rity in private practice, than when they were threatened with deposition if they refused to join in these not very honourable settlements. Nay, though we should look upon the preservation of church-authority as a matter of great moment, it was not obedience to the standing laws, on which the welfare of the whole depends, that was fo ftrictly required, but compliance with or appro bation of the decifions of the annual Affemblies in their judicative capacity. It hath often furprised me to hear the plea of conscience, in fuch cafes, treated as a mere pretence. What fentiments must thofe perfons have, who look upon it as a thing incredible, that a man fhould fcruple being present at an ordination, where fome of the answers to the questions put to the can. didate, though joined with in a part of divine worship, are either directly falfe, or wholly abfurd? This part of the Apology has been fo much lengthened out, that I wholly omit the attefting unqualified and admitting unattefted elders into the church-courts. There is indeed so manifest a breach of truth in the one cafe, and of law and order in the other, that if men do not fee it themselves, it must be owing to fuch invincible prejudice as it is in vain to contend with. Thus I have laid before the reader, in a ferious and candid manner, what I hope will ap pear pear a fufficient apology for this offenfive performance. Nothing could have induced me to the attempt, but the unwearied endeavours of many to represent it as an evidence of a bad temper and unchristian difpofition, which the particular structure of the book made fome undifcerning perfons rafhly affent to. I have not the fmalleft reason to repent of it on account of its nature, its defign, or its effects upon the public. If there was any mistake, it was in point of prudence, which fhould have directed me to avoid bringing fuch a load of malice and refentment upon myself. This has afforded me one obfervation not very honourable to human nature, viz. That the rage of enemies is always more active and more lafting than the affection of friends. It often happens, that some who are very much pleased to find one stand forth as a champion for their political opinions, and ready to go, as it were, to the front of the battle; when their enemies, fmarting with the wounds he has given them, traduce and vilify his character, thefe efteemed friends often, in a great measure, give it up, and difcover much fatisfaction with themselves, that they had acted in a a wifer and more cautious manner. I conclude the whole, with befeeching all who are convinced, that the present state of the church of Scotland is fuch as I have represented, to ex ert ert themselves with zeal and activity for her preservation and recovery. There is a wonderful, though a natural union, among all worldly men, against the spirit and power of true religion, where-ever it appears. I am forry to add, that this is one of the inftances in which the children' of this world are wifer in their generation than the children of light. There are many whose conduct fhows them to be actuated by an equal mixture of floth and despair. They are unwilling to act with vigour, and defend themselves, by alledging, that nothing can be done with fuccefs. How much better would the old Roman maxim be, Nunquam defperandum eft de republica?" and how much better reafon have we to adopt it? Nothing is impoffible to the power of God. I add, that the most remarkable times of the revival of religion, in this part of the united kingdom, immediately fucceeded times of the greatest apoftacy, when "truth" feemed to be "fallen "in the street, and equity could not enter." This was the case immediately before the year 1638. Corruption in doctrine, looseness in practice, and flavish submission in politics, had overspread the church of Scotland: and yet, in a little time, the appeared in greater purity and in greater dignity than ever she had done before, or perhaps than ever fhe hath done fince that peVOL. II. riod. riod. Let no Christian, therefore, give way to defponding thoughts. We plead the caufe that shall at last prevail. Religion fhall rise from its ruins; and its oppreffed ftate at present should not only excite us to pray, but encourage us to hope for its speedy revival. I THE END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. |