IT being too much spread abroad (whether out of Ig­norance of the Matter of Fact, or Design of an In­triguing Party to divide the Interest of Protestants, I will not divine) That the present procedure in Scotland tends to the Oppression or Persecution of the Episcopal Ministry there: But whatever be an evil Parties design in it, sure I am, these Surmises tend to load the good and unanimous Designs of the present Government with unjustifiable things: And to remove these Mistakes which might give Encouragement to an evil designing Party, (who are always like the Salamander in the Fire, and love to fish in muddy Waters, acting both in diffe­rent Elements for the same Ends) or Discouragement to the good Party, whose different Opinions about Cir­cumstances, [Page 2] ought not to divide them in the main. I shall first state it as my Hypothesis (as many Learned moderate Divines under both Governments do) that Church Government, whether it be this, or that, is a Matter indifferent; There being no Platform of Govern­ment left in the Church, either by Christ or his Apo­stles, or their Disciples, further than appointing Bishops in every Church (which word in the common accepta­tion in the Originals and Translations, by both Parties is understood to be Overseers, without mentioning any Preheminence to them over their Brethren) these being Presbyters, and their Deacons and Elders; So that Church Government in this case would seem to be left indifferent; and every Nation or People link'd together in one Body or Society, in their own Civil Government (whether Monarchical, Democratical, Aristocratal, &c.) have it left in their Option (being free from Engagements either to the one or the other) to settle that Church Government, which the major part of that People or Society judges most suitable to the Word of God, and the general Incli­nation and Genius of the People.

This being granted in the general; In the next place let us consider, That when that Nation in particular, as generally all Europe were enslaved to the Romish Bon­dage, there was no other, and could no other Govern­ment be, but Prelacy suitable to that of their Universal Bishops, whose Vassals they, as well as all other Prelats were (as they called them) who assume to themselves al­ways the Title of Head of the Church, and Christ's Vicars upon Earth, which all those of the reformed Protestant Religion, Episcopal or Presbyterial, look upon as Blas­phemous; And therefore the Pope is called by them all Antichrist, and no doubt he is. But when that Peoples [Page 3] Eyes came to be opened to see clearly, the Fundamen­tal Errors which that Church maintained for several Ages, and the many Cheats, Villanies, and Wickedness com­mitted by that Clergy in general, They began to be re­formed in their Lives and Manners, by the indefatiga­ble pains and labour of some few Presbyters, who suf­fered several kinds of Martyrdoms and other Cruelties therefore, by the Popish Clergy: And the Romish Clergies barbarous Cruelties in those times towards those valiant Champions in Christ's Cause, did at last animate the Peo­ple to prosecute a General Reformation in that Nation, and their Reformation being by Presbyters, It seems gave the rise there, to that denomination of Presbyterian.

And the Romish Clergies Cheatry, and wickedness in their Lives and Conversation, and Cruelty towards those Reformers, and those of the Reformed Religion, occasioned the Peoples general hatred at the very Order of Bishops: And besides, that the bulk of the Scots Clergies Opinion, being, That a well Constitute Presbyte­rian Government is both more agreeable to the Word of God, and general Inclination and Genius of the People, than any other.

And though Superintendants were appointed there at the beginning of the Reformation (the generality of the People not being as yet well Reformed) the Reformers that they might prevail the more readily in moderation with the generality of the People; especially considering the nearer they came to the last Settlement (being Go­verned in Civil Matters by a Popish King Regent and Queen) in the Infancy of their Reformation, the easier the work appeared to be; yet the Presbyterian was the first Established Government, being fully settled in the Year 1592. by a general Meeting of the Estates, and [Page 4] Confirmed by Parliament, and continued so till the Year 1606. after that King James came to the Imperial Crown of England, when he endeavoured to make an Union between the two Nations, setled an Episcopal Govern­ment there, (though contrary to the Inclinations of the People and Clergy in general) Expecting thereby to Unite them as well in Trade as in Church Government; And the hopes of an Union in Trade, and other things beneficial to Scotland, moved many of those who were Presbyterially inclined, to go beyond their Inclinations, and Opinion, alongst with that Settlement for present. But that Settlement by Bishops in Scotland being all (it seems) that the then English Clergy and others de­signed (and in which Settlement many Eminent Men of that Kingdom were too precipitant, to their regret afterwards when they could not help it) that being done the Union was blown up, though I am of opinion, as are many Eminent Men of both Nations, and Well-wishers to the present Government, That neither Eng­land or Scotland can ever be truly Happy, till there be an Union in Parliaments, as well as in Trade: For though England be more opulent and powerful by Sea and other­wise, (by reason of their Trade) yet when England has a Powerful Enemy in the Front, Scotland might prove as dangerous, if not a fatal Back-door to England; and it's not to be doubted if there were an Union, but the Pro­duct and Export of Scotland to other Foreign Coun­tries at present might be of equal Gain to England to what Scotland might expect by an Union in Trade from England; which could be made appear to a demonstra­tion. But this not being hujus loci, I hope to be ex­cused for this Digression from the thing proposed, there being some sympathy between the one and others Inte­rest; [Page 5] and to come to the point in hand, when there is any Revolution in the State of that Kingdom, as of late, and they are so happy as to have a King and Governours that design nothing more than the Tranquillity and Hap­piness of the People, the People eagerly in their Refor­mation desire to Establish that Church Government which their Clergy and People in general are of Opinion is most consonant to the Word of God, and their own In­clination. And to make it clear that the first Reformers were not at all for establishing the Order of Bishops, Mr. Knox being in Exile in England, by reason of the Clergies great Persecution in King James the Fifth's time in Scotland, King Edward the Sixth, having a great esteem for Mr. Knox, he proffer'd him a Bishoprick in England; but he thanked that good King heartily, and refused it. And a long time after that Kingdom was turned to the Christian Faith, they had no Bishops, nor does any of our own or Foreign Historians assert that there was any that had the title of Bishop in that Church before Paladius in the fifth Century; nor was this Pala­dius either a Diocesian or Provincial Bishop, Adrian in the ninth Century, being the first Diocesian, nor was there any Archbishop, Primate or Metropolitan to con­secrate Diocesian Bishops till the Year 1436. That Pa­trick Graham was made Archbishop of St. Andrews, and yet 1200 years before this there was a Church in Scot­land, ruled by Monks and Presbyters, and not to mention many other Eminent Men, that treat upon that subject, of undoubted Credit, I Cite only Fordon Lib. 3. Cap. 8. Ante Paladii adventum habebant Scoti fidei Doctores de Sa­cramentorum administratores, Presbyteros solummodo vel mo­nachos ritus sequentes Ecclesiae primaevae: And Beda, Baronius, and all others confirm that Paladius was the first that was [Page 6] called Bishop in that Kingdom; Attamen S [...]l Christiani prima [...]i, saith another, so that long before there was any Order of Prelatical Bishops allowed in Scotland, even after Paladius time, there was a Church there; and tho Foreign and Domestick Authors (favouring Prelacy) write upon this Subject, and name many Bishops to have been in Scotland before and after Paladius; yet none of these Authors dare have the Confidence to say, that these Bishops had any medling in State Affairs till that Nation was enslaved to the Church of Rome, and even when that was, the Kings and Church of Scotland in general would never own the Pope so much, or sub­ject themselves to him, as other Princes and Churches did. Look but the 43 Cap. p. 6 th. K. Ja. 3.39 Cap. Par. 4. K. Ja. 4 th, 85 Cap. Par. 11. K. Ja. 3 d. 4 Cap. Par. 1. K. Ja. 4.119. Cap. Par. 7. K. Ja. 5 th, &c. which were but Confirmations of K. Ja. 1 st. Acts Cap. 13. Parl. 1 st. Cap. 14. &c. And there and elsewhere much more you will find to prove how little respect our Kings had to the Pope's Thunders in the time of Scotland's greatest Devotion to Rome. And a King who would rule Wisely, and to the general Satisfaction of the Peo­ple (in which case they can and will serve him faith­fully) will give Liberty of Conscience to his People in innocent or indifferent Matters, which are perhaps Mat­ters indifferent to himself: and no good Man dare not but attribute the Epithetes of a Heroick Mind, as well as of a calm well disposed Spirit to our present Gra­cious King and Queen, who condescend Indulgently to any thing may make their People happy, so far as they are rightly informed; and I am hopeful will ve­rify Seneca's Saying in time, Mens regnum bona possidet: Besides, That the Constitutions of Bishops in Scotland [Page 7] and England, are not the same thing, and in their dependance have not the equivalent Power or Influence in their Publick and Private managements in relation to the State; for in England, the Laws there seem to secure Bishops so in their Offices and Benefices (when Ordained and Consecrated) that though they should not go along with the Court in disagreeable things, without a new Law, or ranversing the old in a Par­liamentary way, they cannot be put from their Be­nefices, though they should be suspended from their Offices. But in Scotland that Order depended so in­tirely upon Court Favour; that the Governours could, and actually have, without any Supervenient Law or Statute turned out Bishops, Tam ab officio quàm à bene­ficio, of which there could be many Instances given, but the Matter of Fact being so well known, we need not trouble the Reader with them here.

But certain it is, That the difference of these two Constitutions is an encouragement to the one to own what is good, and is a bait to the other to maintain even more dangerous things than the Doctrine of Non-resistance it self if required: And to make a Parallel between the English and Scots Bishops in many things, but particularly in their Practices; would be but a re­proach to our Nation, to render in Publick, were it not that it clearly appears in Matters of Fact, whether it be the fault in the Constitution of Scots Bishops, or the Bishops own natural temper. That the old Scots Proverb holds true, That Lordships changes Manners; For be they habit and repute never so good and mo­derate Men when only in the state of Ministers, yet when once Bishops or Prelats, for the most part they become like that Emperor who was very good till he [Page 8] became Emperor, and had Power to do Evil, whose Answer upon a Question of the alteration of his diffe­rent temper and practices is well known to all versant in History, and there was one of the Popes who pro­ved to be of the same temper also.

But now to come to give an account of some par­ticular practices of their late Bishops in Scotland in the last two Reigns, which generally created an irrecon­cileable hatred in mens Minds to the Order it self (though Church Government were a Matter indifferent to Cler­gymen and Laicks;) and the first step was, That when the General Assembly of Divines in Scotland, who were not only very active to Crown King Charles the Second at Scoon in 1650. but also, great Instruments to re­store him to the Imperial Crown in the Year 1660. and that the Presbyterian Government was confirmed Act 16. Par. 1. Ch. 2 d. They looking upon Mr. James Sharp as one of the most violent Presbyterians in the English time, of great Credit with the Presbyterian Clergy, and of no less fame for his almost violent Zeal that way, which all the Presbyterian party there, so­lemnly Swearing to stand by the Church of Scotland, as it was then Established in a Presbyterial Govern­ment, was intrusted by them in the Year 1661. as their Commissioner to the King, to have that Govern­ment continued: But the Promise and fair Prospect of an Archbishoprick prevailed with his Judgment, and gave him a new light, for which he was tainted with that Epithet of the Betrayer of the Church of Scot­land, and his Brethren, who being a politick Man, fail­ed not to contrive, and (with other Politicians in the State, and Laxer Clergy who looked for Benefices) to concert the new Establishment of the Order of Bishops [Page 9] in its full extent, after the Form almost of the old Popish Order, and abolishing the Presbyterian Govern­ment in the Year 1662. It was no doubt a failure in some of the Presbyterian Ministers, then (many of which were great Eminent and Loyal Men, though re­fusing Benefices from the late King) to desert their Churches and Vocations in the Publick Assemblies, un­til they had been forced from them (as no doubt they would have been without Compliance.) But certain it is, That when some of them left their Charges, and others were forced to quit the same immediately there­after, by imposing new Engagements to that Govern­ment, contrary to their former Solemn Oaths, and Vows (though it be much my opinion, that no Oaths ought to be imposed in point of Government, ex­cept that of Allegiance to the King in his Political Government of the Church, as well as in the Civil State; Because good Men need not to be loaded with Oaths, and evil Men will never keep Oaths when they find opportunity to break them to any earthly Ad­vantage), which others Imbraced for love of the Be­nefices, and the Ministers that either quit or were put from their Charges, were not only restrained from Preaching and Praying in any Publick Meetings to their Congregations, or privately in their Houses, (though they expected nothing for their Labours) by Imposition of Arbitrary Penalties, and contriving Pe­nal and Sanguinary Laws, equivalent to that which was made against Papists, Seminary Priests, and Je­suits ad terrorem, 2 Act. Sess. 3. Parl. 1 st. Ch. 2 d. &c. Acts 5. and 7. Par. 2 d. Sess. 2 d. Acts 9. and 17. Par. 2 d. Sess. 3 d. but several more severe Acts were made in Parliaments 1685. and 1686. and though none of [Page 10] those Laws were once put in Execution against Pa­pists, Priests, Jesuits, &c. yet how violently were they put in Execution against those poor Ministers, their Flocks and Families, for the one's Preaching, and the other's Hearing of the Word of God, without mixture or the least grains of Schism or disloyalty? Which op­pression (meerly for the difference of Opinion) tended to so great a Persecution (which verified that old Say­ing, That Oppression makes a wise man Mad) that it put the People in such a terrible consternation, that this Persecution or Oppression (call it what you will) forced the People in the Year 1666. to gather together and rise in Arms in defence of their Preacher's, Religion and Liberty, a­gainst those persecuting Clergymen; who not only contrived, but forced the Statesmen and the King's Privy-Council to stretch these Penal and Sanguinary Laws, against both their Religion and Liberty in which they were Educated: and what Devastation, Forfaul­tures, Cruelties and Bloodshed followed thereupon in that poor Kingdom for several Years is so generally known, that it's needless to relate it here, and the late King Charles, who had nothing of violence in his Nature, considering the common Evil their Divisions occasioned, (with the concurrence, and by a representation of some Honest Men then in the Civil Government) did give a little respite by a Toleration to some Ministers to Preach in several Congregations, but the regular Cler­gy were so exasperated against this Indulgence, that they themselves made terrible Clamours and Complaints to the King and Clergy of England (who were not so immoderate, nor so immoral in their Actions against Dissen­ters, nor so vitious and scandalous in their Lives and Conversations) and to the Officers of State, and [Page 11] the Privy Council in Scotland, not only against those poor People, but also against any that favour'd or pitied them, alledging it was a Schism in the Church, that the Ministers Preached Rebellion, which the Council found frequently upon Tryal to be false, and that those that gave any dissent to their violence against these People were disloyal. And many that were vitious and the most scandalous of their inferior Clergy, not agreeing with the abstemious lives and the singular Examples of those godly Ministers, made it their business to harrass and malign them and the People, to the Government; till they got their point wrought so far as to remove this Liberty which the King graciously granted, and procured an Army of Wild Highlanders to be sent to those Countries in Anno 1677. Which Army commit­ted the greatest Barbarities and Unnatural things that ever was heard tell of in a Christian Nation, by their Oppressions, Robberies, Plunders, Rapines, &c. ma­king no distinction of Persons or Sexes. This being with great difficulty represented again to the King, he out of his wonted Clemency, caused Remove his Ar­my, and those poor People, though left in a manner desolate, having got the least Respite (their Religion and Profession being dearer to them than their Lives) they frequenting those Meetings again without Tumult or Uproar, where they thought they had the Word of God truly and more purely Preached to them: The Episcopal Clergy (being again allarm'd) made the grea­test clamour that could be, and made their Interest at Court to send Arms again (as they alledged, to suppress them) upon which violent Persons did get Commissions, when other moderate Men that had Commissions laid them down; and others refused [Page 12] them upon such cruel Expeditions) and raised Regi­ments of Foot, Horse, and Dragoons, and many of them, who having neither Principles of Religion nor Huma­nity, were sent thither with those Troops, and treated the People in a most barbarous manner, which forc'd those poor oppressed People to Guard their Meetings with Armed men, till they fell in Blood with those cruel mercenary Souldiers in the Year 1679. Which Cruelty and Persecution increased their Number the more; which verifies that old Saying, Cinis & Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae, for the more they were op­pressed and persecuted, the more their Number increased. And were there not then some of the greatest Persona­ges in that Kingdom in disgrace with the King by the instigation of that Clergy, and some other Ministers of State, not only for their Dissents to their violent Pro­ceedings against Protestants; but also for complaining of some other mismanagements in State? But God has at this time been pleased to honour them, so as to put them in Capacity to be most Instrumental in setling the present Government, I hope upon sure and lasting Foundations. But not to make a greater Digression, then was the Duke of Monmouth sent Generalissimo to Scot­land to Suppress those Protestants; yet he was to be over­ruled by the Clergy, and the King's Council; who not­withstanding of his limited Commission did, and for his favour shewn to those poor People (who he knew suffered meerly upon the account of their Religion and stricter Lives) was by the Clergy and the violent Party, their Adherents, put in disgrace with the King, as o­ther great Persons were, and how many Families of all Ranks and Degrees were then and since destroyed by this Oppression and Clergy's persecution? how many [Page 13] were tortured without Mercy? how many were Ba­nish'd, Drown'd, Beheaded, Shot, &c. many of them without the Liberty of once calling upon God before their Death, is incredible; but all Europe knows it, and it cannot be denied. And who knowing, or in the least understanding the Affairs of Scotland in those times, will deny but that these cruel Proceedings against the Pres­byterian Ministers and their Hearers, (by Banishments, Imprisonments, Forfaultures, Intercommonings, or Out­lawries, Deaths, &c.) were the very things that forc'd many of the vulgar sort of Professors to fly to the Hills and Mountains, where (though no doubt they had oppor­tunity to hear some good Ministers Preach) yet Popish Emissaries, Trafficking Priests, &c. being never idle, and never neglecting occasions by the Divisions of those of the Reformed Religion, to propagate their hellish De­signs, were not wanting to be there as Wolves in Sheeps clothing, or Devils in Angels shapes, to seduce those of meaner Capacities to imbibe some dregs of the Jesui­tical Principles, which brought many of those poor Inno­cents to end their days in Misery.

But that, when the late King James was dealt with (for Reasons best known to his Cabin Councellors) to grant a general Toleration, doubtless out of no respect to the Presbyterian Party; They did, it's true, take hold of that opportunity and freedom to Preach the Gospel, and no further, (when in the mean time the Episcopal Clergy did give their thanks to the late King, for his Liberty and Toleration to Papists, Qua­kers, and all other Sects) of which they were hin­dred before by the Episcopal Clergy, their procure­ment; and they no doubt had reason to thank the late King, or any, for the Liberty it self (having by it [Page 14] received a glimps of the Gospel by their freedom to Preach it) though they desponded of its long continuance, but expected a greater Persecution there­after, which they Preached to their Hearers, and no doubt their Prophetick Sentences had been fulfilled, had not God in his Mercy prevented it, by preparing a fit and glorious Instrument to preserve his People from the designed overflowing deluge of Popery and Slavery.

And what good Protestant would not thank a Turk or Pagan, nay, the Pope himself for Life, Liberty, and Freedom of the Reformed Religion; much more a Na­tive Prince, especially considering what is before rela­ted about a 26 Years Oppression or Persecution from those called the Regular Clergy then, and by their in­stigation; for from that Clergy they could expect no good Tidings: for some of them had the Impudence to say in Pulpit, That Rome should have it e're Jack Presbyter should have it; this is a Matter of Fact, for who would not rather receive a favour (in the accep­tance innocent) from a professed Enemy, than be oppres­sed or cruelly used by a counterfeit false Friend or un­natural Relation, judge ye? And whether these Proceed­ings against those poor Protestants, does not too much imitate the Romish Clergy and Missionaries imposition on Magistrates and Governors to be their Executioners, let any indifferent man judge: So that any impartial un­byassed person indued with common Sense and Reason (considering what is said (which is but a Specimen of a Sy­stem that could be written on this unpleasant Subject to any good Protestant, were it not to vindicate the generality of the Nation, unjustly aspersed of purpose to make the Government unfavourable to Strangers, who know no better) may conclude that this persecuted People, as [Page 15] well as the generality of the Scotch Nation, have reason not to continue the Order of Bishops there; for if the practices of particular Bishops in Scotland, were rendred publick, none would tax or reproach that Kingdom with violence, inhumanity, persecution, or rashness in their present management of Church Affairs; especially consi­dering how great Instruments most of the Episcopal Clergy have been of late, by their connivance, forwardness, or contrivance to encourage the Ministers of the late Go­vernment to encroach so much upon the Religion, Laws, Liberties, and Properties of the Protestant Subjects, we shall only instance two; So ex ungue Leonem. The first is, of their Behaviour in the Parliament 1686. when there was no less Design than to rescind the Penal Laws, fram'd and enacted against Papists, Seminary Priests and Jesuits, Hearers and Sayers of Mass ad terrorem, to hinder the Growth of Popery in that Nation, which was the only legal Bulwark and Security of the Protestant Religion, these all the Bishops (excepting three) concurred to remove; by removing of which Laws, all persons lax in their Prin­ciples, or Evil-designing Men would be left loose, and at their full liberty to act in the Matters of Religion as they pleased, and in which case a prevailing Party might easily impose whatever they pleased, the Power being in their hand, and the Prerogatives screwed up above the highest Note in the Scale of Musick: But God who did not design to destroy that Nation (meerly by his Providence as the Ex­ecution of his Eternal Decrees) wonderfully prevented all those Hellish Designs beyond Humane Expectation, and disappointed the Actors.

The next was that when all rational foreseeing Men had a jealousie of a Popish Contrivance, to impose a Prince of Wales to deprive the lawful Heirs of their rightful Suc­cession, [Page 16] and Men having searched more narrowly into the Affair, they were fully convinc'd in their Minds of a Po­pish imposture, the whole Bishops of Scotland (when in the mean time they could see no less than the Persecution of their honest Brethren in England for Religious Matters) they (some of them no doubt, for worldly Interest, whither that would drive them, God knows, and o­thers in Compliance, for fear of Suspension from, or loss of their Offices and Benefices) did make the most solemn, though the most unreasonable, unchristian Address, and disagreeable to the pretended Character that ever was up­on the Birth of a supposed Prince of Wales; and what Ex­pressions are in that Address (so generally known) cannot but be nauseous to any good Protestant to rehearse, in which they called that Prince, The Darling of Heaven, &c. But to come in the next place to the late Procedure of the Convention, their Committees during their Adjourn­ments, and the Parliament now sitting, in relation to Church Affairs, I shall give an impartial Account of the particulars, so much as is needful.

And first, When the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland that were here in January last 1689. did give their Ad­vice to the then Prince of Orange (now our Gracious King) what Methods to take in relation to the Settlement of the Scotch Nation then in great Confusion, having no Government, by reason of the late King's desertion of the Government; The King did follow their Advice; and al­beit that some alledged a general Proclamation, to be pub­lished in ordinary times and accustomary places, for calling the ensuing general Meeting of the Estates, would be the best Method to call them together, for Reasons neither fit nor necessary to be inserted here; yet His Majesty, to a general Satisfaction, did take very knowing Mens Advice [Page 17] to dispatch his Circular Letters, which he did by ver­tue of the Trust they reposed in Him, and the Advice gi­ven by the Gentry and Nobility of Scotland to such as had right to represent the Nation in a general Meeting, not omitting the then Bishops, their Order being as then Esta­blished by a standing Law, which His Majesty would not Transgress. And when those Representatives of the Na­tion did meet freely, frequently, and fully in a general Meeting, by virtue of our now Gracious King's Warrant before explained, had the Bisshops then behaved themselves as became persons of their Profession, pretended Honour & Character, if they thought not the Call sufficiently war­rantable, they ought either not to present themselves at that general Meeting, or when they did appear by vertue of that general Warrant, they might have Protested and deserted the Meeting, as in their Opinion not legal, before it were constituted so by the general Meeting it self: Other­wise, to have complyed fully upon their Meeting, and not only to have acknowledged their Faults, Errors, and Mis­managements in the late Government, but also to have gone on honestly, and vigorously with the other Estates, in Prosecution of the good Designs of their meeting.

First, By concurring to heal the Breaches made in the Hedges of Religion, and removing the Encroachments made upon its Laws.

Secondly, By restoring the wholsom Laws, Liberties & Properties of the Estates & their Fellow-Subjects, so much encroached upon by Popish Emissaries, and any other wick­edly designing Party in any of the later Reigns, but con­trary to this, being it seems conscious to themselves of some guilt, they did all bandy together, not only with those that were too active to carry on the Mischief in the later Governments, but also with a new designing Party [Page 18] who had no Principles, not only to vindicate all the Evils that were done in the late Government, but also to bring the Nation under more Slavery than ever; the particulars thereof are too generally known. And considering their Profession by their Actions, Contraria juxta se posita cla­riùs elucescunt.

I will not be too opinionative to assert, That the genera­lity of people in that Nation, or the major part of this Great and Wise Council of the Nation did incline to con­tinue the Establishment of that Hierarchy, they finding it in a manner very improbable, if not altogether impossible, (considering all that is said, and much more might be said) to reconcile the Ignorance, Debauchery and persecuting hu­mour of the most part of the Prelatical Party in Scotland, with the singular, exemplary strict, and orderly lives and conversations of the Presbyterian Clergy, and most of their Adherents: But sure I am, that Clergy's former and la­ter Behaviour were the Reasons that induc'd that great and wise meeting of the Estates so suddenly to tender that Or­der of Bishops as a Grievance of the Nation to His Majesty, in their Preliminaries, in order to be abolished in the next Parliament, now Sitting, and to vindicate that Nation, the general meeting of the Estates, and the present Parlia­ment, from all Aspersions which are industriously spread abroad, loading them with a Persecution of the Episcopal Ministry there.

Take this for truth, of which no intelligent Man in Bri­tain can be ignorant.

That the first Act the Estates made, was to secure their own Sitting.

The second material to our purpose was their declaring themselves a free Estate, and a legal Meeting, and declaring that they would not separate, but continue to sit by fre­quent [Page 19] meetings, till they had restored and secured their Re­ligion, Laws, Liberties, and Properties; as well as that of their fellow Subjects so much encroached upon, and till they had Established the Government of the Church and State. Both which Acts the Bishops Voted in and approved of.

And this being done with several other things, establish­ing the Legality of the Meeting, &c. too tedious to rehearse here, being intended but an Abbreviat; Who would think that the Reverend Protestant Fathers of the Church of Scot­land would have stood in the way of any proposition that might tend to the Security of the Protestant Reformed Re­ligion, restoring the wholsom Laws, and securing the Liber­ties and Properties of the Subject? Yet with the next breath, they were not only for continuing profess'd Papists in chief Commands of strong Fortresses, and in the Army, expect­ing their greater Security that way, as it seems they had reason, considering their former Deportment; and the then present circumstances of the Nation; but were also for recalling home the late King, which they alledged they looked upon to be the only way to secure Religion, to give the standing Laws their lustre (no doubt there is something understood there, & latuit anguis in herba) and to secure the Liberty and Property of the people; these were their very Express [...]ons. But as I doubt not, that there is any good Christian, but is heartily grieved for the Bigot­try of the lat [...] K [...]ng's Religion, his Evil Council and Mis­management of Affairs in State and Church, and En­croachments up [...]n all that was dear unto us, which brought him to his low Estate, much more Brittish Inhabitants, and m [...]st of al [...] t [...]e S [...]ot [...]h Pro [...]e [...]ants, who can endure no Government [...]ut a Monarchical; whose Love to that Governm [...]nt is such, that they did always undergo great burthens, and did peaceably forbear many Faults and In­firmities [Page 20] in several of their Kings for many Ages, as un­questionable good Historians make appear: Yet to give a Call to the late King in his and our present circumstan­ces, to return with a French, Irish, and other cruel Popish Crew, were either to make him more miserable, who could not but be utterly destroyed in the Attempt, or the Protestants in Britain most miserable, by reducing of them all to Popery and Slavery, or to the French most Unchri­stian Cruelty, and untolerable heavy yoke, and our foreign Protestant Allies and their Confederates, though of diffe­rent Religions, more uneasie, if not in hazard to be de­stroyed by the French Ambition and Slavery, which is more untolerable beyond doubt than that of the Turks and Tartars, his dear Confederates; but it seems our Bishops when they desired to recall a Popish King did not mind, or rather did not value the verity of Claudian's Remarque, in case the late King did return with the least favour of a reel­ing populace,

And a little after,

And who doubts, but that if the late King returned by force, the fate of all those of the Reformed Religion (if real Pro­testants) whether Episcopal or Presbyterial, would be sud­den in the Execution, and if invited home, were his pro­mises never so fair and specious, the same fate would no doubt befall them in a short time: And the Mobile is not always to be trusted for a Bulwark in every Exigence. But to the next Matter of Fact.

Upon the day of April, the Estates having fully considered that it would be dangerous, to have the Govern­ment [Page 21] longer unsetled, and having upon good grounds, too tedious to relate here, resolved to declare the Crown va­cant, and the late King James's Right, &c. forfaulted, the Bishops not only urged frivolous Arguments, but also voted against it; Notwithstanding their chearful voting affirmativè to the former Acts.

And there being an Act ordaining the Clergy not to pray for the late King James, &c. as King and Prince, their Right being forfaulted, and the Crown declared vacant, the Bishops all removed without any compulsion, except 2, or 3, who were the most moderate; and one of those being desired at the rising of the Meeting to say Prayers, he, that he might not omit his pretended Allegiance to King James in his Prayers, omitted to say Prayer in com­mon Form, or extempore, but only repeated the Lord's Prayer, desiring it seems to give offence to none: But a person present alledged, That several persons used to con­clude their Prayers with the Lord's Prayer, and so did that Bishop; for he suspected it should be his last Prayer in that place.

At the next Sitting of the Estates it was moved, That, Considering the Bishops behaviour in the later Govern­ments, their behaviour in that general Meeting, (where notwithstanding their being present, and voting in several Acts Affirmativè, which they contraveen'd contrary to their profession) their Order should be declared a Grie­vance to the Nation; which motion being remitted to the Consideration of the Grand Committee, they at their next meeting brought it in as their opinion, That the Bi­shops were one of the greatest Grievances of the Nation: which opinion the whole Meeting after serious Conside­ration approved of, and voted them out of Doors.

[Page 22]After which, all the Bishops withdrew themselves in Cabals with several disaffected people, called several of their inferior Clergy together, prompting them to Dis­obedience in the present Juncture: which Principles ma­ny of the Episcopal Clergy did then vent too much in their Preachings and publick Prayers.

The Estates having emitted a Proclamation proclaiming William and Mary then King and Queen of England, King and Queen of Scotland, without a contradictory Vote, and only one Non liquet;

And another Proclamation enjoyning the Clergy after the Proclamation to Read the Declaration, and to pray for King William and Queen Mary; and in doing of which, many did comply, but several refused; yet all, even those of the Episcopal Clergy (though not complying with this) who would live peaceably and regularly as Subjects, the Estates took into their particular protection, putting forth another Proclamation, prohibiting all or any of the Sub­jects whatsoever to trouble or molest any of them in their Lives or Estates. And none will be so Impudent as to alledge in publick, that any either of the Bishops, or their inferiour Clergy, whether complying or not, were ever troubled in their Persons or Estates since the said Prohibi­tion, and few even before, by the unruly Rabble, unless it be those whose Deportment no good Men can vindicate, and those moderate Men of untainted Lives and Conver­sations of the Episcopal Communion, who have chearfully complyed with the Estates, and present Government, will declare how they were caressed by the Presbyterian party in this Juncture, and others who might be nice and scru­pulous in some points, christianly exhorted and invited to joyn with them without Engagements, further than Reading the Declaration, and Praying for King William [Page 23] and Queen Mary; and I have reason to think that the present wise Parliament will impose nothing capable to trouble their Consciences in their complyance with the present Government. And truly it would seem to be no small reproach to the Scotch Bishopsto hear those who were lately their inferior Clergy now declare in the Pul­pit and elsewhere, how these many years by-past, they themselves have groaned under their Bishops Tyranny and Oppression of several kinds. But after the Bishops were declared a Grievance to the Nation for many undeniable good pregnant Reasons, and now voted out of Doors, the Estates took many calm Methods by Exhortations, &c. with their Clergy, to have their Deportment suitable to their profession in the present Juncture; but several of them continued so obstinate, and endeavoured to seduce others to the defaming of the Government in publick and private; so that they were necessitated to deprive some of them (though they indulged some eminent Men till they advised better) and ordered Presbyterian Ministers to Preach in their Churches: And sure I am notwithstanding the fre­quent Complaints given in to the Estates, of the Episcopal Clergy's and their Parties meeting in Cabals with Papists and other disaffected People, to the contempt of the pre­sent Government; yet that they were so tender of their Character, as Ministers of the Gospel, that none of them were once prosecuted by the Estates, their Committees, the Privy Council, or the present Parliament, since their Deprivation, except one Minister, who was accused to have spoken some Treasonable Words; and how tenderly they dealt with him in his Misbehaviour and Infirmities, for fear of bringing a reproach upon any that Preached the Gospel, whether6 of one Order or another, is well known; And it is too Publick, how one of those de­serting [Page 24] Ministers Wives, and others of that perswasion, who converse with Papists (as the Effects of their Ca­bals) were apprehended, endeavouring to get into the Castle of Edenburgh (with fresh Meat, and other Provi­sions) when it was block'd up, and declared Treason to converse with, or assist any therein; and yet how tender­ly they were proceeded against, is generally known; there are many others of their Evil Practices in the late Con­juncture, might be spoken of, too tedious to the Reader; but to conclude with the Episcopal Clergy's Behaviour in Scotland of late, Who have been more Active, or like to be found more guilty in a Correspondence with, and assisting the Lord Dundee and his Party, now in Re­bellion, and committing most inhumane Actions, than several of those who are called the Regular Clergy? which must be publick to their shame; besides, that the late Bishop of Galloway is certainly concluded to be with the late King James in person in Ireland.

And as a further Evidence of the Estates, the present Parliament, the Council, and other People of Scotland, their favourable Deportment and Lenity towards the Episcopal Clergy there, it's undeniable that both the Bishops and their inferiour Clergy, who by their ill Deportment and late Obstinacy, deprived themselves of their Benefices, do Walk and Travel in Town and Coun­try, on Foot, in Coach, and upon Horseback, at their pleasure, and live peaceably in their Houses without any Trouble or Molestation whatsoever: And it will be found unquestionably true, that neither the Episcopal Clergy, nor any other, who have been grievous and great Perse­cutors and Invaders of the Religion, and Encroachers upon the Laws, Liberties, and Properties of their fel­low Subjects in the late Government, were in the least [Page 25] fear of their Lives or Estates in that Kingdom, since the first general Meeting of the Estates; Notwithstand­ing of the great Clamours and false Aspersions, of pur­pose and industriously invented and spread abroad by some persons for their own ends, being either afraid to abide the Test of the Law by way of moderate Justice, or being uneasie to themselves, and troublesom to o­thers under any Government, were it never so good and easie, but where they have a power to gratifie their Lusts and voracious Appetite, and to do Mischief to others. And as for that Allegeance that the Bishops, whose Order is abolished in Scotland, and their infe­riour Clergy, who have deserted their Charge, out of an ill Principle, for the most part have not a lively­hood or subsistence, it must be very gross and ridicu­lous; for it's well known, that both the Bishops and those of their Clergy, who have deserted their Char­ges had opulent Benefices, and are rich (though not to satisfaction) or might have been so in a cheap Coun­try, where, with the least management, the half or third part of their yearly Benefices might maintain them and their Families very well; for it's known generally there, that several Ministers with lesser Benefices than any that quit their Charge now, have made good For­tunes for their Children; And it's hardly known that ever their Charity or Pious Acts was the occasion of their Poverty, though they have had Examples enough from many of their good English Brethren Clergy­men; and if they lived too sumptuously, Sibi imputent. And certain it is, that their Presbyterian Brethren, when they labour'd under the greatest Poverty and Affliction in the World, by the Scots Episcopal or Regular Cler­gy (call them what you please) their immediate pro­curement, [Page 26] none of them pitied their Distress, or re­lieved them in their Wants in the name of Disciples, (when it must be confess'd they were sheltered and connived at, not only in England and Ireland, but caressed abroad in Holland, and elsewhere) though there is good reason to believe that these Ministers and other Presbyterians both pity these called lately the Regular Clergy, for their Miscarriages, and pray for their Re­formation; Which God grant.

But I conclude this Point with a good Church of England Man's Saying, That the Bishops of England were like the Kings of Judah, and the Bishops of Scot­land like the Kings of Israel; for that there were seve­ral good Bishops in England, but never one good Bishop in Scotland. And though this be a general Rule or Maxim of the Scots Bishops, yet no general Rule wants its Exceptions, there being some few Eminent Men of that Order in Scotland, who disssented from, and disappro­ved of their violent Procedures, and inhumane and un­christian-like Practice; But this was Rara avis in hisce terris. And I sum up all with a Saying of a great Father in the Church, That whoever is of a persecuting Spirit, whatever he profess outwardly, is of the Devil; which made Persius in the like case in his Satyrs, make that Imprecation to Tyrants in general, or Perse­cutors, which is the same thing upon the matter; both being Tyrants:

And tho Tyrants or Persecutors may have a time al­lotted them to diffuse their venom to the terror or affliction of others; yet they will meet with their Cor­rection [Page 27] or Judgments here or hereafter, when the oppres­sed and afflicted shall be released.

And now being that the Order of Prelatical Bishops is abolished in Scotland by an Act of Parliament; It is not once to be supposed that any other Government can be Esta­blished there in the Church but a Presbyterian; The model thereof I submit interim, to the Consideration and the final and unanimous Resolution of a Just and Wise King (who favoured the Peoples general Inclination) and this Wise, Loyal and free Parliament. And to make it evident to all unbyassed Men, that it is not only the general Incli­nation of the People, to have the Presbyterian Govern­ment established; But also, That that Kingdom can never be in Peace, without the Establishment of it: Though I might urge many, yet I only offer two undeniable proofs.

First, There being 32 Shires or Counties, and two Ste­wartries (comprehending the whole Body of the Nation) that send their Commissioners or Representatives to Par­liaments, and all general Meetings of the Estates or Con­ventions; of these 34 Districts or Divisions of the King­dom, there are 17 of them entirely Presbyterians; So that where you will find one there Episcopally inclined, you'll find 150 Presbyterians. And the other 17 Divi­sions, where there is one Episcopally inclined, there are two Presbyterians.

Secondly, Make but a Calculation of the valued Rent of Scotland, computing it to be less or more, or compu­ted argumentandi causa, to be Three Millions, and you will find the Presbyterian Heritors, whether of the No­bility or Gentry, to be P [...]oprietors and Possessors of Two Millions and more; So that those that are Episcopally in­clined cannot have a Third of that Kingdom; and as for the Citizens or Burgesses, and Commonalty of Scotland, [Page 28] they are all generally inclined to the Presbyterian Go­vernment except Papists, and some remote, wild, and barbarous Highlanders, who have not a true notion of a Deity, acknowledge neither King nor Superiour, but the Chief of their Tribe, and have little Subsistence but by Rapin and Plunder, and who ought to be sub­dued and reduced by force, and Garrisons placed a­mongst them; without which, they can never be kept in order, or obliged to serve the Precepts of Law or Go­spel. All which is true, and can be made appear to a Demonstration.