The case of the afflicted clergy

§ 5. He concludeth his particular Instances of this Persecution page 18. With the account of Mr. Ramsays sufferings who was Mi∣nister at Stranrawer. Two things he complaineth of: The first is, that Mr. Miller the Presbyterian Minister there, Hounded out the Rab∣ble to Trouble, and expel Mr. Ramsay, that himself might get the Tithe Herrings. This is denied as an impudent Forgery. And Mr. Millar, challengeth Mr. Ramsey or any else to adduce one credible Person, who will Affirm that he had any hand, directly, or indirectly, in the trouble that Mr. Ramsay met with, The second is Mr. Maxwel (who had been in Ireland some time) when he returned home, Mr. Ramsay also and others, could not get their Stipend. Yea the Sheriff in∣couraged all those to whom they owed any thing to sue them. Where as he refused to hear them when they sued for their by past Stipends: By which means they were Starved out of the Country. Ans. It was little won∣der that they had no Stipend payed them, when they did not serve the Cures: Nor that the Sheriff did not Favour them in their su∣ing for these Stipends; for the Council had by a Proclamation appoint∣ed that no Decrees should pass, about these Stipends till the Parlia∣ment (which soon after was to fit) should determine in that extra∣ordinary case. That the Sheriff did excite any to sue these Mini∣sters,

is said without any shew of proof: Nor can the Assertion of a Person who hath written so many Lies in a few pages, induce any rational Person to believe it, page 19, 20. He offereth to prove all that he hath said, and more, that he might alledge: Which we chal∣lenge him to do, as he would not bear the Infamy of that Lying and Slandering that he most unjustly chargeth the Presbyterians with, page 20. He classeth the persecuted Clergy, into four Ranks: The three former I have taken notice of, in answer to the two Pamphlets above answered. Of the fourth, which is, such as were put out by the Judicatories of the Church (which this mocker calleth the Holy Inquisition of the Presbyterian Preachers) he giveth not one Instance. I deny not but some (and they were but very few) were deposed, or suspended, by some Presbyteries, for insufficient causes: And it is no wonder that some Ministers who were not well experienced in the practical part of Church Government, might commit some mi∣stakes: But this can no ways be charged on the Presbyterians, not only because they were but very few that did so; but especially be∣cause the Church of Scotland took special care, both to prevent this practice and to redress the grievances of such as made complaint, af∣ter they had been thus wrong'd. For in 1689. a general Meeting did enjoin all the Presbyteries to be careful that none of the late Conformists be censured except for Insufficiency, Scandal, Errour, or supine Negligence in the Ministerial Work; nor unless these were sufficiently proved against them; and that if there should be any doubt, either about the relevancy of what should be Libelled against any of them, or about the clearness of the proof of what any of them should be charged with in that case, they should not pro∣ceed to a sentence, but refer the matter to the General Assembly, which was to meet. This was what could be done by way of pre∣caution. And for relief of such as pretended to be grieved; where∣as such as were Censured by Presbyteries (most of them I mean, for some were so guilty in their own Eyes, and to the conviction of all that knew them; that they acquiesced in their Sentence) did ap∣peal to the General Assembly, the Assembly (not having time to do it) did appoint a Commission of the gravest, and most experien∣ced, of their number, consisting of 40 Ministers and 20 Ruling El∣ders, to examine these processes, and to take off such Sentences as they should find unduely passed against any Person. The Commissi∣on hath examined some of these complaints, and are going on with the rest; and have Actually taken off the Sentences of some: Such as Mr. Spotswood of Abotsrule: Mr. Lyon of Kinghorn: And Mr.

Bowis of Abbotshall: Wherefore we are not afraid of the Printed Ac∣count that he saith is coming out, (we have as yet heard no more of it) of such as were censured by the Church: But are willing that the World should know the whole truth of that matter.