John Welsh, the Irongray Covenanter. 197 



eminently faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr John Welch, to his 

 Paroch of Irongray." There is a reprint of it in 1712, " where- 

 unto is annexed now a friendly advice, etc., containing reasons 

 proving the unlawfulness of prelacy and of submitting to prelates 

 and their curates, by the same author." The date of the " Fifty 

 and Two Directions " can be fixed by a quotation near its close. 

 Welsh is replying to the charge that the Covenanters are guilty of 

 schism — " They have gone from us, not we from them, for we 

 continue in the way. We are sworn unto these twenty-three years 

 .since our reformation." This reformation I take to be the Solemn 

 League and Covenant, 1643, the first head of which was the 

 reformation of religion in the British Isles " according to the Word 

 of God." The greater part of these Directions were such as any 

 earnest minister might give his flock, though throughout we feel 

 that they were written to warn his parish against Episcopacy and 

 hearing curates. " Dear friends ye know by the laws of the land 

 we were put to a necessity either to comply with Episcopacy con- 

 trary to our Co\'enanted Ingagements, or to be no more permitted 

 to labour among you, being by Act of the Council banished out of 

 the Parish and Presbytery. And now knowing that after our 

 departure shall grievous wolves enter in amongst you, not sparing 

 the flock. Therefore we have judged it our duty to leave you this 

 small testimony and token of our care and affection to you, which 

 is a legacy by a man dead in law as to his office among you, and 

 all I crave of )Ou is that ye would accept it in lo\'e and make it 

 your own." In the last direction Welsh argues at length the ques- 

 tion, " What say you to our hearing these men that have intruded 

 themselves in your places ?" And he comes to the conclusion that 

 as they have no call either from God or the congregation, it is 

 absolutely unlawful to hear them. " If it be sin to countenance 

 an usurper in civil government, how much more an usurper in the 

 House of God." 



In the 13th Direction he tells his people, " the time that ve 

 used to set apart for the Lord's worship on the Sabbath davs and 

 at other times. Jet it now be devoted to Him in private and secret 

 duties, seeing public opportunities of hearing preaching is taken 

 away from you." 



In the 26th Direction we come to the question of conven- 

 ticles, " My next advice to you is, and I pray you take it in love, if 

 you shall see at this time a difference in opinions and practices 



