only they were not leavened, on the part of the assembly, with the mention of any grievances as they were last year, the assembly passed a variety of acts, most of them repetitions of former ones. One of them, however, entitled "An act for pre serving the purity of the doctrine of this church," determined the long depending process against professor Simpson, which, as it forms an era in the history of the Scotish church, and has been so often appealed to as a flagrant proof of her declension 26.-Estate of the late Lord Nairn. Money, Rent payable in money, Capons, 128, at 7d. each, L.671 7 3 3 14 8 Poultry, 512, at 5d. each.-Swine, 5, at 11s. each, 13 8 4 L.740 17 6 31-Estate of William, late Viscount of Kenmure. Money, Rent payable in money, 1.558 8 4 Barley, 31 bolls, at 10s. 5d. per boll, 16 2 11 Oats, 32 bolls.-Oatmeal, 11, at do. 22 7 11 Wethers, 26, at 5s. per wether.-Capons, 61, at 7d. 27.-Estate of Sir David Threpland, late of Fingask.Hens, 101, at 5d. each.-Chickens, 668, Money, Rent payable in moncy, Wheat 48 bolls, at do.-Pease, 21 bolls, Yarn, 20 sps. 1 hasp, 3 heers, at 2s. per sp. Geese, 79, at 1s. cach.-Capons, 77, at 7d. each, ... Hens, 33, at 5d. each.-Poultry, 508, at 4d. each, ... L.147 14 Butter, 29 stone at 4s. 5d.-Tallow, 50 8 0 115 10 0 24 3 0 9 3 1 0 10 4 1.355 0 5 28.-Estate of John Hay, late of Cromlix. 5 stone, at 4s, 5d. Lamb, 1, at ... 857 7 13 5 Chickens, 341, at 1s. 8d. per dozen, 78 8 8 Oats, 26 bolls, at do. per boll, ... 9 20 Oatmeal, 75 bolls, 2 fir. at do. per boll, 26 8 6 4d. each, 5 12 8 309 Straw, 69 thraves, at 4d. per thrave, 13 6 6 Eggs, 196 dozen, at 1d. per dozen, from the purity of gospel doctrine, we shall give, in its most important parts, without abridgement:-" The General Assembly considering, that although professor Simpson does declare his adherence to our Confession of Faith, and doctrines therein contained, as his judgment, and his disowning the errors opposite thereto, wherewith he was charged; yet, considering that by his printed answers, and the letters written by him to the now deceast Mr. Robert Rowan, sometime minister at Penninghame, and his letter to the foresaid committee, for purity of doctrine, dated the fourteenth of April, 1716 years, he hath given offence, and that it is judged that therein he hath vented some opinions not necessary to be taught in divinity, and that In the foregoing abstract, there are evidently several inaccuracies, which, having met only with one copy, it has not been in the author's power to rectify. Upon the whole, however, he believes it to come near the truth. In 1723, it was determined by the house of lords, that only the life rent of Nithsdale's estate was forfeited. Nairn's was forfeited only during the life of John, lord Nairn and an act of parliament was passed, 1717, to enable his majesty to make provision for the wife and children of James, earl of Southesk, out of his estate. From the Lockhart Papers, vol. ii. p. 88, we learn also, that through the management of the lord advocate, Dundas of Arniston, the estate of Baldoon was saved from forfeiture, along with several others which he has not specified. have given more occasion to strife, than to the promoting of edification, that he hath used some expressions that bear, and are used by adversaries in a bad and unsound sense, and for answering more satisfactorily (as he supposeth) the cavils and objections of adversaries, he hath adopted some hypotheses different from what are commonly used among orthodox divines, that are not evidently founded on scripture, and tend to attribute too much to natural reason, and the power of corrupt nature, which undue advancement of reason and nature is always to the disparagement of revelation and efficacious free grace. The General Assembly, for the reasons above mentioned, prohibits and discharges the said Mr. John Simpson to use such expressions, or to teach, preach, or otherwise vent such opinions, propositions, or hypotheses, as aforesaid. And, as concerning the parties in this process, whatever complaints have been made as to the manner of raising or managing this process on either hand, the General Assembly for peace's sake, do overlook and pass those, without further insisting thereon, and do discharge any prosecution on either side on these accounts," &c. &c.* This was surely a very gentle censure," but "there were so many members in the assembly, who either had been his scholars, or were his relations, comrades, or acquaintances, who stood up for saving him,"+ that any other could not be obtained. This assembly the same day that they so easily passed over the errors of professor Simpson, condemned the following propositions laid down by the presbytery of Auchterarder:-"That it is not sound and orthodox to teach that we must forsake sin in order to our coming to Christ, and instating us in covenant with God," declaring "their abhorrence" of it "as unsound and most detestable," and it was "agreed that the presbytery should be called to account upon this head," a lamentable proof of what is stated above, by the authors of a Fair and Impartial Testimony, &c. that there were too many of professor Simpson's scholars in the assembly. An apology has been often made, * Printed Acts of Assembly, 1717. Fair and Impartial Testimony, &c. pp. 42, 43. and a defence set up for the assembly, from the wording of the proposition, which it may be readily admitted is susceptible of improvement, but it ought not to be overlooked that the proposition was not framed as a general abstraction, but for a particular and practical purpose, viz. to check the progress of Arminian and Baxterian errors, which were abounding in that neighbourhood, and it is no great compliment to the penetration of the assembly, to suppose them unaware of this circumstance. The truth is, Baxterianism, at least, had now evidently gained an ascendancy in the church of Scotland.* This assembly also appointed the presbytery of Dumfries and Lochmaben "to go on in a process of excommunication against Mr. James Gilchrist, and Mr. John Taylor, (the former minister of Wamphray, and the latter minister of Dunscore) with all expedition, and the presbytery of Dumfries to commence a process of deposition against Mr. John Hepburn, for schismatick and irregular practices, and to adduce probation, providing they find he continues in his irregularities; but that presbytery is appointed before they begin the process, to take the best information they can get of Mr. Hepburn's carriage, and report to the commission in August next, and receive their orders thereanent, and the said presbytery ordered, when they have brought the said process usque ad sententiam, to lay the same before the commission, and the commission empowered to judge therein as they shall see cause, and also to apply to the civil magistrate, that effectual means may be used to put presbyteries in possession of the kirks and manses of deposed ministers." There was no charge against any of these said ministers, neither for error in doctrine, nor immorality in practice, but they were nonjurants, and differed with their brethren with regard to public managements. Of Mr. John Hepburn we have made ample mention already, and it does not appear that any thing further was done with regard to him. Mr. Taylor was admonished to avoid irregular courses, and Mr. Gilchrist was *This will be more and more demonstrated as we go along, particularly in the acts concerning the Marrow of Modern Divinity. |