nor to walk worthy of him in our lives; which are the caufes of other fins and tranfgreffions, fo much abounding amongst us; and our true and unfeigned purpose, defire, and endeavour, for ourselves, and all others under our power and charge, both in public and private, in all duties we owe to God and man, to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a real Reformation; that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation, and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in truth and peace. And this covenant we make in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD, the fearcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the fame, as we fhall answer at that day when the fecrets of all hearts shall be difclosed: Most humbly befeeching the Lord to ftrengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this end, and to blefs our defires and proceedings with fuch fuccefs, as may be deliverance and safety to his people, and encouragement to other Christian Churches, groaning under, or in danger of the yoke of Antichriftian tyranny, to to join in the fame, or like affociation and covenant; to the glory of God, the enlargement of the kingdom of Jefus Chrift, and the peace and tranquility of Chriftian kingdoms and commonwealths."

I SHALL NOW make fome REFLECTIONS On the British Foederal Tranfactions.

I. THESE

It

1. THESE Covenants were perfectly agreeable to the laws of the country, and the renovation of them no violation of the conftitution. There are a clafs of men, who feem to be fprung from the ancient Samaritans, they fuggefted, that the covenanters in Nehemiah's day were a parcel of rebels. A branch of the fame tree, having the fame root of bitterness, feems to have exifted in the days of the Primitive Church. Nero and Trajan, however oppofite in character, agreed in finding the covenanting Chriftians enemies to the State. was upon the fame footing that the Waldenfes were perfecuted by the Court of Turin. The patrons of the doctrines of non-refiftance and paffive obedience feem to have borrowed thefe Antichriftian weapons, to fight a Covenanted Reformation in this land. This needs not greatly furprife us, as thefe men did not choose to understand the civil or religious rights of mankind. But we behold, with aftonishment, a Reverend Doctor of this enlightened age, ftanding at the head of the roll in the lift of candidates for literary fame, announcing the National oath to have been employed, in 1638, "to promote VIOLENT and UNCONSTITUTIONAL MEASURES." There is no other method to account for it, but that polite negligence for which the works of that author are fo remarkably diftinguished. Had the Re

verend Doc&tor found leifure to confult the lawauthorities quoted in the introduction to the bond

bond used in 1638, as they are to be found fubjoined to that nearly antiquated fyftem, THE CONFESSION OF FAITH; and the divine authority, to be found in a still more antiquated code of laws, the Scriptures of the Old and New Teftament, I have little room to doubt, fuch is the CANDOUR, MODERATION, and LIBERALITY OF SENTIMENT which falls to the portion of the Reverend PRINCIPAL, but that he fhould have found the meafures purfued as conftitutional and falutary as the Tranfactions themfelves were warrantable and laudable: And the covenanters, instead of rebels, the best patriots which that, or any other age ever produced.

2. THE political views, and hypocritical purposes, which induced fome enemies to Reformation principles to enter into the National Covenant and Solemn League, are no objections against thefe Tranfactions themselves; nor against the conduct of fuch as entered into them with fincerity of heart. In the days of danger, the Church is diminished by apoftacy; and in the days of profperity, fhe is no lefs endangered by a too rapid increase in hypocrify. The latter was the cafe in the laft age. But, if the argument be good in this cafe, it must also be valid against Christianity itfelf; as it is well known, that nations and princes have fometimes been induced to embrace Chriftianity from political views. One

cannot

cannot eafily 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 speaking, were in good earnest, in avowing their Creed: But, to qualify for places, the royalifts, as they are styled, swallowed 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 alfo 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

ουτ Our 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 matter. The former provided SUSTENANCE for the life of the ejected; the latter a PRISON. No meafure which was ufed 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 Heaven'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 laft, to feal them with their blood.

Vide TESTIMONY.

DISSER