And although they conceive, that the present unsettled condition both of church and state and land, will not suffer them, as yet, to loose any to make constant abode there, yet they have resolved to send over some for the present exigent till the next General Assembly, by courses to stay there four months allanerly (only): And therefore do thereby authorize and give commission to the persons following, to wit, M. Robert Blair, minister at St. Andrews, and M. James Hamilton, minister at Dumfries, for the first four months: M. Robert Ramsay, minister at Glasgow, and M. John Maclelland, minister at Kirkcudbright, for the next four months; and to M. Robert Baillie, professor of divinity in the university of Glasgow, and M. John Livingston, minister of Stranraer, for the last four months: To repair into the north of Ireland, and there to visit, comfort, instruct and encourage the scattered flocks of Christ, to employ themselves to their uttermost, with all faithfulness and singleness of heart, in planting and watering, according to the direction of Jesus Christ, and according to the doctrine and discipline of this church in all things: And, if need be, (with concurrence of such of the ministers of the army as are there,) to try and ordain such, as shall be found qualified for the ministry; giving charge to the persons aforesaid, that in doctrine, in worship, in discipline and in their daily conversation, they study to approve themselves as the ministers of Jesus Christ, and that they be comptable to the General Assembly of this kirk, in all things. And in case, if any of the above-mentioned ministers be impeded by sickness, or otherwise necessarily detained from this service, the Assembly ordains the commissioners residing at Edinburgh, for the public affairs of the church, to nominate, in their place, well-qualified men, who hereby are authorized to undertake the foresaid employment, as if they had been expressly nominate in the face of the Assembly. And this, although possibly it shall not fully satisfy the large expectation of the brethren in Ireland, yet the Assembly is confident they will take in good part, at this

time, that which is judged most convenient for their present condition-even a lent mite out of their own, not very great, plenty to supply the present necessity; requiring of them no other recompense, but that they, in all cheerfulness, may embrace and make use of salvation, and promising to enlarge their indebted bounty at the next Assembly, as they shall find the work of the Lord there to require. In the meanwhile, wishing that these who are sent may come with the full blessing of the gospel of peace, and recommending them, their labours, and those to whom they are sent, to the rich blessing of the great Shepherd of the flock." (46)

46 Acts of General Assembly. Printed 1682. Pp. 148–53.

CHAPTER IX.

Arrival of the ministers appointed by the General Assembly-Rapid extension of the church-Proceedings of the Scottish ministers-Several of the episcopal clergy join the presbytery-Mode of receiving them-Discipline strictly enforced by the presbytery—Fast observed, with its causes-Two ministers ordained-Livingston pays a second visit to Ulster-The presbytery send a second petition to the General Assembly-Assembly's proceedings-Ministers again appointed to visit the church in Ulster-State of affairs in the mean time in England-Civil war commenced-Ecclesiastical changes-Growing opposition to prelacy-English parliament open a correspondence with the General Assembly-Afterwards abolish prelacy-Westminster Assembly called-Commissioners from the Parliament sent to Scotland-Solemn League and Covenant-Taken in London-And in Edinburgh-Explained and vindicated-Forwarded to Ireland.

AGREEABLY to the appointment of the General Assembly, the Rev. Robert Blair, formerly minister of Bangor, and the Rev. James Hamilton, cousin to the then lord Claneboy, and formerly minister of Ballywalter, visited Ulster in the beginning of September. At the first meeting of the presbytery held after their arrival, they produced the Assembly's commission, which was most thankfully received by the brethren ; and as a mark of their respect and gratitude, was ordered to be inserted in their minutes, and preserved among their presbyterial records.

Guided by these experienced ministers, who were intimately acquainted with the circumstances of the country, and who had already proved themselves skilful and successful missionaries, the church in Ulster rapidly revived, and broke forth on the right hand and on the left.' The seed which had

been sown in faith by these eminent men and their persecuted brethren, prior to the rebellion, though long checked in its growth by the chilling severities of the prelates, now began to spring up with renovated vigour, and to gladden the wilderness with its verdure and fertility. The fruit of their labour appeared in the numbers who had preserved their principles uncorrupted, and their attachment to scriptural truth and freedom unabated, notwithstanding the discouragements of ecclesiastical bondage and the ravages of civil war. titudes, from all quarters, hastened to declare themselves in favour of the presbyterian church, and expressed the strongest desires for her establishment in Ulster. They were most anxious to be permitted to join her standard and partake of her privileges.

Mul

But neither the importunity of the people to be received into communion, nor the desire, so natural to men in their circumstances, of speedily securing to their church the ascendancy in Ulster, induced the presbytery to deviate from the strict rules of discipline, characteristic of the parent, and, it may be added, of the primitive, church. No person was admitted to the privileges, or recognised as enjoying the fellowship, of the church, who did not possess a competent degree of religious knowledge, or who did not fully approve of her constitution and discipline, or who was unable to state the grounds of that approbation. Neither were any received into communion who had either willingly conformed to prelacy, or taken the black oath, or been immoral in their conduct, until they publicly renounced their errors, and professed repentance for their irregularities. "Any persons who at that time were under scandals of any kind, and not properly under the ministry of any in the presbytery, were received, upon their own free offer, to public repentance; but were not compelled, till they became members of some formed congregation; except in case that they required the benefit of sealing ordinances. The presbytery did also impose public evidences of repentance upon scandalous persons in their parishes,

and where elderships were erected, with as great severity as had been done at any time in the church of Scotland: And these persons did submit themselves thereunto, though the most part were not properly formed into congregations as yet, nor under the inspection of ministers." (1)

The chief duty of the delegates from the Scottish church was to organize congregations throughout the country in accordance with these principles; and to cement the union of the people associated in their newly-formed churches, by the administration of the Lord's Supper. In the performance of these duties of" planting and watering according to the direction of Jesus Christ," they were, everywhere, received with the utmost respect and gratitude. The parish churches were again crowded with worshippers, and once more resounded with the voice of prayer and thanksgiving. The people rejoiced in the restoration of their church and the recovery of their religious rights. They truly "came to Zion with songs, and joy upon their heads." Their worship could be now conducted without the slavish restrictions of the service-book, and their ecclesiastical concerns regulated, not by the statutes of parliament, or the ordinances of civil rulers, but by the deliberations of church officers guided by the dictates of the word of God. At the same time, they bewailed their former compliances with prelacy; and those who had been induced to take the black oath, professed deep sorrow for having been ensnared into that engagement.

The following narrative of Mr. Blair's proceedings during this visit, has been happily preserved. "During all the three months he was in Ireland, he generally preached once every day and twice on the Sabbath, and frequently in the fields; the auditories being so large that no house could contain them; and in some of these he administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

"But because many of the people had formerly through

I Adair's MS.