TO THE

NOBILITY AND GENTRY

OF

SCOTLAND,

PARTICULARLY

Such of them as are ELDERS of the CHURCH, and frequently Members of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Right Honourable, and Right Worshipful,

TH

HERE was prefixed to the Ecclefiaftical Characteristics a ludicrous dedication; there feems therefore fome propriety in prefixing a ferious dedication to this Apology. To whom it ought to be addreffed, could fcarce admit of a moment's hesitation. It profeffes to aim at promoting the intereft of religion in the Church of Scotland; and, certainly none have it fo much in their power to preferve or improve the conftitution, both in church and state, as your Lordships and Worships.

I am not to flatter you with an entire approbation of your paft conduct as churchVOL. II. L member

members. The defign of this address is rather to beseech you, in the most respectful manner, feriously to confider, whether you ought any longer to give countenance to the measures which have for fome time generally prevailed. I am encouraged to this, by reflecting, that it is to you,, indeed, we are obliged for fetting fome bounds to the attempts of the high-flying clergy. I could give feveral inftances of this; but fhall only mention one, becaufe it is very recent. In the Affembly 1762, it was evidently owing to the honourable members, that a fanction was not given to a refolution, of inflicting cenfures upon minifters, merely for preaching to their own people at their defire: a thing fo odious in its appearance, and fo dangerous as an example, that no circumstances or ends to be ferved by it, could poffibly juftify it.

I have already hinted, that you are most "able" to promote falutary measures in the church-courts; give me leave to add, that I firmly believe you will be first "willing" to make any change for the better. Individuals may, but, in the prefent ftate of human nature, it ought not to be expected, that the majority of any body of men will give up private benefit in wealth, power, or eafe, for public good, Therefore,

Therefore, when once the clergy are corrupted, their reformation can be looked for from the laity only, and not from themfelves. There is an obfervation to this purpose in the Rev. Dr. Robertfon's hiftory, which deferves to be written in letters of gold: They" (i. e. the Proteftants) applied to another Affembly, "to a convocation of the Popish clergy; "but with the fame ill fuccefs which hath "always attended every propofal for re"formation addreffed to that order of men. To abandon ufurped power, to

renounce lucrative error, is a facrifice, which the virtue of individuals has, on "fome occafions, offered to truth; but

from any fociety of men, no fuch ef"fort can be expected. The corruptions "of a fociety, recommended by common

utility, and juftified by univerfal prac"tice, are viewed by its members with "oút fhame or horror; and reformation never proceeds from themfelves, but is always forced upon them by fome foreign hand." I am fo much of that eminent writer's opinion, that I look upon every attempt for reviving the intereft of religion as quite hopeless, unless you be pleafed to fupport it; and, at the fame time, am not without the strongest expec* Vol. I. p. 143. L 2

tation,

tation, that the period is faft approaching, when you will fee it neceffary to interpofe.

Will you indulge me in adding a fanciful reafon for my hope. Many of you have been bred to the ftudy of the law. Now, I have obferved in reading the New Teftament, that it was a lawyer who took care of the body of our Saviour, after it had been crucified at the inftigation of the priefs. His name was Jofeph of Arimathea," an honourable man, and a coun"fellor," and the fact is recorded by all the four evangelifts. Who knows therefore but the gentlemen of the fame profeffion among us may be the inftruments of delivering the church, which is Chrift's myftical body, from the tyrannical impofitions of churchmen in power?

Look into the hiftory of this and every other church, and you will fee, that the laity never lent their influence to promote the ambition and fecular greatness of ecclefiaftics, but they received their reward in ingratitude and contempt. I have heard many of you praifed as great friends to the church. By this is meant, that you have a friendship for, and are ready to increase the revenues and worldly convenience of thofe who bear the facred cffice, who are allo called Clergy. I beg leave to observe,

that

that the wifeft of mankind are fometimes deceived by words, and patiently fubmit to gradual and infenfible ufurpations. Both the words Clergy and Church are an incroachment of the teachers upon you, and all the other hearers of the gospel. The first of them comes from xampos, which fignifies inheritance, and when appropriated to minifters, feems to intimate that they alone are God's inheritance, while furely fome of the people are as much his inheritance as they. The word Church is a Scripturephrafe, and is ufed about one hundred times in the New Teftament. But of all. thefe, in not above one or two at most can it be pretended to fignify the minifters, exclufive of the people. Therefore if you' be friends to the church, take the word in its proper and genuine fenfe, and admit the people to a due proportion of your favour.

Far be it from me to blame those who fhew a friendship and attachment to ministers, and wifh to fee them comfortably and decently provided for. This is highly neceffary to free them from that anxiety and folicitude which is infeparable from a poor and dependent ftate. But why are they to be provided for at all? or why is it an amiable character to be a friend to