COLLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING THE WORSHIP, DISCIPLINE, AND CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. IN FOUR BOOKS. By WALTER STEUART, Esq. OF PERDIVAN. TO WHICH IS ADDED, THE FORM OF PROCESS, IN THE JUDICATORIES OF THE CHURCH OF AS ALSO, AN ABRIDGMENT OF THE RELATING TO THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, TIMES. Contra Rationem, nemo Sobrius; Contra Scripturam, nemo Chrisa ARBROATH: PRINTED BY J. FINDLAY, AND SOLD BY ALL THE PRINCITAQ 1802. Price in Boards, 4s. 6d, 5-25-36 дел To the Honourable, Sir JOHN MAXWELL O F NETHE R-P O LLOCK, Knight Baronet; One of the Senators of the College of Justice. My Lord, T was Matter of Regret, especially about the beginning of our happy Revolution in the Year 1689, that the Jucicatories of this Church, very much wanted fixed and established Rules, for directing their Proceedings; Or, though they had them, yet they lay fo scattered and hid, that Intrants to the Holy Miniftry, and the younger Paftors, yea even fome among the more aged of that facred Order, were too much Strangers to them. The Confideration whereof, did chiefly move me to fet about this Work: And if my Endeavours herein, may but a little contribute to the Benefit or Service of the Office-Bearers and Guides of this Church, it is a Reward greater than I deferve. However, to testify the Hon iv our and Respect I have for your Lordship, I dedicate them to You, one of Her Honourable Ruling Elders. It gives no fmall Satisfaction to all honeft Men who know You, that ye ftill enjoy the ancient Heritage of Your Honourable Family, in despite of all theillegal Attempts made against both Your Excellent Father and Yourself, under the two Reigns before the year 1689. But above all, it is ground of Praise to God, that you Walk in the Steps of fuch a Father, and thofe of Your Pious Mother. That You may all the Days of Your Life go on, and serve Your Generation according to the Will of God, and in the End be gathered to Your godly Progenitors in his eternal glory, is the hope and wish of My LORD, Yonr Lordships very Humble Servant, WALTER STEUART. I THE PREFACE. HAVE already, in my Dedication, hinted at the design and Usefulness of thefe Collections, unto the Office-bearers in this Church; and if there be yet among them any want of Uniformity or Exactnefs in the Exercife of the Difcipline, Worship and Government thereof, it may not without ground be imputed to our nottraining up the Students of Theology ex profeffo at Univerfities, in the knowlege ofthese as well as in her doctrine. Therefore, to prevent all grounds for fearing. of fuch Ignorance, and the bad Effects thereof; it were fit, that Profeffors of Divinity were enjoined to give their Scholars Leffons on thefe Subjects: and till a better compend be compofed, thefe Collections are humbly offered, to be recommended by Profeffors to their Students: for except this Subject be ftudied and understood by Minifters and Elders, their Memories may well be burdened with their Duty, but their Judgments, till then, shall ftill remain ignorant and unfatisfied about it. Now, as for those of our Neighbour Churches in this and the other Island, who now differ from us, I hereby prefent them |
