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-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
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-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
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
Flesh and to rescue himself from the Paws of that Roaring Lion which goeth about seeking whom he may devour We are all of us alas but too much exposed to the Frailties and Infirmities of our Nature and so have no great cause to Insult too much over the Fallings of our Brethren especially when they are so far from persisting in their wicked Courses that they heartily repent of the Wickedness they have committed and endeavour now to do that which is lawful and right that they may save their Souls alive And all the Instances in this Book containing Personal Reflexions upon the Life or Morals of any do not amount to above two or three which I have ground to believe were slipt into the Book without the consent or privity of the Author But the true design of this Discourse was to inform the World what great Damage did accrue to Religion by the ridiculous manner in which our Presbyterians are wont to handle all Matters that are Sacred how they infuse into the Minds of the People sordid and mean Notions of the Great and Eternal God how they often fright many into an unreasonable Despair of God's Mercy by the horrid and extravagant Notions which they entertain of the great Mystery of our Redemption and how by their ridiculous and nauseous Stuff which they vent in their Prayers and Sermons they expose the Sacred Mâ—…ies of our Religion to Scorn and Derision And I think the doing of this is so far from being a Crime that it is rather a Duty incumbent on us to forewarn People of the fatal Consequences that such Methods must needs have among us that all good Men who have any real concern for Religion being informed of these things may contribute their Endeavours for preventing that Deluge of Atheism and Impiety which has already begun to overflow these Nations and may justly be imputed to the Principles and Practices which these kind of pretending Gospellers have propagated among us and that being made sensible of the great Danger to which Religion by such Practices is exposed may for the future discountenance all such Men as without any Commission from God do usurp the Authority of his Ambassadors and by their Drollery and Ridicule prophane all that 's Sacred Yea I doubt not but Charity even to the Presâ—…yterian Preachers themselves partly moved â—…he Author to expose those extravagant Expressions in their Sermons and Books accoâ—…ding to that of St. Augustin Haec 〈◊〉 misericorditer irride ut iis râ—…denda ac fugienda commendes Do thou mercifully deride these Errors in Men that thou mayest move themselves to deâ—…ide and shun them This methinks is a pious and commendable Design enough and if the Author of this pretended Answer had but followed this method and offered to prove against the Episcopal Clergy what some of their Writers have done to a Demonstration against the Presbyterian Sect that in stead of Preaching the pure and sincere Woâ—…d of God they filled-their Sermons and Instructions with nothing but nauseous Stusf and Nonsense I say could he have proved these Things against them and had he abstained fâ—…om his Calumniating Aspeâ—…sions his Vindication of his own Party would not have been so generally condemned But being sensible of his Weakness on that side and that any Assertions of that nature in Prejudice of our Clergy could be easily conâ—…uted he was â—…esolved to attack them in a more Revengeful manner and to alledge Things against them which though most of â—…hem are as notoriously false as the other yet he knew could not be so easily disproved For in this case as I said before when a Man is accused of being guilty of some Scandals and Immoralities in his â—…ife and not the least Evidence brought to prove these Accusations the only way left him to purge himself is to appeal for his Innocency to the Testimony of those that have been most acquainted with the whole series and course of his Life But had he offered to urge any thing against them relating to the Matter of their Doctrine and Sermons he very well knew that was a thing too Publick and too Notorious to Falsifie in and that they could bring a Cloud of Witnesses against him to declare that they Preaâ—…h nothing but the Pure and Sincere Gospel of Christ and Administer hiâ—… Sacraments with that Gravity and Sincerity that becomes the Infinite and Eternal Being whom they represent here on Earth as his Ambassadors and whose Covenants they seal in his Name that they never approach the Throne of God but with the greatest Reverence and Devotion dâ—…claring by the outward Prostration of their Body what great and noble Thoughts they entertain of their Almighty Creator and of â—…he Sacred Offices they are about CHAP. I. HAving thus given you my Thoughts very freely of the General Design of this Pamphlet I shall in the next place trouble you with a few Remarks on the Particulars contained therein As for our Author's Dedication which I suppose he designs for a piece of Wit I can discern nothing in it but what is mean and silly His malicious Reflexions upon that Prelate whom he so scurrilously Treats in his Dedication and elsewhere are nothing but a meer Brutum fulmen and cannot in the least wound the Reputation of so great a Man he being a Person endued with such excellent Parts and his Merit having advanced him to such a Character in the Church that it puts him far beyond the reach of the greatest Malice of any such Scribler In his Preface he very civilly Compliments those Members of the Church of England who promoted the Design of the Comprehension with the Dissenters and tells them that in his many Reflexions on the Church of England he does not intend them but understands only that Faction which opposed His Majesties desire of Uniting his Subjects and goes under the Title of Ceremony-Mongers It were to no purpose to relate here the many venomous and ill-natured Reflexions on the Church of England which are scattered in all the Pages of this Pamphlet But by what he says in his Preface we may plainly see that he declares War against the most considerable part of the Church as being Enemies to all Religion and betrayers both of our Religious and Civil Rights And although he 's pleased to call them a Faction only of the Church yet he must own them to be such a Faction as are the greatest part and consequently the fullest Representative of the Society since by their Interest in the House of Convocation they opposed the Alterations that were then designed to be made in our Offices In the same Paragraph he inveighs bitterly against the Chief Ministers of State here in England who upon the Application of some of the Episcopal Clergy to this Government were pleased out of a Compassionate sense of their Miseries and Oppression to espouse their Interest and endeavour to procure them a Redress of their Grievances These Men he represents as having
after the Reformation The Synod is a Convocation of the whole Clergy of a Diocese with their Bishop who meet twice every Year to consult about Matters relating to their own particular Province National Synods commonly called General Assâ—…mblies consisting of all the Bishops and their Deans together with the Moderators of the several Presbyteries in their respective Dioceses and one Commissioner from each Presbytery joyned with the Moderator are called by the King Pro re natâ to Deliberate concerning the Affairs of the whole National Church In the Provincial Synods the Bishop takes care to examine iâ—… the several Presbyteries be diligent in their Duty of Punishing Offenders and if â—…ny of the Clergy be obnoxious to Censure hâ—…e they are Prosecuted â—…or their Misdemeanors Now â—…ese Judicatories are so far â—…rom being prejudicial to the Biâ—…hops Powâ—…r that they are rather a great Assistance to them for promoting â—…he Discipline of the Church and upon that account weâ—…e â—…irst Erected with the Consent and Allowance of the Bishops â—…hemselves they judging it very proper and convenient not to do any thing of great consequence to Religion without asking the Advice of their Clergy how they should behave themselves in a Matter of so great Importance And these Courts could not be look'd upon as any Encroachment upon the Episcopal Power since they so entirely depended on the Bishops Authority that without his Consent no Act of theirs could be valid But I think truly the Discipline of our Church is none of the things most to be blamed for we have some remains of the Primitive Discipline as yet among us which are to be found but in few National Churches at this day as appears from the Vestige we have of that Ancient custom of Communicatory Letters among the Bishops of the Primitive Church And as there is some Resemblance of it amongst our Bishops by dimissory Letters so it was still in force among the Inferior Clergy who were obliged to receive none into their Congregations till they first brought â—…ertificates from the Minister in whose Parish they formerly Lived testifying that during their residence among his Flock they had behaved themselves Christianly and Soberly and that â—…e knew nothing against them why they might not be admitted into any Christian Congregation without this they were never allowed to have the benefit of the Sacraments Had not â—…he Presbyterians by their Tumults and Commotions envied us the happiness of having the English Liturgy settled among us the Conâ—…titution and Discipline of our Church was such as made us inferiour to few National Churches And here I cannot but wonder at the Impudence of that Party that although they refused to joyn in Communion upon any Terms with the Episcopal Church as by Law Established yet they would take upon them to hinder them from settling among the Members of their own Commâ—…nion such a Form of Worship as they thought most agreeable to the Word of God and consonant to the practice of the Primitive Church Our Authors transient Reflexions upon the Clergy are dressed up in such Scurrilous and Obscene Language as must needs make any Man of a Virâ—…uous Education blush to Read them and therefore lest I should offend the Ears of the modest Reader by Repeating them I shall pass them over in silence till I come to consider his Third Part and aâ—… present only take Notice of those things in the Book which relate either to matter of Argument or matter of Fact And here I cannot omit his great protestations of his Ingenuâ—…us and fair Dâ—…aling in this Work whereby he thinks the more easily to captivate unthinking Readers into a belief of his Liâ—…s and Calumnies He pretends â—…o have inserted nothing but what he has Received from Credible Hands but he thinks it not fit to gratifie his Reader with an Account of the Names of those Câ—…edible Persons whose Authority he avouches for the Truth of his Aspersions Had he given us the Names of the persons with attested Declarations under their hands asserting the Truth of these things alledged against some of our Clergy we could have then known of what Credit and Authority the Testimony of those Persons ought to be had and it had been an easie matter to convince the World of the Falsehood and Forgery of his Calumnies and to purge those innocent persons from the Slanders cast upon them out of meer Malice and Envy But as â—…or our Authors Ingenuity in his Collection he has scraped together a great many Stoâ—…ies many of which are most notoriously False and have not the least shadow of Truth in them as I shall aâ—…terwards make appear and for the proof of some of them he Appeals to Records where no such thing is extant or to be seen as I have had particular occasion to enquire Some of his Accusations â—…re against such of the Clergy as were either Suspended or Deposed by the Church for their Immoralities and yet this Author imputes the Faults of these Men to the whole Society and is so disingenuous as not to acquaint his Reader with the Censures passed upon them by the Church Others again are Passages related of some Clergy-men who â—…ived under the Presbyterian Government duâ—…ing the times of its last Usurpation in that Kingdom which this Author is pleased to charge upon the present Episcopal Church and whether this be Fair and Ingenuous Dealing I appeal to any unbyassed Reader This Author insists much upon the Address presented to their General Assembly by some of the Episcopal Clergy desiring to be admitted into a share of their Church Government This he urges as a sufficient Vindication of the Lives and Morals of the Presbyterians or at least as an Argument that these Episcopal Addressers were no Honest Men themselves who desired to be associated with such Knaves as they 〈◊〉 the Presbytâ—…rians out for This Address was opâ—…osed by a great part of the Church of Scotland most of them looking upon it as unlawful and altogether inconsistent with the Prinples of Christian Communion to joyn any ways in Communion with thosâ—… whom they owned to be notorious Schismaticks as long as they persisted in their Schism so that it was but a few of the Clergy that were concerned therein and this they urge in their own Defence That notwithstanding the Nation was in a distracted â—…tate and Condition yet it concerned every individual Christian especially Clergy-men to lend their Assistance for the punishing of â—…candalous and Vicious Persons and therefore that although the Presbyterians had Usurped the Government of the Church yet the Episcopal Clergy who still retained possession of their Churches might consistently enough with their Principles joyn â—…ith them in â—…he puâ—…ishing of contumacious Offenders â—…specially since they were not obliged by this Act of Union to concur with them in their Presbyterian Ordinations or to own their Authority in matters purely Spiritual but only to Unite with them as a Company of Laicks
his Church as a Society and invested it with peculiar Priviledges belonging thereto he must be allowed to have settled and established a distinct Order of Persons for the governing it and for admitting Members to a right to all those Priviledges which he has appropriated to the Members of the Society And if he has separated a certain Order of Persons for this Office and impowered them and them alone to seal his Covenants in his Name it must needs be Sacriledge in the highest degree for any to usurp that Office without a due and legal Call from those whom God has appointed to conveigh his Authority And God can never be obliged by the acts of those Persons whom he never authorized to represent him no more than a King can be said to be under any obligation to ratiâ—…ie the acts of any one that usurps his Authority and falsly pretends to be his Ambassador So that to alter the Government of the Church from what it was at first constituted by our Saviour is nothing less than to underminâ—… the whole ground of our Salvation since we can have no Title to the Benefits of the Gospel but as we are Members of Christ's Church here on Earth and we cannot pretend to be Members unless we bâ—… admitted into the Society by those Persons whom God has delegated to that Office and intrusted with that Power But notwithstanding the impertinence and weakness of this Argument in Vindication of the Church-Government yet since our Author insults so mightily upon it I shall comply with him so fâ—…r as to consider the grounds of his Assertion only I would caution the Reader never to lay stress on such kind of Arguments as are altogether incompetent and of no force to prove the Truth of any Principle of Religion For there is no Doctrine which is in it self false that can be justified by never so general a reception of it and therefore it can be no Argument of the lawfulness of any form of Church Government that it is the most agreeable to the Inclinations of the People All his Evidences to prove that Presbytery is more popular in Scotland than Episcopacy amount to no more than this that the Presbyterians have made more Insurrections in behalf of their Government than the Episcopal Church ever thought fit to do And that this is not sufficient evidence enough to prove their point will easily appear from hence The Principles of our Presbyterians with respect to Monarchy are of a very large extent they make the Supreme Power of the Nation accountable to his Subjects and allow he may be resisted and Dethroned for his Male-Administration So that if the Sovereign shall at any time think sit to mâ—…ke such Alterations either in Church or State as do not exactly quadrate with the Wild Humours and Fancies of that Party then they instantly betake themselves to Arms and resolve to involve the Nation into Blood and Confusion rather than fail of having their unaccountable Humours gratified But the Episcopal Church of that Kingdom have greater restraints upon them they own in Consormity to the Laws of the Reaâ—… and to the Laws of God in his â—…irst Institution of Government that the Supreme Power is irresistable and cannot for any Male Administration be Dethroned by his Subjects that if he be guilty of any Illegal or Unjustifiable Actions in his Government he is accountable to none for them but to God alone And therefore although the Sovereign should chance to â—…stablish such Constitutions either in Church or State as are contrary both to the Laws of God and the particular Laws of the Realm yet by reason of their strict Obligations to absolute submission they are not at Liberty to Rise in Arms and assert their Rights that are thus encroached upon They may indeed veâ—…y lawfully refuse their actual concurrence and compliance with these sinful Constitutions but to resist or Dethrone their Sovereign upon that Account is what they are not able to Justifie either by the Laws of God or the Laws of the Nation This is and has been the constant Principle and Doctrine of our Church and if any of its Members have Acted contrary thereto they have in so far deserted the Principles of their Church and slighted their Sacred Vows and Obligations and therefore ought in Conscience speedily to return to their Duty The Reason why the Episcopal Church Act more submissively to the Lawful Powers than the Presbyterians is not that there lie stricter Obligations to Obedience upon the one Party than the other no they are both subject to the same Laws are obliged to own the same Prince and are under the same Obligations and Ties of Conscience to submit and adhere to him But the difference lies here that the Episcopal Church make some Conscience of performing their Duty and of Walking answerably â—…o their Vows and Obligations and resolve in Conformity to their â—…imitive Ancestors rather to suffer Peâ—…secution than be guilty of Rebellion On the contrary the Presbyterians sacrificâ—… aâ—…l Duties to the Interest of their Party and where that is concerned make light of all Obligations So that whoever considers the different Principles of both these Parties will never conclude from hence that Presbytery is more popular in Scotland than Episcopacy meerly because there have been more popular Insurrections for it than for the other since the Presbyterians think it lawful to Rebel upon that account and the Episcopal Church look upon it as altogether unjustiâ—…iable to resist the lawful Powers upon any account even of Religion it self As for what our Author urges concerning the great Party that appeared for the Presbyterian Government in this last Convention which Abolished Episcopacy and Established Presbytery I shall plainly make it appear that this can be no Argument that they have the Majority of the Nation on their side At the time when this Convention was called in Scotland the Affairs of our Nation were in such a distracted condition as made the Event altogether uncertain and upon this account many of the Episcopal Gentlemen who were wont formerly to be Members of Parliament thought it safer to keep out of publick business and therefore refused to be Elected by those Shires and Burroughs whom they used always to represent in Parliament Nay some of them were so averse from being Elected themselves that they would not so much as be present to Vote at the Election of othâ—…rs thinking it to be a direct breach of their Ties and Oaths to the Government and particularly that of the Test to meet or consult about the Aâ—…airs of the Nation without the consent of the King So that at many of the Elections one third part of the Members concerned therein refused to be present and the Episcopal Gentlemen declining to be Elected there was no opposition made to any that would stand and this was certainly the Reason why more Presbyterian Members â—…rept into this Convention than ever durst appear in the like
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
of the first Act continues to have a Supremacy over all Esâ—…ates Ecclesiastical as well Civil and over all Peâ—…sons and Causes thereto relating and thâ—… Clergy of Sâ—…otland arâ—… as much bound to own this Supremacy as those of 〈◊〉 â—…ere I cannot but observe how visibly the Disloyalty and 〈◊〉 of this Paâ—…ty to all Civil Government does appear Thâ—…y endeavour under pretence of lodging all Ecclesiastical 〈◊〉 in tâ—… Church to divest the King of that Power in the externâ—…l ordâ—…ing of Church Matters which does duly belong to him as being the supreme Governor within his oâ—…n Dominions and yet they aâ—…e so sar from settling the whole Ecclesiasâ—…ical Jurisdiction in tâ—…e hands of Spiritual Persons as they pretend that they have not so much as one Judicatory but what does consist of at least 〈◊〉 as many Laicks as those who pretend to be Ecclesiasticks They 〈◊〉 not allow the King so much Power as to Convocate the Clergy soâ—… the 〈◊〉 of Matters about Religion when he thinks fit or to â—…ommand them faithfully to discharge their Duties and Functions which he may lawfully do by virtue of his Civil Power over their Persons as his Subjects and yet they allow the Lay-Elders in their General Assemblies to share with them in the Authority of inâ—…licting Spiritual Censures which properly belongs to none but Spiritual Persons and their indulging the Laity this Power in spiritual matters is more than what they can well account â—…or according to the first Institution of thâ—… Ministry In their General Assemblies there is no Minister dâ—…prived of hiâ—… function no Sentence of â—…xcommunication passed no â—…eretick condemned nor any thing of moment transacted but what thâ—…ir Lay-Elders share in as much as their Teachers and yet is the King should 〈◊〉 any such Power in their Meetiâ—…gs they would be apt to â—…ly in his Face as an Oppressor and Persecutor of the Cause of God but methinks they might at least indulge him the 〈◊〉 of being one of their Ruling Elders That the Church has Power of calling her Assemblies and exercising â—…er Discipline in some extraordinary Cases even contrary to the Command of the Civil Magistrate is what we do not deny as this Author is pleasâ—…d to alledge The Apostles and Primitive Christians did in a direct opposition to the Roman Emperours and Jewish Sanhedrim frequently meet together to perform the Religious Exercises of Devotion and determine such Controversies as then happened to arise among their Bâ—…ethren and this they did without thinking that they encroached in the least upon the just Rights of the lawful Powers then in being And what was lawful for them to do is still lawful for the prâ—…sent Châ—…rch in the same Circumstances for the Magistrates being now Christian can Intitle him to no grâ—…ter Power in Church 〈◊〉 by Virtue of his Civil Authority than what did bâ—…ong to the Heathen Magistrates The Church may indeed upon prudent Moâ—…ives indulge the Christian Magiâ—…trate a greater Power of 〈◊〉 in Ecclesiastical matters than whâ—…t had been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or â—…afe to intrust the Heathen Emperours wiâ—…h but this Power which the Church Grants to the Magistrate does no ways belong to him by 〈◊〉 of â—…is Civil Authority it is only Indulged â—…im by the Church in prospect of his Temporal Protection and thereâ—…ore 〈◊〉 he instead of a Nursing Faâ—…her to her shall turn an oppressing 〈◊〉 or when the Church shall see it any way necessary sor the well being and safety of Religion she may recal it again at her pleasure But as we allow the Church to have the sole Power and Authority in matters purely Spiritual so we deny that any such 〈◊〉 Jurisdiction belongs to her as to exâ—…mpt the Bodies of the Clâ—…gy from Subjection to the Civil Powers They owe their Sovereign the same Duty and Obedience with the rest of his Subjects are as much under the Jurisdiction of his Civil Courts as liable to the Temporal punishments which he inflicts as the persons of the Laiâ—…y sor otherwise the Civil Magistrate could have no security for hiâ—… Government We do not allow the Clergy to be Judges of every thing done by themselves in the first instance which is the height of the Popish Usurpation and Supremacy and makes Church-men no Subjects And herein it is that we differ from the Presbyterians in asserting the Jurisdiction of the Church they together with the Papists carry it to such a height as to claim an exemption for the Clergy of their not being answerable to the Civil Courts of the Nation but only cognizable by themselves they deny the secular Magistrate any Power to punish the persons of the Clergy for Rebellion and Treason preached openly from their Pulpits or any other Crime till they once be Convicted of the Crime and Condemned therefore by a sentence of an Ecclesiastick Judicatory That this is or at least was always wont to be the constant Principle of the Presbyterian Party is so Notorious that I admire this Author should ever attempt to conceal it Was it not their proceeding to practice upon these principles which gave the first Rise to that Act of Parliament in K. James VI's Reign ratifying the King's Supremacy For one Mr. And. Melvil a Presbyterian Minister having declaimed â—…requently against the King for which being called before the Council he boldly declined the King and Council as Judges in prima instantia of what is Preach'd in the Pulpit even tho' it were High Treason and so he fled into England Whereupon the Nation Assembled in Parliament in the year 1584 in a just Resentment of thâ—…se Seditious Doctrines and Practices did pass the abovementioned Act of Supremacy and it was by Vertue of that very Act that Mr Ja. Guthrie a Presbyterian Minister was anno 1661 hanged for declining the King's Authority The Presbyterian Ministers declaimed against and reproached this Act of Parliament and in opposition thereto one of their Number Mr. Dav. Black having Railed against K. James and Queen Elizabeth from the Pulpit as Enemies to God being called before the King's Council he not â—…nly declined the King's Power of judging him until he was first Condemned by his Brethren but United most of the Ministers of Sâ—…tland most tumultuously in his Defence and some of them who were then residing at Edinburgh stirred up the multitude to such a Rage and Fury upon this occasion that they presently leapâ—… to Arms and came to the Street in great Numbers crying The Sword of the Lord and of Gideon it shall either be theirs or ours And taking their March streight to the Session-House where the King and his Counsellors were then met would in all probability have forced the Doors which upon the Noise of the Tumult were shut and done no small mischief were it not that by the Providence of God a Loyal party drawn together by the Deacon Conveener of the Trades kept them back for a while till their Fury cooled a little and in
the mean time the Earl of Marr called from the Castle a Company of Musqueteers to Guard the King's Person upon the Notice whereof the multitude chose to disband and went away as confusedly as they met And whether such practices as these be not directly to invade the Temporal Sword and Usurp the Power of the Civil Magistrate I shall leave the Reader to Judge And if the Popish Bishops be guilty of the like practices with the Presbyterians in encroaching upon the Rights of the secular Magistrate it ought not in Reason to reflect upon the Bishops of the Reformed Communion since it is what we can be no more accountable for than for the Barbarous and inhumane practices of the Presbyterian party because they pretend to be our fellow Christians It is to these unjustifiable principles and practices of the Papists and Presbyterians that we owe all the encroachments that have been made upon the spiritual Power in these later days for the Popish Clergy together with the Presbyterians not being satisfied to assert only the independent Authority of the Church in matters purely Spiritual have endeavoured to extend its Jurisdiction so far as plainly to encroach upon the Rights of the secular Magistrate and to subject the State to the Church not only in Spiâ—…ituals but likewise in Temporals And this on the other Hand has Tempted many of the Laiâ—…y in these later Ages when Men are degenerated into such an indifferency and lukewarmness about matters of Religion that they look upon the Temporal concerns of this World to be of faâ—… greater Value and Concern than the Eternal Interest of our Souls upon all occasions to grasp at the Rights of the Church and to Rob her of that Spiritual Power and Auâ—…hority â—…ith which our Saviour has invested her independently of any humane Authority and which to Usurp from her is Sacriledge to the highest degree The second Reason our Author bringâ—… to prove the Church of England to be in the blame for refusing an Union with the Dissenters is That they believe most of the things in Controversie to be indiffâ—…rent whereas the Presbyterians look upon them as unlawful and that the Church of England were under promise to King James to have done it That the Church of Englâ—…nd had reasonable grounds to oppose an Union with the Dissenters upon the Terms then proposed I think I have sufficiently evinced already And that they are guilty of any breach of promise which they made concerning it while King James was here is what cannot well be alledged since they were always willing to receive them into the bosom of their Church and to Grant them all imaginable ease as to their unreasonable Scruples which might be consistent with the safety of their Church and Communion But to abolish the use of those Innocent and instructing Rites in our Worship meerly to satisfie the groundless scruples of the Presbyterians when they do not so much as offer to return to our Communion upon these Terms is what no reasonable man can well expect Our Author in this Paragraph seems to Tâ—…x the Episcopal Clergy with being addicted to Arminianism and Socinianism As for the latter I 'm confident there are few of them â—…ainted with these sort of principles they entertain the true Notions of the Son of God of his Divinity his Incarnation and Passion according as they are revealed unto us in the Holy Scriptures And as to the controverted Doctrines about Election Reprobation c. They are careful to observe St. Paul's Rule not to be followers of Arminius in these things any further than he is a follower of the Doctrine of our Saviour and his Apostles That the Presbyterian Ministers have often assumed to themselves a power of making Peace and War and have declared Engagements to defend the King's Person Honour and Prerogative which were made by the Parliament without their consent to be unlawful is so well known that I think there needs no great Rhetorick to convince us of the Truth thereof although this Author very confidently avers the contrary Pag. 56. If we but Read the History of the late Civil Wars under King Charles I. we shall find that in all these proceedings the Parliament or Committee of Estates appointed thereby to Govern the Nation never acted any thing in Relation either to Peace or War but in conjunction with the General Aâ—…sembly or Commission of the Kirk or if they chanced to pass any Aâ—…ts without their consent they were instantly declared â—…o be unlâ—…wful and of no Obligation And to prove the Truth of this we need no more but consult their proceedings in opposing â—…he King's Affairs in the year 1648. for when the Parliament of Scoâ—…lâ—…nd had resolved on an Engagement for delivering the King's person from his Imprisonment in England did not the Presbyterian Ministers prescribe some Articles to the Parliament for carrying on this War against England and because the Parliament did not comply with their desires herein they solemnly protested against all they had resolved on and thundered Curâ—…es and Damnation against all who did not oppose this Engagement Pag. 59. This Author is highly displeased with his Antagonist for throwing upon the Presbyterian party the reproachful Term of New Gospellers and he cannot apprehend what can be found in the Presbyterian Writings to ground this Accusation upon But I think â—…ruly when we conâ—…der the Nature of most of their Difcourses upon Religion the whole Tenour of their Sermons and Preachings it is not without some ground that they are Reproached with this distinguishing Character I do not say that they mainâ—…ain wholly a New and a Singular Gospel but I am sure they have so disguised the Gospel of our Saviour from its Ancient Purity and Simplicity that what they Preach is vastly different from the Doctrine of the Purer and Primitive Ages of Christianity They have corrupted most of its Doctrines with their Rude and Indigested Notions they have transformed the Meek and Calm Spirit of the Gospel into a Spirit of Bitterness and Revenge instead of converting their Swords into pruning Hooks and plow shares they to propagate their excentrick Notions of Religion maintain it lawful to resâ—…st the Supreme Powers and rather than fail of their designs to imbroil Nations into perpetual War and Bloodshed And this meâ—…hinks is quite another Gospel from what our Saviour has taught us in his Holy Scriptures where we have not the least encouragement to propagate Religion by force of Arms or any such indirect means There we find nothing more frequently inculcated to the Christian Converts than a Spirit of Meekness and Humility of Brotherly Love and Charity and to live peaceably with all Men as much as in us lieth We are not taught from thence to prosecute with the utmost Rigour of Malice and Revenge all such as differ â—…rom us in the lâ—…ast matters about Religion but we are rather exhorted to reclaim them from their Errors in the