A Vindication of the Church of Scotland 2, Question 6
QUEST. VI.
IT may be observed from this Author's Conduct in his Pamphlet, what it is to be fleshed in bold averring of what all the World knoweth to be manifest untruths: Some by boldness and frequency in telling Lies, have come at last to believe them as Truths; what else could make him propose this Question, and answer it Negatively?
Whether the Episcopal Clergy in Scotland from the Year 1662. to the Year 1686. shewed any thing of the Spirit of Persecution against Presbyterians?
We affirm that they did: He denyeth it. To prove what we assert, we might bring a Volume of Historical instances, which now to adduce, should swell this Paper to an undue bigness, and would anticipate what it is like will be amply performed in the History of the late Times: A few things I hope will not be denyed by any Impartial Person that knoweth Scotch Affairs; and will be sufficient to evince what we hold in this: One is, the Bishops of this Church sat in Parliament when the above-mentioned Laws were made; did any of them either Reason or Vote against any one of them? Yea, it is known that they were active Promoters of them; yea, our Author denyeth not their consenting and advising to them, tho' he will not own their being the first Movers of them. The former is enough to our purpose, and the latter is rationally suspected, both from the active influence that some of them had in the Government, and from the spight that on all occasions they shewed against Men of our way. Another Evidence of this is, the Church-men in their Publick Sermons did frequently inflame both the Magistrates and Souldiers to execute the Laws against Dissenters; and helped them by Direction, Intelligence, and all the ways that they could, as thousands of Instances might make appear. A Note of a Sermon was much talked of, wherein the Judges of Assize, or Circuit-Court, (before whom it was preached) were advised to dye their Scarlet Robes yet more red in the Blood of these Men. Again, it is known that the Ministers were the Informers against such as did not comply with the Laws. It is true, this was enjoyned them by the Rulers: But conscientious Men would not have persecuted them that feared the Lord, at the Command of Men: whereas most of them gave ready, chearful, and forward Obedience to these Injunctions. He speaketh of some of them who did not, but were chid by the Iudges: And we confess, they were not all Persecutors, but many, yea, the far greatest part were.
§. 2. Now what hath he to say for vindicating the Clergy from this Imputation? He telleth us, The Clergy never Addressed the King for punishing the Presbyterians. A goodly Apology! as if there were no other way of compassing such a malicious Design save this one. Next, The inferiour Clergy did not obey the Order for Informing. This is answered: Most did, and but a few refused. He talketh of Bishops shewing Acts of Charity, in relieving the Necessities of Presbyterians, and mitigating the Penalties of the Law when it was in their power, and that the particulars of this might swell his Paper to a great bulk. Answ. These Acts it seems were very secretly done; neither the man's own left Hand, nor the Observation of others could discern them. If some acts of Charity were done to some in distress, it is no more than what some Oppressors have done, first made People poor, by taking a pound from them, and then relieved them by giving a penny: notwithstanding any who have given a Cup of cold Water to Sufferers, shall not want their Reward from the Lord, nor their Commendation from us, That private and publick witnessing against Schism was all that the inferiour Clergy did against Dissenters, is so false an Assertion, as nothing can be more false.