The Protestation, Declinature, and Appeal of Mr. John Macmillan, minister of the Gospel at Balmaghie...
James Dodson
Balmaghie Church
The Protestation, Declinature, and Appeal of Mr. John Macmillan, minister of the Gospel at Balmaghie, and Mr. John Macneil, Probationer and Preacher of the Gospel, sent to the Commission of the Kirk at Edinburgh, the 29th of September, 1708.
[Reprinted from a tract of 8 pages, probably issued in 1708, with the note—“Inclosed in a line to Nicol Spence, and by him delivered to the Commission, September 29, 1708.”
Nicol Spence was “Sub-Clerk” of the General Assembly. The Commission responded to this Appeal by an Act dated October 1, 1708, voiding Macneil’s license to preach, and threatening both him and Macmillan with the highest Church censures, if they continued their “gross and sinful practices.” The Appeal was Macmillan’s response to a citation to appear before the Commission.]
We Mr. John Mackmillan present Minister of the Gospel at Balmaghie and Mr. John Mackneil Preacher of the Gospel, being most odiously and invidiously represented to the World as Schismaticks, Separatists and Teachers of Unsound and Divisive Doctrine, tending to the Detriment of Church and State, and especially by Ministers, with whom we were embodied, while there remained any hope of getting Grievances Redressed. Therefore that both Ministers and Professors [of religion] may know the unaccountableness of such Aspersions, let it be considered, that this Backsliding Church, (when we with others might have been big with Expectations of Advancement in Reformation) continued in their Defections from time to time, still, as occasion was given, evidencing their readiness to comply with every new Backsliding course, instance that of the Oath of Allegiance, and Bond of Assurance to the present Queen; Which Additional step to the former, gave Occasion & Rise to our unhappy Contentions & Divisions. And now at this time, for the Glory of GOD, the Vindication of Truth and of our selves (as Conscience and Reason obligeth us) to make evident to the World the Groundlessness of these Aspersions and Calumnies as Renters [renders] and Dividers, and particularly in the Commissions late Odious and Malicious Libel, wherein are contained many gross Falsehoods, such as Swearing Persons not to pay Cess, and Travelling throw the Country with scandalous Persons in Arms, which as they are Odious Calumnies in themselves, so they will never be Proven by Witnesses: And as to our Judgment anent the Cess, we reckon it Duty in the People of GOD to deny and withhold all Support, Succour, Aid, or Assistance
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that may contribute to the upholding or strengthening the Man of Sin, or any of the Adversaries of Truth, (as the word of GOD instructs us) or for supporting any in such a way, as tending to the establishing the Kingdom of Satan, and bringing down the Kingdom of the Son of GOD, in a course tending this way, how deeply these Nations are engaged, contrary to the Word of GOD and our indispensable Oaths and Covenants, whereby these Lands were solemnly devoted to GOD, is too palpable and plain, especially in the sinful Terms of the late GOD provoking, Religion destroying, and Land ruining Union: We Judge it most necessary to give to the World a brief and short account of our Principles in what we own or disown (referring for larger more ample Information, to several Protestations and Testimonies given by some of the Godly heretofore at different times and places) And hereby, that Truth may be Vindicated and our Consciences exonerated. We declare to the World our hearty desire to embrace and adhere to, the Written Word of GOD, contained in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, as the only and complete Rule and adequate Umpire of Faith and Manners, and whatever is founded thereupon, and agreeable thereunto, such as our Confession of Faith larger and shorter Catechisms, Directory for Worship; Covenants National and Solemn League, the acknowledgment of Sin and Engagement to Duties, Causes of GOD’s Wrath, and the ordinary and perpetual Officers of Christs appointment, as Pastors, Doctors, Elders and Deacons, and the form of Church Government, commonly called Presbyterian.
Next we declare our firm adherence to all the Faithful contendings for Truth, whether of old or of late by Ministers and Professors, and against whatever Sinful Courses, whether more refined or more gross, and particularly the publick Resolutions, Cromwell’s Usurpation, the Toleration of Sectaries and Heresies in his Time, and against the Sacrilegious Usurpation and Tyranny of Cha. II. the Unfaithfulness of Ministers & Professors in complying with him, and accepting his Indulgences first and last: And in a word to every thing agreeable to the matter of this our Testimony, as it is declared in pag. 25, and 26, of the Informatory Vindication, Printed Anno 1687.
Likewise we declare our adherence unto the Testimony against the abominable Toleration, granted by the Duke of York, & given in to the Ministers at Edinburgh, by that Faithful Minister and now Glorified Martyr, Mr. James Renwick January 17. 1688. And to whatever wrestlings or contendings have been made, or Testimonies given against the endeavours of any in their subtle and sedulous striving to insinuate and engage us in a Sinful Confederacy with a Malignant Interest and Cause, contrary to the Word of GOD, our Solemn League and Covenant, and Testimony of this Church.
Next we bear Testimony against Persons, being invested with Royal Power and Authority in thir [these] Covenanted Lands, without a Declaration of their Hearty Compliance with, & approbation of the National Solemn League & Covenants and Engagement to prosecute the ends thereof, by consenting to, and
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ratifying all Acts and Laws made in Defence of these Covenants, agreeable to the Word of GOD, and laudable Acts and Practise of this Kirk and Kingdom in our best times.
Moreover we bear Testimony against all Confederacies and Associations with Popish Prelates and Malignants, contrary to the Word of GOD and our Solemn Engagements: The Magistrates Adjourning and Dissolving of Assemblies, and not allowing them time to consider and exped their Affairs: Their appointing them Diets and Causes of Fasts, particularly that in January 14; And the Thanksgiving Aug. 26. Anno 1708, which is a manifest encroachment upon, & destructive to the Privileges of this Church: Their protecting of Curates in the peaceable exercise of their Ministry, some in Kirks, others in Meeting Houses,[1] yea even in the principal City of the Kingdom, if qualified according to Law by Swearing the Oath of Allegiance. Their not bringing unto condign Punishment Enemies to the Covenant and Cause of GOD, but advancing such to places of Power and Trust: All which we here bear Testimony against.
Next we bear Testimony against Lukewarmness and Unfaithfulness in Ministers anent the Corruptions and Defections the Church was guilty of in the late times, not yet purged and removed by Censures, and otherways, as was Duty; And their not leaving Faithful and Joint Testimonies against all the Encroachments made upon the Church by the Civil Powers, since the Year 1690. And we bear Testimony against the settling the Constitution of this Church, according as it was established in the Year 1592. And the Ministers not testifying against this Deed, seems to import a disowning all that Reformation attained to betwixt 1638, and 1649 inclusive: At least Cowardice in not daring to avouch the same, or their being ashamed to own it; because many famous and faithful Acts of Assemblies, especially about the Year 1648 would have made them liable to Censure, even to the length of silencing and Deposition; for their Defection and Unfaithfulness during the late times, of the Lands Apostasy: Particularly the weakening the Hands, and Discouraging the Hearts of the Lords Suffering People, by their bitter Expressions, and Aspersions cast on them for their Zeal and Tenderness, which would not allow them to comply with a Wicked, Arbitrary and Bloody Council as many of them did: Their not renewing the Covenant Buried for upwards of Fifty Years by the greatest part of the Land, contrary to the former practice of this Church, especially after some Grosser Steps of Defection: Their receiving of Perjured Curates into Ministerial Communion without Covenant ties and Obligations, and evident signs of their Repentance, contrary to the former practise of this Church. Their receiving some Lax Tested Men, and Curates Elders, into Kirk Offices, without some apparent signs, at least, of their Repentance in a publick appearance, contrary to the former practise of this Church in such like cases, evident by the Acts of the Assemblies. Their not protesting Formally, Faithfully and Explicitly against the Magistrates
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Adjourning and Dissolving of Assemblies, and recording the same contrary the practise of this Church in our Reforming times: We are not concerned to notice the Protestation of some few Persons at particular times, for their precipitancy and Rashness in this matter, (as they accounted it) was afterward apologized for; And that it was not the deed of the Assembly: Their not asserting in an explicit and formal Act the Divine Right of Presbytery, and the intrinsick power of the Church, though often desired by many private Christians, and some several Members; their not confirming and ratifying the Acts of the Assemblies that were made in our best times for Strengthening and advancing the work of Reformation, contrary to the former practise of this Church: Their admitting into many places, ignorant and scandalous Persons to the Lords Table, contrary to the Acts of former Assemblies: Their not Protesting against the present sinful Confederacy with Papists, Malignants, and other Enemies of Religion and Godliness, contrary the Word of GOD, and former practise of this Church: Their offensive Partiality in their Respective Judicatories, as to some particular Members, where, by the more Lax and scandalous are overlooked and pass by, and the more Faithful and Zealous are severely dealt with and handled, contrary the Rule of Equity, and the former practise of this Church: Their refusing and shifting [evading] to receive and Redress the Peoples just and great Grievances, and little regard had to prevent the giving offence to the Lords People, and small endeavours to have these things removed that are Stumbling and offensive to them, contrary to the Apostles Rule and Practise, who became all things to all Men, that by all means he might save some: Their not declaring faithfully and Freely against the Sins of the Land former and latter, without respect of Persons, contrary to that express Precept, Set the Trumpet to thy mouth, and show my people their Transgressions, and the house of Jacob their Sin.
Lastly we bear Testimony against Ministers sinful and shameful silence, when called to speak and act by Preaching and Protesting against this unhallowed Union, which as it is already the Stain, so we fear, it will prove the Ruin and Bain [Bane] of this poor Nation; though some of them, we grant, signified their dislike thereof, before and about the time it was concluded, yet there was no plain and express Protestation, Faithfully and freely given in to the Parliament, shewing the Sinfulness and Danger of this Cursed Union, being contrary, not only the Honour, Interest, and Fundamental Laws, and Constitutions of the Kingdom, and a palpable surrender of the Sovereignty, Rights and Privileges of the Nation, but also a manifest Breach of our Solemn League and Covenant, which was made and Sworn with uplifted Hands to the most high GOD, for purging and Reforming the three Nations from Error, Heresy, Superstition and Profaneness, and whatever is contrary to sound Doctrine, the Power of Godliness, and the Purity of Worship, Discipline and Government in the same; And so it involves this Nation into a most fearful perjury before God, being contrary to
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the first Article of the Covenant, wherein we Swear to contribute with our utmost endeavours, in our several Places and Callings, to Reform England in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and Government; But by this Union we are bound up for ever, from all Endeavours and Attempts of this nature, and have put our selves out of all capacity to give any Help or Assistance that way; as ye may see more fully in the late Protestation against the Union, Published at Sanquhar October 22. 1707.
Let none say, That what we have done here flows from Ambition to exalt our selves above others, for as we have great cause, so we desire Grace from the Lord, to be sensible of what Accession [complicity] we have with others in the Land, to the provoking of his Spirit, in not walking as becomes the Gospel, according to our Solemn Engagements, neither proceeds it from Irritation or Inclination (by choice or pleasure) to discover our Mothers Nakedness or Wickedness, or that we love to be of a contentious Spirit, for our Witness is in Heaven (whatever the World may say) that it would be the joy of our Hearts, and as it were a Resurrection from the Dead to have these Grievances Redressed and Removed, and our Backslidings, and Breaches quickly and happily healed, but it is to Exonerate Consciences by protesting against the Defections of the Land, especially of Ministers: And seeing we can neither with safety to our Persons, nor freedom in our Consciences compear before their Judicatories, while these Defections are not acknowledged and removed, so we must, so long Decline them, and hereby do Decline them, as unfaithful Judges in such matters: In regard they have in so great a measure, yielded up the Privileges of the Church into the hands and will of her Enemies, and carried on a course of Defection contrary to the Scriptures, our Covenants, and the Acts and Constitutions of this our Church: And hereby we further Protest and Testify, against whatever they may conclude, or determine in their Ecclesiastick Courts by Acts, Ratifications, Sentences, Censures, &c. that have been, or shall be made or given out by them, and Protest, that the same may be made void and null, and not interpreted as binding to us, or any who desire firmly to adhere to the Covenanted Work of Reformation.
But let none look upon what we have here said, to be a Vilipending or Rejecting of the Free, Lawful, and rightly constitute Courts of Christ, for we do acknowledge such to have been among the first most effectual means appointed of God for preserving the Purity and advancing the Power of Reformation in the Church of Christ; The sweet Fruits, and blessed Effects whereof, this Church hath sometimes enjoyed, and which we have been endeavouring and seeking after, and are this day longing for.
We Detest and Abhor that Principle of casting off the Ministry, wherewith we are odiously, and maliciously Reproached by these who Labour to fasten upon us, the hateful Names of Schismaticks, Separatists, Despisers of the Gospel; But herein as they do bewray their Enmity to the cause we
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own, so till they bring in their own Principles and Practices, and ours also, and try them by the Law and Testimony, the measuring Line of the Sanctuary, the Word of God, and the practice of this Church, when the Lord kept House with, and rejoiced over her as a Bridegroom over his Bride, they can never prove us Schismaticks or Separatists from the Kirk of Scotland upon the account of our Non-Union with the Backslidden Multitude, Ministers and others.
Finally, That we may not be Judged by any, as Persons of an Infallible Spirit, and our Actions above the cognisance of the Judicatories of Christ’s Appointment: We Appeal to the first Free, Faithful and rightly Constitute Assembly in this Church, to whose Decision and Sentence in these things Libeled against us, we willingly refer our selves, and crave liberty to extend and enlarge this our Protestation, Declinature and Appeal as need requires.
JO. MACKNEIL.
Balmaghie Manse,
Sept. 24. 1708.
Enclosed in a Line to Nicol Spence, and by him delivered to the Commission.
Spt. 29. 1708.
A Postscript,
To the Consideration of the unprejudiced Reader.
It hath always been the incident Lot, as well as the ordinary Complaint of all Ages, that they who depart from Iniquity, make themselves a Prey, the more Faithful most Reproached and Maligned, and such who endeavour to discover or warn a People or Land, of the danger of Defection and Backsliding have, by the indifferent, Ignorant, or Lukewarm, been reputed Troublers of their Israel, Pragmatick, Seditious, and Subverters of the World. What ground for such a Complaint some have, the late Act of the Commission, dated Oct. 1st. 1708, against the above Paper, makes evident, while both it and the Authors, are branded with most opprobrious Aspersions, Supercilious Calumnies, and groundless Stigma’s of
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Schism, Sedition, Dangerous and unsound Principles and Practices: But as every Truth, such who study to follow the cloud of Witnesses, in opposing or withdrawing from Sin, and sinful Courses, meet with, Gravamimous Circumstances attending it; so this, hath it’s own heavy enough, being in the House, and from the hands of such who should be Friends: Yet this bitter Potion hath this to alleviate and mitigate it, that it is not past Memory, how the Valiant Champions for Truth Mr. Cameron, Mr. Cargill, Mr. Renwick and others were not only hunted, prosecuted, and persecuted unto Death by the late Tyrannical and Arbitrary Governments, but also were Reproached, flouted at, and disdained by Backsliding Brethren, who lived at ease, and Issachar like couched under the burden, and drew the Furrows of Scurrilous Invectives deep upon their Backs.
To animadvert on every thing in this unreasonable and Calumnious Act would exceed beyond the due Limits of a Postscript; We shall only briefly notice some things most obvious. The Authors are branded with Schism, Sedition &c. Which Epithets are equally odious to the Libeled as Libelers: They Profess, Preach and Practise nothing, but what hath been owned by the Church of Scotland, by Acts and Laws, especially betwixt 1638 and 1649 Inclusive, and what hath been contended for, Witnessed and Sealed by the Wrestlings and Blood of Martyrs on Scaffolds, Seas and Fields, as is evident by their practice, and by the above Paper, which being read & seriously pondered without prejudice, will plead their Innocency, and that they are unjustly charged and characterised by the Commission as Laodicean Brethren; All they here own, being for the matter, agreeable to the Word of God, our Covenants, Acts and Laws of this Kirk and Kingdom, and concerted according to the Testimony of this Church, in the late Persecution, under Tyranny, Supremacy, and Prelacy, as is sufficiently and irrefragably demonstrated in Naphtali, Apol[ogetical] Relation, Jus Populi, Hind let loose, Hist. of the Indulgence & Testimony against the Toleration, Jan. 1688. Whereby it’s evident their principles are neither Innovations, nor yet Seditious and Schismatical; And if any count these Schism, &c. then they own the Charge, and desiring to follow the steps of these who contended for Truth, They say, in this way through Grace, we design to serve and Worship the God of our Fathers, and shall leave our Accusers to boast of their Innocency.
As to the Charge of Calumnious Defamations of this present Church: We would humbly Judge this hath Relation to the Grievances [and whether these be grievances or not] or not, the Word of God, Our Covenants, and Acts and Practices of this Church in our Covenanting Days be Judge. And further These are not their Grievances alone, but the Complaint and Grief of Soul to many Thousands in the Kingdom, both of Dissenters, and of their own Dissatisfied Hearers, who Groan and are made to sit astonished, when they observe and see the Backsliding, Fainting and Unfaithfulness of Ministers in complying with every course of Defection, instead of Redressing Grievances, and satisfying the Offended, still adding to their Sorrow, so while this Church judicially and practically exculpate her self of these and many more Grievances, she can never charge the Offended with Calumnious Defamations.
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And no less surprising it is, that so confidently they affirm, that they own the whole Covenanted Work of Reformation. It will take, we Judge, a Stronger guide, then Ariadn’s thread to lead them out of a Labyrinth here: In short, if they disown the Principles in the above Paper in what they own and adhere to (as in their Act they do) how can they say, They own the Covenanted Principles of our Reformation, when these two have taught and practised nothing, but what our Covenants obliges us unto: But we may judge, the Act hath this in it, to amuse the World, and to inveigle People into an implicit [credulity] to themselves, and prejudice against the Protesters. Further if they own the whole Covenanted Work of Reformation; How is it that there is not an Act in Assembly, since the late Revolution Reviving the Covenant, or for renewing it; No Acts for Ratifying and Approving, Strengthening and Confirming former Acts of Assembly between 1638 and 1649 for our Covenants: No Act against Maligners of, or Speakers against the Covenant: No Act obliging Ministers to explain it to the People, or formally to Swear it: No judicial acknowledgement and particular enumeration of the Breaches of it: No Act past against Prelacy on the account of Perjuries, but Curates Tolerate in the peaceable Exercise of their Ministry: No Act against Malignants and Disaffected Persons, but receiving them into our bosom, and into Offices of Power and Trust, gives us ground to say, What means the Bleating of the Sheep, and lowing of the Oxen? And what means the complex breach of the Covenant in the Unhallowed Union, all which are contrary to the Practice of our Reformers in their advancing the Covenanted Work of Reformation? We have better ground by Recrimination to retort the charge, that this present Church is Schismatical in making such a gap and breach in our pleasant Fabrick of a Reformation. Anno 1649.
Also, It is amusing to some to hear the Commission threaten these with the highest Censures of the Church, while yet they declare them none of their Communion.
As for the Commission’s Object to relinquish these Principles and Practices, this they cannot in Conscience do; when the Word of God commands, to hold fast what we have, to hold the Profession of our Faith without wavering; And to contend for the Faith delivered to the Saints, & to follow the cloud of Witnesses; So while their declared Principles be proven Heterodox, and the Practice of those who have paved the way by Testimonies, Protestations and Sufferings be proven unwarrantable, and the Grievances the ground of complaint, and Non-Union be removed, they cannot, as in the sight of God, concur with a course of Defection from the Cause of God.
Next what is said (in that Act) of well meaning People following their Courses, we say these Principles and Practices, and the Grievances here presented, are as weighty to Well meaning People, as to these who by this Act are branded, as pernicious Guides.
As for that particular Paper against Mr. Mackmillan, This was done before, but with little advantage to the Publishers; Well meaning People concerned with Truth, were more engaged, in observing and bearing his endeavours to be faithful in his Ministry, Preaching, and declaring against the Sins and Sinful Courses this Land is engaged in: What Faintings and Failings they here charge him with, are matter of his Sorrow and Reformation, not of his Boasting and Contentment: And if the Ministry of this Church, with whom we cannot cordially unite, would evidence as much Sorrow for their Backslidings Courses, would redress Grievances, would revive, ratify and approve the Advancements our Church attained to in Reformation, and faithfully contend for the Testimony of this Church, as handed down to us by our Zealous Reformers, Witnesses, and Martyrs, we would as heartily, gladly, and with our Souls embrace, own, submit to, and joyn with them as ever we did or do with Mr. Mackmillan; And if their honest Declaration of what they own, and of what they disown in the above Paper, and what they Protest against, Persecution upon that account shall arise; This late Act of the Commission will give a Discovery where to lay the blame, and whom to charge for it: So we conclude with Psal. 74. 22. Arise O God, plead thine own Cause.
Footnote:
[1] “Some in kirks”—this refers to the fact that many Episcopal ministers still held manse and church at this date. Cunningham (I. 196) says 165 such were known at the Union.—Ed.