cannot easily explain, however, the motives of many who make the above objection. Who. were the perfons who took the covenants front political motives? Were they not fuch as had a fecret enmity at the Prefbyterian fyftem, and a monarchy limited by law? Were they not the friends of Epifcopacy and abfolute government? The reft, generally fpeaking, were in good earnest, in avowing their Creed: But, to qualify for places, the royalifts, as they are ftyled, fwallowed all the national oaths; and yet their fucceffors cry out of hypocrify! Would not one imagine, that a decent regard to their predeceffors would enjoin them filence in this matter? 3. THESE Tranfactions were lawful, as to the matter; and neceffary, as to the time. They were fuch as comprehended every attainment in Reformation. It has been their fate to meet with much oppofition in the world, indeed; as well as their friends with amazing obloquy and reproach. I fhall only fingle out one inftance of both, from the many which might be produced. They are reprefented not only as encroaching on the rights of private judgment, but also as binding to fanguinary meafures and perfecution for confcience fake. It has been faid, that the Solemn League binds to EXTIRPATE Prelacy, &c. But, let it be obferved, that the phrafe does not appear to be ftronger than that of our Saviour, to ROOT ter. OUT every plant which the Father's right hand hath not planted. Prelacy, in the view of every Prefbyterian, who believes the divine right of the Prefbyterian form of government, is a plant of this kind. Nothing fanguinary was intended by Chrift; and the conduct of Prefbyterians, when in power, fuffers nothing by a comparative view with that of Prelates, as to complying with the will of Chrift in this matThe former provided SUSTENANCE for the life of the ejected; the latter a PRISON. No meafure which was used by the Prefbyterians ever equalled the Bartholomew Bushel, or the Corporation Act; not to mention the Star Chamber, under Laud. The doctrine of the right of confcience was as well underftood by the Prefbyterians in Britain, as in any of the Proteftant Churches: But the truth is, it was referved to LOCKE to fet them in a still clearer point of view. In one word, if any thing fanguinary was meant, we expreffed our diffent as early as 1737 * 4. THESE Covenants had the feal of Hea ven's approbation fet unto them, not only by bringing many to enter into them; but also, by the effufion of his Spirit on the Covenanters, at the feafon of their entrance, and enabling them, at last, to feal them with their blood. * Vide TESTIMONY. DISSER ON THE RENOVATION OF OUR SOLEMN COVENANTS IN THE THE PRESENT A G E. 'HE foregoing Covenants were renewed in 1648: And the Confeffion of Sins, and Engagement to Duties are to be found ufually bound up with our Confeffion of Faith. From the violation of thefe engagements, by what is called the PUBLIC RESOLUTIONS, until the Revolution, there followed a fcene of covenant-violation altogether unexampled in the annals of mankind. If the violation was lefs flagrant at, and after the Revolution; yet, proper feafon of covenant-renovation was utterly neglected. There were a handful of fufferers the 0000 2 fufferers who had kept themselves, in a great meafure, from the pollutions of the world, who furvived the Perfecution. These were fhame-, fully deferted by their minifters; and left in great confufion, as to both their political and religi ous principles. The judicatories of the Revolu tion Church were a very heterogeneous compo fition: They were compofed of members who had failed with the wind for thirty years bygone, for one portion; another was made up of the indulged; and a third of fuch as had been refugees in other countries. The iron and clay were tempered together by the force of civil authority. Various overtures and propofals were made, for putting hand to a Covenanted Reformation; but the diverfity of opinion and practice among the clergy prevented the wishes of the few from any renovation of our Solemn Covenants at that memorable deliverance. Never had a church a fairer opportunity, or a louder call to it, than at that time: They had been delivered from flavery and abfolute government in the State, and a long period (twenty-eight years) of hot perfecution for confcience fake. Never did a church and nation fo flamefully neglect the golden feafon which God put into their hand. Those who polluted their confciences by fwearing the covenants, and the oaths of canonical obedience, as well as all oaths by which the Covenants were abjured, could not well be expected to be honoured by God as inftruments in fuch a noble noble work. Thefe, or fuch as had been ordained by them, formed the greater part, by much, of the minifters of the Church of Scotland. The indulged feem to have been a rump of the ancient refolutioners; of confequence, political maxims, which too frequently governed their conduct, prevailed with them, at this time, to fuperfede that work. The few who returned from their lurking places were out-voted, and borne down by the perfuafion and addrefs of others. The Synod of Galloway was the only one, if I miltake not, which took any fteps for the renovation of their facred engagements; but as much Court-water was procured as extinguished their defires. The perpetual obligation of our Covenants, however, was maintained by the grearer part of Prefbyterians; and minifters, when laying the baptifinal vows on parents, mentioned both the National Covenant and Solenn League, in exprefs terms. Individual minifters likeways made fome appearance in behalf of our national vows: Mr Hog appeared their fteady friend on the north fide of the Forth; Mr Bofton's fermons, which he delivered in this country, fhew his fentiments on that fubject; and to him were joined Meffrs Wilfon and Davidfon, as well as various other minifters of inferior reputation; prior unto thefe, Mr Gabriel Semple, who came out of the furnace of perfecution, had patronized the fame caufe: But the moft vigorous and explicit teftimony, |