A Short Vindication of our Covenanted Reformation.
James Dodson
ADVERTISEMENT.
At the suggestion of brethren, and in compliance with their desire, two tracts are prefixed to the Vindication. The Circular had been issued to apprise the unsuspecting of the deception developed in the Pittsburgh Bond [in 1871]. The Review was published afterwards, to show that in a sermon by one who refused to swear the “New American National Covenant,” the vicious principle was embodied—the principle of the “Public Resolutions” of 1650, which overthrew the Second Reformation.
Believing these two tracts to be auxiliary to the object of the Committee’s appointment by Presbytery, they are herewith given to the public without any charge. The reader will see by comparing this edition of the Vindication with the first, that a large part of the matter is new, and the honest Covenanter will justify the changes from his knowledge of the bitter fruits produced in the last seven years by the perfidious Bond [i.e., the Covenant of 1871].
The whole is again committed to the disposal of Him whose “eyes are upon the truth.” Jer. 5:3.
Hisce sententiis et interrogationibus sequentibus, Turrettini operibus extractis, antagonistae, si velint—si possint, respondeant. [These following statements and questions are extracted from Turretin, antagonists, if you want,—if you can, answer.]
“Haec nos movit ratio, ut licet tanto operi impares nosmet satis agnoscamus, aliquid tamen in eo genere tentaremus. Non ignari sumus quam periculosae sit plenum opus aleae, hoc praesertim seculo, ut oculatissimo, ita perquam fastidioso, cui vix quiequam arridet quod novitatis gratia se non commendet: victi tamen iteratis amicorum hortationibus recusare non possemus. Sed id demum studuimus, ut si non possemus votis ipsorum plene satisfacere, utcunque saltem honestae ipsorum petitioni respondere conaremur.
Adversarii nostri suam disputandi methodum sanciunt, ex qua nos etiam inauditos condemnari posse, absque ullo doctrinae examine iniquissime contendunt. Quae sane ratio, ut commodissima et compendiosissima est elabendi, ita alienissima est tum a veritatis indole, quae lucem, non latebras quaerit, tum a bonae causae conscientia; et non obscurum est malae et desperatae causae argumentum. Nam si serio persuasi sunt de doctrinae quam profitentur veritate, ecquid tam solicite ejus refugiunt examen? Cur tot diverticula et ambages quaerunt?”
CONTENTS:
![CIRCULAR. [concerning the Covenant of 1871]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5519d094e4b08a0cc608b841/1461673516475-W15DSVM5UBOQH437J1HS/Steele.jpg)
