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1685. Mr Renwick could not let go this opportunity of witnessing against the usurpation by a Papist of the government of the nation, and his design of overturning the covenanted work of reformation and introducing Popery. Accordingly, he and about 200 men went to Sanquhar, May 28th, 1685, and published that declaration, afterwards called the Sanquhar Declaration.
In 1787, a proclamation was issued out, February 12th, tolerating the moderate Presbyterians to meet in their private houses to hear the indulged ministers, while the field-meetings should be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of law, &c. A second proclamation was given, June 28th, allowing all to Serve God in their own way, in any house, etc. A third was emitted, October 5th, declaring that all preachers and hearers at any meeting in the open fields, should be prosecuted with the utmost severity that law would allow, that all dissenting ministers who preach in houses should teach nothing that should alienate the hearts of the people from the government; and that the privy counsellors, sheriffs, etc., should be acquainted with the places set apart for their preaching. This proclamation, it seems, was granted as an answer to an address for the toleration given in, in name of all the Presbyterian ministers, July 21st, 1687.
Whereupon Mr Renwick found it his duty, not only to declare against the granters, but also against the accepters of this toleration; warning also the people of the hazard of their accession to it, etc. At this the indulged were so incensed, that no sooner was their meeting well settled, than they began to shew their teeth at him, calling him an intruder, a Jesuit, a white devil, going through the land carrying the devil’s white flag, and saying that he had done more hurt to the church of Scotland than its enemies had done these twenty years. As also spreading papers through the country, as given
