Page:To the ministers and elders met at Edinburgh, April 26, 1710.pdf/5

 From Yocks and Burdens which had overcharged

Their Souls, their Conſcience had much perturbed,

And their due Chriſtian Liberty had curbed.

A COVENANT which for its riſe and ſpring,

Manner and Ends, yea every other thing

Relating to it, plainly doth diſcover,

That GOD therein hath been the ſupream Mover

His Kingdoms progreſs the ſupream Deſign;

The Manner what His perfect Laws define;

The Matter ſuch as every gracious Soul,

If well inform'd, muſt love, but can't control;

Binding to nothing but what formerly,

And antecedent unto ſuch a tye,

Was lying as a duty on theſe Nations,

Chiefly the Godly of all Ranks and Stations.

But leſt you ſhould Us tax of arrogance,

While modeſtly We labour to advance

That juſt Eſteem, and Honour which is due

To Us from all theſe Nations and from you

In ſpecial, if you ferve that Character

Which Chriſt upon His Servants doth confer,

Therefore We ſhall forbear Now to declare

What our Enduements and Perfections are.

Nor liſt We amply to enumerate

What wrongs we bear, left 't might exaſperate

Impatient humours, which can ſcarcely bear

Our Names, much leſs Our juft Complaints to hear;

And tho' We be contemned, flouted at,

Deſpis'd, derided and dilacerate;

Tho' ſuch as ſeal'd Us with their precious Blood,

Have been by You ſo far miſunderſtood,

As to be tearm'd Blind-Zealots, Men intent,

The Kingdom to diſturb, the Chưrch to rent;

Tho' in our room Oaths are impoſ'd and taken,

Contrare to Us, and We our felves forſaken;

Yea, tho' We have ſufficient Evidence