The History of Scotch-Presbytery; Being an Epitane of the Bird Let Loose, by Mr. Shields (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1692 Excerpt: ...Law, as the fame Test of the same compliance and submission. Other Ministers lay altogether by in their retired recesses, waiting to fee what things would turn to; others were hopeless, turned Farmers, and Doctors; others wylie staid at home, and Preached quietly in Ladies Chambers. But the Faithful found themselves under an indispensable necessity to Preach the Gospel, and witness for the freedom of their Ministry, and make full proof of it, in Preaching in Season, and out of Season; and thereupon as occasion offered. Preached to all such as were willing to hear; but at first, only in private Houses, and that for the most part, at such times when Sermons in publick surceased (a Supgrplus of Caution.) But afterwards, finding so great Difficulties and Persecutions for their House-Meetings, where they were so easily attrapped, were-constrained at last to keep their Meetings in the Fields: Where testifying both practically, and particularly against these Usurpations on their Master's Prerogatives, and witnessing for their Ministerial freedom, contrary to all Law-Interdictions, without any Licenses or Indulgence from the Usurper, but holding their Ministry from Jesus Christ alone, both as to the Office and Exercise thereof; they had so much of their Master's Countenance, and success in their Labours, that they valued neither hazards or hardships, neither the contempt of pretended Friends, nor the Laws nor threatnings of Enemies, adjudging the Penalty of Death it self to Preachers at Field-Conventicles, as they called them. Now having thus overturned the Church-Government, by introducing Prelacy, to advance ane absolute Supremacy, the King proceeds in his Design, to pervert and evert the well modelled and moderated Constitution of the State-Government also, by i...