sion do declare the churches of the said Messrs Erskine, Wilson, Moncrief, and
Fisher, vacant from and after the date of this sentence." Extracts were also, by
the sentence, ordered to be sent with letters to the several presbyteries in whose
bounds the said ministers had their charges, ordering intimation of the sentence
to be made in the several vacant churches. Letters, intimating the sentence, were
also ordered to the magistrates of Perth and Stirling, to the sheriff principal of
Perth, and baillie of the regality of Abernethy. Against this sentence, Mr Erskine
and his brethren took the following protestation, which may be considered as the
basis, or constitution, of the secession church. " We hereby adhere to the protestation formerly entered before this court, both at their last meeting in August, and when we appeared before this meeting. And, farther, we do protest, in our
own name, and in the name of all and every one in our respective congregations adhering to us, that, notwithstanding of this sentence passed against us, our pastoral relation shall be held and reputed firm and valid. And, likewise,
we protest, that, notwithstanding of our being cast out from ministerial communion with the established church of Scotland, we still hold communion with all and every one who desire, with us, to adhere to the principles of the true
presbyterian church of Scotland, in her doctrine, worship, government, and discipline, and particularly with all who are groaning under the evils, and who are afflicted with the grievances we have been complaining of, and who are, in
their several spheres, wrestling against the same. But in regard the prevailing party in this established church, who have now cast us out from ministerial communion with them, are carrying on a course of defection from our reformed and
covenanted principles, and particularly are suppressing ministerial freedom and faithfulness in testifying against the present backslidings, and inflicting censures upon ministers for witnessing, by protestations and otherwise, against the same.
Therefore we do, for these and many other weighty reasons, to be laid open in due time, protest that we are obliged to make a secession from them, and that we can hold no ministerial communion with them till they see their sins and mistakes, and amend them ; and in like manner, we do protest that it shall be lawful and warrantable for us to exercise the keys of doctrine, discipline, and government, according to the word of God, and confession of faith, and the principles and constitution of the covenanted church of Scotland, as if no such censure had been passed upon us ; upon all which we take instruments. And we do hereby appeal to the first free, faithful, and reforming general assembly of the church of Scotland." Mr Gabriel Wilson, of Maxton, one of the eleven brethren who, thirteen years before this, had been joined with Mr
Erskine in the defence of the Marrow, took a protest against the sentence at the same time, which was adhered to by Ralph Erskine, Uunfermline; Thomas Muir, Orwell; John Maclaurin, Edinburgh; John Currie, Kinglassie, afterwards the most bitter enemy of the secession; James Wardlaw, Dunfermline, and Thomas Nairn, Abbotshall ; the greater part of whom lived to advance the interests of the secession.
In this violent struggle for the church's and the people's liberties, Mr Erskine was ably supported by his three brethren, Messrs Wilson, Moncrief, and Fisher, and his popularity was extended beyond what might be supposed reasonable limits. His congregation clung to him with increasing fondness, and his worthy colleague, Mr Alexander Hamilton, during the short time he lived after the rise of the secession, ceased not to show him the warmest regard by praying publicly, both for him and the associate presbytery. This presbytery was constituted with solemn prayer, by Mr Ebenezer Erskine at Gairny Bridge, near Kinross, on the 6th day of December, 1733, the greater part of that, and the whole of the preceding day having been spent in prayer. The associate presbytery
