IT is a principle, generally acknowledged, that all men in their several stations, according to their capacities, are carefully to study the maintaining and promoting of the good and interest of that kingdom, nation, or society, whereof they are members ; for if it go not well with the public in common, it cannot reasonably be thought that the happiness of any in particular can long continue, more than it can go well with the several members of a natural body when the body itself is distressed. It was this generous love and concern for their country that so signalized the ancient Romans, and made them in a short time arrive to such a height of glory and honour : unto this did their philosophers, poets, and orators warmly excite their fellow-citizens, so that the more or the less any laid out themselves this way, their achievements accordingly were reputed noble and heroic, and their persons renowned.
Yet much more will we find ourselves bound to advance one another's good, if we look on ourselves not only as men and members of the body politic, but as Christians and members of that body, whereof Christ is the head ; therefore our love of, care for, and sympathy with one another, is much commended in holy scripture, which the apostle well illustrateth in several places, by that apposite and elegant similitude of the members of a natural body, their conspiring to the mutual good of one another ; and expressly commandeth, "Look not even man on his own things, but also on the things of others ;" and the want thereof he doth heavily regret in the same chapter : *' For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state : for all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's :" which selfish and narrow spirit, as it hath too much prevailed in all ages of the Christian church since the days of the apostles : so in none more than this of ours, as the learned Owen observeth, imputing the shame and the almost ruin of Christianity thereunto. " The Lord Christ (saith he) hath ordained that the members of the same church and society should mutually watch over one another, and the whole body over all the members, unto their edification ; and that the practice of it is so much lost as it is, is the shame and almost ruin of Christianity."
But more especially these cloathed with authority civil or ecclesiastic stand obliged to this public care, ministers being as pilots or governors under Christ to the ship of the church, as magistrates under God are to that of the state. And the charge of ministers having a more immediate respect to the soul and better part of man, they are called the more diligently to take heed thereto, and so to steer their course through the boisterous sea of this world, as that not only they themselves at length may arrive and rest at the fair havens of Immanuel's land, but that also through grace they may carry along many with them, embarked on the same bottom of the convenant, by the means of word and discipline. Ministers are stewards, watchmen, shepherds, bishops, or overseers, &c. ; all which do imply a charge to be discharged by them for. the good of others.
Ministers may be considered in a threefold relation. 1. As Christians related to Christ, which is common to them with all believers. 2. As ministers, and related to that particular church, or portion of the church in general, the inspection whereof is assigned to them, and in which more especially and immediately they are called to labour. 3. As they stand related to the church national, whereof they are ministers, whose good they are to endeavour, as God in his holy and wise providence shall afford them access. And that in all these respects ministers may the more approve themselves unto their great Lord and Master, according to his appointment, the apostles' example, and the practice of the church in all ages, they do associate themselves unto councils, meetings, or assemblies, more or less general, that so by common counsel and consent they may consult the interest of the church of Christ within their respective districts and bounds ; which as it hath been the laudable practice of other churches, so of the church of Scotland, ever since her first reformation from popery.
For which end the general assembly of this national church, moved with zeal for the glory of God, hath travelled much since the late happy Revolution in planting the north of Scotland, arid, that they might not be wanting in visiting the utmost bounds thereof, with the isles thereto belonging, have deputed several commissions, who, repairing thither, might upon the place take under their consideration the concerns of the church of Christ in these corners, and determine therein as they should see cause, according to the word of God, and acts of assemblies of this church. Particularly, one was sent to Caithness and Orkney, anno 1698, who did God and his church good service there.
In like manner the general assembly, anno 1700, upon the desire of certain ministers in Zetland, and information of the state of affairs in these remote islands, found it necessary to depute a commission thither, consisting of seven ministers and one ruling elder ; with power not only to visit and order the churches there, but likewise to concur with and assist the presbyteries of Orkney and Caithness, as there should be occasion.
Of this commission the author, being one, designs a brief description of these remarkable parts; after a short journal of his voyage thither, with some cursory observes thereupon.
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