fon to make him the inftrument of that extraordinary work at Cambuslang, Kilfyth and other places, but to afcribe it, under God, to the miniftry of their own worthy paftors, whom God made inftrumental both to begin and carry on that work a good time before Mr Whitefield came to preach at any of thefe places. But feeing God had honoured Mr Whitefield's miniftry in other nations and countries (though ordained a minifter of the church of England) and also had opened his eyes fo far, as to become Calvinist and found in the doctrine of grace, and to witness against several corruptions of the English church, for which he was perfecuted and under procefs; and feeing he had conformed to us in doctrine and worship, profeffed to lye open to inftruction as to our conftitution and government, and was come at length to affert openly "Chrift to be the King and Head of his church, and that the church of Scotland was the beft conftitute national church in the world ;" and also had wrote and faid fome other things that gave ground to hope that his eyes might foon be opened to fee the evil of Prelacy; and in the mean time he was moft indefatigable in preaching Christ to finners, and remarkably owned of God in his ministry: To have refused a kind reception to a ftranger and perfecuted man, in'fuch circumstances, when he came among us, had neither been charitable nor generous. Now, for the brethren to make this reception fuch a fin, that none can be admitted to baptism or the Lord's fupper without condemning it by a folemn oath, is moft furprifing; efpecially confidering they were the first themselves who recommended him to the people of Scotland, and that in very strong terms! Surely it becomes us to be filent, and adore the fovereignty of the God, in employing whom he will to promote his intereft and kingdom in the world. If God think fit to make ufe of Mr Whitefield or other Methodists, to turn finners from their evil ways, to feek after a Saviour, and God through him, we thould not oppofe it, but let them alone, left haply we be found fighting against God We must not limit an Agent, that is infinitely wife and fovereign, in his glory from what churches and focieties focieties he pleafes, and fometimes glorifies his free grace the more by bringing them from thofe airths it could have been leaft expected. And frequently God doth honour and employ fome to awaken, convince, convert and reclaim finners from their evil ways, who yet remain unenlightned all their days as to feveral points of truth themselves: witnefs Luther and many of our reformers. To confine an infinitely fovereign Lord to our ways and means of working in advancing his kingdom, is a fin moft grieving and provoking unto God. He makes it one of his greateft quarrels with his profeffing people in the wildernefs, that "they tempted God, and limited the holy One of Ifrael," Pfal. lxxviii. 41. It is fit then that we lay our hands upon our mouths, and adore him that, "doth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: And none can ftay his hand, or fay unte him, what doft thou?" Dan. iv. 35. I doubt not but fome may quarrel me and this Teftimony, for making too free with the Affociate Brethren: but they may fee I have been as plain and free with others, and even with the established church, relating to things I judge wrong; and this feemed to be neceffary to render the Teftimony the more impartial But, after all, when I look inward, and view the fins of my own heart, and the fad corruption of my nature, befides outward defects; I have reafon to blush and be athamed to take notice of the fins and failings of others; and even to ly in the duft, and cry, Unclean, unclean; and with much felf abhorence to look to towards the blood of Jesus, that cleanfeth us from all fin. May the holy Spirit apply it to me and the whole land! I fhall now conclude with my earnest wishes and prayers, that the Lord may excite a praying remnant, to wrestle and be importunate with him for fparing mercy to these guilty nations; and that he would revive a covenanted work of reformation through Britain and Ireland, and the dominions thereto belonging, from which thefe lands have wofully departed; and uphold and en courage all who breathe after reformation, and the coming of Chrift's kingdom in the world; and even counte 3S2 nance nance more and more thofe inftruments who, according to the light given them, labour with earneftnefs to awaken perifhing finners from their loft natural estate, to flee to a crucified Jefus for fafety from fin and wrath; and, wherein any of them remain unenlightned, that the Lord would send out his light and truth, to lead them, and gracioufly deliver them from all mistakes, errors and corruptions whatsoever: That what they fee not, the Father of lights may teach them, that fo they may be honoured more and more to bring multitudes from following finful courses, to the ways of true religion and gofpel holinefs; and from refting on their own righteoufnefs, or a form of godlinefs, to come and embrace him who is the Lord our righteousness, and follow him whitherfoever he goeth." And particularly," That the Lord would come and revive his work in Scotland, that once was famous through all the churches, and efteemed one of the moft bright and fhining Candlesticks of Chrift in the world, but now under a lamentable decay of zeal.for pure religion and reformation; and that he would caufe us remember with godly forrow from whence we have fallen, repent, and do our firft works. That he would pity thofe who, Gallio like, are indifferent and unconcerned about our defections, and the grounds of the Lord's controversy which he is pleading with the land, and awaken thofe who are at eafe in Zion, in fuch a time, and would fain fit down, Ifachar-like, and couch under the burden. That he would come fuddenly to his temple, even in a national way, and fit as a Refiner and Purifier of filver, and purify the fons of Levi, and cast out buyers and fellers out of his houfe. That he would in mercy fhut that door whereby a corrupt miniftry enters into the church, and raise up a faithful, zealous and reforming ministry through the land, and make all ranks among us concerned to attain to the reforming fpirits and difpofitions of our fathers. Oh! when fhall we come their length in reformation ! "That the Lord would help us to bless him for his aftonishing kindness to this land, in such a backfliding, withering and decaying time, in vouchfafing to water feveral feveral spots of his vineyard here and there with the refreshing rain of his fpirit: And that he would continue, increase, and fpread the shower, until the whole garden be watered; that fo our dry ground may become a green pasture, and our wilderness bloffom as the rofe. That in his free mercy he would forgive our great ingratitude for former kindness, preferve us from the errors, power and cruelty of Papifts, and avert thefe black clouds of wrath which now threaten us; and that, inftead of pouring out the vials of indignation on us which we deferve, he would pour out a fpirit of repentance and reformation upon all degrees of men, from the highest to 'the loweft. That amidst the reelings, fhakings, backflidings and divifions of thefe times, he would preferve pure religion, and support all those who who defire to cleave to the Lord Jefus, love him in fincerity, and witness for his truths and ways. That he would encourage them under all their difcouragements, and keep them from being carried down the ftream of defection with others. That he would unite the hearts and minds of all that defire honestly to witness against the evils of the day, and help them to temper their zeal with knowledge, wisdom, and meeknefs; and graciously forgive all those who fail in this refpect, rectify their mistakes, and honour them to be inftruments of his glory in the land." This is and fhall be the earnest .prayer of July 9th, 1744. Jo. WILLISON. This Adherence to this Teftimony was figned at Hefpiefhaw in Teviotdale, on the 26th of July 1744, by THO. HARDIE, Elder. END OF THE ACT AND TESTIMONY. |