sure enable us to judge what Credit and Authority the reâ—…t of this Author's Aspersions on our Clergy ought to have since he deals so basely and difingâ—…nuously in all these Instances He invents Stories which he cannot sind the least shadow of Truth to justisiâ—… for the Truth of some of his matters of 〈◊〉 he appeals to Records where there is not the leâ—…st mention of thâ—…m to be found nâ—…y he sticks at nothing so he but can servâ—… hiâ—… main End and Design which is to bâ—…acken the Fame and Reputation of our Clergy and to render their Sacred Function odious to all Mankind I pray GOD to give this Author a dâ—…ep seâ—…se of the Villany of this his Design that hâ—… may Repent in time and sâ—…ve his Soul before it is too late It is a Scandal and a Reproach to our Religion that such Hellish and Diabolical Practices as this Author uses should be so much as heard of in any of those places where the Name of Christ is invocated such kind of Practices are so Inhumane and so contrary to the Spirit of Christianity that they must needs make the Authors and Abeâ—…tors of them stink in the Nostrils of all Good and Religious Men. All that I have â—…urther to add now is only to beg my Reader 's Pardon for detaining him so long in searching into the Rubbish of a parcel of Prophane and Lewd Stories I must needs own it is no very pleasing Task to me to be raking into such a Dunghil but finding the Reputation of some of our Clergy very much injured among Strangers by reason of the Calumnies and Aspersions of this obscure Writer I thought my self obâ—…iged from the Duty I owe to my Country and from thâ—… Respect we all ought to have for the Sacred Charactâ—…r of Christ's Ambassadors and Ministers to contribute my small Endeavours for asserting and vindicating the Oppressed Innocence of our â—…lergy and for detecting the Malice and Falshood of this Libeller's Asperâ—…ions In which I hope I have been so successful with this small â—…say that after perusal thereof every Disinteressed Peâ—…son will readily acknowledge That the Author of this Virulent Libel against our â—…lergy has been totally acted by the Spirit of Malice and Envy and has dealt so basely and disingenuously in all his Relations which I have had occasion to search into that his bare Accusation can be of no Authority against the most obnoxious Member of any Nation or Society FINIS The unchâ—… ritablâ—…ness and inhuma nity of th Authors dâ—… sign Pag. 1â—… This Methâ—…d of Writing 〈◊〉 with the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Râ—…ligion and thâ—… Laâ—… of Humane Sociâ—…ty The occâ—…sion of publisâ—… tâ—…e Sâ—…ots Presbyâ—…an Eloquence This Author Reflexions upon the Church of England and some of the Ministâ—… of State coâ—â— sidered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in â—…otland â—…t by 〈◊〉 â—…rce and â—…ranny of 〈◊〉 Rulers â—…t by the 〈◊〉 and â—…robation the whole 〈◊〉 Anno 1572. â—…rl 3 Jac. 6. 〈◊〉 45 46 â—…c 〈◊〉 Perth â—…ss in Aug 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 in Scotland 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thâ—… sâ—…l Authoriâ—…y 〈◊〉 â—…o Bâ—…shops Theâ—…e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shâ—…wn to bâ—… nâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…n the 〈◊〉 Power Oâ—…r Autâ—…ors disingenuity in his 〈◊〉 â—…ous Râ—…lexions upon the Clergy â—…ome few of â—…he Episcopal 〈◊〉 offâ—…ring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can 〈◊〉 no 〈◊〉 Vindication of 〈◊〉 Lives anâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…e 〈◊〉 Parâ—…y Thâ—… Epâ—…scopal Clâ—…rgy have chargeâ—… thâ—… Presbyterians wâ—…th nâ—…thing râ—…lating to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but what 〈◊〉 havâ—… beâ—…n 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aâ—…ko 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first Govâ—…rnment of thâ—… Church of Scotland after â—…he 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Abolisâ—…ed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…nhappy Civâ—…l Wâ—…rs under the Râ—…ign of K. Chaâ—…les brokâ—… 〈◊〉 * Spotsw Refut Libel de Reg. Eccl. Scoâ—… p. 21. Ibiâ—… p. 26. * The occasion of settling Sâ—…perintendants in the Church of Scotland upon the Râ—…formation The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the whole Epâ—…copal Authâ—…rity and Jurisdictâ—…on 〈◊〉 the Clâ—…rgy of their Dâ—…ceses * Spotsw Resut p. â—… 21. †Ass. at St. Johnstoâ—…n Sess. 2. July 26. 1563. Hi in Ministrorum ordinem ante coaptaâ—…i ad hoc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 munus solennibus auspiciis de stinabantur destinaâ—…i eligebantur electi suâ—…ctionem inibant Spotsw Res. Libel p. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ways temporary as to their Officâ—… but only as to the Name Spotsw â—…ist â—… 150 160. The Superâ—…ntendants giving an Account to a National Syâ—…od of their diligence in their Functions no Argument against their being Bishops Spotsw Refut p. 22. The Enacting of these Penal Laws against the Presbyterians which this Author has scraped together occasioned meerly bâ—… the frequent Rebellions of that Party * Vindication of the Government in Scotland during the Reign of K. Charles II. The Nation had sufficient ground to enaâ—…t 〈◊〉 Laws against the Presbyterians from thâ—…ir trâ—…asonable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thâ—… 〈◊〉 Râ—…gns of K Ja. 6. 〈◊〉 â—… Ch. I. That this was the trâ—…e occasion of Enacting these Pâ—…nal Lawâ—… appears from our Aâ—…thors own Concessions It 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…he conâ—…ant practicâ—… of the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unâ—…r thâ—… name of Râ—…ligion Tâ—… Suffâ—…rings of thâ—… Prâ—…sbyterians no ways prâ—…moted by thâ—… Episcopaâ—… Clâ—…rgy Vid. Spirit of Calumny The Minâ—…sters â—…f State undâ—…r King Charles's Govâ—…rnment sufficiently vindicated fâ—…om our Author's Aspâ—…rsions of Cruâ—…lty A short Narrative of the 〈◊〉 of the Councâ—…l against some 〈◊〉 â—…rned ouâ—… in 166â—… Vid. 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 havâ—… justisied tâ—…e Murder of the Archbishop of S. Andrews in the face of 〈◊〉 upon 〈◊〉 oâ—…cusions Page 37. Mitchel's Execution