Godly, and Difcreet Divine, and fuch I would have all mine to be. They that envy my being a King, are loth Í bould be a Chriftian, while they feek to deprive me of all Things elfe, they are affraid I should fave my Soul. Other Senfe Charity it felf can hardly pick out of thofe many harb Repulfes I received, as to that Request fo often made, for the Attendance of fome of my Chaplains. But as a further Hardfhip, they obtruded their own Preachers upon the King, whofe Prayers he could not join with, and therefore he adds, I hold it better to Jeem Undevout, and to hear no Mens Prayers, than to be forced or feem to comply with thofe Petitions to which the Heart cannot Confent, nor the Tongue Say Amen, without contradicting a Mans own Understanding, or belying his own Soul. And afterwardshad rather (fays he) be Condemned to the Woe of Væ Soli, than to that of Væ Võbis Hypocritæ, by Seeming to pray what I do not approve. The whole Chapter deferves to be moft feriously confidered by fuch Epifcopal Gentlemen and Others, as live in fome places of the West of Scotland, who are urterly deftitute of the Miniftry of fuch as they believe to be be duly Authoriz'd, and have fuch as that moft Religion King wou'd not ad❤ mit of, abtruded upon them. 'Tis true indeed he was induc'd to confent to the Abolition of Epifcopacy, and the fetting up Presbytery in Scotland; but as these Conceffions were the Caufes of his Own and the Kingdoms Miferies, fo afterwards they became the Subject of his Grief and Penitential Confeffions, both before God and Men. (c) They had fo deeply wounded his Confcience, and grievoufly afflicted his Kingdoms, that neither the Advice of fome of his Friends (as thinking that the like Conceffions in England were the only (c) Royal Martyr. Printed for M. 1693. p. 239, 240. (d) See E: Claren don's Hiftory, Kol. 3. Means for faving his Life) nor the Threats (4) P. 24, 25, 28, 30, &c. of his Enemies, could ever prevail with him to give up the Church in England as he has done in Scot Land. His Repentance for that Sin is moft fully exprefs'd by himself. (e) That Degree of Knowledge which thou hast given (e) See Private Pray ers ufed by His Maje fty in His Sufferings, at the end of Ex. Bas. me, adding likewife to the Guilt of my Tranf Tranfgreffions; for was it through Igno rance that I fuffered Innocent Blood to be shed, by a false pretended way of Juftice? Or that I permitted a wrong way of thy Worship to be fet up in Scot land? And Injured the Bishops of En gland? O no; But with Shame and Grief 1 confeß, that I therein followed the Perfwafions of Worldly Wisdom, forJaking the Dictates of a Right-informa Confcience; wherefore, O Lord, 1 have no Excufe to make, no Hope left, but in the multitude of thy Mercies, &c. Let me only add, The Principles of the Diffenters, &c. lately Printed this fame Year, and the Reader cannot but fee the good Agreement between the Presbyterians here, and their Brethren of the Neighbouring Kingdom, concerning Toleration. I cannot think but that all Good Men, and True Sons of the Church of England, are fenfibly Affected with the Calamities of their Sifter Church of Scotland; and it must move their Pity to Jee Her in the Duft, for no other Reason, but because She is Epifcopal, and confequently Apoftolical; as amongst other Learned Men, this Author Author clearly demonftrates. She may claim from Her Sifter of England a few Tears, and a Place in Her Publick Pray. ers, especially when She is fo Charitable as to ufe a Large Collect for the Protestant Churches Abroad upon Solemn Occafions: Some of which feem to be without Valid Ordinations, not only by the Principles of the Primitive Church,and of theChurch of England, but even by Confeffion of Faith, and Principles of the Presbyterians in Great-Britain, as is fully prov'd in the Vth Letter of this Treatife, from pag. 222, to pag. 240. God forbid that the Church of England's Charity to the Tranfmarines fhou'd be envy'd: But it can never be taken amifs to mind Her of a Church that is undoubtedly a Sound Part of the One Catholick Church, and more nearly Related to the Church of England, than any other upon the Face of the Earth, and may be faid in a more particular manner to be Bone of Her Bone, and Flesh of Her Flesh; And whofe former Overthrow was a Pralu. dium to the Subverfion of the Church of England. A A GOPY of the PAPER Sign'd by Mr. Meldrum (referr'd to above) faithfully taken from the Original. WE E Mr. John Menzies, Profeffor of Divinity in Marshal College in the Burgh of Aberdeen, and Mr. George Meldrum, Minifter of the Gospel in the faid Burgh, do Declare and Profefs, that we do own the Government of the Church, fo as to pay Obedience thereto in all Things Lawful; To continue in the Ecclefiaftical Meetings; To be accountable to our Ordinary, the Bishop of Aberdeen, now living, and his Succeffors, for our Preaching and Adminiftrations; And to Contribute our Endeavours for the Order and Peace of the Church. In Witness whereof We have hereunto fubfcribed our Names this 15th of January, 1663. Thus they Subscribe, Mr. John Menzies. Mr. |