the Presbyterian name, by not only disclaiming and
opposing the true Presbyterian cause, but having also
fallen from the belief and profession of the most important
and fundamental truths of Christianity; thereby plainly
discovering themselves to be creatures of quite another
species and spirit, than the ministers of Jesus Christ,
and friends to the blessed spiritual Bridegroom; deserving
rather to be termed a synagogue of Libertines,
a club of Socinians, Arians, Pelagians &c.,
banded together against Christ, and the doctrines
of his cross than a synod of the ministers of the
gospel. Therefore, as the presbytery testify and
remonstrate against them, their toleration, or indulgence
footing, on which they professedly stand, together
with their poisonous jumble and medley of errors,
commonly called Newlight, adopted, and with
the greatest warmth and diligence, spread and propagated
by most of them, and connived at and tolerated by
the rest and all their books or prints written by them,
or others of the like spirit with them in defense
of these dangerous and damnable tenets so they do
hereby judicially warn and exhort all the people under
their inspection there, to beware of such men, and
such books, however they may varnish over the doctrines
they bring, with fine words fair speeches and pretenses,
in order to deceive the hearts of the simple; and
this, as they would not incur the displeasure of a
holy and jealous God, and have their souls defiled
and destroyed by these error’s. On the
contrary to endeavor to have their minds and understandings
enlightened with the knowledge of the truths of Christ,
and mysteries of his gospel, and their hearts warmed
with the love of them; so that being through grace
established in the belief of the truth, they may not
“be as children tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight
of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive;” Eph. iv, 14, 15.
“But speaking the truth in love may grow up in
all things unto him, which is the Head even Christ;”
and striving to refrain and keep themselves from every
wicked, offensive and backsliding course, and to live
soberly, righteously and godly, blameless and harmless
as the sons of God, without rebuke, adorning the gospel
of Christ with a conversation becoming the same; so
shall they thereby glorify God, and transmit a faithful
testimony for the despised truths of Christ to posterity,
that so there may be a seed to do service unto him
in these lands, and make his name to be remembered
through all generations.
PART III.
The principles of some parties, who have made the most specious appearances for the Reformation, considered.—Particular grounds of testimony against that body of ministers and people known by the name of the Secession, wherein their partiality and unfaithfulness in their profession of the covenanted testimony of the Church of Scotland is discovered in various instances,—their loose and immoral doctrine about civil society and government—their corruption in worship, sinful terms of communion, &c., &c.