Informations, or a protestation, and a treatise from Scotland Seconded with D. Reignoldes his letter to Sir Francis Knollis. And Sir Francis Knollis his speach in Parliament. All suggesting the vsurpation of papal bishops.

A PROTESTATION OFFE∣RED TO THE PARLIAMENT at S. Iohnstons 1. Iulij 1606.

THe earnest desire of our hearts is to be faithfull, and in case we could haue been silent, and faithfull at this time when the undermined estate of Christ his Kirke craues a dutie at our handes; we should haue locked up our hearts with patience, and our mouthes with taciturnitie rather than to haue impeshed any with our admonition. But that quhilk Christ commandeth, necessitie urgeth, and duetie wrin∣geth out of us to be faithful office bea∣rers in the Kirke of God, no man can justly blame us to doe it; Providing we hold our selues within the bounds of that Christian moderation quhilk followeth God without injurie done to any man, specially those, whō God hath lapped up within the skirts of his owne honorable stiles and names, cal∣ling

them Gods upon earth.

Now therfore (my Lords convened in this present Parliament, under the most High & excellēt Majestie of our dread Soveraigne) to your Honors is our exhortation, that yee would in∣dever with all singlenes of heart, loue, & zeale, to advāce the building of the house of God; reserving alwayes into the Lord his owne hands that glorie, quhilk he will communicate neither with man, nor Angell, to wit to pre∣scribe from his holy mountaine a liu∣lie * 1.1 patterne according to which his owne Tabernacle, should be formed. Remembring alwayes, that there is no absolute, and unbounded authority in this world, except the Soveraigne authoritie of Christ the King, to whō it belongeth as properly to rule the Kirke, according to the good pleasure of his owne will, as it belōgeth to him to saue his Kirke by the merit of his owne sufferings. All other authoritie

is so intrēched within the marches of divine commandement, that the least overpassing of the bounds set by God himselfe bringeth men vnder the fear∣full expectation of temporall, and eter∣nall * 1.2 judgmentes. For this cause my Lords, let that authority of your mee∣ting in this present Parliament be like the Ocean sea, quhilk as it is greatest of all other waters; so it conteyneth the selfe better within the coasts & li∣mits appoynted by God, than any Ri∣ver of fresh rūning waters haue done.

Next remember that God hath set you to be Nourish Fathers of his Kirke, * 1.3 craving at your hands that you should maintayne and advance by your au∣thoritie that Church which the Lord hath fashioned by the vncoūterfaited worke of his owne newe creation (as the Prophet speaketh) He hath made us, and not we our selues, but not that yee * 1.4 should presume to fashion, and shape a new protrature of a Kirk, and a new

forme of divine service, quhilk Cod in his word hath not before allowed; be∣cause that were to extend your autho∣rity further than the calling yee haue of God doth permit. As namely if ye should (as God forbid) authorize the authority of Bishops, and their prehemi nence aboue their brethrē, yee should bring into the Kirk of God the Ordi∣nance of man, and that thing which the experience of preceding ages hath testified to haue been the ground of great idlenes, palpable ignorance, un∣sufferable pride, pitiles tyrannie, and shameles ambitiō in the Kirk of God. And finally to haue been the ground of that Antichristian Hicrarchie which mounted up on the steps of prehemi∣nence of Bishops vntil that man of sinn came forth as the ripe fruite of mā his wisdome, whom God shall consume with the breath of his owne mouth. Let the * 1.5 sword of God pearce that belly which brought forth such a monster, and let

the staff of God crush that Egge which hath hatched such a Cocatrice. And let not only that Roman Antichrist be thro wen downe from the high Bench of his usurped authoritie, but also let all the steps whereby he mounted up to that unlawfull preheminence be cut downe and utterly abolished in this land.

Aboue all thinges (my Lords) beware to striue against God with an open & displayed bāner by building vp againe the walles of Iericho, quhilk the Lord hath not onely cast downe, but also hath layd them under an horrible in∣terdiction and execration: so that the building of them againe must needes stand to greater charges to the buil∣ders, than the reedifiyng of Iericho, to Hiel the Bethelit in the dayes of Achab. For he had nothing but the interdicti∣on * 1.6 of Iosua, and the curse pronounced by him to stay him from building a∣gayne of Iericho: But the Noble men

and States of this Realme, haue there verence of the Oath of God made by themselues and subscribed with their owne handes in the Confession of faith, called the Kings Maiesties published ofter than once, or twice, and sworne by his most excellent Maiestie, and by his Highnes Nobilitie, Estates, and whole Subiectes of this Realme, to hold them backe from setting up the Dominion of Bishops. Because it is of verity that they subscribed and swore the said Confessi∣on, contayning not onely the main∣tenance of true Doctrine, but also of the Discipline professed within the Realme of Scotland.

Consider also, that this worke can∣not be set forward without the great slander of the Gospell, defamation of many Preachers, and evident losse and hurt of the peoples soules committed to our charge. For the people are brought almost to the like case, as they were in Syria, Arabia, and Egipt, about

the 600. yeare of our Lord, when the people were so brangled, and shaken with contrary doctrines, some deny∣ing, and others allowing the opinion of Eutiches, that in the end they lost all assured perswasion of true Religion; and within shorte time thereafter did cast the gates of their heartes open to the Divel to receiue that vile, and blas∣phemous Doctrine of Mahomet: Even so the people of this land are cast in such admiration to heare the Prea∣chers, who so openly damned this stat ly preheminence of Bishops, and then within a few yeares after, accept the same dignitie, Pompe, and superiority in their owne persons, which they be∣fore had damned in others, that the people knoweth not which way to in cline, and in end, wil become so doubt full in matters of religion & doctrine, that their heartes will be like an open Taverne dore, patent to every ghest, that likes to come in.

We beseech your Honours to pon∣der this in the ballance of a godly, and prudent minde, and suffer not the Go∣spell to be slandered by the behaviour of a few number of Preachers; of whō we are bold to affirme, that, ifthey goe forward in this defection, not only a∣busing and appropriating that name of Bishops to themselues only, which is common* to all the Pastors of God his * 1.7 * 1.8 Kirke; But also taking upon thēselues such offices that carie with them the ordinary charge of governing the ci∣vil affaires of the Country, neglecting their flockes, and seeking to subordi∣nate their brethren to their jurisdicti∣on: If any of them (we say) be found to step forward in this course of defec∣tion, they are more worthy as rotten members to be cut off from the body of Christ, than to haue superiority & dominion over their brethren within the Kirke of God.

This preheminence of Bishops is that

Dagon which once already fell before * 1.9 the Arke of God in this land, and no band of irone shalbe able to hold him vp againe. This is that patterne of that Altar brought from Damascus, but not shewed to Moses in the mountaine; & * 1.10 therefore it shall faire with it, as it did with that Altar of Damascus, It came last in the Temple, and went first out. Likwise the Institution of Christ was * 1.11 anterior to this Preheminence of Bi∣shops; and shall consist and stand with in the house of God, when this new fashion of Altar shal goe to the doore.

Remember (my Lords) that in time past your authority was for Christ, & not against him, yee followed the light of God, and strived not against it, and like a child in the Mothers hand, yee sayd to Christ, Draw us after thee. God * 1.12 forbid that yee should now leaue off and fall away from your former reve∣rence borne to Christ, inpresuming to lead him, whom the Father hath ap∣poynted * 1.13

to be a leader of you. And * 1.14 farre lesse to traile the holy Ordinan∣ces of Christ by the cordes of your authority at the heeles of the Ordinā∣ces of men.

And albeit your Honours haue no such intention to do any thing which may impaire the honor of Christs king¦dome, yet remēber that spirituall dark¦nes flowing from a very smale begin∣ning doth so insinuate and thrust the selfe into the house of God, as men cā hardly discerne by whatsecret meanes the light is dimme, and darknes cree∣ping in got the vpper hand and in end at unawares all is involved within a mistie cloud of horrible Apostasie.

And lest that any should thinke this our admonition out of time, in so farr as it is statute & ordayned alreadie by his Majestie with advise of his Estates in Parliament, that all Ministers pro∣vided to Prelacies should haue vote in Parliament; As likwise the generall as∣semblie

(his Majestie being present thereat) hes found the same lawfull & expedient, we wald humbly, and most earnestly beseech all such to consider, first that the kingdom of Iesus Christ, the officebearers, and lawes therof ne∣ther should, nor can suffer any deroga∣tion, addition, diminution or alteratiō besides the prescript of his holy word, by any inventions or doings of men, Civil, or Ecclesiasticall. And we are a∣ble by the grace of God, and will offer our selues to proue that this Bishopprik to be erected, is against the word of God, the Auncient Fathers, and Ca∣nons of the Kirke, the moderne most learned, & godly divines, the doctrine and Constitution of the Kirke of Scot∣land since the first reformation of reli∣gion, within the same Countrie, the lawes of the Realme ratifiyng the go∣vernement of the Kirk by the generall and Provinciall Assemblies, Presbite∣ries, and Sessions; also against the weil

and Honor of the Kings most excel∣lent Majestie, the weale and Honor of the Realme and quietnes thereof, the established estate & weale of the Kirke in the Doctrine, Discipline, and patri∣monie therof, the weale and honor of your LL. the most anciēt estate of this Realme, and finally against the weil of all, and every one of the good subjects thereof in soule, body, and substance. Next that the Act of Parliamēt gran∣ting vote in Parliament to Ministers, is with a speciall provision, that no∣thing therby be derogatorie or preju∣diciall to the present established Disci∣pline of the Kirk and Iurisdiction ther∣of in generall and Synodall Assemblies, Presbiteries and Sessions.

Thirdly and last, the generall Assemblie (the King his Majestie sitting, voting, and consenting therin) fearing the cor ruption of that office, hes circumscri∣bed and bounded the same with a nū∣ber of Cautions. All which to gether

with such other as shall be concluded upon by the Assembly, were thought expedient to be insert in the body of the Act of Parliament that is to be made for confirmation of their vote in Parliamen, as most necessary & sub∣stantial parts of the same. And the said Assemblie hath not agreed to giue ther∣unto the name of Bishops, for feare of importing the old Corruption Pompe & Tyranny of Papall Bishops, but ordained them to be called Commissioners for the Kirke to vote in Parliament. And it is of verity that according to thes cautions neither hath those men, now called Bi shops, entred to that office of Commissi∣onarie to vote in Parl iament, neither since their ingyring, haue they beha∣ved themselues therin. And therefore in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ, who shall hold that great Court of Parliament to judge both the quicke and the dead, at his glorious manifesta tion, and in name of the Kirk in gene∣rall,

so happily & well established with in this Realme, and whereof the sayd Realme hath reaped the comfortable fruite of peace & vnity, free from he∣resie, schisme, and dissention these 46 yeeres by past; also in name of our Presbyteries from quhilk we haue our Commission, and in our owne names Officebearers, and Pastors within the same; for discharging of our necessarie dvty, and disburdening of our consci∣ences in particular, We except and protest against the sayd Bishopprike & Bishops, and the erection, confirmation or rati∣fication thereof at this present Parlia∣ment. Most humblie craving that this our Protestation, may be admitted by your Honours, and registrat amongst the Acts, and Statutes of the same incaice (as God forbid) these Bishoppricks be erected, ratifi∣ed or confirmed therein.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 25 Hebrew ••, 5
• * 1.2

  Heb, 12 25 28, 29.
• * 1.3

  Isai 49. 23.
• * 1.4

  Psalm 100. 3
• * 1.5

  Thes, 2. 8,
• * 1.6

  2. Kin, 16, 34
• * 1.7

  Act. 20▪ 17. 28.
• * 1.8

  Phil. 1: 1, 1. Tim, 3: 1. 2 Titus 1, 5. 7 1, Pet 5. 1: 2
• * 1.9

  1: Sam, 5, 2, 3. 4
• * 1.10

  2. Kin; 16. 10
• * 1.11

  2, Chro: 29. 16 18, 19.
• * 1.12

  Can, 1, 3.
• * 1.13

  Math, 17: 5.
• * 1.14

  Iohn 10, 3. 4 29,