piled Anno 1560, and Ratified in the First Parliament of K. James VI.

In the Year 1687, upon the Toleraration granted by the late King James, Mr. Meldrum was defirous to return to his Pulpit in Aberdeen, in Subordination to the Bishop; but not obtaining that living, then legally poffeft by another, and meeting with another Difappointment he grew picqu'd, and returning to his old Presbyterian Principles, fet up a Presbyterian Meeting in Killwinning, and there continued holding Schifmatical Affemblies; until upon the Revolution he remov'd to Edinburgh, where he has been ever fince Preacher in the Tron-Church of that City. During his Conformity tó Epifcopacy he feems to have been one of the Moderate Church Men; fuch as (if we may believe a late (4) Author) the Weft. minster Affembly was made up of, Nine excepted, that were known Diffenters; and yet these Moderate or Low-Church' Men, made Root and Branch work with Epifcopacy and the Church of England, and gave no Toleration to her Members, but oppos'd it as much as ever they cou'd

(4) See Preface to

the Hift. of Non-Con

formity, Printed 1705.

cou'd.

Mr. Meldrum is in that Efteem with his Party, that he has been Moderator in Two of their General Affem. blies, and is now their Profeffor of Divinity in the College of Edinburgh, reckon❜d one of the Learnedft Men amongst them. This is certain, that he is one of the moft Subtle and Irreconcileable Enemies of Epifcopacy.

Divers of the Epifcopal Clergy thought themselves obliged to take Notice of what their Adverfaries had offer'd in point of Argument against a Toleration to thofe of the Epifcopal Perfwafion; fuch as the Reverend and Learned Author of The Cafe of the Epifcopal Clergy, &c. Printed 1703, and of The Defence of the Cafe, &c. and others. Among the reft the Author of thefe Letters judged it neceffary to examine Mr. Meldrum's Performances in this Controverfy, as being done by the Champion of the Party; for Si pergama dextrâ defendi poffent, etiam hac defens a fuiffent. And therefore he wrote an Examination of the Sermon abovenam'd, which Examination you have in the Fir Letter. It was Printed by it felf, Anno 1703. In Anfwer to which Examination Mr. Meldrum Published a Defence or Vin

1

dication of his Sermon. That Vindication, was taken to Task by this Author, in Four Letters Addrefs'd to Mr. Meldrum, which were publifh'd with this Title,The Reafonableness of aToleration to thofe of the Epifcopal Perfwafion, enquired into, purely on Church Principles, &c. Printed at Edinburgh,in Four Letters,&c. by Mr. Andrew Symfon, Anno Dom. 1704. They are now Re-printed here, only with this difference, that the First Letter in that Edition is made the Second in this, and the II, III and IV there, are numbred here the III, IV and V; which the Reas der is defired to obferve, in the References he will meet with in the Latter to the Former. Mr. Meldrum's Sermon is alfo Annex'd, as having given the firft Occafion for the Letters: It was intended to have had his Vindication Re-printed, that the Reader might have the Progreß of this Controverfy before him at once; but the Citations from it being fairly made, and both Page and Line pointed to, that was laid afide, as not neceffary, and left it should fwell this to too great a Bulk.

This Author meddles not with the State Point, but proceeds wholly upon. Church

Church Principles, taken from the Sacred Scriptures, and the Writings and Uniform Practice of the Firft and Pureft Ages of Christianity: He do's in this Trea tife carry up the Principles of the Cyprianick Age, to that of the Apoftles; a thing much defired by fuch as have Read the Excellent Book bearing that Title, and its Learned Vindication; nor is it to be doubted but thefe Letters will have as kind a Reception, amongst the Learned and Fudicious, as the abovenam'd Books met with.

Should God in his Providence, fuffer the Church of England, the Glory and Bulwark of the Reformation, to be run down as in the Late Rebellion; or as the Church of Scotland is at this day, (which God avert) She can hardly expect any other Treatment than what the Pref byterians of Scotland have ufed, and still pursue towards the Epifcopal Church there. For its evident that the Principles and Practices of the Party in Both Kingdoms are the fame; that is, againft Toleration to any but themselves. Their Barbarous Treatment of the Clergy of Scotland, as well fince the Revolution as in the Days of the Covenant, is writ

writ

with a Sun-Beam; so that its needless to fay any thing of it here: He that wants to be inform'd will be amaz'd at the Tra gical Accounts he will find in feveral Treatifes on that Subject, Printed for Fo Hindmarsh, 1690, &c. What regard the English Presbyterians had for Tender Confciences, and what Toleration they granted others, when they got themfelves poffefs'd of the Power, appears fufficiently in their Behaviour towards King Charles I. who was by them deny'd the Attendance and Affiftance of his own Chaplains; upon which, among his many other Juft and Chriftian Reflections, you will find the fol(b) 'E BIN Íowing Words. (b) To xn. Chap. xxiv. deny me the Ghostly Comfort of my Chaplains, feems a greater Ri gor and Barbarity than is ever ufed by Christians to the meanest Prifoners and greatest Malefactors; whom tho the Justice of the Law deprives of worldly Comforts, yet the Mercy of Religion allows them the Benefit of their Clergy, as not aiming at once to Deftroy their Bodies, and to Damn their Souls; but my Agony must not be Reliev'd with the Prefence of any one Good Angel; for fuch I account a Learned,

Godly,