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
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
persons of men in admiration and favours of that Spiritual and phaâ—isaical pride which will render all our solemn humiliations hateful to God 9. We do protest that these words We have sinned notwithstanding of Promises and solemn Vowing and Covenanting with God to the contrary are not understood by us with any reference to the Solemn League and Covenant which some do apprehend to be the meaning of the General Assembly All these and the like Reasons and Causes of the Fast tho not here exprest that are inconsistent with our declared opinions are renounced and disowned by us And we do protest that our observance of this Fast shall not be interpreted as the approving and homologating any of these And we do desire and intreat all that are of the same Principles with us as they will avoid the Sin of Hypocrisie and mocking of God and would be accepted of him that they carefully separate betwixt these grounds and reasons of the Fast that are agreeable to and these that are contrary to their duty and good Conscience and that they joyn with us in this our Protestation openly owning and declaring their Judgment anent the same We do also earnestly exhort all in the love and fear of God that laying aside all prejudices malice uncharitableness and indiscreet and irregular zeal lying and slandering that they may unite together in confessing the Sins they are guilty of and humble themselves in the sight of God for their Sins and the Sins of their Fore fathers without any partial respect to the opinion that hath occasioned some divisions and differences in present and former times and that they send up their fervent prayers to Almighty God that he would be pleased to bestow of his Grace and Spirit upon all Orders and Ranks of People that they may live as becomes the Gospel and shew forth the praises of him who has called them from darkness to his marvellous light and in particular that they would pray that it may please our most merciful Father to inspire all the Members of his Church with the meek and loving Spirit of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and that every one may seek after these things that make for peace and whereby they may edifie one another that there may be a mutual forbearance of one another as to the opinions anent the Government of the Church which hath occasioned so much disquiet and disorder to this Church and Kingdom and that none be forced or tempted to declare or do against their Consciences and that amidst the differences of opinions there may be a chearful concurrence in all things that have a respect unto the glory of God and the advancement of true Godliness Finally we do exhort all as we our selves do resolve by Divine Assistance religiously and devoutly to observe the Fast for all these ends and purposes and in the manner specified in the Act of the General Assembly in so far as that is consistent with this our Protestation and is allowable by the Laws of the Gospel But upon second thoughts it was concluded that the Protestation might give greater offence than the total neglect of the Fast and so at last it was agreed that none should observe the Fast in any wise But one Mr. D. who was not present being advised that it was safest to make some observation of it that he might not be singular he prevailed with the Minister of Haddington and one or two more to break off from that general resolution and to keep the Fast with him In Edinburgh it was only observed by Mr. Wilkie in the Tolbooth and Mr. Craig in the Lady Yesters Church But no mans Behaviour in this affair was so worthy to be remarked as that of the Reverend Mr. Charters heretofore Professor of Divinity in the Colledge of Edinburgh and at present Minister of Dirleton All who have any acquaintance with him know that he is a person both of great learning and piety whose Charity prompted him to think all the good of every one that can be reasonably conceived He was convinced that there were too many reasons and causes which called for fasting mourning and humiliation but as he well knew the practices of Presbyterians in former times so it seemed evident to him that at this time they were endeavouring to carry on their own Selfish ends under the colour of Religion and had appointed this Fast to be a snare whereby the weak and ignorant might be drawn unawares to own and acknowledge their false and narrow principles and which might afford a fair opportunity of inflicting Ecclesiastical Censures and other punishments upon others who would not so sordidly desert their Principles nor debase their former Character and Profession He had such an impression of this base dealing of the scandal and prejudice which Religion suffered by it and of the danger which threatened the best part of the Church that he thought every one obliged to testifie against this Act of the Assembly and to do all he could to prevent the peoples being deceived And because a bare forbearing a Fast in his judgment was not a sufficient Remonstrance 〈…〉 to be read the Assembly's Act and Reasons publickly in the Congregation and afterwards he spoke to the people to this purpose Ye have heard the causes of the Fast as they are represented by the General Assembly they have recommended it to Pastors and others to be serious and sincere in the Confession and acknowledgment of their own and the Nations transgresions and to be earnest in theâ—r Supplications for such favours from God as the present condition and circumstances in which this and other Reformed Churches are do call for I hope after the hearing of so long a Paper you will have a little further patience while I sincerely represent to you somethings concerning the sins we are to confess and the mercies for which we are to supplicate All who are wise and have a right sense of true Religion and Christianity cannot but see that there hath been a great defection amongst us This defection hath not been from the truth or from the fundamental Articles of the Christian Faith but from the life of God and the power of Religion and from that temper and conversation which the Gospel requires in us so that I doubt not but we and all good men will joyn with the Assembly in acknowledging the sins and defection of the Nation But whereas the Assembly seems to represent Episcopacy as a principal and capital point of the defection and as introductory into further degrees of Corruption I find my self obliged to declare my sense in this affair upon this ocasion I do not take my self to be bound to endeavour to justifie the manner of the introduction of Episcopacy into this Church An. 1662. nor the manner of Election and nomination of persons to that Office which was in use among us nor the legal Establishment nor the Laws by which it was established among us
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