by vapors in their ecstatic fits, especially after long fasting, an exercise very much practised by the first disciples of this sect here in England, but of late almost wholly disused... They reject ministerial ordinances, and place religion wholly in the inward light of every man's private spirit; and how different soever the impulses of one man's spirit are from another, and how different notions soever they create, they account it all the same light infused by the Spirit of God in different measures and degrees. They agree with other Anabaptists against infant baptism, and go far beyond them, even to the neglecting of all baptism, and the other sacrament of the Eucharist, all human learning, appropriate places and times of worship, and abhor paying of tithes. They practised formerly abstinence and self-denial, but now of late none are prouder or more luxurious than the generality of them: they formerly wore plain and coarse clothes, now the men wear very fine cloth, and are distinguished from others only by a particular shaping of their coats, a little pleated cravat, and a slender hat-band; the women nevertheless wear flowered, or striped, or damask silks, and the finest linen cut and pleated in imitation of lace, but they wear no lace or superfluous ribbons; however, they are extremely nice in their choice of tailors, seamstresses, and laundresses. Those of the men who wear periwigs have them of genteel hair and shape, tho' not long. They are as curious in their meats, and as cheerful in their drink, and as soft in their amours, and as much in the enjoyment of life as others. They have generally denied the Trinity of Persons in the one Godhead, the resurrection of the body, the Incarnation of Christ (which they seem to look upon as a figure) the locality of heaven and hell, and many other Catholic tenets. Independents. Independents are a sect lately sprung up from the Brownists. These have no general church government, but each particular congregation is ruled by their own laws and methods without dependence on one another: look upon tithes as superstitious and Judaical; are against all set form of prayer, even the Lord's Prayer. They give power to private men to erect and gather churches, elect, ordain, depose, excommunicate, and determine finally in all church-causes. Laity sometimes administer the sacraments, and magistrates administer the office of matrimony. They are most of them Millenaries, and commence the last thousand years of Christ's kingdom from the beginning of Independency. All those of the laity they account "gifted men," are permitted to preach, and pray, and to catechise the preacher concerning the doctrine he has preached. They communicate frequently, sitting at a table or without a table. Presbyterians. Presbyterians maintain that there is only a nominal difference between bishop, presbyter, and pastor; and that priest is not a gospel word, but belongs only to sacrifices. They will not allow deacons to preach, but only to collect for and administer to the poor. In every church they appoint lay-readers and rulers, who are to inspect men's manners and to bear a part in the government of the church. They acknowledge a priority of order ought to be amongst church-governours, but not a priority of jurisdiction. They deny the civil magistrate any authority in church government, making the king mere Laicus, and subject to the censures of parochial church-governours. They have two church judicatories, the classical assembly and the general assembly, to which there lies an appeal from the classical. When we speak of any of these sectaries indiscriminately, we call them dissenters and nonconformists; and they that speak more freely term them fanatics and enthusiasts. It must be confessed that in all these sects there are some good moral men, nay, some of them zealous towards God, but in such a zeal as is not according to knowledge. Neither are they all equally blameable in all respects. The Presbyterians come nearest to the Church; the Quakers are the most peaceable; the Papists are the most mannerly, and the like;... {Anglia Notitia, E. Chamberlayne, Lond. 20th, ed. 1703.) CHAPTER XXV UNION BETWEEN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND 193. The Queen's Speeches on Union of England and Scotland Oldmixon The strife of centuries was brought to a close by the union of England and Scotland. Queen Anne publicly expressed the hope that the two peoples would become firmly united into one great nation, and Professor GREEN, in his History of the English People, thus comments upon her words: "Time has more than answered these hopes. The two nations whom the Union brought together have ever since remained one. England gained in the removal of a constant danger of treason and war. To Scotland the Union opened up new avenues of wealth which the energy of the people turned to wonderful account. The farms of Lothian have become models of agricultural skill. A fishing-town on the Clyde has grown into the rich and populous Glasgow. Peace and culture have changed the wild clansmen of the Highlands into herdsmen and farmers. Nor was the change followed by any loss of national spirit. The world has hardly seen a mightier and more rapid development of national energy than that of Scotland after the Union. All that passed away was the jealousy which had parted since the days of Edward the First two peoples whom a common blood and common speech proclaimed to be one. The Union between Scotland and England has been real and stable simply because it was the legislative acknowledgment and enforcement of a national fact." (Jan. 28th, 1707.) My Lords and Gentlemen, Having acquainted you at the opening of this session, that the treaty for an Union between England and Scotland, which had been concluded here by the commissioners appointed for that purpose, in pursuance of the powers given by the Parliaments of both kingdoms, was then under the consideration of the Parliament of Scotland, I can now, with great satisfaction, inform you that the said treaty has been ratified by Act of Parliament in Scotland with some alterations and additions. I have directed the treaty agreed to by the commissioners of both kingdoms, and also the Act of Ratification from Scotland, to be laid before you, and I hope it will meet with your concurrence and approbation. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, It being agreed by this treaty, that Scotland is to have an equivalent for what that kingdom is obliged to contribute towards paying the debts of England, I must recommend to you, that in case you agree to the treaty you would take care to provide for the payment of the equivalent to Scotland accordingly. My Lords and Gentlemen, You have now an opportunity before you of putting the last hand to a happy Union of the two kingdoms, which I hope will be a lasting blessing to the whole Island, a great addition to its wealth and power, and a firm security to the protestant religion. The advantages which will accrue to us all from an Union are so apparent that I will add no more, but that I shall look upon it as a particular happiness, if this great work, which has been so often attempted without success, can be brought to perfection in my reign. (March 6th, 1706.) My Lords and Gentlemen, It is with the greatest satisfaction that I have given my assent to a Bill for uniting England and Scotland into one kingdom. I consider this Union as a matter of the greatest importance to the wealth, strength, and safety of the whole Island, and at the same time, as a work of so much difficulty and nicety in its own nature, that till now all attempts, which have been made towards it in the course of above a hundred years, have proved ineffectual; and therefore I make no doubt but it will be remembered and spoken of hereafter to the honour of those who have been instrumental in bringing it to such a happy conclusion. I desire and expect from all my subjects of both nations, that from henceforth they act with all possible respect and kindness to one another, that so it may appear to all the world, they have hearts disposed to become one people. This will be a great pleasure to me, and will make us all quickly sensible of the good effect of this Union. And I cannot but look upon it as a particular happiness, that in my reign so full a provision is made for the peace and quiet of my people, and for the security of our religion, by so firm an establishment of the protestant succession throughout Great Britain. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I take this occasion to remind you to make effectual provision for the payment of the equivalent to Scotland within the time appointed by this Act, and I am persuaded you will show as much readiness in this particular as you have done in all the other parts of this great work. My Lords and Gentlemen, The season of the year being now pretty far advanced, I hope you will continue the same zeal which has appeared throughout this session, in despatching what yet remains unfinished of the public business before you. (The History of England, Oldmixon, Lond. 1739. III. p. 382-386.) 194. Union between England and Scotland (5 ANNE, c. 8, 1707) Collection of Statutes, Evans AN ACT FOR AN UNION OF THE TWO KINGDOMS OF ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND (Preamble) ARTICLE I THAT the two kingdoms of England and Scotland shall upon the first day of May, which shall be in the year one thousand seven hundred and seven, and for ever after, be united into one kingdom by the name of Great Britain; and that the ensigns' armorial of the said united kingdom be such as her Majesty shall appoint, and the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew be conjoined in such manner as her Majesty shall think fit, and used in all flags, banners, standards, and ensigns, both at sea and land. ARTICLE II That the succession of the monarchy to the united kingdom of Great Britain, and of the dominions thereto belonging, after her most sacred Majesty, and in default of issue of her Majesty, be, remain, and continue to the most excellent Prin |