"1. We acknowledge that the fundamental deed of con- stitution in our refoiming period, hi all mor.il at:i)ects, is essentially unalterable, because of its agreeableness to the Divine will revealed in the Scriptures, and because it was attained to and tixed in the presence of our solemn cov- enants ; and tfiat the nation sinned in overthrowing it. 2. We condemn the conduct of the nation at the Revolu- tion in leaving the Reformed Constitution buried and neglected ; and in not looking out for magistrates who should concur with them in the maintenance of true re- ligion, as formerly settled, and rule them by laws subser- vient to its advancement. 3. We condemn not only the conduct of England and Ireland, at that period, in retain- ing episcopacy, but also the conduct of Scotland iu not reminding them of their obligations, and in every way competent exciting them to reformation, conformably to a prior treaty and covenant; and particularly the con- sent which this kingdom gave at the union to the perpet- ual continuance of episcopacy in England, with all that flowed from this and partakes of its sinful character. 4. We condemn the ecclesiastical supremacy of the crown as established by laws in England and Ireland, and all the assumed exercise of it in Scotland, particularly by dissolving the assemblies of the Church, and claiming the sole right of appointing fasts and thanksgivings, together with the practical compliances with it on the part of Church courts or ministers in the discharge of their public office. 5. We condemn the abjuration -oath, and other oaths which, either in express terms or by just implica- tion, approve of the complex constitution. 6. AVe con- sider that there is a great difl'erence between the arbi- trary and tyrannical government of the persecuting pe- riod and that which has existed since the Eevuliiiion, which was established with the cordial consent of the great body of the nation, and in consequence of a claim of right made by the representatives of the people, and acknowledged by the rulers ; who, although they want (as the nation does) many of the qualifications which they ought to possess according to the Word of God and our covenants, yet perform the essential duties of magistratical office by maintaining justice, peace, and order to the glory of God, and protecting us in the enjoyment of our liberties and the free exercise of our religion. Lastly, holding these views, and endeavoring to act according to them, we can, without dropping our testimony in behalf of a former reforming period, or approving of any of the evils which cleave to the constitutiou or administration of the state, acknowledge the present civil government, and yield obedience to all its lawful commands, not for wrath but for conscience' sake ; and in doing so we have this advantage, that we avoid the danger of partially dis- regarding the numerous precepts respecting the (ibedi- ence to magistrates contained in the Bible — we have no need to have recourse to gloss upon these, which, if ap- plied to other precepts running in the same strain, would tend to loosen all the relations of civil life — and we act iu unison with the principles and practice of the Christians of the tirst ages who lived under heathen or Arian empe- rors; of Protestants who have lived under popish piiuces; of our reforming fathers in Scotland under queen Mary, and of their successors during the first establishment of episcopacy, and after the Restoration down to the time at which "the government degenerated into an open and avowed tyranuy."
On the question as to the lawfulness of taking the burgess-oath, which so early as 1747 rent the secession body into two sections, the Original Seceders avowed in their Testimony a decided coincidence in statement with the Antiburghers. This is plain from the follow- ing explanations given by Dr. M'Crie, in which the
ORIGINAL SECEDERS
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ORIGINAL SECEDERS
religious clause in the oath is shown to be inconsistent with the secession Testimonj- :