Privy-Council yet I am sure there is not the least ground to urge it as an act of Severity in the Government since these Ministers were permitted to keep their Churches upon such easie Terms and the mildness of the Government towards them was such that many of them notwithstanding they absolutely refused to comply with this Act of Parliament or own the Authority of their Bishops were indulged by the favour of the Bishops to keep peaceable Possession of their Churches although this Author maliciously insinuates that all their Sufferings were occasioned by the Instigâ—…ion of â—…he Prâ—…lates But a â—…uller Account of this you have in a late Discourse Entituled An Account of the late Establishment of 〈◊〉 Government by the Parliament of Scotland Anno 1690. Pag. 14. CHAP. II. OUR Author in his Second Part conâ—…ines himself to a particular Consutation of the Treatise Entituled The Scots Presbyterian Elâ—…quence but before he bâ—…gins to take it to task he 's very high in his Panâ—…gyricks upon the Lordâ—… 〈◊〉 and Mâ—…lvil I don't incline to make any particular Reâ—…lexions either upon the Parts or Integâ—…ity of these two Lords the Tree may be easily known by its Fruits but this I must beg our Author's leave to say That as for their share in this baâ—…barous Peâ—…secution of our Clergy let them use all the means imaginable to conceal it from the Eyes of Strangers let them deny it never so impudently yet their own Consciences and the starving Oâ—…phans of many of our poor Cleâ—…gy will appear as dreadful Witnesses against them in that Great anâ—… Teâ—…rible Day when they are callâ—…d to give an Account of all their Actions whether good or bad And all the harm I wish them is that they may at last seriously reflect upon the great Injustice and Barbarity of theiâ—… Proceedings towards our Clergy that so by their unfeigned Repentance they may Atone for these Crimes and save their Souls in the Day of the Loâ—…d In the next place he accuses the Author of the Presbyterian Eloquâ—…nce for asserting a great many Untruths in his Book and p. 36. he instances in that of charging the Presbyterians with the Murder of the A. B P. of St. 〈◊〉 â—…or says he the Presbyterians were so far from approving it that thâ—…y refused the 〈◊〉 to those conâ—…erned in it particularly at the Scoâ—…s 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 What Abhorrence the Presbyterians in Holland had of this barbaâ—…ous Murder I cannot well say but this I 'm sure of that our Presbyterians in Scotland were so far from detesting it that they generally approved of it as a most Noble and Glorious Action and I dare boldly affirm that never one of the Party there refused to admit the Murderers to their Sacraments or ever offered to inflict any other Censure upon them for this heinous Villany On the contrary it is notorious how most of the Presbyterians that suffered for their Rebellion in Scotland did justifie this Murder in the face of Authority and commended it as an act of good Service done to God and his Church in delivering them from such an Oppressor This our Author's impudence caâ—… hardly serve him to deny boldly enough and therefore he 's satisfied rather to recriminate the Matter upon the Episcopal Party by charging the Privy-Council of Scâ—…tland with Hanging five Men in Magus-Moor as the 〈◊〉 Murderers though never one of them â—…ad seen a Bishop These Men were punished by a lawful Authority and conform to the Laws of the Land for though they were not the Murderers of the Archbishop of St. Andrews yet they were notoriously guilty of Treason and Rebellion against the Government and these Crimes being sufficiently proved against them and they justifying and approving of the Archbishop's murder I think it was no breach either of the Laws of God or Man to make them a publick â—…xample for the terâ—…ifying other wicked Offenders and securing the Peace of the Society for the future He says likewise That the Council hanged Mr. Mitchel for shooting at the said Archbishop though he missed â—…im But although this Villain happened to miss of his Design against the Archbishop of St. Andrews yet the Bishop of Orkney being then in Coach with the Archbishop was unfortunately wounded with the same Shot which occasioned his Death tho not very shortly after Now I can hardly think that any good Man would ever offer to condemn the punishing of such a Villany and râ—…ally I very much wonder that this Author regards so little the Credit and Reputation of his own Party as to oâ—…er so publickly to countenance or excuse such Villainous Practices as have justly rendred that Party odious to the whole World What he alledges about the Earl of Rothes and the Council their promising Mitchel his Life upon Confession is nothing but a meer Fiction For I am credibly informeâ—… that they solemnly declared before the Justice Court That they never made him any such Promise and certainly if they had they were all of them Men of more Honour and Integrity than to have retracted it This Author is at a great deal of pains to prove that Presbytery is moâ—…e popular in Scotland than Episcopaâ—…y which has ever been much insisted upon by the Presbyterians as a great Argument for the Lawfulness of their Government as if any Principle or Doctrine were the Trueâ—… because agreeable to the Inclinations of the People If this be the Standard of Truth why was not Christianity exploded and Heathenism still continued as being more suitable to the Humours of the People This is such a Foundation for the Truths of our Religion as will go near to subvert all its Doctrines since many of them are so far from being popular that they are downright Enemies to Fleâ—…h and Blood and oblige us to abstain from all those Worldly Pleasures which we so greedily pursue 'T is but a bad sign of the weakness of a Cause when they flee for shelter to the fickle and unconstant Humours of the Vulgar when they betake themselves to such weak and frivolous Arguments in defence of their Government 't is a shrewd indication they are at a loss for better to produce This new Method we have taken up to promote Religion by establishing nothing that is contrary to the Inclinations of a People may chance to have more fatal Consequences than we at present seem to be aware of The settling the Government of the Church upon such a slippery Foundation disposes People to look upon it as a thing altogether indifferent and ambulatory so that each Nation may set up what form of Church-Government they please But if we consider a little the Nature and Constitution of the Christian Religion we 'll soon find that the Government of the Church is not of such an ambulatory Nature and that it is a very essential part of the Constitution yea so essential that it is not in the power of Man to alter it For God having established
Liturgy contains no Prayers either to Saint or Angel and that all our Prayers â—…re directed to the true and sole Object of Divine Worship the 〈◊〉 and Etâ—…rnal God We have no Prayers of Intercession or Mediation but which arâ—… addressed to the Lamb of God who sits at the right hand of the Father to â—…ake Intercession for us all our Forms of Prayer are composed of such emphatical and comprehensive Sentences are framed with such a tendency to raise and elâ—…vate the Dâ—…votions of the People that it is beyond the Art of Man to bettâ—…r them But this has been the constant practice of the Presbyterian Party to represent every thing as Popery that is not in all Points agreeable to their Enthusiastical Dreams they endeavour to infuse into the Minds of the People dismal and frightning Notions of Popery and then the better to expose their Adversaries that diâ—…er â—…rom them to the rage and fury of the Rabble they brand them with the odious Name of Papists which is such a piece of Malice and Diâ—…ngenuity as I believe is peculiar to the Party In the same Page we have a Vindication of the Presbyterians for not observing the Anniversary of King Châ—…rles I. his Murder And the reason of their so doing our Author says proceeds from a Principle that no Humanâ—… Power can oblige them to violate the Fourth Commandment which says positively Six days shalt thâ—… work This is indeed a new Comment upon the Fourth Commandment and such as few of our Expositors have been so happy as to light upon GOD out of his Etâ—…rnal Wisdom thought â—…it indeed to separate a seventh part of our Time for his own Worship and Service and to establish the Sabbatical â—…estivity in Commâ—…oration of that Great and Omnipotent Work of the Creation when he rested from framing the Glorious Fabrick of this Universe and out of his great Bounty towards the Work of his own Hands he allowed us the other Six days of the Week for carrying on our Worldly and Temporal Concerns But was it ever beâ—…ore dreamed that this Indulgence of Time for our private Labours was such a strict and positive Precept requiring us to spend these Six days so entirely in working as if we were not at liberty to set apart any portion thereof to worship God either for publick or private Mercies upon any occasion vouchsafed unto us We ought not indeed to spend this Time in idleness and vanity and when we arâ—… not taken up about the Service of God we ought to be diligent in following our private Labours and Callings But if we employ any portion of this Time either in publick or private Exercisâ—…s of Devotion in glorifying God for some Personal or Nationâ—…l Blessings conferred upon us or in deprecating his Wrath for our crying Sins and Abominations this is so far from being a breach of God's Commands that it is what he repuires and expects at our hands and has been the constant practice almost of all Nations in the World Do we not find that the Jews besides the Festivals appointed them by their Lawgiver observed a great many uncommanded Feasts and Fasts which â—…hey themselves had instituted as Anniversary Commemorations of some signal Deliverances The â—…east of Purim was instituted by Mordecai in remembrance of the delivery of the Jews from â—…aman who maliciously sought the Destruction of them And the Feast of Dedication was instituted in remembrance of that great Mercy which God shewed unto his People in delivering them fâ—…om the Tyranny of Antiochus and the Idolatry which he had forced upon them setting up the Idol of Jupiter in the Temple of God and abolishing the true Worship of God It was appointed by Judas Maccabaeus as a Yearly Festival to be observed from Year to Year for the space of eight days Besides these they had several other Feasts of Humane Institution of which we â—…ind frequent mention in Scripture We see likewise that the Romans had their Feriae and their Festi Dies the Feriae which were instituted to the Honour of their Gods they observed so Sacredly that it was a heinous Crime to do any manner of Work on them on these Days it was unlawful for them Terram ferro tangere as Servius tells us These Feriae were either Stativae unmoveable Feasts and appointed always to be kept on a certain Day or Imperativae which were Arbitrary and solemnized upon such Days and on such Occasions as the Magistrates and Priests thought most expedient And the Practiâ—…e of the Christian Church in this matter is so notorious that besides their frequent occasional Festivities the greatest Mysteries of our Religion have been Celebrated in 〈◊〉 Anniversary Solemnities â—…hrough all the Ages of the Church which is a most effectual way to prevent these Articles of our Faith from being subverted by Hereticks And thus we see that this practicâ—… of observing Anniversary Days has been constantâ—…y received not only in the Christian and Jewish Churches but likewise among the Hâ—…athens it being as it were a Principle engrafted in â—…umane Natuâ—… to return a suitable Tribute of Praise and Thanks to the Supream Governour of the World for disposing and ordering the Events therâ—…of in such a manner as tends most to his own Glory and the Welfare of his peculiar People So unhappy are oâ—…r Prâ—…sbyterians in their Schism from the Catholick Church that in many Doctrinâ—…s and Customs wherein they diâ—…fer from us they run in a diâ—…ect opposition to the Practice and Judgment not only of the Catholick Church but likewise of all Mankind so fond are thâ—…y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 own singular Opinions What this Author urges in contradiction to this Universal Pracâ—… of observing Anniversary Days is of no consequence foâ—… although there may be none of the Six on which some remarkaâ—…le 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not happened as he alledges yet it does by no means follow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 should have no time left at all for Work 'T is not to be suppoâ—…d that God requires such constant Exercises of Devotion from uâ—… as to impede the necessary Works of Humane Life 't is true indeed there is no Dispensation of the Divine Providence but what is accompanied with such Wisdom and Prudence as deserves to be admired and adored by all Rational Creatures but yet there are some Acts thereof so signal and so remarkable in their Events that they require a more solemn acknowledgment at our hands and deserve to be more frequently Commemorated by us And the appointing of sâ—…t Times for Commemorating these more signal Dispensations of Divine 〈◊〉 must be left to the prudence and discretion of the Governoâ—… of the Church who are the most proper Judges of wâ—…at concerns the publick Worship and we are not to suppose them so 〈◊〉 in the conduct of Affairs as to separate such an unequal share of 〈◊〉 Time for the publick Worship as would render Devotion buâ—…som to the People and altogether inconsistent with the 〈◊〉 of Humane Life
SOME REMARKS Upon a late Pamphlet Entituled AN ANSWER TO THE Scots Presbyterian Eloquence WHEREIN The Innocency of the Episcopal Clergy is Vindicated and the Constitution and Government of out Church of Scotland Defended against the Lies and Calumnies of the Presbyterian Pamphleters Deut. XXXIII 29. Thine Enemies shall be found Liars unto thee and thou shalt tread upon their High Places Psal. V. 9. For there is no Faithfulness in their Mouth their Inward Part is very Wickedness IMPRIMATUR Dec. 20. 1693. Guil. Lancaster LONDON Printed for Joseph Hindmarsh at the Golden-Ball over-against the Royal-Exchange in Cornhil 1694. TO THE Most Reverend Father in God JOHN Lord Arch-Bishop of Glasgow May it please Your Grace HOW soon I entertained any thoughts Publishing a Discourse of this Natur in Vindication of our Church and Cle gy I was easily determined to send abroad under Your Lordships Protection You haâ—… been such an Eminent Sufferer and Confessor those woful Calamities of our Church and Nation have been Persecuted to such a height both in Person and Reputation meerly for the Defence of our common Principles that you may justly challenge the Patronage of such a Treatise as your due Your Merit having justly Advanced you to such a Dignity in the Church as to be a Father of the Clergy I therefore presume you will not decline to Espouse any thing that is Writ in a just Defence of their Innocency The most of those Persons whose Vindication I have here undertaken have sometimes lived in Your Graces Diocese are personally known to you and you have had frequent occasions to search into the whole course of their Life and Conversation so that I dare the more boldly Appeal to your Lordships Impartial Judgment if what I have said here in their Vindication be any more than is Just and Reasonable and what the severest Judge will readily acknowledge to be their due While the Enemies of the Church are at Work to Calumniate and Accuse the Clergy your Grace being placed in such an Eminent Station could not well expect to escape the Censure of their Malice The Office you bear in the Church and the Sacred Character you have stamped upon you expose you more Remarkably to the Malice of such Vermin as despise Religion and trample upon all that 's Sacred But your Lordships Character and Merit is so Universally known that whatever Malicious Reports are Raised upon you by the Enemies of our Church and Religion deserve noâ—… a particular Confutation However your Grace has been pleased to grâ—…tisie your Enemies so far as to take some Notice of their Calumnies and has Annexed to this Treatise such an irreâ—…ragable Assertion of your own Innocency as cannot fail henceforward to sâ—…op the Mouths of your most inverterate Enemies My Lord I don't question but you are alwayâ—… ready under your Troubles to practise that Christian Doctrine of Patience you have so often Recommended to others and I hope God in his own good time will puâ—… an end to these Nationaâ—… Judgments and recal your Lordship srom youâ—… Exile to be again an Ornament to our Church and to assist in the Rebuilding of the Second Temple and making it more Glorious and Beautisul than the former that to the Excellent Constitution of our Church-Discipline we may have added a set Form of Prayer and Devotion and then our Church shall again Flourish as a Palm-Tree and forever after be immoveable as a Rock So begging your Lordships Paternal Benediction I am with all Duty MY LORD Your Graces most Obsequious and Faithful Servant W. S. TO THE READER THE most effectual way of Undermining Religion is to bring those who propagate it into disgrace and contempt If once we Receive bad Impressions concerning the Lives and Morals of our Teachers we will not readily hearken to their Exhortations of Piety and Morality The Authority of our Spiritual Guides is at an End if we fancy them to be addicted to those very Sins and Vices which they so vehemently Preach and Exclaim against and denounce woful Judgmenâ—…s against all that practise them we easily believe that they are not in earnest with what they profess and we are Tempted from hence to conclude Religion to be a meer Cheat and Imposture This Method of subverting Religion has been always thought so successful that if we look back into the History of former Ages we shall find that since the first Plantation of Christianity it has been the constant practice of all its Enemies to Slander and Revile those that did promulgate it to accusâ—… them of the grossest Immoralities they could imagine thinking by this mâ—…ans to give such a fatal stroke to the Christian Religion as to prevent its Conquest over Judaism and the Pagan Worship Was not the Author of our Râ—…ligion himsâ—…lf the Holy and Blessed Jesus Reproached with the Title of a Glutton and a Wine-bibber Were not all his Followers evâ—…n in the first and purest Ages of Christianity chargâ—…d with Atheism for contemning the Worship of the Heathen Idols with incestuous Mixtures and with eating Childrens Flesh in their Holy and Sacred Mysteries This Heathâ—…nish and Abominable Practice of calumniating our Adversaries seems to have been copied by most of the Sectaries of the Christian Religion but I think by none more exactly than our Presbyterian Dissenters who have never failed to lay out all their Industâ—…y and Wit in contriving Forgerieâ—… and Calumnies against both Clergy and Laity of the Orthodox Communion In our late Civil Wars when the Presbyterian Schism prevailed over this whole Island when the Churches both of Scotland and England were quite overturned and the Clergy Persecuted and Exposed to the greatest Hardships of Poverty and Want their Persecutors to justifie this their Cruel and Barbarous Usage of them did industriously represent them to the credulous people as ignorant of their Profession and highly scandalous in their Lives loading them with the most Villanous and Immoral Crimâ—…s they could think of Thus were the whole Body of the English Clergy at that time maliciously assaulted and accused of all the Crimes their Enemies could invent against them as appears from the Centuries of Sâ—…andalous Ministers complained of to the Parliament Anno 1646. So likâ—…wise in their present Persecution against the Church of Scotland they revived their Old practice of Slandering those whom they had most unjustly Persecuted When they had Rabblâ—…d thâ—… Clergy from their Churches and Acted such Villanies and Indignities upon their Persons and Families as the most Savage Barbarians would have been ashamed of the Noise of this Persecution spreading abroad they found it convenient to Publish and Divulgâ—… all the Lies and Calumnies they could invent against our Clergy lest they should seem to have 〈◊〉 them without any ground and thinking likewise by this Stratagem to exasperate and raisâ—… the Indignation of all good Christians against them upon account of those heinous Villaniâ—…s with which they maliciously charged them Such Usage as this could not fail
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
Religion 24 The Sufferings of the Presbyterians no ways promoted by the Episcopal Clergy 25 The Ministers of State â—…nder K. Charles's Government sufficiently Vindicated from our Author's aspersions of Câ—…uelty 26 A short Narratiâ—… of the Proceedings of the Council against sonâ—… Ministers turned out in 1662. 27 Chap. II. THE Presbyterians have justified the Murder of the Archbishop of Sâ—… Andrews in the face â—…f Authority upon several occasions Pag. 29 Mitchel's Execution justified 30 The making the Inclinations of the People the Standart of the Church-Government is of very fatal consequence to the iâ—…terest of Religion Ibid. Tâ—… Presbyterians having made more Insurrections in the Kingdom in beâ—…alf of their Church-Government than tâ—…e Eiscopal Church have thought fiâ—… to do is no argument that Presbytery is more popular in Scotland than Episcopacy 32 This last Convention having abolished Episcopacy and established Presbytery is no good argument that the Presbyterians â—…ave the majority of the Nation on their side 33 The Methods used by the Episcopal â—…lergy for reclaiming the Dissâ—…nters shâ—…wn to be very effectual since at the time of K. James's Indulgence there were fâ—…w or no Presbyterians but what joyned in Communion with the Episcopal Church 3â—… The Prâ—…terian Practice in vilifying our Saviour's Prayer altogether in excusable Pag. 35 The malicious Characters this Author gives of the English and Scots Gentry as well as Glergy 36 The â—…etling or abrogating matters of Religion in complianâ—…e with the humours of the Populace stands directly in opposition to the propagating of the Christian Religion 37 The disingenâ—…ity of this Author and his Party in calling the English Common-Prayer-Book Popery 39 The lawfulness of observing Anniversary Days of Humanâ—… Institution asserted Ibid. The Murder of K. Charles â—…he First justly chargeable upon the Presbyterians in both Kingdoms and not upon the Nation in general 42 The behâ—…viour of the Scots Presbyterians ' towards K. Charles the Second upon his advancement to the Throne 46 That the English Convocation acted upon far better Grounds in refusing an Union with the 〈◊〉 than the Scots Assembly in rejecting the Addresses of those few Episcopal Clergy who addressed them proved by several Reasons 47 It is from the Civil Magistrate the Church derives all her Temporal Priviledges bâ—…t â—…e is in no wâ—…ys the Fountain of Spiritual Power 50 〈◊〉 account of the King's Supremacy in Scotland as it is there Established by tâ—… Laws of the Kingdom 52 The Church has the sole Power in Matters purely Spiritual but the Clergy are equally subject to the Civil Authority and liable to the same Punishments with the Laity 53 The Papists and Presbyterians extend the Church's Authority beyond its true Bounds in claiming an Exemption to the Clergy from Secular Punishmeâ—…ts till they be first condemned by the Church 54 The Church of England guilty of no breach of Promise in refâ—…sing an Union with the Dissenters upon the Terms proposed 56 The Presbyteriaâ—… Miâ—…isters â—…ave often assumed to thâ—…selves a Power of making Peace and War Ibid. The Presbyterians not without some ground stigmatized with the Reproachful Term of New Gospellers 57 Chap. III IT is not strange to see Persons after they have murdered robbed or any way injured their Adversaries to endeavour likewise to blacken them iâ—… their â—…me and Reputation the better to palliate their own wicked Actions against them Pag. 58 The Innocency of our Clergy sufficiently Vindicated from this 〈◊〉 Aspersions since in this present Persecution against them by the Presbyterians they cannot instance in four of their Number against whom they could find thâ—… lâ—…ast prâ—…tence to deprive them for Immoralities Pag. 59 Many of our Clâ—…rgy sufficiently Vindicated from this Libeller's accusations by the Author of an Appendix to a late Treatise Entituled An Apology for the Clergy of Scotland 60 Dr. Canaries fully Vindicated from the Calumnies brought against him by this Accuser and the Accuser's malice and disingenuity fully detected Ib. An account of Dean Hamilton's Process and his being absolved tâ—…from by the Privy-Council and the Criminal-Court 62 Our Author 's great mistake concerning Mr. Boyd 63 A full Relation of the Process concerning Mr. Hugh Blair aâ—…d of the indirect ways and means usâ—…d by the Presbyterian Party to stain his Reputation Ibid. The Story of Mr. â—…hisholm truly râ—…lated and he cleâ—…red from this Calumny 68 This Affair of Mr. Chisholm's a singular Instaâ—…e of the Villanous Arts and Practices of the Presbyâ—…erians to bring Contempt on the Episcopal Clergy 71 Mr. Waugh a Presbyterian Minister vindicated from the aspersions of this Liâ—…eller Ibid. Another Mistâ—…ke of our Author's concerning Mr. Gregory's being Minister at Torboulton 72 The notorious Falshood of the Râ—…lation about Mr. Pearson Ibid. A Vindication of Mr. Lawson Minister at Yrongray 72 A Testimony of Archbishop Cairncross in favour of Mr. Lawson 75 Another Testimony in his favour by the Presbytery of Dumâ—…reis 76 Archbishop Paterson his Letter Vindicating himself from the Aspâ—…rsions of this Libeller 〈◊〉 77 78 A Vindication of Archbishop Caiâ—…oss 83 Declaration of Mr. Richard Scot and Mr. Henry Knox. 85 Tâ—… Conclusion 87 SOME REMARKS Upon the ANSVVER TO THE Scots Presbyterian Eloquence In Vindication of the Clergy of Scotland from the Calumnies thrown upon them by the Author of that Pamphlet WHEN I â—…irst Read the Answer to the Scots Presbyterian Eloquence I conâ—…ess I was perfectly amazed to think that any sort of Men could be so Wicked as to shake off all ties of Humanity and Religion and Write in this Scurrilous and most unchristian manner This is such a mâ—…thod of Answering Books as I believe was never yet heard of The very Heathens and Infidels would blush at such Practices and what an Age must this needs be in which our Lot is cast that Christians who profess to own that Pure and Holy Religion should openly and avowedly Act such thing as the most Barbarous Nations would bâ—… ashamed to commit To Raâ—…e â—…ogether a parcel ofWicked and Prophane Stories and to charge them upon Men most of whom are known to be of an untainted Fame and Reputatlon and this without so much as one Witness to avouch for the Credit of what he says this is such a piece of Impudence and Villany as is not easily to be parallel'd Does our Author think that his bare Authority in aslerting these Lies and Aspersions without any other proof is sufficient to blemish the Reputation of any Man of Worth and Credit Or can he possibly imagine that any Men of Sense and Reason are so easily imposed upon as to believe these Calumnies to be true unless he had been more particular in the circumstances of time and place when most of these matters of Fact are said to be done and had produced the Testimony of some Famous and unexceptionable Witnesses to evince the Truth of what he says In the very beginning of his Pamphlet he declares himself an inveterate Enemy to the Church of England and
to the whole Episcopal â—…hurch of Scotland and yet aâ—…ter he has thus Proclaimed an open Hostility can he be so inconsiderate as to think that any judicious or unbyassed Reader will give the least Credit to what he says against the most obnoxious Member of their Society unless he brings very clear and undeniable Evidence for his Assertions It cannot be denied but that â—…ome two or three of those Men whom our Author thus Libels in his 〈◊〉 were obnoxious to cenâ—…re in their Lives and Conversations but it is very unreasonable that the Vices of these particular Members should be thrown upon the whole Society since the Church did take all imaginable care to purge her self of these Vicious and Corrupt Members and did actually 〈◊〉 and depose â—…or Scandals and Immoralities some of those Clergy-men whom this Libeller here accuses but whether for those Crimes he 〈◊〉 them with I cannot positively aver This I am sure of that the moâ—… 〈◊〉 of them who were thuâ—… censured by the Church could never be gâ—…ilty of some of those things alledged against them in this Pamphlet Our Aâ—…thor in several of his instances has quite outdone his Malice and has been so inconsiderate in the inventing of some of his 〈◊〉 thaâ—… the bare Relation of the circumstances of the Story is a suâ—…icient Conâ—…utation of the whole matter of fact â—…or although a Man may be so Wicked as to be guilty of that unnatural Act of Sodomy yet unless he be in a Fit of madness to the highest Degree 't is hard to be imagined that he could either be so publick or so indiscreet in his Commission of it as to be convicted by 88 Witnesses as this Libeller would have us believe Pag. 64. So imprudent is he in contriving some of his Forgeries For this is such an Act of Folly and Imprudence that I can hardâ—…y think any reasonable Creature could be guilty of it since not only the â—…hame of his Crime but likewise the danger of being capitally punished for it would be sufficient Motives if not to terrisie him from the sin yeâ—… at least to engage him to privacy in his Wickedness But as 't is true that some of the Clergy here Accused by our Author have been guilty of some immoralities that cannot be excused yet his other instances where he attempts to slander the Repâ—…tion of some innocent and worthy persons are as notoriously false as you shall see â—…y aâ—…d by when I come to consider the several instances more paâ—…ticularly However I think these innocent Gentlemen are not in great hazard of susfering much in their Reputation by the malice of tâ—…is Author for his Pamphlet is all over stuffed so with the spirit of Gall and Bitterness that his Testimony cannot be of any great weight among serious and sober Men. He is not satisfied to belâ—… out all his Vomit against the Clergy of both Nations but he likewise 〈◊〉 upon all the Laity of the Episcopal perswasion both in England and Scotland and represents them as Men void of all manner of Religion who instead of frequenting the Religious Assemblies do haunt Bawdy-Houses and are Drunk in 〈◊〉 and Ale Houses And here I cannot â—…orbear taking Notice of this Barbarous and Inhumane way of Writing how destructive it is to all humane Society and how inconsistent with the principles of that innocent and harmless Religion we all profess to maintain It teaches us to be quite of another spirit ' 'To render no Man Evil for Evil but to bless them that â—…urse ' ' us and to pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute â—…s The Spirit of the Gospel is so far from countenancing such Wicked practices of Slandering and Reviling one another that it requires us when we know our Brother to be taken in an Offence to endeavour to reclaim him in the spirit of meekness by private and brotherly Admonitions But alas this New method of converting Sinners which our New Gospellers have taken up is such that instead of reclaiming it rather hardens and emboldens the Wicked in their Impieties I do seriously wish the Authors of such Libels would but consider a little the general interest of Religion and bethink themselves what advantage theâ—… affoâ—…d the Enemies thereof by such unchâ—…ian practicâ—… fâ—…r 〈◊〉 a scandal must it needs prove both to Jews and 〈◊〉 against our moâ—… Holy Religion when they see those who profess to 〈◊〉 it accusing one another of such gross immoralities as could haâ—…dly be acted among any who firmly believe the Existence of a Dâ—…y Thâ—…y must nâ—…ds be Tempted from such practices to conclude thâ—…t all our 〈◊〉 iâ—… a meer Cheat and that we outwardly profess whâ—…t we do not inwardly believe since our behaviour towards one another is such as if we did not really believe there is a God in â—…eaven to reward the Good or punish the Wicked Doer Our Primitive â—…ors used this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 of their Religion against the Heathens that it was Pure and Holy harmless and innocent and that its Doctrine was more effectual in reclaiming Sinners from their Wicked Courses than the Principles and Dictates of all the Heathen Moralists This they insist much upon in their Apologies and it was certainly one of the most successful Arguâ—…ents in making Converts to their Religion for we find that by this Argumenâ—… many Heathens were perswaded to leave their Superstitious Rites and Customs and to embrace the Châ—…istian Religion as the most Pure and Holy and that which advanced the Princlples of Humane Natuâ—…e to the highest pitch But can we ever expect at this rate to make any Converts to our Religion when its Enemies do see us daily accusing one another of such Crimes as the most Barbarous Nations do abhor Nay so far are we from gaining any New Proselytes thereby that I 'm confident this Practice of Libelling our brethren does tempt such of our Religion as are not firmly perswaded of the Truth thereof to desert and ridicule it We may easily foresee of what pernicious consequence this Practice will at last prove if we but consider how greatly Atheism and Irrâ—…igion does already prevail among us Is it not the general Humour of but too many in these Nations to Laugh at all manner of Revelation as a meer Art of Priests to captivate and delude silly people They look upon Religion as a thing mean and despicable and far below the concern of such great Masters of Reason as they pretend to be Nay we are come to such an indifferency in matters of Religion that many of our Laity do look upon it as a piece of Grandeur and Bravery to trample upon all that 's Sacred and stamp'd with a Divine Character Don't we see them daily endeavouring to expose the Clergy to Ignominy and Reproach to retrench and diminish their Revenues to represent them as Abject and Vile Persons as the refuse of all the people and even to Rob them of those Spiritual
their thoughts being taken up with hearing the Holy Scriptures Read they may have no occasion to spend that time in gazing about them in the Church or entertaining one another with trivial Discourses and this the Clerk continues to do till the usual time that the Congregation be fully met This practice the Presbyterians have quite Abolished and instead of the Scriptures have set up their more Sacred Oracles the confused Farce of some of their Sermons which they Order to be Read for the Edification of their Auditors till the usual time that their Sermon begins Our Author Pag. 47. Quarrels his Adversary for saying That the Author of the Brief and True Account of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland bestows the Characters of Godless Miscreants infamous Parricides Sorcerers and incestuous Apostates upon the Scots Gentry as well as Clergy And although he will not allow the truth of this in that Author whom he endeavours to vindicate yet he himself is so very civil as to Treat them at the same scurrilous rate in many places of his Book As for the Clergy he spares none of their Rank or Order but represents them all as the worst of Men and belches out his Vomit against them in such obscene and scurrilous Language as any modest Man would have been ashamed to utter The Episcopal Gentry both of England and Scotland he represents as Robbers and Murderers as generally Prophane and Debauched as Men void of all manner of Religion who in stead of freqâ—…enting the Religious Assemblies do haunt Bawdy-houses and are drunk in Taverns and Ale-houses But it is no wonder he should Treâ—…t our Clergy and Gentry at this rate when he has not the least respect to the Sacred Persons of our Princes them he represâ—…nts as waâ—…owing in their Sins and Uncleanness and avowing their Adulteries as Sodom And what Treatment the Author of such Villanous Reâ—…lexions does deserve I leave the Reader to judge To Treat the Sacred Persons of Princes and Prelates the Anointed of the Lord in such a scurrilous manner to wound the Reputation of Men of known Honour and Integrity at this rate is such a piece of â—…illany as can hardly receive a sufficient Punishment Can any Man that is not totally void of Religion write in this Inhumane and Unchristian manner To represent all that differ in Principles from them as worse than Infidels this is such an act of Malice as I believe was never practiced among Heathens or Barbarians and it is no small 〈◊〉 to our Religion that any who call themselves by the name of Christ shouâ—…d be guilty of such barbarous Practices This Scribler endeavours Pag. 52. to answer an Objection which his Adversary brings against their new and unheard-of Practice of settling and abrogating Matters of Religion even those that are most essential according as they are either agreeable or contrary to the inconstant Humours of the Vulgar His Argument runs thus That upon the same Grounds our Presbyterians in Scotland declared Episcopacy to be Anti-humane Christianity must be Anti-humane in Turky and Protestantism in France and Spain and therefore ought in all Equity to be rejected by them they being contrary to this new Standard the Inclinations of the People This Argument a â—…ri is so very conclusive and presseth our Author so hard that in stead of Confuting he is forced to yield to it and he very fairly granâ—…s that if Christianity or Protestantism be contrary to the Inclinations of the People in these Parts they may rejeâ—…t it as Anti-humane and it ought no ways to be imposed upon them I wish this Author would but consider a little whither this Principle of his carries him what absurd and pernicious Consequences he is forced to grant and what great disservice he does to the Interest of Religion meerly through a blind and mistaken Zeal for his own Cause It seems strange to see Men so hurriâ—…d away with the Spirit of Contradiction as not to discern such plain and obvious Consequences Is it possible at this rate evâ—…r to makâ—… any Convâ—…rts to the Christian or Reformed Religion except where it alrâ—…ady gâ—…nerally prevails And how the Christian Religion could at first be propagated through the World according to this new Principle is a thing impossible to conceive I would gladly know of this Aâ—…or what Arguments he can posâ—…bly bring to convert these Heathen Nations to the Christian or to pâ—…rswade thâ—… Popish Countriâ—…s to â—…mbrace the Reformed Religion They can 〈◊〉 retort upon him his own Argument That the Christian Râ—…ligion being contrary to the Inclinations of thâ—… Pâ—…ople in thesâ—… Parts they ought to declare it to be 〈◊〉 and no ways to 〈◊〉 it and how our Author can well evâ—…de the forcâ—… of this Argumâ—…nt I do not apprâ—…hend If the Inclinations of the People must needs be the Standard of Truth I 'm sure we can have no hopes of their Conversion since they aâ—… by this Principle obliged to persist in their Idolatriâ—…s and Corruptions and the Popish Countries must still adhere to their Errors and Superstitions If any of them desert their Errors and â—…mbrace the true Religion then according to our Author's Hypothesis they embrace what is Anti-humane and what they ought to râ—…ject as being contrary to the Inclinations of the People The only thing our Author comforts himself with in this matter is that he 's conâ—…ident the Pâ—…ople of these Countriâ—…s can never declare the Christian or Protestant Râ—…ligion to be contrary to their Inclinations But upon what Evidence he grounds his Confidence I cannot easily imagine Does he fancy that the generality of the People in Turky and these othâ—…r barbarous Nations are more inclinable to the Christian Religion than to their own Idolatrous Corruptions Do they not declare against our Religion as a downright Cheat and Imposture And do not those of the Romish Communion look upon our Reformation as a meer Innovation And what Encouragement this Author affords these Enemiâ—…s of our Religion to continue in their Errors and Superstitions I leave aâ—…y serious Reader to consider he has taught them a new Principle by which they may easily evade the force of all the Arguments we can bring for their Conversion I find our Author herâ—… takâ—…s noticâ—… of onâ—… of his Adversaries Observations wherâ—… he says That the new Gospellers call the Common-Prayer Booâ—… Popery and this he is so far from denying that he endeavours to justifie the Charge Now to sâ—…e Men pretend to the Spirit of Moderation towards Adversaries and yâ—…t in the mâ—…n tiâ—… be guilty of such an Overt Act of Malice and Disingenuity is not a little amazing I dare appeal to this Author 's own Conscience that he knows a sensible and a vast difference betwixt the English Liturgy and the Romish Mass-Book and yet he 's so disingenuous as to perswade the silly and ignorant People that they are both the same I 'm confident he knows our