IF the wounds of a Friend be better than the kisses of an Enemy, they should be far more acceptable then the wounds of an Enemy; And therefore I expect ye will not be displeased with my Freedom in this line designed for preventing your more severe and shameful Treatment, by our Adversaries to whom ye have given great advantage, by some Reasons ye have writen [why in this Juncture there s hould be no Alteration of the Govern­ment of the Church of Scotland] of baffling our cause so unseasonably and weakly defended by you. For albeit there are many sober Presbyterians whose generous compassion of our present staggering condition, would not al­low them to give you such an humbling Repartee, as ye give too large ground for, yet as we deserve it not at their hand, who have been so cruel to them in their low condition; so we cannot expect it from eve­ry one of them, especially, when they are at once encouraged, by the many Disadvantages of our pre sent circumstances, and irritated by your extreme bitterness against them, and therefore I advise you would recal all the copies of it, which I am hopeful have not yet spread far, for in. genuously they are so weak, that few of our perswasion will be at the pains to transcribe them, and I think they will be more careful of our Reputation then to suffer them to come to the hands of any Presbyterian; as through time they may, if you prevent it not. But lest your vanity make you confidently contemn my counsel; I shall take a little pains to abate your confidence, by shewing you how easily and advantagiously our Adversaries with whom I have frequent converse can answer you.

But I must first express my Dissatisfaction with the title ye give your paper so lyable to the most perplexing Exceptions can be made against us. I doubt not but ye have heard (I have heard it so often) how la­mentably Arch-Bishop P: was baffled of late by Mr. Roger at Glasgow, upon the like occasion given him; Weare too conscious to our selves, that the sole support of our interest is but Civil Laws (though the Bishops were at the making them) and that all Ecclesiastick Authority is on their side; And therefore ye would be inextricably puzled, if they put the Question to you, Which of the two is the Government of the Church of Scotland, that which is only introduced by Civil Laws, without any Eeclesiastick Authority, contrary to the standing Laws of the Church, never yet repealed by any Church Judicature, or that which is established by many National Assemblies of the Church, though contrar to posteri­our Acts of Parliament, made without any consequent, far les s Ante­cedent Determination of any Church Judicatory.

[Page 6]They may likewise give you an unanswerable challenge of monor polizing the specious name of the [Church of Scotland] to us (excluding them) because we have receded from old standing Ecclesiastick Laws with­out any other warrand then new Civil Laws contrary to them; and upon that account charge us with Schism & unwarrantable separation from them, having no Evasion left us, but that we are the more numerous part of the Clergy, which scarce makes our Separation tolerable, far less justifiable.

But that which is as unbecoming us, as unacceptable to them, is your pleading [no Alteration] which will stumble your Readers with preju­dice in the very entry; For how ever difficult it be to prove the necessity of such an intire Alteration as Presbyterians desire, yet they can easily pitch upon many things, which we cannot ingenuously deny should be alter­ed; And the book entituled the Reformed Bishop, writen by one of our Clergy, opens a wide door to them; Yea, we are all of us too sensible, that our interest has been scrued up to so dangerous heights, by the Laws, that there is no stable Basis left to establish it in the Consciences of those who own it; And we have Reason to fear lest those odious super­structures of the Magistrates unbounded Supremacy over the Church, such rigorous impositions on the Consciences of Subjects, and so cruel persecu­tion of all Dissenters (which by an excess of Zeal we have erected, to be the securities of our cause) may so much discommend the whole Fa­brick of our Government, as to endanger the total ruine thereof. And I have alwayes thought it a great flaw in the Episcopal Government in Scot­land, that as it hath been built upon no other Foundation, and advanced by no other Methods then Civil Laws rigorously executed, so these are framed in such an Arbitrary and persecuting stile, that the least turn of Affairs will render them as odious as before they were grievous to all moderate and judicious Men of both parties.

And finally, it surpasseth my imagination, what hath incouraged you to add [in this Juncture?] Its evident that the whole present Juncture of Affairs hath a bad Aspect on us, and we can expect little Favour from such as duely consider the same. What hath infatuated you to such an unaccountable confidence? Alace! your Reasons can never cancel these unhappy Addresses to the King, so fresh in the remembrance of all Men; That of the Primat sent to King in name of the Clergy, to thank him for the Liberty granted to the Papists, so full of base sycophantry, and ab­ject flattery, that even the Popish King was ashamed of it, which I fear be printed at Fdinburgh before the Convention, though ye tempt them not [Page 7]to the remembrance of it, and that other most unseasonable Testimony of our Loyalty, expressing our Detestation of the P. of Orange his com­ing to England, as an unjus t and unnatural Invasion; signed by the Bps to their eternal s hame. Neither will ever this Paper of yours counter­poise the P. of Orange, His Declaration in reference to Scotland, where­in we are represented as the grievance of the Nation, and the necessity of an Alteration, insinuated as clearly as could be done without direct­ly reflecting on our Laws, which though he doth not approve, yet he Judgeth unseasonable as yet to condemn. Nor Finally can all ye say for our vindication, outcry the loud voice of the Rigorous Persecution, and violent Oppression, and innumerable Grievances, which may be too justly charged on our party, and the Presbyterians are too apt to re­present and aggredge so, as to extort pity and compassion, even from the hardest hearted of our Grandies without such an irritating remem­brance as you are.

But to come to your Reasons, Presbyterians will think them weak e­nough, though ye had not wronged them by such a vain Title. I wish ye had forborn the first which is too Theologick, and so not only discov­ers the Author to be of the Clergy, who are little regarded when plead­ing for their own Interest, but doth also give our Adversaries too large a Field wherein they are best acquainted and most expert. Ye might have satisfied your self only with Politick Arguments, which are the most pro­per and suitable to our cause, and would seem to be the Sentiments of some Judicious Pers on of another Quality agenting it, and so be a great deal more acceptable and considered with the less prejudice. But I see no kind of reason in your Paper which Presbyterians cannot answer with­out any difficulty and with great advantage.

Your first Reason hath three things in it, which though it be suffici­ent simply to deny because meerly asserted, yet our Adversaries will not pass them so bluntly, they give too fair an occasion to them, of giving the sharpest and sorest wounds to our cause that it can meet with, and of prepossessing mens Cons ciences with such evident Convictions in their favour, as will render all your other Reasons ineffectual for per­swading them to favour us.

The I. thing in it is (That Episcopacy hath the advantage of Apostolick Con­stitution,) a very fair Plea and plausible Pretence, which ye would ex­ceedingly oblige, the greater and better part of your Beethren, by making good; But how can we expect this of you, when the Learned Hamond, who excells all that ever took that Plea in hand for him not­withstanding[Page 8]all his wrested Criticisms of Scripture, and stretched Alle­gations from Antiquity, hath not fully satisfied us in this point; so that all the Sober and Learned among us, except a very few Judge Church Government a point of Indifferency, not peremptorly determined by Christ or His Apostles, and that Episcopacy is preferable only for its Con­veniency; And whether the Report be true that Dr. Burnet hath ac­knowledged its Inconveniency for Scotland, I know not; But I have heard some of the most Judicious of our Clergy ingenuously confess, that though to a People unbiassed with prejudices as in England that were to chose their Church Government, Episcopacy is preferable to Presbytery, yet to the People of Scotland (who are possessed with such invincible prejudices in favours of Presbytry as the Church Government, which commenced with their Re­formation from Popery, and has been establi shed by so many full and free Church Judicatories; and Ratified by the Civil Sanction of three Successive Parliaments, wherein three Kings Successively were Personally present, and with no less Ins uperable prejudices against Episcopacy as a Relict of Popery which amongst other corruptions they were Reformed from, and as an Innovation Introduced, Advanced and. Established by Arbitrary and Violent Methods, not only without but against the Consent of the Ministry; and finally as an incouragement of Ignorance, Profanity and Error to the paving the way for Popery) to such a prejudiced and byas­sed People Episcopacy is both inconvenient and intolerable. And Presby­terians do so well know, that the sentiments of many of your Brethren, differ from yours in this point, that they will not only redicule you as Ignorant of the Scriptures, wherein the Names of Bishop and Presbyter are used indifferently as signifying the same thing; nothing given in di­rection to the ordinaty Officers of the Church, is peculiarly applicable to Diocesan Bishops, yea, and the Superiority of one Pastour above ano­ther, is expresly prohibited both by Christ in the Gospel and Peter in his Epistle, but they will als o insult over you as impudent, in pretending that for your vindication, which not only the Generality of the Learned among the Clergy; but all the greates t of our Champions also as Ban­croft, Bilson, Low, Sutclive, Whitgift, Hooker, &c. do deny to be clear or concludent in our Favours; undervaluing this Topick most laboriously as being conscious, it is against them asserting, that Apostolick Insti­tutions of Church Government, do not take away the Indifferency and Mutability of it according to the conveniency of every particular Church. And as for these few Learned men, who maintain the Divine Right of Episcopacy they do ingenuously confess, that there is no Episcopacy in any[Page 9]Church, now which doth not in many things Deviate from the Pri­mitive Episcopacy which they own; and they will readily acknowledge, that Episcopacy as its constitute in Scotland, either as to its Elevation to such an hight of Superiority and Power over Presbyters, or its complica­tion with s [...]ch gross Erastianism, or its Conjunction with civil Dignities, and Characters is not only qu [...]te Different from it, but directly opposite to it, So that it is the hight of Impudence to have pleaded no alteration from the Topick of Apostolick Institution, which doth so evidently prove the necessity of an Alteration even in the sense that both Parties have of it; and it is scarce so excuseable as the confidence of some of our Writers, who doubt not to say roundly, that albeit Episcopacy was not the Go­vernment of the Church in its Infancy, yet it is better suted to it in its present Maturity, which th [...] ugh it be not a sufficient ground of preferring humane Inventions before Divine Institutions, yet is less intolerable be­cause it hath some shaddows and collour of Reason for it; And after the great light, that these Famous Presbyterians, Blondell and Salmasius, Parker and Didoclavius have given, to the advantage of Presbytry, in this controversie, is the only shift left us to evade the Force of their Argu­ments, both from Scripture and Antiquity against us.

The next thing ye assert is, that [Episcopacy hath the Advantage of a Natural Reception by all Christian Churches from CHRIST to Calvin] Sir, Your Phrase of a Natural Reception is s o Dark and Ambigous that they will put what sense on't they will, and perhaps deride you and it both, by confessing that Episcopacy had a great advantage of Recep­tion from the natural (Corrupt and Carnal) Reasonings and Incli­nations of Men who are naturally Ignorant, that the Excellency of all the means of the Churches Edification is their Institution by a Superna­tural Divine Wisdom and Authority, because they are not only adapted to Supernatural ends, but depend intirely for their Efficacy upon a Supernatu­ral Divine Power and Blessing; and who are naturally no less Artogant to add the Invention of their own vain Wisdom, as no less useful and ne­cessary, and to expect Gods Blessing thereupon which he hath promised only to his own Institutions. But albeit they put a more Fabourable sense on your Words as importing an Early and easie Reception, yet they will not only retort, that several acknowledged corruptions had as easie reception as it, and far more early then such an Episcopacy as this of ours, which (taking it complexly) we our selves cannot deny would have been odious and intolerable in the Primitive Church, but they can like­wise quite enervate your Argument, by proposing to your considerati­on the Gradual and Insensible Progress of the Mystery of Iniquity, which [Page 10]the Apostles observed to have begun its motion, and to be misteriously working even in their time, and therefore could not be much regarded yea scarce observed in the primitive Church, so full of unexperienced simpli­city and extended Charity, wherein there were many Pastours so Emi­nent for their Wisdom & Gravity, Holiness and Humility, as seemed to challenge, and easily obtained more then ordinary Deference and Re­spect from their Brethren, and that from one Degree to another, untill at last through time the Church degenerated into a Prelatick Government, which could not be unacceptable or at leas t intolerable to the Genera­lity, being so well suited to the Superstitious (the Predominant) Ge­nius of these Times, though it past not altogether without a witness from some of the most Learned and Seeing Men then living, who were not so much incerted with the common distemper of the Age they lived in but that they could both look back to the Primitive purity and parity from which Episcopacy had declined, and forward to the Papal corruption and Tyranny, to which it insensibly and gradually tended as it should at large by Blondel and Salmasius to the full conviction of all who read their Labourious Writings. Yea, they will not only Enervate your Argu­ment, but turn the edge of it upon your self, by instancing the Albi­genses who preserved the Presbyterian Government from the Apostles time to Luther, and whos e Testimony against Diocesan Episcopacy is as strong, as it is by our own Confession against other Romish corruptions. Nay! they will come nearer home and cite credible History, narrating Scotland not to have received Episcopal Government for some hundreds of years af­ter it received the Christian Religion, as not only Bucchannan our famous Historian sheweth, but our own great Doctor Forbes confesseth in his Ire­nicon. And finally they will foil this Argument quite, by shewing Epis­copacy to have met with a more early and easie Ejection out of the Church when it was Reformed from corruptions, as a Native step of its Reformation, then ever it had reception by the Church, even when declining from its ancient Purity. And though England hath continued Episcopal, yet they will ask what reason is there for Justifying the the Episcopal Government, more then Her Ceremonious Worship, and why may not that Church be condemned for retaining the one as well as the other? and they have too evident grounds for imputing their Contumation to the stiffness of Q. Elizabeth as the Chief, if not the Sole hindrance of the Ejection of both out of England, as well as the other Reformed Churches; which was earne stly desired by the most Learned and Pious Divines in the Church, though when they found their en­deavours fruitless, they choosed rather to comply therewith then di­sturb[Page 11]the Peace of the Church and Kingdom.

The last thing in this Reason is that [Episcopacy is by Experience found to be the best adap [...]ed for preservation of Order, Peace and Ʋnity.] Preshyterians will hiss the Argument out of doors, because its the very same which Papists use against Protestants for justifying the Papal power. And it is more easie for them to resort our answer to Papist, on our selves, then for us to Evade the Force of them without either derogat­ing from the Episcopal power, which we mantain against Presbyteri­ans or Homologating the Papal power which Papists maintain against Protestants. We grant the Papal power to be very much Adapted for Wordly Pomp, Power and Policy, but upon that very score deny it to be a Government becoming the Church, becau [...]e Christ expresly dischar­geth his Apostles, and in them all their Successors to exercise Dominion as the Lords of the Gentiles do over them. This Answer to Papists is an Argument so plate against our selves, that ingenuously I am not fully satisfied with our subtile Evasions of it. And though that of Dr. Burnets in his Latter Dialogues be the best I have yet seen, that nothing is pro­hibited in these words, but the Exercise of Civil Power by any Church Officer, over the Church; and so nothing of the Papal power is condemned by it, but the Usurpation of a Temporal Dominion over Princes; Yet s eeing this leaves his Ecclesiastick Supremacy, (under which the subtile Jesuits Comprize all the Power he Exercises) untouched and uncon­demned, by the clearest Scripture Argument we have against it, which all Reform [...]d Divines make use of (even the Episcopal themselves) in their writings against the Papal Tyranny in Ecclesiasticks as well as Civils, I nothing doubt but the present Zeal of that great Man against Popery, would disclaim this evasion frankly as the effect of his former eagerness against Presbytery, hurrying him to a Critici sm so favourable to Pope­ry. And when I have considered the extent of the Paralel place, 1. Pet. 5.3. and the particular Application in Reference to Spirituals, which the Apostle Paul makes, 2. Cor. 1. last; I cannot look upon that otherwise then an oversight in the Doctor, notwithstanding of my singular Es teem of Him and his Writings. But the truth is (if we consider seriously) the aptitude of Episcopacy, for preserving the Dignity and promoting the Interest of the Clergy; its similitude to the Civil Government, and Conformity to the Carnal conceits men have of the Church of God, are (even as it fares with Popery,) both its greatest advantage and dis­advantage, its greatest advantage recommending it to Carnal men, who measure all things by their Carnal Imaginations and Inclinations, and its greatest disadvantage discommending it to Conscientious men[Page 12]who meas ure all the concerns of the Church, by the unerring Rule of the Word of GOD, and judge of them by their influence on, and usefulness for the Edification of their Souls. And alace! the odious effects of Episcopa­cy in Scotland, especially since it was last introduced, are so recent and ob­vious, that if any witty Presbyterian shall be at the pains, to rake up this Dunghil, I am afraid such an intolerable stink shall be raised, as no Aptitude which our Government hath to what is good, or can pretend to have, will be either Regarded or Believed by any who are Judicious, far less Sober and Conscientious. For Sense and Experience are more convincing than all the Reasons in the World.

But to be more particular, ye say, [its found by Experince to be the best a­dapted for preservation of Order] Presbyterians will answer, That what ever be its apparent Aptitude for this, yet it is in effect, it self an alteration of the primitive Order observed in the Church, which did gradually resolve at last into a total innovation of the Churches Order, by a papal supremacy, which it hath exchanged for a Caesario-papatus in Scotland, lest the Church should not be still monstruous with two heads, one under another; And it is indeed a hard Question, Why Order in the Church, (which we say, cannot be without prius & posterius, inferius & superius) doth not equally require a Pope, or King under CHRIST over Bishops, as a Bishop under CHRIST over Presbytry; Or why a parity amongst Bishops should not be thought as inconsis tent with Order as a parity among all Pastors. But neither doth the Presbyterian Government want its Order of superius & infe­rius, for amongst them single persons are subject to Church Judicatories, and a lesser Church Judicatory still to a greater, &c. In which Order see­ing there is not only that ah inferiore ad superius, but a minore ad majus, it is most agreeable to the Church, as it is the Body of CHRIST, immediate­ly depending upon CHRIST its Head. And I confess ingenuously, when they have argued that feeding of Souls by dispensing the Word and Sa­craments is the sublimest piece of a Church Mans imployment; that all power of Church Officers is only Ministerial under CHRIST the Head and Lord of his Church; that though he be the political as well as Mysti­cal Head of the Church, who as its King and Lawgiver, might be expected would not leave it without Directions how it should be governed, yet there is no institution of a Diocesan Episcopacy, that was ever pretented to be so clear as the Directions given concerning the Office of a Deacon, the lowest Office in the Church; But the checks given by him to the first appearances of an inclination to pre-eminency among his Apostles, are clear­ly recorded in Scripture; and finally, that the lodging of all Ecclesiastick[Page 13]power of Ordination or Jurisdiction, in the single person of a Bishop doth not sute with the immediate Dependance of the Church, the Body of CHRIST upon CHRIST the Head of it; When they have Argued thus, I say, and urged each of these Arguments at length, I have been extreamly puzled to vindicat the Episcopal Order, and the superiority of one Pastor above another; All I could say, was, That Bishops are as ne­cessary to oversee Pastors, as Pastors to oversee People, and they easily stopped my mouth, not only by retorting the equal necessity of a pope, to oversee Bishops; But by shewing also that all Pastors were subject to the censure of Church Judicatories, which could not easily be guilty of con­nivance and partiality, towards the ignorant and scandalous as Bishops; and which by their solemnity & impartiality, have as great and vene­rable an Authority as a Bishop by virtue of his large Benefice, Lordly Titles, and pompous Train can have: Yea, I have been almost perswa­ded to be a presbyterian, when they have reasoned, that seing we confess, the highest Ecclesiastick power on Earth to be in an Oecumenick Council, and yet allow not of any further power in him that preceeds, than like that of a presbyterian Moderator in a Presbytry-synod, or National Assembly, and not like that of a Bishop in a Diocesan Synod, for fear of a pope; Why do we not also acknowledge Ministers to be subject to inferiour Judica­tories of the like frame, and an inferiour and lesser Judicatory, to a supe­riour and greater still forward, till we arrive at an Oecumenick Council, as the highest Judicatorie of all immediately and solly subject to CHRIST as the Body to the Head, without any Diocesan Bishop over the se infe­riour more than a pope over his supreme Judicatorie, as being the most e­qual and Homogenious, and therefore also the mos t sutable and excel­lent Order of the Church, making the Government of particular Church­es, and of the Ʋniversal Visible Church, to agree together with an excellent Harmony, and most orderly Decency. I am Naturally of such an inge­nuous Temper, that I had not the confidence to reply, that the Mem­bers of the Oecumenick Cnuncils were Diocesan Bishops, because I not only knew that presbyters have been admi [...]ed Members, and voted as well as Bishops, and that presbyterian as well as Episcopal Churches must be allow­ed their Delegates in case of an Oecumenick Council, without any other power than that of the Representatives of the Church that sends them, Repre: senting their Brethren, and not having power over them lodged in their single person▪ But I perceive the strength of the Argument did not at all consist in the Quality of the Members of a General Council; whether Bi­shops or Presbyters, but its Frame and the Method of its Acting, and[Page 14]Exerting its Authority: And finally, I have been greatly ashamed, and quite confounded, when they asked, Whether an Erastian head, an E­piscopal Body, and a Presbyterian Tail, would orderly agree together, to make an intire Church Government; and laughing at the monstruous Fa­brick of our Government, by such a mix [...] ure, told me that we At [...]ri­bute an Ecclesiastical Sup [...]emacy to the King, to unite him to our in­terest, that we may abuse and pro [...]itute his Power and Authority, in prosecuting and promoving it; And that we make use of Parochial Sessions from the Example of Presbytry, though Lay Elders be contrary to our prin­ciples, for amusing the Consciences of Ignorant People into the more willing subjection to us, as nothing differing from Presbyterian Ministers: But that Episcopal preeminencies and benefices are the chief Design of all, to satisfie the Ambition & Avarice of the leading men amongst us & to be a shelter and incouragement, to the ignorance, idleness, and profanity of the r [...]st of us. Thus ye see how they have treated me in this point, who though I come short in point of obstinate Confidence, yet I understand the Controversie betwixt Presbyterians and us, better then many of my Brethren, and have had greater advantages so to do then the most part of them; And I nothing doubt but ye will meet with the like usage from your Adversaries, to your publick shame, and affronting our cause, if ye prevent it not.

The next thing is, that [Episcopacy is the best Adapted for preservation of peace] Presbyterians will acknowledge; that it is a very calm, gentle, and peaceable Government to scandalous Sinners, and in this has the Advantage of being more acceptable then the Presbyterian to such, not knowing that favour to their Sins is cruelty to their Souls; And yet I have heard some of our own Perswasion say, that the Presbyterian Go­vernment amidst all its severity, was more favourable then the Episco­pal, because, though they were greedy of Folks repentance, yet they were not greedy of their Purses. But ye may assure your self, it will be accounted the height of impudence, so much as to have mentioned peace as the native effect of Episcopacy, and all the World will be ap­p [...] aled unto, whether our Bishops have not been the chief troublers of Israel, and whether the connivence (to say no more) of the Episcopal Government a [...] Popery and profanity, (which are the only peaceable Effects it can pretend to in Scotland,) doth Counterballance its Rigour, and cruelty against Non-conformity, (even when accompanied with Ex­emplary Sobriety, Piety and Loyalty,) or whether it doth not ex­ceedingly aggredge the same, and render it the more odious to all that compare its favour to th [...]se with its severity to this. And ingenuously,[Page 15]whatever be in their imputing to Episcopacy, Tyranny over Mens Con­sciences as its native effect, yet it is so sadly evident that it hath Ex­tremly degenerated thereunto in this Church and Kingdom, that we cannot doubt, but it will meet with an eas ie belief from most part of the Nation, in spite of all your confident Assertions to the contrary, they will grant that Presbytery hath been so unfortunate, as not only to be rend­red unacceptable to our Kings, being at a distance in another Nation, by the cunning Misinformations of Self-seeking Courtiers, the Calumnious Instigations of English Bishops, ignorant of the Genious of Scotland, and the Pragnatick Influence of Jesuits, whose greatest Eye sore it is. But also to be made a Mask to the Politick Design of Incendiaries and Ʋsur­pers, (tho they retained it no longer then their Designs behoved to be kept close;) and by this means to be miscontrued, as the chief cause of War and Blood s hed by these, who understand not the Intrigues of Af­fairs, but after they grant you all this, nothing, they will confidently accuse Episcopacy, that it hath been both so cruel and shameless, as even of choise, to turn, the most Serene peace & solid Happiness that ever this Nation was blessed with, at the Restauration of K. Charles the 2d. into a perpetual Tragedy of Persecution, Oppression, and of Arbitrary Govern­ment, manifestly of design to Introduce and Establish it self without the Conjunction of any other Malign influence imaginable: Though per­haps a popish party stroke in to an After Game, finding Episcopals as fore­ward as they could wish, to ruine presbyterians (though to the weakning of the Protestant Interest) hoping that if they should not be ruined by us, yet they should be so weakned and Exasperaced, as to be easily gulled by their pretended Moderation to a concurrence with them, for the raz­ing down the securities of the Reformed Religion by the Penal Laws a­gainst Papists, (which by a total desuetude we had rendred contemp­tible,) to shelter themselves from our Rigorous and severe Laws against them, that so at Length popery might swallow us up both. And no Thanks to us that the papists were disappointed of their Design, by the presbyterians greater zeal against popery, then Resentment at our greater Severity to them then to Papists, which when I consider, I have a strong Apprehension that the Lord is about to reward their Faithfulness to their Principles as Protestants, with a Legal establishment of their Govern­ment, in its integrity under a Presbyterian King, according to their wishes. So that you see what ever else you ascribe to Episcopacy, your was folly to maintain peace.

In the last place you say [That Episcopal Government is found by Experience to be the best Adapted, for preservation of Unity] And [Page 16]why not, say they, the Papal Government for Unity amongst Bishops as well as the Episcopal for Uni [...]y amongst Presbyters? But they will speak more home, and accuse us of Schism in re [...]ding from the unre­pealed Acts and Constitutions of the Church: And s [...] Father the Schism on Episcopacy, intruded into the Church by meer Civil Laws and vio­lently pressed upon all by the Sword of Persecution. Without any due pains or proper methods used for preparing the Nation, for its reception. And albeit that the present divisions amongst Presbyterians are much talken of, yet judicious Persons will impute them rather to the want of Presbyterian Government in the full and free exercise of its Authority, then to the weakness of the Government in it self: and I am informed that lately both Parties are endeavourting an Union; and resolve to Act Unitly against us: and when the Moderation of the One, and the Zeal of the Other party are Joined and Tempered together. They will make a more Formidable Figure both as to Counsel & Action, then if they had never been divided. And though likewise the former Divisions be­twixt the Remonstrators and Publick Resolvers are not forgotten, and serve to highten the prejudices of such as are not acquaint with the mysterious Intrigues of these times. Yet they who knew how cunningly they were fomented under Boord, by the Kings Courtiers on the one hand, and that wylie Fox Croniwel on the other: will not Impute them to the Presbyterian Government as its native Effects, especially seeing that the chief Motive that induced the Ʋsurper to rob them of the priviledges of free General Assemblies was the fear of their Union, which he knew could eas i­ly be affected by it last and surest remedie, that amidst their Intestin Divisions, he might the more easily setle hims elf in his Usurped power, without any opposition from them, of whose Conscientious Loyalty he had greatest Jealousies and fear. But alace! what can we say for our vindication if they charge us, that while we boast of Unity, we have not kept the Unity of the Faith. For they know well enough that as some of our Clergy are Socinian, (the vilest of Hereticks,) so also that the Ge­nerality of the Learned amongst us are gross Arminians, who were con­demned as Hereticks by that Famons Synod of Dort: to which our Fa­mous K: James the 6th. Sent Representatives from the Churches in Britain. And thus they represent our pretended Unity under Bishops, so uncon­cerned with the Purity of Doctrine to be rather Odious and Detestable, then Harmonious and Commendable; whereas the Commendation of this Church for its Unitie under Presbyterian Government is so great in all the Reformed Churches: And was so frequently upbraided to the Eng­lish Bishops by K. James the 6th. from the displeasure he had at the Scots [Page 17]Heresies and Schisms abounding in England, that Presbyterians will scarce think thems elves oblidged to an Apology for any Divisions that were▪ or Schism that is among them.

Sir, I have stayed the longer upon your first Reason, because it is the Basis of all the Controversie; And as it is unbecoming; the Wisdom and Piety of the Ensuing Convention, to be Acted meerly by Politick Considerations in so weighty a Concern: Wherein the Glory of God, and the Souls and Consciences of all in the Nation are so deeply Interessed. So that if your Adversaries by a fair and full answer not only enervate this Reason, but turn the edge of it upon us, they may so prepossess the Consciences of the Members in their Favours that all your other Reasons will avail little though they were better then they are. But that I may proceed;

Your Second Reason is, [That the most part of the Gentry and Burgesses have taken the Test, and therefore can never without Perjury, Vote for the Introdu­ction of Presbyters, or choose such Commissioners as are suspected to Favour that way] Sir, the Presbyterians will not fail to tell you that you loss your 1st. Reason by this 2d. For if the Test be Obligatory to every point, then also to maintain the Kings Prerogative, whereof this is a chief one, by Law, that he may alter or dispose of the External Government of the Church according to his pleasure, which whosoever is sworn to, he can no long­er for shame, plead for Episcopacy upon such grounds as you propose in your former Reason, unless he renounce that Oath in part as not Obli­gatory, and as to some parts of it presbyterians themselves, will approve it so far as concerns the maintaining of the Protestant Religion, and the Renounciation of popery. And I have heard them Applaud the Faithful­ness of the last parliament, in keeping this part of their Oath: For they know that the chief thing designed in the first overture of it, was only the Security of the protestant Religion, though there were such Additions made to what was intended for that end, as might weaken, break, or en­snare that party in parliament that first motioned it, being lookt upon as too Jealous of, and Zealous against popery, and as for these Additions no wonder they except again st the Obligation of them, seeing that even we our selves did express s o much of our Aversion thereat at first: so long as we expected by our General clamours against it, to procure an Exemption from the Imposition thereof; And as our fear of Loosing our Benefices rather then our Inclinations determined us, and the fair Co­lour of the Explication given by the Council, (though alace! what sig­nifies the Explication of an Oath, that must needs be taken in the Ge­nuin Sense of the Words,) encouraged us to swear it, so doubtless the rest of the Nation swore it with great Reluctancy, rather from a regard[Page 18]of their Places and Interests, then GOD and their Consciences, (which generally at first accused them of Perjury that took it, as being obvious­ly contradictory in it self, and in many things contradictory to their Light;) until the Generality and frequency of the Guilt abated, the sense of it, and therefore cannot be expected, will be very precise in ad­hering to it, to whatever confidence many have arrived, for justifying it in their Discourse (to which length as is every part of it, few have come;) yet the remorse of their Consciences for it, is not totally extinguished, at least is not turned to a sense of its Obligation in every point; and to be plain with you, there must be an Alteration less or more: This is both designed and desired by all Ranks of Persons: They all agree in this, tho they disagree in the measure of it; And next to the settling the Prince of Orange in the Throne, it is one of the chief designs of the Convention, so that your Arguing from the Obligation of the Test is altogether vain, especially seeing it is so unhappily framed, that if it bind up from any, it equally binds up from all endeavours of any Alteration whatsoever any manner of way, of the established Government either in Church or State; and when upon this account, its Obligations will and must be trampled upon. It cannot but be very unacceptable, to plead no Alte­ration for fear of Perjury, but truly! understand not how every Altera­tion can be accounted Perjury, in reference to any Article in the Test, for that part of it which strikes most directly against any Alteration, is meerly Assertory not promissory, neither does it peremptorly assert that there should be no Alteration, but only that there is no Obligation by the Covenants to endeavour it, and it can hardly be expected that those who have taken the Test, will be determined by any sense of the Obligation of the Covenants to endeavour an Alteration, nor is it necessary, seeing Scripture, Reason and Policy, do all of them together loudly and evidently call for it in this present Juncture, which is a three­fold Cord, more strongly binding then the Test can pretend to be, at least in this point; So that you see how little weight is in your Argu­ment from the Test, and what it amounts to when duely pondered. I nothing doubt but the Gentry and Burgesses will laugh at you, for pro­posing that for determining their Consciences, which all know was mainly imposed for debauching their Consciences.

Your 3. Reason contains several things in it, huddled together as if ye would compense weight by number, wherein ye seem rather to design the insnaring the Presbyterians to declare their Sentiments unseasonably, about some difficult points, then to prove any thing against them; But they are neither stated in such difficult Circumstances, nor so void of[Page 19]prudence, but that they can answer you both confidently and cautiously to their great Advantage, by removing the prejudices of many against Presbytry, because of the inconveniencies they apprehend must attend it.

The first thing ye alledge is, That [if presbytry be voted, then returns upon you the Solemn League and Covenant, as is not only evident from their Gen: Ass: &c.] Sir, ye so manifestly betray your ignorance of the difference betwixt the National Covenant and Solemn League, that those who are better acquaint with the Principles and History of presbytry in Scotland, will account you an Ignorant Scribler against things ye understand not; As for the s olemn League, I know not what ye understand by [the Natural Exigence of it.] but sure presbyterian Government might have continued in Scotland a thousand years without any such League, if England had not given an Occasion of it: And it is so far from being the only conceivable [foundation for its parity] that it is but a late thing, which was not so much as thought upon either at the first planting of Presbyterian Government in Scotland, af­ter the Reformation, nor for several years after it was re-established a­gain, so that it is the National Covenant which ye would be at; And as for the other, I shall shew you what presbyterians can say, for preventing your Feats, when I come to your last Reason, to which it properly be­lpngs. Its true, the National Covenant is almost as Ancient, as the Legal Establishment of the Reformed Religion, and presbyterian Government in Scot­land, it being about an hundred years since it was taken by all in the Nation, at the appointment of King James the sixth: And as it was then conceived, cannot be excepted against in any point by any sound Pro­testant; being an Obligation against poperie, and all its corruptions in Do­ctrine, Worship and Government, so that if ye will have it even then to be the foundation of paritie, ye do exceedingly wrong our Cause, and do in effect justifie the Explication annexed to it, thereafter shewing E­piscopacie be included in the popi sh Hierarchie abjured therein, which pres­byterians will tell you was not only approven in parliament 39, but also solemnly Ratified by King Charles the First, his own hand writing, when he was personally present in Parliament 41. And they will ask you, how it comes to pass, that ye who was just now so fearful of perjury, in reference to the Test? Should he be so fearful for the remembrance of a poor Obligation upon the Church and Nation; For as to any other Re­turn of it upon us, presbyterians will not impose it again without the appoint­ment of King and parliament, and the general consent of all Ranks in the Nation, for they have seen the disadvantage we have been at, in pressing Conformitie to the Episcopal Government, without pains taken to pre­pare the Nation for it; And have learned to be cautious by our preci­pitancy.[Page 20]Nor do [the present proceedings of the presbyterian preachers] give any ground to expect the renewing of the Covenant, albeit they aggredge the guilt of Complyance with prelacy from the obligation of the Covenant, as to these who own it as contemning nothing, but what they are Antece­dently obliged unto by the Word of GOD. And this Antecedent obli­gation to every thing in the National Covenant, is so common & confirm­ed an Opinion among all Presbyterians, that they will defy you to shew any one of these [manifold impieties in that Oath] which ye speak of in Gene­ral. And ingenuously, except its Abjuration of prelacy, I know nothing in it, that any Episcopal will condemn who hath read it; and as for that point, if ever it be ordered to be renewed, by appointment of King and Parliament, I know none of the most considerable in the Nation, who (seeing such understand both their Duty and Interest) will either fear Perjury by taking of it, or choose Misery by refusing it. And I hope the refusing it shall never be judged a sufficient crime, to provoke the Government to reduce any ranks of Persons, far less the most con­siderable in the Nation to misery. And I find the Presbyterians to be Ge­nerally of such a cautious Temper, and moderate Disposition, especially the leading Men amongst them, that I nothing doubt, but they will carefully avoid all such practices, as they find do give any ground of prejudices against their Predecessors, whom they do not deny to have been over swayed in somethings to an Extreme by the Biass, and Tor­rent of the time they lived in.

Next you alledge, [That if the Covenant return, no man can have publick place, either in Church or State, but such as shall do Penance for taking the Test] what Lax Reasoning is this? that if Presbytery be Voted the Covenant re­turns, as if there could not be a Voting for Presbytry without voting also for renewing the Covenant, and if the Covenant return; no man can have publick Place without Pennance for the Test: As if there were no other way of removing the Scandal of a General and National Guilt, but by par­ticular Satisfaction from every Person guilty. I have heard some of the Sober and Learned amongst them say, that the Generality of guilt renders a particular Satisfaction, neither Seasonable nor Practicable-Necessary nor Suitable, and that Cordial Joining in publick Humilia­tion, and a Zealous owning of their Interest will remove the Scandal and Satisfie them.

You say further that, [A great part of the Laity of the Nation must be reduced to sad Straits, both in reference to Conscience and Interest] I know none need to fear that, but these who undergoes Episcopal Government, have been habituated to such an Licentious prophanity, that the restraining[Page 21]them within the just bounds of sobriety; may prove hard and uneasie to their Lax Consciences, which is no great Inconveniencie, or these who have had all their lively hood by their dependance on the Episcopal Government and have been undeservedly advanced to places of Benefit, Trust or Ser­vice, whose particular Disadvantage by their losing their place, is the publick Advantage of the Nation.

And finally you inferr, [That the Regular Clergy will be turned out, which will reduce the Church to such amazing hardships, that the Gospel shall not he preached in three parts of the Kingdom, there not being an hundred qua­lified Presbyterians in Scotland.] Sir, It should be your desire and mine both, that all the Insufficient, Scandalous and Erroneous among the Clergy were turned out; and their places were Vacant, till able Men were provided; rather then filled with such men (who do far more obstruct then promove the Edification of the Church) without the hope of being better supplied. And alace! I'm affraid that two parts of three of our Clergy, may be too justly reduced to one or other of these three Classes; So that by my best Information, the Presbyterian partie, if ye join their Ministers, Preachers, and young Men, Ready for the Mini­stry together: With such also, as have diverted themselves to other Imployments, because of the Discouragements of the Times, and are willing and ready to serve the Church, if there were incouragement for the Ministry, they have moe qualified men amongst them; then there are Sufficient, Sober, and Orthodox Men amongst our Clergy, so that they could within less then a year, furnish the one half of the Congregations in Scotland. And when from about an hundred and some more, they have in a year and an halfs space accreasced and amounted to so many, without the help of Universities; We may easi­ly calculate, how short a time will increase them to the compleat Num­ber. But I am hopeful that they will admit any Learned, Sober and Orthodox person amongst us upon very easie terms; our acknowledge­ing Presbyterian Government to be lawful, our guilt of Separation from them and of taking the Test; And I know none of us that will choose rather to be turned out, by refusing then kept in their places upon ac­cepting such favourable Terms.

Your 4. Reason is, [That if Presbytery, be not thus established in its integri­ty, but all that Alteration turn to a Non-Episcopacy, and the present Presbyters con­tinue in their Offices; Then our deplorable Schisms and Divisions shall continue without a Remedy, or else the Magistrate will take upon him the Government of the Church, and we shall have downright Erastianism.] Sir, The foolish­ness of this Argument is so obvious, that I think I may spare my pains[Page 22]in shewing it unto you. One would think it the voice of a Presbyterian, proving the necessity of an entire Alteration, rather than of an Episcopal pleading no Alteration at all; Presbyterians will grant all you say, and turn the mouth of this Cannon directly against your self, by Arguing thus, If Episcopacy be contained, then our deplotable Schisms and Divisi­ons shall be Remediless, also we shall still have downright Erastianism, and how can ye evade the force of this Argument of your own I see not; For it is evident by experience, that we may dispair of ever gaining the Presbyterians to a compliance with us; seeing that so many years, vio­lent Persecution hath rather alienated them from us, beyond all hope of either Reconciliation or Accommodation. And it is as undeniable, that there is not so gross Erastianism in the World, as is established by Law, and complicated, and tuisted with the Episcopal Government in Scot­land. Yea they will further baffle you, by reasoning with you thus, If Presbytery were established in its Integrity, our deplorable Division would easily be healed, and we should be altogether quite of Erastianism, and ye cannot shelter your self from this more then the former Argument; For it is more then probable, that few of us would refuse to comply with Presbytery when once established by Law; and it is too much to be suspected, that the present bitterness of many of our Clergy again st Presbyterians pro­ceeds, from their Consciousness to themselves of their insufficiency, profanity, or Heterodoxy, (and perhaps also Cruelty,) which makes them despair of Admission into the Brotherhood of the Presbyterians. And it is certain that there are no Principles contrary to Erastianism more then the Presbyterian; For they allow not any Ecclesiastick Power of Jurisdiction to be lodged in any single Person though Ecclesiastick, much less Civil; and yet they do neither exeem Church Men from their Subjection to the Magistrates power as his Subjects, nor the Church from the Magistrates care as her Nursing Father. Their Prin­ciples in this point are very Rational, for though they deny Ministers to be as directly subjected to the Magistrate in their Ecclesiastick (apa­city as Ministers, as in their Civil Capacity of Subjects; Yet they ascribe as much power to him in reference to the Church, as any Wise and Pious Magistrate will require; they grant the Magistrate hath a restitu­tive power, for reparing a broken Church, though not a Constitutive of constituting the frame of its Government, and building such a Fabrick of a Church as he pleases; A power Convocative for calling Church Assemblies to meet, for the Government of the Church, though not a power Coercive of hindering them to meet at all; A power Defensive[Page 23]of defending the true Religion, and the Doctrine, Worship, Govern­ment and Discipline of the Church, though not a power Determina­tive, to determine concerning these things at his pleas ure; a power Con­cursive, to concur by his Civil Sanction with the Determinations of the Church, and confirm their Obligation on his Subjects, though not a power Coactive, to force the Church to follow his Dictates in things Ecclesiastick; And in a word, they grant him all Power even in Eccle­siasticks that is Cumulative to the Churches Advantage; though they de­ny him to have any Privative power to the Churches prejudice. Whereas Episcopacy in Scotland has no other Basis but gross Erastianism, so that you see how much you may be foild with your own Weapons; And ye may expect a challenge to express the ingenuity of your fears, (of continued Divisions and Schisms, and of downright Erastianism,) by quiting the Episcopal way wherein ye Act the Schismatick, in receiding from the standing Laws of the Church, in compliance with New Civil Laws, and approve Erastianism in adhering to the Test.

Your fifth Reason is, [That the Establishment of Presbytery will have almost pernicious Influence on the Protestants Religion in this Island, if ever Popery set up its head, &c.] Sir, I confess it is more proper for you to shew the Inconveniencie that will follow, if Presbytry be established, then if not. Yet, I suspect you be as unhappy in this as in the former Argument. The greate st Advantage that I find in your Reasons, is that you touch upon some things concerning which, it is unseasonable and dangerous for Presbyterians fully to express themselves. But alas! you do here but touch on that which is the very Sore and Weakest Side of Episcopacy; for you cannot be ignorant of the General Complaints of, and prejudices at our Government. As not only a shelter and covert to Papists: But as Instrumental in advancing Popish designs, partly by the Ignorance, Profanity, and Arminianism aboundoning under it. Disposing and preparing the Nation for Popery, and partly by its Severity and cruelty towards dissenting Protestants, to the manifest weakning of the Protestant In­terest. And even Envy it self cannot but acknowledge the Presbyterian Government, hath been abundantly both severe and successful against Popery; and nothing blunted and slackned in its Zeal and Watchfulness against Papists amits all its severities against Episcopals, whereas the Penal Laws against Papists were brought to such a Des uetude by us, that the most threatning dangers from Popery could not awaken us to the Execution of them, least we should have diverted from persecuting Pres­byterians, by a rigorous Execution of the Laws made in our Favours a­gainst them, which did so intirely take up the Government, that not[Page 24]only both Profanity and Popery have been connived at, but encouraged in so far as they were assisting to us, in opposing and oppressing Presbyte­rians; so that it will never be believed that Presbyterian Government hath any pernicious Influence upon the Protestant Religion, but rather that it hath a powerful Influence for securing it against Popery far more vigorous and Zealous, yea, and effectual and successful then ever the Episcopal had, at least in Scotland; And it is evident that the Presbyterian Interest, is every way at present more directly opposite to the Popish Interests then the Epis­copal is, which I am affraid shall yet further appear by the carriage and conduct of our party in the Convention, & that so manifestly as to highten the Nations prejudices against Episcopacy more then ever, and make all sober Protestants conclude, that we must of necessity have either Presby­try or Potery, and truly I cannot otherwise Judge of it, then as an Infa­tuation, presaging the ruine of our Interest, if the Bishops and the No­bility, Gentry and Burgesses of our Perswasion shall join Issue with a Popish party against the Prince of Orange his Interest: which is so insepa­rably Interwoven with the Reformed Interest in Europe, and especially in Britain: That by adhering to the Interest of King James the 7th. in op­position to his, they will unavoidably either give provocation to the Prince of Orange to abrogate Episcopacy in Scotland; in order to the advan­cing and establishing the Reformed Religion, or else give occasion or ad­vantage to King James the 7th. to Redintegrate his Popish designs with more violence and success than ever before, to the ruine of all profest Protestants, and especially of us Episcopals, because we have the Laws up­on our side, without any more regard to their Zeal and Activity for him in his Extreamities, then the King of France had for the Protestants, who kept the Crown on his Head; or Queen Mary of England, to the Counties of Suffolk and Northfolk who advanced her to the Crown; or (to come home) then King Charles the 2d. had to the Presbyterians, who in his greatest extreamities brought him home to Scotland, and spent their blood for him at Worcester. And its certain that our refusing to fol­low Englands Example of Gratitude to the Prince of Orange, will necessitate this Church and Kingdom; to stand upon a bottom more different from: Yea, opposite unto that of England, than if presbytry were Establish­ed, and will oblige us to secure our selves from Popery, by methods as different from the wise Conduct of the English: As the binding of Samson with Cords, was from the shaving the Locks of his Head: or to come nearer, as there was betwixt Englands and Scotlands carriage towards the Duke of York; and at the best will be very hard for Scotland, s o that your fears [least the establishment of presbytry necess itate the Churches of Scotland[Page 25] and England to s tand upon different Costomes which will be hard for Scotland] are but feigned and groundless, neither savouring of a politick Wit, not an Ingenuous Spirit: For Church Government is Extrinsick to the Foundation of the Reformed Religion, and Protestants were at a loss, if their Arguments against Popery were principally founded upon this Topick, or could not be deduced from any other: Presbyterians will tell you. That ouly the Scriptures are the Foundation of the Reformed Re­ligion, and the common bottom on which all the Reformed Churches are founded. But also, that the greater part of the Episcopal Champions and Clergy ac­knowledge Episcopacy to have no other Warrand, than an Ecclesia stick con­stitution, which is a foundation common to all the popish corruptions; And whereas ye repeat, That [presbytrie will divide Scotland from England, which will open a door to the re-entry of popery;] Are they not united in one com­mon Protestant interest? Except in so far as the Clergy of England are gene­rally Arminians, excepting some few Learned Men, which I confess will oblidge them to justifie themselves by different Arguments, not only from Scotish presbyterians, but all the other Reformed Churches, which will be harder for England than Scotland. But that presbytrie will open a door to the re-entry of popery, will never be believed, s eing presbyterians at first ejected it out of Scotland; And all their time secured the Nation from it (more than ever since) without the Assistance of England, which if ever Scotish presbyterians shall need, they may expect it much more from the P: of Orange, when he shal be their King, as well as Englands. Then even when Queen Elizabeth found her self oblidged to give it, by the Tye of the common interest of Religion, without any Relation to them as her Sub­jects. And as for your Tautolagick repetition again (that presbytry cannot but alie­nate the Affections of the Church of England from us, which considering our weak­ness, will expose us as a prey to the common Enemy) it is altogether vain and foolish; For the Church of England can never be more aleniated in their Affections to presbyterians, than at this present towards our Bishops, and as their joyning issue with papists against the prince of Orange, hath exceedingly discommended them to it; so the presbyterians joyning issue with him, by their Zeal against Popery, will as much commend them to it. And how ever, ye may be-assured, that the interest of England will oblidge them to assist Scotland in case of Danger from popery, more effectually than their difference from Scotland in point of Church Government, can alienate them, for ye know the Maxim; ‘Tune tua res agitur paries cum proximus ardet.’

But many are of Opinion that if Episcopacy be continued, it will per­petuate such irreconcilable, intestine Divisions and Animosities in Scot­land, [Page 26]as will weaken and expose us a prey to Popery, more then any Assistance from England can strengthen and secure us from it, whereas the establishment of Presbytery, would bring us to such an intire and firm Union, that Scotland could secure it self from all danger of Popery, without any Assistance from England; Yea, and put us in Capacity to Assist England in case of danger from Popi sh Attempts; which that Church and Kingdom, by the policy of some other laud may too readily be brought into, which I wish heartily GOD may prevent: So that ye see how far ye are out in this Reason.

Your 6th. Reason is so weak, that you need no more then sure Infor­mation from England, and impartial consideration how the interest of the Prince and Princess of Orange is stated to abate your Confidence in it. You say, [That to be for presbytery, in this Juncture will exceedingly disoblige [...] Princess of Orange, whose principles are known to all Europe in this matter] Sir, ye are greatly mistaken, for I have seen a Letter from a person who knows her sentiments; shewing that she is not only willing to give Dissenters all satisfaction, and if Episcopacy be continued in England to her mind, that the Prince be gratified by the Revival of Presbytrie in Scotland; But also, that she hath a particular Resentment of the severi­ties and cruelties exercised towards the Presbyterians in Scotland, and has frequently declared, that seing Presbytrie commenced with the Reformation of this Kingdom, has been solemnly sworn to, and established by the National Ass emblies of the Church, and the Sanction of the Civil Laws; She judgeth it neither E­quitable nor convenient that any other Government should be pressed on that People. And we need not doubt, but as the Calamities of Presbyterians hath begot a compassion in her heart towards them; So the Bishops Loyal Address to the King, hath much cooled her Affection for us, and I wish their after Carriage do not heighten her prejudice a­gainst them. And how ever, she is certainly a Princess of that Wis­dom, and Zeal for the Reformed Religion, that nothing will displease or disoblidge her, that is most necessary and convenient for the Advance­ment and Establishment of the Protestant Intere st in Scotland; for which Presbyterians can too easily shew the Re-establishment of Presbytrie to be the most propet and effectual Method, which one of them hath done already, by some Reasons which I have seen, why in this Juncture E­piscopacy should be abrogated and Presbytrie Re-established. Moreover, she is a Princess of such moderate Inclinations, that nothing can more dis oblidge her, then the persecution of Protestants by Protestants; And she is not so ignorant of our Affairs, but that she knows that unless the Epis­copal Clergy can alwayes patiently indure a general contempt; or be se­cured[Page 27] from ever having any influence on the Government. Episcopacy and persecution in Scotland are inseparable. And for the Prince, I know not what Ground ye have for your confidence, to say, That [to be for Presbytry will disoblidge him also, who has no inclination for the Realteration of the Government of the Church as he has now aboundantly declared] You seem to be equally destitute of Policy, and good Intelligence: For as it is known to all the World that he is Presbyterian; so his Declaration for Scotland, hath insinuated his inclinations to favour Presbyterians, as clearly as was convenient for the Time. And though his Wisdom and Moderation be s uch in expressing himself, that nothing can be certainly concluded from any thing that hath dropt from him, yet it is evident that he will Judge the Presbyterian Party more worthy of his confidence & more suiable objects of his favour, than the Episcopal, for he will doubtless expect, that these will be more firm and faithful to his Interest, whose respect to him is established by their conscientious zeal for the Reformed Religion again st popery, and who shall be chiefly oblidged to him; for restoring their Former Priviledges; then these who are Acted Generally by their Interests, and have been so deeply engaged in Interests opposite to his, and who must be in some measure disoblidged of necessity, by Moderating and Bal­lancing their Exorbitant power, and rescinding the cruel Laws made in their Favours. And I am afraid that the Presbyterians will be more Active and Zealous in advancing him to the Crown of Scotland, then these of our perswasion, and thereby oblige him to favour them as his best and surest Friends; & albeit that the prerogatives which we annex to the Crown be a great Tentation to one that designs Arbitrary Government, yet it a­vails little, with a Prince of such a Wise and Moderate Temper, who has seen his Predecessors either endangered or ruined, by their Attempting and Exercising it, and who knows that Kings Soveraignty, and a Peo­ples Liberties, are most firmly secured, when most equally established as (notwithstanding of the prejudices of some against Presbytry, as in­consistent with Monarchy) I confess they have been in the peaceable times of the Presbyterian Government, when King James the 6th and his Son King Charles 1st. were personally pre sent in their Parliaments, & had greater advantages for understanding their own, and their Peoples In­terest, then can be had at a distance, and only by Information from subtile self seeking Courtiers. So that you see how far ye are decieved in your expectations from the Prince and Princess of Orange, who will doubtless Endeavour to Redress the Grievances in Church and State, which ye cannot conceive possible without some Alteration, and that greater then ye seem to apprehend.

[Page 28]Your seventh Reason is, a Reference of several things to the conside­ration of all thinking men, as sufficient to determine them to an aver­sion at Presbytry, wherein ye go so far beyond the bounds of Sobriety, and give so great suspicion of Calumny, that Presbyterians will represent you as a Machiavilan, throwing much dirt upon them only of design that some of it may stick, [let all thinking men reflect (say ye) upon the natural temper of presbytry and veiw it in its Tyranical Pragmatick meddling and Domineer­ing effects, which many good men yet living of all qualities have severely felt] Sir, I know not well what ye mean by [natural temper more then by your natu­ral Reception and Exigence] but Presbyterians will refer their principles to the consideration of all Impartial M [...]n, whither they be no more agree­able to Divine Institution in the Scripture, then Episcopacy though they be not so agreeable to the Natural Tempers of Men; which they grant to be no better in presbyterians, then in others, yea to have been so very Episcopal in some of them, as to carry them t [...] practices. Dissonant to their principles, and upon that account more hateful then worse practices of Bishops, because suitable, or at least uns utable to their principles; for that which would be accounted Gravity, Dexterity, Actively and Zeal, in a Bishop, is accompted Tyrannical, Pragmatical meddling and Do­mineering in a Presbyter. But these are not the proper and native Effects of Presbytry, rather imitations of Episcopacie (proceeding from Mens natu­ral Infirmitives, and the peculiar circumstances, and torrent of the times they have lived in) contrary to their principles. So that in effect all that is quarrelled in Presbyterians is the Episcopal practice in some of them un­der a Presbyterian profession, which cannot be justly charged on the whole party; and for less on their principles, which have a quite contrary ten­dancy; And ingenuously by Presbytry will be judged by few to have such a tendency to Tyrranny over the Church, & Pragmatick meddling with the State, as Episcopacy (as its constitute in Scotland) hath; And they will desire all Judicious men to cons ider whether Idleness, Ambition and Avarice in the Clergy; Ignorance, Worldly mindedness and Profanity among People: Be not the effects of Episcopacy; and indeed so manifest­ly have these abounded under Episcopal Government, that the most part will decide the question in their Favours against us. But I cannot won­der enough, what could move you to think [much more deliberately to write of the Hypocrisie, immortality and Anti [...]ristian genus of the Presbyterian party] seeing thes e things may not only be retorted with great Advantage, but cannot justly and ingenuosly be charged on the Generality of presbyteri­ans; you may assure your self this will tempt them to draw up a Black Lybel against the Bishops and Generality of our Clergy, as alas they have [Page 29]too large grounds for, recent in the remembrance of the Nation; and they will think it enough to tell you calmly and soberly, that if persons unsuta­bleness to their profession be Hypocrisie, if the grossest of scandals and o­pen profanity be immoralitie: And finally, if violent persecution be the Effect and Evidence of an Antichristian genius; All these things are more applicable to Episcopals then presbyterians; So that all these Reffections di­rected against them, will rebound on our selves; And I am afraid they will stick faster to us then to them; because they not only agree to the general Sentiments of all Ranks of people, but their Observations and Experience of them is late and recent; Whereas the mos t part of old Malignants, who were formerly carried away with prejudices against presbytry under the pretences of Loyalty, have turned Fanaticks since, and as persons convinced of their mistakes, both of the presbyterian cause & Interest which they opposed, and the Episcopal which they owned, have thought it their duty so to do, though to the exposing themselves to the Reproaches and other Persecutions of the Episcopal party, in their greatest power. And it is indeed very observable, that those who inter­tain prejudices against the presbyterian Government are either Young Men who never saw it in its integrity, and living under a Government con­trary to it, have not heard any other account of it, then of the failings and exorbitancies of some of that Profession, which are not the native product of their Principles, but such excesses as the Biass of the Age and Circumstances they lived in drove them into, or else old Turncoats and violent Persecutors, who to justifie their change of their Profession and their Persecution of these who adhere to it, make it their work to fix an Odium on Presbytery, and by their frequent impudence in repro­aching it have at last deluded themselves into an obstinate belief of their own invented Calumnies.

Your last Reason is, (That if the Church of England continue as it is, as undoubtedly it will, and Scotland be reduced to presbytery, then considering the boundless and restless spirit of presbytery, Scotland will impose sicut ante an Ʋni­formity on England in Doctrine and Discipline, which will commence a new Civil War, the thoughts of which cannot but breed horror in all reasonable Men.] Sir, The only Foundation of these your Apprehensions is the Solemn League tho you mention it not, which altho it be a touchy point, yet presbyteri­ans can abundantly vindicate the same, s o as to prevent the fears of all Judicious Men, whom they will desire to consider that it obliges the members of the Church of Scotland, to no other thing in reference to Eng­land, then what is Antecedently their duty towards it, and all other Reformed Churches by virtue of the Sympathy and Communion, that[Page 30]every part of the Catholick Visible Church ought to have with any other part of it; That its Obligation is to be measured by the general rules of Judge­ment, Truth and Righteousness; that it is chiefly obligding to oppose Popery, and to endeavour the peace and happiness of both Nations; and finally that it obligeth no Man to any thing, but what is proper to him in his station, and therefore all your fears of a Civil War betwixt England and Scotland from this ground, are but Melancholick Apprehen­sions, if so be that the Prince of Orange shall be King of Britain, and so long as he and the English Parliament think it inexpedient to seek, and he and the Scots Parliament think it inexpedient to give assistance for the alteration of the English Church Government from Episcopacy to Presbytry. But many fear upon more solid Grounds that the house of Commons in England clip your Bishops wings by degrees, as either to rid the Na­tion of them at length without the assistance of Scotland, or else bring them to such a tollerable Mediocrity, as will render them more accep­table to all the English Nation, then a Civil War can be suppos ed will be to any English Presbyterians, who are so ballanced betwixt the oppositi­on of these of the Episcopal perswasion in the one hand, and of the In­dependent, on the other; that there is no party in England, either more moderate or Cautions when they are.

Thus you see how weak a Defence of our cause these your Reasons now appear to be, after they are considered, tho with more calmness and tenderness then you can expect from a Presbyterian, who se answer to them to your disgrace and our disadvantage, I wish may be prevented by this Friendly freedom of mine with you, and I would advise you to wait a little longer till there be some better product of the Labours of your Brethren who are studying this Controversie, harder then ever in order to a learned and elaborate Vindication of Episcopacy; and Re­futation of Presbytry, to which if this paper can any way be subservient, I allow you to communicate it to your Brethren, that they may be the more sober & cautious in mannaging the controversie, but I pray you let it not come to the sight of any Presbyterian, least they print it to the publick Affront of our cause, and I disswade you as your Friend from the Resolution that I hear you are upon of printing your Reasons, what­ever emendations you make in them, for it is an old Maxime in crist non movendum, and the Presbyterians modest silence, amidst the present Advantages they have, will be more commended then any thing we can writ, for our vindication in the dangerous circumstances that we are in at present. And Sir, I am hopeful that you will not think your self disoblidged by this friendly Duty, from