Sir Thomas Urquhart (1653) Logopandecteision. Book IV: Chryseomystes: The Scope, 2 unnumbered pp.


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The Scope

Of the fourth BOOK,entituled

C H R Y S E O M Y S T E S.

THE Author having in the two preceding Books, very orderly proceeded from the manifestation of the huge log of Flagitators, lying in his way, to the displaying of pregnant reasons, why the said impediment should be removed, for the weal of the whole Isle, whose Literature by his endeavours he is to improve ; In this fourth Book of his Introduction, he maketh mention of another block, which, though not of so immense a bulk, ought nevertheless, for its reugnancie with the proposed end, be as well laid aside, as the former, and that is the unjust decrees, wherewith the Presbyterian Commission hath robbed him of a great deal of his rents. He for compendiousness sake, begins with the figure of Apophasis, to say he intends not to expostulate for the injurie sustained by that Kirkomantick tyrannie, which despoyled him of his right of Patronage to his Churches, and from thence descendeth to a plain Narration, how contrary to an established Union by Act of Parliament, and in opposition to seven relevant reasons, to any one whereof they would not daigne to make answer, the Commission of the Kirke, without giving any hearing to the Authors advocats, decerned one of his good Priests, to have an augmentation out of his patrons rents, though equivalent to as much more, as was possessed by his Predecessor in that church ; and the Churches of the other Parish (in spite of both Law & Reason) to be disunited, & to each p2 of the Ministers thereof, more stipend mortifyed, then to them both formerly was thought to be sufficient. This is one of the chips of the block of Presbyterial Government, which because the violent assertors thereof would be a pretended jure divino authority pertinaciously obtrude upon our consciences, and co-essentiat it in the object of our Faith, with the most orthodox Ecclesiastical doctrine, the Author very civilly, without falling upon the common School-controversies, twists out a discourse concerning Fables, Sorcerers, and distracted people, wherein, they will be found as erroneous in their opinions, as in their rule, oppressive. The Author desires to have the prolixity of the digression for this cause excused, that who would encounter with such an adversary, must step a little aside to cope with him aright. He walks in no known tract, his actions are arbitrary, and passion directs his motions : and where he finds evasions suitable to his hypocrisie, Proteus never transformed himself into so many shapes, as he will doe for his own ends. What the Author speaks of the devotion of his Ancestors, before the Nativitie of our Saviour, and when afterwards the only Romish Faith was embraced by them : Of the antiquitie of his Tenandrie, and their skilfulness in the Ceremonies of pristine Sacrifice : Of vindicating old customs from the aspersions of Neoterick Sciolists, and maintaining the ingeniositie of Fables : Of the consistence of Poetical Fictions with true Divinity, and sympathie twixt old and new Rome in their Rites and Mysteries of Religion : and Lastly, of Hypochondriack, and Fanatical braines, and the great perpetrations of horrible unjustice in Scotland, by the too frequent mistakes of their diseases, is to no other purpose ; but in view of the Courteous Reader, to career his Spirits along the bounds, the rigid Presbyter would not have to be trod upon : and to make that Judicatory perceive, to whom he makes his appeale, how unfit it were, that any consistorian vaile should darken the light of his Elucubrations. After all, he closeth with the covetousness, and inflexibility of the selfish Kirkist, which as it is connexed with foregoing passages, to the discretion of the gentle peruser cannot come unseasonably.


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