in favour of our Solemn Covenants, at that time, was referved for Mr John Hepburn, minifter at Orr. It is not pretended that every ftep of management taken by him, and fuch as joined with him, was unexceptionable; but it is certain, that his labours, by the bleffing of God, fowed the feeds of found principles among many, fo far as they extended; and multitudes, as far as we can judge, of gracious perfons, yea lively Chriftians, formed the focietics which he fuperintended. As many minifters and people were diffatisfied with many things in the conftitution of the Revolution · Church; fo the judicatories added new grounds of offence in the fteps of adminiftration. These are enumerated in the Judicial Act and Teftimony, and the Acknowledgment of Sins prefixed to the bond which is now in ufe among

covenanters.

PRIOR to the year 1732, various teftimonies had been given, by proteft and otherways, against thefe fteps of mal-administration: But, after that period, the highest ecclesiastic authority was interpofed to put a period unto them. Upon this, Mr Ebenezer Erfkine, in a fermon delivered before the Synod of Perth, turned the edge of his doctrine against the growing evil. This was highly refented by the courts. He maintained what he was perfuaded to be the caufe of Truth, with undaunted courage. Three other ministers took

part

part with him in framing various papers refpecting the grievances of the Church and her members, one of which bore the defignation of a TESTIMONY. In the year 1737, the minifters who befriended a Covenanted Reformation, and maintained a teftimony for it in connection with Mr Erikine, having previously conftituted themselves into a Prefbytery, entered more minutely into a confideration of the national apoftacy from a Covenanted Reformation: They recount the most capital fteps of it, and condemn them: They avow their attachment unto every former attainment; and their refolution to profecute the ends of their teftimony in connection with every one who thould choose to join them. This teftimony was received with avidity by many. It was peculiarly tormenting to the leaders of the National Church: They drew the ecclefiaftic fword against its authors: They did not fpare their treasures in hiring a fervile writer to confute it. These things contributed their part to increase its number and refpect. The bleffing of God fucceeded the labours of his fervants; and their number was increafed both by ordinations and new acceffions from the Establishment. The minifters and people were unanimous in the advancement of a Covenanted Reformation. As errors were ftill upon the: increase in the land, they proceeded to publish an Act, entitled THE DOCTRINE OF GRACE, for their more explicit condemnation: And, confidering

fidering the calls of both Word and Providence, they proceeded to frame- an Acknowledgment of Sins, confifting of an enumeration of those things which were a violation of former covenant engagements; and, at the fame time, made out a bond, the tenor of which follows:

WE, ALL AND EVERY ONE OF us, though fenfible of the deceitfulnefs and unbelief of our own hearts, and however frequently perplexed with doubts and fears anent our actual believing, yet defiring to effay, in the LORD's STRENGTH, and in obedience to his command, to glorify God, by believing his word of graçe, contained in his covenant of promife, to devote ourfelves unto the Lord in a covenant of duty; WE DO, with our hands lifted up to the MOST HIGH GOD, hereby profefs, and, before God, angels, and men, folemnly declare, That, through the grace of God, and according to the measure of his grace given unto us, we do, with our whole hearts, take hold of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, as the only propitiation for our fins; his RIGHT EOUSNESS, as the only foundation of our accefs to, and acceptance with God; his COVENANT of free and rich promifes, as our only charter for the heavenly inheritance; his WORD, for our perfect and only rule of faith and practice; his SPIRIT, for our alone guide, to lead us into all truth revealed in his holy Word, unto which nothing, at any time, is to

be

be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. We avouch the LORD to be our COD; and, in the ftrength of his promifed grace, we PROMISE and SWEAR, by the GREAT NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD, That we fhall walk in his way, keep his judgments and commandments, and hearken to his voice: And, particularly, that we fhall, by the Lord's grace, continue and abide in the profeffion, faith, and obedience of the forefaid true Reformed religion, in doctrine, worship, Prefbyterial Church-government and difcipline; and that we fhaH, according to our feveral stations, places, and callings, contend and testify against all contrary evils, errors, ånd corruptions, particularly, Popery, Prelacy, Deifm, Arianifmn, Arminianifm, and every error fubverfive to the Doctrine of Grace; as alfo, Independency, Latitudinarian tenets, and the other evils named in the above confeffion of fins.

IN like manner, WE PROMISE AND SWEAR, That, by all means, which are lawful and warrantable for us, according to the Word of God, the approven and received ftandards of this Church, and our known principles, we fhall, in our feveral ftations and callings, endeavour the Reformation of religion in England and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, difcipline, and government, according to the Word of God and to promote and advance our covenanted conjunction and uniformity in religion, confef

Pppp

fion

fion of faith and catechifms, form of Church government, and directory for worship, as thefe were received by this Church.

AND, in regard we are taught by the Word of God, and bound by our covenants, National and Solemn League, to live together in the fear of God, and in love one to another, and to encourage one another in the work and caufe of the Lord; and that, denying all ungodlinefs and worldly lufts, we fhould live foberly, righteoufly, and godly in this prefent world: Therefore, in a dependence on the Lord's grace and ftrength, we, in the fame manner, do PROMISE AND SWEAR, That we fhall, in our several places and callings, encou rage and ftrengthen one another's hands, in purfing our end and defign of this our folemn oath and covenant; and that we fhall endeavour a life and converfation becoming the Gospel of Chrift: And that, in our perfonal callings and particular families, we shall study to be good examples to one another of godlinefs and righteoufiefs, and of every duty that we owe to God and man; and that we fhall not give up ourselves to a deteftable indifference and neutrality in the caufe of God; but, denying ourselves, and our own things, we fhall, above all things, feek the honour of God, and the good of his caufe and people; and that, through grace, forfaking the counfels of flesh and blood, and not leaning upon carnal confidences, we fhall endeavour to depend up