Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence Display'd

thought a Virtue meriting Commendation by all Nations; and among the "rudest Nations this is a Relict of Reason; as the Oriental Indians have

a Custom whenever any Persons run a Muck, that is, in a revengeful Fury take such a Quantity of Opium as distracts them into such a Rage " of Mad Animosity, that they fear not to assault and go thorough destroying whom they can find in their Way; then every Man arms against “him, and is ambitious of the. Honour of first killing him, which is very rational; and it seems to be as rational, to take the same Course with our "mad malignant Mucks,* who are drunk with hellish Fury, and are running "in a Rage to destroy the People of God."

Page 701.

"The exacting Taxations for maintaining of the Army, and "the paying of Subsidies, was, and remains to be a consummating Crimson Wickedness, the Cry whereof reaches Heaven; since upon the Matter is exceeded the Gaderens Wickedness, and was sport of their Civility; They did not beseech Christ and his Gospel to be gone out of Scotland, "but with arm'd Violence delar'd, they would with the strong Hand drive him out of his possession, in order to which, their Legions are levied with a professed Declaration, that there shall not be a Soul left in "the Nation, who shall not be slain, shut up, or sold as Slaves, who will own CHRIST and his Interest." Page 712. The paying of Subsidies to the present Government is to "furnish that Party of the Dragon's Legions, in their War against Prince Michael and his Angels, with Supplies; which no moral Force can excuse, no more than it can do the shedding of the Blood of their innocent Children, or sacrificing them to Moloch; for no Sacrifice they can offer to 'the Devil, can be more real, or so acceptable, as what they declare by this, being so direct, not only in Opposition to the Coming of the Kingdom of Christ, but the Delection of his precious Interests, and the giving Satan such an absolute Dominion in the Nation, as that they who have "made the Decree, and all who put it in Execution, practically declare thereby they have mancipate themselves to his Slavery, and sold them"selves to work Wickedness in the Sight of the Lord; so likewise that all "the rest of the Nation may with themselves become his Vassals; and in "Evidence of their Opposition to Christ, and in Recognition to Satan's Sovereignty, and their Subjection, they are appointed to pay these black Meals.†"

CHA P. III.

R RULE, the great Scribe now of the Party, in his Second Vindication of the Church of Scotland, owns at every Turn, that there

are many Presbyterians in Scotland, who are neither moderate nor sober; and to these he imputes all the Rebellions and Murders com. mitted by the Party; and yet he calls the legal Restraints, put upon these wild or mad Presbyterians (for so they must be call'd, if they be neither moderate nor sober) cruel Persecutions. Now their whole pretended Martyrology being only made up of these Men, I would fain know whose Martyrs such Men were; for the Devil has his Martyrs too. This is Mr. Rule's best Way of Reasoning, for which I am apt to think, there's few of the Party that will thank him; it being most evident, that those whom he so much disowns and reflects upon, are the only true Scotch Presbyterians; for whereas Rule, and some few with him, who would be thought moderate and sober, have evidently deserted the old Cause, and seem to sit down upon the Lees of Dutch Presbytery, unto which they have degenerated, these others tread exactly in the Steps of their Forefathers, and act in a close Conformity to the Covenants, and the Decrees of the general Assemblies, which must be acknowledg'd to be the Rule for Scotch Presbyterians, or else it must be confest that they have none.

I shall leave the Reader to judge, which of these two are indeed the truest Scotch Presbyterians, by the Account which one of their own famous Writers gives of those whom Mr. Rule calls sober and moderate, in the Historical Representation of the Testimonies of the Church of Scotland, (printed 1687, page 162, and downwards). Speaking of the Toleration granted in that same Year by the King, he says, and truly too, That those who embrac'd it, acted contrary to the Presbyterian Principles of the Church of Scotland, particularly in the Declaration of the general Assembly, July 27, 1647, and contrary to the Covenant. And on this Head his Arguments are infinitely beyond any that we have ever heard from Mr. Rule: For (says he) this Toleration is founded on Sovereign Authority, Prerogative Royal, and Absolute Power, which all are to obey without Reserve. Again, (says he) it comes through such a Conveyance, as suspends, stops, and dis

ables all penal Laws against Papists, and thereby everts all the Securities and legal Bulwarks that Protestants can have for the Establishment of their Religion, making them depend only upon the arbitrary Word of an absolute Monarch, whose Principles oblige him to break it; so they that accept this Toleration, do thereby recognise a Power in the King, to subvert all Laws, Right, and Liberties; which is contrary to Reason, as well as Religion, and a clear Breach of the Covenants. By this Toleration the Papists are encourag'd and increased in Numbers, the whole Nation overflow'd with their hellish Locusts, and all Places fill'd with Priests and Jesuits; yea, the executive Power of the Government is put in the Hands of the Romanists.

-Whatever Liberty this may be to some Consciences, it's none to the tender; it's only a Toleration, which is always of Evil; for that which is good, cannot be tolerated, under the Notion of Good, but countenanc'd and encourag'd as such: Therefore this reflects upon our Religion, when a Toleration is accepted, which implies such a Reproach; and the annexed Indemnity and Pardon, tacitly condemns the Profession thereof, as a Fault or Crime, which no Christian can bear with, or homolgate by Acceptance. Some Addresses, particularly the Presbyterians at London, have blasphemously alleg'd, that God is hereby restor'd to his Empire over the Conscience: Moreover, * (says he) true Presbyterians can never class themselves among them that are hereby indulg'd, viz., Archbishops and Bishops, all the Prelatical and Malignant Crew, all Quakers and Papists, reaching also all Idolatry, Blasphemy, Heresy, and Truth; making the Professors of Christ Partners with Antichrist's Vassals. Such a Toleration is contrary to the Scripture of the Old and New Testament; it's like Julian the Apostate's Toleration, designing to root out Christianity; it's contrary to the Confession of Faith, and therefore to accept this Toleration, is inconsistent with the Principles of the Church of Scotland, National and Solemn Leagues and Covenants, and Solemn Acknowledgments of Sins, and Engagements to Duties; in all which we are bound to extirpate Popery and Prelacy, as inconsistent with the whole Tract of our former Contendings, and particularly with the Testimony of the Synod of Fife, and other Brethren, against Cromwell's vast Toleration and Liberty of Conscience.

"The worst of all is (says he) that it's further declar'd in that Toleration "that nothing must be preach'd or taught, which may any way tend to "alienate the Hearts of the People from the King or his Government Here is the Price at which they ought to purchase their Freedom; a sad "Bargain, to buy Liberty and sell Truth. But who can be faithful, but "he must think it his Duty to alienate the Hearts of the People from such 66 an Enemy to Christ? What Watchman must not see it his indispensable "Duty, to preach so that the People may hate the Whore, and this Pimp "of hers. It cannot be but very stumbling to see the Ministers of Scot* Alsop, and other London Presbyterians Address to King James.

"land purchasing a Liberty to themselves, at the Rate of burying and "betraying the Cause into Bondage; and thus to be laid by, from all "Opposition to Antichrist's Design, in such a Season. The World will "be tempted to think, that they are not govern'd by Principles, but their “own Interest, and that it was not the late overturning of Religion and Liberty that offended them; for if that arbitrary Power had been but "exerted in their Favours, though with the same Prejudice to the Cause of "Christ, they would have complied with it, as they do now."

Mr. Rule, in his late Book, is highly offended with the Author of the Case of the afflicted Clergy, for saying, That the Presbyterians addressed and thank'd King James for this Toleration, in a fawning and flattering Manner; and yet our honest Presbyterian Author deals more roundly with them, Page 173. His words are these; The Addresses made thereupon, were with a Strain of fulsome and blasphemous Flatteries, to the Dishonour of God, the Reproach of the Cause, the betraying of the Church, the Detriment of the Nation, and the exposing themselves to the Contempt of all. Again, (says he, Page 176, 178.) The Address itself is of such a Dress, as make the Things addressed for to be odious, and the Addressers forefault the Respect, and merit the Indignation of all that are Friends to the Protestant and Presbyterian Cause.- "Nothing could have been more cross "to the real Desires of the true Presbyterians, than this newly start-up Opinion, that Interest has led them to espouse.- -There is nothing here sounds like the old Presbyterian Strain, neither was there ever an "Address of this Stile seen before from Presbyterians: It would have 'look'd far more Presbyterian like, to have sent a Protestation against the now openly design'd introduction of Popery, and Subversion of all "Laws and Liberties, which they are covenanted to maintain; or, "at least, an Address in the usual Language of the Presbyterians, who used always to speak of the Covenants, and Works of Reformation; but here is never a Word of these, but of Loyalty to his Excellent "to His Gracious, and to His Sacred Majesty; of Loyalty not to be question'd; an entire Loyalty in Doctrine; a resolv'd Loyalty in Prac“tice, and a fervent Loyalty in Prayers. All that they are solicitous about, is not for the Prerogatives of their Master, or the Liberties of the Church, "but lest their Loyalty should be question'd, that they be otherwise represented; all that they beseech for, is, not that the Cause of Christ be "not wrong'd, or Antichrist introduc'd by this Liberty, but that those who promote any disloyal Principles and Practices, may be look'd upon as "none of theirs; and all the Hopes they have, is in the great Persuasions "of His Majesty's Justice and Goodness."

"Here is a lawless, unrestrain'd Loyalty to a Tyrant, claiming an absolute Power to be obey'd, without Reserve; not only profess'd, but solicitously sought to be the Principle of Presbyterians, whereas it is the Principle of Atheistical Hobbes. This is not the Presbyterian Loyalty

"to the King, according to the Restrictions in the Covenants; but Erastian

Loyalty to a Tyrant in his overturning Religion, Laws, and Liberties, " and in protecting and encouraging all Iniquity. This Loyalty in Doc"trine, will be found Disloyalty to Christ, in a sinful and shameful Silence "that Wrong is done to him. This Loyalty in Practice, is a plain betray ing of Religion and Liberty, and lying by from all Opposition to the "Destroyer of both. And this Loyalty in Prayers, for all Blessings ever " to attend his Person and Government, will be found inconsistent with "the Zeal of Christians, and the Cries of the Elect unto God, for Vengeance upon the Supporters of Antichrist, nor consonant to Presbyterian Prayers "in Reference to Popish Tyrants: It were much more suitable for them "to pray, That God, which hath caused his Name to dwell in his Church, may destroy all Kings that shall put to their Hands to alter and destroy the House of God, Ezra vi. 12."

Page 178, 179. "This Address is so stuffed with sneaking Flatteries, "that it would more become Sycophant and Court-Parasites, than Ministers "of the Gospel.- -Nothing but a Rhapsody of Flatteries, justifying all "his Claim to Absoluteness, and engaging to demean themselves so, as that "he may find cause to enlarge rather than to diminish his Favours, which can be no other Way but in assisting him to destroy Religion and Liberty. “O what an indelible Reproach is this for Ministers, who pretend to be set for the Defence of the Gospel, thus to be found betraying Religion. This " is in effect not only Flattery, bnt Blasphemy, as great as if they had said, They resolved by the Help of God, to be as unfaithful, time-serving, and "silent Ministers, as ever plagued the Church of God, p. 180."

Now the Presbyterians, who accepted this Toleration, and made such bustling Addresses of Thanks to King James for it, are they whom Mr. Rule calls the sober Presbyterians. And now I leave him to vindicate himself and them, for what is thus charg'd upon them, by one who is well known to be a true Presbyterian,* and as such is at present own'd and employ'd in a considerable Trust by the general Assembly; and if we may judge from all the Principles and Practices of the former Scotch Presbyterians, he is really a far honester Presbyterian, than they who would now call themselves Moderate; and yet in a Contradition to that Title, persecute their reformed Brethren with the greatest Rigour and Severity. To conclude this Head, and to justify what may be thought most severe in the Character given of Presbyterians in the former Section, if we may believe the Account the Presbyterians of Scotland have publish'd to the World themselves, (as I think they ought not to blame us if we do) then the one half of our Presbyterians are neither moderate nor sober, but wild Hill-Men, Separatists, a robbing, lawless, ungovernable Rabble, a mad People, headstrong Traytors and Rebels; that is, in a Word, they are Cameronians. Shields, Chaplain to my Lord Angus's Regiment, one of their famous Authors and Preachers.

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Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence Display'd: Or, The Folly of Their Teaching ...