Act, Declaration, Testimony for the Whole of our Covenanted Reformation | Page 4

former and more ancient periods; so it is the
presbytery's ambition, that nothing, as to the subject matter of what is
here contained, be looked upon as theirs, but may be regarded as an
ancient plea, wherein is nothing but what has been maintained and
confirmed by authors of the greatest fame and reputation in the church;
has been asserted by the greatest confessors, and sealed by the best
blood of the honored and faithful martyrs of Jesus: so that it may
appear, the cause and truths here judicially stated and vindicated, are
not of yesterday's date, but the same old paths and good way, that we
are commanded to ask for, and walk in, though paths that are not now
much trodden, a way that is not much paved by the multitude of
professors walking therein.

ACT, DECLARATION, AND TESTIMONY.

PART I.
Containing a brief historical narration of the several periods of the
Testimony of the Church of Scotland, and of the faithful contendings of
the witnesses for Christ, particularly from the commencement of the
Reformation in these lands, down to the late Revolution; with the
Presbytery's approbation thereof.
PLOUGHLANDHEAD, JUNE 6, 1761.
The which day and place, the Reformed Presbytery being met, and
taking into their most serious consideration, the deplorable situation of
the interest of Christ and religion at present, in these sinning lands
wherein so few are asking for the old path, saying, Where is the good
way, that we may walk therein? but, on the contrary, an avowed
apostasy and backsliding from the right ways of the Lord, is by the
generality carried on, with a secret undermining of reformation
interests, by some, under more specious pretenses; and, further,
considering the general deluge of error and heresy, that has overrun
these lands, and the swarm of erroneous heretics that has overspread

the same, making very impious attacks upon the most part of revealed
religion, who, notwithstanding, have found such shelter under the
wings of a Laodicean church, and almost boundless state toleration,
that they walk on without fear in the foresaid broad way of sin and
error. And, moreover, all kinds of sin and wickedness so universally
abound and pass, without any suitable check, that he who departs from
iniquity maketh himself a prey; together with the woful insensibility,
and deep security of all, under our spiritual plagues and impending
temporal strokes. And yet, while the land so evidently groans under its
inhabitants, very few either acknowledge themselves guilty, or turn
from the evil of their ways, saying, What have we done? Also,
considering the horrid breach and contempt of sacred vows unto the
Most High, the great effusion of the saints' blood, shed in our late
persecution under prelacy (which is yet to be found in our skirts), and
the faithful testimony they therewith sealed, remains buried under the
gravestones, both of ecclesiastical and civil deeds of constitution, unto
this day. So that we may rather admire, that the Lord hath not made
such inquisition for blood, as to make our land an aceldama, than that
we are yet under a dispensation of divine forbearance. All which is
followed with a deep oblivion of most or all of the memorable
instances of the Lord's goodness, mercy and power, manifested unto his
church, in these lands; the remembrance whereof ought still to be
retained, and the same acknowledged with thankfulness, by all the
children of Zion, unto the latest ages.
Wherefore the presbytery, amidst their many difficulties, partly noticed
in the introduction, as a court of the true Presbyterian Covenanted
Church of CHRIST in Scotland, constituted in the name of the LORD
JESUS CHRIST, the alone KING and HEAD of his church, judicially
to commemorate: Likeas, they did, and hereby do acknowledge, with
the utmost gratitude, the great goodness and tender mercy of our God
unto our church and land; who, in consequence of that early new
covenant grant, made by JEHOVAH to his eternal SON, to give him
the heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for
his possession, caused the day spring from on high to visit us. Our
glorious Redeemer, that bright and morning Star, having, by his
almighty power, shaken oft the fetters of death, wherewith it was

impossible that he could be held, and, as a victorious conqueror,
leading captivity captive, ascended into the highest heavens, and there
sat down on the right hand of God, did very soon discover his cordial
acceptance of, and superlative delight in, possessing his Father's
extensive grant, by stretching forth the lines of his large and great
dominion unto the distant nations of the world, involved in the thickest
darkness of stupidity and idolatry; and, in a particular manner, did, as
the glorious sun of righteousness, graciously illuminate this remote