Proclamation of the date November 21 90 hath ratified and approven an Act of the General Assembly of the date November 12. that same year appointing a Solemn National Fast and Humiliation to be observed in all the Churches and Meeting-Houses within this Kingdom the 2d Thursday of this Instant We declare That we judge our selves obliged to give obedience to the foresaid Act of Council in so far as that is consistent with good Conscience and the Duty we owe to God and his Truth and that we are most desirous to joyn with all others within this Nation in the publick and solemn Confession of our Sins deprecating the Wrath of God and supplicating for his Mercy and in all the other Pious and Religious Exercises proper for that Day of Humiliation and Fasting But being that there are several Causes and Reasons expressed and specified in the said Act of the General Assembly which do manifestly contradict our Principles and Opinions and some things affirmed and asserted irreconcileable to Truth and Charity and other Christian Duties and lest our observance of that Fast should be Interpreted the Homologating of these or a sordid or deceitful Compliance against our Consciences we judge ourselves bound to declare as hereby we do declare That we intimate and publish this Fast and will observe it for these Reasons and Causes only that are consistent with our Opinions which we have owned by Solemn Oaths and with the Charity and other Duties incumbent on us by the Laws of the Gospel and do renounce all Grounds Reasons and Causes contrary unto or inconsistent therewith And in particular We do protest 1. That by keeping of this Fast we do not own or acknowledge the Power and Authority that the foresaid Assembly does arrogate over us in so far as that is contrary to the Word of God and never heard of in the Christian Church before this time to wit That Presbyters should have a power of Government and Jurisdiction over other Presbyters who are of the same Office and Degree 2. We do protest that we do not approve of these Words That the Supremacy was advanced in such a way and to such a height as never any Christian Church acknowledged being we know and are ready to prove that they are false and being tho the Supremacy is taken away by the Law as unsuitable to the present circumstances of affairs yet it is not declared a sinful Prerogative of the Crown neither do we esteem it as such 3. We do protest That we do not own or assent unto that Reason of the Fast That the Government of the Church was altered and Prelucy which hath always been grievous to this Nation introduced without the Churches consent and contrary to the standing Acts of our National Assemblies c. being we certainly know that Episcopacy was never more grievous to the Nation than Presbytery and that it was settled with the Churches consent in free General Assemblies after the Reformation and was afterward received and submitted to by the Church in free Meetings and Assemblies And in particular we do assert That the Assembly held at Glasgow 1610. which established and settled Episcopacy was as lawfully Convocated and of as undoubted Authority as the Assembly held at Glasgow 1638. which turned it out as also that Episcopacy was restored by a lawful Parliament An. 1661. and approved by the subsequent actings of the Church in so far as that was necessary in referencâ— to a Government formerly settled by Acts of Parliament and Assemblies of more unquestionable Authority than any that had Abolished the same 4. We do protest that we do not approve of these Words That Prelacy was introduced contrary to the standing Acts of our National Assemblies being it doth imply that the King and Parliament cannoâ— make any Law anent the External Government and Polity of the Church if contrary to any Act of a General Assembly which is to give an Absolute and Uncontroulable power to Church men and is inconsistent with the undoubted Right and Power the State hath for reforming Abuses in the Administration of church-Church-Government and Discipline and disposing of that as may best serve the ends of Religion and the peace of the Kingdom 5. We do protest that we do not approve of these Words Anâ— yet nevertheless of the then standing Ministry of Scotland many â—did suddenly and readily comply with that alteration of the Government some out of Pride and Covetousness or Men pleasing some through Infirmity and Weakness or fear of Man and want of Courage and Zeal for God many faithful Ministers were thereupon cast out and many insufficient and scandalous thrust into in their Charges c. for these do necessarily imply the Divine Right of Presbyterian Government that â—no Humane Authority can alter it and that submission unto or compliance with any other is sinful and that submission to Episcopacy restored An. 1662. did proceed from vitious Causes as also they do imply an uncharitable Censure of many faithful Ministers as Men pleasers wanting Courage and Zeal for God and the like which we think very opposite to the temper and disposition wherewith the Duties of Fasting and Humiliation should be performed 6. We do protest that we do not approve of these Words That there hath been under the late Prelacy a great decay of Piety so that it was enough to make a man be Nick named a Phanatick if he did not run to the same excess of Riot with others for tho we do grant there hath been much Impiety under the late Prelacy and do mourn for it yet we do affirm That it abounded as much under Presbytery and it is not agreeable to the sincerity of our Confessions on a Day of Solemn Humiliation or at any time to be partial in the Rehearsal of our Sins or to distinguish our selves from others as if we were more Righteous and to confine Religion and Godliness to a Party 7. We do protest that we do not approve of that Reason of the Fast That the Nation hath been guilty of breaking their Oaths and imposing and taking ungodly and unlawful Oaths and Bonds c. in so far as these may signifie the Oaths of Allegiance Supremacy and the Test which Oaths as we Swore in Judgment Righteousness and Truth so we do still acknowledge the equity and obligation of them 8. We cannot approve of that Reason of the Fast The wonted Care and Religious Sanctifying of the Lords Day is gone c. And of that Petition we are required to send up unto God that the preaching of the Word and dispencing of the Sacraments may be accompanied with the wonted presence power and blessing of the Spirit of the Lord in so far as they may imply that the power of the Word and Sacraments is restrained and true Godliness decayed under Episcopacy and that they abounded under Presbytery which is to make the Life of Religion depend upon Opinions and outward Forms of Government or to have the
but â—ordid Compliers would observe it for in truth the Presbyterian Fasts are not so taking now as they were formerly in the reign of the Covenant for it is observed that Mountebanks never thrive so well the second time they set up in any place as the first This time there were several Papers emitted containing reasons why the Episcopal Clergy would not observe that Fast because they could not own the Authority of the Assembly that enjoyned it as a Lawful Representative of this Church that by the Laws of God and the Church the Ministers of the Presbyterian Perswasion had no right to impose Commands upon those of the Episcopal seeing the essential Constitution of their Government which is Parity gives them no Jurisdiction over the Brethren and consequently their Acts cannot bind them without their Consent which cannot be pâ—etended to here seeing they had no Delegates or Representatives in the Assembly It was again argued that the Reasons of the Fast were very ambiguous and not easily understood that if by the general Defection and taking of unlawful Oaths they meant the compliance with Prelacâ— and swearing Allegiance and the Test the Episcopal Clergy could not profess Repentance and Humiliation for these without a horrid Profanation of the Name of God while in their Consciences they were not convinced of the unlawfulness of these Compliances and that it shewed the little regard the Presbyterians had for the Sacred Offices of Religion to enjoin their observance of this when they knew what their Judgment and Sentiments were as to these things But amongst all the papers which came abroad on that occasion there was none more diverting than the Burlesque Poem on the Fast which one witily called the Present State of Scotland for it not only gave a lively Picture of the Presbyterian party but also it wittily represented the Humours and Characters of the several parties within the Kingdom and of many particular persons so that even those concerned thought their Neighbours part was well done however displeased they might be with their own When the time of observing the Fast drew near the Clergy of the Diocess of Aberdeen took occasion to communicate their thoughts together and found themselves obliged both in Conscience and Reputation not to observe it Those of Angus Perth and some other places followed their Measure so that it was kept by very few in the Northern parts The Episcopal Clergy in the South had not such opportunity of meeting and therefore were not so unanimous either in their Sentiments or Practises Some few made no scruple either of keeping the Fast or of reading the Assemblie's Reasons for it Some others kept the Fast but would not read the Paper appointed by the General Assembly and what perswaded them to this was a Report that the Court had given Assurance that they who observed the Day should not suffer tho they had no regard either to the Authority or Reasons of the General Assembly And to make this the more probable there was a Paper handed about amongst them concerted and agreed to as was said at London by some Bishops and others there to be read instead of that appointed by the Assembly I shall set it down â—ut I know none who made use of it A Copy of a Paper appointed to be read instead of that set forth by the Assembly about the Fast. FOrasmuch as a Fast is appointed by Their Majesties most Hâ—nourable Privy Council to be observed throughout this Kingdom upon the second Thursâ—ay of January next and the great and many crying Sins of this Nation and especially the sad Dâ—solation of this poor Church and the common want of Zeal which appears in this Land for the Truth and Interest of the Gospel together with the great Intestine Divisions and Commotions among us that at once shake both our Religion and the Civil Government do call aloud to all ranks and degrees of people seriously to humble themselves before Almighty God and to supplicate his Divine Majesty that in the midst of that Wrath which this Nation deserves he may remember Mercy that he may heal the Breaches that are made in the Walls of his Sion and pour out the Spirit of Meekness Charity and Moderation upon all men particularly upon these that serve at his Altar And finally That he may graciously preserve the Sacred Persons of King William and Queen Mary our Dread Soveraigns and prosper them in the Defending their Kingdoms from the Common Enemy that all their Subjects may had a quiet and peaceable life under them in all Godliness and Hâ—nesty Therefore you of this Parish hereby are earnestly Exhorted to draw near to God in this his House upon the foresaid Thursday being the next ensuing and to come with a Holy and Religious preparation of Soul and Bedy for offering up the Sacrifices of broken and contrite Hearts and Spirits to the Father of Mercies that so his Iudgments that are so hanging over our Heads may be diverted and by the pious Groans and Intercâ—â—â—ions of our humbled Souls he may through the Mediation of his only Son our Redeemer be prevailed with yet to make us a blessed people in the happy continuance of our Protestant Religion in settling his Church so amongst us as may most tend for the Glory of his Name and for advancing all the great Ends of our most Holy Faith And lastly in establishing Peace and Prosperity under our most Gracious Soveraigns so as both we and our Posterity after us may reap the comfortable fruits of them Some being perswaded that there were but too many Reasons for a Fast and considering too that there were particular Reasons given for this Fast by the Assembly who enjoyned it which were in every bodies hands therefore they thought themselves obliged not only to observe a Fast but also to take notice of these Reasons and so they read the Assemblies Paper and Commented upon it and by an excess of Charity made the Assembly speak what they ought to have done rather than what they actually did The Ministers of East Lothian and I suppose some from the Mers met at Haddington the Week before the Fast to take joynt measures for the observation of it It was soon agreed to That they could neither in Reputation nor Conscience observe it as it was enjoyned by the Assembly and therefore it was first resolved to do it with a Protestation accordingly the following Protestation was Composed which each of them was to take a Copy of and to read it from the Pulpit both on Sunday at the Intimation of the Fast and on Thursday the Eighth of Ianuary which was the day appointed A Copy of a Protestation which some Ministers offered to make at the Intimation of the Fast that was kept upon the 8th of January 91. if some of their Brethren of the Presbytery where they have their Residence would have joyned with them in it WHereas Their Majesties most Honourable Privy Council by their Act and
nor the conduct of those who were in Office and I will not say but some who were in the Office of Episcopacy and that complied with that Government might have been in some measure accessary to the corruptions by their bad example or Connivance and neglect of the true Exercise of Discipline But yet I cannot think that the settling of an Imparity of the Officers of the Church is to be looked upon as a defection or that it is a thing in it self unlawful or that it is of it self introductory of the abounding of wickedness and scandals in the Church This I may with the greatest confidence affirm that Religion never flourished more in the World than it did when and where there was an Imparity among the Officers of the Church And this I know that some famous Protestant Churches do allow Episcopacy and continue till this day under that form of Government and I am sure that most of the Wise Pious and Learned men abroad tho they live where the Goverment is not Episcopal have not such bad thoughts of it as our Brethren here have And whereas they charge many of the then standing Ministry with compliance with the alteration of the Government I do not see that the continuance of Pastors to serve God and the Church under the late settlement is to be look'd upon as a defection for which they are to repent divers of them having continued to serve in the Ministry neither out of Pride nor Covetousness or Fear or Weakness or want of Courage but out of Conscience and a fear to offend God by refvsing their service in that station when there was no insuperable stop or bar put in their way as they thought there then was not And the like may be said of many others who entred afterwards into the Pastoral Office under the the late Government But notwithstanding of what we have said of this matter we cannot but acknowledge that there has been a great defection among us Men generally have shaken off the Yoâ—e of Christ and exprest none of that respect which we all owe to his Laws and have abandoned themselves to their Lusts and corrupt inclinations so that iniquities and Immoralities of all sorts have abounded and generally men of all ranks have corrupted their ways Covetousness Fraud Oppression Injustice Sensuality Drunkenness and divers kinds of uncleannesses Cursing Swearing Atheism neglect of the worship of God and other Sins besides these reckoned in this Paper have abounded The Assembly acknowledges that there have been some disorders among those of their perswasion Which they say is matter of humiliation such as scandalous divisions injurious reflections against worthy men and some dangerous principles drunk in They say it should be lamented tâ—at some of their way who in the main things did endeavour to maintain their Integrity did not give seasonable and necessary testimony against the defections and evils of the times and did not keep a dâ—e distance from them If they do mean hereby and I know not what else can be understood by it that it is to be lamented that some of their way did not separate from such as complied with the Government but did joyn in worship with them This will not appear to any others besides some of themselves to be matter of Lamentation It is rather matter of Lamentation that so many of them did behave themselves so schismatiâ—ally and refused to joyn in worship on such slender grounds with these who were not of the same perswasion with them concerning the Government They seem to appropriate to those of their way that they endeavoâ—â—ed to keep their integrity in the main things and that they did own 〈◊〉 and bear witness against the coâ—rse of defection but I know that not a few amongst those who complyed did endeavour to maintain the integrity of the main things and did own all the necessary and fundamental truths of the Gospel and did bear faithful witness against the course of the true and reall defection from Truth and Righteousness They confess as I understand it that all of whatsoever perswasion generally do not receive Christ nor imitate him c. But They have passed over many sins of these of their way which all other people see whereof some are almost proper to them how many of them are Proud Fierce Contentâ—lous Turbulent Seditious and Ungovernable many of them presume to judge and censure reproach revile and traduce such as are not of their way tho Magistrates and Ministers Not a few seem to place all Religion in a zeal for their proper opinions and in running separate courses from those who are not of their perswasions many of them are of a Factious Schismatical and uncharitable temper and have by their bitter and indiscreet zeal been prompted to such inhumane barbarous and cruel actions which have been so much the more scandalouss as being acted under colour and pretence of Religion These and such like should be confessed ingennously and mourned for And O that it might please God to make us all sensible how far we have declined from that Spirit and temper and that behaviour and Conversation which the Gospel requires in us and to dispose us to reform and amend As to those things for which we are desired to pray we have all reason heartily to joyn with them There is only one expression which I have observed in which I fear they mean something for which I cannot joyn in Prayer with them The expression is Thaâ— all the Lords people may be of one mind in the Lord if they mean by it as they should do that they may all agree in the fundamentals of Religion and may with one mind and one mouth glorifie God and may live in Love Peace and Concord together and joyntly pursue the attainment of everlasting Life It is a very fit Petition and we are all earnestly to pray for it But if they mean we are to pray that all may have the like sentiments with themselves about the Government of the Church and may consider Presbyterran Government to be of such concern and importance as themselves take it to be I cannot joyn with them in it That opinion being the source of most of the distractions which abound among us and depriving them who hold it of what they owe to all who hold the fundamentals of the Christian Faith and walk agreeable to the Laws of the Gospel It incapacitates them who hold it for performing all Offices of Love to these who are not of their perswasion and prompts them to behave themselves towards all such as Enemies to God and Religion it makes them look with an evil eye upon these Protestant Churches which have not such a model of Government and begets in them a neglect dislike and aversion from these Churches I use not to speak so much of these things in such an auditory nor had I now spoken of them if we had been so discreetly dealt with as not to be
Church or at least to be secured from the Iurisdiction of the Presbyterians who had declared themselves a stated Party against them But neither was this harken'd to Then as their last Refuge they considered how to save themselves their personal Rights and Priviledges that they might sustain no Prejudice upon the account of their private Sentiments and Perswasion And for this cause they resolved to address King William himself seeing the Applications made to others were so ineffectual Therefore Dr. Canaries was sent from some of the Clergy on the South-side of Tay Mr. Mac Gill and Mr. Small from Angus Dr. Gaider Mr. Leisk and Mr. Fobess from the Diocess of Aberdeen This last Design succeeded better than any of the former for the King thought their Request reasonable and promised them his Protection in this matter and in both his Letters to the Commission of the Assembly he required this as that which was most just and equitable Nay the refusing it was judged so unreasonable that it is said that those Presbyterian Ministers who were sent up from the rest did expresly promise to receive such Episcopal Ministers not only into Communion but into the Government as could not be excepted against either for Life or Doctrine And which is yet more it appears from King William's second Letter that the Commission has given some such thing under their Hand Wherefore to try their Sincerity it was thought fit to put them to it by making some of the Episcopal Clergy address to them The nature and form of the Address was drawn up and concerted at London and sent down to Scotland with Mr. Mac Gill and Mr. Small for it was judged requisite they should Address all after the same manner the tenour of which is as followeth To the Reverend the Ministers and others by Law impower'd to establish the Judicatories of the Church of Scotland The humble Petition of the Ministers of the Episcopal Perswasion Humbly sheweth THAT whereas Episcopacy is by Law abolished in this Kingdom we who have in the most dangerous Times manifested our Zeal against Popery are now ready to give all the Assurances that are or can be by Law required of us of our Aversion to Popery of our Firmness to the Protestant Religion of our Duty and Fidelity to their Majesties King William and Queen Mary we are further ready and willing in our respective Charges and Stations to do every thing that is incumbent on us as Ministers of the Gospel for advancing the Power of Religion or repressing of Scandal and Vice and for the securing the Peace and Quiet of their Majesties Government and to act in Church-Judicatories for carrying on of these Ends without any regard to the Difference of Persuasion in matters that are not fundamental We do therefore humbly and earnestly desire That in order to these Ends we may be suffered to act as Presbyters in this Church in our several Precincts and Paroches This being proposed to the Episcopal Clergy several Arguments were used to persuade the subscribing it which some declined foâ— one Reason and some for another Some guessing the success from the Presbyterian Temper thought it would be a prostituting their Reputation to offer a thing which would not be accepted Others apprehended that to be yielding of the Episcopal Cause to the Presbyterians and therefore would not do it But in the Diocess of Aberdeen the most part condescended and gave a Commission to Mr. Leisk to wait upon the Commission at Edinburgh so soon as it should sit and in their Name to address them as above which he did But the Moderator said to him That they could not receive it for there was a particular Commission appointed for all on the North side of Tay and if the Ministers of these places had any thing to say they ought to say it to them Mr. Leisk replied that there was no Commission sitting in the North at that time that he was Moderator of both Commissions and he judged it all one which of them he applied himself to That the King's Letter was directed to them which required them to receive such as should make application unto them and if they refused it he would protest and take Instrument The Moderator bad him do what he pleased and so after Protestation he removed Mr. Small went along with Mr. Leisk and while Mr. Leisk was talking with the Moderator one of the Brethren rises from his seat came towards Mr. Small took him by the Shoulder and with a most frowning Countenance said to him Ye are a pack of prophane Raskals and deserve no pity neither ought to be received After which he returned to his seat leaving Mr. Small surprized with his Discretion and Civility in such a place and at such a time The same day or the day following Mr. Tho. Wood Minister at Dumbâ—r and Mr. William Denune went and offered to the Commission the same Address subscribed by about a dozen of Parsons which being done by Ministers on the South-side of Tay they had not the former pretence for rejecting it They craving an Answer the Moderator said to them Sirs ye 're very hastyâ— you took time to draw it up and you must allow us time to answer it And so he put them off for some days At their next Application they were desired to explain some parts of the Address as what they meant by acting as Presbyters whether they meant the acting separably by themselves independently on them or if it was to 〈◊〉 understood of their joint Concurrence with them To this it was answered That they had it not in their Commission to make any Explications and therefore could not do it So upon the 22d of Iuly they had this Answer given them THe Commission for Visitations on the South-side of Tay. appointed by the late General Assembly of this Church having considered a Petition presented to them by Mr. Thomas Wood and Mr. William Denune signed by them and twelve other Ministers who call themselves of the Episcopal Persuasion do find that some of these Petitioners are deposed some suspended both of them for gross Immoralities others of them are in processes referred by the General Assembly to this Commission and some declared contumacious by the Presbyteries of the Bounds where they have their residence and some live without the Bounds committed to the inspection of this Commission They do also find That not only these Petitioners do not look upon this Commission as a Judicatory of this Church but also do mistake their Work by ascribing to them a Power to establish the Judicatories of this Church which is not committed to them by the General Assembly and though the Commission be satisfied to hear of their Zeal against Popery and Firmness in the Protestant Religion Duty and Fidelity to their Majesties yet they find that seeing the Petitioners have not offered to own and subscribe the Confession of Faith which by Law is made the Standard of the Doctrine of this
wont to do from the Episcopal Ministers being found in Edinburgh he was shut up in Prison and detained several Months till of late with difficulty he hath procured his enlargment So little reason is there to talk of their Harmony and Union except it be in the opposition which both make to the Episcopal Party that the Cameronians to distinguish themselves the better from the other Presbyterians have taken up a new Name viz. That of the Society they do not add of Iesus lest they should be taken for the Disciples of Ignatius Loyola Those of this Sect sometimes begin their Meetings at Ten or Twelve at Night or at the dawning of the Morning and they use to be well armed with Swords and Staves and I 'm told there have been hard blows given betwixt them and the other Presbyterians in the Southern and Western Shives as happened in the late times so now we may expect variety of Sects and Opinions which will ruin Religion as well as disturb the publick Peace and Quiet For Fanaticism is a Spiritual Vertigo which makes people reel and stagger from side to side and run about till they fall into Atheism and gross Impiety To return to the Commissiâ—n which sat down again upon Wednesday the Fifteenth of April When they were met Sir William Leccart the King's Sollicitor came and presented to the Moderator a Letter from the King which was not received with that Respect which was due The Moderator without rising from his Seat bad him give it in to the Clerk telling him That there was very much noise of that Letter For indeed it was not only talked of but also several Copies of it were spread up and down both City and Country Then the Moderator turn'd to the Clerk and said Man take off the Scab of the Wamb of it and see what 's within it for so as is said he called the King's Seal upon it This Letter was the effect of that Address which those Commissionated by the Episcopal Clergy who were still in place made to the King before his going to Flanders whither also Two of them followed him viz. Dr. Canaries and Mr. Lesk that they might even there negotiate the Affairs of their Party and get that stop put to the Proccedings of the Presbyterians which was promised them but which could not be presently given because of the King's haste to go beyond Seas This is a true Copy of the Letter To the Right Reverend and Our Well-beloved Ministers and Elders Commissioners of the General Assembly of the Church of our ancient Kingdom of Scotland Right Reverend and Well-beloved We greet you well WHereas there hath been humble Application made to us by several Ministers for themselves and others who lately served under Episcopacy in that our ancient Kingdom We have thought good as well for the Good and Advantage of that Church as the Publick Iustice and Welfare of the Nation and the Interest of our Government to signifie our Pleasure to you That you make no distinction of Men otherwise well qualified for the Ministry who are willing to join with you in the Acknowledgment of and Submission to the Government of Church and State as it is by Law now established though they have formerly conformed to the Law introducing Episcopacy and that ye give them no vexation or disturbance for that cause or upon that head and that in regard many of these Ministers are turned out summary without any Sentence or Order of Law if such shall be called to be Ministers of any Congregations by plurality of Heritors and Elders we judge it reasonable that you admit them where there is no just Cause to the contrary without making any difficulty Whereas some of these Ministers complain of Severities and Hardships by several Sentences pronounced against them we think fit to give you opportunity to review what Cases shall be brought before you that your selves may give such just Redresses as the matter requireth before we take any further notice of these Complaints We will assure you we will protect you and maintain the Government of the Church in that our ancient Kingdom by Presbytery without suffering any invasion to be made upon it And therefore we will expect That you will avoid all occasions of Divisions and Resentments and cordially unite with those that will agree with you in the Doctrine of the Protestant Religion and own the Confession of Faith which the Law hath established as the Standard of the Communion of that Church And it is our Pleasure That during our absence out of Britain until we give our further Directions that you proceed to no more Process or any other Business and dispose your selves to give out your best Means for healing and reconciling Differnces and apply your selves to give impartial Redresses upon any Complaints that shall be offered unto you against Sentences already past that we be not obliged to give our selves any further trouble thereanent So we bid you heartily farewel Given at our Court in the Hague Feb. 13. 1690. and of our Reign the Third Year Sic subscribitur by his Majesty's Command JO. DALRYMPLE When this Letter was read the Anger and Displeasure of the Brethren was to be seen in their Countenances One said that there was no regard to be had to it because the King's Hand was not at it Another replied That whether it had come only from the Secretary himself or been sent by the order of the King there was no reason to take any notice of it or be concerned with it for it proceeded from a mistake and mis-information as if they had turned out any summarly without any Sentence or Order of Law whereas they were conscious of no such thing It is reported of the Moderator That when the Contents of this Letter were first imparted to him he said If the King had not so many Men at his back he would make two of it But a Person of Honour assured me That when he was speaking to him of it his answer was That the King would be as wise to let these matters alone After much deliberation it was resolved to write an Answer to the King and to send two of their number to negotiate their Affairs with his Majesty and to remove the Prejudices he might have conceived against them by false Representations The Persons who were thought fit to be sent were Mr. Iohn Law and Mr. David Blair The Letter which they were to carry with them was but once read publickly nor did the Moderator suffer any at the time to propose his Judgment about it for he said That there was a private Committee appointed for that matter and so he desired every one to come in apart by himself and there to declare his Mind what he would have added to it or taken away from it Which was done either to keep the thing more secret or that the Draught of the Letter which the Moderator and other leading Men had made might pass
about their Necks could not but in all reason and Justice expect that when the Lord should return to have mercy upon Zion and put the Government of his House in the Hands of his own Servants to manage the Affairs of his Church that we should be eased of this unsupportable Burthen And can it be supposed any feigned submission Mr. Iohnston can now give for this World's sake can either satisfie our Consciences or persuade us of his Sincerity in this matter whose Principles have been to follow Courses to maintain that wicked Hieratchy Nor can it be suppos'd the Reverend Presbytery who have it in their Power to ease us of this Burthen will instead thereof wreath this Yoke yet upon our Necks and thereby sink us under it and make our Bondage yet more grievous to be born Seventhly The Presbyterian Party in the Parish are all Unanimous never to submit to Mr. Iohnston's Ministry nor to own him in that Station whatever may be the Event and if the gratifying of him and his Adherents in this matter be the way to secure and settle Presbyterian Government it may easily be conjectured when it is considered that there is no Person for him who is not an Enemy openly declared in Judgment and Practice against Presbytery which but corresponds to Mr. Iohnston's own Declaration and Judgment in his Case for when Summons were given him to appear before this Reverend Presbytery he did even then disown their Authority affirming he would not appear before them having another Presbytery of his own to whom he would answer but not to them or he would answer to the Council Eighthly It is not to be doubted but a disappointment in this matter will occasion such a rupture amongst us as will not be easily healed And what the end or event of that may be who can tell Nor can it be expected or judged just to impose upon us the keeping up of a Meeting-House to prevent other inconveniences since there is a Legal Maintainance due to the Faithful Ministers there in whose Ministry the Presbyterians there pretend the largest share Ninthly How can it be supposed that this Man is of Presbyterian Principles or a Friend or Well-wisher to the late Happy Change in the Government of Church and State since all his Familiarity is with such as are well known to be Friends to neither nor have we an instance of any thing done by him to signifie his satisfaction with the Change except his Praying for K. W. and Q. M. which is not doubted was done by Advice to keep off a present stroke And it was observed and generally talked of when he was ordered to read that Proclamation for Praying for their Majesties he did read it but with that contempt in his reading sitting on his bottom and muâ—â—ering it that his manner of reading of it made many think there was more contempt in doing thereof than if he had forborn it And such like there having been a Solâ—mn Day of Thanksgiving appointed to be kept and a Proclamation issued out from the Convention of Estates for that effect for his own security he preached one Sermon that Day but spoke not one word to the occasion of it As also there being of late a Solemn Day of Humiliation to be kept by appointment of Parliament and general meeting of Ministers for Happy Success in the King's Expedition for Ireland c. he preached that Day but was so general and unconcerned as no hearer could have judged by his discourse one Sentence in his Sermon relating to the occasion which cannot but give a discovery of the Man's Spirit and Principles by which he is led whatever he may pretend to the contrary And it is no wonder to see him contemn Authority who affirms neither Church nor State to be right Tenthly How true a Friend he is to the Protestant Religion and Protestants for its sake may be conjectured by his Charity to the poor banished Protestants who were lately forced to fly from Ireland For there having been a publick Collection appointed to be gathered for their necessary Supply he not only neglected to intimate the Appointment to his Hearers and press them to that Duty of Charity but it was commonly said he used all the means he could to dissuade such as he had influence upon to contribute any thing in that Charitable Supply and the event was answerable to his design and desire for nothing was collected in that Church for that use nor did any Person within his Association contribute one Farthing thereto From what is said it may appear what just grounds there are for trying Mr. Iohnston anent his pretended Ministry and the Exercise of it at Brunt-Island which is left to the Reverend Presbytery's Consideration and their definite Sentence for his removal from amongst us as to his pretended Ministry is humbly expected and waited for This is given with Protestation to add further as there shall be occasion And beside all that is said Mr. Pitcairn was called to the Ministry of Brunt-Island and appointed by the Synod of Fife to serve there long before Mr. Iohnston's intrusion amongst us so that Mr. Iohnston can have no just pretence Sic subscribitur THO. NAIRN Remarks upon the foresaid LIBEL given in against Mr. GEO. JOHNSTON THE First Article will be confessed and none except the ignorant composers of the Libel will have the worse opinion of Mr. Iohnston on that account As to the Second it may be said That Mr. Iohnston might as well take a Presentation from K. Iames who was undoubted Patron of the Church of Brunt-Island as the Presbyterians an Indulgence from the same King the one is no Crime the other cannot be well justified because contrary to standing Laws and because they knew the Design was to make way for Popery which Mr. Iohnston is less a Friend to than the Presbyterians are Whereas it was said That he was deserted of the People of Fala the contrary is very well known for that People had a great love to him and he was in good esteem amongst them They expressed a great deal of regret when he parted from them and if there were any who ran to the Presbyterian meeting-house while he was there they were very few and very inconsiderable His manner of Institution to the Church of Brunt-Island was not singular nor yet irregular according to the practice of the Church and can be no reasonable prejudice against him Nor is it true That the other Ministers of that Presbytery disowned him for they always did and still do entertain a Brotherly Correspondence with him As to the Third It might have been true That the Presbyterians entertained a Jealousie of him and their groundless Jealousie might have raised a Prejudice against his Ministry But notwithstanding of that Mr. Iohnston is very capable of doing good in that Parioch because the Presbyterians are not near the number of the People of another Persuasion who love Mr. Iohnston's Person and are