established by the foresaid Act and to take the Oath of Allegiance under the pain of being deprived of their Churches and losing their Benefices And it is Declared That all Ministers that shall submit and conform to the foresaid Church-Government and to take the Oath of Allegiance without being obliged to take any other Oath shall enjoy their Churches and Benefices and shall not be deprived of the same except for Scandal or Insufficiency But in respect there are several Ministers that were put out of their Churches and Benefices since the year 1662. for not complying wiâ—h and conforming to Prelacy and others since the year 1681. for not taking the Test And now seeing Prelacy is Abolished and all Acts relating thereto it is just and reasonable that these Ministers that went out and were laid aside for not conforming to and complying with Prelacy and for not taking the Test should be restored to their Churches and Benefices Therefore the King and Queens Majesties with Advice and Consent of the saids Estates of Parliament do Ordain the saids Ministers that went out or were laid aside upon the account foresaid to be restored and reponed and do hereby repone and restore them to their respective Churches and Benefices And the King and Queens Majesties and Estates of Parliament declares That they will take care to provide these Ministers that are now serving the Cure at the saids Churches with other Churches and Benefices as occasion shall offer they submitting themselves to the Government of the Church established by this present Act and taking the Oath of Allegiance and being sufficient and qualified for the Office of the Ministry and without Scandal As also it is Declared That Intrants to the Ministry shall not be holden or obliged to take any other Oaths at their Admission but the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath de fideli And in regard that much trouble hath ensued unto the Estate and many sad Confusions and scandalous Schisms have fallen out in the Church by Church-men meddling in matters of State Therefore their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament do hereby discharge all Ministers of the Gospel within this Kingdom to meddle with any State-affairs either in their Sermons or Judicatories publickly or privately under the pain of being holden as disaffected to the Government and proceeded against accordingly And declares That the Jurisdiction of the Church consists and stands only in the preaching of the True Word of Jesus Christ Correction of Manners by Ecclesiastical Censures and the Administration of the Holy Sacraments conform to the 69th Act Iames 6. Parl. 6. And to the effect there be nothing treated or concluded in the Church-Judicatories that concerns the Affairs of Sâ—ate or Civil Matters it is declared That Their Majesties if they shall think fit may have always one present in all the Provincial and Presbyterial Assâ—mblies as well as They have Their Commissioner present in General Assemblies that in case any Affair that concerns the State or Civil Matters that dâ—es not belong to the Jurisdiction of the Church shall come in before the saids Assemblies the said Person appointed by Their Majesties shall inhibit and Discharge the Provincial or Presbyterial Assembly to proceed in any Affair that concerns the State or Civil Matter before Their Majesties and Their Privy Council shall be acquainted with the same that They may declare Their pleasure thereanâ—nt And because there are many things to be settled in relation to the Policy and Discipline of the Church therefore Their Majesties declare That They by the Advice of the Estates of Parliament and Judicatories of the Church will enact such Rules concerning the Policy Discipline and other Matters to be observed by the Church as shall tend most to the curbing of Vice the Advancement of True Religion and Piety and the Preservation of Unity and Peace amongst the Subjects And Their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the saids Estates of Parliament Râ—â—â—inds and Annuls the first Act of the 15 Parl. K. Ia. VI. anent Ministers provided to Prelacies should have Vote in Parliament and the second Act of the 18 Parl. Ia. VI. anent the Restitution of the Estate of Bishops and the eighth Act of the 19 Parl. Ia. VI. anent the Commissarioâ—s and Jurisdictions given to the Archbishops and Bishops and the first Act of the 21 Parl. Ia. VI. anent the Ratification of the Acts of the Assembly of Glasgow in the year 1610. and the first and second Acts of the 22 Parl. of K. Ia. VIâ— in the year 1617. anent the Archbishops and Restitution of Chapters without prejudice always to the Ministers serving the Cure of any Emoluments allowed to them in part of their Stipends and the first Act of the 23 Parâ— of K. Ia. VI. in the year 1621. anent the Ratification of the Articles of the Assembly holden at Perth And rescinds and annuls all and whatsomever Acts Laws and Constitutions in so far as they derogate and are prejudicial to the Church-Government by General Provincial and Presbyteral Assemblies and Kirk-Sessions and in so far as they are conceived in favour of Archbishops Bishops Abbot Priors and other Prelates or Church-men whatsomever their Dignity Title Power Jurisdiction and State in this Church and Kingdom or in favours of the Civil Places or Power of Church-men or of whatsomever sort allowed or disallowed for their Ruling Sitting and Voting in Parliament either as Church-men or the Clergy or in name of the Church or as representing the Church either in regard of their Ecclesiastical Titles Offices Places and Dignities or in regard of the Temporality or Spirituality of Ecclesiastical Bâ—nefices or other pretexts whatsomever with all Acts and Constitutions of Convention Council or Sâ—ssion or other Judicator whatsomever and all Practices or Customs whatsomever introduced in favours of the saids Offices Titles Benefices or Persons provided thereto and all other Acts Statutes or Practices which are contrary and prejudicial to or inconsistent with this present Act and declares the same to be void and null in all time coming And seeing by the abolishing of Prelacy the is at present no Meeting of the Presbyteries or Provincial Assemblies and it being necessary that there be a time and place appointed for the first Diet of Meeting therefore Ordains the Ministers of the several Presbyteries on the South-side of the River of Tay to meet and convene upon the second Tuesday of August next at the ordinary places where the Presbyters are in use to meet and these Ministers of the Presbyteries on the North-side of the River of Tay to meâ—t and convene upon the first Tuesday of September thereafter at the ordinary places where the Presbyters are in use to meet and appoints these Ministers that shall meet in the respective Presbyteries to chuse their own Moderator and ordains the Moderator first to take and subscribe the Oath of Allegiance himself and then administrate the said Oath to the rest of the Brethren that they may
read from the Pulpit the Proclamation for the Fast. Now my Lord replied Mr. Ramsay you have nick'd me indeed I did not intimate that Fast. But why did you not For many Reasons my Lord said he But pray said my Lord let us hear some of those Reasons Excuse me my Lord replied he it 's sufficient that I confess that I did not read it But according to the method of their Inquisition of Screwing out Mens minds and provoking them to speak that they might get occasion against them they press'd him to name some of his Reasons he said being they urged he would give them one That it was against the Practice of the universal Church and primitive Canons to Fast on Sunday And he said Tho there were no other Reasons but that oneâ— he could not intimate that Fast. He gave this Reason as that which he thought would give them least Offence They ordered him to remove till they had deliberated what to do with him and then cause call him in and deprived him for not reading the Proclamation for the Fast. Dr. Gardner a Man of great Parts and Piety and one of the Ministers of the Talâ—â—ooth Church in Edinburgh was deprived upon the same account of not intimating that Fast tho he had complied in every thing else which they demanded A Proclamation Discharging the Payment of the Rents of the Bishopricks to any but the Persons named by the Council At Edinburgh September 19. 1689. WHereas the Meeting of the Estates of this Kingdom in their Claim of Right of the Eleventh of April last Declared that Prelacy and the Superiority of any Office in the Church above Presbyters is and hath been a great and insupportable Grievance to this Nation and contâ—air to the Inclinations of the Generality of the People ever since the Reformation And that their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament have by their Act of the Date the Fifth day of Iuly last bypast abolished Prelacy and all Superiority of any Office in the Church above Presbyters And His Majesty considering the prejudice it may be to His Interest if fit Persons be not appointed to look after and receive the Rents and Emoluments particularly those consisting of Tiâ—hes which formerly did belong to the Bishops Hath therefore signified His Royal Pleasure That the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council should give Warrand to Alexander Hamilton of Kinkell for Drawing and Upliâ—â—ing the Tithes and other Rents of the Archbishoptick of St. Andrews he giving sufficient Security for his Faithful performance of his duty in the said Office and hath also left it to the Council to appoint fit persons for Drawing and Uplifting the Tithes of other Bishopricks for this present Cropt and Year of God 1689. that none concerned suffer prejudice Excepting the Bishoprick of Orknay which His Majesty is resolved to have Uplifted with the Rents of the Lordship And the saids Lords of Privy Council having in Obedience to His Majesties Commands Nominat and Appointed fit and qualified persons for Drawing of the Tithes and Uplifting of the Rents formerly belonging to the Bishops Deans or any other person of superior Order and Dignity in the Church above Presbyters And least before the time that some of them can be able to come to this place and find Caution for their faithful discharging of that Trust and make Intimation of their respective Commissions to Uplift the saids Rents for the said Cropt and Year of God foresaid to the persons lyable in payment thereof The Teinds and other Rents of the Archbishopricks and Bishopricks and others foresaids may be Imbazled and Intromâ—tted with by persons who have no Right thereto Therefore the saids Lords of Privy Council in their Majesties Name and Authority foresaid prohibit and Discharge all and sundry Heretors Feuers Liâ—erenters Taxâ—-men of Teinds Tennents and others whose Teinds were formerly in use to be drawn and who were lyable-in payment of any Rent or Duty to the saids late Archbishops or Bishops or others foresaids to draw or suffer their Teinds to be drawn and from payment of any Rental-Bolls Feu Blench or Tack-Duties and other Rents Casualties and Emoluments formerly payable to the saids late Archbishops Bishops and others foresaid except to such persons as shall be authorized by the saids Lords of Privy Council for uplifting thereof with Certification to them if they do any thing in the contrary hereof they shall be lyable therefore notwithstanding if any pretended Discharge that may be Impetrat or Obtained from any other person or persons for the said Cropt and Year of God foresaid And Ordains these presents to be printed and publishâ—d by Macers of Privy Council at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh and by Messengers at Arms at the Mercat-Crosses of the Heâ—dâ—Burghs of the other Shires within this Kingdom that none may pretend Ignorance Per actum Dominorum Secreti Consilii GILB ELIOT Cls. Secreti Concilii God Save King William and Queen Mary This Alexander Hamilton who is here appointed to uplift the Rents of St. Andrews Archbishoprick was taken in actual Rebellion at the time of Bothwell bridge Rebellion and by the Clemency of the Government then had his Life spared altho he was always a great Ring-leader of that Rebellious Rout which so much plagued the Nation before and since that time A Draught of an Act for Establishing the Church-Government Presented by his Majesty's High-Commissioner July 22. 1689. FOrasmuch as the King and Queens Majesties and the Estates of Parliament by their Act the Fifth of Iuly instant Abolishing Prelacy and the Superiority of any Church-Officers above Presbyters in this Kingdom did declare That they would settle that Church-Government in this Kingdom which is most agreeable to the Inclinations of the People And considering That the Church-Government by General Provincial and Presbyterial Assemblies with the Sessions of the Kirk as it was established by the first Act of the Twelfth Parliament of King Iames VI. holden in Iune 1592. is most agreeable to the Inclinations of the People Therefore the King and Queens Majesties with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament Revives and Renews the said Act of Parliament in the whole Heads Points and Articles thereof with this express Declaration That the necessity of occasional Assemblies be first represented to His Majesty by humble Supplication And Statutes and Declares That it is and shall be lawful to the Presbyters of this Church to admit Ministers upon Presentations from the lawful Patrons or Iure de voluto which shall happen hereafter or into Churches which fall not under Patronages but were Mensal and Patrimonial Churches belonging to the Bishops sicklike and as freely as they did or might have done of before by the foresaid Act of Parliament in the Year 1592. and to do all and every thing which before pertained to Presbyteries and were exercised by the Bishops And Ordains all the Ministers in this Kingdom to submit and conform themselves to the Church-Government
take and subscribe the same And ordains the Moderator of the respective Presbyteries to return the said Oath so taken and subscribed to the Clerks of Privy Council betwixt and the first of October next and orduins the first Diet of Meeting of the several Provincial Assemblies of this Kingdom to be upon the second Tuesday of October next at the ordinary places where the Synâ—ds and Provincial Assemblies were in use to meet And ordains the Church-Sessions to be elâ—cted and chosen both in Burgh and Landward at the ordinary times and after the ordinary manner Tho King William desired the Presbyterians to pass this Act for the Settlement of their Government in the Church yet because it seemed to restrain them from controling the State when they pleased as they had been always wont to do when in power for sometimes the Parliament and General Assembly flatly contradicted one another as in the year 1674. when King Charles â— was kept Prisoner at the Isle of Wight the Convention of Estates voted that an Army should be sent as it was under the Command of Duke Hamilton to relieve His Majesty but the General Assembly pass'd an Act at the same time flatly contradicting that and accordingly after the King's Forces were defeated by the Rebels in England the Kirk to show their absolute Supremacy in the State forced the Nobily and Gentry who were Officers under the Duke to make their Repentance before the Congregations publickly in Sackcloth I say because this Act seemed to restrain them from meddling in State Affairs as they had been wont to do leaving them no power in the State and the King some power in the Church as that they could not call a General Assembly without acquainting him with the necessity of it therefore this Act was rejected with great Contempt and Indignation and the Presbyterian Minister who was then in Quality of a Chaplain in the Parliament said that they would rather than admit of such a Mangled Mungril Presbytery beg back the Bishops again and that it was Nonsence not to allow the Clergy to impose other Oaths as well as that of Allegiance The Conclusion SOme may perhaps think it an unkindness done to the Nation of Scotland thus to expose the publick Acts of the Kingdom which were never ridiculous or afraid of the light but only when some Men Govâ—rned who are indeed the far least and most inconsiderable part of the People otherways why should they so violently now oppose the Dissolving of this Parliament and the Calling of a new one since it is certain that the Humour of the Nation cannot be so well known by a thin Convâ—ntion which was called in an extraordinary Hurry in a great Confusion and Fermentation of the People and which proceeded with equal Heat and Precipitancy Others may think that by publishing the Names as is here done of some few of these good Men who have suffered they shall be thereby dangerously exposed to the Fury and Violence of these Zealots whose greatest Mercy is Cruelâ—y Indeed there is too much Ground for this Conjecture But our Enemies have put us upon this Necessity for the late account that was given in some Letters of the present Persecution of the Church in Scotland tho it was exactly true in all the Matters of Fact relating to that Persecution yet in England where these things are not so well known some Men being ashamed of these Barbarities to which they gave all the Life they could at such a distâ—nce have industriously represented by their Tongues and Pens that account as altogether False and Fabulous altho even themselves are but too well satisfied that it contains sad Truths Their Mercurius Reformatus as he stiles himself wanting Advertisements and good News from Ireland to fill up his Weekly Papers stuffs two or three of them with Reflections on that former account of our Persecution First He doubts the Matters of Fact are not true and it 's something strange that one who has conversed so intimately with and been most of his Life bred up amongst Scotch Fanaticks should so much question their natural and customary Practices Secondly He imputes all the Mischief if says he there has been any wholly to the Rabble and wonders that any part of it should be charged upon the Godly Patriots to whom the Government of that Kingdom is now intrusted But now if the Matters of Fact so fully attâ—sted in this Book and the publick Acts so faithfully transcribed do not satisfie him and those few whom he may have led into these his willful Mistakes they must be allowed to doubt on till one come from the Dead to inform them if even that can perswade them to believe But Thirdly which shows that he is indeed but a new Observator he seems to grant what he would deny for acknowledging the Persecution he says That it was occasioned by the Severities wherewith the â—piscopal Party had treated the Presbyterians in the by-gone Reigns as if their new Gospel could adopt Revenge into a vertue and as if all the Punishments inflicted upon Rebels by the State for its own Security were to be charged only upon the Church and revenged now upon the Clergy the poor helpless Prelates and their Curates Fourthly He 's confident that the whole Book is but a malicious Design to Bespatter the present Government if the Government be bespattered when the true account of their open Proceedings is fairly published to the World then the faultlyes originally in that Government not in the Historian It 's a strange Severity in any Government not to suffer Men to groan under Burthens because it imposed them and to knock Men in the Head for but clattering those Chains wherewith the Government Fetters them Fifthly He quarrels at the Stile of the Letters for the Authors he says do no where express any thing of duty or Allegiance to the present Governours but according to Mercurius's own Principles of Policy there 's time enough for that when they find themselves according to the Articles of the pretended Original Contract and many fair promises secured in their Religion Liberties and Properties for now it 's a received Axiom it seems that Protection and Allegiance are reciprocal Again He 's offended at the Sharpness and Severity which he discovers in the Expressions then he runs out in many Rhetorical Commendations by way of new reformed Observation upon Moderation and recommends it from the great Example of a famous Roman Catholick Prince whereas at another turn he will not allow either Popish Prince or People to be capable of the least Moderation meerly because they are Papists It 's hard to think why this Gentleman should be so much offended with the Stile of those Letter's it 's not I hope for the Scoticisms in them for that 's a Fault that neither he nor we can so easily help in our Writing perhaps he 's angry that he as a Scotch Doctor was not entrusted to purge out their sharp Humour before
THE CASE Of the Present Afflicted Clergy IN SCOTLAND Truly Represented To which is added for Probation The Attestation of many unexceptionable Witnesses to every Particular and all the Publick Acts and Proclamations of the Convention and Parliament relating to the Clergy By a Lover of the Church and his Country Father forgive them for they know not what they do Luke 23. 34 Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of Luke 9. 55. Rejoyce not against me O mine Enemy when I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me Micah 7. 8. LONDON Printed for I. Hindmarsh at the Golden Ball over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill 1690. THE PREFACE Christian Reader THE following Narrative was writ in a Letter several Months ago from Scotland by a Person of great Moderation and Integrity well acquainted with the Humour and Constitution of Scotland it has been read and approved by Persons of the best Quality both in the Church and State iâ— England and is now at their desire published because it represents shortly and impartially the various Methods under which the Church of Scotland suffered since the late Revolution That thereby all good Christians especially the most charitable church of England may See the sad Effects of Rampant Presbytery Pity their Brethren that have so severely smarted under it Consider the fatal Consequences of Papal Supremacy in a Protestant â—irk and speedily bethink themselves how to quench those Flames in their Neighbours House which so visibly threaten Destruction to their own Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum Some say and I hope it 's true that there are many Moderate Presbyterians to be found abroad in the World altho with us they have been all ever bent to Persecute when they had Power and think they do God good Service when they Murther Bishops and quite raze out their Adherents in Church and State as is too visible by the late and present Proceedings of that Party amongst us Dr. Burnet now Bishop of Salisbury in a Sermon at the Election of my Lord Mayor of London on the 29th of September observes very well Some Plead now says he for Moderation tho they have forgot it shamefully where they have Power as the Congregations now in New-England impose under the pains of Banishment and Death in case of return not only the Religion of the State but many speculative Points in Opinion and other things that are certainly indifferent The Presbytery in Scotland imposed the Covenant under the pains of Excommunication upon which followed a Forfeiture of the Personal Estate and a Sequestration of the Real he might have added and sometimes Death or Banishment to the Person but he goes on and this Covenant all Persons Men and Women he might have said Children too were forced to Swear tho few could understand it and one Particular was not far from an Inquisition that every one should discover all Malignants and Enemies to their Cause in order to bring them to condign Punishment by which every Man was Sworn to be a Spy and an Informer The following Book shews in part what Gospel like Methods that Party now use to have the same Principles and Practices again revived in the World and from it I wish these Moderate Presbyterians which they say are abroad to beware of that Poison that has made the Brains of their Scots Brethren so Giddy that their Zeal against Episcopacy may not run them quite out of their Christianity as it 's too palpable with us it hath done to many Any Moderate Man will certainly think the difference between our Scots Episcopacy and Presbytery not worth the Heat or Danger of a Dispute For First as to the Doctrine both Parties are agreed the Confession of Faith made by Mr. Knox and ratified in Parliament by King James VI. and revived again in the Test Act by King Charles II. this together with the Westminster Confession both agreed on by the General Assembly of Presbyters are owned next to the Word of God by both Parties as the Standard of the Doctrine of our Church Secondly As to the Worship it 's exactly the same both in the Church and Conventicle in the Church there are no Ceremonies at all injoyned or practised only some Persons more reverent think fit to be uncovered which our Presbyterians do but by halves even in the time of Prayer we have no Liturgy nor Form of Prayer no not in the Cathedrals the only difference in this Point is our Clergy are not so over-bold nor fulsome in their extemporary Expressions as the others are nor use so many vain Repetitions and we generally conclude one of our Prayers with that which our Saviour taught and commanded which the other Party decry as Superstitious and Formal Amen too gives great Offence tho neither the Clerk nor People use it only the Minister sometimes shuts up his Prayer with it The Sacraments are Administered after the same Way and Manner by both neither so much as kneeling at the Prayers or when they receive the Elements of the Lords Supper but all sitting together at a long Table in the Body of the Church or Chancel In Baptism neither Party use the Cross nor are any Godfathers or Godmothers required the Father only promising for his Child The only Difference in this Sacrament is the Presbyterians make the Father Swear to breed up his Child in the Faith and Belief of the Covenant or Solemn League whereas the Orthodox cause the Father repeat the Apostles Creed and promise to breed up the Child in that Faith which himself then professes Thirdly As to the Discipline it 's exactly in our Episcopal Church if it may be so called according to the Model of the Presbyterian Mother Kirk at Geneva for conformable to the Consistory direction not Rubrick for that 's a Superstitious word we have in every Parish a little Court which we call the Kirk-Session composed of the Minister or Ministers if there be two belonging to that Church and some Lay men which we call Elders and Deacons too forsooth the business of this Court is to enquire into and punish Scandals and to collect and distribute the Money which good People are pleased daily to offer at the Church-doors for the Poor This Court or Session is lyable to the Inspection and Iurisdiction of the Presbytery who may visit the Sessions inspect their Records and receive Appeals from them upon occasion By Presbytery we mean again a Court of Presbyters inferior to the Synod for every Synod or Meeting of the whole Diocies belonging to a Bishop is divided into several Classes or Presbyteries in each Presbytery there is about eighteen or twenty in some twenty four Ministers who with the consent of the Bishop chose their own Moderator or President they meet ordinarily once every Month or oftener if they think their Affairs require for they have power to adjourn and meet at their own Discretion As
a Grievance to the People for what has been so heretofore may be hereafter and so contrary to their Inclination that then and in that Case Episcopacy may for the same reason by Authority of another Parliament be restored again This is no new thing for before this Revolution Episcopacy in Scotland has been abolished twice by Act of Parliament but so was also Presbytery It 's now abolished the third time and so Presbytery may be But with this difference That Presbytery was never setled by Law in Scotland but when either our Kings were involv'd in Intestine broils or when the Civil Government was under some great convulsion occasion'd most ordinarily by the practises of that Party which put them under a kind of necessity not choice to allow it But no sooner did either our Kings or the Government reassume their just freedom and vigour but as soon was Episcopacy both restored and established by Law So that Episcopacy having been always setled in our Church in time of peace or at the Restoration of it May it please God to restore peace to the State that order in the Church may be it's happy effect And may we make better use of these two blessings then we have done hitherto But as for the inferiour Clergy of Presbyters who were received into the protection of this Government first by a Declaration from the Prince of Orange in Ianuary 1688 9. And in April thereafter by a Proclamation of the Convention of Estates By which Proclamation and Declaration all persons whatsoever were strictly forbid upon the highest pains to molest disturb or by any manner of way interrupt or hinder the Clergy in the exercise of their Ministry and peaceable possession of their Livings They demeaning themselves as it became peaceable and good men As for them I say to be turned out of their Churches in so great numbers may justly make strangers think these men guilty of hainous villanies and crimes which have provoked the Government against them and obliged it to turn them out of their Livings and forbid them all exercise of their Ministry to declare their Churches vacant and to order themselves and families to remove from their dwelling-houses in the middle of winter To Set then this matter in its true light it will be necessary to look a little back upon some things which happened before the proceedings of the Privy Council against the Episcopal Clergy Be pleased therefore to know that there have been Ministers turned out and deprived since the beginning of this Revolution by and under a threefold Authority The first turning out was by the Authority or rather Violence of the Rabble in the Western and Southshires only The Second was by a Committee of the Convention of Estates during the Interval betwixt the Convention and turning it into a Parliament The third was by the Privy-Council since the first Adjournment of Parliament As for the first tâ—rning out by the Rabble it being executed in a time when the Government of the Nation was in a manner quite dissolved there is less wonder that disorders of that kind fell out then it is accountable why they should not be redress'd now upon this Governments assuming its Authority and having Power to make it self obeyed But before I give you the true matter of fact of this highly presumptuous and unparalell'd attempt of the Rabble upon Ministers It will be first convenient to set before you the then State of those Western Shires in matters of Religion What was their behaviour towards the Clergy Established by Law as also how they stood affected to the Presbyterian Ministers then Tolerated by King Iames to hold Meeting-Houses And first Tho' it must be confessed that the Western Shires of Scotland have been and are the most disaffected Party of the Kingdo â— to Episcopal Government and have suffered much for the Rebellions which their prejudices against it occasion'd yet it 's as true that before the last Indulgence granted by K. Iames An. 1687. they were Universally in a good Understanding with their Ministers tho' not in that degree as the Relation betwixt Minister and People doth require it being more in shew then affection For tho' they came generally to Church and owned that they had overcome their Scruple of Conscience of not having freedom to hear them Preach yet they still separated themselves from partaking of the Holy Communion when offered Making it a greater matter of Conscience to receive that Sacramâ—nt from their hands then the other of Baptism for their Children It is also to be presum'd tho' not much to their credit that there was more of constraint for fear of Penal Laws then a willing mind in this little Conformity they yielded in coming to Church all which soon appeared For in the next place upon K. Iames his Declaration of â—â—dulgence or Tolleration to Dissenters the People in those Western Shires run immediately into it accepted of it and 〈◊〉 agreat zeal to build Meeting-Houses to call Presbyteâ—ian Preachers to these Meeting-Houses and to contribute for their Maintenance With this State of Affairs they seem'd so well satisfy'd that they made Addresses of thanks to King Iames in terms which were no less acceptable to the then Court than Scandalons to all Judicious Protestants in both Kingdoms * But these Addresses having been Printed and Published in Gazetts I shall take no more notice of them They were often told by wise Men that they were running a course in accepting of that Tolleration most destructive to the Interest of the Protestant Religion and that it would be much safer for them to continue in their Parochiall Churches as by Law Established since every thing that weakened that fence tended to the letting in of the Popish Party which in time might destroy us both that Tolleration being granted in both Kingdoms in order to bring in Popery and by the means and favour of Papists at Court obtain'd and managed Tho' many yea most of the Inferiour People of these Western Shires at the first went into this snare yet the Persons of greatest Quality and interest among them did not so soon comply And for the other Shires in Scotland in some there were not above two Meeting-Houses in the whole Shire in others none at all which by the by is a kind of demonstration how little fond the Generality of the Nation was then of that way and how the inclination of the People was then set now so much talked of But next to show you how the Presbyterians stood affected to one Another and among themselves be pleased to know That there was a Presbyterian Party then in the West of the meaner sort of the People indeed truly Acting more consequentially to the Presbyterian Principle and Practice in former times who for all that was done would not accept of this Tolleration given by King Iames But did openly by their Sermons and Pens declare their dislike of it and said much more bitter
extinguish the Memory of it they hop'd at least that the favourable things in their Case would have been proper grounds for a new King to forgive what had pass'd before his Entrance upon the Government and the lenity and tenderness shew'd to Persons obnoxious enough in other trusts under him about the same time inclin'd the Episcopall Clergy to expect the like when their case should come to be dnely and impartially represented for seeing his mercy extended to Out-laws and Criminalls of the Grossest Sieze they who are Gods Ambassadors doubted not to pertake of it their escapes if such they may be called being only in points very dubious and material And for a good time they seem'd not to be mistaken of their hope for during thâ— whole Session of Parliament no mention was made of any further proceedings against them Yea one thing gave no small encouragement That when the Act of Parliament pass'd for obliging all persons in Civill and Military Capacities to take the Oath of Allegiance the Clergy were not comprehended in that Act and tho' it were once mov'd in the house that the Oath should be put to them as well as to others yet did not obtain This made many believe that Peace and Settlement were really in their prospect and that all designs of ripping up the old quarrell for not reading the Proclamation were quite laid aside and more tender measures to be us'd which are certainly the most effectuall in such Cases But there are some who thought the true reason why at that time the Clergy was not ordain'd to take the Oath of Allegiance was more out of respect to the Presbyterian Preachers than the Episcopall Ministers for those of their own party in the Parliament who best knew their inclination that way had reason to fear they might Scruple at the same Oath not upon the grounds which others went upon but because their Modell of Church-Government was not setled by Law they would not come under Allegiance to this King till first he had done their business And it 's presumable enough by what many of them have since dropt in their Sâ—rmons and other discourses if this Oath had been put to them as to others in Secular trusts they had discover'd more of partiality to their Interests then of Loyalty to K. William for it may by the Covenant will be by some requir'd to be renu'd before they think their Allegiance either due or right placed But no sooner was the Parliament adjourn'd and severall of the Chief Nobility gone to the Country then a Proclamation was emitted Surprizing enough because not expected by the Privy-Council which did in express terms to use the words of it Invite and Allow Parisbioners and other hearers to inform against Ministers who had not read the Proclamation of the Estates and prayed for King William and Queen Mary for the one could not serve without the other This General Invitation coming from such an Authority to a hot sort of People had a very ready Obedience pay'd to it For one or two of the meanest of a Parish and sometimes the Agents of the Faction in several Places borrowed Mens Names without their knowledge to fill up their Citations and either of these were thought sufficient to accuse their Minister upon which Summons were issued out to cite them to appear at Edenborough within 6 or 10 days before the Privy-Council Whereupon has followed the depriving of such as came before them and had not read the Proclamation And this has outed almost all the Parochial Clergy in the Shires of Marsh Tiviotdale the three Lothians Fife Striveling-shire Perth-shire and some in Aberdeen-shire Murray and Rose amounting as I am credibly informed to the number of above two hundred which was all they could possibly dispatch in so short a time Their whole Process went upon two Points The first was whether they had read to their People on the day Appointed the Proclamation Emitted by the Convention of Estates The Second whether they had pray'd or did pray for King William and Queen Mary As to the first their defences were that they never received it or that it came not to their hands till the day appointed to read it was pass'd Or lastly that it was not Legally delivered to them as the Order for Publick Prayers used to be viz. by Orders from their Ordinaries But none of these defences were sustained in their Case As for the Second point of Inditement viz. whether they prayed for K. William and Q. Mary all cited were not Guilty for there are several Instances of Ministers who had pray'd and promised to pray for K. Willâ—am and Q. Mary who yet were turn'd out of their Livings and continue depriv'd to this day 'T is not deny'd that there are very many who cannot come this length being still under the power of their former Scruples in the matter of Allegiance As for these tho' they are persons of peaceable principles and practices and are ready to submit to the will of God and the Command of Superiors yet all that 's pleaded for them is only favour and Indulgence And if a delay for some longer time to consider Maturely upon these matters could be allow'd it would be very acceptable very becoming these to grant who have so loudly exclaim'd against Persecution for Conscience sake and cryâ—d up so much moderation and thanked King Iames for Tolleration But what may they expect when others who were willing to obey and did acknowledge the present Government in all that is requir'd were yet turn'd out of their Places and Properties by the Rabble to whom no redress is made tho' humbly supplicated by those Sufferers In France it self if a man renounce his Religion he saves his Life and fortune tho' that be indeed a base bargain yet the mercy of this severity is all that 's desired here Oh! when will these things be seriously considered and effectually redressed by the Government And when shall such a temper be happily fal'n upon as may quiet the minds and secure the persons of all good pious and peaceable Protestants I thought to have ended here and given you no further trouble upon this Melancholy Subject but that I hear of a plausible pretext given out to you in England for this sharp handling of the Scots Clergy which is that there is no advantage taken of any Minister who is willing for the time to come to pray for King William and Queen Mary if he be otherwise of approved integrity in life and Doctrine But that the strictness us'd is only against Scandalous persons and so by this means they are more easily turn'd out of the Church than they should be by a Legal Tryal upon such an Accusation And since this pretenâ—e is made use of in England to their disadvantage where the truth of this matter is not yet so well known I must needs say something to it And first it 's not ordinary
being his good Friends and stout-hearted People hindered these People from breaking open the door which they attempted to do They threatned to shoot a pair of Balls through the door upon the Minister at length they promised to do him no harm if he would come forth to them Upon this he came out and when they saw him they had little to say to him but that he had no right to go to the Manse it belonging to the Kirk and he had no right to that He said he had returned thither not to dwell but only for a day or two to take Physick he having no conveniency for that in the Coal-house he then lived in he behaved himself with that Caution and Moderation that they could not find the least colour to do him further Injury they only vented some foolish and impertinent Words against him All this I can prove by the Attestation and Oaths of Famous Witnesses W. H. Instruments in favour of the Heritors and Ministers in Colingtown who gave all Obedience to the Conventions Commands At Colingtown the Eighth day of September THE which day in presence of me Notar Publick and Witness under subscribing compeired personally Patrick Porterfeild of Comistown and pass'd with me and several others to the Kirk of Hailes where we were resolved to hear a Sermon the Minister being at home intending to preach but waiting till the Bells should ring where we were no sooner come but there appeared several armed Men within the Kirk-yard at whom the said Patrick Porterfeild for himself and in name and behalf of the rest of the Heritors of that Parochine and of Mr. Samuel Nimmo present Minister there asked from whence they were come and to whom they belonged and if they were come to that place of design to interrupt the Minister to preach Who answered That they belonged to the Earl of Angus his Regiment and were come there designedly to hinder him to preach and that he should not preach there take his part who would To which it was answered by the said Patrick Porterfeild That King William and Queen Mary and their Council had taken his part and authorized him to preach and that accordingly he was ready to preach and to read the Proclamation for the Fast if they would not hinder him To which they replied That they disowned all such Authority and that the Minister should not preach there Whereupon the said Patrick Porterfeild took instruments in the Hands of me Notar Publick undersubscribing This was done within the said Kirk-yard betwixt the hours of Nine and Ten in the Forenoon Day Month and Yâ—ar of God abovementioned In presence of Mr. Hugh Durie Writer in Edinburg and William Bole Taylor there with saveral other Witnesses to the Premises dâ—sired and required Ita esse ut praemittitur ego Joannes Gourlay Notarius Publicus in praemissis requisitus assero testantibus his meis manu Signo William Bole. Hugh Durie Mr. William Selkrig's Treatment MR. William Selkrig Minister at Glenhome in Twiddale read the Proclamation and prayed for King William and Queen Mary Nominatim with the very first and continued in the Exercise of his Ministry till the middle of Iune at which time twenty of the Rabble Shepherds and Cowherds and such like came from Crawford Moor and Tweedmore to his House and threatned to cast his Wife and Children and Plenishing out of Doors if he would not engage to surcease from the Exercise of his Ministry and remove from the Manse This he refusing to do they cast out all the Minister assuring them he would complain to Authority They answered him They cared not for Authority and they would be doing Upon which he desired they would allow him a Fortnight to remove and with great difficulty he obtained that His Parishoners did not appear against him but owned him Upon a Proclamation of the sixth of August went back made offer to return to his Ministry and conform to the Proclamation Two Fellows one whereof had kept the Church till he had given satisfaction for a Scandal the other never kept the Church These two had put on another Lock on the Churchâ—door by their own Authority Upon which Mr. Selkrig went to the Sheriff Depute with another Brother to crave his assistance conform to the Prâ—clâ—matiâ—n to â—ake the Churchâ—open â—e prâ—mised to cause the Church door he made patent against a day they agreed â—n The Minister came on that Saturday and fouâ—d it not done but received from the Dâ—puty a Letter of excuse That he would understand what had been done in other Shires Mr. Selkrig thâ—n went to the two Fellows with a Notar and required the Key of the Church-door according to the Proclamation that he might return to his Ministry They acknowledged that they were accessory to the putting on the Lock but that they had not the Key He repliâ—d That either they had it or knew where it was and â—pâ—n their refusal to make the Church-door patent took Instruments of his willingness and their refusal to deliver the Key protesting for reparation of Cost Skaith and Damage as the Insâ—â—ument at length bâ—aâ—s and upon this â—eturned to Edinburg where he and his Family live still The instrâ—ment and accoâ—nt of this was produced by the Minister under the hands of the publick Notâ—ary and several Witnesses to persons in Authority but no redress was made The Persecution of Mr. Burges a Complier SIR IT 's like you are dâ—sirâ—us to be informed how Affairs go with me I am one of these who have given Obediâ—nce to the Meeting of Estates but I met with no Pâ—otectiâ—n frâ—m thâ—m Upon the Lords day immediately after the rising of this Current Parliament Tumultuously tho without Aâ—â—s thâ— Rabble came and possessed then selves of the Church being sent from one Mr. Walker who preaches in the Meeting-house by the connivance of Mr. Mâ—â—at whom I suppose you know who sometime was Minister there but is now Old and therefore unable as they say for which they have cast him â—ff all this time they came not near me nor â—â—quired aftâ—r me and I no wise doubted in the mean while but that Act of Parliament anent their Establishment had passed unto a Law so â—oved not abroad from my House that day the next I preached as formerly without any Interâ—uption the Reason was as I knew afterward that the Heritors and the old Presbyterian Ministers were offended that the young Man should have invaded upon Mr. Mouat's Right whereupon my officious Helper has ever since retired himself and discontented with his former Convenâ—icle However they are resolved I mean the Rabble that I shall no longer enjoy peaceable possession notwithstanding my Compliance In order to this there comes in a considerable number of Fellows with Arms and beating of Drums to my House and asked for me upon the Tuâ—sday following I was not at home but they challenged my Wife how I dar'd to preach after they had possessed the Church She
till the Council had discharged all Judicatures to pronounce any Sentence in Favour of the Episcopal Ministers which the Council was forc'd to do Neither of which Matters of Fact this Author has remembered to answer tho it was the Subject of the whole Book against which he wrote To speak modestly it seems to have no very good Aspect to the present Government and it 's but a small Aâ—gument of their Inclinations to live peaceable long under it that they have voted King William out of the Supremacy of the Church and that they have now so soon after usurp'd it to themselves having already without his leave either ask'd or granted convened all at Edinburgh and voted themselves into a free legal general Assembly where they draw up daily Instructions for regulating the Parliament and meet and adjourn at their own pleasure and in their Sermons before the present High Commissiâ—ner my Lord Melvil who is of their own Professiâ—n they roundly tell his Grace if that be not a Superstitious Arch-prelatical Title how he must build the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord only by such true b'ue Israelites as can well Edisie with the Truel in one Hand and the Sword in another and that none of these Samaritans who are addicted to the Superstitions and Idolâ—tries of England must be concerned in this thorough Reformation By those Practices one may easily conjecture why they so scornfully reject the Act for establishing Presbytery offered by the late Commissioner King William would likewise consider how many Thousands of them have and do own That the Covenant which is again voted the Standard of all pure Religion is the Fundamental Contract 'twixt God the King and the People And because K. C. 2. broke it therefore they declared that he had fallen from his Right to the Crown and because K. I. 2. never took it that therefore he had no Right to the Crown and by publick Proclamations declared it lawful to kill them and all who adhered to them and accordingly killed several of their Souldiers and Servants in this Quarrel From all which the Query naturally arises What Measure King William must expect if he will not take the Covenant and consequently Swear to root out Episcopacy in England 3ly Query What Loyalty he can expect from those who think him to be an Idolater as they think all to be who communicate according to the Church of England whose Liturgy they call the Mass in English 4ly Considering their Number in the North of Ireland how easily they may carry their Covenant thither and all its Consequences 5ly What Danger there may be of it even in England whose Dissenters have already learned to pray for the Scotch Presbyterians as their Mother Church 6ly Query Whether it be fit for King William and the Parliament of Scotland to set up those who think it a Sin to grant any Toleration not only to Episcopacy but to Anabaptists Independents or any but Presbytery Which the General Assembly declared to be a Sin Anno 48. and Address'd to the Parliament of England to concur with them in doing the like Lastly Whether any Presbyterians considering their late Practices and Demands be more Moderate now than when they formerly invaded England without any Pretence but their Obligations to the Covenant and to reform the Kingdom of England according to that Model FINIS Fourth Article of Covenant Vide. First Paper being a Declaration from the Prince Vide. The Second Paper being a Proclamation from the Conâ—ention Vide. The â—resbyterians Address to King Iames. In the Fourth Collection Vide. The First Collection of some Papers relating to the practice of the Rable before the Convention met Vide. Summons left in every Parish by the Rabble in the first Collection of Paper So the Lawyers there are called Vide. First Proclamation Vide. The Second Collection of Papers relating to the practise of the Rabble and the Council after the Princes Declaration c. V. Vâ— supra Vide The Paper containing the thanks of the Convention to the Rabble in the Fourth Collection Vide. Presbyterians Address to King Iames in the Fourth Collection Vide. A Proclamation from the Convention in the Fourth Collection Vide. An Act of Council in the Fourth Collection Vide. A Proclamation from the Convention in the Fourth Collection Vide. Third Collection of Papers containing the sufferingâ— of those Minâ—sters who comply'd Vide. A Proclamation from the Convention in the Fourth Collection * Dr. Strachan the Learned and Pious â—roâ—essor of Divinity and one of the Ministers at Edenburgh Vide. A Proclamation from the Convention and the Observation upon it in the Fourth Collection Vide. Proclamations anent the Miisters in the Fourth Collection Vide. Summons to the Ministers of Kelso in the 4th Collection Vide. Proclamation from the Convention in the Fourth Collection Vide. Third Collection of Parpers containing the suffering of those Ministers who comply'd Vide. Presbvterians Address to K J. in the Fourth Collection Vide. Third Collection of Papers containing the sufferings of those Ministers who comply'd Anno 1688. * i. e. Happened to them * i. e. Parsonage House * That is leave his dwelling House * Or the by-past years This is the form of Summons left by the Rabble in most of the Ministers Houses ejected by them i. e. all the furniture * i. e. Major * i. e. Parsonage House * i. e. Parsonage House * i e. Parsonage House * As they call themselves * Page 30. * Page 8. †What Ground there is for this Aspâ—rsion dâ—th not concern 〈◊〉 in Scotland who still adhere to that our former Doctrine for which we now chearfully Suffer * Page 7. * Page 28. * Page 27. * Page 22.