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rife again. Now if you be nice upon the Word, his Refurrection would be on the Fourth Day. There are ten times more Chronological Difficulties in Scripture; yet no good Man will reje& the Word of God upon that Account.

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I fhall end ha fhort Story of the Ifland of Rona, which is fixty Miles of Sea from Island or Mainland in the World; Five Families make up all the Inhabitants. They had by fome of them being difperfed on Sea,and others being employed at Home in catching of Wild Fowl, forgot the Day of the Week, and confequently the Lord's Day, which formerly they kept religioufly; yet when they met together, they kept a Day for it, till they were informed by the next Boat that came from the Lewis, what the true Day was. So we perform the Duties of Eafter, be the Calculation right or wrong, and the Church by the Words, Next after, understands,Upon; and fo according to your felf the Rule is right. And so I wish you and your Party were as right and true Members of the Chriftian Church.

Farewel

Obfervations upon Mr. Anderfon's Excurfrons and Digreffions, or what he fays by the By, befides arguing against the Book of Common Prayer.

ERE I pafs by Mr. Anderfon's Railings, Banterings and Pedantry, which make up a great Part of his Book, as being unworthy of any Answer.

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Page 3. he afferts, That many poor Families did bear the Mark of Perfecution by the Curates; who, whether they were dumb Dogs that could not Bark, I Shall not fay; but I fball affure you, they never deny'd but they could Bite: And whatever Doubt they have made of their having a Tongue; yet they never made any of their having Teeth. I do not mean thefe, that fuffered for that which was then called Rebellion; fuch were mercifully hang'd out of the way by Pairs and half Dozens, tho' their Principles were none other, than what have been both avowed and practifed by the Body of the Church of England Clergy fince that Time; yea even to the Doctrine of the Intrinsick Power of the Church, which then was ridicul'd as an Enthufiaftical Whiggish Notion, but is now hugg'd as the Darling of the most Rank-wing'd High-Flyers; but I mean fuch, as were hounded and haraffed fimply for Non-Conformity, and not coming to Church.

Here is a Complex of moft malicious Lies: And if this Afferter, or any that knows the Matter of Fact, in King Charles the Second's Government, believe what this Author fays, it is because God has given them over to ftrong Delufions, to believe a Lie. Therefore Minifters, who liv'd in the Weft, are obliged, in Credit and Conscience, to publish the Falfhood of this Man's confident Affertions. It is well known, that feveral Curates were inftrumental in faving feveral deluded Creatures from the Stroke of Juftice; who yet, in this Revolution, were, by their Guides, made Inftruments to rabble and bear falfe Witness against their Benefactors: Witness the Minifters of Stirling, of Dalkeith and Cranston, &c. Of which publick Accounts have been already, and fhall be further given.

Did not these Men fuffer for Principles and Practices, which no Government in the World could tolerate: Men kept in grofs Ignorance; that heard nothing in Preachings and Prayers, but the Curfing of Kings and Bishops, and the Overturning of their Government; the Breach of the Solemn League and Covenant; Fighting the Battles of the Lord: Men, who were bred up in the Principles and Practice of Jus Populi, Naphtali, Lex Rex, and the Hind let loofe: By which the Gofpel was altogether poyfon'd, and the Notion of Peace and Holinefs rooted out of the Hearts and Heads of Men, by the wild, bloody and giddy Doctrine, which was preach'd by the Hill-Men, commonly called Cameronians. Did not Mr. Daniel Cargill excommunicate the King and the Royal Family? And were not many poor People execute, who would not redeem their Lives by faying, God fave the King? And was not this the Fruit of the rebellious Doctrine which was preach'd up to them? And it was by vertue of that Excommuni

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cation, that they refufed to pray for the King. And were not thefe the Cameronians that fuffered, and whom the Presbyterians, in their Thanksgiving to King James the VII. for His Toleration, difown'd as any of their Communion; and yet moft knavishly own their Sufferings to be Presbyterian, but deny their Actings to be fuch. This is fo well made out by Sir George Mackenzie's Vindication of the Government of King Charles the Second, that there is no Poffibility for a true and rational Reply.

Can Satan himself be guilty of a more impudent Lie, than to fay, That the Church of England ridicul'd the Intrinfick Power of the Church, as an Enthufiaftick and Whiggifb Notion? Whereas neither Whiggs nor Enthufiafts have any Church at all, because they want Paftors, deriving their Succeffion from the Apoffles.

Who can read the Twentieth Article of the Church of England, and Ten Ecclefiaftical Canons, from the Third to the Twelfth inclufivè, and fay, that the Church of England ridicules the Intrinfick Power of the Church? Does it not maintain it's own Power in making Ceremonies, and judging in Matters of Faith? Does it not maintain it felf to be a True Apoftolical Church, and cenfure and excommunicate all that oppofe it's Worship, Doctrine, Difcipline, Government and Ceremonies? Are not the Clergy fworn by their Affent and Confent, to maintain the Intrinsick Power of the Church? What then may not th's Man fay, when he vents fuch a Lie to the World? Reader, then remember, That no Man fuffer'd in the Government of King Charles the II. fimply for being a Presbyterian, but for being a Rebel; which any Man deferved though he were Epifcopal. Remember alfo, that they were but Cameronians and Sweet-Singers that both acted and suffered; and if these were Presbyterians, they deserved what they met with: If there were others who thought that the Cameronians fpoke, acted and owned the Principles of the bloody Covenant, by which they gave Ground of Jealoufy to the Higher Powers, though they had not the Courage to act like the furious Zealots and Mad-Caps, yet drew the Vengeance of the Law upon themselves for Nonconformity; I cannot fee how the Government could be blamed in this Matter: For this fame Revolution pleaded a State-Neceffity for acting against their own Grievances and Claim of Right, imprisoning fome, and torturing others, upon meer Sufpicion.

Now to make a Parallel; Be it known, that this Kingdom, before the Ufurpation of Oliver, was free of Cefs, Excife, &c. But at the King's Restoration, these were kept up as formerly. And fo the Acts that were made in the Time of Presbytery, against those that did not keep their Paroch Kirks, were not altered in the Time of the Restoration of Epifcopacy. So that if there be any Evil in the Matter, the Oliverian and Presbyterian Governments were the Beginners of this Tyranny: But both Parties faw, that there was a State-Neceffity for fuch Laws and Executions. Therefore That can be no Argument from any Party against another, that can be retorted with Difadvantage upon the Complainers.

Page 4. Mr. A. blames me for ufing Retortions; and yet he takes, throughout his whole Book, the Liberty of Retorting against me: Which minds me of a Story of a Quaker, who defending his Principle of Immediate Revelation, against fome Difputants, treated his Antagonists with fuch Names as thefe, Dogs, Cats, Serpents, Crocodiles: One prefent faid, O Friend! is that the Spirit that rails in thee? Nay, fays the Quaker, but that which is Railing in thee, is not Railing in me.

Ibid. Mr. A. has thefe Words, I here challenge you to give Inftance of fo much as any one Person of the Epifcopal Perfwafion in Scotland, that, ever fince the Revolution, fuffered the Lofs of one Sixpence, or one Hour's Imprisonment, for not coming to Church.

You did that which was much worfe; for you bereav'd the People of their lawful Pastors, whom you harafs'd, imprison'd and banish'd; yea, even those that were qualify'd, and gave all the Demonitrations of their Affections to the Government. How were the Clergy perfecuted from their Places; falfe Witneffes fuborn'd againft them, to prove blind Libels, without giving Information of their Accufers? 'Tis true, you had no Sacramental Tefts, because you had few or no Sacraments; but they that did not conform to your Kirk, were not gracious to the Government; yea were harafs'd and perfecuted: Witness the City of Aberdeen,in Provoft Johnston's Cafe; and the Town of Elgin for their Adherence to Epifcopacy; Kirkwal in Orkney, and feveral other Places: Of which an historical Account fhall be given, to confute your falfe and impudent Af fertions.

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A Continuation of Obfervations on Mr. Anderfon's Excurfions, &c.

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HAT greater Injury cou'd be done, than to deprive the People of their Paftours, who had not the Freedom to hear the Schifmaticks, who were daily praying the Bishops and the Book of Common-Prayer out of the World? The most devilish Politick that Julian the Apoftate could use against the Chriftians (when he took not their Lives) was, to deprive them of their Schools and Seminaries of Learning, for to encourage the Pagan Idolatry.

The Account of the Perfecution of the Clergy is well known through the Kingdom, and has, and fhall be publish'd to Pofterity, to the eternal Reproach of your Kirk, which keeps the People in grofs Ignorance of the Chriftian Religion; which if you had plainly preach'd to them, there wou'd not be fo much Mischief and ill Nature, as now there is.

Page 7. Your Words are, I affirm, that the Communion has been oftner given these 12 Years last bypaft, in moft Paroches in Scotland, than during the whole 28 Tears, preceeding the Revolution, wherein you governed. I challenge you to put it to a Trial: I am sure your Reputation requires it.

I ask you, Whether was it God or the Devil that told you this? It was not God, because, He's a God of Truth; and for the Devil he is the Father of Lies, and we are not oblig'd to believe him: Say then in Confcience,did you put it to a Trial, and found it to be lo as you fay. I am fure you did it not. And when I put it to a Trial, you will be found to have spoke it at random. This is but too foft a Word to express your Crime in this Matter, in impofing upon the common Senfe of the Nation to ferve a Turn to your Party. You tell us of the laft twelve Years bypaft; what came of the twelve Years before, for you have been in Place near 24 Years? I knew them, who have been Thirty Years Incumbents, that never offer'd to give the Communion, and Teachers paft Fourfcore that never gave it; and it was much doubted, if ever they took it. Now judge, if it be likely, that ever you examin'd through the Nation, how oft it was given, during the 28 Years of Epifcopacy? If you fay, you did: I'll not believe you, tho' you fhould fwear it, unless you produce convincing Evidences for it. Did moft in the Paroches of Scotland give the Sacrament for 28 Years but eleven Times? For I am fure, these 12 Years bypaft, you gave it not above 12 Times. Yea in most of the Paroches of Scotland, you have not given it fix Times fince the Revolution, very many not once; and if I make out this, I demonftrate you to be a moft confident Impofer upon the Credulity of your Followers, and the common Senfe of the Church of Scotland.

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Pag. 5. You fay That we are vastly more guilty than ye in this Matter; fo the Church of England is not innocent, for this you inftance Bishop Wettenhall.

Sir you forgot your felf in the preceeding Page, that retorquere non eft refpondere, that is, two Blacks make not a White. Did you examine, how oft we have given it? Some of our Meeting-Houfes, that use the Service, give it twelve Times a Year, befides other festival Days. And for the Church of England, it does the fame: If there be fome particular Places more negligent than others, that is not general, nor is it the Fault of the English Church Conftitution. And Bishop Wettenhall complains generally, that it is not oftner given than twelve Times a Year, or that it is not given every Sunday; and of one particular Paroch, Tunbridge be Name; but not of the whole Church, as you would make your fimple Reader believe.

Page 7. You affirm that I fay, That Presbyterians read no Scriptures at all. But you forget to add the following Words, unless an immediate Expofition follow, which was the Fault that Mr. Baillie a Presbyterian Professor of Divinity at Glasgow, challeng'd in the Independants. You ftill leave out what you cannot answer.

Ibid. You affirm moft impudently, that we expofe Lecturing as a Presbyterian Invention: We know better Things, and that it was the primitive Practice, and I hope ever to follow it. If the Author of the Fundamental Charter break a Jeft on it, it is not because he thought it a Presbyterian Invention, but because you abufe and bur

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lefqe the Scriptures, infifting upon Things unneceffary, or chufing a Portion of Scripture at your own Difcretion, lecturing on Lives of ill Kings, to beget an Hatred to the Royal Family, and neglecting to infift on the Life of the Holy Jefus, never letting the People know the Gospel Spirit. Page 8, 9. You fay, Has Hutton answered the particular Reasonings on each Head in the Dialogue? Ifhall produce a Score of Reafons in the Dialogue, which neither he nor indeed you have fo much as hinted at. I declare ingenuoufly, that I did not find an half Score of Reafons in both your Dialogues; and there is no Man of Senfe and Integrity, that has compared your Book and mine together, will fay, that your Book is an Answer to mine. I know the Phanatick Ignorants, who neither can or ever did read any of them, will pronounce in your Favours against all the Bishops and Doctors of England, and think you a Giant, and them but poor Punies and Pygmies; and really your Compliments upon your own Performances, would infer, that you are of the fame Mind with them: But I think, no Man fhould be a Judge in his own Caufe, and the People are but filly Judges. This minds me of the Fable of the Cuckow and the Nightingale, who once contended, who fhould fing beft, the Afs was made Judge, because it had long Ears: The Nightingale fung first, the Cuckow next: The Afs's Decifion was, Truly the Nightingale fings pretty well, but for a good, fiveet, plain, taking Song, the Cuckow fings beft. Pag. 10. When I fay of the poor Woman in the North, who frequently heard Common Prayer, that the expreft her felf thus, "God be thanked for this Gate of it, I "never did remember the Prayers that I heard in the Time of Bishops nor Presbyterians "either: This Book teaches Folk to pray who cannot pray themselves, and if my Heart "be good, the Words are good. Your anfwer to this is, This reflects upon the Epifcopalian as well as the Presbyterian Worship. I anfwer befides what I have faid in my first Paper to you: Even, Let a Friend go with a Foe. It is impoffible that a People can be edified, either by the Scots Epifcopalian or Presbyterian Worship, as they are by a Book of Common Prayer: Our People are almoft equally ignorant; but with this Difference, that Epifcopalians did not preach nor pray Blafphemie and Nonfenfe as the other Party generally does. I mind a Story of a Jacobite Episcopal and a Williamite Presbyterian Woman, living in a Burgh where I my felf lived at the very Time, that a Difpute arofe about King James and King William between them: The Williamite Wife fays, were there no more for King William but the 21 Pf. 1, 2. It is enough to fhew that he is true King, The King shall rejoice in thy Strength, O Lord, for thou haft put a Crown of pure Gold upon his Head. This fays fhe, cannot be meant of King James, for he is not rejoicing the Day, because the Crown is taken off his Head, and put upon King William's. The Epifcopal Cummer was put to a Bay with this ftrong Argument; however the delay'd until fhe got Help another Way; and coming into a Company where I chanc'd to be, fhe propos'd her Scruple, and ask'd how the could answer that Argument: It was told her, that King William was not named there: She ask'd then, where was King James named in the Bible? It was told her, in the first Leaf thereof: And her droll Inftructer caft up the Epiftle Dedicatorie to King James the 6th. To the most High and mighty Prince, James by the Grace of God, King of GreatBritain, France. and Ireland: At which the clap'd her Hands, faying, Oftrange Sirs! how get ye thefe Things papped out? And immediately went off to her Cummer, and fhewed her, that King James was named in the Bible, but King William was not; and fhewing her the Place, made the Williamite Wife turn immediately Jacobite and confefs, fhe never noticed that Paffage in the Bible.

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You fay, P.16 I am aware what a harsh Chapter this must be to you,Men being generally more offended, with being called Fools than Knaves, and refenting more harfbly an Imputation upon their Understanding, then upon their Morals. Thou art the most ignorant nonfenfical blundering Thing that ever wrote Pamphlets. Sir, what then has a Man of your vaft Learning and profound Judgment to do with fuch a ftupid Blockhead? I fee you rather be a witty Villain, and to be accounted a learned Hero, (tho' you were as guilty as ever Major Weir was of Sins not to be named) than to be thought a well meaning fimple honeft Man. Sir, I do not envy your Choice. The Devil can teach you to be learned, but withal he'll never forbid you to be a Rebel, Schifmatick, Lyar, Slanderer, an Accufer of the Brethren, and a Mocker of Devotion. My Wish is, that you continue no longer in his Fold. Your Reproaches and Praifes are both alike to me. But I fhall requite Good for Evil, and fay, thou art the most learned Man in the Ifle of Britain, The English Church and Universities never produced fuch a profound Oracle of Wit as thou art; and I believe, I'll get all the ignorant Presbyte

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rians in Scotland to fay with me. Sir, I do not think it true, that thou fays of my felt, and that is not great Pride in me; nor do I think it true what thou fays of thy felf, pag. 49, that thou art one of the meanest of the Party,and that is no great Humility in thee,for thou would take it very ill if another faid fo, which is a Sign of Spiritual Pride.

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P. 22, 23. You fay, that this fage of the Epiftles and Gospels was not introduc'd into the Chriftian Worship, till Pope Damafus order'd it, towards the End of the 4 Centurie. And pray,what then? Therefore the Church fhould not use it,because it was brought in by the Pope. At this rate,Presbyterians fhould lay afide the finging of Pfalms; for it was the fame Pope brought that in Fashion in the Western Church.I cite for this the large Dictionary which you cite, for Mr. Baxter's being pull'd out of the Pulpit,for offering to pray extempore at the Restoration of King Charles II. P. 23, 24 You tell, that I miferably mifreprefented the Words of the Author of the Cafuiftical Effay. Sir, I have fet down what he has faid, Word by Word. And when I fay, that no No Notice was taken of the blafphemous Expreffions, when complain'd of to the Gen. Aff. you have no other Answer, but that of Retortion which you condemn in me, to wit, That Mr. Dodwel's Book upon the Mortality of the Soul, was not condemned by the Convocation, which I hear is falfe: But I fhall inform my self. However I find you frequently anfwer me with Retortions, for which you challenge me for one Retortion to you. Pag: 24, Your Words are, Have you forgot, Sir, that your Party preach'd up the mad DoEtrine of paffive Obedience and Nonrefiftance, &c. You call the Principles and Practice of our bleffed Saviour, of his Apoftles, and of the primitive Martyrs for Chriftianity, the mad Doctrine of paffive Obedience. I confefs your Principles and Practices are contrary to Chriftian Religion: And corrupt Nature will teach you to refift, altho' the Scripture plainly fays, that, he who refifteth, receiveth to himself Damnation. You'll put fuch a carnal Commentary upon it, as will make the Words to run, he that refifteth, receiveth to himself Salvation. And thus you gave the Rebels at Pentland Hills, and Bothwel Bridge, Affurance of Heaven, to rife in Rebellion against their Sovereign. No wonder then, you be not for the Sign of the Crofs, when you are not for the Doctrine that is fignified by it.

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Ibid. Your Words are, Have you forgot, what the Dean of Edinburgh faid in the Pulpit of St. Giles, viz. That ere Geneva have it, Rome fhall: Sir, I never heard it, nor you either, nor any fufficient Author for you. I knew, he preach'd boldly against Popery, when your Party promis'd to be filent, as I have given Proof in my Firft Paper againft you. If the Dean fhould fay, that the Popish Clergy have a lawful Ordination, but Presbyterians have not, he might fay fo with Knowledge and Confcience; for I have already proven, That Samuel Rutherfcord, and others of your Champions, acknowledge the First, to wit, That they have lawful Ordination. But we cannot fay, that you have, and we can prove, you have not Ordination; and confequently, that there is a Nullity in your ufurped, felf-fending, felf-feeking Ministry. Pag. 26 Your Words are, You likewife reprefent James Stuart as a moft cruel Perfecutor of the Epifcopal Clergy.So true is the oldSaying,Perit quod facis ingrato.I represent him,as pleading ftrongly for a Toleration to the Papifts in his Letter to Myn Heer Fagel, and yet acting quite contrary fince the Revolution. By your Words, Perit quod facis ingrato: It is loft what is done to an unthankful Perfon; You would infinuate, that I was under Obligations to him. I know nothing of that, except to mind him and you both in the Words of the Litany when we fay, That it may please thee to forgive our Enemies, Perfecutors, and Slanderers, and to turn their Hearts. He kept me Eleven Months Prisoner in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, fix before I got an Indictment or an Hearing before the Jufticiary: And when I was affoilzied from the Crime of Treafon, he was enraged at the Lords, because he got me not made a Sacrifice to the Presbyterian Fury. At length, he fought a Month to bring in other Things against me, and from that Time, I was delay'd Five Months; & in the time, he fent up an Account of the whole Trial to the Court, and defir'd an Order to have me procefs'd over again,which was deny'd at Court. The true Hiftory of this may be publish'd before he or I die.After that,I went to live quietly in the North, I was twice fummoned by him from Aberdeen; and at last banish'd 12 Miles from the Place, for preaching in my own House. And going thence to my Native Country, to live in Elgin of Murray; I was Three Times charg'd at the Inftance of the Agent of the Kirk with his Concurrence; and at laft filenced from Preaching Twenty Miles about the Place. Now, Mr. Anderson, Where is the Obli

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