a federal or incorporating union: but when it was seen to be the latter, and the majority of the house difpofed to agree to it, both the church and the body of the people were vaftly uneafy, great numbers of addreffes came up against it, and infurrections were much feared. The commiffion by appointment fat during the whole feffion, and was exceeding numerous; members attending by turns. They prefented three addreffes to the parliament, the first was for "an unalterable fecurity of the established religion, to the people of this land and all fucceeding generations, fo far as human laws can go."

To fatisfy them, the parliament enacted, That " the establishment of the doctrine, worship, difcipline and Pefbyterian government of this church fhould be held as an unalterable, fundamental and effential condition of the Union of the two kingdoms," if concluded. This feemed to quiet many, reckoning the fecurity of the church not fo precarious and uncertain, when thus eftablished by the mutual agreement of both parliaments in a folemn treaty of Union, than when fettled by acts of the Scots parliament only; for the faith of the English in keeping treaties was at this time much spoken of. But the most part of the church continued ftill averfe to an incorporating union, and their coming under the jurifdiction of a British parliament, in which the English members, being prelatical, would be ten to one of Scots members : wherefore the commiflion prefented a fecond addrefs, declaring this averfion. They indeed met with great oppofition from noblemen and gentlemen, elders in the commiffion, who had views of temporal offices and advantages from court by being for the Union: yet they reprefented the grievancs the church and her members might fall under by the Union, fuch as oaths, tefts and impofitions inconfiftent with their principles. And in their addrefs they plainly teftified against " the fubje& ing of this nation to a British parliament, in which twenty fix prelates would be conftituent members and legiflators; For (fay they) it is contrary to our known principles and covenants, that any churchman should bear civil offices, or have power in the commonwealth." To 3 B 2

this

this they got no answer, fave a claufe put in the act for fecuring the church, that "no oath, teft or subscription, fhall ever be impofed within the bounds of this church and kingdom contrary to our Prefbyterian establishment." By which (it is to be regreted) the parliament neither fhewed regard to the principles of Scotfmen when out of the kingdom, nor to the obligation of our covenants: nay they proceeeded to worfe afterwards, by declaring that "the parliament of England might provide for the fecurity of the church of England within the bounds of that kingdom, as they should think expedient;" whereby they confented to the fecuring of the prelacy and ceremonies of that church as a fundamental of the union. This being both against the word of God and our folemn league, we have caufe to mourn over it as a national breach of covenant, in fome refpect; though it is a mercy the church was helped to remonftrate against it; for the commiffion, when informed of it, prefently prefented a third addrefs (though greatly opposed) craving that "there might be no fuch ftipulation or confent for the establishment of the hierarchy and ceremonies, as they would not involve themselves and the nation in guilt," &c. From all which it is evident, that this church did remonftrate against making an union with England upon terms not confiftent with our ancient covenant-union with that kingdom: for the enfuing affembly 1707 approved the commiffion in what they did.

But, notwithstanding of the church's remonstrance against this union and the forefaid finful tipulation, it was concluded and ratified by both parliaments; but it doth not appear that this memorable tranfaction has been followed with the fpecial bleffings of heaven, feeing it hath brought on very much fin, and many growing evils upon this poor land, to the difhonour of God, and decay of true Christianity among us. For after the Union, when our correfpondence and communication with the English was greatly increased, the Lord's day began to bé profaned after their example, and other immoralities much to abound, and the focieties for reformation of manners to dwindle away. Likewife our nobility and

gentry

gentry have been fince that period giving up gradually with family-religion, and the very form of godlinefs, and falling into a loofer way of living: for many of them fince the Union do either dwell or fpend much time in England, whereby they learn many of their vices and evil cuftoms; they are either reconciled to the Englifh hierarchy and worship, or live much in the neglect of all public worship; and, being there under the inspection of no parish minister, they and their families get leave to live as they lift: and, when they come down to Scotland, they get many to follow their loose examples.

Alfo, fince the Union, public oaths are prodigiously multiplied, in qualifying men for offices, in collecting and paying of taxes; and manifold perjuries are thereby committed, and particularly by custom-houfe oaths, and running of goods, which also opens a door to many other fins. And hereby Atheism, Deifm, and Infidelity, have made progress in the land.

Likewife, foon after the Union, the English fervice and ceremonies were set up in feveral places, and afterwards the Parliament gave a toleration for it, and the body of the Epifcopal clergy embraced that worship, though their ancestors had always oppofed it heretofore. Yea, by this law, almost all errors are tolerated; and now even the Popish worship is kept openly, and connived at. A fuperftitious form of fwearing was foon introduced from England, by laying the hand on and kiffing the gofpels. The facramental teft, and conformity to the liturgy and ceremonies, is impofed upon the members of this church, while ferving the king in England and Ireland. Likewife many other encroachments are made upon the government, rights and privileges, of this church, by the toleration act, and by the act for restoring patronages, by the act for a vacation of the Lords of Seffion, and other courts, in the end of December, whereby the keeping of holy days is encouraged; and, laftly, by refufing accefs to the Houfe of Peers, unless the addrefs be directed to the lords fpiritual. And all these grievances are brought upon us, notwithstanding of our fecurity by the union act,

and

and the English faith fo much talked of. From all which we may conclude, That as our union with England was made upon finful terms, fo in the event it hath proven a great judgment upon this land and church. Alas! we have been perfidious to God, and no wonder though men fhould be left to prove perfi

dious to us.

This

Very foon did Scotland feel the bitter effects of the Union; for, in the view of its being concluded, feveral of the Epifcopal clergy began to fet up the English fervice in meeting houses, hoping to find more countenance and fupport from England on this account. way of worship was wholly new and ftrange, and could never find place in Scotland before. Wherefore, the General Affembly 1707, that met foon after the conclufion of the Union, gave an honeft teftimony against this new worship, by their 15th act, intituled, Act against innovations in the worship of God; wherein they fay, "the purity of divine worship, and uniformity therein, hath been the great happiness of this church ever fince her reformation; and that the introduction of these innovations was not fo much as once attempted, even during the late prelacy; that they are dangerous to this church, and manifeftly contrary to our known principle," viz. That nothing is to be admitted in the worship of God, but what is prescribed in the Holy Scriptures and that the Affembly, moved with zeal for the glory of God, and the purity and uniformity of his worthip, doth discharge the practice of all fuch innovations of divine worship within this church; and doth require and obteft all the ministers of this church, efpecially these in whofe bounds any fuch innovations are, or may happen to be, to reprefent to their people the evil thereof, and seriously to exhort them to beware of them, &c. And they appoint the commiffion to ufe all proper means for fuppreffing fuch innovations. Which the commiffion did, as appears by their act 5th Auguft 1709, which they ordained to be read in all the churches through Scotland. But the more the church opposed this new worship (as they judged they were

warranted

warranted to do by the laws of the land) the more forward were their enemies to fet it up, and at length got the Parliament to efpouse their cause.

Likewise, foon after the Union, grofs profanation of the Lord's day began to abound, by travelling, carrying goods, driving cattle, and other abufes on that holy day; as appears from the 12th act of Affemb'y 1708. For preventing whereof, the Affembly in that act appointed each prefbytery to fend fome of their number to attend the Lords of Jufticiary at their firft circuit. that falls to be in their bounds, and to represent to their Lordships the profanation of the Lord's day by the forefaid wicked and finful practices. And the Genera! Affembly did seriously recommend to the Lords of Jufticiary to take an effectual courfe to reftrain and punish the forefaid abuses; which, the Affembly fay, they will acknowledge as a fingular fervice done to Gol and his church. Alfo they enjoin all minifters to reprefent to their people, among whom fuch practices are, the great hazard their immortal fouls are in by fuch courses; and: alfo to proceed not only with ecclefiaftic cenfures against Sabbath-breakers, but also to apply to juftices of peace, and other magiftrates in their bounds, to execute the laws against them. But, our commerce with England still increasing, the profanation of the Lord's day among us is come to a great height, in fpite of all the church hath done against it.

But, our fins and provocations against God being highly aggravated; as a juft punishment upon us, Gol was pleased to let loofe our enemies in the British Parliament to bring in a bill, which they got paft into a law, for allowing thofe of the Epifcopal clergy the ufe of the English liturgy in Scotland, containing fome grievous claufes in it against the just and legal rights of the established church. While the bill was in dependence March 1712, the commiffion met and addreffed the queen, in which they gave free and faithful testimony against the faid bill, which the Affembly that met in' May 1712 did unanimously approve; and, as a token of it, did infert their addrefs in their books, and print it with their acts. In it, they fay, "The church of

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