into the mansions of eternal bliss.

ones, admit Amen.

you

Let us pray.

ETERNAL Creator, and supreme Governor of the world, songs of praise are due to thee in Zion ; nay, as thou art infinitely superior to all our songs and hymns, even silence in Zion redounds to thy praise. Let the societies of angels be rather employed in singing thy praises; but let us, with silence and astonishment, fall down at the footstool of thy throne, while they are taken up in the repetition of their celebrated doxology, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts, who fillest heaven and earth with thy glory! But O that we had within us proper powers for exalting that most sacred name! that name, which, according to their measure, is celebrated by all the parts of this visible world, which surround us, the heaven, the stars, the winds, the rivers, the earth, the ocean, and all the creatures therein. Thou surely didst at first implant in us souls, and powers for this purpose, superior to the rest of the visible creation; as we were then not only qualified to offer thee praises founded on the rational conviction of our minds, and animated by the affections of our hearts; but also capable of pronouncing more articulately even the praises that result from all the rest of thy visible works. But, alas! these heavenly souls, these principles proceeding from a divine original, we have most deeply immersed in mire and dirt, nor

is

any

hand able to extricate them out of this mud, or cleanse them from their pollution, but thine. O most exalted and bountiful Father, if thou wilt graciously please to grant us this grace and favour, we shall then offer thee new songs of praise as incense, and ourselves thus renewed as a burnt-offering and all the rest of our time in this world we shall live, not to ourselves, but wholly to him, who died for us.

May thy church, throughout the whole earth, and especially in these islands, be supported by thy most powerful hand, and continually be made to rejoice in the light of thy gracious countenance. Let our king be joyful in thee, and, as he depends upon thy bounty, let him never be moved; let his throne be established in piety and righteousness, and let peace, and the gospel of peace, be the constant blessings of his kingdoms, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with thee, and the Holy Spirit, be praise, honour, and glory, now, and for ever more. Amen.

A modest defence of moderate Episcopacy, as established in Scotland at the restoration of king Charles II.

1. EPISCOPAL government, managed in conjunction with presbyters, presbyteries, and synods, is not contrary to the rule of scripture, or the example of the primitive church, but most agreeable to both.

II. Yea, it is not contrary to that new covenant, which is pretended by so many as the main, if not the only, reason of their scrupling; and for their sakes it is necessary to add this: for notwithstanding the many irregularities both in the matter and form of that covenant, and in the illegal and violent ways of pressing and prosecuting of it; yet to them who still remain under the conscience of its full force and obligation, and in that some inconvinceably persuaded, it is certainly most pertinent, if it be true, to declare the consistence of the present government, even with that obligation.

And as both of these assertions, I believe, upon the exactest (if impartial and impassionate) inquiry, will be found to be in themselves true, so they are owned by the generality of the Presbyterians in England, as themselves have published their opinions in print, with this title, Two Papers of proposals, humbly presented to his Majesty, by the reverend ministers of the Presbyterian persuasion, printed at London, anno 1661.

Besides other passages in those papers to the same purpose, in p. 11. and 12. are these words: "And as these are our general ends and motives, so we are induced to insist upon the form of a synodical government, conjunct with a fixed presidency or episcopacy; for these reasons:

"1. We have reason to believe, that no other terms will be so generally agreed on, &c.

"2. It being agreeable to the scripture and the primitive government, is likeliest to be the way of a more universal concord, if ever the churches on earth arrive at such a blessing: however, it will be most acceptable to God and well informed consciences.

"3. It will promote the practice of discipline and godliness without discord, and promote order without hindering discipline and godliness.

"4. And it is not to be silenced (though in some respects we are loath to mention it) that it will save the nations from the violation of the solemn vow and covenant, without wronging the church at all, or breaking any other oath, &c."

And a little after, they add, "That the prelacy disclaimed in that covenant, was the engrossing the sole power of ordination and jurisdiction; and exercising of the whole discipline, absolutely by bishops themselves, and their delegates, chancellors, surrogates, and officials, &c. excluding wholly the pastors of particular churches from all share in it."

And there is one of prime note amongst them, who, in a large treatise of church-government, does

clearly evidence, that this was the mind both of the parliament of England, and of the assembly of divines at Westminster, as they themselves did expressly declare it in the admitting of the covenant, That they understood it not to be against all Episcopacy; but only against that particular frame, as it is worded in the article itself*. As for our present model in Scotland, and the way of managing it, whatsoever is amiss, (and it can be no wrong to make that supposition, concerning any church on earth) the brethren that are dissatisfied, had possibly better acquitted their duty, by free admonitions and significations of their own sense in all things, than by leaving their stations, which is the only thing that has made the breach (I fear very hard to cure, and in human appearance near to incurable.) But there is much charity due to those following their own consciences; and they owe, and I hope they pay, the same back again to those that do the same in another way. And whatsoever may be the readiest and happiest way, of reuniting those that are naturally so minded, the Lord reveal it to them in due time.

This one word I shall add, That this difference should arise to a great height, may seem somewhat strange to any man, that calmly considers, that there is in this church no change at all, neither in

* Baxter of Church Government, P. III. C. 1. tit. p. 275. "An Episcopacy desirable for the reformation, preservation, and peace of the Churches, a fixed president, durante vita." See p. 297. & 330. ibid.