and the sad fruits which result from it.  Few study to convince others of the evil of such a principle, and following such a course by the Apostle’s rule, avoiding all unnecessary company with them, that they may be ashamed; but, upon the contrary, many Presbyterians too familiar and unnecessary converse with them, encourage and harden them; and, particularly, ministers are to be blamed herein, who preach one half of the Lord’s day in the church, and allow the curate the other half.  Few impartially reprove and warn them of their sin and danger; but, upon the other hand, many professed Presbyterians, by their untender and unchristian walk and conversation, or by their lukewarmness and indifferency in Christ’s matters, now called moderation, and by their walking contrary to covenant engagements, do exceedingly harden them in their evil way, and scandalize them at their duty.  Instead of endeavours to extirpate superstition and heresy, as we are bound by the same article of the Solemn League, and by the “National Covenant to detest all superstition and heresy, without or against the Word of God, and doctrine of this reformed kirk, according to the Scripture.”

Duet. xii. 30, 31, 32—­“Take heed to thyself, that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee, and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.  Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God; for every abomination to the Lord which he hateth, have they done unto their gods:  for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.  What thing soever I command you, observe to do it:  thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it.”  Acts xvii. 22—­“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mar’s-hill, and said—­Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.”  Gal. iv. 10—­“Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.”  Gal. v. 20—­“Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies.”  Col. ii. 20—­“Wherefore, if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world; why as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances? verse 21, Touch not, taste not, handle not:  verse 23, Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body, not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”  Tit. iii. 10—­“A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject.”

Yet, in the darkness of the times of persecution, many dregs of Popish superstition were observed, many omens and freets too much looked to; Popish festival days—­as Pasche, Yule, Fastings-even, &c, have been kept by many; and Prelatical anniversary days, and festivities devised of their own heart, appointed for commemorating the King’s and Queen’s birthdays, (as May 29th, October 13th, February 6th,) who were born as a scourge to this realm, were complied