The Good Old Way Defended, Title page – Errata
THE GOOD Old WAY Defended, Against the Attempts of A. M. D. D. in his BOOK Called, An Enquiry into the New Opinions, (Chiefly) propogated by the Presbyterians of SCOTLAND: Wherein the Divine Right of the Government of the Church by Presbyters Acting in Parity, is Asserted; and the pretended Divine Right of the Hierarchie is disproved: the Antiquity of Parity and Novelty of Episcopacy as now Pleaded for, are made Manifest from Scriptural Arguments, and the Testimony of the Antient Writers of the Christian-Church: and the groundless and unreasonable Confidence of some Prelatick Writers exposed. Also, the Debates about Holy-Days, Schism, the Church-Government used among the First Scots Christians, and what else the Enquirer Chargeth us with, are clearly Stated, and the Truth in all these Maintained against him.
Likewise, some Animadversions on a Book called the Fundamental Charter of Presbytery; in so far as it misrepresenteth the Principles and Way of our First Reformers from Popery: where the Controversie about Superintendents is fully handled: and the Necessity which led our Ancestors into that Course for that Time is Discoursed.
By GILBERT RULE, one of the Ministers of the City, and Principal of the College of EDINBURGH.
EDINBURGH, Printed by the Heirs and Successors of Andrew Anderson, Printer to the King's most Excellent Majesty, Anno DOM. 1697.
To the Right Honourable, PATRICK EARL of MARCHMOUNT, Viscount of BLASONBERRY, LORD POLWARTH, of POLW ARTH, REDBRAES, and GREENLAW, &c. LORD High CHANCELLOR of the KINGDOM of SCOTLAND.
My Noble Lord,
I Have presumed to Prefix your Lordships Name to this Work, hoping that your Lordship will count it no dishonour for the Greatest of Men to Patronize the least of the Truths of GOD: and knowing your Zealous and Pious Concerns, as for the State, so for the Church of CHRIST, as now Established in this Nation. My Design in this Dedication is not to seek the Rul…rs Favour: having had for many Years, the Honour to be more Regarded by Your Lordship than ever I could deserve: nor to Engage your Lordship to own our Church against her open and secret Enemies; knowing how steadily you have appeared for the True Interest of the Church, and of the Nation, In utraque fortuna; and how fixed your Principles are with respect to both. But what I aim at is, to express the true Sense I have (as I know my Brethren also to retain) of your Lordships Wisdom, Zeal, and Fortitude, encountering the Greatest of Hazards, and enduring the most grievous of Hardships, for that Holy Religion that ye Profess; and for the Liberties of your Native Countrey. The eminent Post your Lordship is now in, as it is a Token of your Princes Favour, and His Majesties Wise Choise of a sit Instrument for High and difficult Work; So it is the LORD'S Reward for your hard Services; and his giving you the Opportunity to do him further Service, of another Sort: and his Trying you whether ye will Eye GOD'S Glory above all things (when ye have the Occasion, and Temptation of seeking your own Things) as ye did when ye Ventured, and lost your All in this World for him. GOD expecteth that ye will now Pay your Vows made in your Trouble; and that ye will be singly, and actively for him: the Time is short wherein we can Walk or Work, and Occasions are uncertain. There will be great Peace in Reflection (when our Work is at an end…) on sincere Endeavours, and Application of Mind, to the Work that the LORD hath put in our hand. That the LORD may long Preserve your Lordship, and continue your Capacity to do Him Service, and that he may Blessyour Noble Family with His best Blessings, is the earnest prayer of,
Edinburgh, December, 20, 1697. My Noble Lord, Your Lordships Devoted and most Humble Servant, G. R.
TO THE READER.
THat I again appear publickly in this Paper War, (being, for my Age Miles emeritus) needeth no other Apology than the Necessity that the Months that were so Widely Opened against the Truth, and right Ways of GOD, should be Stopped: and I knew of no other Endeavours this Way, when I entered on this Work, nor till I had finished it. After it was in the Press, and some Progress made in it, I read the Learned and Industrious Mr. William Jamesons Nazianzeni Quaerela, & Vo…um Justum; wherein the same two Authors that I Deal with, are solidly Refuted, and the main Subject that I Treat off, is Handled: which made me think that B…ok might Supersede mine. Yet the Advice of others Wiser than my self, and my own second Thoughts, finding fewer Coincidences in them than might have been Expected: And that the one Work is more Historical, the other more Argumentative; so that they may make up a complete Answer to what our Adversaries have now thought sit to say; and Considering that some Debates are here insisted on which he hath not touched: and that two Witnesses are better than one: these Considerations (I say) determined me not to stop the Press, And indeed, the Unaccountable Confidence of these Authors, on the slenderest Grounds, should be exposed as much as may be: while they Build so Important Truths and Practices (and press them so warmly) on Phrases, Words, and Modes of Speaking used by the Ancients, which signified quite another thing then, than what now they are commonly applyed to. The Learned Clericus, in his Preface to Ars Critica, Sect. 3. at the end, hath these Words here very apposite. Quot & quanti viri crediderunt se Historiam Christianarum Ecclesiarum, & Opiniones eorum qui S. S. Patres vocantur, in numerato habere, qui revera Hospites ea in re fuerunt? nempe, Vocabula nuda didicerant, aut Voces, quibus ex Hodiernis placitis Significationes tribuebant. If we lay such Weight on Ways of Speaking of old used, as sufficient Arguments for Prelacy, it is reasonable to allow the same with Respect to Popery: And in that Case, Thou art Peter, and on this Rock will I Build my Church: and, I will give to thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, &c. shall infer the Popes Supremacy with as good Reason, as the Fathers Ascribing Jurisdiction to the Bishop, without mentioning the Presbyters at the same time, doth infer his sole Power: seing, as our Lord in another Place, giveth the same Power to the rest of the Apostles, that here He seemeth to give to Peter alone; so do the Fathers often speak of the Ruling Power of Presbyters, as well as they several times mention that of Bishops, without mentioning Presbyters. No Protestant will admit the Consequence in the one Case; wherefore neither ought we so to Argue in the other Case.
ERRATA.
PAge 1. line 16. read Principle. p. 5. l. 25. r. Theorems. p. 50. l. 5. r. James. p. 136. l. 8. r. Matters of Fact. p. 146. l. 7. r. Praeses. p. 150. l. 36. r. them. p. 181. l. 37. r. approved. p. 186. l. 37. r. great. p. 194. l. 11. r. Struggling. p. 198. l. 38. r. Rank. p. 199. l. 2. r. the. p. 204. l. 15. r. Andabatarum. p. 207. l. 2. r. injoyn. p. 242. l. 36. r. Holy. p. 247. l. 1. r. Congregations. p. 247. l. 26. r. Religious. p. 257. l. 16. r. sound. p. 279. l. 33. r. Ceremony. p. 284. l. 37. r. Solemnities. p. 297. l. 13. r. acquainted. p. 309. l. 16. r. Things. p. 310. l. 35. r. Writings.
If there be any other Mistakes of the Press, it is left to the Readers Candor to Correct them.