5. The testimony of Renwick and his associates is of permanent value and
of special importance in our day, as it was directed against _systems of
error and idolatry_, which serve to corrupt the Church and enslave the
State. Against Popery in every form Renwick was a heroic and
uncompromising witness. At the peril of life, he publicly testified
against the usurpation of the papist James, and rejected him as having
no claim to be regarded as a constitutional sovereign, and as utterly
disqualified to reign in a Protestant reformed land. This was the main
ground of his objection against James's toleration, for which the
Indulged ministers tendered obsequious thanks to the usurper. Yet this
edict of toleration was issued for the purpose of opening the way for
the practice of Rome's abominations, and for the advancement of papists
to places of power and trust in the nation. None of the Cameronians
would, for any earthly consideration, even to save their lives, for a
moment admit that a papist had any right to exercise political power in
a reformed land. Our martyred forefathers we regard as worthy of high
respect and imitation, for their deeply cherished dread of the growing
influence of Popery, and for their determined resistance to its
exclusive and extravagant claims. The system of Popery is the abnegation
of all precious gospel truth; and is a complete politico-religious
confederacy against the best interests of a Protestant nation. The boast
of its abettors is that it is _semper eadem_--ever the same. Rome cannot
reform herself from within, and she is incapable of reformation from
external influences and agencies. The Bible never speaks of Antichrist
as to be reformed, but as waxing worse and worse till the time when he
shall be completely subverted and irrecoverably destroyed. Whatever
changes may be going on in some Popish countries, whereby the power of
the Papacy is weakened, it is evident that the principles and spirit of
the Romish priesthood, and of those who are under their influence,
remain unchanged. The errors of the Antichristian system, instead of