THE CONTENTS. 1. The teftimony of the King of Martyrs concerning his kingdom, John xviii. 36. 37. explained and illu- strated in fcripture-light, 2. Queries put to Mr Glas, by the synod of Angus and Mearns, with his answers, in April 1728, 3. An explication of that propofition contained in Mr Glas's answers to the fynod's queries, "A congre- "gation or church of Jesus Christ, with its presby- - Subject fent to the author by a friend, 5. The speech of Mr John Glas before the commission of the general afssembly, March 11. 1730,. 6. Some obfervations upon the Original constitution of 7. A second letter to Mr Aytone, containing remarks 8. Of the unity and distinction of the elder's office, 9. A Petition to the Associate Presbytery, by four Pag. 中 The Testimony of the KING OF MARTYRS concerning his Kingdom, John xviii. 36. 37. explained and illustrated in scripture-light. Rev. xvi. 10. And the fifth angel poured out his vial on the feat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness and they gnawed their tongues for pain. [First published in the year 1729.] W Hen there is so much regard paid to the testimony of men, which can never be the ground of our faith, it cannot be questioned, but that more regard is due to the teftimony of the author and finisher of faith: "For if we " receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater." At least it may be expected, that as many as would "fight "the good fight of faith, and lay hold on eternal life," will give a fair hearing to this good confeffion which Jesus Chrift witnessed before Pontius Pilate. And certainly no true Christian will find reason to be ashamed of this testimony of our Lord, even though it will make all them that are not ashamed to confefs it in all its parts, partakers of the afflictions of the the gospel: "For God hath not given them the spirit of fear, " but of power, and of love, and of a found mind." The true cause of my fufferings is the open confession of this teftimony of Jesus Chrift, as I understand it: and no man can confefs any part of divine revelation, but according to the understanding he has of it; otherwise it is not his own confession, but another man's; or, he confesses not truths, but words. For this cause I suffer in my name, by cruel mockings and reproaches; and in my ministry, being rejected, as the "head of the corner" himself was, by them that pretend to be "builders:" and for this cause I suffer the loss of my living in the world, as far as lies in the power of my perfecutors; and it will be owing to the good providence of God, and the equity of the magiftrate, if my fufferings do not proceed yet further. Yet, in all this, the enemies of my cause perfuade themselves and their followers, that " they " are doing God good service : " and I am perfuaded, that I ought not to think this " strange, as though some strange "thing had happened to me." But being thus debarred from that access I once had to preach the gospel of the kingdom, and declare the testimony of Jesus Christ in a public manner, I thought it my duty to do my best to make it manifeft, according to my measure, by means of the press, (which is yet free, and has been, by the good providence of him that is "head over all things to the "church," made very useful in the recovery of Chriftianity from the corruption of it by antichrist); and so to offer my testimony against the prevailing errors of the day, and vindicate the present truth, "the word of Christ's patience," that has been condemned and rejected by our "builders." I am very sensible, that, as it was never designed to please any faction or party of this world, no party will be altogether pleased with it. But there are two forts of men from which the gospel met with oppofition at the first, and which remain unto this day, though perhaps under other names: and from both I expect heavy censures. 1. They that affect a temporal kingdom to Christ, and a wordly church. Thus, "minding earthly things," and profeffing dissatisfaction with the Christian doctrine of " patient "bearing the cross after Christ," they would have the nations of this earth (now brought under the Chriftian name, not by the influence of the gospel, by which men were made Christians at first, but by those means which served unto the treading of the outer court of God's house under the feet of the Gentiles) |