[ III ] among themselves, they had this to fay againft Paul and Barnabas, then there is no fuch a thing as a Gospel of Loving one another, because these Preachers of it caft out among themfelves. Yea put this Argument in the Devil's Mouth, may not he argue againft Chrift's Kingdom on Earth, after this Manner; The Subjects of Chrift's Kingdom are divided among themselves: But Chrift declares that there is no Divifion in His Kingdom; therefore Sathan's Kingdom is right, and Chrift's Kingdom wrong. Mr. Jamefon's whole Book falls to the Ground by this falfe Reasoning. I fhall here infert the Three Opinions among the Ancients concerning the Import V. of the Word, Bishop, which all Three confute the Presbyterian Hypothefis, and that out of the Learn'd Dr. Whitby, on the 3d Chapter of the First Epistle to Timothy 1. The First is, that of Theodoret, That the Apoftle here calls the Presbyter, Bishop, because after the Rules preferib'd concerning Bishops, he defcends to thofe concerning Deacons, omitting Presbyters,because,faith he,anciently the fame Perfons were ftil'd Presbyters and Bishops;the Name Apostles being then given to them who are now called Bifbops; but in Process of time, they left the Name of Apostles to them who were Apostles indeed, and gave this Name of Bishop peculiarly to them who anciently were ftiled Apoftles. This Opinion afferts the Three Orders. The Second Opinion, is that of Epiphanius, That the Apoftles could not order all things at one time, there being then a Neceffity of Presbyters and Deacons, by both which Ecclefiaftical Matters were to be adminiftred, they placed no Bishops there where they found no Person worthy of that Office, in other Places where they found Perfons worthy of it, but by Reafon of the Paucity of Converts found any scarce fit to be Presbyters, they conftituted only Bishops and Deacons; and this Account, faith Epiphanius, is taken from the most ancient Hiftories of the Church. "I fuppofe, fays Dr. Whitby upon the Words of Epiphanius, that it was taken from This fhews it was the Defign of the Apoftles to "the Paffage of Clemens Romanus. institute Three feveral Orders in theChurch, and where this was not done, it was only for want of fit Perfons to compleat these Orders, and only during that Defect, and this being writ only in Answer to Aerius's Herefy, that a Bishop differ'd not from a Presbyter, they being both of one Order, Dignity and Honour, fhews that Opinion was not only counted falfe, and novel, but Heretical. The Third Opinion, is that of Chryfoftom, Oecumenius and Hilary the Deacon on the Place, That the Apoftle includes Presbyer under the Name of Bishops, because there is no great Difference between them, they being appointed as well as Bishops to teach, and to prefide over the Church, and being only inferior to the Bishops as to the Point of Ordination, which belongs alone to Bishops, and not to Presbyters. Now even according to this Opinion the Bishop is above the Presbyter, and all Ordinations which are not perform'd by the Bishop is irregular, and performed by them who have no Power to ordain. Now tho' thefe Three Opinions be different, yet they are not contradictory, but agree in this, That the Bifbop is above the Presbyter, that there was no Presbyterian Parity ever in the Church, and that meer Presbyters had never the Power of Órdination in their Hands, and that ftill there were Three diftin&t Orders. But let us fee how learnedly Mr. Jamefon confutes these Fathers. he go Firft, as for Theodoret, Page 15. He tells us, That he has fet down these Words at length, that Men may fee what Kind of Confcience they have, who would have People to reft in it. And defires the Reader, if any Prelatift bring up this fenfeless Parcel of Words, to tell them,that they lean upon a falfe Interpolation of the Greek Word, Aroso, Phil. 2 25. If on to quibble, let him tell him, That the English Tranflators, most of whom were Prelatifts, render it not Apostle, but Meffenger, and challenge him to refute thefe Tranflators if he Let him tell him moreover, that Theodoret an ancient Interpreter, who first invented this falfe Meaning of the Word, believed not himself, if we may believe Medina the Jefuit, and other Learned and refolute Prelatifts, &c. And now I have fet down Mr. J's Anfwer, that the Reader may pafs his Judgment upon it, and fee what a bold prooflefs Affertion he makes, and nothing at all to Theodoret's Opinion; which fhews that the Apoftles kept Jurifdiction over Bishop and Presbyter, who were above the Deacons, and confequently afferts the Three Orders, and is good Sense in spite of Mr. J's Confuta can. tion. As to Epiphanius his Opinion, which he tells he took from the most ancient Histories of the Church, Mr. J. calls it falfe, abfurd and impertinent, because it fuppofes that some were fit to be Bishops, and not to be Presbyters; And might not this be at fome time, and not fo at another, and the Ministerial Acts perform'd by Bishops and Deacons Deacons till the Deacons had fulfill'd their Deaconfhip and be made Presbyters. But, fays Mr.J.Nothing more nonfenfical than this Fiction of Epiphanius,an old Writer indeed, but one of the most prejudic'd paffionate and fuperftitious that theSun had readily feen. Pray Mr.Jamefon wherefore was he paffionate, because he called Aerius a filly Fellow of Yesterday,who went cross to the Practice of the univerfal Church, by denying the Diftinction between Bishop and Presbyters, and that because he mifs'd a Bishoprick himself? Again, fays Mr. J. Epiphanius fays, He had this from ancient Hiftorians, and what Temptation had the learned Father to lie? Epifcopacy being the univerfal Government of the Church, and what co-temporary did ever confute that Father? Again, fays Mr. J. The prefent Prelatifts fay, he had it from Clement, whom the Apostle to the Philippians commends, tho' it is certain that Clement is altogether Presbyterian, maintaining only two Orders of Kirk-men. Now, were there no more to difgrace the whole Book, and to difcredite the Author as unworthy to be believed, this is enough; for it could not escape Mr. J's Knowledge,that Clement makes three Orders of Church-men above Lay-men,in the first Epiftle to the Corinthians, 40 Sect.in these Words, For the Chief-Prieft has his proper Service,and to their Priefts their proper Place is appointed: and to the Levites appertain their proper Minifteries, and the Layman is confin'd within the Bounds of what is commanded to a LayAnd yet he tells, that St. Clement makes only two Orders of Kirk-men, as he phrases it in his phanatical Stile throughout his Book. He could not but know this but the mercenary Confcience of him will ferve the Idol of Presbytery at any Rate. And tho' in the 42 Sect. he mentions Bishops and Deacons, or Minifters as the Word should be tranflated, yet this was in the Days of the Apoftles who were above these two Orders. man. As to the Third Opinion by St. Chryfoft. Mr. J. tells us, That the Words of the Father rendred thus, which belong alone to Bishops and not to Presbyters, can bear another Senfe, thus, which the Bishops have fraudulently taken from the Presbyters. And thus the Writer ought to be understood. Wherefore fome of the Prelatifts as the Jefuit Bellarmine endeavour to deprave his Words; others of them condemn him as an Aerian Presbyterian Heretick. Mr. J. never tells us where Bellarmine depraves his Words, nor who these are that ever look'd upon Chryfoftom as a Presbyterian: But this deferves as little Credit as any thing elfe that ever he faid; he's refolved to take his Soul for Presbytery. Now, to fay, that St. Chryfoftom did mean, which the Bishops fraudulently took from the Presbyters, is against Senfe and Reafon; for it is a Thing that never was done by the Bishops, nor ever meant by St. Chryfoftom. For this were to caft a black Stain on his own Order, being Bishop of Conftantinople. And it were also to contradict himself in other Places, particularly on thefe Words Acts 15. 19. My Sentence is, &c. He fays, Eya neivo, I judge, that is, faith St. Chryfoftom, I with Authority fay this, and tells, that this Determination of the Question was made by James, because he had the Government committed to him, and then, St. Chryfoftom's Notion of the Word Presbytery, in 1 Tim. 4. 14. Is not a Senate of ordinary Presbyters, and the Reafon because Timothy was a Bishop, and it was never heard nor read, that Presbyters could ordain a Bifbop. Now, who but a bigotted Bedlamite, would fay, that St. Chryfoftom meant, that the Bishops had fraudulently taken this from the Presbyters. This is fufficient to expofe Mr. J. and all that ever he wrote on his Cause, to be difingenuous, malicious and nonfenfick. As for what he has faid of Mr. Calder, of being a Man of no Confcience. Mr. Calder replies, That for the World he would not have Mr. Jamefon's Confcience; and he would think it as great a Reproach as could be caft upon him, to be commended by Mr. J. and refers to any if he has answered Mr. Calder's Book, the strongest or the tenth Part of his Arguments. It is but short and foon read, and let any who has Leifure, compare them together and give their Judgments if they will. In the End M. f. accufes the Epifcopal Clergy with the Want of a Gofpel-Spirit. To which I anfwer no more, but that Fire and Water are as reconcileable and confiftent together as the Spirit of the Solemn League and Covenant, is with Chrift's Sermon on the Mount. And it Prefbyterians hated bloody Principles, Rebellion, Schifm, Lying, Slandering, accufing of the Brethren, Uncleanness, intemperance, in a Word, all Devilish and beaftly Sins as much as they do Epifcopacy and the Book of Common Prayer they had been Men of the best Morals in the World, and yet tho' they were as good and godly as they call themselves,they could nor be called a true Church, nor be under a lawful Miniftry fo long as they continue Presbyterian. A 1 A REPLY to Mr. William Jamefon's Pre- M R. William Jamefon, that indefatigable Zealot for Covenanted Presbytery, has given fuch Proofs in his Writings of an ill Confcience and a perverted Judgment (as I've made out already in my former Number) as has expofed him at Home and Abroad to the just Censure of all knowing and ingenuous Perfons, as might make his Party blufh; but they are afhamed of nothing. For, he that will fay, That the Prophets, Ifaiah and Jeremiah, had a View to Scotland, and meant the Solemn League and Covenant, and that Scotland was the utmost Part of the Earth,promised to Chrift for his Poffeffion; and earnestly requests the Kirkmen to preach up and catechife upon that Covenant, and upon Presbyterian Principles; and that the Papifts are Socinians; and the Socinians, Papifts; and that S. Ignatius and S. Cyprian were Presbyterian in their Principles, may fay any thing he pleases: Yea, he may write a Book to prove, that a Sow is an Eagle; and a Horse, a Swan; and what may not fuch a Perfon undertake? A worthy Champion for fuch a worthy Caufe! He advances fucli monitrous Opinions, that it is no wonder his Name, viz. MASTER WILLIAM JAMESON, fhould, by holding out one M, produce this Anagram, I AM A VILE MONSTER AS LIVES: And truly his Writings prove no lefs. Which Anagram I never defigned to publish (altho' it be very agreeable to his Way of writing) if he had not refented fo maliciously what was made upon his Scoundrel, DUMBARTON JOHN ANDERSON Yoke-Fellow's Name, which is, OuR DAMN'D JOHN BANTERS ON. Sometimes, yea very frequently, he falls into Fits of Madnefs, and looks liker a Demoniack than one in his fober Wits; for fo full is he of himself, fuch Conceit he has of his own Abilities, that he thinks all Learned Antagonists compared with himself, but as Dwarfs to a Giant. But befides the monftroufnefs of the Opinións he advances, his flandering and lying Genius is palpable and notorius in his Writings: This indeed is a Qualification, which the Caufe requires; for it will not do otherwise for the Party. I come then to examine his bafe, unchriftian, malicious and difingenuous. Dealing with my Perfon, particularly in the Cafe of Mr. John Davidson's Book, called the Burthen of a loaded Confcience, which I cited in a Vindication of my Sermon, preached on 30th of January. 1703. The Words are, Be obedient to Arch-bishops and Bishops, and stand not out against them, as I have wickedlie done. Mr. Jamefon, in his firft Acquaintance with me at Edinburgh, where I was at the Time, but had my Refidence in the North, told me, He would gladly know of that Catechifm, which Mr. Davidson wrote, for he never heard of it. I told him, it was a Book, which Mr. Robert Ramfay, Minifter of the Panns, had; but that now he being dead, I knew not how to come at it, if his Relict had it not. After this, I went to her, and told my Defire. my Defire. She faid, fhe could not meddle with any Book that belonged to her Husband, for all were feal'd up in order to an Auction. I could not urge her any further, and fo went North afterwards. And fometime after, I was charged from the North to Edinburgh, as I was feveral Times, for using the Book of Common Prayer, I met Mr. Jameson, and he was very preffing and earnest with me to get a Sight of that Book, and he asked me what Way might I take to get it. I told, that I fhould fpeak to Mr. Miller who was Minifter at Inverask, near to the Panns, and he would make Search in the Panns or the contiguous Paroches thereto. This was all I faid of Mr. Miller. Yet Mr. Jamefon tels us, Page 3. That I fhould have faid, That Mr. Miller had the Book, than which there can be nothing more falfe; and I appeal to Mr. Jamefon, if he did not afterwards (before Company) declare as much. However, to make Things more clear, I fhall give the whole Story from the Beginning. In the Year 1684, when I was a Probationer, I used fometimes to go to the Country, and to preach for Minifters of my Acquaintance, and feveral times for Mr. RamSay at the Panns. One Day, I began to talk of Mr. Davidson, who was fo wonderfully magnified in a Book, called The Fulfilling of the Scriptures, (a very legendary Book,and will speak as much for the new Prophets and their Agitations as any Book was ever published by themselves.) Mr. Ramsay fell very much in his Predeceffor's Commendations. Iask'd him, if ever he wrote any? He told me, that he had a Catechism of his dedicated to his Parochiners, with a fmall Treatife at the End of it, called The Burthen of a loaded Confcience. I defired a Sight of it for fometime, and first of all read that Tract in the End, which was printed 3 Years after the Catechifm,and, according to my Custom in reading, excerpt what pleafed me, and efpecially out of the old Presbyterians, to fhew, how far the prefent Set of them degenerates in many good things from their Ancestors. By this way of reading I made a good Store of Collections in a large Manufcript,that was taken from me & kept,with many other Papers, by Sir James Stewart Advocate,when I was made Prisoner by him for Six Months,and other Five Months after I was affoilzied; but never yet got I my Papers returned, where my Citations out of Mr. Davidson's Book were amongst the reft.However,Mr. Ramfay being alive at that time in the Year 1693, and having the Book, I preffed him feveral times to caufe re-print it, but how he neglected it, I know not. For a little after I came out of Prison I went North and lived, and the faid Mr. Ramfay died long before I returned South, which was occafioned by two Summons from Aberdeen, and three from Elgin, whether I went to live when banished from Aberdeen. At last being restrained to exercise at Elgine, I was obliged to come South and live, because of the tedious and expensive Journics my Perfecutions made me to undergo. But as to the Bufincfs of Mr. Davidson, I made all the Search imaginable to fatisfy Mr. Famefon, and I befpoke Sir Robert Sibbald, who told, me he had Mr. Davidfon's Catechifm, but not that Tract of The Burthen of a loaded Confcience. It was no wonder for the Catechifm was printed in 1602, and the other Tract in 1608. The Approbation was given to the Catechism by the Provincial Affembly of Lothian and Tweeddale in November 1599. was From this I argue, when Mr. Jamefon never knew,that Mr. Davidson had written a Catechifm, till I made mention of it in one of my Pamphlets, and when fuch a Book fo scarce and fo ill to be had, notwithstanding that it was published by the Autho rity of the Provincial Affembly: Is it a wonder that the Treatife, that was printed thereafter,should be loft, especially fince it was a Book that pulled down the Fury of Presbyterians upon it, because it did fly in their Faces? At laft when I defpaired of ever feeing it, I only fatisfied my felf with a good Confcience, that I had feen fuch a Book, and that I noted down feveral things which I had in my Memory, tho' my Papers were taken from me by the Advocate. There was also another thing I had to fay, That the Learned and worthy Dr. George Mackenzie, had the Reverend and pious Mr. Laurence Charters his Catalogue of Scots Writers, and had that Tract of Mr. Davidson's, called The Burthen of a loaded ConScience among the reft; but this was not enough with Mr. Jamefon who triumph'd and infulted in his imaginary Victory. At length, by good Providence, a good Friend of mine, Mr. John Gullen, well known for Learning, Candour and Modefty, going to London with his Pupil, told the Reverend and Learned Mr. James Gray, who was in the noble Family of Roxburgh. He was first, Minifter at Haddington before 1688; and afterwards at Kello, and formerly a Difciple at Theology, with Mr. Charters, with whom he was moft intimate. The faid Mr. Gullen told Mr. Gray, That Mr. Calder was at a Lofs for citing a Paffage of a Book of Mr. Davidson's which he could not produce. Mr. Gray replied, he had the Book in Scotland, and he would depone, these Words of being obedient to Arch-Bishops and Bishops, &c. were there; and afterwards when Mr. Gray came to Scotland,he fent me the Book with a fure Hand, and when I met him at Edinburgh,he told me, how, in common Converse, he used to produce that Paffage of Mr. Davidfon's for the Confutation of Presbyterians, which cankered them with Spite and Venom. At laft he found the Book ftola from him, and defpaired of ever recovering it; but at length the faid Mr. Gray having lent feveral Books to a Servant in the Family,he came to his Wife and demanded fome of of the Books he had lent her Husband, for he had prefent Ufe for them. The Wife defired him to go into the Clofet, and take any Book he pleased whether they were his own or not; which he did, and the firft he lighted on, was Mr. Davidfon's which he pack'd up: And when he caft up the Paffage with which he used to vex the Presbyterians, he found three Lines torn where that Paffage was, which gave him a further Discovery of the Spirit of that Party. And fure I am,Mr. Jameson would do fo to many Paffages in the New Testament, and the ancient Fathers, if it were in his Power, for he has done the Equivalent by mangling them with his Presbyterian Gloffes. At length Mr. George Semple, a learned and modeft young Gentleman, and a Presbyter, being acquainted with Mr. Jamefon, wrote to him the Matter of Fact as I have told. Mr. Jamefon gave a Return in fome of his lucid Intervals, and fignify'd, That the Perfox, who tore a Book, fbould be lafb'd with Thorns, and that he would believe Mr. Calder as to that Paffage of the Book which was found; but I hear fince, that he is like to bite off his own Fingers for that he was so just in his Letter to Mr. Semple. Mr. Famefon coming to Edinburgh, came to Mr. Calder's Houfe with Witneffes on both Šides; and after the reading of that Treatise, we went out to fome Houfe; and at last Mr. Jamefon rifing in a mad Fit of Paffion, he faid to Mr. Calder, You have been too temerarious, I can prove by intrinfick, intrinsick Arguments, which he pronounced in an Emphatical Fury, and thereafter he told he had defeat me:And behold this was all the Confutation. ง I think, he and his whole Gang will have more than enough to do in that Undertaking For the Book confifts of pious penitential Meditations on the Breach of all the Commandments, and not unworthy of Mr. Davidson, who was fometime a fa&tious Man in Church and State, and therefore his Conscience was ftung for the Disturbance that he made in both; for,in that fame torn Leaf, he gives this Advice, do Meddle not with the State matters above your calling for it is a spice of a rebellious nature to call the doing of higher powers into Question, and to find fault with them. If anie thing feeme amiffe, praie humblie to God, that he will mercifully cause it to be amended; and you carefullie endeavour to amend your own felf. For it maie be that your finne is fome part of caufe why there is any want of grace in your Gouernours. This is your best waie, and not to,&c. Then follows the next Page where it was torn, but I remember the Words are,and not to stand out against them as I have wickedly done, and then the Words followed Be obedient to Archbishops and Bishops and stand not out against them as I have wickedly done, And then follows, Have always a reverent opinion of your Minifter otherwise you ftall greatlie endanger your fouls as I have done. That he had the Character of a very factious Man is not deny'd; for Mr. Jamefon, in the 5th Page,makes his Factiousness to be ftrong Refolution and Zeal, and therefore this Recantation is not unworthy of Mr. Davidson. Hear his own Confeffion, Page 8. 9. My heart being not knit unto God, but to the world, I framed my religion to mine affection, and mine affection to imagination; first, I was hote against the Romane Religion, then being much befreinded by fome that fauored that Religion, 1 to gratify them, grewe in good liking of it also, yea fo farre forth, that I became a recufant, was received into that Church of Rome by a feminary Prieft, and did what I could to perfwade many others to leare that Way. But when trouble was likely to fall upon me, I went to Church again: and fo by little and little fell off: yet so as where I found any of that Religion, I was still fuitable unto them. and After this I beeing kindely used of fome, that were commonly called puritans, took liking of their opinions; yea and in fome points was ready to ranne beyond them; and all this in great fbewe of Zeale towards God, so that I made my felf belieue, that I was in the right way, did well. I doe often wonder at my felfe, how feruent I was, firft a Proteftant, than a Romane Catholike, afterward a precifian, so that I took upon me to rebuke many, yea and fome of high degree, as though I had been a very man of God, full of the Holy Ghoft: whereas indeed the deuel was in my heart, and therefore all my waies were finneful, and displeafing unto God. Thefe Words I have fet down in the way that they were then fpell'd, and to let fee that they fuit no other Perfon but Mr. Davidson, of whofe Confinement the Presbyterians wrote, but not of his Death; and no wonder, because his Penitentials are difagreeable to their Principles. This, with Mr. Laurence Charters his inferting that Tract as Mr. Davidson's in the Scotifb Writers,fufficiently proves what I have faid. I hope now I have vindicated my felf from the malicious Afperfion of that firie, proud, paffionate and viperous Zealot, who makes it his Bufinefs to ferve the worft of |