A hind let loose, or, An historical representation of the testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the interest of Christ with the true state thereof in all its periods : together with a vindication of the present testimonie, against the Popish, prelatical, & malignant enemies of that church ... : wherein several controversies of greatest consequence are enquired into, and in some measure cleared, concerning hearing of the curats, owning of the present tyrannie, taking of ensnaring oaths & bonds, frequenting of field meetings, defensive resistence of tyrannical violence ... / by a lover of true liberty.

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Title
A hind let loose, or, An historical representation of the testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the interest of Christ with the true state thereof in all its periods : together with a vindication of the present testimonie, against the Popish, prelatical, & malignant enemies of that church ... : wherein several controversies of greatest consequence are enquired into, and in some measure cleared, concerning hearing of the curats, owning of the present tyrannie, taking of ensnaring oaths & bonds, frequenting of field meetings, defensive resistence of tyrannical violence ... / by a lover of true liberty.
Author
Shields, Alexander, 1660?-1700.
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[Edinburgh? :: s.n.],
Printed in the year 1687.
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Subject terms
Church of Scotland -- Controversial literature.
Church of Scotland -- History.
Covenanters.
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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A59963.0001.001
Cite this Item
"A hind let loose, or, An historical representation of the testimonies of the Church of Scotland for the interest of Christ with the true state thereof in all its periods : together with a vindication of the present testimonie, against the Popish, prelatical, & malignant enemies of that church ... : wherein several controversies of greatest consequence are enquired into, and in some measure cleared, concerning hearing of the curats, owning of the present tyrannie, taking of ensnaring oaths & bonds, frequenting of field meetings, defensive resistence of tyrannical violence ... / by a lover of true liberty." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A59963.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 2, 2024.

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Page 1

THe Church of Christ, in the impression of all that have the least spark of the dayes Spi∣rit, is now brought to such a doleful & dread∣ful Case & Crisis; that if it may not be rec∣koned The killing of the Witnesses: yet all that have or desire the knowledge of the times, will judge it no impeachment to the Prophecie to say, it is either very like or near unto it. When now the Devil is come down in great wrath as knowing his time is but short, and therefore exerting all the energy of the venom & violence, Craft & Cruelty of the Dragon: And Antichrist, alias Pope, his Captain General, is now universally prevailing, and plying all his hellish Engines, to batter down, & bury under the rubbish of Everlasting Darkness, what is left to be de∣stroyed of the work of Reformation: And the Crowned heads or horns of the Beast, the Tyrants, alias Kings, of

Page 2

Europe, his Council of War, are advancing their Preroga∣tives upon the ruines of the Nations & Churches Privi∣ledges, to such a pitch of Absoluteness; & improving & imploying their power, for promoving their Masters (the Devil & Antichrists) Interests, to whom they have gifted the Churches, mancipated their own, and sacrificed the Nations Interest; and that with such combination of Coun∣sels, & Countenance of providential success, that all the Powers of Hell, the Principalities of Earth, & the Provi∣dence of Heaven, overruling all things for the accom∣plishment or the Divine purpose, & purchase, & prediction, seem to conspire to produce that prodigious Period, and ultimus Conatus of the Churches Enemie. And the com∣mencement is so far advanced, that, now in all the Chur∣ches of Europe, either the Witnesses of Christ are a killing, or the witness for Christ is in a great measure killed; either the followers of the Lamb, who are caled & chosen & faithful, are killed for their Testimony, or fainting in their Zeal, and falling from their first Love, they are cooled or cajoled from their Testimony. Some are indulging them∣selves in their ease, settleing on their Lees, & sleeping in a stupid security; And, while the Lord is roaring from above, & His & their Enemies raging about them, & de∣signing to raze them after they have ruined their Neigh∣bours, they are rotting away under the destructive Distem∣pers of detestable Neutrality, loathsom lulwarmness, de∣clining & decaying in Corruptions, defections, divisions, distractions, confusions, & so judicially infatuated with darkness & delusions, that they forget & forgo the neces∣sary Testimony of the day. Others again, outwearied with the length & weight of the Tryal, under the tentation of Antichrists formidable strength on the one hand, & a de∣ceitful prospect of an insnaring Liberty on the other, are overcome either to be hectored or flattered from their Te∣stimony. And so in these Churches, comprehending all that are free from Persecution at this time, the Witness for Christ is in a great measure killed. Other Churches, which are keeping & contending for the word of Christs patience, are so wasted. & almost worn out, with Persecutions,

Page 3

afflictions, & calamities, that, after they have been & are (so much) daylie killed for the Word of God, & the Testi∣mony of Jesus, it may well be said, there hath been & is a great slaughter of the Witnesses. And it were hard to de∣termine, which of them can give the largest & most lamen∣table account of their sufferings, or which of them have had the greatest & most grievous experiences, of the Trea∣chery & Truculency, Violence & Villanie, of Atheistical & Papistical Enemies: whether the Reformed Church of France, howling under the paw of that devouring Lyon, the French Tyrant; or the Protestants of Hungary, under the tearing Clawes of that ravenous Eagle the Tyrant of Au∣stria; or those of Piedemont, under the grassant Tyranny of that litle Tyer of Savoy. The accounts they give in print, the reports they bring with them in their flight from their respective Countreyes, & the litle Hints we have in Ga∣zetts & News Letters, must needs enforce a conviction, if not extort a Compassion, of the greatness of their pressures; & that with such a parity, that it is doubtful which prepon∣derats. I shall not make comparisons, nor aggravate nor extenuate the sufferings of any of the Churches of Christ, beyond or below their due measures: But will presume to plead, that Scotland, another Ancient & sometimes fa∣mous Reformed Church, be enrolled in the Catalogue of suffering Churches, besides these mentioned; and crave, that she may have a share of that Charity & Sympathy, which is the demand & desire of afflicted Churches of Christ, from all the fellow members of that same body: And so much the rather is this her due; that, whereas among all the rest of the Churches, Christs witnesses are killed in some particular respect, & each of them have their own proper complaint of it; some upon the account of Persecution, some of defection, division &c. Of this it may be said, in all respects, both the witnesses of Christ, and a witness for Christ, are killed with a witness. This is the Case of the sometimes Renouned, famous, faithful, & fruitful, Reformed, Covenanted Church of Scotland, famous for unity, faithful for verity, fruitful in the pu∣rity of Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, & Government;

Page 4

which now, for these 27 years past, under the Domina∣tion of the late Tyrant & present Usurper of Brittain, hath been so wasted with oppression, wounded with Persecu∣tion, rent with Division, ruined with defection, that now she is as much despised, as she was before admired: And her Witness & Testimony for Reformation, is now as far depressed & suppressed in obscuritie as it was formerly de∣clared & depredicated in glory & honour. And yet, which should move the greater commiseration, her witnessings & wrestlings, Tryalls & Tentations, have not been infe∣riour, in manner or measure, quality or continuance, to any of the forementioned Churches, thô in extent not so great, because her precinct is not so large, whereby the number of her oppressed & murdered Children could not be so multiplyed, though her Martyrs be more, and the manner of their Murder more illegal, than can be instanced in any of them, during that time. A particular enumera∣tion or enarration whereof, cannot be here exhibited, but is referred & reserved to a peculiar Treatise of that Subject, which ere long the world may see. Only I shall give a compendious account of the kinds & causes, grounds and Heads, of their sufferings, who have been most slighted & least sympathised with, though they have sustained the greatest severities of any; and inend endeavour to vindicate the Merit of their Cause, in the most principal heads upon which their sufferings have been stated: Whereby it will appear to impartial men, that will not be imposed upon, there hath been, & yet is, a great & grievous, & some way uparalleled, Persecution in Scotland, at least inferiour to none: Which hath not hitherto been culy considered, with any proportion to the importance thereof.

But thô this be the Scope, it is not the summe of what is intended in this Discourse. The Method I have proposed to prosecute it withall, will discover it: Which is. 1. To give a brief & summary account, of the Series & Succession, success & result, of the several Contendings of the Wit∣nesses of Christ, against His Enemies in Scotland from time to time; that it may appear; whether or not the present

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sufferings as now stated can be condemned, if the former be approven. 2. To rehearse some of the chief means, methods, & measures, that the Popish, Prelatical, & Malignant saction, have managed, for the ruin of this witnessing Remnant, & some of the most signal steps of sufferings sustained by & from these within these 27 years; by which it will appear, that the Persecution in Scotland hath been very re∣markable (though litle regarded) both in respect of the injustice, illegality, & inhumanity of the Persecutors, & in respect of the innocency, Zeal, & ingenuity of the Persecuted. 3. To clear the state & vindicate the merit of the cause of their sufferings, as to the most material heads of it, that are most controverted at this time. In the first of these, I must study all compendious brevity, as may con∣sist with the clearing of my Scope: which is not to enlarge an Historical deduction, of the rise & result, progress & prosecution, occasion & continuation, of every Contro∣versie the Church hath had with her several Adversaries in several Periods; But only to hint at the chief Heads of their contendings, with a design to make it appear; that the most material Heads of sufferings that are now con∣demned, as new & nice notions, have been transmitted from age to age, from the beginning even to this present time, through all the Periods of this Church.

PERIOD. I.

Comprehending the Testimony of the Culdees.

IT is not without reason reckoned among the peculiar prerogatives of the renouned Church of Scotland, that Christs conquest in the conversion of that Nation, is one of the most eminent Accomplishments of Scripture Prophecies, of the propagation of His Kingdom in the New Testament Dispensation: Not only because it was, when called out of Gentile Paganisme, among the rudest of Heathen Nations, & in the ackowledgment of all, among

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the uttermost parts of the Earth, which were given to Christ for His inheritance & possession; Whereunto He had, & hath still, undoubted right, by His Fathers grant, & by His oun purchase; and took Infeofment of it by a glorious conquest, of that Land which the Roman Armes could never subdue, & erected His victorious Trophees there, whither their Triumphs could never penetrate, obtaining & thereby accomplishing that predicted Song of praise, From the uttermost parts of the Earth have we heard Songs, even Glory to the righteous; Which gives us groun to expect, that however Christs Interest there be now very low, and like to be lost as a prey in the Dragons Mouth, Yet Christ, hav∣ing such undoubted & manifold right to it, will not so easily quit or forego His possession: But also because, He hath so constantly continued His possession, & maintained His Title, by a long course of Contendings, by the Testimo∣nies of His witnesses, against the Invaders thereof, through all the Periods of the Church, from the very infancy of this new Dispensation: And because, Scotlands conver∣sion into the Christian Faith was among the first fruits of the Gentiles, of the oldest date, that any standing Church holding the head Christ this day can deduce its original from. For it is clear from Ancient Records, the Christian Faith was imbraced here, a few years after the Ascension of our Saviour, being taught by the Disciples of Iohn the Apostle; & received afterwards great increment from the Brittons, flying to Scotland to escape the Persecution of the Emperour Domitian, & was long promoted by the ancient Culdees or Cultores Dei; men whose memory is still fra∣grant, for piety & purity of faith & life, who continued some hundreds of years, under various vicissitudes of Pro∣vidence, before either Prelacy or Poperie was known in Scotland. They were first universally encouraged by King Cratilinth, in the time of the last Persecution under Diocle∣sian, which brought many of Christs witnesses hither for Shelter, who were very helpful for the setling of Truth, & the total extirpation of the Idolatry of the Druides, the Heathen Priests; whereby the pure Doctrine, Worship, & Government also of Christs Institution, was established

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& continued many years, while these Witnesses of Christ had no other emulation but of well doing & to advance Pietie. In this Period, these ancient & first Confessors & Witnesses of Christ, did wrestle strenously, according to their strength & light, for the Truths & words of Christs patience, controverted in their day, both against professed Enemies Pagan Persecutors & 〈◊〉〈◊〉, & pretended friends corrupters of the Faith. Their Testimony was stated, in a peculiar manner, for the verity, value, & vertue of Christs Natures & Offices, in 〈…〉〈…〉 rel••••ive to either, against the Malignants & Sectaries of their time: particu∣larly for the concerns of His Prphetical Office. And though we be at a loss, that for the most art their witness is buried in oblivion, through the darkness of the times succeeding: yet the scraps & fragments that are left, do furnish us with these few Remarks.

I. They maintained the verity of the Christian Doctrine, against both Pagan Persecutors, & Heretical perverters; And the purity of His instituted worship, without the va∣nity of humane inventions, or conformity with, either the Druides on the one hand, or the Hereticks on the other: with which, sometime befor the end of that Period, they were inested: Chiefly the Pelagians, with whom the faith∣ful would have no communion, but abstracted themselves in a Monastical life, liveing & exercising their Religion in Cells, from whence many places in the Countrey yet retain the name, as Kilmarnock, Kil-Patrick &c. that is the Cells of these eminent men among the Culdees. And their Government also, was that of the primitive order without Bishops, with litle vanity, but great simplicity & holyness. Many Authors do testity, that near about 400 years the Church of Scotland knew nothing of the Episcopal Hie∣rarchy, untill Paadius brought it in, & not without great opposition.

II. In these Recesses, they had the advantage, both of outward peace when others were in trouble, & of inward peace of conscience, when others were debauched with many conjurations, & abjurations, combinations & con∣federacies, imposed & exacted by them that prevailed for

Page 8

the time: whereby they might both keep themselves free of insnaring Oaths, perfidious complyances, & Associations with the wicked, & also intertain & incourage the oppres∣sed for equity, who fled unto their sanctuary for safety. We find they refused to enter into League with ma∣lignant Enemies. One memorable passage I shall insert (though strictly it belong not to this Period, as I distinguish it, yet falling out, within 80 years thereafter, in the time of the Culdees, it will not obscurely evidence the truth of this) Goranus the 45 King of Scots, earnestly dissuaded Lo∣thus, King of Picts, to entertain the League with the Saxons, not only because they were treacherous & cruel, but be∣cause they were Enemies to the Countre & to the Reli∣gion they professed, concluding thus, Homii vero Christiano id longe omnium videri &c. But to a Christian nothing must seem more grievous, than to consent to such a Covenant, as will extin∣guish the Christian Religion, & reduce the profane Customes of the Heathen, & arme wicked Tyrants the enemies of all humanity & piety against God & His Law: whereupon Lothus was per∣swaded to relinquish the Saxons. Buchan. Histor. rer. Scotic.

III. Though they were not for partaking in wicked un∣necessary Wars, without authority or against it; yet we have ground to conclude, they were for War, & did maintain the principle of resisting Tyrannie: since there was never more of the pactice of it, nor more happy resistances in any age, than in that. Where we find, that, as their Ancestors had frequently done before, so they also followed their footsteps, in resisting, reduceing to order. repressing, & bringing to condign punishment, Tyrant; & Usurpers; And thought those actions, which their Fathers did by the light of nature & dictates of reason, worthy of imitation, when they had the advantage of the light of Revelation & dictates of Faith; the one being indeed moderate & directed but no ways contradicted by the other. Therefore we read; that, as their Predecessors had done with Thereus the 8th King of Scotland, whom they banished in the year before Christs Incarnation 173. With Durstus the II King, whom they slew in Battel, in the year befor Christ 107. Evenus 3. who was imprisoned & dyed there, in the year befor

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Christ 12. Dardanus, the 20th King, who was taken in Battel, beheaded by his oun Subjects, his head exposed to Mockage, & his body cast into a sink, Anno Christi 72. Luctatus the 22. King, who was slain for his Leachery & Tyranny, anno 110. Mogaldus the 23. King, slain anno 113. Conarus the 24. King, a Leacherous tyrant, dyed in Prison, anno 149. Satrael the 26. King, hanged anno 159. So, after the Christian Faith was publickly professed, they pursued Athirco, the 29. King, when degenerate into Tyranny, who was forced to kill himself anno 231. They slew Nathalocus, the 30. King, & cast him into a privy anno 242. They beheaded Romachus, the 36. King, and caryed about his head for a show, anno 348. As they did with many others afterwards, as witnesseth Buchan. lib. 4. Histor. Scotic,

IV. Whence it is evident, that as they attained, even in these primitive times, & maintained the purity & freedom of their Ministery, independent on Pope, Prelate, or any humane Supremacy (that Antichristian Hierarchy, & Erastian blasphemie, not being known in those dayes) so they contended for the order & boundaries of the Magi∣stracy, according to Gods appointment & the fundamental constitutions of their Government; & thought it their duty to shake off the yoke, & disoune the Authority of these Tyrants that destroyed the same. Yea we find that even for incapacity, stupidity, & folly, they disouned the Re∣lation of a Magistrate, & disposed of the Government another way, as they did with Ethodius 2. whose authority they did oune, but Titulo tenus. See Buchan. loco Citato,

PERIOD. II.

Comprehending the Testimonie of the same Culdees with that of the Lollards.

THe following Period was that fatal one, that brought in universal Darkness on the face of the whole Church of Christ, and on Scotland with the first of

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them: which, as it received very early Christianity, so it was with the first corrupted with Antichristianisme: For that Mystorie of iniquity that had been long working, till he who letted was taken out of the way, found Scotland ripe for it when it came: which, while the Dragon did persecute the woman in the wilderness, did vallantly repell his As∣saults, but when the Beast did arise, to whom he gave his power, he prevailed more by his subtiltie, than his rampant Predecessor could do by his rage. Scotland could Resist the Roman Legions while heathenish, but not the Roman Locusts when Antichristian. At his very first appearance in the world under the Character of Antichrist, his harbinger Palladius brought in Prelacy to Scotland, & by that convey∣ance the contagion of Popery: which hath always been, as every where so especially in Scotland, both the Mother & Daughter, cause & effect, occasion & consequence, of Popery. These rose, stood, & lived together, & sometimes did also fall together: & we have ground to hope, that they shall fall again; & their final & fatal fall is not fa off. Whatever difficulty Authors do make, in calculating the Epocha of the 42 moneths of Antichrists duration in the world, because of the obscurity of his first rise; yet there needs not be much perplexity in finding out that Epocha in Scotland, nor so much discouragment from the fancyed permanency of that Kingdom of wickedness. For if it be certain, as it will not be much disputed, that Popery & Prelacy came in by Palla∣dius, sent Legate by Pope Celestine, about the year 450. then if we adde 42 Moneths or 1260 Prophetical dyes, that is years, we may have a comfortable prospect of their Tragical con∣clusion. And though both clashings & combinations, oppo∣sitions & conjunctions, this day may seem to have a terrible aspect, portending a darker hour befor the Dawning; yet all these eelings & revolutions, though they be Symptoms of wrath incumbent upon us for our sins, they may be looked upon, through a prospect of faith, as presages & progno∣sticks of Mercy impendent for His Names Sake, encou∣raging us, when we see these dreadful things come to pass in our day, to lift up our heads for the day of our Redemption draweth nigh. This dark Period continued igh about 1100

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years, in which though Christs witnesses were very few, yet He had some witnessing & Prophecieing in sackcloth all the while. Their Testimony was the same with that of the Waldenses & Albingenses, slated upon the grounds of their secession or rather abstraction from that Mystery Baby∣lon, Mot••••••r of harlots Popery & Prelacy, for their corrup∣tion in Doctrine, worship, Discipline, & Government. And did more particularly relate to the concerns of Christs Priestly Office, which was transmitted from the Culdees to the Lollards, And by them handed doun to the Instru∣ments of Reformation, in the following Period. Their Testimony indeed was not Active, by way of forcible resistance, against the Soveraign Powers; but passive, by way of Confession & Martyrdom, & sufferings & verbal contendings, & witnessings against the prevailing corrup∣tions of the time. And no wonder it should be so, & in this some way different from ours, because that was a dispen∣sation of suffering, when Antichrist was on the Ascen∣dant, & they had no call nor capacity to oppose him any other way, and were novv spirited for this passive Testi∣mony, in which circumstances they are an excellent pat∣tern for imitation, but not an example for confutation of that principle of defensive resistence which they never con∣tradicted, & had never occasion to confirm by their practice. But as in their manageing their Testimony, their man∣ner was somevvay different from ours on this respect; so they had far the advantage of us, that their cause was so clearly stated upon the greatest of heads of sufferings, hav∣ing the clearest connexion with the fundamentals of Re∣ligion. Yet we shall find in this Period our Heads of suffe∣ring someway homologated, if we consider.

I. That as they did faithfully keep & contend for the word of Christs patience under that dispensation, in asserting & maintanig both the verity of Christs Doctrin, & the pu∣rity of His Worship, by testifieing against the corruptions, errors, Idolatries, & Superstitions of Popery; so they did constantly bear witness against the usurpation & Tyranni∣cal domination of the Antichristian Prelats. And as the Culdees did vigorously oppose their first introduction, and

Page 12

after aspiring domination, as well as the corruptions of their Doctrine, As we have the contendings of Eminent witnesses recorded from age to age; in the fourth & fifth Age, Columbe, Libthac, Ethernan, Kintogerne or Mungo; in the Sexth & seventh Age, Colmanus, Cemens, & Samson with others, in the Eight & ninth Age, Alcuin, Rabanus Maurus, Ioannes Scotus Acrigena, are noted in Historie; And the Lollards, by their Examinations & Testimonies, are found to have witnessed against the exercise of their power, & sometimes against the very Nature of their power it selfe: so in their practise, they condemned Prelacy as well as Popery, in that their Ministers did in much painfullness, poverty, simplicity, Humility, & Equality, observe the Institution of our Lord. And so far as their light served, & had occasion to inquire into this point, they acknowled∣ged no officer in the House of God superior to a preaching Minister, & according to this standart they rejected & cra∣ved Reformation of exorbitant Prelacy. And it is plain that they were frequently discovered, by discountinanceing & withdrawing from their superstitions & Idolatrous worship: for all which, when they could not escape nor repell their violence, they cheerfuly embraced & endured the flames.

II. That their Adversaries did manage their cruel craft, & crafty cruelty, in murdering those Servants of God, much after the same methods that ours do; except that they are many stages outdone by their successors, as much as perfect Artists do outstrip the rude beginings of Apprenti∣ces. But on the other hand, the Suffeers in our day, that would follow the example of those Worthyes under Popery, would be much condemned by this generation, even by them that commend the matter of their Testimo∣ny, though they will not allow the manner of it to be imi∣tated in this day. The Adversaries of Christ in this & that generation, are more like then his Confesors & witnesses are. The Adversaries then, when constrained by diver∣sions of the times troubles, or when their designes were not ripe, pretended more moderation & aversation from severity, but no sooner got they opportunity (which al∣ways they sought) but so soon they renewed the Battel

Page 13

against Jesus Christ; so now: when they had seven abo∣minations in their hearts, & many cursed designes in their heads, they always spoke fairest; so now: when they had a mind to execute their cruelty, they would resolve befor∣hand whom to pitch upon before conviction; so now: And when so resolved, the least pretence of a fault, obnoxious to their wicked Law, would serve their design; so now: They used then to forge Articles, & falsly misrepresent their answers, & declarations of their principles; so now. Yet on the other hand, if now poor sufferers should glory in that they are counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Christ, as they did then; If now they should suf∣fer with as great cheerfullnesse, for the smallest points as for the greatest heads, as they did then, who endured the flames as gallantly, for eating a Goose upon Friday, as others did for the Doctrin of Justification, or Purgatory, or Indulgences, or worshipping of Images & Saints; If now they should speak for every truth in question, with all simplicity & plainness, without reserves or shifts declining a Testimony, as they did; If they should supersede from all applications to their Enemies for savour, & not medle with either petitioning or bonding with them, as they did; nay not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection: Then they might expect the severe Censure of ignorant & precise fools, as the most part who suffer now are counted.

III. That they stood aloof from every appearance of a base Complyance with them; not so much as to give them an interpretative sign of it, which in their meaning might be thought a recantation, though abstractly consideredit might be capable of a more favourable construction: As the re∣quired burning of their Bill was; which might have been thought a condemning of their accusations: but because that was not their Adversaries sense of it, they durst not do it. Not like many now a dayes, who will not be solici∣tous to consult that. Neither would they take any of their Oaths, nor pay any of their Eccllesiastical Exactions, as we find in the Articles brought in against the Lollards of Kyle. Knox Hist. of Reform. These things are easily complyed

Page 14

with now: and such as will suffer upon such things are con∣demned.

IV. That while the Love of God and his blessed Truth, and the precepts, promise, & presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, did enable them into all patience with joy, in a pas∣sive Testimony, being by the call of a clear 8: necessary pro∣vidence sent & sett forth to behis witnesses; they did not in∣deed endeavour any resistence: yet we find they never resigned nor abandoned that first & most just priviledge of resistence; nay, nor bringing publick beasts of prey to con∣digne punishment, in an extraordinary way of vindictive Justice, for the Murder of the Saints. As, upon the Mur∣der of Mr. George Wishchard, was done with Cardinal Bea∣ton, who was slain in the tower of St. Andrews by Iames Melvin: who perceiving his consorts in the interprise mo∣ved with passion, withdrew them & said; this work & judg∣ment of God, although it be secret, ought to be done with greater gravity, And, presenting the point of the sword to the Cardinal, said, Repent thee of thy former wicked life, but espe∣cially of the shedding of the blood of that notable instrument of God, Mr. George Wishchard, which albeit the flame of fire consu∣med before men, yet it cryes for vengeance upon the & we from God are sent to revenge it; for here, before my God, I protest, that nei∣ther the hatred of thy person, the love of thy riches, nor the fear of any trouble thow couldst have dme to me in particular, moved or moveth me to strike thee, but only because thow hast been & remai∣nest an obstinate Enemy against Christ Iesus, & His holy Gospel. Of which fact, the famous & faithful Historian Mr Knox speaks very honorably, and was so far from condemning it, that while after the slaughter they kept out the Castle, he with other Godly men went to them & stayed with them, till they were together caryed captives to Frnce. Yet now such a fact, committed upon such another bloody & trea∣cherous Beast, the Cardinal Prelat of Scotland, eight years agone, is generally condemned as horrid Murther.

V. However, tho in this dark Period there be no noted instances of these witnesses resisting the Superior powers, for reasons above hinted: yet in this Period, we find ma∣ny instances of noble & vertuous Patriots, their not only

Page 15

resisting, but also revenging to the utmost of severity rigo∣rous & raging Tyrants. As may be seen in Histories. For before the corruption of Antichrist came to its hight, we find Ferchardus I. the 52. K. was drawen to judgment against his will, great crimes were layd to his charge, & among others the Pelagian heresie, & contempt of Baptisme, for which he was cast into Prison, where he killed himself; anno 636. Eugenius 8. the 62. King degenerating into wicked∣nesse, & rejecting the Admonitious of his friends & espe∣cially of the Ministers, was killed in a convention of his nobles, with the consent of all, anno 765. Donaldus 7. was imprisoned, where he killed himself, anno 859. Ethus, surnamed Alipes, the 72. King was apprehended, & his wicked life layd out befor the people, & then compelled to resigne the Government, & dyed in Prison, anno 875. Afterwards when the Government was transmitted to the Stewarts, Iames the 2. the 103. King, who killed William E. of Douglas in the Castle of Sterling, most treacherously after he had pretended a civil treatment, was publickly defyed by the Earles friends; who took the Kings publick writ & sub∣scription made to the said Earle, & tyed it to a horse tail, dragging it through the streets, & when they came to the Mercat place they Proclaimed both King & Nobles perjured Covenant-breakers: And thereafter when E. Iames his Bro∣ther, was desired to submit, he answered, he would never put himself in their reverence, who had no regard to shame, nor to the lawes of God or man, and who had so perfidiously & treache∣rously killed his Brother & his Cousins. Iames 3. the 104. King for his Treachery & Tyranny was opposed & purswed by ar∣mes by his oun subjects; who finding himself under disad∣vantages, sent to the rebells (as he thought them & called them)

an offer of peace, & received this answer; that seeing the King did nothing honestly, a certain war seemed bet∣ter to them then a peace not to be trusted, that there was no other hope of agreement but one, that he should quite the Government, otherwise it was to no purpose to trouble themselves with treaties.
Thereafter in a bat∣tel he was slain at Bannockburn, by Gray, Ker, & Borthwick. Iames the 4. the 105. King was also constrained, by the va∣lour

Page 16

of Archibald Douglas E. of Angus called Bell the Cat▪ to reforme the Court, and put away some wicked Syco∣phants from his Counsel, and give way tho against his will to the execution of judgement upon others: which was the occasion of that foresaid Agnomen to the Earle. For, he with other Nobles, in a meeting at Lawder, consulting how to reform & repress the insolency of the Court, had the Apologue of the Mice laid out before them; that the Mice ell upon deliberating how to be rid of the Cat, & concluded the best way was to put a bell about her neck, but when it came to be put in execution, never a Mouse durst under∣take it: The Earle quickly made application, saying, I will bell the Cat; & forthwith went out & meeting Cochran, one of these wicked Consellours, took hold of him, & hanged him with a horse halter over the bridge of Lawder, & ru∣shing in to the Kings presence proceeded to snatch Ramsey, another of the countreyes Enemies, out of the Kings Ar∣mes, but that he yeelded at length to the Kings earnest en∣treaties to spare him. However we see how generously zealous these noble Patriots were for the countries good, against Tyrannie, thô they were ignorant of Religion: Yet this all alongs was still the character of the Scots in these dayes, none more terrible to Tyrants, none more Loyal to Kings then they.

PERIOD. III.

Containing the Testimonie of the Reformation from Poperie.

AS in the former the Testimony was mostly Passive, so in the following Period, when they were increa∣sed in number & strength that embraced the Gospel, the Lord called & spirited to an Active Testimony, for these two Twins, Religion & Liberty, that were then sought to be stifled in the birth, & are now designed more

Page 17

declaredly to be destroyed, after they have growen up to some maturity: Which, as it renders the cruelty of the pre∣sent destroyers the more grassant & grievous, so it rubs the more indeleble Infamie, on the shamfull security & Ass∣like stupidity of this generation, that have received such an excellent Testimony deposited to their trust, transmitted to them through a continued trāct of the witnessings & wrestlings of their worthy Ancestors, and now let it slip & slide through their feeble fingers; And does the more justify, yea magnify, the poor endeavours of the present Sufferers, who at least, when they cannot react these mighty works in defending Religion & Liberty, do choose rather to die than to resign the Testimony, or quite the least Priviledge that their Progenitors possessed them of: And though they be superciliously despised, as litle insigni∣ficant nothings, in the eyes of the bulk of the big boasters of this blind age; yet, if these valiant Heroes who did such exploits for their God, in commenceing & carying on the work of Reformation, were now to see the dull Dotages of this dreaming generation (not only suffering & con∣senting to, but congratulating & applauding, the intro∣duction & reestablishment of Idolatry & Tyranny, Popery & Slavery, upon the ruines of the work they built with so great expence.) And were to read the pitiful Petitions, and airy & empty, flattering & fauning Addresses, to this An∣tichristian Tyrant, for the Toleration of that Religion & Li∣berty, under the odious notion of a Crime, which they had conveyed to them under the security of a fundamental Law; They, if any, would be acknowledged as their Children, who disdain & disoune such dishonorable & dastardly yeeldings, and are therefore most despised with disdain & despight. A brief Rehearsal of their Contendings will clear the Case.

While the Queen Dowager Regent reigned by the curse of God, and employed all her power & policy to suppress the Gospel in Scotland; God so Counteracted her, that the blood of the Martyrs she caused to be murdered proved the seed of the Church; and the endeavours of His Servants had such success, that no small part of the Barons & Gentle∣men,

Page 18

as well as commons, began to abhor the Tyranny of the Bishops: yea men almost universally began to doubt, whether they could without sin give their bodily presence

to the Masse, or offer their Children to the Papistical Baptisme? Whether these that were in any publick trust, could with safe conscience serve the higher Powers, in maintainig of Idolatry, persecuting their Brethren, & suppressing Christs Truth! or whether they might suffer their Brethren to be murdered in their presence, without any declaration that such Tyrannie displeased them?
And from the Scriptures they were resolved, that a lively Faith required a plain Confession, when Christs Truth is impugned; And that not only they be guilty that do evil, but also they that con∣sent to evil, and this they should do, if seeing such things openly committed, they should be silent, and so allow whatsoever was done. From doubts they came to determinations, to en∣deavour that Christ Iesus His glorious Gospel should be Preached, His holy Sacraments truely ministred, Superstition, Idolatry, & Tyranny should be suppressed in this Realme; And that both as to the Worship, Discipline, & Government, the Reverend face of the first primitive & Apostolick Church should be reduced again to the eyes & knowledge of men. And in this they never fanted till the work was finished. To accomplis this, famous and faithfull Mr Knox, and other Servants of the Lord, did Preach diligently in Private Meetings. And for that, when they were summoned before the Queen; several zealous & bold men repaired to her, & plainly in the hearing of the Prelats, did charge them with the cruel device in∣tended, & told her with a vow, they should make a day of it, because they oppressed them & their tennents, for feeding of their idle bellies, they troubled the Preachers, and would murder all; should they suffer this any longer? No, it should not be. Thereafter, the more effectually to prosecute the Reformation begun, they entered into Covenants, to maintain & advance that work of Reformation, And to stand to the Desence thereof; and of one another, against all wicked Power, that might intend Tyranny or trouble against them,

Page 19

and to resent any injury done to any of their Brerhren, upon the account of the Common Cause, as done to all. Of which Covenants they entered into many very solemnly: one was at Edinburgh anno 1557. Another at Perth, 1559. Another at Sterling 1559. binding, that none should have any correspondence with the Queen, without notifieing it to one another, And that nothing should proceed therein, without common Consent of them all. Another at Leith, anno 1560. Another at Air, anno 1562. of the same tenor. By which Covenants, as their Conjunction was the more firme among themselves, so was it the more fearful to their Adversaries; when according to the tenor of them they kept their Conventions, & held Counsells with such gravity & clossness, that the enemies trembled. I mention these things more particularly, because these same very things commended in our Fathers, are now condemned in a poor handful, that wold aim at imitating their exam∣ple, in renewing & reiterating such Covenants of the same Nature & Tenor, & binding to the same very duties, and prosecute in the same methods of keeping General Meetings for Correspondence, & consultation about com∣mon mutual Duties in common danger; whereunto they have not only present necessity to urge them, but also pre∣terite examples of these Worthies to encourage them, and their experience of comfort & tranquillity they reaped, by these Christian Assemblies & Godly Conferences, as ost as any danger appeared to any member or members of their body. These beginings the zealous Covenanted Reformers left no means unessayed to promote, by Protestations to the Parliament, & Petitions, & many reiterated Addresses to the Queen Dowager: From whom they received many renewed fair promises; which she had never mind to keep, and wanted not the impudence, when challenged for breaking them, to declare, It becomes not Subjects to burthen their Princes with promises, further then it pleased them to keep the same: And at another time, that she was bound to keep no Faith to Hereticks: And again, that

Page 20

Princes must not be strictly bound to keep their promises; And that her self would make litle Conscience to take from all that sort their Lives & Inheritance, if she might do it with an honest excuse. Wherein she spoke not only the venome of her oun heart, but the very soul & sense, prin∣ciple & project, of all Popish Princes: Whereby we may see what security we have for Religion & Liberty this day, though the most part make such a pretence a pillow to sleep on. But after many Discoveries in this kind of the Queens Treachery, at length they would no more be bribed by promises, blinded by pretences, nor boasted by her Pro∣clamations, (slandering their interprise, as if it pertained nothing to Religion) from their endeavours to prosecute the same: but finding themselves compelled to take the Sword of Just defence, against all that should persue them for the matter of Religion, they first signified unto her; That they would notifie to the King of France; & all Chri∣stian Princes,

that her cruel unjust & most Tyrannieal murther intended against Touns & Mnltitudes, was & is the only Cause of their revolt from their accustomed obedience, which they ouned & promised to their So∣veraign; provided they might live in Peace & Liberty, and enjoy Christs Gospel, without which they firmly purpose never to be subject to mortal man; And that better it were to expose their bodies to a thousand deaths, than to deny Christ; which thing not only do they, who com∣mit open Idolatry, but also all such, as, seeing their Brethren purswed for the Cause of Religion, and haveing sufficient means to comfort & assist them, do neverthe∣less withdraw from them their dutiful support.
And thereafter, they published a Declaration to the generation of Antichrist, the pestilent Prelats, & their shavelings within Scotland.
That they should not be abused, thinking to escape just punishment, after that they in their blind fury had caused the blood of many to be shed, but if they proceeded in this their malicious Cruelty, they should be dealt with all, wheresoever they should be apprehended, as Murderers, & open Enemies to God & to Mankind.

Page 21

And that with the same measure they had measured, & intended to measure to others, it should be measured to them—that is, they should, with all force & power they had, execute just vengeance & punishment upon them; yea begin that same War which God com∣mandeth Israel to execute against the Canaanites, that is, Contract of Peace should never be made, till they desist from their open Idolatry & cruel Persecution of Gods Children.
I rehearse this Declaration the more expresly, because in our day Declarations of this stile & strain, and aiming at the same Scope, is hideously hissed & houted at as unheard of novelties. Finally, when by all their Let∣ters, Warnings, Admonitions & Protestations, they could obtain no redress, but rather an increase of insuppor∣table violence; they proponed the Question in a General Meeting: Whether she, whose pretences threatened the bondage of the whole Commonwealth, ought to be suffered so Tyrannically to domineer over them? Unto which the Ministers, being required to give their judgment, answered, that she ought not. And accordingly they declared her deposed, from all Government over them; because of her persecuting the
Professors of the true Religion, and oppressing the Li∣berties of the true Lieges, never being called nor con∣vinced of any Crime; because of her intrusion of Magi∣strats against all order of Election; because of her bringing in strangers to suppress the Liberty of the Countrey, and placing them in greatest Offices of Credite, because of her altering and subverting the old Laws of the Realme &c.
Which I mention, because hence we may see what things our Fathers judged, did dissolve the relation between the people & their Rulers: And when applyed to our Case, will justify their reasons that have renounced the pre∣sent Tyranny: This was done at Edinburgh, anno 1559. And thereafter, while they vindicated themselves, & went on with the work of Reformation, throwing doun all monuments of Idolatry, & propogateing the Reformed Religion; God so blessed their endeavours that their Con∣fession of faith, and all Articles of the Protestant Reli∣gion, was Read & Ratified by the three Estates of Parlia∣ment,

Page 22

at Edinburgh Iulij 1560. And the same year the Book of Discipline, containing the forme & order of Pres∣byterial Government, was subscribed by a great part of the Nobility. Thus through the wisdom & power of God alone, even by the weaknesse of very mean Instrments, against the rage & fury of the devil, and of all the powers of Hell, was this work of Reformation advanced & effe∣ctuated; And came to the establishment of a Law, which did not only ratifie & confirme the Pote••••ant Religion, but abolish Antichristian Popery, and appoint punishment for the Professors & promoters thereof. Which Law, often confirmed & ratified afterwards, though it be now cassed & rescinded by the Prerogative of the present Ty∣rant, because it anulls & invalidates his pretence to succes∣sion in the Government (it being expressly enacted after∣wards, by a Parliament at Edinburgh 156. Confirming this, that all Princes & Kings hereafter before their Corona∣tion shall take Oath to maintain the true Religion then professed, & suppress all things contrary to it) yet is still in force in the hearts of all honest men, that will not prosti∣tute Religion, Law, & Liberty to the lusts of Tyrants; and will be accounted a better bottom to build the hope of enjoying Religion upon, than the perfidious promises of a Popish Usurper, pretending a Liberty to dissenting Pro∣testants, by takeing away the Penal Statuts, the Legal Bulwark against Popery: All which yet, to the reproach of all Protestants, some are applauding & Congratula∣ting in this time by their Addresses & Petitions, to this destroyer of Law & Religion. I wish they would look back to see what the building of this Bulwark cost our Fathers, before they sell it at such a rate: And compare the present Addresses, Courting & Carressing the Papists, with the Addresses of these worthy builders of what they are destroying. There is one dated Edinb. May. 27. 1561. Presented to the Council, shewing, that honesty craved them; and conscience moved them, to make the secrets of their heart patent, which was;

That, before ever these Tyrants & dumb Dogs empire over them professing Christ Jesus within this Realme, they were fully deter∣mined,

Page 23

to hazard Life, and whatsoever they had received. of God in temporal things—And let these Enemies of God assure themselves, that if their Counsell put not order unto them, that they should shortly take such order, that they shall neither be able to do what they list, neither yet to live upon the sweat of the browes of such as are no Debters to them.
And when the mischievous Mary, the daughter of the Degraded Queen, returning from France, set up the Mass but in her oun family; the Godly at that time gave plain signification, that they could not abide that
the Land which God by His power had purged from Ido∣latry, should in their eyes be polluted again. Shall that Idol (say they) be suffered again to take place within this Realme: It shall not.
The Idolatrous Priests should die the death according to Gods Law. And a Proclamation being issued to protect the Queens Domestick Servants, that were Papists; There was a Protestation given forth pre∣sently, That if any of her Servants shall commit Idola∣try,
say Mass, participate therewith, or take the de∣fence thereof, in that case this Proclamation was not ex∣tended to them in that behalf, nor to be a Safeguard to them in that behalf, no more then if they commit murther. Seeing the one is much more abominable in the sight of God then the other. But that it may be Lawful to inflict upon them, the pains contained in Gods word, against Idolaters, wherever they may be apprehended without fa∣vour.
The words of Iohn Knox upon the folowing sabbath may be added. That one Masse was more fearul unto him then if ten thousand armed Enemies, were Landed in any part of the realme, of purpose to suppress the whole Reli∣gion: for (said he) in our God there is strength to resist & confound Multitudes, if we unfeignedly depend upon Him; but when we joine hands with Idolatry, it is no doubt, but both Gods amiable Presence & comfortable defence, will leave us and what shall then become of us? Yea when it was voted in the General Assembly, whether they might take the Queens Mass from her? Many frankly affirmed; that

Page 24

as the Mass is abominable, so it is just & right, that it should be suppressed: And that in so doing, men did no more hurt to the Queens Majestie, than they that should by force take from her a Poisoned Cup, when she were going to drink it.
Thus we have some Specimen of the Zeal of our fathers against Idolatry. But in a litle time, Court favours blunted it in many. And then had the Ser∣vants of God a double Battel, fighting or the one hand against Idolatrie, and the rest of the abominations main∣tained by the Court. And upon the other hand, against the unfaithfullness of false brethren, and Treachery of Sycophants, who informed the Court against the Ministers for their free & faithful Preaching and warning on all oc∣casions; yet they sustained the brunt of all these assaults, and came off with honour. At length to be short, in pro∣cess of time, this Mary a woman of a proud & crafty wit, and an indured heart against God & His Truth, insisted in the same steps of Tyranny & Treachery (but with greater Aggravations) that her Mother walked in, and was served according to her desert. For after that her Darling Davie Rizio, the Italian Fidler (whom most men then supposed, and do still suspect, to be the Father of King Iames, this mans Grandfather; and some do think it not unlikly that his Successors have derived from this stock the Italian Complexion & Constitution, both of body & mind, Spare & Swarthy, Cruel & Crafty) received his ue rewards in her presence, by the Kings consent & Counsel: she con∣ceived such contempt of & indignation against the poor uxorious young King, Henry of Darnely; that she never rested, till she & Bothwel contrived & executed his Mur∣ther. And then she married that Murdering Adulterer, the said Earle of Bothwel. Whereupon the Protestant Noble∣men pursueing the Murther, took her & sent her Prisoner to Lochlevin; where they made her resigne the Govern∣ment to her Son Iames, then an Infant. And afterwards she was beheaded by Elizabeth Queen of England. We see now by this deduction what was the Testimony of this Pe∣riod, and how in many things it confirmes the Heads of the present Sufferings, which we may particularly remark.

Page 25

I. The Reformation of Scotland had this common with all other Protestant Churches, that it was carried on by re∣sisting the opposing powers: But it had this peculiar advan∣tage above all, that at once & from the begining, both Doctrine & Worship, Discipline & Government, were Reformed: as Mr. Knox witnesseth, that there was no Realme upon the face of the Earth at that time that had Religion in greater Purity. Yea, sayes he, we must speak the Truth whomsoever we offend, there is no Realme that hath the like Purity; for all others, how sincere soever the Doctrine be, retain in their Churches and the Ministery thereof some footsteps of Antichrist & dregs of Popery, But we (praise to God alone) have nothing in our Churches that ever flowed from that Man of Sin. The Doctrine was purely Reformed, according to the Rule of Christ, both as to Matter & Manner of Delivery. As to the Matter of it, what it was, the Confession of Faith ratified in Parliament anno 1560. Doth witness. In the Manner of it, they study¦ed not the smooth & pâkie prudence that is now so much applauded, for not observeing which, such as would fain be honest in this duty, are so much condemned; but they cryed aloud against & did not spare the sins of the time, with application to every degree of men: as we have it published & vindicated in Mr. Knox his History. They cryed that the

same God who plagued Pharaoh, repulsed Sennacherib, struck Herod with wormes, and made the bellies of dogs the Grave & Sepulcher of the Spiteful Iezabel, will not spare misled Princes, who authorise the Murtherers of Christs members in this our time: Many now a dayes will have no other Religion than the Qween; the Queen, no other than the Cardinal; the Cardinal, no other than the Pope; the Pope, no other than the Devil: Let men therefore consider what danger they stand in, if their Salvation shall depend upon the Queens faith.
And they used to defend such manner of free dealing, from the examples of the Prophets reproving Kings Personally:
Now if the like & greater corruptions be in the World this day, who dare interprise, to put to silence the Spi∣rit

Page 26

of God, whih will not be subject to the apetites of misled Princes.
Mr. Knox his defence befor the Queen, when rebuked for speaking of her Mariage in the pulpit, was: The Evangel, sayth he, hath two points,
Repen∣tance & Faith; in preaching Repentance, of necessity it is that the sins of men be noted, that they way know wherein they offend.
And in his dispate with Lithing∣toun, requiring where any of the Prophets did so use Kings & Rulers; he gave the example of Elias. reproveing A∣chab & Iezebel, that
dogs shall lick the blood of Achab and eat the flesh of Jezebel; which was not whispered in their ears, but so as the People understood: well enough, for so witnessed Iehu after the accomplishment; Elizeiu repro∣ved Iehoram, saying, what have I to do with thee, if it were not for Jehoshaphat, I would not have looked toward thee; though a subject yet he gave litle reverence to the King.
These were their Arguments for faithfullness then which are now exploded with contempt. Their worship was also Reformed from all Dregs of Popery, & fopperies of hu∣mane Ceremonies, retained in many other Churches; especially in England. To whose Bishops, in Queen Elizabeths time, the Assembly wrote;
That if Surplice▪ Corner cap, Tippet &c. have been the badges of Idolaters in the very act of Idolatry, what have Preachers to do with the dregs of that Romish Beast? Yea what is he that ought not to fear to take, either in his hand or fore head, the mark of that odious Beast?—We think yow should boldly oppose your selves to all power, that will dare ex∣toll it self against God, and against all such as do bur∣den the Conscience of the faithful, further then God hath burdened them by His oun word.
The Disclpline & Go∣vernment was from the begining Presbyterial, even before the establishment; both in practice, among the Persecuted Mi∣nisters who kept their private Meetings: And in their Doctri∣ne, This was one of Mr Knox's Articles, he sustained at St Andrews, upon his first entry unto the Ministery, Art. S. There is no Bishop except he preach even by himself wiihout any substitute. But so soon as they attained any settlement, they assembled in their first National Synod, anno 1560. by

Page 27

vertue of that Intrinsick Power, granted by the Lord to His Church; nor did they so much as petition for the In∣dulgence of the then Authority; But upon Christs warrant, they kept & held their Courts in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ only, and in His sole Authority, by direction of His Word & Spirit, concluded all their Counsels, Votes, & Acts. And as they knew nothing of an Exotick Supre∣macy, so they put out & held out Prelacy, and kept a perfect Parity; which was nothing infringed by the extraordinary Imployments & Commissions delegated to some Superin∣tendents, upon the account of the particular exigence of these times.

II. Next we find in the Practice of these renouned Re∣formers, many demonstrations of pure zeal, worthy of all imitation: which I remark the rather, because poor Suffe∣rers that would now imitate it, are condemned as blind & ignorant zelots. But why are not the Reformers con∣demned for the same things? We find in the first place, that they were so far from complying with, or conniving at, or countenancing publick sins, that they could not contain themselves from declaring their Detestation of the sight of them: yea the very boyes did abominate it, as at the Re∣formation of St Iohnstoun, a boy cryed with a bold voice, This is intolerable, that when God by His Word hath plainly con∣demned Idolatry, we shall stand & see it used in despight. Where∣upon he & others throw doun all the monuments of Idola∣try in the place. But if now any should enterprise such a thing, when the Idol of the Masse is set up in every City, they might expect Ierubbaals censure of the Abiezrites; th it is true they might have the same encouragement, because they have the same Command as he had, to wit, the perpe∣tual precept of throwing doun Idolatrous Altars. Next they were so far from complying with the Enemies, in keeping the peace with them, that they thought it a great sin not to oppose them, when their brethren were forced to take the sword of self defence, being perswaded by these arguments:

That by their fainting & abstracting their support, the Enemies would be encouraged; And thereby they should declare themselves both Traitors to the Truth once pro∣fessed,

Page 28

and Murderers of their Brethren, whom their presence & Concurrence might preserve; And that if they should deny their Brethren suffering for His Names sake, they should also deny Christ, and be denyed of Him; And that God hath often punished subjects with their Princes, for winking at and not resisting their ma∣nifest iniquity; And therefore, as He is immutable in nature, so would He not Pardon them in that which He hath punished in others &c.
Which Arguments prevailed with the noble Earle of Glencarn, in zeal to burst forth in these words—Albeit never man should accompany me, yet I will go to my Brethren, and if it were but a Pike upon my shoul∣der, I had rather die with that company then Live after them. But now professors cannot only sit at home in their shops & ceiled houses, when the Lords people are pursued & murdered in the fields, but also can hire their Murderers, & strengthen their hands, by paying them Cesses & Locali∣ties, and what they require for help to do their work, and maintaining them in their iniquity. Which famous Mr Knox disproveth very much in his day; Arguing that
if people thought they were innocent, because they were not the actors of such iniquity, they were utterly de∣ceived; for God doth not only punish the chief offen∣ders, but the Consenters to such iniquity, And all are judged to consent, who give not Testimony against it; As the Rulers & Bishops are Criminal of all the innocent blood, thats shed for the Testimony of Christs Truth, so are all who assist & maintain them in their blind rage, and give no declaration that their Tyranny displeaseth them; This doctrine is strange to the blind world, but the verity of it hath been declared in all notable punish∣ments from the begining; when the old world was de∣stroyed by water, Sodom & Jerusalem were destroyed, were all alike wicked? yet all perished; why? All kept silence, or did not resist, by which al approved ini∣quity, and joined hands with the Tyrants, as it had been in one Battel against the Omnipotent.
Which words if impartially applyed, will condemn & confute the dull Daubings of the present Complyances, in maintaining

Page 29

Tyrants & their Emissaries, by Emoluments which they require & exact, and that professedly, for promoting their accursed projects; And will justify Consciencious suffe∣rers, for refuseing to pay these impositions. And this will the more appear, if we adde some more of his pithie ex∣pressions in the same place, clearing the subject he is upon, and answering an objection, what poor people might do, when compelled to give obedience to all their Rulers de∣manded?

Ye may saith that Author, without sedition withhold the fruits & profits, which your false Bishops & Clergy most unjustly received of yow: Upon which he subjoins the preceeding Arguments.
Yet now a dayes these have no weight, but such as refuse either to pay Op∣pressors exactions, or Curats stipends, are condemned for giddy fools. Again we find, that when they were challenged for duty, they would never decline a declara∣tion of its righteousness, nor do any thing directly or in∣directly which might seem a condemning of it. And there∣fore they wold receive no pardons for these things which they could not confess to be offences. Iohn Knox, chal∣lenged for offending the Queen, had her promise, that if he would confess an offence, his greatest punishment should be, but to go within the Castle of Edinburgh, and immediatly to return to his own house; he re∣fused absolutely. But now, if our Pardon-mongers & pru∣dent men had been so circumstantiate, surely they could have helped themselves with their distinctions, they might confess & be pardoned for offending the Queen, thô not confess it to be a fault in their Conscience: But Mr Knox had not learned that then. When they were pursuing the Murder of King Henry of Darnely, the Queen finding her self not strong enough, offers to forgive & pardon that insurection: The Earle of Morton, in name of all the rest, did not only refuse a Cessation, but told her they would not ask a pardon. But now sufferers, for refusing of these base & unmanly aswell as unchristian Complyances, are much condemned. Finally, because this strictness, espe∣cially in their severity against their Enemies, may be ac∣cused of Iewish rigidity, inconsistent with a Gospel Spirit

Page 30

of Lenity; which also is imputed to the much condemned sufferers of Scotland at this time, for their Testimonies against Toleration & Liberty of Conscience: Let us hear what Knox sayes;

whatsoever God required of the Civil Magistrate in Israel or Juda, concerning the observation of true Re∣ligion during the time of the Law, the same doth He re∣quire of Lawful Magistrates, professing Christ Jesus, in the time of the Gospel: And Cites a large Testimony out of Augustine to this purpose.
And afterward objecting to himself the practice of the Apostles, who did not punish the Idolatrous Gentiles; he answers,
That the Gentiles, being never avowed to be Gods people before, had never received his Law, and therefore were not to be punished according to the rigor of it, to which they were never subject, being strangers from the Commonwealth of Israel; But if any think, after the Gentiles were received in the number of Abrahams children, and so made one people with the Jewes beleeving, then hey were not bound to the same obedience of Israels Covenant, the same seems to make Christ inferior to Moses, and con∣trare to the Law of His heavenly Father; for if the Con∣tempt and transgression of Moses's Law was worthy of death, what judge we the contempt of Christs ordinance to be? And if Christ be not come to dissolve, but to fulfill the Law of His Heavenly Father, shall the Liberty of His Gospel be an occasion that the special glory of His Father be troden under foot, and regarded of no man? God forbid; And therefore I fear not to affirme, that the Gentiles be bound by the same Covenant that God made with His people Israel, in these words; Beware that thou make not any Covenant with the Inhabitants of the Land but thou shalt destroy their Altars &c. When therefore the Lord puteth the Sword in the hand of a people, they are no less bound to purge their Cities & Countreyes from Ido∣latrie, then were the Israelites, what time they received the Possession of the Land of Canaan.

III. For the head of Resistence of Superior powers, we have no clearer instances in any Period then in this, where of the above mentioned hints give some account, to which in

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their sentiments & arguments may be here subjoined. They prised and improved this principle so much, that they put it in their Confession of faith Art. 14. To save the Life of Inno∣cents, to repress Tyranny, to defend the oppressed, are among the good works of the Second Table, which are most pleasing & acceptable to God, as these works are com∣manded by Himself; And to suffer innocent blood to be hed if we may withstand it, is affirmed to be sin, by which Gods hot Displeasure is kindled against the proud & unthankful world. And if there were no more to render the late. Test of Scotland detestable, that condemns all resistence of Kings upon any pretence whatsoever, this may make all Chri∣stians & all men abhor the contrivance of it; that that same Test that confirms this Thesis, doth also impose the Anti∣thesis upon Conscience. It obliges to this Confession in the first part of it, and to deny it in the Latter. But no wonder, that men of feared Consciences can receive any thing, thô never so contradictory to it self; And that men who deny sense and that principle irradicated in humane nature, may also deny Conscience, & make a fool of it in sowdering Contradictories. But not only did our Reformers assert this Truth for which now their children adhering to their Testimony suffer both rage and reproach, but also gave their reasons for it. As (1) Mr Knox, in his first Conference with the Queen, argues thus:

There is neither greater honour nor obedience to be given to Princes than Parents; but so it is that the father may be stricken with a phrensie, in the which he would slay his oun children; now if the children arise, take his weapon from him, bind his hands, do the children any wrong? It is even so with Princes, that would murder the Children of God subject to them, their blind zeal is nothing but a very mad phren∣sie; and therefore to take the sword from them, and cast them into prison till they be brought to a more sober mind, is no disobedience against Princes. (2) In his Con∣ference with Lithingtoun, he proves the same point, from the consideration of the justice of God, punishing the peo∣ple for not resisting the Prince. The Scripture of God teacheth me (saith he) Ierusalem & Iuda were punished

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for the sins of Manassoh; If you alledge they were pu∣nished because they were wicked, and not because the King was wicked, the Scripture sayes expressly, for the sins of Manasseh; yet will I not absolve the people, I will grant the whole people offended with their King, but how? to affirme that all Iuda committee the acts of his impiety, hath no certainty; who can think, that all Ieru∣salem should turn Idolaters immediatly after Hezekias no∣table Reformation? One part therefore willingly followed him in his Idolatry, the other suffered him, & so were criminal of his sin, even as Scotland is guilty of the Queens Idolatry this day.
In the same Discourse he makes it plain, that all are guilty of Innocents murder who do not oppose it, from Ieremies words in his defence before the Prin∣ces —Know ye for certain if ye put me to death ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon your selves and upon the City and upon the Inhabitants thereof; Now if the Princes & the whole peo∣ple should have been guilty of the Prophets blood, how shall others be judged innocent before God, if they suffer the blood of Innocents to be shed when they may save it? (3) Ibid. he argues from the distinction between the person placed in Authority, and the ordinance of God, the one may be resisted the other cannot. The plain words of the Apostle makes the difference:
The ordinance is of God, for preservation of mankind, punishment ovice, which is holy & constant; Persons commonly are profane & unjust: He that resisteth the power there, is only meant of the just power wherewith God hath armed His Magi∣strats, which who so resists, resists Gods orinance; But if men in the fear of God, oppose themselves to the fury of Princes, they then resist not God, but the Devil who abuses the sword & Authority of God: It is evident the people resisted Saul, when he had sworn Ionathan should dye, whom they delivered: The Spirit of God accuses them not of any crime, but praises them & con∣demns the King: This same Saul again commanded the Priests of the Lord to be slain, his guard would not obey, but Doeg put the Kings cruelty in execution; I will not ask, whether the Kings servants not obeying resisted the

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ordinance of God, or whether Doeg murthering gave obe∣dience to just Authority? The Spirit of God condemns that fact Psal. 52. that God would not only punish the Commander, but also the merciless executer; There¦fore they who gainstood his command, resisted not the ordinance of God. (4). Ibid. He argues from exam∣ples, not only of resisting but of punishing Tyrants: chiefly the example of Uzziah is pertinent to this purpose, 2 Chon. 26. who after his usurping the Priests Office, was put out of the Temple. When it was replyed, that they were the Priests that with stood the King, not simple peo∣ple: He answered, The Priests were subjects, as Ab∣athar was deposed by Solomon &c. yet they made him go out of the Temple for his Leprosie, and the people put him from the Kingdom.
It is noted also that Mr Knox, in that discourse, adduces examples of those, who use to be brought in as objections against defensive Armes, even the Primitive Christians, before that Passage last cited: what precepts, sayes he, the Apostles gave, I will not affirme; But I find two things the faithful did, the one was they assisted their Preachers even against the rulers, the other was they suppressed Idolatrie wheresoever God gave unto them force, asking no leave of the Emperour nor of his deputies: Read the Ecclesiastical Histories, and ye shall find examples sufficient.

IV. In the next place we may inquire into the judgment of these Reformers, concerning that Question that is now so pusling to many; which indeed was never started before this time as a head of suffering, but now, when it is star∣ted, we may gather from our Ancestors Actings & Deter∣minations about it, how it ought to be answered. They were indeed in capacity, and accordingly did improve it, for disouning the Authority of both the Queens: but their ca∣pacity was not the thing that made it duty, if it had not been so before. Capacity makes a thing possible, but not law∣ful: It does indeed make a duty seasonable, and clears the Call to it, and regulates the timing of Affirmative duties, but the want of it can never dispense with negative Pre∣cepts: And a duty, negative especially, may become ne∣cessary,

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when it hath not the advantage of seasonableness or capacity; certainly it were duty to depose he Pope from his usurped authority, and to disoune it even in Rome it self, but there it would not be thought very feasible or seasona∣ble, for twenty or thirty people to avouch such a thing there, yet at all times it is a duty never to oune it. It is thought unseasonable & unfeasable to disoune the Tyrants authority, but it is made necessary, when uged never to oune it. And for this we have the grounds of our Ance∣stors, shewing who may be disouned, and must not be ouned. I shall first insert here John Knox his propositions, prosecuted in his second blast, extant at the end of Anton. Gilbies Admonition to England & Scotland. 1. It is not birth only nor propinquity of bloodh that maketh, a King lawfully to Reign over a people, professing Christ Iesus and His Eternal verity, but in his Election, the ordinance which God hath established in the election of inferior judges, must be observed. 2. No manifest Idolater, nor notorious trans∣gressor of Gods holy precepts, ought to be promoed to any pu∣blick regiment, honour, or dignity, in any realme, Pro∣vince, or Citie, that hath subjected themselves to Christ Iesus and His blessed Evangel. 3. Neither can Oath, or pro∣mise, bind any such people to obey & maintain Tyrants, against God and His Truth known. 4. Bt if rashly they have promo∣ted any manifest wicked person, or yet ignorantly have cho∣sen such an one, as after Declareth himself unworthy of regi∣ment, above the people of God (and such be all Idolaters & Cruel Presecuters) most justly may the same men depose & punish him, that unadvisedly before they did nominate, ap∣point, & elect. Accordingly this was done in deposing both the Queens: wich is fully vindicated by the Earle of Morton, in his discourse to the Queen of England, as Bu∣chanan Relates it,

Lib. 20. Pag. 746. The deed it self, neither the Custom of our Ancestors of taking a Course with their Governour, will suffer it to be accounted

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new, nor the moderation of the punishment to be odious: for it were not needful to recount so many Kings puni∣shed by death, bonds, & exile by our Progenitors. For the Scotish nation, being from the begining alwise free, hath created Kings upon these conditions, that the Go∣vernment entrusted to them by the peoples suffrages, might be also (if the matter required) removed by the same suffrages: Of which Law there are many footsteps remaining even to our day; for both in the Isles about, and in many places of the continent, in which the old Language & institutions have any abode, this Custom is kept, in creating their Governours of Clanns: And the Ceremonies, used at the entering into Government, do yet retain the express representation of this Law. Whence it is evident, that the Government is nothing else but a mutual stipulation between Kings & people: which further appears, from the inviolated tenor of the Ancient Law, since the begining of the Scotish Govern∣ment, reserved even unto our memory, without the least essay either to abrogate it, or disable, or dimi∣nish it. Yea even when our fathers have deposed, ba∣nished, & more severely punished so many Kings, yet never was any mention or motion made, of relaxing the rigor of that Law: And not without reason, seeing it was not of that kind of Constitutions, that change with the times, but of those which are engraven in the minds of men from the first original, and approved by the mu∣tual consent of all Nations, and by natures Sanction continued inviolable and perpetual, which being subject to no other Lawes do Command & rule all. This, which in every action doth offer it self to our eyes & minds, and whether we will or not abides in our breasts, our Predecessors followed; being alwayes armed against violence, and ready to suppress Tyrants—And now for the present, what have we done, but insisting in the footsteps of so many Kingdoms & free Nations, suppressed Tyrannical Licentiousness, extolling it self above all order of Laws, not indeed so severely as our Predicessors in like cases; if we had imitated them, not

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only wold we have been far from all fear of danger, but also have escaped the trouble of Calumnies—What would our Adversaries be at? Is it that we should arm with Authority Tyrants convicted of grievous Crimes, main∣tained by the spoils of the subjects, having hands em∣brued in royal blood, and hearts gaping for the oppression of all good men? And shall we put them upon our head, who are infamously suspected of Parricide, both pro∣jected & perpetrated?
To which we may adde, a for∣reign conclusion indeed, but adduced & maintained by Mr Craig, in the Assembly anno 1564. which had been de∣termined by Learned men in Bononia, Principes omnes, tam supremi quam inferiores, possunt & debent Reformari, vel deponi per cos per quos eriguntur, confirmantur, vel ad∣mittuntur ad officium, quoties a side praestita subditis per juramentum desiciant, quoniam relatio juramenti subdito∣rum & principum mutua est, & utrinque aequo jure ser∣vanda & resormanda, juxta Legem & conditionem jura∣menti ab utraque parte sacti. That is, all Rulers be they supreme or inferior, may & ought to be reformed, or bridled (to speak moderatly) by them by whom they are chosen, confirmed, or admitted to their office, so oft as they break that promise made by Oath to their subjects, because that the Prince is no less bound by Oath to their subjects, then are the subjects to their Princes, And there∣for ought it to be kept & reformed equally, according to Law & condition of the Oath that is made of either Party. By comparing which two Testimonyes together, we may see the reasons, why neither of the two Royal Brothers, that have ruled in our day, could be conscienciously ouned as Magistrates, in the Case they have been in for se∣veral years past: The first testimony is for the second▪ Brother, the Latter is for he first thats gone. But as for Mr Knox his opinion, it is evident he had written a a book against the Government of women: which though he did not intend it particularly against Mary of Scotland, yet▪ it did invalidate her authority as well as other womens.

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This book he ounes and maintains, in his first conference with her, and consequently could not oune her authority as of the Lord, though he gave her common respect, as the title of Majestie &c. yet when he was particularly urged by the Queens question, yow think, said she, that I have no just authority; He would not answer in the affirmative, but shifted it, by telling her; That

learned men in all ages, have had their judgment free, and most commonly dis∣agreeing from the Common judgment of the world. And tho, he sayes, he could live under her government (so may & would the greatest disouners of Tyranny, if they be not troubled with questions about ovvneing it) yet he affirms that with the Testimony of a good Conscience, he had communicate his judgment to the world, and that if the realme found no inconveniences in her govern∣ment, he would no further disallow than within his oun breast.
Certainly then in his Conscience he did not & could not oune her, as the Magistrate of God; And that thô many things which before were holden stable, had been called in doubt, yet neither Protestant nor Papist could prove, that any such question was at any time moved in publick or private, Neither could ever such a question be moved, if the Conscience were not posed, and then when it must speak, it must of necessity be unpleasant to Tyrants. Thus we have heard both the positions & scru∣ples of this witness, let us also hear his arguings that People may punish Princes for their Idolatry & murther &c. And therefore much more may disoune them: And therefore a∣gain much more may they forbear to oune them, when cal∣led; for can a dead man by Law be ouned to be a Magistrate, & Custos of the Law.
Idolatry (sayth he in his conference with Lithington) ought not only to be suppressed, but the Idolater ought to die the death: but by whom? by the people of God, for the Commandment was given to Israel; yea a Command, that if it be heard that Idolatry is committed in any one City, that then the whole body of the people arise and destroy that City, sparing nei∣ther man woman nor child. But shall the King also be punished? If he be an Idolater, I find no privi∣ledge

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granted unto Kings more then unto people, to offend Gods Majestie. But the people may not be Judges to their King.—God is the universal Judge; so that what His Word commands to be punished in the one, is not to be absolved in the other; And that the people, yea or a part of the people, may not execute Gods judgments against their King being an offender, I am sure you have no other warrant, except your own imagina∣tions, and the opinion of such as more fear to offend their Princes than God.
In the same Conference we have the instance of Iehu adduced to prove that Subjects may execute Gods judgments upon their Princes. It was ob∣jected, Iehu was a King before he executed judgment upon Ahabs house, and the fact was extraordinary, and not to be imitated. He answered, he was a meer Subject;
No doubt Iezabel both thought & said he was a Traitor, and so did many others in Israel & Samaria. And whereas it was said, that the fact was extraordinary; I say, it had the ground of Gods ordinary judgment, which com∣mandeth the Idolater to die the death; and herefore I yet again affirme, it is to be imitated of all those that prefer the true honour of the true Worship & Glory of God to the affection of flesh & wicked Princes. We are not bound, said Lithingtoun to follow extraordinary exam∣ples, unless we have the like Commanment & assu∣rance. I grant, said the other, if the example repugne to the Law, but where the example aggrees with the Law, & is as it were the execution of Gods judgment expressed within the same, I say that the example approved of God stands to us in place of a Commandment; for as God in His Nature is Constant & Immutable, so cannot He condemne in the ages subsequent that which He hath approved in His Servants before us. Then he brings ano∣ther Argument from Amaziah who fled to Lachish, but the people sent thither and flew him there.
Lethingtoun doubted, whether they did well or not: e answered,
where I find execution according to Gods Law, and God Himself not accuse the doers, I dare not doubt of the equity of their Cause: And it appears. God gave them

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sufficient evidence of His approving the fact, for He blessed them with peace and prosperity. But prosperity does not alwise prove that God approves the fact: yes, when the acts of men agree with the Law, and are re∣warded according to the promise in that Law, then the prosperity succeeding the fact is a most infallible assurance that God hath approved it; but so it is, that there is a promise of lengthening out prosperity to them that de∣stroy Idolatry. And again, concluding Uzziahs exam∣ple, he sayes there, The people ought to execute Gods Law, even against their Princes, when that their open Crimes by Gods Law deserve punishment, especially when they are such as may infect the rest of the multitude.

V. There is another thing for which people have suffered much in our day of blasphemy rebuke & trouble, which yet we find was not so odious in our Reformers eyes as this dull & degenerate age would represent it. That in some cases it is Lawfull & laudable for private persons, touched with the zeal of God & love to their Countrey, & respect to Ju∣stice trampled upon by Tyrants, to put forth their hand to execute righteous judgment upon the Enemies of God & mankind, intollerable Traitors, Murderers, Idolaters; when the ruine of the Countrey, Destruction of Religion & Liberty, and the wrath of God is threatened, in & for the impunity of that vermin of villains, and may be averted by their destruction, always supposed, that these whose office it is to do it decline their duty. The mind of our Reformers as to this is manifest, both in their practice & opinion. We heard before of the slaughter of Cardinal Beaton, and of the fidler Rizio: we shall find both com∣mended by Mr Knox, giving account how these that were caryed Captives to France for this Cause from St Andrews were delivered.

This (saith he) we write, to let the posterity to come to understand, how potently God wrought in preserving & delivering of those, that had but a small knowledge of His Truth, and for the love of the same hazarded all; That if we in our days, or our posterity that shall follow, shall see a dispersion of such as oppose themselves to impiety, or take upon them to

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punish the same otherwise then Laws of men will per∣mit, if such shall be left of men, yea as it were despised & punished of God: yet let us not damn the persons that punish vice (and that for just cause) nor ye despair, but that the same God that dejects will raise up again the per∣sons dejected, to His glory and their comfort: And to let the world understand in plain termes what we mean; that great abuser of this Commonwealth, that Pultron & vile Knave Davio was justly punished March 9. 1565. by the Counsel & hands of Iames Douglas Earle of Mor∣toun, Patrick Lord Lindsay &c: who for ther just act, and most worthy of all praise, are now unworthily left of all their Brethren.
This is not only commended by the Au∣thor alone, but we find it concluded by all the Brethren at that time, when the Queen brought in the Idol of the Masse again, and the proud Papists began to avow it: then
let it be marked that, The Brethren universally offend∣ed, and espying that the Queen by Proclamation did but delude them, determined to put to their own hands, and to punish for example of others; And so some Priests in the West Land were apprehended, Intimation was made to others, as to the Abbot of Cosragnel, the Parson of Sanquhar, and such, that they should neither complain to the Queen nor Council, but should execute the pu∣nishment that God has appointed to Idolaters in His Law, by such means as they might, wherever they should be apprehended.
Upon this the Queen sent for Mr Knox, and dealt with him earnestly, that he would be the instrument to perswade the people not to put hand to punish. He perceiving her craft, willed her Maj. to pu∣nish Malefactors according to Law, and he durst promise quietness, upon the part of all them that professed Christ within Scotland, but if her Maj. thought to delude the Laws, he feared some would let the Papists understand, that without punishment they should not be suffered so manifestly to offend Gods Majestie. Will ye (quoth she) allow they shall take my Sword in their hand?
The Sword of Justice (said he) Madam is Gods, and is given to Princes & Rulers for one end; which if they transgress,

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sparing the wicked & oppressing the Innocents, they that in the fear of God execute judgment, where God hath commanded, offend not God, although Kings do it not: the examples are evident, for Samuel spared not to slay Agag the fat & delicate King of Amalek, whom King Saul had saved; Neither spared Elias Iezabels false Pro∣phets, & Baals Priests, albeit that King Ahab was pre∣sent; Phineas was no Magistrate, and yet feared he not to strike Zimri & Cozbi in the very act of filthy fornica∣tion: And so Madam your Maj. may see that others then Magistrates may Lawfully punish, & have punished the vice & crimes that God commands to be punished. He proved it also at more length in his Appellation, from Deut. 13. If thy Brother solicite thee secretly saying, let us go serve other Gods, consent not to him, let not thine eye spare him 〈…〉〈…〉 him; let thy hand be first upon him, and afterward the hand of the whole people. Of these words of Moses, two things ap∣pertaining to our purpose are to be noted: The first is, that such as solicitate only to Idolatrie ought to be pu∣nished to death, without favour or respect of person; for He that will not suffer man to spare his son, wife, &c. will not wink at the Idolatry of others, of what state or condition soever they be: It is not unknown that the Prophets had Revelations of God, which were not common to the people; Now if any man might have claimed any priviledge from the rigor of the Law, or might have justified his fact, it should have been the Prophet, but God commands, that the Prophet that shall so solicitate the people to serve strange Gods, shall dye the death, notwithstanding that he alleadge for him∣self dream, vision, or Revelation, because he teacheth Apostacy from God: hereby it may be seen, that none provoking the people to Idolatry ought to be exempted from the punishment of death. Evident it is that no state, condition, nor honour can exempt the Idolater from the hands of God, when He shall call him to an account: How shall it then excuse the people, that they, according to Gods command, punish not to death such as shall solicitate or violently draw the people to Idolatrie? The

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second, is that the punishment of such Crimes, as Ido∣latrie, blasphemy, & others that touch the Majestie of God, doth not appertain to Kings & chief Rulers only, but also to the whole body of the people, and to every member of the same, according to the vocation of every man, and according to that possibility & occasion which God doth minister, to revenge the injury done against His Glory: And that doth Moses more plainly speak in these words of the same Chapter, If in any Citie which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt hear this bruite, there are some men sons of Belial—Plain it is that Moses speaks not nor giveth charge to Kings, Rulers, & Judges only; but he commands the whole body of the people, yea and every member of the same, according to their possibility. And who dare be so impudent as to deny his to be most reasonable & just? For seeing God had delivered the whole body from bondage, and to the whole multitude had given His Law, and to the twelve tribes had distributed the Land of Canaan; was not the whole & every member addebted to confess the benefits of God, and to study to keep the possession received? which they could not do, except they kept the Religion established, & put out iniquity from amongst them. To the carnal man this may seem to be a rigorous & severe judgement, that even the Infants there should be appointed to the cruel death: and as concerning the City, and spoill of the same, mans reason cannot think but that it might have been better bestowed, than to be consumed. But in such cases let all creatures stoup, and desist from reasoning, when Commandment is given to execute His Judgment. I will search no other reasons, than the Holy Ghost hath assigned; first, that all Israel should fear to commit the like abomination; And secondly, that the Lord might turn from the fury of His anger: Which plainly doth signifie, that by the defection & Idolatry of a few, Gods wrath is kindled against the whole, which is never quenched, till such punishment be taken upon the of∣fenders, that whatsoever served them in their Idolatry be brought to destruction &c.
I have inlarged so far upon

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this Period, that it may appear, there is nothing now in Controversy, between the suffering & reproached party now in Scotland, and either their Friends or Enemies, which could fall under our Reformers inquiry; but they have declared themselves of the same sentiments, that are now so much opposed: And therefore none can condemn the present heads of suffering, except also they condemn the Reformers judgment; and consequently the imputa∣tion of novelty must fall.

PERIOD. IV.

Containing the Testimony of the first Conten∣ders against Prelacy and Supremacy, from the year 1570. to 1638.

HItherto the Conflict was for the Concerns of Christs Prophetical & Priestly Office, against Paganisine & Popery. But from the year 1570. And dounward, the Testimony is stated, and gradually Prosecuted, for the Rights, Priviledges, & Prerogatives of Christs Kingly Of∣fice: which hath been the peculiar Glory of the Church of Scotland, above all the Churches in the Earth, that this hath been given to her as the word of her Testimony; and not only Consequentially & Reductively, as all other Churches may challenge a part of this dignity, but Formally & Expli∣citely to contend for this very head, The Headship & King∣ship of Iesus Christ, the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, and His Mediatory Supremacy over His oun Kingdom of Grace, both visible & Invisible. This is Christs supremacy, a special radiant Jewel of His Imperial Croun: which, as it hath been as explicitely incroached upon in Scotland, by His Insolent Enemies, as ever by any that entered in op∣position to Him; so it hath been more expressly witnessed and wrestled for, by His suffering Servants in that Land,

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than in any place of the world. This was in a particular manner the Testimony of that Period, during the reign of King Iames the Sixth; as it hath been in a great measure in our day, since the year 1660. Which, as it is the most important Cause, of the greatest Consequence that Mor∣tals can contend for; So it hath this peculiar Glory in it, that it is not only for a Truth of Christ, of greater value then the standing of Heaven & Earth, but also it is the very Truth, for which Christ Himself died, considered as a Martyr; And which concerns Him to vindicate & main∣tain as a Monarch. The Witnesses of that day made such an high account of it, that they encouraged one another to suffer for it, as the greatest Concern;

being a witness for Christs Glorious & free Monarchie, which as it is the end of the other two Offices
, so the Testimony is more Glorious to God, more honourable to His Son, and more Comfortable to them, then the Testimony either for His Prophetical office, or for His Priesthood, because His King∣dom was specially impugned at the time; As Mr Forbes & Mr Welsh write in a Letter to the Ministers at Court. The Corruptions & Usurpations wronging this Truth, that they contended against, were Prelacy and the Kings Supremacy in Ecclesiastical matters: which will be usefull to hint a litle, how they Prosecuted the Conflict. When Sathan (whose Kingdom was then declining) by several instru∣ments & means, both by force & fraud, did endeavour to put a stop to the Reformation, by reintroducing the Anti∣christian Hierarchy of Prelacy, when he could not reesta∣blish the Antichristian Doctrine of Popery; he left no means unessayed to effectuate it. And first he began to bring the name Bishop in request, that was now growing obsolete & odious, by reason of the abuse of it (as it ought to be still; for though the name be found in the Scriptures, yet neither is that Catechrestical application of it to Prelats to be sound, nor was there any other reason for the tran∣slation of it after that manner, except it were to please Princes; seeing the native signification of it is an Overseer, proper and common to all faithfull Pastors.) And indeed his first essay reached litle further then the bare name, for they

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were to be subject to & tryed by Assemblies, and hardly had so much power as Superintendents before. But it was a fine Court-juggle for Noblemen, to get the Church re∣venues into their hands, by restoring the Ecclesiastical titles, and obtaining from the titulars either Temporal Lands, or Pensions to their dependers: so they were only Tulchan Bishops, a Calfeskin to cause the Cow give milk. Yet, though this in our day would have been thought tol∣lerable; The faithful Servants of Christ did zealously op∣pose it. Mr Knox denunced Anathema to the Giver, and Anathema to the Receiver. And the following Assembly condemned the office it self, as having

no sure warrant, authority, nor ground in the Book of God, but brought in by the folly & corruption of mens invention, to the overthrow of the Church; and ordained all that brooked the office, to dimit simpliciter, and to desist & cease from preaching, while they received de novo admission from the Generall Assembly, under the pain of excomunica∣tion.
Hereby they were awakened & animated, to a more vigorous Prosecution of the establishment of the House of God, in its due Government. In pursuance whereof, the Assemblies from that time untill the year 1581. Did with much painfulness & faithfulness attend the work; un∣till, by perfecting of the Second Book of Discipline, they compleated their work, in the exact Model of Presbyterial Government, in all its Courts & Officers. Which was Con∣firmed, & Covenanted to be kept inviolate, in the Na∣tional Covenant, subscribed that year by the King, his Court, & Council; and afterwards by all ranks of People in the Land. Whence it may be doubted, whether the impudence of the succeeding Prelats that denyed this, or their per∣jury in breaking of it, be greater. This was but the first brush: a brisker assault followes. Wherein, for the better establishment of Prelacy, that what it wants of Divine right, might be supplyed by the accession of humane Pre∣rogative, and not only Diocesan but also Erastian Prelacy might be set up, to destroy Christs Kingdom & advance Sathans; the Earle of Arran & his wicked Complices, move the King, contrary both to the Word & Oath of

Page 46

God, to usurp the prerogative of Jesus Christ, and assume to himself, a blasphemous Monster of Supremacy, over all Persons, & in all Causes, as well Ecclesiastical as Civil. But this also the faithful Servants of God did worthily & valiantly resist: and at the very first appearance of it, gave in a Grie∣vance to the King, anno 1582.

That he had taken upon him a spiritual Power, which properly belongs to Christ, as only King & Head of the Church; the Ministerie & execution whereof, is only given to such as bear office in the Ecclesiastical Government in the same: so that in the Kings Person, some men press to erect a new Pope∣dome, as though he could not be full King of this Com∣monwealth, unless as well the spiritual as temporal Sword be put in his hand, unless Christ be rest of His Authority, and the two Jurisdictions confounded, which God hath divided, which directly tendeth to the wrack of all true Religion.
Which being presented by the Com∣missioners of the General Assembly; the Earle of Arran asked, with a frouning Countenance, who dare subscribe these treasonable Articles? Mr Andrew Melvin answered, we dare, & will subscribe, & render our Lives in the Cause. And afterward, that same Assembly presented Articles, shewing, that
seeing the spiritual Jurisdiction of the Church, is granted by Christ, and given only to them, that by preaching, teaching, & overseeing, bear Office within the same, to be exercised, not by the in∣junctions of men, but by the only Rule of Gods Word —hereafter, no other of whatsomever degree, or under whatsomever pretence, have any colour to ascri∣be, or to take upon them any part thereof, either in placing or displacing of Ministers, without the Churches admission, or in stopping the mouths of Preachers, or puting them to silence, or take upon them the judgment of tryal of Doctrine &c.
But in contempt & contradiction to this, and to prosecute & exert this new usurped Power, Mr Andrew Melvin was summoned before the secret Council, for a Sermon of his, applying his doctrine to the Times Corruptions: whereupon he gave in his de∣clinature against them as incompetent Judges; and told

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them,

they were too bold, in a Constitute Christian Church, to pass by the Pastors, Prophets, & Doctors, and to take upon them to judge the Doctrine, and to control the Ambassadors of a Greater then was there, which they neither ought nor can do. There are (saith he, Loosing a litle Hebrew Bible from his girdle) my Instructions & Warrant: see if any of you can control me, that I have past my injunctions.
For this he was decerned, to be warded in the Castle of Edinbrugh, but he being informed, that if he entered in ward he would not be released, unless it were for the scaffold, he conveyed himself secretly out of the Countrey. Hereafter when the Parliament 1584. had enacted this Supremacy, and sub∣mission to Prelacy, to be subscribed by all Ministers; the faithful first directed Mr David Lindsey to the King, de∣siring that nothing be done in Parliament prejudicial to the Churches Liberty: who got the Prison of Blackness for his Pains. And then when they could not get access for shut doors to Protest before the Parliament; yet, when the Acts were proclaimed at the Cross of Edinburgh, they took publick Documents, in name of the Church of Scotland (though they were but two) that they protested against the said Acts: and fled to England, leaving behind them rea∣sons that moved them to do so. And Mr Iames Melvin wrote against the subscribers at that time very pertinently: Proving, first, that they had not only set up a new Pope,
& so become Traitors to Christ, and condiscended to that chief error of Papistrie, whereupon all the rest de∣pend; but further, in so doing they had granted more to the King, than ever the Popes of Rome peaceably ob∣tained &c.
And in the end, as for those that Lamented their oun weakness & feebleness, he adviseth them, to remove the publick slander, by going boldly to the King & Lords,
and shew them how they had fallen through weakness, but by Gods power are risen again; and there by publick note & witness taken, free themselves from that subscription, and to will the same to be delete, re∣nouncing & detesting it plainly, and thereafter publickly in their Sermons, and by their Declaration & retracta∣tion

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in writ,
presented to the faithful, manifest the same, let them do with stipend, benefice, & Life it self what they list. This I insert, because this Counsel is now con∣demned, and when poor people, offended with Ministers subscriptions of Bonds & other Complyances, desire ac∣knowledgments of the offence, they reject it as an imper∣tinent imposition, and plead they are not obliged to ma∣nifest any retractation but to an Ecclesiastical Judicatory. To which I shall say nothing here, but this is no novelty. After this, it is known what bickerings the faithful wit∣nesses of Christ had, in their Conflicts with this supre∣macy, upon the account of Mr David Blacks Declinature, which they both advised him to, & approved when he gave it in, against the King & Conncil as Judges of his Doctrine. And the Commissioners of the General Assembly ordained all, to deal mightily with the power of the word, against the Councils encroachments; for which they were charged to depart forth of Edinburgh. After which he added a second Declinature: Declaring,
there are two Jurisdictions in this realme, the one Spiritual the other Civil; the one respecting the Conscience, the other externals; &c.— Therefore, in so far as he was one of the spiritual office-bearers, and had discharged his spiritual Calling in some measure of grace & sincerity, should not nor could not be Lawfully judged, for preaching and applying the word, by any Civil power; he being an Ambassadour & Mes∣senger of the Lord Jesus, having his Commission from the King of Kings, and all his instructions set doun & limited in the book of God, that cannot be extended, abridged, or altered by any mortal wight, King or Empe∣rour; And seeing he was sent to all sorts, his Commission & discharge of it should not nor cannot be Lawfuly, judg∣ed, by them to whom he was sent; they being sheep & not Pastors, to be judged by the Word and ••••t to be judges thereof in a judicial way.
The Interloquutor being past against him for this; the Brethren thought it duty, that the Doctrine of the Preachers should be directed against the said Interloquutor, as against a strong & mighty hold set up against the Lord Jesus, and the freedom of the

Page 49

Gospel; and praised God for the force & unity of the Spi∣rit, that was among themselves. And being charged to depart out of Toun, they leave a faithful Declaration at Large; shewing, how the Liberties of the Church were invaded & robbed: But all this was nothing, in comparison of their wrestlings for the Royalties of their Princely Ma∣ster, and Priviledges of His Kingdom, against that Ty∣rants Insolencies, after he obtained he Croun of England. For then he would not suffer the Church to indict her oun Assemblies. And when the faithful thought themselves obliged to counteract his Encroachments, and therefore conveened in an Assembly at Aberdeen, anno 1605. they were forced to dissolve: and thereafter, the most eminent of the Ministers there assembled, were transported Pri∣soners to Black-ness. Whence being cited befor the Coun∣cil, they decline their Judicatory. And one of their Bre∣thren, Mr Robert Youngson, who had formerly succumbed, being moved in Conscience, returned: and when the rest were standing before the Council, desired to be heard; and acknowledged his fault, and therefore, howbeit not summoned by the Lords, was charged by the Living God, and compelled to compear that day, to justifie that Assem∣bly, to the great astonishment of the Lords, and comfort of His brethren; He subscribed the Declinature with the rest: And for this they were arraigned, and con∣demned, as guilty of Treason, and banished. Before the execution of which sentence, Mr Welsh wrote to the Lady Fleming, to this effect.

What am I, that He should first have called me, and then constituted me a Minister of glad things, of the Gospel of Salvation, these fifteen years already, and now last of all to be a sufferer for His Cause & Kingdom? To witness that good Con∣fession, that Jesus Christ is the King of Saints, and that His Church is a most free Kingdom, yea as free as any Kingdom under Heaven, not only to convocate, hold & keep her Meetings, Conventions, & Assemblies: But also to judge of all her affairs in all her Meetings & Conventions, among His members and Subjects. These two points. (1) That Christ is the Head of His Church. (2) That she is free in her Government from all other ju∣risdiction

Page 50

except Christs, are the special Cause of our im∣prisonment, being now convict as Traitors, for main∣taining thereof. We have now been waiting with joyful∣ness to give the last Testimonie of our blood in con∣firmation thereof. If it would please our God to be so favourable, as to honour us with that dignity.
After this, the King resolving by Parliament to advance the estate of Bishops again, as in the time of Popery, without Cautions as before; and further to establish not only that Antichristian Hierarchie, but an Erastian Supremacy: The faithful Ministers of Christ, thought themselves bound in Conscience to protest. And accordingly they offered a faithful Protestation to the Parliament Iulij—1606. ob∣testing, that they would reserve into the Lords own hands,
that Glory which He will communicate neither with man nor Angel, to wit, to prescribe from His holy Mountain a Lively pattern, according to which His oun Tabernacle should be formed: Remembring al∣wise, that there is no absolute & undoubted Anthority in this world, except the soveraigne Authority of Christ the King; to vvhom it belongeth as properly to rule the Church, according to the good pleasure of His oun vvill, as it belongeth to Him to save His Church by the Merit of His oun Sufferings: All other anthority is so intrenched vvithin the marches of Divine Command, that the least overpassing of the bounds set by God Him∣self, bring men under the fearful expectation of Tem∣poral & Eternal judgements.—If ye should authorize Bishops, ye should bring into the Church the ordinance of man, vvhich experience hath found, to have been the ground of that Antichristian Hierarchie, vvhich mounted up on the steps of Bishops preeminence, until that man of sin came forth, as the ripe fruit of mans vvise∣dome, vvhom God shall consume vvith the breath of His oun mouth. Let the svvord of God pierce that belly, vvhich brought forth such a monster: And let the staff of God crush that egg, vvhich hath hatched such a Cocka∣trice: And let not only that Roman Antichrist be thrown down from the high bench of his usurped authority, but

Page 51

also let all the steps whereby he mounted up to that un∣lawful preeminence, be cut down & utterly abolished in this Land: And beware to strive against God with an open displayed banner, by building up again the walls of Iericho, which the Lord hath not only cast down, but also hath laid them under an horrible Interdiction & exe∣cration, so that the building of them again must needs stand to greater charges to the builders, then the reedi∣fying of Iericho, to Hiel the Bethelite in the days of Ahab.
Yet notwithstanding of all opposition, Prelacy was again restored in Parliament. And to bring all to a Complyance with the same, Presbytries & Synods universally charged, under highest pains, to admit a constant Moderator without change: which many refused resolutely, as being the first step of Prelacy. Upon this followed a great Persecution of the faithful, for their Nonconformity, managed by that Mongrel & Monstrous kind of Court, made up of Clergy∣men & Statesmen, called the High Commission Court, erected anno 1610. whereby many honest men were put violently from their charges & habitations; the Generality were in∣volved in a great & fearful Defection. But the Copestone of the wickedness of that Period, was the Ratification of the five Articles of Perth; kneeling at the Communion, private Communion to be given to the sick, private Baptisme, and Con∣firmation of Children by the Bishop, and observation of festival dayes. Which were much opposed & testified against by the faithful, from their first hatching anno 1618. to the year 1621. when they were ratified in Parliament: at what time they were also witnessed against from Heaven, by extraor∣dinary Lightenings & Tempest. And against this the Testi∣mony of the faithful continued, till the Revolution anno 1638. Here we see how the Cause was stated in this Period; and may gather also, wherein it aggress, and how far it differs from the present Testimony, now suffered for under all rage & reproach.

I. The matter of the Testimony was one with that that we are suffering for, against Popery, Prelacy, & Supre∣macy; except that it was not so far extended against Tyranny, because that Tyrant was not such an usurper,

Page 52

nor such a violater of the fundamental constitutions of the Civil Government, as these that we have had to do with all. But as to the managing the Testimony, they far out stripped their successors in this generation, in conduct & courage, Prudence & zeal, as is above hintend in many instances: to which we may adde some more. When se∣veral plots of Papist Lords had been discovered, conspi∣ring with the King of Spain, And they were by the Kings Indulgence favoured, and some were also perswaded to treat with them: famous Mr Davidson opposed with great resolution; Declaring before the Synod of Lothian, that it favoured much of defection in these dayes,

that such no∣torious rebells to God, His Church, & the Country, should be so treated with; we should not rashly open a door to Gods Enemies, without better proof of their manners nor were yet seen.
And when a convention in Falkland was consulting to call home these conspiring Trai∣tors: Mr Andrew Melvin went thither uncalled; and when found fault with by the King for his boldness, he answered,
Sir, I have a call to come here from Christ & His Church, who have special Interest in this Turn, and against whom this Convention is assembled directly: I charge yow, and your Estates, in the Name of Christ & His Church, that ye favour not His Enemies whom He ha∣teth, nor go about to call home nor make Citizens of these, who have traiterously sought to betray their City & native Countrey, with the overthroiw of Chists Kingdom.
And further challenged them of treason against Christ, His Church & the Countrey, in that purpose they were about. About the same time in a private Conference with the King, he called the King Gods sillie vassal; and taking him by the sleeve, told him; Sir, yow, and Church & Coun∣trey is like to be wracked for not telling the Truth,
and giving yow faithful Counsel; we must discharge our du∣ty, or else be enemies to Christ & yow: Therefore I must tell yow, there are two Kings and two Kingdoms; There is Christ and His Kingdom, whose subject King Iames the 6th is, and of whose Kingdom he is not a King, nor a Head, nor a Lord, but a member, and they

Page 53

vvhom Christ hath called to vvatch over & govern his Church, have sufficient Authority, and Power from Him, which no Christian King should control but assist, othervvise they are not faithfull subjects to Christ. Sir, vvhen yovv vvere in your svvedling clouts, Christ reigned freely in this Land, in spight of all His enemies; but novv the vvisdom of your Council, vvhich is Devi∣lish & pernicious, is this, that yovv may be served of all sorts of men to your purpose & grandour, Iew & Gentile, Papist & Protestant, because the Ministers & Protestants in Scotland are too strong, & control the King, they must be vveakened & brought lovv, by stir∣ring up a party against them, and the King being equal & indifferent, both shall be fain to flee to him, so shall he be well setled: But, Sir, let Gods wisedom be the only wisdom, this will prove meer & mad folly; for His curse cannot but light upon it, so that in seeking both yow shall lose both. To the like effect, Mr Robert Bruce, in a Sermon upon Psal, 51. gives faithful warning of the danger of the times. It is not we (sayes he) that are Partie in this cause; no, the quarrel is betwixt a greater Prince and them. What are we, but sillie men? Yet it has pleased Him to set us in this Office, that we should oppone to the manifest usurpation that is made upon His Spiritual Kingdom. Is there a more forcible mean to draw down the wrath of God, than to let Barrabas that no∣bilitate Malefactor pass free, and to begin the war against Christ and His Ministry. It puteth on the Copestone, that so many of our brethren should not be so faithful, as their Calling & this Cause craveth. Fy upon false bre∣thren, to see them dumb, so faint hearted, when it comes to the Chock: Not only are they ashamed to speak the thing they think, which is a shame in a Pastor, but speak directly against their former Doctrin. They will speak the Truth a while, till they be put at, but in∣continent they will turn and make their gifts weapons to fight against Christ; for there is none so malicious as an Apostate when he begins to slide back &c.
The same faithful witness, because he would not preach as the King

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would have him, against his oun conscience, to justifie & Proclaim the Kings Innocency, in a forged conspiracy against him, was put from his Church in Edinburgh, and being requested in an insinuating manner to desist from preaching but for nine or ten dayes; he condiscended at first, thinking the matter of no great importance: yet that night his body was cast in a fever, with the terror of his conscience, and he promised he should never obey their Commandment any more. These were faithful men, yet we find they challenge themselves in deep humiliation, for their short comings & defections, at the renovation of the National Covenant, March, 30. 1596. the greatst so∣lemnity ever had been seen in Scotland before that time, so that the place might worthily have been called Bochim. O when shall we see such a day, when even the most faithful among us, shall mourn over our far more aggravated de∣fections! but if they mourned then for these first degrees of declensions, we may say, quam gravius ingemiscerent illi for∣tes viri, qui propter Ecclesiae Scoticanae Libertatem. olim in acie decertarunt, si nostram hanc ignaviam (ne quid gravius dicam) conspicerent! I know notwithstanding of all this, that some encourage themselves in a base Complyance with the pre∣sent corruptions of our Church, from the practise of these Worthies; Alledging, they did not scruple to hear & join with Prelatical men, dispensing the ordinances. But this Objection will be easily refelled, if we consider, first, the Period wherein they were but growing up to a more perfect Reformation, and therefore might bear with many things which we cannot, after we have been reformed from them: They were then advancing and still gaining ground, we are now declining, and therefore should be more shie to lose what we have gained. They had then of a long time enjoyed their Judicatories, unto which they might re∣cur for an orderly redress of such grievances that offended them; and when they were deprived of them, yet they were still in hopes of recovering them, and so suspended their total secession from that corrupt Church, untill they should recover them; in the mean time still holding their right and maintaining their cause against these Invaders. But we

Page 55

were at thevery first begining of this unhappy Revolution, totally deprived of our Judicatories, and denuded of all expectation of them in an ordinary way, and of all place, but what they are Masters of to contend with them that way; therefore must keep our selves free of their▪ Commu∣nion. But next if we consider their practise, we shall find these Worthies vvere not such Conformists, as our Com∣plyers vvould make them. What if vve find among them Meetings, that vvere Called & Counted as Seditious & Schismatick, as Ours are novv? vve find a field Meeting, yea a General Assembly, at Dumfermling vvithout & against the Kings vvarrant, vvhen the ports vvere shut against them, anno 1585. But that is not so pat to the purpose, as that vve find Private-Meetings at Edinburgh, and that in the very time of publick Service in the Churches, dischar∣ged by open Proclamation anno 1624. vvherein it is char∣ged, that they had no respect to the ordinary Pastors, con∣temned & impugned their Doctrine, disobeyed & con∣trolled their Discipline, abstained to hear the Word preached, and to Participate of the Sacraments. And long before that, vve find the sincerer sort scrupled to hear Bishop Adamson, not withstanding that he vvas absolved in the Assembly. And that aftervvards, the doubt being proponed to the Assembly, if it be a slander to a Christian, to absent himself from the Sermons of them that are sus∣pended from all function in the Ministry. The Assembly Ansvvered, there is no slander in the Case but rather it is slanderous to resort. And why is not this ground to think it slanderous or scandalous to resort to them, who deserve to be suspended (all of them by a Spiritual cognizance, and some of them to be suspended Corporally, for their vil∣lanie) when there can be no access orderly to do it. And the rather, because we find in this Period, that sometimes Ministers were so faithful & zealous against the Cor∣ruptions of the Ministry, that they decerned Ministers to be suspended for far smaller faults, than many now could exempt themselves from; viz. if they were not powerful & Spiritual, if they did not apply their Doctrine to Cor∣ruptions, if they were obscure & too Scholastick before

Page 56

the people, cold & wanting zeal, flatterers, dissembling at publick sins for flattery or fear &c. As we may read in the Advice of the Brethren, deputed for penning the Corruptions in the Ministery, anno 1596. I wish our silent prudent Mi∣nisters now would consider the justness of this Censure, and what ground people have to be offended at such censura∣bleness. But not only this may answer the false imputation of Conformity on these witnesses of Christ at that time, but I shall set down a part of a Letter of one of the banished Ministers at that time, discovering his mind about hearing these men, that were then serving the times.

Mr Iohn Welsh, writing to Mr Robert Bruce,—what my mind is concerning the root of these branches, the bearer will shew yow more fully. They are no more to be counted Orthodox, but Apostates; They have fallen from their Callings by receiving an Antichristian, and bringing in of Idolatrie, to make the Kingdom culpable, and to expose it to fearful Judgments, for such an high perfidie against an Oath so solmnly enacted & given; And are no more to be counted Christians, but strangers, Apo∣states, & Persecutors, And therefore not to be heard any more, either in publick, or in Consistories, Colledges, or Synods; for what fellowship hath light with darkness?
We see then as to that part of the Testimony, they were not dissonant to the vvitness of the present reproached suf∣ferers.

II. As the matter & manner of their Testimony against all the invaders of the Churches priviledges, did speak forth a great deal of sincere & pure zeal; so their practice was conform, shewing forth a great deal of strictness, and aversness from all sinfull Complyances, even with things that would be now accounted of very minute & inconside∣rable consequence, and for which honest sufferers now are flouted at as fools. When that Oath was formed for acknowledging the Supremacy, there was a Clause added which might have been thought to salve the matter, ac∣cording to the Word of God. I fear many now would not stand to subscribe, with such a qualification. Yet the faithful then perceived the Sophistrie, that it made it rather worse,

Page 57

affirming that that brat of Hell was according to the word of God: And therefore, though there were several emi∣nent men to perswade them to it both by advice & example, yet they could not in conscience Comply; And pleaded also from the illegality of that imposition, that they should be charged with the subscription of Laws, a thing never required before of any subject; if they offended against the Laws, why might they not be punished according to the Laws? When many honest faithful Patriots, for their at∣tempt at Ruthven to deliver the Countrey from a vermine of Villains that abused the King, to the destruction of the Church & Kingdom, were charged to crave Pardon, & take remission; they would do neither, judging it a base condemning of duty: which puts a brand upon our sneaking Supplicators, & Petitioners, & Pardon-mongers, as un∣worthy to be called the race of such Worthies, who scorn∣ed such baseness, and choosed rather to endure the extre∣mity of their unjust Sentences, of Intercommuning & Banishment &c. And when the Earle of Gowrie accepted of a Remission, he afterwards condemned himself for it, and desired that his old friends would accept of his friend∣ship, to whom he had made himself justly suspected. Mr Black, when he had the same favour offered to him, refused altogether, left so doing he should condemn him∣self, and approve the Courts Proceedings: And the Bre∣thren, confering with the Councellors, craving that some penalty should be condiscended unto for satisfying his Ma∣jestie in his honour, would not condiscend to any how light soever; lest thereby they should seem to approve the Judicatorie & their Proceeding. The Imprisoned Ministers, for declining the Council, had it in their offer, that if they would without any confession of offence only submit themselves to his Majestie, pro scandalo, accepto non dato, they should be restored to their places: But it pleased God so to strengthen them, that they stopped their Mouths, and convinced them in their Consciences, that they could not do it without betraying of the Cause of Christ. Again in another case, we have Instances of such strictness, as is much scorned now a dayes. The Ministers of Edinburgh

Page 58

were committed to ward, for refusing to pray for the Queen, before her execution in Forthringam Castle 1586. they refused not simply to pray for her, but for the preser∣vation of her life, as if she had been innocent of the crimes laid to her charge, which had imported a condemnation of the proceedings against her. Afterwards in the year 1600. the Ministers of Edinburgh, would not praise God for the deliverie of the King, from a pretended Conspi∣racy of the Earle of Gowrie at that time, of which they had no credit nor assurance; and would not crave Pardon for it neither. For this Mr Robert Bruce was deprived of the exercise of his Ministry, and never obtained it again in Edinburgh: But now for refusing such compelled & im∣posed Devotion, to pray or praise for the King, poor peo∣ple are much condemned. I know it is alleadged, that these faithful sufferers in those days, were not so strict as they are now, in submitting to unjust Sentences, and obeying & keeping their Confinements. I shall grant, there was much of this, and much might be tollerate in their circumstances, when the Court procedure against them was not so illegal, their Authority was not so Tyrannical, nor so necessary to be disouned, and they were so stated, that they were afrayed to take guilt upon them, in making their escapes: whereas it is not so with us. Yet we find very faithful men broke their Confinements: As Mr Iohn Murray, confined about Dumfreis, perceiving there was no end of the Bishops malice, and that he would be in no worse case than he was, he resolved without Li∣cence either of King or Council to transport himself: So did also Mr Robert Bruce.

III. For resistence of Superior Powers, we have in this Period, first the practice of some Noblemen an Ruthven, anno 1582. who took the King, and seised on that Arrant Traitor, Enemy to the Church & Countrey, the Earle of Arran; declaring to the world the Causes of it, the Kings Correspondence with Papists, his usurping the Supremacy over the Church, and oppressing the Ministers, all by means of his wicked Councellors, whom therefore they removed from him. The King himself emitted a Declara∣tion

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allowing this deed. The General Assembly approved of it, and perswaded to a Concurrence with it, and nothing was wanting to ratifie it, as a most Lawfull & laudable action. At length the Fox escapes, & changes all, and re∣tracts his former Declaration. The Lords again rallie, and interprise the taking of the Castle of Stirling, and gain it; but afterward surrender it: after which the Earle of Gowrie is executed, and Ministers are commanded to retract the Approbation of Ruthven business, but they refused: and many were forced to flee to England, and the Lords were banished. But in the year 1585. they return with more suc∣cess, and take the Castle of Stirling. The cowardly King does again acknowledge & justify their Enterprise, that they needed no Apology of words, Weapons had spoken well enough, and gotten them audience to clear their own Cause: but his after carriage declared him as crafty & false, as he was cowardly & fearful. Again we have the advice of the General As∣sembly, for resisting, when the Ministers were troubled, upon Mr Blacks bussiness, and there was an intention to pull them out of their Pulpits: They advised them to stand to the discharge of their Calling, if their flocks would save them from violence, and yet this violence was expected from the King and his Emissaries. As to that point then there can be no dispute.

IV. There was litle occasion for the Question about the Kings Authority in this Period, but generally all acknow∣ledged it: because they were not sensible of his usurpation, and his cowardice made him incapable of attempting any thing that might raise commotions in civil things. Yet we remark, that whatsoever Authority he usurped beyond his sphere, that was disouned & declined by all the Faithful, as the Supremacy. Next that they resented, & represented very harshly, any aspiring to Absoluteness; as Mr Andrew Melvin could give it no better name, nor intertain no bet∣ter notion of it, then to terme it, The bloodie Guillie, as he inveighs against it in the Assembly, 1582. And next, in this same Period, we have a very good description of that Authority, which the King himself allowes not to be ouned, which out of a Kings mouth abundantly justifies

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the disouning of the present Tyrannie: This same King Iames, in a speech to the Parliament in the year 1609. sayth, A King degenerateth into a Tyrant, when he leaveth to rule by 〈◊〉〈◊〉, much more when he beginneth to invade his Subjects Persons, Rights, & Liberties, to set up an Arbitrary Power, impose unlawful taxes, raise forces, make War upon his Subjects, to pillage, plunder, wast, and spoil his Kingdoms.

PERIOD. V.

Containing the Testimony for the last Refor∣mation from Prelacy, in all its steps, from the year 1638, to 1660.

THe following Period, from the year 1638. to 1660, continues & advances the Testimony, to the grea∣test hight of Purity & Power, that either this Church or any other did ever arrive unto, with a Gradation, Suc∣cession, & Complication of wonders, of Divine Wisdom, Power, Justice & Mercy, signally & singularly ouning & sealing it, to the Confusion of His Enemies, Comfort of His People, Conviction of Indifferent Neutrals, and Consternation of All. Now after a long winter, and night of Deadness & Darkness, the sun returns with an amiable approach of Light & Life: now the winter was past, the rain was over & gone, the flowers appear on the earth, and the time of singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our Land. Now the second time, the Testimony comes to be managed in an Active manner, as before it was Passive: As the one hath been alwayes ob∣served to follow interchangably upon the other, especially in Scotland, and the Last alwayes the Greatest; which gives ground to hope, though it be now our turn to suffer, that when the summer comes again after this winter, and the day after this night, the next Active Testimony shall

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be more notable than any that went before. The matter of the Testimony was the same as before, for the Concerns of Christs Kingly Prerogative, but with some more increase as to its opposites: for these grew successively in every Period, the Last alwayes including all that went before. The first Period had Gentilisme principally to deal with, the second Poperie, The third Poperie & Tyrannie, the fourth Prelacy & Supremacy, this fifth hath all together, and Sectaria∣nisme also, to contend against. The former had alwayes the opposites on one hand, but this hath them in extremes on both hands; both fighting against one another, and both fighting together against the Church of Scotland, and she against both, till at length one of her opposites prevailed, viz. the Secterian Party, and that prevailing brought in the other, to wit, the Malignant, which now domineers over all together. Wherefore, because this Period is in it self of so great importance, the Revolutions therein emergent so eminent, the Reformation therein prosecuted wanting litle of its perfect Complement; the Deformation suc∣ceeding in its Deviation from the Pattern being so destru∣ctive; to the end it may be seen from whence we have fal∣len, and whether or not the present reproached Sufferers have lost or left their ground, we must give a short de∣duction of the Rise, Progress, & End of the Contendings of that Period.

In the midst of the forementioned Miseries & Mischiefs, that the pride of Prelacy and Tyrannical Supremacy had multiplied beyond measure upon this Church & Nation, and at the hight of all their haughtiness, when they were setting up their Dagon, and erecting Altars for him, im∣posing the Service-book, and book of Canons &c. the Lord in Mercy remembered His people, and surprised them with a sudden unexpected Deliverance, by very despicable means; even the opposition of a few weak women, at the beginning of that Contest, which, ere it was quashed, made the Tyrant tumble headless off his throne. The zeal against the English popish Ceremonies, obtruded on Edin∣burgh, did first inflame some feminine hearts to witness their detestation of them; but afterwards was followed out

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with more Masculine fervor, accosting King & Council with Petitions, Remonstrances, Protestations, & Testi∣monies against the Innovations, and resolving upon a mutual Conjunction, to defend Religion, Lives, & Li∣berties, against all that would innovate or invade them. To fortifie which, and conciliate the favour both of God & man in the Resolution, All the Lovers of God, and friends to the Liberty of the Nation, did solemnly Renew the National Covenant (wherein they were signally coun∣tenanced of the Lord) vvhich, though in it self obliging to the Condemnation of Prelatical Hierarchie, and clearly enough confirming Presbyterial Government, yet they in∣gaged into it vvith an inlargment, to suspend the practice of Novations already introduced, and the approbation of the Corruptions of the present Government, vvith the late places & povver of Church men, till they be tried in a free General Assembly. Which vvas obtaine that same year, and indicted at Glasgow: and there, not vvith stand∣ing all the opposition that the Kings Commissioner could make, by Protestations & Proclamations to dissolve it, the six preceeding Assemblies establishing Prelacy vvere an∣nulled, The Service-Book, and high Commission vvere con∣demned; All the Bishops vvere deposed, and their Go∣vernment declared to be abjured in that National Co∣venant; though many had, through the Commissioners, persvvasions, subscribed it in another sense vvithout that application: As also the five Articles of Perth vvere there discovered, to have been inconsistent vvith that Covenant & Confession, and the Civil places & povver of Church men vvere disproved & rejected: on the other hand Pres∣byterial Government vvas Justified & Approved, and an Act vvas passed for their keeping yearly General Assemblies. This was a bold begining, into which they were animated with more than humane resolution, against more than humane opposition, Hell as well as the powers of the earth being set against them. But when the Lord gave the Call, they considered not their oun deadness, nor were daunted with Discouragments, nor staggered at the promise through unbelief, but gave Glory to God, out braving all diffi∣culties.

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Which in the following year were much increased, by the Prelats and their Popish Partakers, rendevouzing their forces under the Kings Personal Standart, and me∣nacing nothing but misery to the zealous Covenanters: yet when they found them prepared to resist, were forced to yeeld to a Pacification, concluding that an Assembly & Parliament should be held for healing all grievances of Church and State. In which Assembly, at Edinburgh, the Covenant is ratified & subscribed by the Earle of Traquair Commissioner, and enjoined to be subscribed by the body of the whole Land, with an explication expressly con∣demning the five Articles of Perth, the Government of Bishops, the Civil places & power of Church men: But the sons of Belial cannot be taken with hands, nor bound with bonds of faith, humanity, or honour; For in the year following, King & Prelats, with their Popish Abet∣tors, go to arms again; but were fain to accommodate the matter by a new Pacification, whereby all Civil & Reli∣gious Liberties were ratified. And in the folowing year 1641, by Lawes, Oaths, Promises, subscriptions of King & Parliament fully confirmed. The King, Charles the I. being present, and consenting to all; though in the mean time he was treacherously encouraging the Irish murderers, who by his Authority made a Massacre of many thousand Innocent Protestants in Ireland. But in Scotland things vvent vvell, the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus vvas greatly advanced, the Gospel flourished, and the Glory of the Lord did shine upon us, vvith such a splendor that it avvaked England, and animated the Lords People there, then groaning under those Grievances from vvhich Scotland vvas delivered, to aspire to the like Reformation. For advice in vvhich, because though all aggreed to cast off the yoke of Prelacy, yet sundry forms of Church Go∣vernment vvere projected to be set up in the room there∣of, chiefly the Independent order, determining all Acts of Church Government, as Election, ordination, and de∣position of officers, vvith Admission, Excommunication, & Absolution of members, to be done & decided by the voices of every Particular Congregation, vvithout any

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Authoritative Concurrence or interposition of any other, condemning all imperative & decisive povver of Classes &c. as a meer usurpation; Therefore the Brethren in England vvrote to the Assembly then fitting at Edinburgh, vvho gave them ansvver

That they vvere grieved, that any of the Godly should be found not aggreeing vvith other Reformed Churches in point of Government, as well as Doctrine; and that it was to be feared, where the edge of Discipline & Government is different, the Doctrine & Worship shall not long continue the same without change; That the Government of the Church, by Compound Presbytries & Synods, is a help & strength, and not a hinderance to particular Congregations & Elderships, in all the parts of Government; and are not an extrinsecal Power set over Particular Churches, but the intrinsecal power where with Christ hath invested His Officers, who may not exercise it Inde∣pendently, but with subordination unto Presbytries &c. Which as they are Representative of particular Chur∣ches, conjoined together in one under their Govern∣ment; so their determination, when they proceed or∣derly, whether in Causes common to all, or brought before them by reference in case of aberration, is to the several Congregations Authoritative, & not Consulta∣tory only. And this subordination is not only warranted by the light of nature, but grounded upon the Word of God, and conforme to the Pattern of the Primitive & Apostolick Church, for the Preservation of verity & unity, against Schisme, Heresie, & Tyrannie, which is the fruit of this Government where soever it hath place.
So from henceforth the Assembly did incessantly urge uniformity in Reformation, with their Brethren in England, as the chiefest of their Desires, Prayers, & Cares. And in the year 1643. prevailed so far, that the English Parliament did first desire that the two Nations might be strictly united for their mutual defence, against the Papists & Prelatical faction and their Adherents in both Kingdoms; and not to lay down Armes, till these implacable Enemies should be brought in subjection: and did instantly urge for the help &

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assistance from Scotland. Which being sent did return with an Olive branch of Peace, and not without some beginings of a Reformation in England. And afterwards, a bloody War begining between the King & Parliament, with great success on the Kings side, whence the Papists at the time got great advantage (witness the cessation of Armes con∣cluded in Ireland) Commissioners were sent from both Houses to Scotland, earnestly inviting to a nearer union of the Kingdoms, and desiring Assistance from this Nation to their Brethren in that their great distress: And this, by the good hand of God, produced the solemn League & Covenant of the three Kingdoms, first drawen up in Scotland, and approven in the Assembly at Edinburgh, and afterward embraced in England, to the terror of the Popish and Prelatical party, and to the great comfort of such as were wishing and waiting for the Reformation of Reli∣gion, and the recoveries of Just Liberties. The tenor whereof did import, their sincere & constant endeavours, in their several places & Callings, for preservation of the Uniformity in Reformation, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, & Govern∣ment; The extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Error & Profnity; the preservation of the Rights & Liberties of the people, and of the Magistrats Authority, in defence of the true Religion and Liberty; the discovery & punishment of Incendaries; the retaining of the Peace & Union of the Kingdoms; the mutual assistance & defence of all under the bond of this Covenant; and the performing all duties we owe to God, in the amendment of our Lives, and walking exemplarly one before another. This is that Covenant compre∣hending the purpose of all Prior, and the Pattern of all posterior Covenants, to which Christs witnesses did al∣ways adhere, for which the present witnesses do suffer & contend; That Covenant, which the Representative of Church & State in the three Nations did solemnly Sub∣scribe & Swear, for themselves & posterity, of which the obligation, either to the duty or the punishment, continues indispensibly on the Generation; which for the moral equity o its matter, the formality of its manner, the im∣portance of its purpose, the holyness of its solemn En∣gagment, and the Glory of its Ends, no power on Earth,

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can Disannul, Disable, or Dispense; That Covenant, which the Lord did Ratifie from Heaven, by the conver∣sion of many thousands at their entering under the bond of it, securing & establishing unto them, and all the faithful, the blessings & priviledges therein expressed, and avouching Himself to be their God, as they had avouched themselves to be His people; That Covenant, which in all the Con∣troversies it hath occasioned, did never receive a greater confirmation than from the malice & opposition of its Ad∣versaries; That Covenant, which malignants do malign & deny, and Sectaries scorn & lay aside, as an Almanack out of date; which hath been many ways traduced & re∣proached by enemies, and yet could never be reflected on by any Serious in this Land, without a honourable & fra∣grant remembrance: Especially that Retortion of Adver∣saries of the rigor of its imposition upon Recusants, to justi∣fie their cruelty upon its Asserters now, is to be refelled, not with confutation of its importance, but with disdain of its impudence. For who were the Recusants: but wicked enemies to God and Church & Nation, who for their malignancy were then to be prosecuted, not for their scrupling at a Covenant, but for their contumacious Con∣tempt of a Law? This was no violence done to their con∣science; for as they had none, and could not pretend to any, so they were never troubled for that, but for their opposition & conspiracy against the common cause. How∣ever, it went through at that time: And that the Cove∣nanted Reformation, in a nearer conjunction betwixt the united Churches, might be promoted, the Parliament of England called an Assembly of Divines at Westminster: and desired the Assembly of Scotland to send thither their Com∣missioners; which accordingly nominated & elected, Mr Alexander Henderson, Mr Robert Dowglas, Mr Samuel Ru∣therford, Mr Robert Balzie, Mr George Gillespie Ministers, And Iohn Earle of Cassils, Iohn Lord Maitland, and Sir Archbald Iohnstoun of Waristoun, Ruling Elders; to Pro∣pone, Consult, Treat, & conclude in all such things as might conduce to the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, He∣resie, Schism, Superstition, & Idolatry, and for the

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settling of the so much desired union of the whole Island, in one forme of Church Government, one Confession of Faith, one common Catechisme, & one Directory for the Worship of God. Forces were also sent, to assist the Parliament of England: which were favoured with great success in their Entreprizes, till that War was ended by the total overthrow of Tyranny at that time, and all its upholders. But that Popish, Prelatical, & Malignant faction being brought much under in England, attempted (not unlike the Syrians, who thought the God of Israel was not God of the Hills & Valleyes both) to try the fortune of War in Scotland, under the conduct of that Treacherous & truculent Traitor Montrose, gathering an Army of wick∣ed Apostates & Irish Murderers: who prevailing for a time, did punish, in the Justice of God, the Hypocrisie & self-seeking of such in this Land whose hearts were not upright in His Covenant; at length was defeat at Philiphaugh, in the year 1645. yet certain it is, that they had Commission & warrant from the King: as the Assembly that year, Feb. 13. remonstrates it to himself;

Warning him in the name of their Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, that the guilt which cleaved to his throne was such, as (whatsoever flattering Preachers or unfaithful Counsellors might say to the con∣trary) if not timely repented, could not but involve him∣self & his Posterity, under the wrath of the Everliving God, for his being guilty of the shedding of the blood of many thousands of his best Subjects, for his permitting the Masse & other Idolatry in his family & Dominions &c.
At the same time also the Assembly did zealously incite the Parliament to a speedy course of Justice, against these Incendaries & Murderers, as the only mean of cleans∣ing the Land from that deluge of blood then current, and of appeasing the wrath of God: and solemnly & seasona∣bly warned all ranks, to applaud the Glory & Righteous∣ness of that Judgment of the sword, in the hands of these Apostates & Murderers, and to search to understand the Language of that Dispensation; wherein many Publick sins & breaches of Covenant are pointed at, as the Causes of that desolation; And the Covenant it self is there very

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Encomiastically vindicated.

We are so far from repenting of it (say they) that we can not mention it without great joy & thankfullness to God, as that which hath drawn many blessings after it, and unto which God hath given manifold evident Testimonies: for no sooner was the Co∣venant begun to be taken in England, but sensibly the con∣dition of affairs there was changed to the better, and our forces sent into that Kingdom, in pursuance of that Cove∣nant, have been so mercifully & manifestly assisted & bles∣sed from Heaven, that we have what to answer the enemy that reproacheth us concerning that business, & that which may make iniquity it self to stop her mouth: but which is more unto us than all victories, the Reformation of Reli∣gion in England, & Uniformity therein between both Kingdoms (a principal end of that Covenant) is so far ad∣vanced, that the Government of the Church by Congre∣gational Elderships, Classical Presbyteries, Provincial & National Assemblies, is aggreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westmnster, and voted & concuded in both houses of Parliament.
After this the Malignants in En∣gland being crushed in all their Projects, the King renders himself to the Scots in New castle: by whom (because by Covenant they were not obliged to defend him, but only in defence of Religion & Liberty, which he had been destroy∣ing and they defending; because in this war he did directly oppose & oppugne these conditions, under which they were only to defend him, and therefore they had all alongst carried towards him as an enemy, as he to them; And be∣cause by the same Covenant they were obliged to discover, & render to condign punishment all Malignants & Incen∣daries, of whom he was the chief, and to reain the Peace & Union of the Kingdoms, which could not be retained in maintaining their destroyer, And to assist mutually all en∣tered into that Covenant, which he was fighting against) he was delivered up into the English, and kept under re∣straint in the Isle of Wight, untill he received his just deme∣rit, for all his oppressions, Murders, Treachery, & Ty∣ranny; being condemned & execute Ianuar. 30. anno 1648/9 Which fact, though it was protested against both before

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& after by the Assembly of the Church of Scotland, out of zeal against the Sectarians, the executioners of that extraor∣dinary Act of Justice; yet it was more sor the manner than for the matter, and more for the motives & ends of it than for the grounds of it, that they opposed themselves to it, and resented it. For they acknowledged & remon∣strated to himself, the Truth of all these things upon which that sentence & execution of Justice was founded. And when a wicked Association, & Unlawful Engagment was on foot to rescue him, they opposed it with all their might: Shewing, in their Answers to the Estates that year 1648. and Declarations & Remonstrances, the sin∣fullness & destructiveness of that Engagment; that it was a breach of the Commandments of God, & of all the Articles of the Covenant; Declaring withal, they would never consent to the Kings Restitution to the exer∣cise of his Power, without previous assurance by solemn Oath under his hand & seal, for settling of Religion ac∣cording to the Covenant. By which it appears, they were not so stupidly Loyal, as some would make them. Yet indeed it cannot be past without regrate, that there was too much of this plague of the Kings-evil even among good men: which from that time forth hath so infected the heads & hearts of this Generation, that it hath almost quite ex∣tinct all Loyaltie to Christ, and all zeal for Religion & Li∣berty. Then it began to infuse & diffuse its Contagion, when after the death of Charles the first, in the year 1649. they began, after all that they had smarted for their trusting these treacherous Tyrants, and after that Grace had been shewed them from the Lord their God, by breaking these mens yokes from from off their necks, and puting them again into a Capacity to act for the good of Religion, their oun safety, and the peace & safety of the Kingdom, to think of joining once more with the people of these abo∣minations, and taking into their bosoms these Serpents which had formerly stung them almost to death. Hinc il•••• lachrimae, en origo & Scaturigo nostrae defectionis! There was indeed at that time a Party faithful for God, who consi∣dering the many breaches of the Solemn League & Cove∣nant,

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and Particularly by the late Engagment against En∣gland, did so travel that they procured the Covenant to be renewed, with the Solemn Acknowledgment of sins & En∣gagment to duties, which was Universally subscribed & sworn through all the Land; wherein also they regrete this tampering with Malignants. And therefore the Lord did mightily save & defend them from all their Adversaries, subdued them at Stirling, and in the North. They did also give warning concerning the young King, that notwith∣standing of the Lords hand against his Father,

yet he hearkens unto the Counsells of these, who were Au∣thors of these Miseries to his Father; by which it hath come to pass, that he hath hitherto refused to grant the just & necessary desires of the Church & Kingdom, for securing of Religion & Liberty: And it is much to be feared, that these wicked Counsellers, may so far pre∣vail upon him, as to ingage him in a war, for overturn∣ing the Work of God, and bearing doun all those in the three Kingdoms that adhere therto. Which if he shall do, cannot but bring great wrath from the Lord upon him∣self & throne, and must be the cause of many new & great Miseries & Calamities to these Lands.
And in the same warning, by many weighty reasons, they prove, that he is not to be admitted to the exercise of his power, with∣out security for Religion & Liberty. And when the bring∣ing home of the King came to be voted in the Assembly, there was one faithful witness, Mr Adam Kae Minister in Galaway, protested against it; fore shewing & fore telling, what mischeef & misery he would bring with him when he should come. These things might have had some weight, to demur the Nation from medling with that perfidious Traitor. But all this serves only to aggravate the sin & shame of that distraction, which hath procured all this de∣struction, under which the Land mourns to this day: That notwithstanding of all these Convictions, warnings yea and discoveries of his Malignancy, Treachery, & in∣clinations to Tyranny; They sent Commissioners, and concluded at Treaty with him at Breda. During which Treaty, the Commissions which he had sent to that bloody

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villain Montrose, & his Cut throat Complices, to raise an Armie, & wast & invade the Countrey with fire & sword the second time; were brought to the Committee of Estates, discovering what sort of King they were treating with. Whereupon, after serious Consulting not only together, but with the Lord: And after many debates what to do in such a doubtfull case, wherein all was in danger, the Estates concluded to break off the Treaty, and recall their Com∣missioners. To which intent, they sent an Express with Letters to Breda; which by providence falling into the hands of Libberton, a true Libertine, & false betrayer of his trust & Country, was by him, without the know∣ledge of the other Commissioners, delivered unto the King: who consulting the Contents of the Packet with his Jesuitical & Hypocritical Cabal, found it his interest to play the fox (being disappointed at that time to play the Tyger) and dissemble with God & man. And so sending for the Commissioners, he made a flattering speech to them, shewing that novv after serious deliberation he vvas resolved to comply vvith all their Proposals. Where upon the poor cheated Commissioners dispatch the post back with Letters, full of praise & joy, for the satisfaction they had received. The Estates, perceiving themselves imposed upon, consulted again vvhat to do; and in end, being oversvvayed more vvith respect to their oun credite (vvhich they thought should be impeached, if they should retract their oun Plenipotentiary Instructions, to conclude the Treaty upon the Kings assent to their Conditions) than to their reclamant consciences, they resolved to bring home that pest, and thereby Precipitated themselves & us into in∣eluctable miserie. Yet they thought to mend the Matter, by binding him vvith all Cords, and puting him to all most explicite Engagments, before he should receive the Im∣perial Croun. Well, upon these termes home he comes, and before he set his foot on British ground he takes the Co∣venant. And thereafter, because the Commission of the General Assembly, by the Act o the West Kirk August. 13. 1650. Precluded his Admittance unto the Croun, if he should refuse the then required satifaction, before his Co∣ronation

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he emits that Declaration at Dumferling;

where∣in, Professing & appearing in the full perswasion & love of the Truth, he repenteth (as having to do with & in the sight of God) his Fathers opposition to the Co∣venant & work of God, & his oun reluctances against the same, hoping for Mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ, and obtesting the prayers of the faithful to God for his stedfastness; and than protesteth his Truth & sincerity in entering into the Oath of God, resolving to prosecute the ends of the Covenant to his utmost, and to have with it the same Common friends & Enemies, exhorting all to lay doun their enmity against the cause of God, and not to prefer mans Interest to Gods, which will prove an Idol of Jealousie to provoke the Lord, and he himself accounteth to be but selfish flatterie.
A declaration so full of heart Professions, & high Attestations of God, that none considering what followed can reflect thereon, without horror & trembling from the holy Jea∣lousie of the Lord, either for the then deep dissimulation or the after unparalelled Apostacy. I know it is objected by Court parasites, that the King was then compelled to do these things. To which I shall only say: It would have cost any of them their head at that time, to have as∣serted that he did upon deliberation & choise mock God & man, and entered into these Engagments, only with a purpose to be thereby in better Capacity, to destroy what he swore to maintain; only because he could not have the Croun without this way, which in the Confession of the objectors themselves was only deliberate & premeditate Perjurie. Next, if it should, be granted he was Com∣pelled; let it be also considered, who Compelled him; and these will be found to be the deceitful Courtiers. For, let it be adverted, what Mr Gilespie declares of the Case, who put the pen in his hand when he subscribed that De∣claration: He, perceiving there was sufficient ground to Jealouse his reality, and seeing evidently that the Cour∣tiers prevailed with the King on a sudden to offer to sub∣scribe the Declaration (when they observed that the Com∣missioners of Churh & State were resolute, & ready to go

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away in a fixedness, to leave out the puting of his Interest in the state of the quarrel) and being afrayed of the sad Consequences of it, spoke his mind plainly to the King,

That if he was not satisfied in his Soul & Conscience, be∣yond all hesitation of the righteousness of the subscription, he was so far from overdriving him to run upon that, for which he had no light, as he obtested him, yea he charged him in his Masters name, and in the name of these who sent him, not to subscribe this Declaration, no not for the three Kingdoms.
Whereupon the King answered, Mr Gillespie, Mr Gillespie I am satisfied, I am satisfied with the Declaration, and therefore will subscribe it. Upon which some of the Courtiers swore that Mr Gillespie intended simply to disswade the King from subscribing it, that so Church and State might professedly lay aside his Inetrest: which would have defeat their hopes to make up themselves, as now they have done, upon the then designed ruine of the Interest of Truth. Then at his Coronation, we have his again reite∣rated confirmations of that Covenant: first, he is desired in name of the people to accept the Crown, and maintain Religion according to the National & Solemn League & Covenant; whereunto he gave his apparently Cordial con∣sent (the words are in the forme & order of the Coronation with the whole Action.) Then next, a Sermon being Preached upon 2 King. 11. 12, & 17. the action commen∣ceth, with his most solemn renewing of the National and solemn League & Covenant, by Oath. Then, he is pre∣sented to the people, and their willingness demanded to have him for their King on these termes. At the same time, in the next place, he took the Coronation Oath. Then on these termes he accepted the Sword. And after the Crown is set upon his head, the peoples obligatory Oath is pro∣claimed on the termes foresaid, otherwise he is not that King to whom they swore subjection. Then being set upon the Throne, he was by the Minister put in mind of his Engagments, from 1 Chron. 29. 33. And then the Nobles of the Land came one by one kneeling, and lifting up their hands between his hands, swore the same Oath. These things done, the whole Action was closed with a

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most solid & severe exhortation from several instances, Neh. 5. 13. Ier. 34. 18, 19, 20, &c. There after in the year 1651. followed the Ratification of all these preceeding Treaties, Transactions, & Engagments, concluded & enacted by the King, and the Parliament then fully & freely conveened; whereby the same did pass into a Per∣petual Law. And this Covenant, which from the be∣gining was & is the most sure & indispensible Oath of God, became at length the very fundamental Law of the King∣dom, whereon all the rights or priviledges, either of King or people, are principally bottomed & secured. This might seem security sufficient, but considering the former discoveries & experiences they had of his Treachery, and the visible appearances (in the mean time) of his Refusalls, visible Reluctances, manifest Resilings, open Counter actings, and continued prejudices against the Covenant, and his following unprecedented avowed perjurie, every thing doth indelebly fasten upon them the weakness at least of an overweening Credulity, and upon him the wickedness of a perfidious Policy, in all these Condiscen∣sions. After this it came to pass, that zeal for the Cause rightly stated was suddenly contracted to a few, and the flame thereof extinguished in many, and Court wild fire substitute in its place: whereby a plain defection was vio∣lently carried on by the Publick Resolutioners, who relapsing into that most sinful Conjunction with the People of these abominations, so solemnly repented for & resolved against, did notwithstanding bring in Notorious Malignants, into places of power & Trust, in Judicatories & Armies, in a more Politick than Pious way of requiring of them a con∣strained & dissembled Repentance, to the mocking of the God of Truth, and Scorn of all our holy Engagments. Which defection did not only cause for a long time an in∣curable Division; the first of that kind, and most perma∣nent of any that ever was in the Church of Scotland, by reason of the surcease of General Assembles, stoped & hindered by the yoke of the Sectarian Usurpation; but also was the spring & source of all our defections since, all flowing from & fomented by that same spirit that fostered

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that: And for that, since that time, the Lord hath been contending with this Church & Nation, bringing us under the bondage of these Malignant Enemies, whom we suffered them then to encourage & introduce. And both at that time, & since that time, the Lord never counte∣nanced an Expedition where that Malignant Interest was taken in unto the state of the quarrel. Upon this our Land was invaded by Oliver Cromwel, who defeat our Army at Dumbar, where the Anger of the Lord was evidently seen to smoke against us, for espousing that Interest. And re∣markable it is, how in that very day where in the Publick Resolutions were concluded in the Assembly at St Andrews, the Lord then shed the blood of His people at Enner∣keithing; so as that the Assembly, having in great hast hur∣ried through this Approbation, were all made to run for it, and Adjourn themselves to Dundie, where they met and compleated that step of defection. And afterwards its known, what a peculiar vengeance fell upon that City, where this deed was done beyond all the Cities of the Na∣tion. Next, an Army being raised, according to these unhallowed Resolutions, and the Lord puting remarkable Discountinance upon them in their attemptings at home, as was manifest in their attemptings at Torewood &c. They march into England; and there did the Lord continue, by His leaving our Army to the Sword, to preach that Do∣ctrine to the world Iosh. 7. 10, 11, 12. [Israel hath sinned and transgressed the Covenant—have taken the accursed thing —and dissembled also, and have put it even amongst their oun stuff, therefore the Children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their Enemies, because they were accursed: Neither will I be with yow any more, except ye de∣stroy the accersed thing from among yow] An army of near 30000 was totally routed at Worcester; and the Achan, the Cause of the overthrow, was forced to hide himself in the Oak, and thence to transport himself beyond sea, where he con∣tinued a wandering fugitive in Exile, till the year 1660. In the mean time the Sectarian Army here prevailed, till, after the usurper Cromwel his death, the false Monk then General, with a Combination of Malignants and Publick

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Resolutioners, did machinate our misery, and effectuated it by bringing home the King to England from his banish∣ment: Wherein he was habituate into an implacable hatred against the Work of God. Yet, though since the Kings first reception into Scotland, our declensions were still growing untill they produced this fearful Revolt from God, wherein the Nation is now involved; there was still a faith∣ful Remnant of Ministers & Professors, zealous for the Cause, keeping their Integrity; who in their Remon∣strances & Testimonies witnessed against both their Ma∣lignant Enemies and their backsliding Brethren the Reso∣lutioners, and also against the Sectarians their Invaders; whose vast Toleration & Liberty of Conscience, which they brought in to invade our Religion as they had invaded our Land, and infect it with their multifarious Errors, was particularly by the Synod of Fife, and other Brethren in the Ministery that joined themselves to them, Testified against, and demonstrated to be wicked & intollerable. Now to see how far the present Testimony is Conirmed by the witnesses of this Period, we may resume some Reflections on it.

I. They impartially carried on the Testimony against Prelacy, and the Popish Prelatical & Malignant faction on the one hand, and the Sectarians on the other, without ever waving the Testimony against either, or at the least winking at the one to weaken the other: both which Testi∣monies they though of so great importance, that they could not dispense with but faithfully maintain both, in their witnessings & warnings. In that seasonable & necessary Warning & Declaration concerning present & imminent dangers, given at Edinb. Iuly 27. sess 27. They say first of the Sctaries

That prevailing Party of Sectaries in England, who have bro∣ken the Covenant, and despised the Oath of God, cor∣rupted the Truth, subverted the fundamental Govern∣ment, Look upon us with an evil eye, as upon these who stand in the way of their Monstrous & new fangled devices in Religion & Government; and though there were no Cause to fear any thing from that party, but the Gangren & infection of those many damnable & abomi∣nable

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errors which have taken hold on them; yet our vi∣cinity unto and dayly Commerce with that Nation, may justly make us afrayed, that the Lord may give up many in this Land into a spirit of delusion to beleeve Lies,
be∣cause they have not received the Love of the Truth. In that same warning they say
we are not so to have the one of our eyes upon the Sectaries, as not to have the other upon Malignants, they being an Enemie more numerous & more dangerous than the other; not only because ex∣perience hath proven, that there is a greater aptitude & inclination in these of our Land to comply with Ma∣lignants, than Sectaries, in that they carry on their wicked designe, under a pretext of being for the King, but also because there be many of them in our oun bovvells.
By vvhich vve may see, hovv impartially they opposed both; and that this cannot be condemned in the Testimonies of the present Sufferers, except the Assembly be condemned. And because many novv a dayes have extenuating notions of those debates, against Prelacy & Sectarianisme, about the Government of the Church &c. and condemn these that vvould adhere to & suffer for the Punctilio's of it, as rigid nicetie: I shall, for seeing vvhat account the Assembly had of them, cite their vvords in a Letter to the Assembly of divines at Westminster, Dated Edin. Iune 18. 1646.
The smallest (say they) of Christs Truths (if it be Lavvfull to call any of them small) is of greater moment than all the other businesses, that ever have been debated since the be∣gining of the vvorld to this day: but the highest of honours and heaviest of burdens is put upon yovv; to declare, out of the Sacred Records of Divine Truth, vvhat is the Prerogative of the Croun & extent of the Scepter of Jesus Christ; vvhat bounds are to be set betvveen Him Ruling in His House, and povvers established by God on Earth; hovv & by vvhom His House is to be Governed; and by vvhat vvayes a restraint is to be put on these, vvho vvould pervert His Truth and subvert the faith of many.

II. In the manner of maintaining this Testimony, these famous Fathers while faithful for God gave us a perfect pattern of purity & strictness, in opposition to all degrees

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of conformity & complyance with the Corruptions of the time; and laid down such Rules & Constitutions, as might regulate us in our Contendings about present Defections, and teach us what account to make of them, and how to carry towards them: which if adverted unto, would evince how manifest & manifold the declinings of many have been from the late Reformation, that yet pretend to adhere unto it, and how Justifieable the aversation & abstraction of the present reproached suffering party is, from all these defections and the daubings of them, because so much deviating & declining from the attained Reformation. I need not repeat, how Prelacy, and all the parts & pendi∣cles of that Antichristian Hierarchy, were abjured in the National Covenant, and condemned in the Acts of Assem∣blies, and reabjured in the solemn League & Covenant, and in the solemn Acknowledgment of ins & Engagment to duties, where also we came under Sacred & Inviolable Engagments, to endeavour the extirpation thereof: Which doth clearly file the present Countenancing & submitting to the Prelatick Curats, in receiving ordinances from them, among the grossest of defections; being altogether incon∣sistent with these Acts and Constitutions & Covenant-obli∣gations to extirpate them, as much as the countenancing of Popish Priests were inconsistent therewith, being both equally Covenanted to be extirpated. Next, though in this Period, Tyrannie being in its Retrograde Motion, Erastian Supremacy was not so much contended for, and therefore not so much questioned as formerly, being held exploded with exsecration out of doors & out of doubt; yet the Testimony was still continued against it, in the uninter∣upted maintaining of the Churches Priviledges and free∣dom of Assemblies, against all Encroachings of Adversa∣ries. And therefore the embracing of the late detestable Indulgences, were as Contrary to the Actings of this as to the Testimonies of the former Period, against the Supre∣macy from which they flow. Yea many Particulars, might be instanced, wherein the Accepters had declined from the Covenanted Reformation then prosecuted; not only in their Confederating with Malignant Usurpers, for the

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pretended benefite of them (by which, if there had been no more, they are obnoxious to the Censure of the Church, standing registred in an Act of Assembly, or∣daining all persons in Ecclesiastick office, for the like or lesser degrees of Complyance, yea even for procuring pro∣tections from Malignant Enemies, to be suspended from their office & all exercise thereof At Edinb. 1646. Sess, 14) Nor only in their taking sinfull Instructions from them, restricting them in the exercise of their Ministry; but in admitting themselves, by their patronage, to be by them presented to their prelimited & preimposed Congregations: which involves them in the iniquity of the Abolished Pa∣tronages, condemned by the Assembly; for that the Mi∣nistry of such so presented, is made too much to depend upon the will & pleasure of man, and such an imposition is Destructive of the Church & peoples Liberties, obstructive of the Gospels freedom & faithful plainness, and occa∣sion of much base flattery & partiality; And in subjecting to, homologating, & fortifying a Sacrilegions Supremacy, overturning the Intrinsick power of the Church, contrare to the Covenant obliging to the Preservation of the Go∣vernment, as well as to the Doctrine of the Church, in the first Article thereof; And in their suffering themselves, either directly or indirectly, either by Combination, per∣suasion, or terror, to be divided & withdrawn from that blessed Union & Conjunction, which they were obliged to maintain & promove, according to the 6th Art. of the Solemn League & Covenant; And in their strengthening the Erastian Usurpations of Enemies encroaching upon the Churches Liberties and Christs prerogatives, against which wer are engaged expressly in the Solemn Acknow∣ledgment of sins and Engagment to duties, where also we have these words Art. 2. Because many have of late laboured to supplant the Liberties of the Church, we shall maintain & defend the Church of Scotland, in all her Liberties & Priviledges, against all who shall oppose or undermine the same, or encroach thereupon under any pretext whatsomever, Next, we have many De∣monstrations of the zeal & strictness of these Servants of Christ, in their Synodical determinations of Censures, to

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be past upon many Ministerial Corruptions; which will condemn the present course of covering & countenancing them, and commend the Contendings of a poor reproached party against them, in their consciencious abstracting from them. Of which determinations, I shal rehearse some. Among the Enormities & Corruptions of the Ministrie, in their Callings, this is one, §. 4. 5. Silenee in the publick Cause —Some accounting it a point of wisedom to speak am∣biguously —whereof the remedie is §. 15.

That beside all other scandals, Silence or Ambiguous speaking in the pu∣blick Cause—be seasonably Censured, Gen. Ass. at Edinb. Iunij 13. 1646.
There is indeed an Act against withdrawers from Ministers: but in the self same Act, they are charged to be diligent in fulfilling their Ministrie, to be faithful in Preaching, declaring
the whole Counsel of God, and as they have occasion from the Text of Scripture to reprove the sins & errors, and press the du∣ties of the time, And in all these to observe the Rules prescribed by the Acts of Assembly, wherein if they be negligent, they are to be Censured, Gen, Ass. Edinb. Aug. 24. 1647. Sess.
19. Then there is that Act, August 3. 1648. Sess. 26. for Censuring Ministers for their silence, and not speaking to the Corruptions of the time;
Calling it, a great Scandal, through some Ministers their reserv∣ing & not declaring themselves against the prevalent sins of the times; appointing, that all that do not apply their Doctrine to these Corruptions, which is the Pastoral Gift, and that are cold or wanting of Spiritual zeal, Dissembling of Publick sins, that all such be Censured even to deprivation; for forbearing or passing in silence the Errors & Exorbitancies of Sectaries in England, or the defections current at home, the plots & Practises of Malignants, the Principles & Tenents of Erastianisme; And if they be found too sparing, general, or ambiguous in their applications & reproofs, and continuing so, they are to be deposed, for being pleasers of men rather than servers of Christ, for giving themselves to a detestable indifferency or Neutrality in the Cause of God, for de∣frauding the souls of people, yea for being highly guilty

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of the blood of Souls, in not giving them warning.
And in that seasonable & necessary warning of the Gen. Ass. Edinb. Iuij 27. 1649. Sess. 27. we are taught how they resented the unfaithfulness of Ministers continuing in defections, and how we are to look upon them & carry to them: where they say;
It is undenyably true, that many of the evils, wherewith this Church & Kingdom hath been afflicted in our age, have come to pass because of the negligence of some and corruptions of others of the Ministrie; And the course of backsliding was carryed on, untill it plea∣sed God to stir up the spirits of these few, who stood in the Gap, to oppose & resist the same, and to begin the work of Reformation in the Land; since which time, the silence of some Ministers, & the complyance of others, hath had great influence upon the backslidings of many amongst the people, who, upon the discovery of the evil of their way, complain that they got not warning, or that if they were warned by some, others held their peace, or did justify them in the course of their backsliding: we can look upon such Ministers no otherwise, than upon these that are guilty of the blood of the Lords peo∣ple, and with whom the Lord will reckon, for all the breach of Covenant & defection that hath been in the Land; The Priests lips should preserve knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth, for he is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts, but such as are departed out of the way, and have caused many to stumble at the Law, therefore hath the Lord made them contemptible before all the people, according as they have not kept His wayes, but have been partial in His Law, because they have lost their savour, He hath cast out many of them as unsavoury salt.
Further more, to evidence the Purity & power of zeal burning & blazing in these dayes, in their Contendings against Publick Enemies on all hands, I shall instance some of their Acts & Testimonies, clearly condemning the manifold Complyances of this Genera∣tion, and which may contribute somewhat to Justifie the reproached preciseness of a Remnant, standing at the furthest distance from them. There is an Act for Censuring

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the Complyers with the publick Enemies of this Church & King∣dom, Gen. Ass. Edinb. Iunij 17. 1646. Sess. 14. where,

they judge it a great & scandalous provocation, & grievous de∣fection from the publick cause, to comply with these Malignants (such as Iames Graham then was) in any de∣gree, even to procure Protections from them, or to have invited them to their houses, or to have drunk Iames Graham his health, or to be guilty of any other such Gross degrees of Complyance; censured to be suspended from the communions, ay & while they acknowledge their offence.
And yet now, for refusing these degrees of complyance, for not having the protectior of a Pass from the wicked courts of malignant enemies, by taking a wicked oath, and for refusing to drink the Kings health, a greater Enemy then ever Iames Graham was, some poor conscien∣tious people have not only been murdere by Enemies, but mocked & condemned by professores. There is an Act likewise, & declaration against all new oaths or bonds in the common cause imposed without consent of the Church Gen. Ass. Edinb. Iuly 28. 1648. Sess. 18.
Enjoining all the members of the Church to forbear the swearing or subscribing any new oaths or bonds, in this Cause, without Advice & concurrence of the Church, especially any negative oaths or bonds, which may any way limit or restrain them in the duties whereunto they are obliged, by National or Solemn League & Covenant.
Yet now, for refusing Oaths, not only limiting in Covenanted duties, but con∣tradicting & condemning many material Principles of the Covenanted Reformation, many have not only lost their Lives, but also have been condemned, by them that are at ease having a wider conscience to swallow such baits. It is known how pertinacious the most faithful in those dayes were, in their contendings against Associations, in any undertaking for the cause, with persons disaffected to the true state thereof. I need not give any account of this, were it not that now that Principle is quite inverted; and poor Adherers to it, for their abstracting & substracting their concurrence with such promiscuous Associations, are much hated & flouted; therefore I shall give some hints

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of their sentiments of them.

In their Answer to the Commit∣tee of Estates, Iulij 25. 1648. Sess. 14. the Gen. Assembly sayes, It was represented to the Parliament, that for securing of Religion it was necessary, that the Popish, Prelatical, & Malignant party, be declared Enemies to the cause upon the one hand, as well as Sectaries upon the other, and that all Associations either in forces or counsels, with the former as well as with the latter, be avoided.
And in their declaration concerning the Present dangers of Re∣ligion, especially the unlawful Engagment in War, Iulij, ult. 1648. Sess. 21. They say, suppose the ends of that Engagment be good (as they are not) yet the means & wayes of Prosecution are unlawful; because there is not an equal avoiding of rocks on both hands, but a joining with Malignants to suppress Sectaries, a joining hands with a black devil to beat a white devil; They are bad Phisicians who would so cure one disease, as to breed another as evil or worse—we find in the Scriptures condemned, all Confederacies & Associations with the Enemies of true Religion, whether Canaanites Exod. 23. 32. and 24. 12, 15. Deut. 7. 2. or other heathens 1. King. 11. 1, 2.
More Arguments against Associations may be seen in that excellent discussion of this useful Case, Concerning Associations & Confederacies with Idolaters Infidels Hereticks or any other known enemy of Truth or Godliness, by famous Mr G. Gillespie, published at that same time: whereunto is appended his Letter to the commission of the General Assembly, having these golden words in it, words fitly spoken in that season, when he was a dying, at the begining of the Publick Resolutions
Having heard of some motions & beginings of complyance, with these who have been so deeply engaged in a war destructive to Religion & the Kingdoms Liberties, I cannot but discharge my con∣science, in giving a Testimony against all such com∣plyance. I know & am perswaded, that all the faithful witnesses that gave Testimony to the Thesis, that the late Engagment was contrary & destructive to the Covenant, will also give Testimony to the Appendix, that com∣plyance with any who have been active in that Engagment

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is most sinful & unlawful. I am not able to express all the evils of that complyance, they are so many—But above all, that which would highten this sin even to the Heavens is, that it were not only a horrid backsliding, but a back∣sliding into that very sin, vvhich vvas specially pointed at & punished by the prevailency of the Malignant party, God justly making them thorns & scourges vvho were taken in as friends. Alas! shall we split twice upon the same rock? yea run upon it, when God hath set a beacon on it? yea I may say, shall we thus out face & out dare the Almighty, by protecting His & our Enemies, by making peace & friendship with them, when the anger of the Lord is burning against them. I mus here apply to our present condition, the words of Ezrah. 9. 14—O happy Scotland, if thow canst now improve & not abuse this Golden opportunity? but if thou help the ungodly, & love them that hate the Lord, wrath upon wrath, and wo upon wo, shall be upon thee from the Lord. Whereunto is subjoined his dying Testimony to the same purpose; wherein are these words,, But if there shall be a falling back, to the sin of complyance with Malignant ungodly men, then I look for the breaking out of the wrath of the Lord, till there be no remedy.
This was the warning of a worthy dying Man. Notwithstanding of which & many other warnings & witnessings, a course of com∣plyance was commenced by the pulick Resolutioners, and continued in to this day; wherein that faithful warning of a dying servant of Christ is verified. But before I leave this purpose, I must obviate an objection that some make use of for strengthening themselves in their incorporations & joinings at least in Worship, with the corruptions of the time, and for condemning conscientious withdrawers; That the Godly in those dayes did not separate from the men of these complyances & defections, as many do now, to wit the protesting party did not withdraw from the publick Resolutioners & Associators with Malignants. I answer, first, many & these the most Godly & tender did withdraw, even from their oun Ministers, and would have gone 40. or 50 myles to hear a faithful Minister at that time: yea

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Ministers themselves, in the case of intrusion of the unfaith∣ful, would have supplyed the Paroch, as if the Church had been vacant, and when they could not get access to the pulpit, they preached in the fields, on purpose to wit∣ness against, and professedly to withdraw the people from such an unfaithful Intruder; as might be instanced particu∣larly for time & place, if need were. But next, The Church then, though broken by division, and under the subjection of strangers deprived of her General Assemblies, yet was in a constitut Case, enjoying the priviledge, power & order of Synods & Presbyteries, to whom the people of∣fended with their Ministers might address themselves, for an orderly redress, and removal of these Scandals in an ordina∣ry way; and so they needed not assume to themselves that power to regulate their communion, that in a broken State, as now is, must be allowed to them. And besides, both the Ministers at that time who were faithful, though they might have proceeded to censure & silence the corrupt par∣ty as they were obliged, yet not only found it difficult by reason of the injury of the times; but also thought it best to spare them, And the people to bear them, as burdens; untill, as they were still in hopes, they should obtain a General Assembly to take order with them but now it is not so. And then the defection was but begining, and people did not know and could not expect it would go such a length, and therefore could not fall upon the rigor of that duty, which such disorders call for at first: but if they had seen where these beginings would Land them at length, I doubt not but they would have resisted those beginings, in such a way as would have precluded this imputation of novelty upon our necessitated with drawings.

III. We have in this Period, not only an Illustrious Testimony for the Principle, but a continued and uninter∣mitted putting into practice the duty of defensive Armes, in resisting the Soverain power, malversing & abusing Au∣thority to the destruction of the ends of it; which resistence was avowed, encouraged, & furthered by the General Assembly, both for the defence of themselves, and for the help of their Brethren in England. Take one expres∣sion in their

Solemn & seasonable Warning to all ranks Feb. 12.

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1645. Sess 18. Unless men will blot out of their hearts the love of Religion & cause of God, and cast off all care of their Country, Lawes, Liberties &c. (all being in visible danger of present ruine & destruction) they must now or never appear actively, each one stretching himself to, yea beyond his power. It is no time to dally, or to go about the business by halfs, nor be almost but altogether zealous: Cursed is he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently. If we have been forward to as∣sist our Neighbour Kingdoms, shall we neglect to defend our oun? Or shall the Enemies of God be more active against His cause, than His people for it? God forbid. In another seasonable & necessary warning Iuly 27. 1649. Sess. 27. They say, But if his Maj. or any having or pretending power & commission from him, shall in∣vade this Kingdom, upon pretext of establishing him in the exercise of his royal power; as it will be an high pro∣vocation against God, to be accessory or assisting there to, so it will be a necessary duty to resist & oppose the same.
These Fathers could well distinguish, between Authority and the person abusing it: And were not so Loyal, as now their degenerate Children are ambitious to shew themselves, stupidly stouping to the shaddow thereof, and yet will be called the only Asserters of Presbyterian principles. But we find, they put it among the Chara∣cters of Malignants, to confound the Kings honour & Au∣thority with the abuse & pretence thereof, and with Com∣missions, warrants, & Letters, procured from the King by the Enemies of the cause & Covenant, as if we could not oppose the Latter, without increaching upon the for∣mer. But here, an Objection or two must be removed out of the way, before we go forward. One is, from the Third Atticle of the Covinant; where there seems to be a great deal of Loyaltie, obliging to defend the Kings Maj. his person & Authority, in the preservation & defence of the true Religion & Liberties of the Kingdoms, that the world may bear witness with our consciences of our Loyaltie, And that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesties just power & greatness. I Ans. There is indeed a deal of Loyaltie there, and true Loyaltie, because Lawfully limited, being

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qualified with & subordinate unto the preservation & de∣fence of the true Religion & Liberties of the Kingdom (as the makers of the Covenant do expound it, in the Assem∣bles declaration against the unlawful Eugagment Iuly ult. 1648. Sess. 21.) not that Reverse Loyaltie, which makes duties to God conditional & limited, and duties to thee King abso∣lute & unlimited, as our Loyalists do now. And I wish others were free of it, who have sworn Oaths of unli∣mited Alledgiances, to maintain the King in any power unto which his force aspires; and to justify this their Loyaltie, will bring in this Article of the Covenant with a distorted sense, reading it backward, that we in the preservation & de∣fence of Religion must preserve & defend the King: As if Reli∣gion obliged to defend him, do what he will. It were better such pretended Covenanters, denyed the Cove∣nant, than to be such a reproach to it, in wresting its ge∣nuine sense. But I have adduced the sense of the best In∣terpreters of it, the General Assembly. Next when they entered under the bond of this Covenant, they did it with a purpose to oppose all his invasions upon Religion & the Liberty of the people, and to vindicate these precious In∣terests from his usurpings, into a state of Liberty: And shall we imagine, that that very Oath of God did lay upon them or us an obligation, to defend the person who is a destroyer of all these, contrary to the very nature of the Oath, contrare to the scope of the Covenanters, and con∣trary to their subsequent practise? But then it will be urged, why then was that clause cast into the Covenant? I answer we have not the same cause to keep it, as they had some cause to put it in, with accommodation to the present posses∣sor of the Soveraignity. The ouning of it in our circum∣stances would be as great a reproach to us, as the want of it was to them in theirs. They put in the words, to pre∣vent the worlds mistake, and to remove that odium in∣dustriously heaped upon the heads of those, whose hearts were associate in the defence of Religion & Liberty, there∣fore they would profess they would not be disloyal while he was for God. And a defiance may be given to clamour, & calumnie it self, to give one instance of the defect of

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performance hereof, while he went not about to ruine those things, incomparably more precious then his person or Authority, and in ruining whereof no person can re∣tain Authority.

IV. But now two things will chiefly be desiderated, which now we oune in our Testimony, for which many have dyed, that seem not to be confirmed by or consistent with the Testimony of this Period. One is, that we not only maintain defensive resistance, but in some cases vin∣dictive & punitive force, to be executed upon men that are bloody beasts of prey, and burdens to the earth, in cases of necessity, when there is no living for them. This prin∣ciple of Reason & natural Justice, was not much inquired into in this time; when the sun was up, whose warmth & light made these beasts creep into their dens, and when they, being brought under subjection, could not force people into such extraordinary violent courses when the ordinary & orderly course of Law was running in its right Channel. Yet from the ground of their ordinary Proce∣dure, Military & Civil, against such Monsters, we may gather the lawfullness of an ordinary Procedure in a pinch of necessity, conforme to their grounds: I hope to make this evident, when I come ex proposito to vincicate this head. But there is another thing that we onne, which seems not to have been known in these dayes, viz. That when we are required to oune the Authority of the present Dominator, we hold sinful to oune it. Yet we find these Reverend & renouned Fathers ouned King Charles I. and did not re∣fuse the succession of Charles II. I shall answer in order. First, as to King Charles the first, there was a great diffe∣rence betuixt him and his sons that succeeded; he never declared Parliamentarely that neither Promises, Con∣tracts, nor Oaths should bind him, as the first of his perfidious sons did; It might have been then presumed, if he had engaged so far for promoving the Work of God, he would have been a man of his word (for to say a King of his word, is antiquitate in a good sense, except that it means he is as absolute in his word as in his sword, and scorns to be a slave to it) Neither professed he himself

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a Papist, as the second Son hath done: Again it must be granted, that more might have been comported with in the begining, when there were some hopes of redress, than after such process of time; whereby now we see & feel beyond all debate, that the Throne stands and is stated, not only in opposition to, but upon the ruines of the Rights & Priviledges both of Religion & Liberty. But was not the equivalent done by the Church, anno 1648. when they refused to concur with that unlawful Engag∣ment, for restoring of the King, till security be had, by

Solem Oath under his hand & Seal, that he shall for him∣self & Successors, give his assent to all Acts & Bills for enjoining Presbyterial Government, and never make opposition to it, nor endeavour any change thereof? Iulij ult. 1648. Sess, 21.
But it will be said, that in their renewing the Covenant that year, they did not leave out that Article. True, thereby they stopped the mouths of their Adversaries: And then they were not without hopes, but that in his straits he might have proved a Manasseh taken among the thornes. And the Covenanters at that time, not being clear that he had done that which ipso jure made him no Magistrate, chused rather while matters stood so to ingage to maintain him, than simply to disoune him (which yet our forefathers did upon smaller grounds many times) in the hopes of being prevailed with at last. But when they saw that this proved ineffectual, therefore at the Coronation of the new King they made the Covenanted Interest the sole Basis upon which alone Authority was conferred upon him. For the second, though they did not refuse the suc∣cession of Charles the Second (which vvas their blame and our bane, of vvhich vve may blush this day) yet vve find many things in that Transaction vvhich justifie our disoun∣ing of him, and condemn the ouning of the present Pos∣sessor. (1.)
In that seasonable & necessary warning Iulij 27. Sess. 27. vvhereas many vvould have admitted his Maj. to the exercise of his Royal povver, upon any termes vvhat∣soever: The Assembly declares first; That a boundless & illimited povver is to be acknovvledged in no King nor Magistrate; neither is our King to be admitted to the

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exercise of his povver, as long as he refuses to vvalk in the administration of the same, according to this rule. Secondly, that there is a mutual stipulation & obligation betvveen the King & the people, as both of them are tyed to God, so each of them are tyed to one another, for the performance of mutual & reciprocal duties; accor∣dingly Kings are to take the Oath of Coronation, to abo∣lish Popery & maintain the Protestant Religion: As long therefore as the King refuses to engage & oblige himself for security of Religion & safety of his people, it is con∣sonant to Scripture & Reason and Lavves of the King∣dom, that he should be refused. Thirdly, in the League & Covenant the duty of defending & preserving the King, is subordinate to the duty of preserving Religion & Li∣berty: And therefore, he standing in opposition to the publick desires of the people for their security, it vvere a manifest breach of Covenant, and a preferring the Kings Interest to the Interest of Jesus Christ, to bring him to the exercise of his povver. Fourthly, That it vvas for restraint of Arbitrary Government, and for their Just defence against Tyranny, that the Lords people did join in Co∣venant, and have been at the expence of so much blood these years past; And if he should be admitted to the Government before satisfaction, it vvere to put in his hand that Arbitrary Povver, and so to abandon their for∣mer Principles, and betray the Cause. Fifthly, That he, being admitted before satisfaction, vvould soon endea∣vour an overturning of the things vvhich God hath wrought, and labour to dravv publick administrations, concerning Religion & Liberty, into that course & Channel in vvhich they did run under Prelacy, and before the work of Reformation. Whence they warn that every one take heed of such a snare, that they be not accessery to any such design, as they would not bring upon them∣selves & their families, the guilt of all the detriment that will undoubtedly follow thereupon, of all the miseries it will bring upon the Kingdoms—And therefore who soever attempt the same, oppose themselves to the cause of God, and will at last dash against the Rock of the Lords

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power, which hath broken in pieces many high & lofty ones, since the begining of the work in the Kingdoms.
(2) I shall here insert the Act of the West-Kirk, declaring their mind very manifestly.

West Kirk. August. 13. 1650. The Commission of the General Assembly, considering that there may be just ground of stumbling, from the K. Maj. refusing to subscribe & emitt the Declaration, offered to him by the Committee of Estates and the Commission of the General Assembly, concerning his former carriage & resolutions for the future, in reference to the Cause of God and the enemies & friends thereof; Doth therefore declare, That this Kirk & Kingdom doth not oune or espouse any Malignant Party, or Quarrel, or Interest, but that they fight meerly upon their former Grounds & Prin∣ciples, and in the defence of the Cause of God and of the Kingdom, as they have done these twelve years past: And therefore, as they disclaim all the sin & guilt of the King and of his house, so they will not oune him nor his interest, other∣wise than with a subordination to God, and so far as he ounes & prosecutes the Cause of God, and disclaims his & his fathers opposition to the Work of God, and to the Covenant, and likewise all the enemies thereof; And that they will with convenient speed take unto Consideration the Papers, late∣ly sent unto them by Oliver Cromwel, and vindicate them∣selves from all the falshoods contained therein; especially in these things wherein the quarrel betwixt us & that party is Mistated, as if we ouned the late Kings proceedings, and were resolved to prosecute & maintain his present Maj. In∣terest, before & without acknowledgment of the sin of his house and former wayes, & satisfaction to Gods people in both Kingdoms.

A. KER.

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Aug. 13. 1650. The Committe of Estates, having seen & considered a Declaration of the Commission of the General Assembly, anent the stating of the quarrel wherein the Army is to fight, do approve the same, and heartily concur therein.

Tho: Henderson.

In the (3) place: It is specified in the Causes of wrath, as one of the steps of defection, Art. 9. Step. 5.

That a Treaty should have been closed with him, upon his sub∣scribing demands, after he had given many clear evi∣dences of his disaffection & enmity to the work & people of God: That these demands, which he was required to subscribe, did not contain a real security, a real aban∣doning of former Malignant courses & principles, and cleaving to the Work of God; It was not a paper or ver∣bal security, which we were bound to demand of him, but a real one; and to intrust him without this, was but to mock God, and deceive the world, and to betray & destroy our selves, by giving up all precious Interests of Religion & Liberty unto the hands of one, who was in a course of enmity to them: That both before, and in the mean time of the treaty, he had given evidence of his enmity in many instances, there condiscended upon par∣ticularly; that he authorized Iames Graham to invade this Kingdom, and incouraged him by Letters to go on in that Invasion, even whilest he was in termes of a Treaty with us, as appeared by bringing into our hands the Au∣thentick Commission it self, and sundry Letters under his own hand.
Next, in the same Causes of wrath, among the sins of the Ministrie, in relation to the publick, §. 10, 11, 12, 13.
That they agreed to receive the King to the Covenant, barely upon writing, without any apparent evidences of a real change of principle: That they did not use freedom, in showing what was sinful in reference to that Treaty, but went on therein when they were not satisfied in their consciences, for fear of reproach & of being mistaken: That they were silent in publick, and did

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not give Testimony, after a discovery of the Kings Com∣mission to Iames Graham for invading the Kingdom: That they pressed the King to make a Declaration to the world, whilst they knew by clear evidences that he had no real conviction of the things contained therein.

PERIOD. VI.

Containing the Testimony through the conti∣nued Tract of the present Deformation from the year 1660. to this day.

NOw comes the last Catastrophe of the Deformation of the Church of Scotland, which now renders her to all Nations as infamously despicable, as her Reformation formerly made her admired & envied; which in a Retrograde motion hath gradually been growing these 27 years, going back through all the steps by which the Reformation ascended, till now she is returned to the very border of that Babylon, from whence she took her depar∣ture, and reduced through defection, & division, and persecutions, to a confused Chaos of almost irreparable dis∣solution, and unavoidable desolation. Through all which steps notwithstang, to this day, Scotland hath never wanted a witness for Christ, against all the various steps of the Enemies advancings, and of professed friends declinings: Though the Testimony hath had some singularities, some way discriminating it from that of former Periods; in that it hath been more difficult, by reason of more desperate & dreadful assaults of more enraged enemies, more expert & experienced in the accursed art of overturning than any formerly; In that it hath been attended with more disad∣vantages, by reason of the Enemies greater prevalency, and Friends deficiency, and greater want of significant Assertors, than any formerly; In that it hath been in∣tangled

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in more multifarious intricacies, of questions, and debates, and divisions among the Assertors themselves, making it more dark, and yet in the end contributing to clear it more than any formerly; In that it hath been in∣tended & extended to a greater measure, both as to matter & manner of contendings against the Adversaries, and stated upon nicer points; more enixely prosecuted & tena∣ciously maintained, & sealed with more sufferings, than any formeriy; In that it hath had more opposition & con∣tradiction, and less countenance from professed friends to the Reformation, either at home or abroad, than any formerly. And yet it hath had all these several specialities together, which were peculiar to the former Testimonies, in their respective Periods: being both Active & Passive, both against Enemies & Friends; And in cumulo stated against Atheisme, Popery, Prelacy, & Errastian Supremacy, which were the successive heads of the former Testimonies, and also now extended in a particular manner against Tyrannie. And not only against the substance & essence of these in the abstract, but against substance & circumstance, abstract & concret root & branch, head & tail of them, and all com∣plying with them, conforming to them, or countenancing of them, or any thing conductive for them, or deduced from them, any manner of way, directly or indirectly, formally or interpretatively. This is that extensive and very comprehensive Testimony of the present Period, as it is now stated & sealed with the blood of many: Which in all its parts, points & pendicles is most directly relative, and dilucidly reducible, to a complex Witness for the Decla∣rative Glory of Christs Kingship and Headship over all, as He is God and as He is Mediator, which is the greatest con∣cern that Creatures have to contend for, either as Men or as Christians. The matter of this Testimony, I shall give a short manuduction to the progress & Result of its Ma∣nagment.

During the Exile of the Royal Brothers, it is undenyably known that they were, by their Mothers caresses and the Jesuites Allurements, seduced to abjure the Reformed Religion (which was easie to induce persons to that never

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had the sense of any Religion) and to be reconciled to the Church of Rome: And that, not only they wrote to the Pope many promisses of promoting his projects, if ever they should recover the power into their hands again, and often frequented the Mass themselves; but also, by their example and the influence of their future hopes, prevailed with many of their dependents & attendants abroad, to do the like. Yet it is also unquestionably known, that in the mean time of his Exile, e renewed & confirmed, by private Letters to Presbyterians, his many reiterated En∣gagments to adhere to the Covenant, and declared that he was & would continue the same man, that he had declared himself to be in Scotland (wherein doubtless, as he was an expert Artist, he equivocated, and meant in his heart he would continue as Treacherous as ever) which helped to keep a Loyal Impression of his Interest in the hearts of too many, and an expectation of some good of him, of which they were ashamed afterwards. And immediatly before his return, its known what promises are contained in that Declaration from Breda (from whence he came also the second time, with greater Treachery than at the first) to all Protestants that would live peaceably under his Go∣vernment; begining now to weigh out his perfidie, & perjurie, & breach of Covenant, in offering to tolerote that in an Indulgence, which he swore to maintain as a duty. But in all this he purposed nothing, but to ingyre & ingratiate himself into the peoples over credulous affections, that they might not obstruct his return, which a jealousie of his intended Tyrannie would have awakened them to with∣stand. And so having seated himself, and strengthened his power against the attemptings of any, whom his conscience might suggest an apprehension that they ought to resist him, he thought himself discharged from all obligations of Co∣venants, Oaths, or promises, for which his faith had been pledged. And from the first hour of his arrival, he did in a manner set himself to affront & Defy the Authority, of God, and to be revenged upon his Kingdoms for inviting him so unanimously to sway their Scepter; in polluting & infecting the people with all debaucheries & monstrous

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villanies; and commencing his incestous Whoredoms that very first night he came to his Palace, wherein he conti∣nued to his dying day outvying all for vileness. Yet he went on deluding our Church with his dissimulations, and would not discover all his wickedness hatched in his heart at first, till his designs should be riper; but directed a Letter to the Presbyterie of Edinburgh, declaring he was resolved to protect & preserve the Government of the Church of Scotland, as it is settled by Law without violation: Wherein it was observed he altered the Stile, and spake never a word of the Cove∣nant, our Magna Charta of Religion & Righteousness, our greatest security for all Interests intrusted to him, but only of Law; by which, as his practice expounded it afterwards, he meant the Prelatical Church, as it was settled by the Law of his Father, since which time he reckoned there was no Law but Rebellion. This was a piece & preludie of our base defection, & degeneration into blind, block∣ish, & brutish stupidity; that after he had discovered so much perfidie, we not only at first tempted him to Perju∣rie, in admitting him to the Crown, upon his mock-en∣gagment in the Covenant, whereby God was mocked, His Spirit was grieved, His Covenant prostituted, the Church cheated, & the State betrayed; but after the Lord had broken his yoke from off our necks, by sending him to exile ten years, where he was discovered to be imbibing all that venome & Tyrannical violence, which he afterward vented in revenge upon the Nations; and after we had long smarted for our first transaction with him; yet not withstanding of all this, we beleeved him again, and Issachar-like couched under his burdens, and were so far from withstanding, that we did not so much as witness against the readmission & restauration of the head & tail of Malignants, but let them come in peaceably to the throne, without any security to the Covenanted cause, or for our Civil or Religious Interests, and by piece meal, at their oun ease, leasure & pleasure, to overturn all the Work of God, and reintroduce the old Antichristian yoke of abjured Prelacy, and blasphemous Sacrelegious Supremacy, and Absolute Arbitrary Tyrannie with all their abominations:

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which he, and with him the generality of our Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, & commonality by him corrupted, without regard to faith, or fear of God or man, did promote & pro∣pogate, until the Nation was involved in the greatest revolt from, & rebellion against God, that ever could be recorded in any Age or Generation; Nay attended with greater & grosser Aggravations, than ever any could be capable of before us, who have had the greatest Priviledges that ever any Church had; since the National Church of the Iewes, the greatest light; the greatest effects of matchless magnified love, the greatest Convictions of Sin, the greatest Reso∣lutions & Solemn Engagments against it, and the greatest Reformation from it, that ever any had to abuse & affront. O Heavens be astonished at this, & horribly afraid! for Scotland hath changed her Glory, and the Crown hath fallen from off her head, by an unparalelled Apostasie, a free & voluntary, vvilfull & deliberate Apostasie, an avoued & declared & Authorized Apostasie, Tyrannically carried on by Militarie violence & cruelty, a most univer∣sal & every vvay unprecedented Apostasie! I must a litle change my method, in deducing the narration of this Ca∣tastrophe, and subdistinguish this unhappie Period into several steps; shevving hovv the Enemies opposition to Christ advanced, and the Testimony of His Witnesses did gradually ascend, to the pitch it is novv arrived at.

I. These Enemies of God, having once got footing again, with the favour and the fawnings of the foolish Nation, went on fervently to further and promote their wicked design: and meeting with no opposition at first, did encourage themelves to begin boldly. Wherefore, hearing of some Ministers peaceably Assembled, to draw up a Monitory Letter to the King, minding him of his Covenant Engagments & promises (which was though weak, yet the first witness & warning against that Heaven-daring wickedness then begun) they cruelly incarcerate them. Having hereby much daunted the Ministry from their duty in that day, for fear of the like unusual & outragious usage. The Parliament conveens Ianuar. 1. 1661. without so much as a Protestation for Religion & Liberty given in to

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them. And there, in the first place, they frame & take the Oath of Supremacy, Exauctorating Christ, and investing His usurping Enemy with the spoils of his robbed Preroga∣tive, acknowledging the King only supreme Governour over all persons & in all Causes, and that his power & Iurisdiction must not be declined. Whereby under all persons & all Cause, All Church Officers, in their most properly Ecclesiastick Affairs & Concerns of Christ, are comprehended: And if the King shall take upon him to judge their Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, or Government, he must not be declined as an incompetent Judge. Which did at once enervate all the Testimony of the 4th Period above declared, and laid the foundation for all this Babel they have built since, and of all this war that hath been waged against the Son of God, and did introduce all this Tyrannie & absolute power which hath been since carried to its Complement, and made the Kings Throne the foundation of all the succeeding per∣jurie & Apostasie. Yet, though then our Synods & Pres∣bytries, were not discharged, but might have had access in some Concurrence to witness, against this horrid Inva∣sion upon Christs Prerogative and the Churches Priviledge, no joint Testimony was given against it, except that some were found witnessing against it in their singular Capacity by themselves. As faithful Mr Iames Guthrie, for declining this usurped Authority in prejudice of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus, suffered death, and got the Martyrs Crown upon his head: And some others, for refusing that Oath arbitrarly imposed, were Banished or Confined, when they had gained this Bulwark of Christs Kingdom; Then they waxed more insolent, and set up their Ensigns for signs, and broke doun the carved Work of Reformation with axes & hammers. In this Parliament 1661. They past an Act Rescissorie, whereby they annulled & declared void the National Covenant, the Solemn League & Covenant, Presbytrial Government, and all Lawes made in favours of the Work of Reforma∣tion, since the year 1633. O horrid wickedness! both in its nature so attrocious, to condemn & rescind what God did so signally seal as His oun Work, to the con∣viction of the world, and for which He will rescind the

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Rescinders, and overturn these Overturners of His Work, and make the curse of that broken Covenant bind them to the punishment, vvhom its bond could not oblige to the duty Covenanted; And in its design & end so base & de∣testable, for nothing but to flatter the King in making way for Prelacy, Tyranny, & Popery, and to indulge the licenciousness of some debauched Nobles; who could not endure the yoke of Christs Government, and to suppress Religion & Righteousness under the ruines of that Refor∣mation. But O holy & astonishing Justice, thus to recom∣pense our way upon our own head! to suffer this work & cause to be ruined under our unhappy hands, who suffered this Destroyer to come in before it was so effectually se∣cured, as it should not have been in the power of his hand (whatever had been in his heart, swelled with enmity against Christ) to have razed & ruined that Work as now most wickedly he did, and drew in so many into the guilt of the same deed, that almost the whole Land not only consented unto it but applauded it; by approving & coun∣tenancing another wicked Act framed at the same time, by that same perfidious Parliament for an Anniversary Thanksgiving commemorating every 29. of May, that Blasphemy against the Spirit & Work of God, and cele∣brating that unhappy Restauration of the Rescinder of the Reformation; which had not only the concurrence of the universality of the Nation, But (alas for shame that it should be told in Gath &c!) even of some Ministers who afterwards accepted the Indulgence (one of which a Pillar among them, was seen scandalously dancing about the bonefires.) And others, who should have alarmed the whole Nation quasi pro aris & focis, to rise for Religion & Liberty, to resist such wickedness, did wink at it. O how Righteous is the Lord now in turning our Harps into mourning! Though alas! we will not suffer our selves to this day, to see the shining Righteousness of this Retribu∣tion: And though we be scourged with Scorpions, & brayed in a Mortar, our madness, our folly in these irreli∣gious frolicks, is not yet acknowledged let be lamented. Yet albeit, neither in this day when the Covenant was not

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only broken but Cassed & declared of no obligation, nor afterward when it was burnt (for which Turks & Pagans would have been ashamed & afraid at such a terrible sight, and for which the Lords Anger is burning against these bold burners, and against them who suffered it, and did not witness against it) was there any publick Testimony by protestation, or Remonstrance, or an publick witness? though the Lord had some then, and some who came out afterward with the Trumpet at their mouth, whose heart then sorrowed at the sight: And some suffered for the sense they shewed of that Anniversary abomination, for not keeping which they lost both Church & Liberty. Its true the ordinary Meetings of Presbytries & Synods were about that time discharged, to make way for the exercise of the new power conferred on the four Prelats who were at Court, reordained & Consecrated thereby renouncing their former Title to the Ministry. But this could not give a discharge from a Necessary Testimony, then called for from faithful Watchmen. However the Reformation being thus rescinded & razed, and the House of the Lord pulled doun, then they begin to build their Babel. In the Parlia∣ment anno 1662. by their first Act they restore & reestablish Prelacy, upon such a foundation as they might by the same Law bring in Poperie, which was then designed; and so settled its Harbinger Diocesan & Erastiar Prelacy, by fuller Enlargment of the Supremacy. The very Act begin∣neth thus. For as much as the ordering & disposal of the

external Government of the Church, doth properly belong to his Maj. as an Inherent right of the Croun, by virtue of his Royal Prerogative, & Supremacy in Causes Ecclesiastick—what ever shall be determined by his Maj. with advice of the Arch Bishops, and such of the Clergy as he shall nominate, in the external Govern∣ment of the Church (the same consisting with the stand∣ing Lawes of the Kingdom) shall be valide & effectual. And in the same Act all Lawes are rescinded, by which the sole power & Jurisdiction within the Church doth stand in the Church Assemblies, And all which may be interpreted, to have given any Church power, Juris∣diction,

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or Government to the Office bearers of the Church, other than that which acknowledgeth a de∣pendence upon, & subordination to the Soveraign power of the King as Supreme.
By which, Prelats are redintegrated to all their priviledges & preheminencies, that they possessed anno 1637. And all their Church power (robbed from the Officers of Christ) is made to be derived from, to depend upon, and to be subordinate to, the Croun prerogative of the King: whereby the King is made the only fountain of Church power, and that exclusive even of Christ, of whom there is no mentioned exception: And his vassals the Bishops, as his Clerks in Ecclesiastiks, are accountable to him for all their administrations; A greater usurpation upon the Kingdom of Christ, than ever the Papacy it self aspired unto. Yet, albeit here was another display of a banner of defyance against Christ, in altering the Church Government of Christs Institution into the humane Invention of Lordly Prelacy, in assuming a power by prerogative to dispose of the external Govern∣ment of the Church, and in giving his Creatures patents for this effect, to be his Administrators in that usurped Govern∣ment; There was no publick, Ministerial, at least united Testimony against this neither. Therefore the Lord puni∣shed this sinful & shamful silence of Ministers, in His holy Justice, though by mens horrid wickedness; when by another wicked Act of the Council at Glasgow, above 300 Ministers were put from their Charges; and afterwards, for their Non-conformity in not Countenancing their Diocesan Meeting, and not keeping the Anniversary day May 29. The rest were violently thrust from their labours in the Lords vineyard, and banished from their Parishes, and adjudged unto a nice & strange Confinement, twenty miles from their oun parishes, six miles from a Cathedral Church as they called it, and three miles from a Burgh; whereby they were reduced in to many inconveniencies. Yet in this fatal Convulsion of the Church, generally all were struck with blindness & baseness, that a Paper-Pro∣clamation made them all run from their posts, and obey the Kings Orders for their ejection. Thus were they given

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up, because of their forbearing to sound an alarm, charg∣ing the people of God, in point of Loyaltie to Christ, and under the pain of the Curse of the Covenant, to a wake and acquit themselves like men, and not to suffer the enemie to rob them of that Treasure of Reforma∣tion, which they were put in possession of, by the tears, prayers, & blood of such as went before them; instead of those prudential fumblings, & fisflings then & since so much followed. Wherefore the Lord in His holy righteousness, left that enemie (against whom they should have cried & contended, and to whose eye they should have held the Curse of the Covenant, as having held it first to their oun, in case of unfaithful silence in not holding it to his) to cast them out of the House of the Lord, and dissolve their As∣semblies, and deprive them of their priviledges, because of their not being so valiant for the Truth, as that a ful & faith∣ful Testimony against that Encroachment might be found upon record. Nevertheless somewere found faithful in that hour & pour of darkness, who kept the Word of the Lords patience, and who were therefore kept in & from that ten∣tation (which carried many away into sad & shamful defe∣ctions) though not from suffering hard things from the hands of men; & only these who felt most of their violence, found grace helping them to acquit themselves suitably to that dayes Testimony, being thereby prevented from an Active yeelding to their impositions, when they were made passively to suffer force. However that season of a publick Testimony was lost, and as to the most part never reco∣vered to this day. The Prelats being settled, & readmit∣ted to voice in Parliament, they procure an Act, Dogma∣tically condemning several Material parts & points of our Covenanted Reformation, to wit, these positions

That it was lawful for Subjects, for Reformation or necessary self defence, to enter into leagues, or take up Armes, against the King: And particularly declaring that the na∣tional Covenant, as explained in the year 1638. and the Solemn league & Covenant, were & are i themselves unlawful Oaths, and were taken by & imposed upon the subjects of this Kingdom against the fundamental

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Lawes & Liberties thereof, That all such gatherings & petitions, that were used in the begining of the late troubles, were unlawful & seditious: And whereas then People were led unto these things, by having dissemina∣ted among them such principles as these, That it was lawful to come with petitions & Representations of grievances to the King, That it was lawful for people to restrict their Allegiance under such & such limitations, and suspend it untill he should give security for Religion &c. It was therefore enacted, that all such positions & practices founded thereupon, were treasonable—And furder did enact▪ that no person, by writing, praying, preaching, or malicious or advised speaking, express or publish any words or sentences, to stir up the people to the dislike of the Kings prerogative & Supremacy, or of the Government of the Church by Bishops, or justi∣fie any of the deeds, actings, or things declared against by that Act.
Yet not withstanding of all this subversion of Religion & Liberty, and restraint of asserting these Truths here trampled upon either before men by Testimo∣ny, or before God in mourning over these Indignities done unto Him, in everting these & all the parts of Re∣formation, even when it came to Daniels case of confes∣sion, preaching & praying Truths interdicted by Lavv; fevv had their eyes open (let be their vvindovvs in an open avouching them) to see the duty of the day calling for a Testimony. Though aftervvards, the Lord Spirited some to assert & demonstrate the Glory of these Truths & duties to the vvorld. As that Judicious Author of the Apologetical Relation, vvhose Labours need no Elagium to commend them. But this is not all: for these men, hav∣ing novv as they thought subverted the Work of God, they provided also against the fears of its revival: making Acts, declaring, that if the outed Ministers dare to continue to
preach, and presume to exercise their Ministrie, they should be punished as seditious persons; requiring of all a due acknowledgment of, & hearty complyance with, the Kings Government Ecclesiastical & Civil; And that who soever shall ordinarly & wilfully withdraw & absent from

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the ordinary Meetings for Divine Worship in their ou Churches on the Lords day, shall incur the Penalties there insert.
Thus the sometimes Chast Virgin, whose name was Beulah to the Lord, the Reformed Church of Scotland, did now suffer a violent & villanous rape; from a vermine of vile Schismatical Apostates, obtruded & im∣posed upon her, instead of her able, painful, faithful & succeseful Pastors, that the Lord had set over her, and now by their faintness & the Enemies force robbed from her; And none now allowed by Law to administer the Ordinances, but either Apostate Curats, who by their Perjurie & Apostacy forfaulted their Ministry, or other Hirelings & Prelat Journey-men, who run without a Mission except from them who had none to give according to Christs Institution, the seal of whose Ministry could never yet be shown in the Conversion of any sinner to Christ: but if the tree may be known by its fruit, we may know whose Ministers they are; ut ex ungue Leonem, by their Conversions of Reformation into Deformation, of the Work & Cause of God into the similitude of the Ro∣man beast, of Ministers into Hirelings, of their Proselytes into ten times worse children of the Devil then they were before, of the power of Godlyness into formality, of Preaching Christ into Orations of Morality, of the purity of Christs Ordinances into the vanity of mens Inventions, of the beautiful Government of the House of God for Edi∣fication, to a Lordly preheminence & Domination over consciences, in a word of Church & State Constitutions for Religion & Liberty all up side doun into wickedness & slavery: These are the Conversions of Prelacy. But now this astonishing blow to the Gospel of the Kingdom, in∣troducing such a Swarm of Locusts into the Church, And in forcing a Complyance of the people with this defection, and that so violently & rigorously, as even simple with∣drawing was so severely punished by severe Edicts of fyn∣ing, & other arbitrary punishments at first; what did it produce? did it awaken all Christs Ambassadours, now to appear for Christ, in this clear & clamant case of Con∣fessing Him, and the freedom & Purity of His Ordinances?

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Alas! the backwardness & bentness to backsliding, in a Superseding from the duties of that day, did make it evi∣dent, that now the Lord had in a great measure forsaken them, because they had forsaken Him. The standart of the Gospel was then fallen, and few to take it up. The Generality of Ministers & Professors both went & Con∣formed so far as to hear the Curats, contrary to many points of the Reformation formerly attained, contrare to their Covenant Engagments, and contrare to their oun princi∣ples & practice at that same time; scrupling and refusing to keep the Bishops visitations, and to Countenance their Discipline & power of Iurisdiction, because it was required as a Testification of their acknowledgment of, & Com∣plyance with the present Government, And yet not scrupl∣ing to Countenance their Doctrine & usurped power of Order required also by the same Law, as the same Test of the same Compliance & submission. Its strange that some yet doe plead for persisting in that same Complyance, after all the bitter Consequents of it. Other Ministers Lay al∣together by in their retired recesses, waiting to see what things would turn to: Others were hopeless, turned Far∣mers & Doctors: others more wyllie, staid at home, & Preached quietly in Ladies Chambe•••• But the faithful thought that this Tyrannical ejection did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or could not unminister them, so as they might not Prea•••••• Gospel where ever they were, as Ambassadours of 〈◊〉〈◊〉; but rather found themselves under an indispensible necessity to Preach the Gospel and witness for the freedom of their Ministry, and make full proof of it, in preaching in season & out of season: and thereupon as occasion offered preached to all such as were willing to hear; but at first only in private houses, and that for the most part at such times, when Sermons in pu∣blick surceased (a superplus of Caution.) But afterwards, finding so great difficulties and Persecutions for their house Meetings, where they were so easily attrapped, were constrained at last to keep their Meetings in the fields, with∣out shelter from cold, wind, snow, or rain. Where testifieing both practically & particularly against these U∣surpations on their Masters Prerogatives, and witnessing

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for their Ministerial freedom, contrary to all Law-Inter∣dictions, without any Licences or Indulgences from the Usurper, but holding their Ministry from Jesus Christ alone, both as to the Office & exercise thereof; they had so much of their Masters Countenance, & success in their la∣bours, that they valued neither hazards nor hardships, nei∣ther the contempt of pretended Friends, nor the Laws nor threatnings of Enemies, adjudging the penalty of death it self to Preachers at Field Conventicles as they called them. Now having thus overturned the Church Government, by in∣troducing Prelacy, to advance an absolute Supremacy; the effects whereof were either the Corruption, or Persecution of all the Ministrie, Encouragment of profanity & wicked∣ness, the enerease & advancment of Popery, Superstition, & Error, cruel impositions on the Conscience, and oppressions for Conscience sake, by the practices of cruel Supra-Spanish Inquisitions, and all manner of outcryes of outragious vio∣lence & villany: The King proceeds in his design, to per∣vert & evert the wel modelled & moderated Constitution of the State Government also, by introducing & advancing an Arbitrary Tyranny; the effects whereof were, an ab∣solute Mancipation of Lives & Liberties and estates unto his lust & pleasure, the utter subversion of Lawes, and absolute impoverishin•••• the people. For effectuating which, he first proc•••• lasting Imposition of intollerable Subsidies & Taxati••••, to impoverish that he might the more easily enslave the Nation; Next a further recogni∣zance of his Prerogative, in a subjection of persons, fortunes, & whole strength of the Kingdom to his absolute arbitre∣ment,

in a Levy of Militia of 20000 footmen, & 2000 horsemen sufficiently armed, with 40 dayes provision, to be ready upon the Kings call to march to any part of his Dominions, for opposing whatsoever invasion, or insurrection, or for any other service.
The first sprout∣ings of Tyrannie were cherished, by the cheerfull & stupid submission generally yeelded to these exorbitances; under which they who suffered most were inwardly Malecon∣tents, but there was no opposition to them by word or Action, but on the contrary, generally people did not so

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much as scruple sending out or going out as Militia-men: never adverting unto what this Concurrence was designed, & demanded, and given for; Nor what an accession it was, in the nature & influence of the mean it self, and in the sense & intention of the Requirers, unto a Confederacy for a Complyance with, and a Confirmation & strengthen∣ing of Arbitrary Tyrannie. After the fundamental consti∣tutions of both Church & State are thus razed & rooted up, to confirm this Absolute Power, he contrived to frame all inferior Magistrats according to his mould: And for this end appointed, that all persons in any publick Trust or Of∣fice whatsoever should subscribe a Declaration, renouncing & abjuring the Covenants; whereby Perjurie was made the chief & indispensible qualification, and Conditio sine qua non, of all that were capable of exercing any power or place in Church or State. But finding this not yet sufficient security for this unsettled settlement; because he wel un∣derstood, the people stood no ways obliged to acknowledge him but only according to the solemn Covenants, being the fundamental Conditions whereupon their Allegiance was founded (as amongst all people, the Articles mutually consented betwixt them and these whom they set over them, are the constituent fundamentalls of Government) and wel knowing, that he & his Associats, by violating these Conditions, had loosed the people from all subjection, to him, or any deriving power from him, whereby the people might justly plead, that since he had kept no Con∣dition they were not now obliged to him, he therefore contrived a new Oath of Allegiance to be imposed upon all in publick trust both in Church & State; wherein they are made to oblige themselves to that Boundless breaker of all Bonds Sacred & Civil, and his Successors also, without any reciprocal obligation from him to them, or any re∣served restriction, limitation, or qualification, as all hu∣mane Authority by Gods Ordinance must be bounded. Whereby the Swearers have by Oath homologated the overturning of the very Basis of the Government, making free people Slaves to the subverters thereof, betraying their native Brethren & posterity to the lust of Tyrannie, and

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have in effect as really as if in plain termes affirmed, that whatsoever Tyrannie shall command or do, either as to the overturning of the work of God, subverting of Reli∣gion, destroying of Liberty, or persecuting all the Godly to the utmost extremity, they shall not only stupidly endure it, but actively concur with it, and assist in all this Tyran∣nie. Alas there was no publick Testimony against this Trick, to bring people under the yoke of Tyrannie; except by some who suffered for Consciencious refusing it, while many others did take it, thinking to salve the matter by their pitiful quibleng senses, of giving Cesar his due. Where as this Cesar, for whom these Loyal Allegers plead, is not an ordinary Cesar, but such a Cesar, Nero, or Caligula, that if he got his due, it would be in another kind. Strange! can Presbyterians swear that Allegiance, which is substitute in the place of the broken & burnt Covenant? Or could they swear it to such a person, who having broken & buryed the Covenant, that he who had sworn it might have another right and another Allegiance than that of the Covenant, had then remitted to us all Allegiance founded upon the Covenant? However, having now prepared & furnished himself with Tools so qualified for his purpose, in Church & State, he prosecutes his Persecution with such fervour & fury, rage & revenge, impositions & oppressions, and with armed formed force, against the faithful following their duty in a peaceable manner, without the least shadow of Contempt even of his abused Authority, that at length in the year 1666, a small party were compelled to go to defensive armes. Which, whatever was the desire of the Court (as it is known how desirous they have been of an Insurrection, when they thought themselves sure to sup∣press it, that they might have a vent for their Cruelty; and how one of the Brothers hath been heard say, that if he might have his wish, he would have them all turn Rebells and go to armes.) Yet it wa no predetermined design of that poor Handful. For Sir Iames Turner, pursuing his cruel orders in Galoway, sent some Souldiers to apprehend a poor old man; whom his neighbours compassionating, intreated the Souldiers to loose him as he lay bound, but were answered with drawen

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Swords and necessitated to their own defence: In which they relieve the man, and disarm the Souldiers, and further attacqued some others oppressing that Countrey, disarming 10 or 12 more, and killing one that made resistence. Whereupon, the Countrey being alarmed, and fearing from sad experience Sir Iames would certainly avenge this affront upon the whole Country, without distinction of free & unfree, they gather about 54 horsemen, march to Drumfreis, take Sir Iames Turner Prisoner, and disarm the Souldiers, without any more violence. Being thus by Providence engaged without any hope of retreat, and gett∣ing some Concurrence of their Brethren in the same Condition, they come to Lanerk, where they renew the Covenant; and thence to Pentland hills: where, by the holy Disposal of God, they were routed, many killed, and 130 taken Prisoners, who were treated so treacher∣ously & truculently, as Turks would have blushed to have seen the like. Hence now on the one hand, we may see the Righteousness of God, in leaving that Enemy to Him, whom we embraced, to make such avowed Discoveries of himself, without a blush to the world, and to scourge us with Scorpions that we nourished and put in his hands: And also, how justly at that time He left us into such a damp, that like Asses we couched under all burdens, and few came out to the help of the Lord against the Mighty, drawing on them Meroz's Curse, and the blood of their butchered Brethren; after we had sitten, & seen, and suf∣fered all things Civil & Sacred to be destroyed in our sight without resentment. And though the Lord, who called out these worthy Patriots who fell at Pentland to such an appearance for His Interests, did take a Testimony of their hands with acceptance by sufferings, and singularly Coun∣tenanced them in sealing it with their blood; yet He would not give success nor His presence to the Enterprise, but left them in a sort of infatuation, without Counsel & Conduct, to be a prey to devourers, that by a sad inadvertency they took in the Tyrants Interest into the State of the Quarrel. Which should have warned His people for the future, to have stated the Quarrel otherwise.

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II. By this time; and much more after, the King gave as many proofs & demonstrations of his being true to Anti∣christ, in minding all the promises & treaties with him, as he had of his being false to Christ, in all his Covenant En∣gagments with His People. For in this same year 1666. he, with his dear & Royal Brother the Duke of York, con∣trived, countenanced, & abetted, the burning of London, evident by their employing their Guards to hinder the People from saving their oun, and to dismiss the Incen∣diaries the Papists, that were taken in the fact. The Com∣mittee, appointed to cognosce upon that business, traced it fo far, that they durst go no further, unless they would arraign the Duke, & charge the King, and yet before this it was enacted as Criminal for any to say the King was a Papist. But having gained so much of his design in Scot∣land; where he had established Prelacy, advanced Tyranny to the hight of Absoluteness, and his Supremacy almost beyond the reach of any additional supply, yea above the Popes oun Claim, and had now brought his only opposites, the few faithful Witnesses of Christ, to a Low pass; he went on by Craft as wel as Cruelty, to advance his oun in promoting Antichrists Interest. And therefore, having gotten the Supremacy devolved upon him by Law (for which also he had the Popes dispensation, to take it to him∣self for the time, under promise to restore & surrender it to him, as soon as he could attain his end by it, as the other Brother succeeding hath now done) he would now exert that usurped power, and work by infnaring policy to effectuate the end which he could not do by other means. Therefore, seeing he was not able to suppress the Meetings of the Lords people for Gospel Ordinances, in house & fields, but that the more he laboured by violent courses the greater & more frequent they grew; he fell upon a more Craftie device, not only to overthrow the Gospel and suppress the Meetings, but to break the faithful, and to divide, between the Mad-cap & the Moderate Fanaticks (as they phrased it) that he might the more easily destroy both; to confirm the usurpation, and to settle people in a sinful silence & stupid submission to all the Incroachments made

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on Christs Prerogatives, and more effectually to over∣turn what remained of the Work of God. And, knowing that nothing could more fortifie the Supremacy than Mi∣nisters their homologating & acknowledging it; Therefore he offerd the first Indulgence, Anno 1669. Signifying in a Letter, dated that year Iune 7. His gracious pleasure was, to appoint so many of the outed Ministers,

as have lived peaceably & orderly, to return to preach & exercise other functions of the Ministrie, in the Paroch Churches where they formerly served (provided they be vacant) and to allow Patrons to present to other vacant Churches, such others of them as the Council should approve: That all who are so Indulged, be enjoyned to keep Presbytries, and the Refusers to be confined within the bounds of their paroches: And that they be enjoined not to admitt any of their neighbour Paroches unto their Commu∣nions, nor Baptize their Children, nor marry any of them, without the allowance of the Minister of the Paroch, and if they Countenance the people deserting their oun Paroches, they are to be silenced for shorter or longer time, or altogether turned out, as the Council shall see cause: And upon Complaint made & verified, of any Seditious discourse or expressions in the Pulpit, uttered by any of the Ministers, they are immediatly to be turned out, and further punished according to Law: And seeing by these orders, all Pretences for Conventickles were taken away, if any should be found hereafter to Preach without Authority, or keep Conventickles, his Pleasure is, to proceed with all severity against them, as Seditious persons & Contemners of Authority.
To salve this in point of Law (because it was against former Lawes of their oun) and to make the Kings Letter the supreme Law afterwards, and a valid ground in Law, where upon the Council might proceed, & enact, and execute what the King pleased in Matters Ecclesiastick; he therefore caused frame a formal Statutory Act of Supre∣macy, of this Tenor.
That his Maj. hath the supreme Authority & Supremacy over all Persons and in all Caus∣es Ecclesiastick, within his dominions, and that by

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virtue thereof, the ordering & disposal of the external Government of the Church, doth properly belong to him & his successors, as an Inherent right to the Croun: And that he may settle, enact, & emitt such Constitu∣tions, Acts, & Orders, concerning the Administrating therof, and Persons employed in the same, and con∣cerning all Ecclesiastical Meetings & Matters, to be proposed & determined therein; as he in his Royal wisdom shall think fit: which Acts, Orders, & Constitutions, are to be observed & obeyed by all his Maj. Subjects, any Law, act, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.
Where upon, accordingly the Council, in their Act Iuli. 27. 1669. do nominate several Ministers, and appoint them to Preach,
and exercise the other functions of the Mi∣nistrie, at their respective Churches there specified, with Consent of the Patrons. The same day also they conclude & enact the forementioned Restrictions,
conform to the Kings Letter above rehearsed, And ordain them to be in∣timat to every person, who is by Authority foresaid allowed the exercise of the Ministrie. These Indulged Ministers, having that Indulgence given only upon these termes, that they should accept these Injunctions, and having received it upon these termes also (as an essential part of the bargain & Condition, on which the Indulgence was granted & accepted, as many following Proclamations did expressly declare) do Appoint Mr Hutcheson, one of the number, to declare so much;
In Acknowledging his Maj. favour & Clemency, in granting that Liberty, after so long a restraint; And however they had received their Mini∣strie from Jesus Christ, with full Prescriptions from Him for regulating them therein, yet nothing could be more refreshing on earth to them, than to have free Liberty for the exercise of their Ministrie, under the Protection of Lawful Authority: And so they purposed to be have themselves, in the discharge of the Ministrie, with that wisdom that became faithful Ministers, and to de∣mean themselves towards Lawful Authority, notwith∣standing of their known judgment in Church affairs, as wel becometh Loyal subjects; And their prayer to God

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should be, that the Lord should bless his Maj. in his person & Government, and the Council in the publick administration, and especially in the Pursuance of his Maj. mind in his Letter, wherein his singular modera∣tion eminently appears.
—Afterwards they issued out Proclamations, reinforcing the punctual observation of the forementioned Injunctions, and delivered them into the Indulged. In the mean time, though Cruel Acts & Edicts were made against the Meetings of the Lords people, in houses & the fields, after all these Midianitish wyles to suppress them; such was the presence of the Lord in these Meetings, and so powerful was His Countenance & Concurrence with the Labours of a few, who laid out themselves to hold up the Standart of Christ; that the num∣ber of Converts multiplyed dayly, to the praise of free Grace, and to the great encouragment of the few hands that wrestled in that Work, through all humane discourag∣ment. Therefore King & Council was put to a new shift, which they supposed would prove more effectual: To wit, because there was a great number of Non-conformed Ministers not yet Indulged, who either did or might hereafter hold Conventickles, therefore, to remeed or pre∣vent this in time coming, they appoint & ordain them to such places where Indulged Ministers were settled, there to be confined with allowance to Preach as the Indulged should employ them; thinking by this means to incapaci∣tate many to hold Meetings there or elswere: And to these also they give injunctions & restrictions to regulate them in the exercise of their Ministrie. And to the end that all the outed Ministers might be brought under restraint, and the Word of God be kept under bonds, by another Act of Council they Command, that all other Ministers (not Disposed of as is said) were either to repair to the Pa∣roch Churches where they were, or to some other Pa∣roches where they may be ordinary hearers, and to declare & condiscend upon the Paroches where they intend to have their Residence. After this they assumed a Power, to Dispose of these their Curats as they pleased, and transport them from place to place; whereof the only ground was

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a simple Act of Council, the Instructions alwayes going along with them, as the constant Companion of the Indul∣gence▪ By all which it is apparent; what ever these Mini∣sters alledge, in vindication of it to cover its deformity, in their Balmes to take away its Stink, and in their Surveyes to gather Plaisters to scurf over its Scurveyness, viz. that it was but the removal of the Civil restraint, And that they entered into their places by the Call of the People (a meer mock pre∣tence for a Prelimited imposition, whereby that Ordinance of Christ was basely prostituted & abused) And that their Testimony & Protestation was a Salvo for their conscience (a meer Outopian fancy▪ that the Indulgers with whom they bargained never heard of, otherwise, as they did with some who were faithful in testifying against their Encroach∣ments, they would soon have given them a Bill of Ease) It cannot be denyed, that that doleful Indulge••••e, both in its Rise, Contrivance; Conveyance, Grant, & Acceptance, End & Effects, was a Grievous Encroachment upon the Princely Prerogative of Jesus Christ the only Head of the Church; whereby the usurpers Supremacy was Homolo∣gated; bowed to▪ complyed with, strengthened & esta∣blished▪ the Cause & Kingdom of Christ betrayed, His Churches Priviledges surrendered, His Enemies harde∣ned, His Friends stumbled, and the Remnant rent & ru∣ined; in that it was granted & deduced from the Kings Supremacy, and conveyed by the Council; in that, ac∣cording to his pleasure, he gave and they received a Li∣cence & warrant, to such as he nominated & Elected and judged fit & qualified for it, and fixed them in what parti∣cular Paroch he pleased to assign, under the notion of a Confinment, in that he imposed and they submitted to restrictions in the exercise of their Ministry, in these par∣ticular Paroches, inhibiting to Preach elswhere in the Church; And with these restrictions, he gave and they received instructions to regulate & direct them in their functions: All which was done without Advice or Con∣sent of the Church: And thereupon they have frequentlie been called & coveened before the Counci, to give ac∣ount of their Ministerial exercise, and some of them sen∣tenced,

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silenced, & deposed for alledged disobedience. This was a manifest Treason against Christ, which involved many in the actual guilt of it that day, and many others who gaped after it & could not obtain it, and for more at that time & since in the guilt of Misprision of Treason, in passing this also without a witness. Thus, in holy judge∣ment, because of our Indulging & Conniving at the usurper of Christs Throne, He left a great part of the Mi∣nisters to take that wretched Indulgence; and another part, instead of remonstrating the wickedness of that deed, have been left to palliate, & plaister, & Patronize it, in keeping up the Credit of the King & Councils Curats, wherein they have shewed more zeal, than ever against that wicked In∣dulgence. Yet the Lord had some Witnesses, who prettie early did give significations of their resentment of this dis∣honour done to Christ, as Mr William Weer, who having got the Legal Call of the People, and discharging his duty honestly, was turned out; And Mr Iohn Burnet, who wrote a Testimony directed to the Council, shewing why he could not submit to that Indulgence, inserted at large in the History of the Indulgence; Where also we have the Testi∣mony of other ten Ministers, who drew up their Reasons of Non-Complyance with such a snare; And Mr Alexan∣der Blair, who, upon occasion of a Citation before the Council for not observing the 29 of Maij, having with others made his appearance, and got new Copies of In∣structions presented to them, being moved with zeal and remembering whose Ambassadour he was, told the Coun∣cil plainly, that he could receive no Instructions from them in the exercise of his Ministry, otherwise he should not be Christs Am∣bassadour but theirs, and herewith lets their Instructions drop out of his hand, knowing of no other Salv or manner of Testifying for the Truth in the Case؛ for which he was im∣prisoned, & died under Confinement. But afterwards, the Lord raised up some more explicite Witnesses against that defection. All this Trouble was before the year 1673. About which time, finding this device of Indulgences proved so steadable for his Service in Scotland, he was induced to try it also in England; which he did almost with the same or

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like success, & producing the same effects of defection, se∣curity, & unfaithfulness. The Occasion was upon his wars with the Dutch: Which gave another demonstrative disco∣very of his Treacherie & Popish perfidie, in breaking League with them, and entering into one with the French, to de∣stroy Religion & Liberty in Britain:

Wherein the King of France assures him an Absolute Authority over his Par∣liaments, and to reestablish the Catholick Religion in his Kingdoms of England Scotland & Ireland; to Compass which it was necessary first to abate the pride & power of the Dutch, and to reduce them to the sole Province of Holland, by which means the King of England should have Zeland for a retreat in case of need, and that the rest of the Low Countries should remain to the King of France, if he could render himself Master of it. But to return to Scotland.
While by the forementioned Device, he thought he had utterly suppressed the Gospel in house & field Meetings, he was so far disappointed, that these very means & Machins by which he thought to bury it, did chiefly contribute to its revival. For, when by Persecution many Ministers had been chased away by illegal Law-Sen∣tences, many had been banished away, and by their en∣snaring Indulgences many had been drawen away from their duty, and others were now sentenced with Confinements & Restraints, if they should not choose & fix their residence where they could not keep their Quiet & Conscience both; they were forced to wander and disperse through the Country, and the People being tired of the cold & dead Curats, and wanting long the Ministrie of their old Pa∣stors, so longed & hungered after the Word, that they be∣hoved to have it at any rate cost what it would; which made them entertain the dispersed Ministers more earnestly, and encouraged them more to their duty. By whose En∣deavours, through the mighty power & presence of God, and the Light of His Countenance now shining through the Cloud, after so fatal & fearful a darkness that had over∣clouded the Land for a while, with such a resplendent brightness, that it darkened the Prelatick Locusts, and made them hisse and gnash their tongues for pain, and dazeled

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the eyes of all Onlookers; the Word of God grew exceed∣ingly, and went through at least the Southern borders of the Kingdom like lightning, or like the Sun in its Meri∣dian beauty; discovering so the Wonders of Gods Law, the Mysteries of His Gospel, and the Secrets of His Co∣venant, and the Sins & Duties of that day, that a nume∣rous issue was begotten to Christ, and His Conquest was Glorious, Captivating poor slaves of Satan, and bringing them from his power unto God, and from darkness to Light. O! who can remember the Glory of that Day, without a melting heart, in reflecting upon what we have lost, and let go, and sinned away, by our Misimprove∣ments? O that in that our day we had hearkened to His voice, and had known the things that belonged to our peace! A day of such power, that it made the People, even the bulk & body of the People, willing to come out and venture, upon the greatest of hardships and the greatest of hazards, in pursuing after the Gospel, through Mosses & Moors, & inaccessible Mountains, Summer & Winter, through excess of heat & extremity of cold, many dayes & night-journeyes; even when they could not have a probable expectation of escaping the Sword of the wilderness, and the barbarous fury of bloody Burrio's raging for their prey, sent out with orders to take & kill them, it being now made Criminal by Law, especially to the preachers & Convocaters of those Meetings. But this was a day of such power, that nothing could daunt them from their duty, that had tasted once the sweetness of the Lords pre∣sence at these persecuted Meetings. Then had we such Humiliation-dayes for personal & publick Defections, such Communion-dayes even in the open fields, and such Sabbath-Solemnities, that the places where they were kept might have been called Bethel, or Peniel, or Bochim, and all of them Iehovah-Shammah; wherein many were truly Converted, more Convinced, and generally all Reformed from their former immoralities: That even Robbers, Thieves, and Profane Men, were some of them brought to a saving sub∣jection to Christ, and generally under such restraint, that all the severities of heading & hanging &c. in a great many

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years, could not make such a Civil Reformation, as a few dayes of the Gospel, in these formerly the Devils Terito∣ries, now Christs Quarters, where His Kingly Standart was displayed. I have not Language to lay out the inex∣pressible Glory of that day: But I will make bold to say two things of it, first, I doubt if ever there was Greater dayes of the Son of Man upon the Earth since the Apostolick times, than we enjoyed for the space of Seven years at that time: And next, I doubt, if upon the back of such a light∣some day there was ever a blacker night of darkness, de∣fection, division, & confusion, and a more universal im∣pudent Apostasie, than we have seen since. The world is at a great loss, that a more exact & complete account demonstrating both these, is not published, which I am sure would be a fertile Theme to any faithful pen. But this not being my scope at present, but only to deduce the steps of the Contendings of Christs Friends & His Enemies, I must follow the threed of my Narration. Now when Christ is gaining Ground by the preached Gospel in plenty, in pu∣rity, & power, the Usurpers Supremacy was like to stag∣ger, and Prelacy came under universal Contempt, in so much that several Country Curats would have had but scarce half a dozen of hearers, and some none at all. And this was a General Observe that never failed, that no sooner did any poor Soul come to get a serious sense of Religion, and was brought under any real Exercise of Spirit about their Souls Concerns, but as soon they did fall out with Prelacy and left the Curats. Hence to secure what he had possessed himself of by Law, and to prevent a dangerous Paraxisme which he thought would ensue upon these Commotions, the King returned to exerce his innate Tyranny, and to emit terrible Orders, and more terrible Executioners, & bloody Emissaries, against all Field Meetings: which, after long patience▪ the people at length could not endure; but being first chased to the Fields, where they would have been content to have the Gospel with all the inconve∣niences of it, and also expelled from the Fields, being re∣solute to maintain the Gospel, they resolved to defend it & themselves by Armes. To which, unavoidable necessity

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in unsupportable extremity did constrain them, as the only remaining remedy. It is known, for several years they met without any Armes, where frequently they were disturbed & dispersed with Souldiers some killed others wounded, which they patiently endured without Resistence: At length the Ministers that were most in hazard, having a Price set upon their heads to be brought in dead or alive, with some attending them in their wanderings, understanding they were thus appointed for death, judged it their duty to pro∣vide for the necessary defence of their lives from the vio∣lence of their Armed Assaulters. And as Meetings increased, diverse others came under the same hazard, which enforced them to endeavour the same remedy, without the least in∣tention of prejudice to any. Thus the number of Sufferers increasing, as they joyned in the Ordinances at these perse∣cuted Meetings, found themselves in some probable Capa∣city to defend themselves and these much endeared & pre∣cious Gospel Priviledges, & to preserve the Memory of the Lords great Work in the Land, which to transmit to poste∣rity was their great design. And they had no small encou∣ragment to endeavour it, by the satisfying sweetness & com∣fort they found in these Ordinances, being perswaded of the justness of their Cause, and of the groundlessness of their Adversaries quarrel against them: And hereunto also they were incited & prompted, by the palpableness of the Ene∣mies purposes to destroy the Remainder of the Gospel, by extirpating the Remnant that professed it. Wherefore in these circumstances, being redacted to that strait, either to be deprived of the Gospel or to defend themselves in their Meetings for it; And thinking their turning their backs upon it for hazard, was a cowardly deserting duty, and palpable breach of Covenant-Engagments, abandoning their greatest Interest, They thought it expedient, yea ne∣cessary, to carry defensive Armes with them. And as for that discouragment from the difficulty & danger of it, be∣cause of their fewness & meanness, it did not deter or daunt them from the endeavour of their duty; when they consi∣dered, the Lord in former times was wont to oune a very small party of their Ancestors, who in extremity jeoparded

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their lives in defence of Reformation against very potent & powerful Enemies: These now ouning the same Cause, judged themselves obliged to run the same hazard, in the same circumstances, and to follow the same method, & durst not leave it unessayed, leaving the event to God: considering also, that not only the Law of Nature & Na∣tions doth allow self defence from unjust violence, but also the indissoluble obligation of their Covenants, to maintain & defend the true Religion & one another in pro∣moving the same, made it indispensible to use that en∣deavour, the defect of which through their former supine∣ness gave no small encouragment to the Enemies: They considered also what would be the consequence of that War, declared against all the Faithful of te Land with a displayed banner, prosecuted with fire & word, and all acts of horrid hostility, published in printed Proclama∣tions, & written in Characters of blood by barbarous soul∣diers, so that none could enjoy Gospel Ordinances dis∣pensed in Purity, but upon the hazard of their lives: And therefore, to prevent & frustrate these effects, they en∣deavoured to put themselves in a posture. And hereunto they were encouraged, by the constant experience of the Lords countenancing their endeavours in that posture, which alwayes proved successful for several years, their enemies either turning their backs without disturbance, when they observed them resolve defence, or in their as∣saultings repulsed: So that there was never a Meeting which stood to their defence, got any considerable harme thereby. Thus the Lord was with us while we were with Him, but when we forsook Him then He forsook us, and left us in the hands of our enemies. However, while Meet∣ings for Gospel Ordinances did continue, the wicked Rulers did not cease from time to time to encrease their numerous ands of Barbarous Souldiers, for suppressing the Gospel in these field-Meetings. And for their Mainti∣nance, they imposed new wicked & arbitrary Cesses & Taxations, professedly required for suppressing Religion & Liberty, banishing the Gospel out of the Land, and pre∣serving & promoting his Absoluteness over all Matters &

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Persons Sacred & Civil: Which, under that tentation of great suffering threatened to Refusers, and under the dis∣advantage of the silence & unfaithfulness of many Mini∣sters, who either did not condemn it or pleaded for the peaceable payment of it, many did comply with it then, and far more since. Yet at that time there were far more Recusants, in some places, (especially in the Western Shires) than Complyers: And there were many of the Ministers that did faithfully declare to the people the sin of it; Not only from the illegality of its imposition, by a convention of overawed and prelimited States; but from the nature of that imposed Complyance, that it was a sin∣ful transaction with Christs declared Enemies, a strengthen∣ing the hands of the wicked, an Obedience to a wicked Law, a Consenting to Christs Expulsion out of the Land, and not only that, but (far worse than the sin, of the Ga∣darens) a formal Concurrence to assist His Expellers, by maintaining their force, a hiring our Oppressours to de∣stroy Religion & Liberty; And from the fountain of it, an Arbitrary power domineering over us, and oppressing & overpressing the Kingdoms with intollerable exactions That to pay it, it was to entail slaverie on the posterity; And from the declared end of it, expressed in the very Nar∣rative of the Act, viz: to levy & maintain forces for suppres∣sing & dispersing Meetings of the Lords people, and to shew unanimous affection for maintaining the Kings Su∣premacy as now established by Law; which designs he re∣solved, and would be capacitate by the Granters to effec∣tuate by such a Grant, which in effect, to all tender Consciences, had an evident tendency to the exauctorating the Lord Christ, to maintain Souldiers to suppress His Work, & murder His Followers, yet all this time Mini∣sters & Professors were unite, and with one soul & shoul∣der followed the Work of the Lord, till the Indulged▪ being dissatisfied with the Meetings in the fields, whose Glory was like to overcloud & obscure their beds of ease, and especially being offended at the freedom & faithful∣ness of some, who set the Trumpet to their mouth, and shewed Iacob his sins & Israel his transgressions impartially without a clock or cover, they began to make a faction

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among the Ministers, and to devise how to quench the fervour of their zeal who were faithful for God. But the more they sought to extinguish it, the more it brake out and blazed into a flame. For Several of Christs Am∣bassadours, touched & affected with the affronts done to their Princely Master by the Supremacy and the Indulgence its Bastard brood & brat, began after long silence to discover its iniquity, and to acquaint the people how the Usurper had invaded the Mediators Chair, in taking upon him to depose; suspend, silence, plant & transplant His Mini∣sters, where & when & how he pleased, and to give forth warrants & Licences for admitting them, with Ca∣nons & Instructions for regulating them in the exercise of their Ministrie, and to arraign & censure them at his Courts for delinquencies in their Ministry; pursuing all to the death who are faithful to Christ, and maintain their Loyaltie to His Lawes, and will not prostitute their Con∣sciences to his lusts, and bow doun to the Idol of his Su∣premacy, but will oune the Kingly Authority of Christ. Yet others, and the greater number of dissenting Mini∣sters, were not only deficient herein, but defended them, joyned with them, and (pretending prudence & preven∣tion of Schisme) in effect homologated that deed and the practice of these Priests Ezek. 22. 26. teaching & advising the people to hear them, both by precept, and going along with them in that Erastian Course: And not only so, but condemned & censured such who preached against the sin∣fulness thereof, especially in the first place, Worthy Mr Walwood, who was among the first Witnesses against that defection, and Mr Kid, Mr King, Mr Cameron, Mr Do∣nald Cargil &c. who sealed their Testimony afterwards with their blood; yet then even by their Brethren were loaden with the reproachful Nicknames of Schismaticks, blind Zeaots, Isuits &c. But it was alwayes observed, as long as Ministers were faithful in following the Lord in the way of their duty, Professors were fervent, And un∣under all their Conflicts with Persecuters▪ the courage & zeal of the lovers of Christ was blazing, and never out-braved by all the enemies boastings to undertake brisk Ex∣ploits:

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which from time to time they were now and then essaying, till defection destroyed, and division diverted their zeal against the Enemis of God, who before were alwayes the object against which they whetted the edge of their just Indignation. Especially the insulting insolency & insolent villanie of that publick Incendiarie, the Arch-Prelate Sharp, was judged intollerable by ingenuous Spi∣rits; because he had treacherously betrayed the Church & Nation, and being imployed as their delegate to oppose the threatened introduction of Prelacy, he had like a per∣jured Apostate and perfidious Traitor advanced himself into the place of Primate of Scotland, and being a member of Council he became a chief Instrument of all the Persecu∣tion, and main Instigator to all the bloody violence & cruelty that was exerced against the people of God; by whose means, the letter sent doun to stop the shedding of more blood after Pentland was kept up, until several of these Martyrs were Murdered. Therefore in Iulij 1668. Mr Iames Mitchel thought in his duty to save himself, de∣liver his Brethren, and free the Land of the violence of that beast of prey, and attempted to cut him off: which failing, he then escaped, but afterwards was apprehend∣ed; and being moved by the Councils Oath, and Act of Assurance promising his life, he made Confession of the fact: Yet afterwards for the same he was arraigned be∣fore the Justiciary, and the Confession he made was brought in against him, and witnessed by the perjured Chancellour Rothes, and other Lords, contrare to their Oath & Act produced in open Court, to their indeleble infamy: whereupon he was tortured, condemned, & executed. But Justice would not suffer this Murder to pass long unrevenged, nor that Truculunt Traitor, Iamos Sharp the Arch-Prelat, who was the occasion & cause of it, and of many more both before & after, to escape remark∣able punishment; the severity whereof did sufficiently compense its delay, after ten years respite, wherein he ceased not more and more to pursue, persecute, & make havock of the Righteous for their duty, until at length he received the just demerit of his perfidie, perjury, aposta∣sie,

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sorceries, villanies, and murders, Sharp arrowes of the Mighty & coals of Iuniper. For upon the 3. of May 1679. several worthy Gentlmen, with some other men of Cou∣rage & zeal for the cause of God and the good of the Coun∣try, executed righteous Judgement upon him in Magu Moor near St Andrews. And that same moneth, on the Anniversary day May 29. the Testimony at Rutherglen was Published, against that abomination of celebrating an An∣niversary day, kept every year for giving thanks for the setting up an usurped power, destroying the Interest of Christ in the Land—And angainst all sinful & unlawful Acts, emitted & executed, published & prosecuted against our Covenanted Refor∣mation. Where also they burnt the Act of Supremacy, the Declaration, the Act Recissory &c. in way of retaliation for the burning of the Covenants. On the Sabbath following Iun. 1. A field Meeting for the Worship of God near to Loudoun-hil was assaulted by Graham of Claverhouse, and with him three troups of horse & Dragoons, who had that morning taken an honest Minister and about 14 Country∣men out of their beds and carried them along with them as Prisoners to the Meeting in a Barbarous manner. But by the good hand of God upon the Defendents, they were re∣pulsed at Drumclogg and put to flight, the Prisoners reliev∣ed, about 30. of the Souldiers killed on the place, and 3. of the Meeting, and several wounded on both sides. There∣after the people retreating from the pursuit, consulted what was expedient in that juncture, whether to disperse themselves as formerly, or to keep together for their ne∣cessary defence. The result was, that considering the craft & cruelty of those they had to deal with, the sad con∣sequents of falling into their hands now more incensed than ever, the evil effects that likely would ensue upon their separation, which would give them access to make havock of all; they judged it most safe in that extremity for some time not to separate. Which Resolution, com∣ing abroad to the ears of others of their Brethren; deter∣mined them incontinently to come to their Assistence, considering their necessity, and their oun lyableness to the same common danger, upon the account of their endea∣vours

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of that nature elsewhere to defend themselves, being of the same judgement for maintaining of the same Cause, to which the were bound by the same Covenants, and groaning under the same burdens; they judged therefore that if they now with held their assistence in such a strait, they could not be innocent of their Brethrens blood, nor found faithful in their Covenant: To which they were en∣couraged with the Countenance & success the Lord had given to that Meeting, in that defensive Resistence. This was the Rise & Occasion of that Appearance at Bothwel∣bridge, which the Lord did in His Holy Soveraignty confound, for former Defections by the means of Divi∣sion, which broke that litle Army among themselves, be∣fore they were broken by the Enemy. They continued together in amiable & amicable peace for the space of 8 or 9 dayes, while they endeavoured to put out & keep out every wicked thing from amongst them, and adhered to the Rutherglen-Testimony, and that short Declaration at Glasgow confirming it;

Representing their present purposes & endeavours, where only in vindication & defence of the Reformed Religion—as they stood obliged thereto by the National & Solemn League & Covenant, and the Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins & Engagment to du∣ties; Declaring against Popery, Prelacy, Erastianisme, and all things depending thereupon.
Intending hereby to comprehend the defection of the Indulgence, to witness against which all unanimously aggreed: Until the Army encreasing, the Defenders & Daubers of that defection, some Ministers and others, came in who broke all, and upon whom the blood of that Appearance may be charged. The occasion of the breach was, first, When in the sense of the obligation of that Command, when the host goeth forth against thine enemies, keep thee from every wicked thing, an over∣ture was offered to set times apart for humiliation for the publick sins of the Land, according to the practice of the Godly in all ages before engaging their enemies, and the laudable precedents of our Ancestors; that so the Causes of Gods wrath against the Nation might be enquired into & confessed, and the Lords Blessing, Counsel, & Conduct

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to & upon present Endeavours, might be implored. And accordingly the Complying with abjured Erastianisme, by the acceptance of the ensnaring Indulgence, offered by & received from the Usurping Rulers, was condescended upon among the rest of the grounds of fasting & humilia∣tion, so seasonably & necessarely called for at that time. The Sticklers for the Indulgence refused the overture, upon politick considerations, for fear of offending the Indulged Ministers & Gentlemen, and provoking them to withdraw their Assistence. This was the great Cause of the division, that produced such unhappy & destructive effects. And next, whereas the Cause was stated before according to the Covenants, in the Rutherglen-Testimony & Glasglow-De∣claration, wherein the Kings Interest was waved; These Dividers drew up another large paper (called the Hamil∣toun-Declaration) wherein they assert the Kings Interest, ac∣cording to the third Article of the Solemn League & Co∣venant. Against which the best affected contended, & pro∣tested they could not in Conscience put in his Interest in the State of the Quarrel, being now in stated opposition to Christs Interests, and inconsistent with the meaning of the Covenant, and the practices of the Covenanters, and their own Testimonies; while now he could not be de∣clared for as being in the defence of Religion & Liberty, when he had so palpably overturned & ruined the Work of Reformation, and oppressed such as adhered thereunto, and had burnt the Covenant &c. Whereby he had loosed the people from all obligation to him from it. Yet that con∣trary faction prevailed, so far as to get it published in the name of all: whereby the Cause was perverted & betrayed, and the former Testimonies rendered irrite, and the In∣terest of the publick Enemy epsoused. Finally, the same day that the Enemy approached in sight, And a conside∣rable advantage was offered to do execution against them, these Loyal Gentlemen hindered & retarded all Action, till a Parly was beat, and an Address dispatched to the Duke of Monmouth, who then commanded his Fathers Army. By which nothing was gained, but free Liberty given to the Enemies to plant their Canon, and advance

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without interruption. After which, in the Holy All-over∣ruling Providence of God, that poor handful was signally discountenanced of God, deprived of all Conduct, divested of all Protection, and laid open to the raging Sword, the just punishment of all such tamperings with the Enemies of God, and espousing their Interest, and omitting humi∣liation for their own and the Lands sins. About 300 were killed in the Fields, and 1000. and upwards were taken Prisoners, stripped, and carried to Edinburgh, where they were kept for a long time in the Gray Friers Church∣yard, without shelter from cold or rain. And at length had the tentation of an insnaring bond of peace: Wherein they were to acknowledge that Insurrection to be Rebellion▪ and oblige themselves never to rise in Armes against the King, nor any commissionate by him, and to live peaceably &c. Which, through fear of threatened death, and the unfaithfulness of some, and the impudence of other Ministers that per∣swaded them to take it, prevailed with many: Yet others resolutely resisted, judging it to imply a condemning of their duty, an abandoning of their Covenant-Engagments, wherein they were obliged to duties inconsistent with such bonds, and a voluntary binding up their hands from all oppositions to the declared War against Christ, which is the native sense of the peace they require, which can never be entertained long with men so treacherous. And there∣fore upon Principles of Reason & Conscience they refused that pretended Indemnity, offered in these termes. Never∣theless the most part took it: and yet were sentenced with banishment; and sent away for America as well as they who refused it; And by the way, (a few excepted,) pe∣rished in Shipwrack: whose blood yet cries both against the Imposers, and the Perswaders to that bond.

III. This fearful & fatal stroke at Bothuel, not only was in its immediate effects so deadly, but in its consequents so destructive, that the decaying Church of Scotland, which before was begining to revive, was then cast into such a swoon that she is never like to recover to this day. And the Universality of her Children, which before espoused her Testimony, was after that partly drawn by Craft, and

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partly drawn by Cruelty, from a Conjunction with their Brethren in prosecuting the same, either into an open de∣fection to the Contrary side, or into a detestable indiffe∣rency & neutrality in the Cause of God. For first of all the Duke of Monmouth, whose nature more averse from Cruelty than the rest of that Progeny made him pliable to all suggestions of wicked policy, that seemed to have a shew or smoothness & lenity, procured the emission of a pretended Indemnity, attended with the foresaid Band of pace for its Companion. Which were dreadful snares, catching many with flatteries, and fair pretences of fa∣vours, fairded over with curious words and cozening names of living peaceably &c. while in the mean time a most deadly & destructive thrust (as it were under the fifth rib) because most secret, was intended against all that was left remaining of the Work of God undestroyed, and a bar put upon all essayes to revive or recover it by their oun con∣sent, who should endeavour it. This Course of Defection carried away many at that time: And from that time, since the taking of that bond of peaceable living, there hath been an universal preferring of peace to Truth, and of ease to duty. And the generality have been left to swallow all baits, tho the hook was never so discernible, all those ensnaring Oaths & Bonds imposed since, which both then & since People were left to their oun determination to chuse or refuse; many Ministers refusing to give their Advice when required & requested thereunto, and some not being a∣shamed or afraid to perswad the People to take them. The Ministrie then also were generally insnared with that band∣ed Indulgence, the pretended benefit of that Indemnity, which as it was designed so it produced the woful effect of propagating the defection, and promoting the division, and laying them by from their duty & Testimony of that day, which to this day they have not yet taken upon their former ground. For when a Proclamation was emitted, inveighing bitterly against field Meetings, and absolutely interdicting all such for the future under highest pain, but granting Liberty to Preach in houses upon the termes of a Cautionary bond given for their living peaceably: yet exclud∣ing

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all these Ministers who were suspected to have been at the late Rebellion; and all these who shall afterward be admitted by Non-Conforme Ministers: And certifying, that if ever they shall be at any field Conventickle, the said In∣demnity shall not be useful to such Transgressours any manner of way: And requiring security, that none under the colour of this favour continue to preach Rebellion. Though there seems to be enough in the Proclamation it self to have scarred them from this scandalous snare, yet a Meeting of Ministers at Edinburg made up of Indulged, avowed Ap∣plauders of the Indulgence, or underhand Approvers and favourers of the same, and some of them old Publick Reso∣lutioners, assuming to themselves the name of a General Assembly, yea of the Representative of the Church of Scotland, voted for the Acceptance of it. And so formally transacted & bargained upon base, dishonest, & dishonour∣able termes with the Usurper, by consenting & com∣pacting with the People to give that bond, Wherein the People upon an humble Petition to the Council,

obtaining their Indulged-Minister do bind & oblige—that the said—shall live peaceably. And in order thereto to pre∣sent him before his Maj. Privie Council, when they shall be called so to do; And in case of failzie in not pre∣senting him, to be Lyable to the summe of 6000 Merks.
Whereby they condemned themselves of former un∣peaceableness, and engaged to a sinful Peace with the ene∣mies of God, and became bound and fettered under these bonds to a forbearance of a Testimony, and made answer∣able to their Courts, and the People were bound to pre∣sent them for their duty. The sinfulness, scandalousness, & inconveniences of which transactions, are abundantly demonstrated by a Treatise thereupon, intituled, The Banders disbanded. Nevertheless many embraced this new bastard Indulgence, that had not the benefit of the former brat, of the same Mother the Supremacy, and far more consented to it without a witness, and most of all did some way homologate it, in preaching under the sconce of it: Declining the many reiterated & urgent Calls of the ealous Lovers of Christ, to come out and maintain the

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Testimony of the Gospel in the open fields, for the honour of their Master and the freedom of their Ministrie. Where∣upon, as many poor People were stumbled and jumbled into many confusions, so that they were so bewildered & bemisted in doubts & debates, that they knew not what to do, and were tempted to question the Cause formerly so servently contended for against all opposition, then so simply abandoned, by these that seemed sometimes valiant for it, when they saw them consulting more their oun ease than the Concerns of their Masters Glory, or the ne∣cessity of the poor people hungering for the Gospel, and standing in need of Counsel in time of such abounding snares, whereby many became a prey to all tentations: So the more zealous & faithful, after several Addresses, Calls, & Invitations to Ministers, finding themselves deserted by them, judged themselves under a necessity to discounte∣nance many of them, whom formerly they followed with pleasure; and to resolve upon a pursuit & prosecution of the duty of the day without them, and to provide them∣selves with faithful Ministers, who would not shun for all hazards to declare the whole Counsel of God. And accord∣ingly through the tender Mercy of God, compassionating the exigence of the People, the Lord sent them first Mr Richard Cameron, with whom after his serious solicitation his Brethren denied their concurrence, and then Mr Donald Cargil; who, with a zeal & boldness becoming Christs Ambassadours, maintained & prosecuted the Testi∣mony, against all the Indignities done to their Master and wrongs to the Cause, both by the encroachments of Ad∣versaries and defections of their declining Brethren. Wherein they were signally countenanced of their Master; And the Lords Inheritance was again revived with the showres of the Gospels blessings, wherewith they had been before refreshed; and enlightened with a Glance & Glimpse of resplendent brightness, immediatly before the obscurity of this fearful night of darkness that hath succeeded. But as Christ was then displaying His beauty, to His poor de∣spised & persecuted People; so Antichrist began to blaze his bravery, in the solemn & shameful reception of his

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harbinger, that Pimp of the Romish whore, the Duke of York. Who had now pulled off the Mask, under which he had long covered his Antichristian Bigotrie, through a trick of his brother, constrained by the Papists importunity, and the necessity of their favour, & recruit of their Coyn, either to declare himself Papist, or to make his brother do it: whereby all the locusts were engaged to his Interest, with whom he entered into a Conspiracy and Popish Plot, as was discovered by many infallible evidences, and con∣fessed by Coleman his Secretary, to Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey; for which, lest he should witness against him, when Cole∣man was apprehended, that Gentleman was cruelly mur∣dered by the Duke of Yorks contrivance & command. Yet for all the demonstrations of his being a Bigot Papist, that he had long given unto the world, it is known what some suffered for saying, that the Duke of York was a Papist and being forced to leave England he was come to Scotland to promots Poperie & Arbitrary Government. However, thô the Parlia∣ment of England, for his Poperie & Villanie, and his plot∣ing & pursuing the destruction of the Nation, did vote his Exclusion; yet degenerate Scotland did receive him in great pompe & pride. Against which, the forementioned faith∣ful witnesses of Christ did find themselves obliged to testify their just resentment, and to protest against his succeeding to the Croun, in their Declaration published at

Sanquhair, Iune 22. 1680. Wherein also they Disoune Charles Ste∣wart, as having any Right, Title, or Interest in the Croun of Scotland or Government thereof, as being fore∣aulted several years since, by his perjurie & breach of Covenant, Usurpation on Christs Prerogatives, and by his Tyranny & breaches in the very Leges regnandi in matters Civil—And declare a war with him, and all the men of these practices—homologating the Testi∣mony at Rutherglen,
and disclaiming that declaration at Hamiltoun. This Action was generally condemned by the body of lurking Ministers, both for the matter of it, and the unseasonableness of it, and its apparent unfeasibleness, being done by a handful so inconsiderable, for number, strength, or significancy. But as they had very great & im∣portant

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reasons to disclaim that Tyrants Authority, hinted in the Declaration it self, and hereafter more fully vindi∣cated: so the necessity of a Testimony against all the Tyran∣nical Encroachments on Religion & Liberty, then current & encreasing; and the sin & shame of shifting & delaying it so long, when the Blasphemous Supremacy was now ad∣vanced to its summity; the Churches Priviledges all over∣turned; Religion and the Work of Reformation trampled under foot; the Peoples Rights & Liberties destroyed, and Lawes all subverted; and no shadow of Government left but arbitrary Absoluteness, obtruding the Tyrants will for Reason, and his Letter for the Supreme Law (witness the Answer which one of the Council gave to another, obje∣cting against their Proceedings as not according to Law, what devil do ye talk of Law? have not we the Kings Letter for it?) And all the ends of Magistracy wholly inverted; while inno∣cent & honest People were grievously oppressed in their persons, Consciences, & Estates; And Perjuries, Adulteries, Idolatries, and all impieties were not only connived at, but countenanced as badges of Loyaltie, and manifest & mon∣strous Robbries & Murders Authorized, Judgement turned into gall, and the fruit of Righteousness into hemlock; do justify its Seasonableness: And the ends of the Declaration, to keep up the Standart of the Gospel, and maintain the Work of Reformation, and preserve a Remnant of faithful Adhe∣rers to it; the nature of the Resolution declared, being only to endeavour to make good & maintain their Revolt, in op∣position to all who would pursue them for it, and reinforce them to a subjection to that yoke of slaverie again; and the extremity of danger & distress that party was in, while declar∣ed & pursued as Rebells, and intercommuned & interdicted of all supplie & solace, being put out of their oun, and by Law precluded of the harbour of all other habitations, and so both for safety & subsistence compelled by necessity to concur & keep together, may alleviate the Censure and stop the Clamour of its unfeasibleness. But thô it is not the prudence of the managment, but the justness of the Action, that I would have vindicated from obliquies; yet it wanted nothing but success to justify both, in the conviction of many that made much outcry against it.

In these dangerous 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

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in his maintainance of the true Covenanted Religion—which homage they cannot now require upon the ac∣count of the Covenant, which they have renounced & disclaimed; and upon no other ground we are bound to them—the Croun not being an inheritance, that pas∣seth from Father to son without the Consent of Tenants—(3) Of the hope of their returning from these Courses: Whereof there is none, seeing they have so often declared their purposes of persevering ill thein, And suppose they should dissemble a repentance—suppo∣sing also they might be pardoned, for that which is done—from whose guiltiness the Land cannot be cleansed, but by executing Gods righteous Judgements upon them—yet they cannot now be believed, after they have violated all that humane wisdom could devise to bind them. Upon these accounts they reject that King, and those associate with him in the Government—and declare them henceforth no lawful Rulers, as they had declared them to be no lawful Subjects—they having destroyed the established Religion, overturned the fun∣damental Lawes of the Kingdom, taken away Christs Church-Government, and changed the Civil into Ty∣rannie, where none are associate in partaking of the Go∣vernment, but only these who will be found by Justice guilty of Criminals—And declare they shall, God giving power, set up Government & Governours ac∣cording to the Word of God, and the qualifications re∣quired Exod. 18. vers. 20.—And shall not commit the Government—to any single person, or lineal suc∣cession, being not tyed as the Jewes were to one single family—and that kind being lyable to most inconve∣niences, & aptest to degenerate into Tyrannie—And moreover, that these men set over them shall be en∣gaged to Govern Principally, by that Civil & Judicial Law (not that which is any way Typical) given by God to His people of Israel—as the best so far as it goes, being given by God—especially in matters of life & death—and other things, so far as they reach, and are consistent with Christian Liberty—exempting

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Divorces & Polygamie—6. Seeing the greatest part of Ministers, not only were defective in Preaching a∣gainst the Acts of the Rulers for overthrowing Religion —but hindered others also who were willing, and censured some that did it—and have voted for accep∣tation of that Liberty, founded upon & given by virtue of that blaspemously arrogate & Usurped power—and appeared before their Courts to accept of it, and to be enacted & authorized their Ministers—whereby they have become the Ministers of men, and bound to be answerable to them as they will—And have preach∣ed for the lawfulness of paying that Tribute, de∣clared to be imposed for the bearing doun of the true Worship of God—And advised poor Prisoners to subscribe that Bond—which if it were universally sub∣scribed —they should close that door, which the Lord hath made use of in all the Churches of Europe, for casting off the yoke of the whore—and stop all regress of men, when once brought under Tyrannie, to re∣cover their Libertie again.—They declare they nei∣ther can nor will hear them &c. nor any who encouraged & strengthened their hands, and pleaded for them, and trafficqued for union with them. 7. That they are for a standing Gospel Ministrie, rightly chosen & rightly or∣dained —& that none shall take upon them the Preach∣ing of the Word &c. unless called & ordained there∣unto —And whereas Separation might be imputed to them, they refell both the malice, and the ignorance of that Calumnie—for if there be a Separation, it must be where the change is; and that was not to be found in them, who were not separating from the Com∣munion of the true Church, nor setting up a New Mi∣nistrie, but cleaving to the same Ministers & Ordi∣nances, that formerly they followed, when others have fled to new wayes, and a new Authority, which is like the old piece in the new Garment. 8. That they shall defend themselves in their Civil, Natural, & Di∣vine Rights & Liberties—And if any assault them, they shall look on it as a declaring a war, and take all

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advantages that one enemie does of another—but trou∣ble
and injure none but those that injure them—This is the Compend of that Paper which the Enemies seised and published, while it was only in a rude draught, and not polished, digested, nor consulted by the rest of the Community: yet, whether or not it was for their ad∣vantage so to blaze their oun baseness in that Paper truly represented, I leave it to the Reader to judge: or, if they did not thereby Proclaim their oun Tyrannie, and the In∣nocency & honesty of that people, whom thereby they were seeking to make odious; but in effect inviting all Lovers of Religion & Liberty to Sympathise with them, in their difficulties & distresses there discovered. However that poor Partie continued together in a posture of defence, without the Concurrence or Countenance of their Cove∣nanted Brethren, who staid at home, and left both them to be murdered and their Testimony to be trampled upon, untill the 22. of Iulij 1680. Upon the which day they were attacqued at Airsmoss, by a strong party of about 120 horse well armed, while they were but 23 horse and 40 foot at most; and so fighting valiantly were at length rout∣ed, not without their Adversaries Testimony of their being resolute men: Several of Zions precious Mourners, and faithful Witnesses of Christ, were killed; and among the rest, that faithful Minister of Christ, Mr Richard Ca∣meron sealed & fulfilled his Testimony with his blood. And with others, the valiant and much honoured Gentleman, David Hackstoun of Rathillet, was after many received wounds apprehended, brought in to Edinburgh; and there, resolutely adhering to the Testimony, and disouning the Authority of King & Council, and all their Tyrannical Judicatories, was cruelly murdered, but countenanced eminently of the Lord. Now remained Mr Donald Car∣gil, deprived of his faithful Collegue, destitute of his Brethrens concurrence, but not of the Lords Counsel & Conduct; by which he was prompted & helped to prose∣cute the Testimony, against the Universal Apostasie of the Church & Nation, Tyranny of Enemies, Backsliding of Friends, and all the wrongs done to his Master on

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all hands. And considering, in the zeal of God, and sense of His holy Jealousie provoked and threatening wrath a∣gainst the Land; for the sins especially of Rulers; who had arrived to the hight of Heaven-daring Insolence in all wick∣edness, in which they were still growing & going on with∣out control; That notwithstanding of all the Testimonies given against them, by publick Preachings, Protestations, and Declarations, remonstrating their Tyranny and dis∣ouning their Authority; yet not only did they still persist in their sins & scandals, to make the Lords fierce Anger break forth into a flame, but were ouned also by Professors, not only as Magistrats, but as members of the Christian & Protestant Church; And that, however both the defensive armes of men had been used against them, and the Chri∣stian armes of Prayers, and the Ministerial weapon of Preaching, yet that of Ecclesiastical Censure had not been Authoritatively exerted against them: Therefore, that no Weapon which Christ allowes His Servants under His Standart to manage against His Enemies might be wanting, thô he could not obtain the Concurrence of his Brethren to strengthen the solemnity & formality of the Action; yet he did not judge that defect, in this broken Case of the Church, could disable his Authority nor deur the duty, but that he might and ought to proceed to Excommunication. And accordingly, in September—1680. at the Torwood, he excommunicated some of the most scandalous and Prin∣cipal Promoters & Abettors of this Conspiracy against Christ, as formally as the present Case could admit: After Sermon upon Ezek. 21. 25, 26, 27. And thou profane wicked Prince of Israel, whose day is come &c. He had a short and pertinent discourse on the nature, the subject, the causes, and the ends of Excommunication in general: And then de∣clared, that he was not led out of any private Spirit or passion to this Action, but constrained by Conscience of duty and zeal to God to stigmatize with this brand, and wound with the Sword of the Lord, these Enemies of God that had so Apostatized, rebelled against, mocked, despised & defied Our Lord, and to declare them as they are none of His, to be none of ours. The persons excom∣municated,

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and the Sentence against them, was given forth as followes—I being a Minister of Iesus Christ, and having Authority and Power from Him, do, in His Name & by His Spirit, excommunicat, cast out of the true Church, and de∣liver up to Satan, Charles the Second, King &c. The Sen∣tence was founded upon these grounds,

declared in the pronunciation thereof (1) for his high mocking of God, in that after he had acknowledged his own sins, his fathers sins, his mothers Idolatrie—yet had gone on more avow∣edly in the same than all before him. (2) for his great Perjurie, in breaking & burning the Covenant. (3) for his rescinding all Lawes for establishing the Reforma∣tion, and enacting Lawes contrarie thereunto. (4) for commanding of Armies to destroy the Lords people. (5) for his being an Enemy to true Protestants, & helper of the Papists, and hindering the execution of just Lawes against them. (6) for his granting Remissions & Pardons for Murderers, which is in the power of no King to do, being expressly contrare to the Law of God. (7) for his Adulteries, and dissembling with God & man—Next by the same Authority, and in the same name, he excom∣municated Iames Duke of York, for his Idolatrie, and setting it up in Scotland to defile the Land, and entycing & encouraging others to do so:
Not mentioning any other sins, but what he scandalously persisted in in Scotland &c. With several other rotten Malignant Enemies, on whom the Lord hath rati••••ed that Sentence since very remarkably, whose sins & punishments both may be read more visiblie in the Providences of the time, than I can record them. But about this time, when amidst all the abounding defections & divisions of that dark & dismal hour of tentation, some in zeal for the Cause were endea∣vouring to keep up the Testimony of the day, in an ab∣straction from Complying Ministers; Others were left (in holy judgment, to be a stumbling block to the Generation hardening them in their defections, and to be a beacon to the most zealous to keep off from all unwarrantable ex∣cesses) to fall into fearul extravagances and delirious & damnable delusions, being overdriven with ignorant &

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blind zeal into untroden paths, which led them into a labyrinth of darkness; when as they were stumbled at many Ministers their unfaithfulness, so through the deceit of Sa∣than and the hypocrisie of his Instruments, they came to be offended at Mr Cargil his faithfulness, who spared neither left hand declensions nor right hand extremes, and left him and all the Ministers; not only disouning all Com∣munion with those that were not of their way, but exe∣crating & Cursing them; and kept themselves in desert places from all Company; where they persisted prodigiously in fastings, and singing Psalms, pretending to wonderful raptures & Enthusiasmes: and in fine, I. Gib with 4 more of them came to that hight of Blasphemy, that they burnt the Bible & Confession of Faith. These were the sweet singers, as they were called, led away into these delusions by that Impostor & Sorcerer Iohn Gib; who never encreased to such a number, as was then feared & reported, being within thirty & most part women: all which for the most part have been through Mercy reclaimed from that destructive way, which through Grace the Reproached Remnant, adhering to the foresaid Testimony, had alwayes an abhorrence of. Wherefore that ignorant & impudent Calumnie, of their Consortship with Gibs followers, is only the vent of vipe∣rous Envy. For they were the first that discovered them, and whose pains the Lord blessed in reclaiming them, and were alwayes so far from partaking with them, that to this day these that have come off from that way, and have offered the Confession of their scandal, do still complain of their over-rigid severity, in not admitting them to their select fellowships. To which may be added this undenyable Demonstration, that whereas the persecuing Courts of Inquisition did alwayes extend the utmost severity against the Ouners of this Testimony, yet they spared them: And the Duke of York, then in Scotland was so we pleased with Gib's Blasphemies, that he favoured him extraordinarly, and freely dismissed him. This was a cloudy & dark day, but not without a burning & shining light as long as that faithful Minister of Christ, Mr Donald Cargil, was follow∣ing the Work of the Lord; who shortly after this finished

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his Testimony, being apprehended with other two faithful & zealous Witnesses of Christ, Mr Walter Smith, and Mr Iames Boog, who with 2 more were altogether, at Edinburgh 27. Iulij 1681. Crouned with the Glory of Martyrdom. Then came the day of the Remnants vexation, trouble, darkness & dimness of anguish, wherein who so looked unto the Land could see nothing but darkness & sorrow, & the light darkened in the Heavens thereof, wherein neither Star nor Sun appeared for many dayes, and poor People were made to grope for the wall like the blind, and to stumble in noon day as in the night. While the Persecution advanced on the one hand, a violent spait of defection carried doun the most part of Ministers & Professors before it, driving them to Courses of sinful & scandalous Con∣formings with the times Corruptions, Compearings be∣fore their Courts, Complyings with their Commands, paying of theis Cesses and other Exactions, Taking of their Oaths & Bonds, and countenancing their Prelatical Church-Services, which they were ashamed to do before. And thereupon on the other hand the Divisions and Con∣fusions were augmented, and poor people that desired to cleave to the Testimony were more & more offended and stumbled at the Ministers, who either left the Land in that clamant Call of the peoples necessity, or lurk∣ed in their own retirements, and declined the duty of that day, leaving people to determine themselves in all their perplexities, as a prey to all tentations. But the tender Pastor and Shepherd of Israel, who leads the blind in the way they know not, did not forsake a Remnant in that hour of tentation who kept the Word of His Patience; and as He helped those that fell into the hands of Enemies to Witness a good Confession, so He strength∣ened the zeal of the remaining Contenders, against all the Machinations of Adversaries to crush it, and all the Methods of Backsliding Professors to quench it. And the mean which most effectually preserved it in life & vigour, was the expedient they fell upon of Corresponding in Ge∣neral Meetings, to consult, informe, & confirme one another about common duties in common dangers, for preserva∣tion

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of the Remnant from the destruction & contagion of the times, and propagation of the Testimony: Laying doun this General Conclusion for a foundation of Order, to be observed among them in incident doubtful cases, & emergent Controversies, that nothing relative to the publick, and which concerns the whoe of their Community, be done by any of them, without harmonious consent sought after & rationally waited for, and sufficient deliberation about the best means & manner. In the mean time, the Duke of York, as Commissioner from his brother, held a Parliament wherein he presided, not only against all righteous Lawes that make a bloody & avowed Papist incapable or such a Trust, but against the Letter of their oun wicked Lawes, whereby none ought to be ad∣mitted but such as swear the Oaths; yet not only was he con∣stitute in this place, but in the whole Administration of the Government of Scotland without the taking any Oath, which then he was Courting to be entailed Successor and heir of the Croun thereof; And for this n made many pretences of flatteries, and feigned expressions of love, & of doing many acts o kindness to that ancient Kingdom, as he hath made many dissembling protestations of it since, for carrying on his oun Popish & Tyrannical designs: But what good-will he hath born to it, not only his acts & actings written in Characters of the blood of Innocents declare, but his words do witness, which is known when and to whom he spake, when he said, It would never e wel til all on the southside of Forth were made a hunting field. However in that Parliament, anno 1681. he is chiefly intended, and upon the matter by a wicked Act declared legal & lineal Suc∣cessor, and a detestable Blasphemous and Self-contra∣dictory Test is framed for a Pest to Consciences, which turned out of all places of Trust any that had any remaining measure of common honesty; And when some was speak∣ing of a bill for securing Religion in case of a Popish Prince, the Dukes answer was notable, that whatsoever they intended or prepared against Papists should light upon others: whereby we may understand what measures we may expect, when his designs are ripe. And to all the Cruel Acts then & before made against the People of God, there was one superadded

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regulating the execution of all the rest, whereby at one dash all Civil & Criminal Justice was overthroun, and a foundation laid for Popish-Tyranny, that the Right of Iu∣risdiction both in Civil & Criminal Matters is so inherent in the Croun, that his Maj. may judge all Causes by himself, on any other he thinks fit to commissionate. Here was Law for Com∣missionating Souldiers to take away the lives of Innocents, as was frequently exemplified afterwards, and may serve hereafter for erecting the Spanish Inquisition to murder Pro∣testants when he thinks fit to commissonate them. Against which wicked Encroachments on Religion & Liberty, the Faithful thought themselves obliged to emit a Testimony: And therefore published a Declaration at Lanerk, Iannary 12. 1682. Confirming the preceeding at Sanquhair, and adding reasons of their Revolt from the Government of Charles the Second. 1.

For cutting off the neck at one blow of the noble Constitution of Church & State, and in∣volving all Officers in the Kingdom in the same perjurie with himself. 2. For exalting himself into a sphere ex∣ceeding all measures Divine & humane, Tyrannically obtruding his will for a Law in his arbitrary Letters, so that we are made the reproach of Nations, who say, we have only the Law of Letters instead of the Letter of the Law. 3. For his constant adjourning & dissolving Parliaments at his pleasure. 4. For his arrogantly arrogated Supre∣macy in all Causes Civil & Ecclesiastick, and oppressing the Godly for Conscience & duty. 5. For his exorbitan Taxings, Cessings, & grinding the faces of the poor, dilapidating the rights & revenues of the Croun, for no other end but to imploy them for keeping up a Borthel▪ rather than a Court. 6. For installing a successor, such an one (if not worse) as himself, contrare to all Law, Reason, & Religion, and framing the Test &c. And in end offer to prove, they have done nothing in this against our Ancient Lawes, Civil or Ecclesiastick—but only endeavoured to extricate themselves from under a Tyran∣nous yoke, and to reduce Church & State to what they were in the year 1648 and 1649.
After which Declara∣tion, they were more condemned by them that were at

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ease than ever, and very untenderly dealt with; being without any previous admonition reproached, accused, and informed against, both at home & abroad, as if they had turned to some wild & unhappy Course. For which Cause, in the next General Meeting, they resolved to delegate some of their number to forreign Churches, on purpose to vindicate themselves from these Calumnies, and to represent the justness of their Cause, and the sadness of their Case, and provoke them to some Sympathie abroad, which was denied at home: And withall to pro∣vide for a Succession of Witnesses, who might maintain the Testimony, which was then in appearance interrupted, except by Martyrdom & Sufferings. Therefore by that means having obtained access for the instruction of some young men, at an University in the United Provinces, in process of time, Mr Iames Renwick received Ordination there, and came home to take up the Standart of his Master, upon the ground where it last was left, and to carry on the Testimony against all the oppositions of that day, from open Enemies & backsliding Professors: an undertaking more desperate-like than that of Unus Atha∣nasius contra totam orbem, and like that of a Child threshing doun a Mountain. Which yet against all the outragious rage of ravening Enemies, ranging, ravaging, hunting, chasing, pursuing after him, through all the touns, villages, cottages, woods, moors, mosses, & mountains of the Country; and against all the scourge of tongues, con∣tradictions, condemnations, obliquies, reproaches, & cruel mockings of incensed Professors, and generally of all the Inhabitants of the Land; he was helped to prose∣cute, by many weary wanderings, travells, and travers∣ings through the deserts, night & day, Preaching, Con∣fering, & Catechising, mostly in the cold winter nighrs in the open fields: until, by the Blessing of God upon his labours, not only was the faithfull Witnessing Remnant that joyned in the Testimony, further cleared confirmed, and encouraged, and their number much encreased by the coming in and joyning of many others to the fellow∣ship of their settled Societies; but also many others, in 〈4 pages missing〉〈4 pages missing〉

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but as soon as it grew dark, all hope lost, they dispers∣ed, every man shifting for himself; only a few keep∣ing together all the nixt day, had a skirmage with a Party of the Enemies, in which they slew the Captain, and about 12 or some moe of his men, and afterwards they dispersed themselves also. The Enemies, searching the Country, gleaned up the E. of Argyle himself, Col. Rumbol an Englishman, Mr Thomas Archer Minister, Gawin Russel, an David Law, who were all condemned & exe∣cute at Edinburgh, and many others who were banished to America: and about some 20 in the Highlands, who were hanged at Inerarie. In England, the D. of Monmouths expe∣dition, though it had more action, yet terminated in the same success, the loss of many hundred lives, many killed in Battel: And afterwas, by the mercy of the Duke of York▪ several hunderds in the West of England were carried about and hanged before the door of their oun habitations; and to make his Captains sport by the way, according to the number of the hours of the day, when the murdering hu∣mour came in their head, so many of the poor Captives were hanged, as a prodigious monument of monstrous Crueltie. This was the Comencement of the present Ty∣rants Government. In the mean time, the Wanderers in Scotland, thô they did not associate with this Expedition upon the account of the too promiscuous admittence of persons to trust in that Partie, who were then and since have discovered themselves to be Enemies to the Cause, and because they could not espouse their Declaration as the State of their Quarrel, being not concerted according to the constant Plea of the Scots Covenanters, and for other reasons given in their late Vindication: yet against this Usurpation of a bloody Papist, advancing himself to the Throne in such a manner, they published another De∣claration at Sanquhair, May 28. 1685.

Wherein, Ap∣proving & adhering unto all their former Declarations, And considering that Iames Duke of York, a Profest & Excommunicate Papist, was proclaimed—To te∣stify their resentment of that deed, And to make it appear unto the world, that they were free thereof, by con∣currence

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or connivance; They Protest against the fore∣said Proclamation of Iames Duke of York as King: In regard that it is the choosing of a Murtherer to be a Go∣vernour, who hath shed the blood of the Saints—that it is the hight of Confederacy with an Idolater, for bidden by the Law of God—contrarie to the Declaration of the Gen. Ass. of the Church, Iulij 27. 1649. And con∣trary to many wholesome & laudable Acts of Parliament—and inconsistent with the safety, faith, Con∣science, & Christian Libertie of a Christian People, to chuse a subject of Antichrist to be their Supreme Magi∣strate—and to entrust an Enemy to the Work & People of God with the Interests of both: And upon many important grounds & reasons (which there they express) they Protest against the validity & Constitution of that Parliament, approving & ratifying the foresaid Proclamation—And against all kind of Poperie in General & Particular heads—as abjured by the Na∣tional Covenant, and abrogated by Acts of Parliament—and against its entrie again into this Land, And eve∣ry thing that doth or may directly or indirectly make way for the same: Disclaiming likewise all Sectarianisme, Malignancy,
and any Confederacy therewith.—This was their Testimony against Poperie in the season thereof: which thô it was not so much condemned as any former Declarations, yet neither in this had they the Concurrence of any Ministers or Professors; who as they had been silent, and omitted a seasonable Testimony against Prelacy, and the Supremacy, when these were introduced, so now also, even when this wicked Mysterie & Conspiracie of Poperie & Tyrannie, twisted together in the present designe of An∣tichrist, had made so great a progress, and was evidently brought above board, they were left to let lip this oppor∣tunity of a Testimony also, to the reproach of the declin∣ing & far degenerate Church of Scotland. Yea to their shame, the very rabble of ignorant People may be brought as a witness against the body of Presbyterian Ministers in Scotland, in that they testified their detestation of the first Erection of the Idolatrous Mass, and some of the souldie∣rie,

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and such as had no Profession of Religion, suffered unto death for speaking against Poperie and the designs of the King, while the Ministers were silent. And some of the Curats, and members of the late Parliament 1686. made some stickling against the taking away of the penal Statutes against Papists; while Presbyterians, from whom might have been expected greater opposition, were sleeping in a profound submission. I cannot without Confusion of Spi∣rit touch these obvious & dolorous reflections, and yet in candor cannot forbear them. However the Persecution against the Wanderers went on, and more cruel Edicts were given forth against them, while a relenting abatement of severity was pretended against other Dissenters. At length what could not be obtained by Law at the late Parliament for taking off the Statutes against Papists, was effectuated by Prerogative: and to make it pass with the greater appro∣bation, it was convoyed in a channel of pretended Cle∣mency, offering a sort of Liberty, but really introducing a licencious Latitude, for bringing in all future snares by tak∣ing off some former, as arbitrarly as before they were im∣posed, in a Proclamation dated Feb. 12. 1687. Granting,

by the Kings Soveraign Authority, Prerogative Royal, and absolute power, which all Subjects are to obey without re∣serve, a Royal Toleration, to the several Professors of the Christian Religion afternamed, with & under the several Conditions, restrictions, & limitations aftermention∣ed. In the first place, tolerating the Moderate Presbyte∣rians to meet in their private houses, and there to hear all such Ministers, as either have or are willing to accept of the Indulgence allanerly, and none other: And that there be nothing said or done contrare to the wel & peace of his reign, seditious or treasonable, under the highest pains these Crimes will import, nor are they to presume to build Meeting houses, or to use out-houses or barns—In the mean time its his Royal will & plea∣sure, that Field Conventicles, and such as Preach at them, or who shall any way assist or connive at them, shall be prosecute according to the utmost severity of Lawes made against them—In like manner tolerating the

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Quakers to meet & exercise in their forme, in any place or places appointed for their Worship—And by the same absolute power, foresaid, suspending, stoping, & disabling all Lawes or Acts of Parliament, Customs, or Constitutions against any Roman Catholick subjects—So that they shall in all things be as free in all respects as any Protestant subjects whatsoever, not only to exer∣cise their Religion, but to enjoy all Offices, benefices, &c. which he shall think fit to bestow upon them in all time coming—And cassing, annulling, & discharg∣ing all Oaths whatsoever, and Tests, and Lawes enjoyn∣ing them. And in place of them this Oath only is to be taken—I A. B. do ackowledge, testifie, & declare that Iames the Seventh &c. is rightful King & Supreme Gover∣nour of these Realms, and over all persons therein; And that it is unlawful for Subjects, on any Pretence or for any Cause whatsoever, to rise in Armes against him, or any Commission∣ated by him; and that I shall never so rise in Armes, nor as∣sist any who shall so do; And that I shall never resist his power or Authority, nor ever oppose this Authority to his person—but shall to the utmost of my power assist, defend, & maintain him, his heirs & lawful successors, in the exercise of their Absolute power & Authority against all deadly—And by the same absolute power giving his ful & ample In∣demnitie, to all the foresaid sorts of People, under the fore∣said restrictions.
Here is a Proclamation for a Prince: That Proclaims him in whose name it is emitted, to be the greatest Tyrant that ever lived in the world, and their Revolt who have disouned him to be the justest that ever was. For herein that Monster of Prerogative is not only ad∣vanced, paramount to all Lawes Divine & humane, but far surmounting all the lust, impudence, & insolence of all the Roman, Sicilian, Turkish, Tartarian, or Indian Ty∣rants that ever trampled upon the Liberties of Mankind; who have indeed demanded absolute subjectio, & surrender of their Lives, Lands, & Liberties at their pleasure, but never arrived at such a hight of arrogance as this does, to claim absolute obedience, without reserve of Conscience, Re∣ligion, Honour, or Reason; Not only that which igno∣rantly

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is called Passive, never to resist him, not only on any Pretence, but for any Cause, even thô he should com∣mand his Popish Ianizaries to murder & massacre all Pro∣testants, which is the tender mercy & burning fervent cha∣rity of Papists; but also of absolute Active obedience without reserve, to assist, defend, & maintain him in every thing, whereby he shall be pleased to exercise his absolute power, thô he should command to burn the Bible as well as the Cove∣nant (as already he applauded Iohn Gib in doing of it) and to burn and butcher all that will not go to Mass, which we have all grounds to expect will be the end of his Clemency at last. Herein he claims a power to command what he will, and obliging subjects to obey whatsoever he will command: A power to rescind, stop, & disable all Lawes; which unhinges all stabilitie and unsettles all the security of humane societie, yea extinguishes all that remains of natural Liberty: Wherein, as is wel observed by the Au∣thor of the

Representation of the threatening dangers impending over Protestants Pag. 53. It is very natural to observe, that he allowes the Government, under which we were born, and to which we were sworn, to be hereby subverted & changed, and that thereupon we are not only absolved & acquited from all Allegiance to him, but indispensably obliged, by the ties & engagments that are upon us, to apply our selves to the use of all means & endeavours against him, as an Enemy of the People & subverter of the legal Government.
But this was so gross, and grievously gripping in its restrictions, as to persons, as to the place, as to the matter allowed the Presbyterians in Preaching, that it was disdained of all; and therefore he behoved to busk it better, and mend the matter, in a Letter to the Council (the Supreme Law of Scotland) bearing date March 31. 1687. of this tenor—Whereas
we did recommend to yow to take care, that any of the Presbyterians should not be allowed to Preach, but such only as should have your Allowance for the same, and that they at the receiving the Indulgence should take the Oath contained in the Proclamation—These are therefore to let you know, that thereby we meant such

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of them as did not solemnly take the Test; but if never∣theless the Presbyterian Preachers do scruple to take the said Oath, or any other Oath whatsoever, and that you shall find it reasonable or fit to grant them or any of them our said Indulgence, so as they desire it upon these termes; It is now our will & pleasure—to grant them our said Indulgence, without being obliged to take the Oath, with power unto them to enjoy the benefite of the said Indulgence (during our pleasure only) or so long as yow shall find they behave themselves regularly & peaceably, without giving any cause of offence to us, or any in Authority or trust under us in our Go∣vernment.
—Thus finding the former Proposal not adequately apportioned to his design, because of its pal∣pable odiousness, he would pretend his meaning was mistaken (thô it was manifest enough) and mitigate the matter by taking away of the Oaths altogether, if any should scruple it; whereas he could not but know, that all that had sense would abhor it: yet it is clogged with the same restrictions, limited to the same persons, characterized more plainly and peremptorly, with an addition of Cau∣tions, not only that they shall not say or do any thing con∣trare to the wel & peace of his reign seditious or treason∣able; but also that they behave themselves regularly & peaceably without giving any cause of offence to him or any un∣der him; which comprehends lesser offences than sedition or treason, even every thing that will displease a Tyrant and a Papist, that is, all faithfulness in seasonable Duties or Testimonies. But at length lest the difformity & disparity of the Proclamation for the Toleration in Scotland, and the Declaration for Liberty of Conscience in England, should make his Pretences to Conscience suspect of disingenuity, and lest it should be said he had one Conscience for England and another for Scotland; therefore he added a third eke to the liberty, but such as made it still an ill favoured patched project to destroy Religion & true Liberty, in another Proclamation dated at Windsor, Iune 28. 1687. wherein he sayes—Taking into our Royal Consideration,
the sinistrous Interpretations, which either have or may

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be made of some Restrictions (mentioned in the last) we have thought fit by this further to declare, that we will Protect our Arch-bishops &c. And we do likewise, by our Soveraign Authority, Prerogative Royal, and Ab∣solute power, suspend, stop, & disable, all penal & San∣guinary Lawes; made against any for Non-conformity to the Religion established by Law in that our Ancient Kingdom—to the end, that by the Liberty thereby granted the peace & security of our Government in the practice thereof may not be endangered, we hereby straitly charge all our Loving subjects, that as we do give them leave to meet & serve God after their oun way, in private Houses, Chappels, or Places purposely hired or built for that use, so that they take care that nothing be Preach∣ed or taught, which may any way tend to alienate the hearts of our People from us & our Government, and that their Meetings be peaceably & publickly held, and all persons freely admitted to them, and that they do signify & make known to some one or more of the next Privie Councellors, Sheriffs, Stewards, Bailiffs, Justices of the Peace, or Magistrats of Burgh Royal, what place or places they set a part for these uses, with the names of the Preachers—provided alwayes that the Meetings be in houses, and not in the open fields; for which now after this our Royal grace & favour (which surpasses the hopes, & equalls the very wishes of the most zealously concerned) there is not the least shadow of execuse left: Which Meetings in the fields we do hereby strictly pro∣hibite & forbid, against all which we do leave our Lawes & Acts of Parliament in full force & vigour, notwith∣standing the premises; and do further command all our Judges, Magistrats, & Officers of forces, to prosecute such as shall be guilty of the said field Conventicles with the utmost rigour; for we are confident, none will after these Liberties & freedoms, given to all without reserve to serve God in their oun way, presume to meet in these Assemblies, except such as make a pretence of Religion to cover their treasonable designs against our Royal per∣son & the peace of our Government

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This is the Royal Charter for security of the Protestant Religion (intended to secure it so, that it shall not go much abroad again) in Lieu of all the Lawes, Constitutions, Oaths, & Covenants wherewith it was formerly confirm∣ed. This is the only patent which the Royal Dâties, the Moderate Presbyterians, have now received to ensure their enjoyment of it durante beneplacito, during his pleasure whose Faith is as absolute over all ties of promises, as his power from whence it flowes is over all Lawes; whose chiefest principle of Conscience is that no Faith is to be kept to Here∣ticks. Here is the Liberty which is said to surpass the hopes and equal the wishes of the most zealously concerned; holding true indeed of too many, whose hopes & wishes & zeal are terminate upon peace rather than Truth, ease rather than duty and their own things rather than the things of Christ; But as for the poor wild Wanderers, it some way answers their fears and corrosponds with their jealousies, who put the same interpretation upon it as on all the former Indul∣gences, Indemnities & Tolerations, proceeding from the same fountain & designed for the same sinistrous ends with this, which they look upon as more openly & obviously Anti-christian: and therefore, while others are rejoicing under the bramble-shadow of it, they think it a cause of weeping & matter of mourning, not because they do not share of the benefit of it, but because they are afraid to share of the Curse of it. For which cause, thô a freedom be pretended to be given, to all without reserve to serve God in their own way, they think it necessary to reserve to themselves the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free, and to serve Him in His Way thô interdicted by men, and to take none from Antichrist restricted with his reserves; And do look upon it as a Seasonable Testimony for the Cause of Christ, and the Interest of the Protestant Religion, and the Lawes & Liberties of the Country, all overturned & subverted by this Toleration, to keep their Meetings as in former times, in the open fields whither their Tyranny hath driven them. And let them call these Meetings covered & treasonable designs against the Government on pretence of Religion, I trust it shall be made evident in the Conviction of all that know Religion,

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that their designs are to preserve it, in opposition to the Tyranny that goes about all these wayes to suppress it. Though I must suspend the Reasons of their keeping their Meetings in the fields, till I come to discuss that Case in its oun place: Here I shall only say, none that is acquainted with their Circumstances, which are as dangerously stated as ever, by reason of the Constant Persecution of Cruel enraged Enemies incessantly pursuing them without re∣lenting, notwithstanding of all this pretence of Clemency & tenderness to Conscience, but may know they can nei∣ther have safety, secrecy, nor conveniency in houses for fear of their entrapping enemies, and none will blame them that after so many discoveries of their truculent treachery they dare not trust them: And besides, they think it sinful, scandalous, & inconvenient to seem to homologate this Toleration, the wickedness whereof they are convinced of, from these Reasons.

I. Considering the Granter in his personal Capacity, as to his Morals, they look upon him as a person with whom they cannot in Prudence communicate, in any transaction of that nature. First, because being in his Principles & practice professedly treacherous, yea obliged to be both per∣fidious & cruel by that Religion whereunto he is addicted, he cannot be trusted in the least concerns, let be those of such momentous consequence as this, without a stupid abandoning of Conscience, Reason, & Experience. Since both that known principle, that no Faith is to be kept to He∣reticks, which is espoused by all Papists, does to them justify all their lying dissimulations, equivocations, & treacheries imaginable; and that Lateran Canon, that en∣joyns Kings to destroy & exstirpate Hereticks under pain of excom∣munication, does oblige him to be cruel; besides what deep engagments he is known to be under by Oaths & Promises to the Pope, both in his exile, and while a subject, and since he came to the Croun; which make him to all Considering persons to be a person of that Character, whose deceitful dainties are not to be desired, and that when he speaketh fair is not to be beleeved, for there are seven abominations in his heart. Of which open & affronted Lies we have a

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sufficient swatch, both in his Proclamation for Scotland and Declaration for England; where he speaks of his con∣stant resolves of uniting the hearts of Subjects to God in Religion, & to their Neighbours in Christian Love, and that it never was his principle to offer violence to any mans Conscience, or use invinc∣ible necessity against any man on the account of his persuasion; and that their Property was never in any case invaded since his coming to the Croun; and that it hath been his constant sense & opinion, that Conscience ought not to to be constrained nor People forced in matters of meer Religion. To which, his uninterrupted endeavours to divide us from God and from on another, that he might the more easily destroy us, and his constant encroachments upon Lawes, Liberties, & Properties, and all Interests of men & Christians for Con∣science sake do give the lie manifestly. And it must be great blindness not to see, and great baseness willingly to wink at that double faced equivocation, in matters of meer Reli∣gion; by which he may elude all these flattering promises of tenderness, by excepting at the most necessary & indispens∣able duties, if either they be such wherein any other In∣terest is concerned beside meer Religion, or if their troubles sustained thereupon be not altogether invincible necessities. Hence the plain falsehood & doubleness of his Assertions as to what is past, may give ground to conclude his intend∣ed perfidie in the promises of what is future. Next, it is known what his Practices & Plots have been for the de∣struction of all honest & precious Interests; what a deep hand he had in the burning of London, in the Popish plot discovered, anno 1678. in the Murder of the Earle of Essex, yea in the Parricide committed upon his oun brother. By all which it appears, nothing is so abominable & barbarous which he hath not a Conscience that will swallow & digest without a scruple; and what he hath done of this kind must be but preparatory to what he intends, as meritorious to attone for these villanies. And in his esteem, and per∣suasion of Papists, nothing is thought more meritorious than to exstirpate the Protestant Religion, and destroy the Professors thereof. Therefore being such a person with whom in Reason no honest man could transact, for a

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tenure of the least piece of Land or house or any holding whatsoever, they dare not accept of his security or pro∣tection for so great an Interest, as the freedom & exercise of their Religion under the shadow of such a bramble. If it was the Shechemites sin & shame to strengthen a naughty Abimelech, and strengthen themselves under the shadow of his protection, much more must it be to take protection for Religion as wel as peace, from such a Monster of crueltie & treacherie. This were against their Testimony, and contrary to the Laudable Constitutions of the Church of Scotland, to take no Protections from Malignant Ene∣mies, as was shewed above in Montroses case. See Pag. 82. above.

II. Considering his Religion more particularly, they judge it unlawful so to bargain with him as this Accep∣tance would import. It is known he is not only a Papist, an Apostate Papist, and an Excommunicate Papist (as is re∣lated above) but a fiery Bigot in the Romish Religion, and zealous sworn votarie & vassal of Antichrist: who, as the Letter of the Iesuite from Liege lately published in print tells us, is resolved either to convert England to Poperie or die a Martyr, and again that he stiles himself a son of the Societie of Iesuites, and will account every injury done to them to be a wrong done against himself; being known to be under the conduct & guidance of that furious Order, yea and enrolled as a member of that Society. Which makes it the less to be wondered, that he should require absolute obedience without reserve, seeing he himself yeelds absolute obedience as wel as implicite faith, without reserve, to the Jesuites. Such a Bigot was Mary of England (as also his great Grandame of Scotland if she had got her will) And his Bigotrie will make him emulous of her Crueltie, as counting it a diminution of his glory, for such a Champion as he under Antichrists banner to come short of a womans enterprizes: Nor would the late King have been so posted off the stage, if his suc∣cessor were not to act more vigorously than he in this Tra∣gical design, to which this Toleration is subservient. He is then a Servant of Antichrist, and as such under the Me∣diators Malediction; yea in this respect is heir to his Grand∣fathers

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imprecation, who wished the Curse of God to fall upon such of his Posterity as should at any time turn Papists. How then can the Followers of the Lamb strike hands, be at peace, associate, confederate, or bargain with such a declared Enemy to Christ? Certainly the Scripture-Com∣mands of making no Covenant or League, interdicting entering into any affinity with the People of these abomi∣nations, and forbidding saying a Confederacy with them, do lay awful bonds on the Faithful to stand aloof from such. The People might have had Liberty of Conscience under the Assyrian Protection, when they were saying a Confe∣deracy with him, but in so doing they forefaulted the benefit of the Lord being a Sanctuary to them. To bargain therefore with such an one for a Toleration of Religion, were con∣trary to the Scriptures, contrary to the Covenants and Principles of the Church of Scotland, against Associations & Confederacies with such Enemies. See Gillesp. Useful Case of Conscience concerning Assoc. hinted Pag. 83. and more Head. 3. Arg. 1. But to accept of this Liberty as now of∣fered were a bargaining; for where there is a Giving & Receiving upon certain Conditions, where there are Demands & Complyance; Commands & Obedience, Promises & Relyance, Offers upon termes & Acquiescence in these termes, what is there wanting to a bargain, but the meer formality of Subscriptions? At least it cannot be denied, but the Addressers have bargained for it, and in the name of all the Accepters, which must stand as their deed also; if they do not evidence their resentment of such Presumption, which I do not see how they can, if they abide under the shadow thereof the same way as they do. I grant Liberty is very desirable, and may be taken & im∣proven from Enemies of Religion: And so do the Wander∣ers now take it & improve it to the best advantage, without receiving it by acquiescing in any termes. But such a Liberty as this was never offered without a destructive design, nor ever received without a destructive effect. It is one of the filthie flatteries found in the English Addresses, parti∣cularly that from Totness, that the present Indulger is like another Cyrus who proclaimed Liberty to the People of

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God Ezra. 1. But who sees not the disparity in every re∣spect? Cyrus at his very first entry into the Government did lay out himself for the Churches good; This man who speaks now so fair, his first work was to break our head and next to put on our hood, first to assert & corroberate his prerogative, and then by virtue of that to dispense with all Penal Lawes: It was foretold that Cyrus should deliver the Church at that time; But was it ever promised that the Church should get Liberty to advance Antichrist? or that Antichrist, or one of his Limbs, should be em∣ployed in the Churches deliverance, while such? The Lord stirred up the Spirit of Cyrus; Can it be said without blasphemy that the Lord stirred up this man, to contrive the introduction of Poperie by this Gate & Gap, except in a penal sense for judgment? Cyrus had a Charge to build the Lord a House, but this is not a Charge but a Grant or Licence, not from nor according to Gods Authority but mans, not to build Christ a House, but a Babel for Anti∣christ; and all this Liberty is but contrived as scaffolding for that Edifice, which when it is advanced then the scaffold∣ing must be removed.

3. Considering him in his Relation as a Magistrate, it were contrary to their Testimony so often renewed & ra∣tified, & confirmed with so many reasons, and sealed by so much blood, bonds, banishment, & other sufferings, to oune or acknowledge his Authority which is meer Usurpation & Tyrannie; in that by the Lawes of the Land he is incapable of Government, and that he hath neither given nor can give, without an hypocritical & damning cheat, the Oath & Security indispensibly required of him before & at his entry to the Government. Yet this Liberty cannot be Complyed with, without recognoscing his Au∣thority that he arrogates in giving it: Seeing he tenders it to all his good Subjects, and gives it by his Soveraign Authority, and to the end that by the Liberty thereby granted the peace & secu∣rity of the Government in the practice thereof may not be indangered; And in the Declaration to England, it is offered as an ex∣pedient to establish his Government on sach a foundation, as may make his Subjects happy, and unite them to him by inclination as

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well as duty; to which indeed the Acceptance thereof hath a very apt subserviency: seeing it implies, not only ouning of the Government out of Duty, but an union & joyning with it and him by inclination, which is a cordial Confe∣deracy with Gods enemie, and a cooperating to the esta∣blishment of his Tyrannie; that the peace & security thereof may not be endangered. And in his former Proclamation, he gives them the same security for their Rights & Proper∣ties, which he gives for Religion; And in the English De∣claration, addeth that to the perfect enjoyment of their Propertie, which was never invaded &c. Which to accept, were not only to take the security of a manifest lie, but to prefer the word of a man that cannot, must not, will not keep it (without going cross to his principles) to the Security of Right & Law which is hereby infringed, and to acknow∣ledge not only the Liberty of Religion, but the Right of Property to his grant: which when ever it is removed, there must remain no more Charter for it, but stupid slavery entailed upon Posterity, and pure & perfect Tyranny trans∣mitted to them. The sin & absurdity where of may be seen demonstrated Head. 2.

4, Considering the Fountain whence it flowes, they cannot defile themselves with it. In the English Declara∣tion, it flowes from the Royal will & pleasur which speaks a Domination Despotical & Arbitrary enough, but more gently expressed than in the Scots Proclamation; where it is refounded on Soveraign Authority, Prerogative Royal, and Absolute Power: Proclaiming by sound of Trumpet à Power Paramount to all Law, Reason, & Religion, and outvying the hight of Ottoman Tyranny▪ A Power which all are to obey without resrve: A power to Tolerate or Re∣strain the Protestant Religion, according to his Royal will or pleasure: An Absolute power which can not be limited by Lawes, nor most Sacred Obligations, but only regu∣lated by the Royal lust; whereby indeed he may suffer the Protestant Religion, but only precariously so long as he pleases, and until his Royal pleasure shall be to command the establishment of Poperie, which then must be complyed with without control. Whereby all the tenure that Pro∣testants

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have for their Religion, is only the Arbitrary word of an absolute Monarch, whose principles oblige him to break it, and his ambition to disdain to be a slave to it. Now the Acceptance of this Grant, would imply the re∣cognizance of this power that the Granter claims in grant∣ing it; which utterly disolves all Government, and all security for Religion & Liberty, and all the precious In∣terests of men & Christians: Which to acknowledge, were contrare to Scripture, contrary to Reason, and contrary to the Principles of the Church of Scotland, particularly the Declaration of the Gen. Ass. Iulij 27. 1649. See pag. 89. &c. and contrary to the Covenant.

5. Considering the Channel in which it is conveyed, they cannot Comply with it. Because it comes through such a Conveyance, as suspends, stops, & disables, all penal Lawes against Papists, and thereby everts all the Securities & legal Bulwarks that Protestants can have for the establish∣ment of their Religion; yea in effect leaves no Lawes in force against any that shall attempt the utter subversion of it, but ratiies & leaves in ful vigour all wicked Lawes & Acts of Parliament, against such as would most avowedly assert it; and stops & disables none of the most cruel & bloody Lawes against Protestants: for the most cruel are such as have been made against Field-Meetings, which are hereby left in ful force & vigour. Hence as he hath formally by absolute power suspended all Lawes made for the Pro∣tection of our Religion, so he may when he will dispense with all the Lawes made for its establishment; and those who approve the one by such an Acceptance, cannot dis∣allow the other, but must recognosce a power in the King to subvert all Lawes, Rights, & Liberties, which is contrare to Reason as wel as Religion, and a clear breach of the National & Solemn League & Covenants.

6. Considering the Ends of its Contrivance, they dare not have any accession to accomplish such wicked Pro∣jects, to which this Acceptance would be so natively sub∣servient. The expressed ends of this Grant are, to unite the hearts of his Subjects to him in Loyaltie and to their Neighbours in love, as in the former Proclamation; And that by the Liberty

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granted the peace & security of his Government in the practice thereof may not be endangered, as in the latter Proclamation; And to unite the Subjects to him by inclination as well as duty which he thinks can be done by no means so effectually as by grant∣ing the free exercise of Religion, as in the English Declaration. Whence we may gather not obscurely, what is the proper tendency of it, both as to the work & worker, to wit, to incline & induce us by flatterie to a lawless Loyaltie, and a stupid contented slavery when he cannot compel us by force, and make us actively cooperate in setting & settling his Tyranny, in the peaceable possession of all his Usurp∣ations, Robberies, & Encroachments upon our Religion, Lawes, & Liberties, and to incorporate us with Babylon, for wbo are the Neighbours he would have us unite with in love, but the Papists? against whom all the Lovers of Christ must profess themselves irreconcileable Enemies. The English Declaration does further discover the design of this device, in one expression which will most easily be obtained to be beleeved of any in it, viz. that he heartily wishes that all the People of these Dominions were members of the Catholick Church: which clearly insinuates, that hereby he would entyce them to commit fornication with that Mother of harlots; which entycing to Idolatrie (if we consult the Scripture) should meet with another sort of entertainment than such a kind & thankful Acceptance, which is not an opposing of such a wicked wish, but an encouraging & corroberating of it. And further he sayes, that all the former tract of Persecutions never obtained the end for which it was employed; For after all the frequent & pressing endeavours that were used, to reduce this Kingdom to an exact conormity in Reli∣gion, it is visible the success has not answered the design, and that the difficultie is invincible. Wherein we may note his extort∣ed acknowledgment, that all former endeavours to destroy the Work of God have been successless, which induces him to try another method, to which this Acceptance is very subservient, to wit, to destroy us and our Religion by flatteries, and by peace to overturn Truth, and by the subversion of Lawes to open a door to let in Poperie and all abominations. But what is more obscurely expressed in

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his words, is more visibly obvious in his works, to all that will not willingly wink at them; discovering clearly the end of this Liberty is not for the Glory of God, nor the Advantage of Truth, or the Churches Edification, nor intended as a benefit to Protestants; but for a pernicious de∣sign, by gratifying a few of them in a pretended favour to rob all of them of their chiefest Interests, Religion, Lawes, Rights, & Liberties, which he could not otherwise ef∣fectuate but by this arbitrary way; for if he could have ob∣tained his designs by Law: he would never have talked of Lenity or Liberty, but having no legal ends he behoved 〈◊〉〈◊〉 compass them by illegal means. They must then be very blind who do not see, his drift is, first to get in all Popish Officers in places of Publick Trust, by taking off the Penal Lawes disabling them for the same; Then to advance his Absoluteness over all Lawes, in a way which will be best acknowledged & acquiesced in by People, till he be so strengthened in it that he fears no control; And then to undermine & overturn the Protestant Religion, & establish Poperie & Idolatrie: which he is concerned the more violently to pursue, because he is now growing old, and therefore must make hast, lest he leave the Papists in a worse condition than he found them: which to be sure the Papists are aware of, and their conscious fears of the Nations resentments of their Villanies will prompt them, as long as they have such a Patron, to all vigilance & vio∣lence in playing their game: And withall, hereby he may intend to capacitate himself for subduing the Dutch, against whom he hath given many indications of a hostile mind of old & of late; not only in hiring two Rascals to burn the Amsterdam-fleet heretofore, but in stirring up & protecting the Algerine Pyrats against them; So universal a Protector is he become of late, that Papists & Protesiants, Turks & Iewes are shrouded under the shadow of his Patrociny, but with a design to destroy the best, when his time comes. Which cursed designs cannot be counteracted, but very much strengthened by this Acceptance.

7. Considering the Effects already produced thereby, they cannot but abhor it. Seeing the eyes of all that are

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tender may affect their hearts, observing how the Papists are hereby encouraged & encreased in numbers, the whole Nation overflow'd wlth their hellish Locusts, and all Places filled with Priests & Iesuites, yea the executive power of the Government put into the hands of the Romanists, and on the other hand how the People are endangered with their abounding & prevailing Errors (to which the Lord may & will give up those that have not received the love of the Truth) Truth is sallen in the streets & equity cannot enter, a Testimony against Antichrist is abandoned & laid aside as unseasonable, the edge of zeal for the Interest of Christ is blunted and its fervor extinginshed, they that should stand in the Gap and upon the watch Tower are laid aside from all opposition to the invasions of the Enemy, and lulled asleep by this bewitching Charm & intoxicating Opium, Mi∣nisters & Professors are generally settling on their lees and languishing in a fatal security, Defection is carried on, Di∣vision promoted, and Destruction is imminent. Is it not then both a part of the Witness of the Faithful, and of their wisdom to stand aloof from such a Plague, that hath such destructive effects?

8. Considering the Nature & Name of this pretended Li∣berty, they cannot but disdain it as most dishonourable to the Cause of Christ. It is indeed the honour of Kings and happiness of People; to have true humane & Christian Li∣berty established in the Common wealth, that is, Liberty of Persons from slaverie; Liberty of Priviledges from Ty∣ranny, and Liberty of Conscience from all impositions of men; Consisting in a freedom from the Doctrines, Tra∣ditions, & Commandments of men against or beside the Word of God, in the free enjoyment of Gospel Ordinanc∣es in purity & power, and in the free observance & esta∣blishment of all His Institutions of Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, & Government, in subordination to the only Rule of Conscience, the revealed Will of its only Law-giver Jesus Christ. When this is ratified as a Right by the Sanction of approven Authority, and countenanced & encouraged as Religion, by the Confirmation of Lawes, approving whatsoever is Commanded by the God of

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Heaven to be done for the House of the God of Heaven (which is the full amount of all Magistrats Authority) Then we are obliged to accept of it with all thankful acceptation. But such a Liberty, as overturns our Rights, our Privi∣ledges, our Lawes, our Religion, and Tolerates it only under the Notion of a Crime, and indemnifies it under the notion of a Fault to be Pardoned, and allowes the exercise thereof only in Part so & so modified, cannot be accepted by any to whom the reproach thereof is a burden, and to whom the reproaches of Christ are in esteem, in such a day when even the hoofs of Christs Interest buried in bond∣age are to be contended for. Whatever Liberty this may be to some Consciences, it is none to the tender according to the Rule of Conscience, It is only a Toleration which is alwayes of evil: for that which is good cannot be tolerated under the notion of good, but countenanced & encouraged as such. Therefore this reflects upon our Religion, when a Toleration is accepted which implies such a reproach: And the annexed Indemnity & Pardon tacitely condemns the Profession thereof as a fault or Crime, which no Chri∣stian can bear with, or by his acceptance homologate these reproaches, if he consider the nature of it: And much more will he be averse from it, if he consider how disho∣nourable it is to God (whatever some Addressers, particu∣cularly the Presbyterians at London, have blasphemously alledged, that God is hereby restored to His Empire over the Con∣science) Since the Granter, after he hath robbed the Me∣diator of His Supremacy and given it away to Antichrist, And God of His Supremacy Imperial as Universal King by a Claim of Absolute Power peculiar to Him, he hath also robbed Him of His Empire over the Conscience, in giving every man the Empire over his oun Conscience, which he reserves a power to retract whem he pleases.

9. Considering the Extent of it, they cannot class them∣selves amoug the number of them that are Indulged thereby. It takes in not only the Arch-Bishops & Bishops, and the Prelatical & Malignant Crue, but all Quakers, and Papists, reaching all Idolatry, Blasphemy, & Heresie, and Truth also (which could never yet dwell together under one

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sconce) Whereby the Professors of Christ come in as Part∣ners in the same bargain with Antichrists Vassals; And the Lords Ark hath a place with Dagon, and its Priests & Fol∣lowers consent to it; And the builders of Babel & of Ieru∣salem ar made to build together, under the same Protection; and a sluce is opened to let the enemy come in like a flood, which to oppose the Accepters cannot stand in the Gap nor lift up a Standart against them. Liberty indeed should be Universally extended to all the Lords People, as Cyrus his Proclamation was General, who is there among yow of all His People? his God be with him. But a Toleration of Ido∣laters, Blasphemers, & Hereticks, as Papists, &c. is odious to God, because it is contrary to Scripture, expressly Commanding Idolaters to die the death, and all Seducers & Entycers to Apostasie from God to be put to death without pity; and Commending all righteous Magistrats that exe∣cuted Judgement accordingly, as Asa, Hezekiah &c. yea even Heathen Magistrats that added their Sanction to the Lawes of God, as Artaxerxes is approven for that Statute, that whosoever will not do the Law of God and of the King, judge∣ment should be executed speedily upon him. And in the New Testament this was never repealed but confirmed, in that the sword is given to Magistrats, not in vain, but to be a terror to, and revengers to execute wrath upon all that do evil, among whom Seducers that are evil workers & Idolaters are chiefly to be ranked, being such as do the worst of evil to mankind. Ephesus is commended because they could not bear them which are evil: and Thyatira reproved for suffer∣ing Iezebel: by which it appeareth, that our Lord Jesus is no friend to Toleration. It is true this is spoken against Church∣men; but will any think that will be approven in Civil Powers, which is so hateful in Church Officers? Surely it will be the duty & honour of these horns spoken of Revel. 17. to eat the whores flesh & burn her with fire: And shall that be restricted only to be done against the great Anti∣christ, & not be duty against the lesser Antichrists, the limbs of the Great one? It is recorded of Iulian the Apostate, that among other devices he used, to root out Christianity this was one, that he gave Toleration openly to all the different Professions that were among Christians, whereof there

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were many heretical in those dayes: which is exactly aped by Iames the Apostate now for the same end. It is also contrare to the Confession of faith Chap. 20. § 4. asserting that

for their publishing such opinions, or maintaining of such practices, as are contrary to the light of Nature, or to the known Principles of Christianity, whether concern∣ing Faith Worship, or Conversation, or to the power of Godliness, or such erroneous opinions or practices, as either in their oun nature, or in the manner of publish∣ing or maintaining them, are destructive to the external Peace &. Order, which Christ hath established in the Church; they may lawfully be called to account, and proceeded against by the Censures of the Church, and by the power of the Civil Magistrate.
And therefore to ac∣cept of this Toleration is inconsistent with the Principles of the Church of Scotland, with the National & Solemn League & Covenants, & Solemn Acknowledgment of sins & Enga∣gement to duties, in all which we are bound to extirpate Pope∣rie, Prelacie &c. With the whole tract of Contendings in the fifth Period above related, and particularly by the Testimony of the Synod of Fife, and other Brethren in the Ministry, against Cromuels vast Toleration & Liberty of Conscience, mentioned above Pag. 76. for it is plain, if it be not to be suffered, then it is not to be accepted.

10. Considering the Termes wherein it is offered, they cannot make such a shameful bargain. In the former Pro∣clamation it is granted expressly under several Conditions, Restrictions, & Limitations: whereof indeed some are re∣tracted in the Latter, as the restriction of it to Moderate Presbyterians, which would seem to be taken off by extend∣ing to all without reserve to serve, God in their oun may; but being evidently exclusive of all that would serve God in Christs way, and not after the mode prescribed, it is so modified and restricted that all that will accept of it must be Moderate Presbyterians indeed, which as it is taken in the Court sense must be an ignominy to all that have zeal against Antichrist. The Limitation also to private houses and not to out-houses, is further enlarged to Chappels or places purposely hired but still it is stinted to these, which they must bargain

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for with Councellors, Shiriffs &c. So that none of these Re∣strictions & Limitations are altogether removed, but the Condition of taking the Oath only: yet it is very near to an equivalency homologated, by the Accepters acknow∣ledging in the Granter a Prerogative & Absolute Power over all Lawes, which is confirmed & maintained by their Ac∣ceptance. As for the rest that are not so much as said to be removed, they must be interpreted to remain, as the termes, conditions, restrictions, & limitations, upon which they are to enjoy the benefite of this Toleration. And what he sayes, that he thought fit by this Proclamation further to declare, does confirme it, that there are further ex∣plications, but no taking off of former restrictions. Hence it is yet clogged with such provisions & restrictions, as must make it very nauseous to all truly tender (1) The re∣striction as to the Persons still remains, that only Moderate Presbyterians, and such as are willing to accept of this Indul∣gence allanerly, and none other, and such only whose names must be signified to these Sheriffs, Stewards, Bailifs &c. are to have the benefit of this Indulgence: wherey all the zeal∣ous & faithful Presbyterians are excluded, (for these they will not call them Moderate) and all that would improve it without a formal Acceptance, and all who for their form∣er diligence in duty are under the lash of their wicked Law, and dare not give up their names to those who are seeking their lives, must be deprived of it. (2) It is restricted to certain Places still, which must be made known to some one or more of the next privie Councellors & whereby they are tied to a dependence on their warrand, and must have their lease & licence for Preaching the Word in any place, and Field-Meetings are severely interdicted, though signally countenanced of the Lord, whereby the Word of the Lord is bound & bounded; and by this Acceptance their bloody Lawes against Preaching in the open fields, where People can have freest access with conveniency & safety, are justified. (3) The manner of Meeting is restricted, which must be in such a way as the peace & security of the Go∣vernment in the practice thereof may not be endangered, and again that their Meetings be peaceably held, which is all one upon

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the matter with the bond of peace, and binding to the good be∣haviour so much formerly contended against by Professors, and is really the same with the Condition of the Cautionary Bond in the Indulgence after Bothuel, of which see Pag. 129. And further they must be openly & publickly held, and all persons freely admitted to them; which is for the inform∣ing trade, exposing to all the inconveniences of Iesuites, and other Spies & Flies their delations, in case any thing be spoken reflecting on the Government, a great tenta∣tion to Ministers. (4) The worst of all is upon ther mat∣ter of Preaching. which is so restricted & limited, that nothing must be said or done contrare to the well & peace of his reign, seditious or treasonable; And in case any treasonable speeches be uttered the Law is to take place against the guilty, and none other present, providing they reveal to any of the Council the guilt so committed, as in the former Proclamation: And in the last it is further declared, that nothing must be Preached or taught, which may any way tend to alienate the hearts of the People from him or his Government. Here is the price at which they are to purchase their freedom (a sad bargain to buy Liberty & sell Truth) which yet hardly can be so exactly paid, but he may find a pretence for retrenching it when he pleases; for if a Minister shall Pray for the overturning of a throne of iniquity, or for confounding all that serve graven Imag∣es, and for destruction to the Pope and all that give their power to that beast, there will be something said against the well of his Government; Or if any shall hear this and not delate it, then the same pretence is relevant; Or if he shall Preach against the Kings Religion as Idolatry, and the Church of Rome as Babylon, and discharge his Conscience & Duty in speaking against the Tyrannie of the times; Or let him Preach against any publick sin faithfully, a Popish Critick or Romish Bigot shall interpret it to be an alienation of the Peoples hearts from the King & his Government. But who can be faithful, and Preach in season & out of season now, but he must think it his duty to endeavour to alienate the hearts of the People from such an Enemy to Christ, and his absolute Tyranny, so declaredly stated against God? What Watchman must not see it his indis∣pensable

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Duty, to warn all People of his Devilish designs to destroy the Church & Nation, and Preach so that People may hate the whore, and this Pimp of hers? Sure if he Preach the whole Counsel of God, he must Preach against Poperie & Tyrannie. And if he think this Indulgence from Absolute Prerogative, granted & accepted on these termes, can supercede him from this faithfulness, then he is no more the Servant of Christ but a pleaser of men. Therefore since it is so clogged with so many restrictions, so inconsistent with duty, so contrary to Scripture, so clearly violatory of Covenant-Engagements, so cross to the constant Contendings & Constitutions of this Church, and Acts of Ass. (See Pag. 80. &c.) it were a great defe∣ction to Accept of it.

11. Considering the Scandal of it, they dare not so of∣fend the generation of the Righteous by the Acceptance, and dishonour God, disgrace the Protestant Profession, wrong the Interest thereof, and betray their native Coun∣try, as thus to comply with the Design of Antichrist, and partake of this cruel tender mercy of the beast; who hath alwayes mischief in his heart, and intends this as a Pre∣parative for inducing or inforcing all that are hereby lulled asleep either to take on his Mark, or bear the Marks of his fiery fury afterwards. For hereby forreign Churches may think, we are in a fair way of reconciliation with Antichrist, when we so kindly accept his Harbingers fa∣vours. And it cannot but be very stumbling to see the Mi∣nisters of Scotland, whose Testimony used to be terrible to the Popish and renouned through all the Protestant Churches, purchasing a Liberty to themselves at the rate of burying & betraying the Cause into bondage & restraint, and thus to be laid by from all active & open opposition to Antichrists Designs, in such a season. The world will be tempted to think, they are not governed by Principles but their oun Interest in this juncture, seeking their oun things more than the things of Christ; And that it was not the late Usurpation upon, & overturning of Religion & Liberty that offended them, so much as the Persecution they sustained thereby; but if that Arbitrary Power had

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been exerted in their favours, tho with the same prejudice of the Cause of Christ, they would have complyed with it as they do now. Alas sad & dolorous have been the Scan∣dals given & taken by & from the Declining Ministers of Scotland heretofore, which have rent & racked the poor Remnant, and offended many both at home & abroad, but none so stumbling as this. And therefore the tender will be shie to medle with it.

12. Considering the Addresses made thereupon, with such a stain of foulsome & blasphemous flatteries, to the dishonour of God, the reproach of the Cause, the be∣traying of the Church, and detriment of the Nation, and exposing themselves to the contempt of all, the poor Per∣secuted Partie dare not so much as seem to incorporate with them. I shall set doun the first of their Addresses, given forth in the name of all the Presbyterian Ministers, And let the Reader judge whether there be not Cause of stand∣ing aloof from every appearance of being of their number. It is dated at Edinburgh, Iulj 21. 1687. of this tenor.

To the Kings most excellent Majestie. The humble Address of the Presbyterian Ministers of his Majesties Kingdom of Scotland.

We your Maj. most loyal subjects, the Ministers of the Presbyterian persuasion in your Ancient Kingdom of Scotland, from the due sense we have of your Maj. graci∣ous & surprising favour, in not only puting a stop to our long sad sufferings for Non-conformity, but granting us the Liberty of the Publick & Peaceable exercise of our Ministerial function without any hazard: As we bless the Great God who hath put this in your Royal heart, do with all find our selves bound in duty to offer our most humble & hearty thanks to your Sacred Majestie, the fa∣vour bestowed being to us and all the People of our Per∣suasion valuable above all our earthly comforts, espe∣cially since we have ground from your Maj. to beleeve that our Loyaltie is not to be questioned upon the account of our being Presbyterians, who as we have amidst all

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former tentations endeavoured, so we are firmly re∣solved still to preserve an intire Loyaltie in our Doctrine & Practice (consonant to our known Principles, which according to the Holy Scriptures are contained in the Confession of faith, generally ouned by Presbyterians in all your Maj. Dominions) and by the help of God so to demean our selves, as your Maj. may find cause rather to enlarge than to diminish your favours towards us; throughly perswading our selves from your Maj. justice & goodness, that if we shall at any time be otherwise represented, your Maj. will not give credit to such in∣formation, until yow have due cognition thereof: and humbly beseeching, that those who promote any dsloyal Principles & practices (as we disoune them) may be look∣ed upon as none of ours, whatsover name they may assume to themselves. May it please your most excellent Maj. graciously to accept of this our most hmble Ad∣dress, as proceeding from the plainness & sincerity of Loyal & thankful hearts, much engaged by your Royal favour, to continue our fervent Prayers to the King of Kings, for Divine illumination & conduct, with all other blessings Spiritual & Temporal, ever to attend your Royal Person & Government, which is the greatest duty can be rendered to your Maj. by

Your Maj. most humble, mast faithful, & most obedient Subjects. Subscribed in our Names, and in the name of the rest of our Brethren of our Persuasion, at their desire.

Which received this Gracious return.

The Kings Letter to the Presbyterians in his ancient Kingdom of Scotland.

We love yow well: and we heartily thank yow for your Address: we resolve to Protect yow in your Liberty, Religion, & properties all our life: And we shall lay doun such methods, as shall not be in the power of any to alter hereafter. And in the mean tune we desire yow

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to Pray for our Person & Government. To which may be added that kind Complement of the Chancellors: Gent∣lemen, My Master hath commanded me to tell yow, that I am to serve yow in all things within the compass of my power.

These Gentlemen needed not to have been sollicitous, that those who avouch an Adherance to the Covenanted Reformation, and avow an opposition to Antichristian Usurpers (which they call promoting Dislayal principles & practices) might not be looked upon as of their Confedera∣cy: for all that abide in the principles & Practices of the Church of Scotland (which they have deserted) and that desire to be found Loyal to Christ, in opposition to His and the Churches and the Countries Declared Enemy, would count it a sin & scandal, laying them obnoxious to the Displeasure of the Holy & Jealous God, who will re∣sent this heinous Indignity they have done unto His Ma∣jestie (if they do not Address themselves unto Him for par∣don of the iniquity of this Address, which is the desire of those whom they disoune that they may find Grace to do so) and a shameful Reproach, exposing them to the Con∣tempt of all of whom they expect Sympathie, to be reck∣oned of their Association who have thus betrayed the Cause & the Country. These mutual Complements (so like the Caresses of the Romish whore whereby she entyces the Nations to her fornication) between the Professed Ser∣vants of Christ and the Vassals of Antichrist, if they be cor∣dial; would seem to import that they are in a fair way of compounding their differences and to accommodate their oppositions at length; which yet I hope will be irreconci∣leably maintained & kept up by all true Presbyterians, in whose name they have the impudence to give out their Ad∣dress: But if they be only Adulatory & flattering Comple∣ments, importing only a Conjunction of tails like Sam∣sons foxes) with a Disjunction of heads and hearts, tending towards distinct & opposite Interests; then, as they would suite far better the Dissmulations of Politicians, than the Simplicity of Gospel-Ministers, and do put upon them the brand of being men-pleasers rather than Servants of Christ,

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so for their dissemblings with Dissemblers, who know their Complements to be and take them for such, they may look to be paid home in good measure, heaped up & running over, when such methods shall be laid doun as shall not be in the power of any to alter, when such designs shall be ob∣tained by this Liberty and these Addresses, that the after bought wit of the Addressers shall not be able to disappoint. However the Address it self is of such a dress, as makes the thing addressed for to be odious, and the Addressers to forefault the respect, & merit the indignation of all that are friends to the Protestant & Presbyterian Cause, as may appear from these obvious Reflections. 1. It was needful indeed they should have assumed the name of Presbyterians (though it might have been more tolerable to let them pass under that name, if they had not presumed to give forth their flatteries in the name of all of that Persuasion, and to al∣ledge it was at their desire; which is either an illuding equivocation, or a great untruth, for though it might be the desire of the men of their oun persuasion, which is a newly start up opinion that Interest hath led them to espouse, yet nothing could be more cross to the real desires of true Presbyterians, that prefer the Truth of the Cause to the external peace of the Professors thereof) and call it the humble Address of Presbyterian Ministers: for otherwise it could never have been known to come from men of the Presbyterian persuasion; seeing the Contents of this Ad∣dress are so clearly contrary to their known Principles. It is contrary to Presbyterian Principles, to Congratulate an Antichristian Usurper for undermining Religion, and overturning Lawes & Liberties. It is contrary to Presby∣terian Principles, to justify the abrogation of the National Covenant, in giving thanks for a Liberty whereby all the Lawes are called & disabled therein confirmed. It is con∣tray to Presbyterian Principles, to thank the King for opening a door to bring in Poperie, which they are engaged to exstirpate in the Solemn League & Covenant. It is contrary to Presbyterian Principles to allow or accept of such a vast Toleration for Idolaters & Hereticks, as is evi∣dent above from all their Contendings against it, which is

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also contrary to the Confession of faith, generally ouned by Presbyterians, as may be seen in the place forecited Chap. 20. Par. 4. It is contrary to Presbyterian Principles to consent to any Restrictions, Limitations, & Conditions, binding them up in the exercise of the Ministerial function, where∣with this Liberty is loaded & clogged; whereby indeed they have the Liberty of the Publick & peaceable exercise of it, without any hazard of present Persecution, but not with∣out great hazard of sin, and incurring the guilt of the blood of Souls, for not declaring the whole Counsel of God, which Addressers cannot declare, if they Preserve an intire Loyaltie in their Doctrine, as here they promise. 2. There is nothing here sounds like the old Presbyterian strain; neither was there ever an Address of this stile seen before from Presbyterian hands. It would have looked far more Pres∣byterian like, instead of this Address, to have sent a Pro∣testation against the now openly designed introduction of Poperie, and subversion of all Lawes & Liberties which they are Covenanted to maintain, or at least to have given an Address in the usual Language of Presbyterians, who used alwayes to speak of the Covenants, and Work of Re∣formation: But here never a word of these, but of Loyaltie to his excellent, to his Gracious, and to his Sacred Majestie, of Loyaltie not to be questioned, an Entire Loyaltie in Do∣ctrine, a resolved Loyaltie in Practice, and a servent Loyaltie in Prayers: And all that they are solicitous about, is not lest the Prerogatives of their Master be encroached upon, and the Liberties of the Church be supplanted, and Religion wronged; but lest their Loyaltie be questioned, and they be otherwise represented: And all that they beseech for is, not that the Cause of Christ be not wronged, nor Antichristian Idolatrie introduced by this Liberty; but that these who promove any disloyal Principles & Practices may be looked upon as none of theirs, wherein all their encouragment is, that they persuade themselves from his Maj. justice & goodness, that he will not give credite to any other information until he take due cognition thereof. Here is a Lawless unrestricted Loyaltie to a Ty∣rant, claiming an absolute power to be obeyed without reserve, not only professed, but solicitously sought to be the Prin∣ciple

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of Presbyterians; whereas it is rather the Principle of Athiestical Hobbes exploded with indignation by all rational men. This is not a Christian Loyaltie, o profession of Consciencious Subjection, to a Minister of God for good who is a terror to evil doers, but a stupid subjection & absolute Allegiance to a Minister of Antichrist, who gives Liberty to all evil men & seducers. This is not the Presby∣terian Loyaltie to the King, in the defence of Christ His Evangel, Liberties of the Country, Ministration of Iustice, & punishment of iniquity, according to the National Covenant; And in the preservation & defence of the true Religion & Liberties of the Kingdoms, according to the Solemn League & Cove∣nant; but an Erastian Loyaltie to a Tyrant, in his over∣turning Religion Lawes & Liberties, & protecting & en∣couraging all iniquity. This Loyaltie in Doctrine will be found Disloyaltie to Christ, in a sinful & shameful silence at the wrongs done to Him, and not declaring against the Invasions of His open Enemies. This Loyaltie in Practice is a plain betraying of Religion & Liberty, in lying by from all opposition to the open Destroyer of both. And this Loyaltie in Prayers, for all blessings ever to attend his person & Government, will be found neither consonant to Presby∣terian Prayers in reference to Popish Tyrants, nor con∣sistent with the Zeal of Christians, and the Cries of all the Elect unto God to whom vengeance belongs, against An∣tichrist and all his Supporters, nor any way conforme to the Saints Prayers in Scripture, nor founded upon any Scripture promises, to pray for a blessing to a Papists Ty∣rannie, which cannot be of Faith and therefore must be sin. It were much more suitable to pray, that the God which hath caused His Name to dwell in His Church, may destroy all Kings that shall put to their hand to alter & destroy the House of God, Ezrah. 6. 12. 3. This Address is so stuffed with sneak∣ing flatteries, that it would become more Sycophants & Court-Parasites than Ministers of the Gospel; and were more suitable to the Popish, Prelatical, & Malignant faction to congratulate & rejoice in their professed Patroh & Head, and fill the Gazetts with their Adulatory Addresses, which heretofore used to be deservedly inveighed against

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by all Dissenters; than for Presbyterians to take a Copy from them, and espouse the practice which they had con∣demned before, and which was never commended in any good Government, nor never known in these British Na∣tions, before Oliver's Usurpation & Charles his Tyranny; flatterie being alwayes counted base among ingenuous men. But here is a Rhapsodie of flatteries, from the deep sense they have of his Maj. gracious & surprising favour—finding themselves bound in duty to offer their most humble & hearty thanks, to his Sacred Maj. the favour bestowed being to them—valuable above all earthly comforts. One would think this behoved to be a very great favour, from a very great friend, for very gracious ends: But what is it? In not only puting a stop to their long sad sufferings; which were some ground indeed if the way were honest: but this not only supposes an also; what is that? but also granting us the Liberty—which is either a needless Tautology (for if all Sufferings were stop∣ped, then Liberty must needs follow) or it must respect the qualifications of the Liberty; flowing from such a Fountain, absolute power; through such a Conveyance, the stoping all penal Lawes against Papists; in such a Forme as a Toleration; for such Ends, as overturning the Reformation & introducing Poperie. This is the favour for which they offer most humble & hearty thanks, more valuable to them than all earthly comforts; thô it be manifestly intended to deprive the Lords People, at the long run, of the Heavenly Comforts of the Preached Gospel. Sure, if they thank him for the Liberty, they must thank him for the Procla∣mation whereby he grants it, and justify all his Claim there to Absoluteness, being that upon which it is super∣structed, and from which it emergeth, And so become a listed faction to abett & oune him in all his attemptings, engaged now to demean themselves as that he may find cause rather to enlarge than to diminish his favours, which can be no other way but in assisting him to destroy Religion & Liberty, at least in suffering him to do what he will without control. O what an indeleble reproach is this for Ministers, who pretend to be set for the defence of the Gospel, thus to be found betraying Religion, through

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justifying & magnifying a Tyrant, for his suspension of so many Lawes whereby is was established & supported. 4. It were more tolerable if they went no further than flatteries: but I fear they come near the border of Blasphemie, when they say, that the Great God hath put this in his Royal heart: which can bear no other Construction but this, that the holy Lord hath put it in his heart to assume to himself a blasphemous & absolute power, whereby he stops & sus∣pends all Penal Lawes against Idolaters, and gives a Tole∣ration for all Errors: Or if it be capable of any other sense, it must be like that as the Lord is said to have moved David to number the People, or that Rev. 17. 17. God hath put it in their hearts to fulfill His Will, and to aggree aud give their King∣dom unto the Beast. But to bless God and thank the Tyrant for this wicked Project, as deliberate & purposed by men, I say is near unto Blasphemy. And again where they say, they are firmly resolved by the help of God so to demean themselves as his Maj. may find cause rather to enlarge than to diminish his favours; this in effect is as great Blasphemy as if they had said, they resolved by the help of God to be as unfaithful Time-serving & Silent Ministers as ever plagued the Church of God; for no otherwise can they demean them∣selves so as he may find cause to enlarge his favours towards them, it being no way supposible that his enlarging his favours can consist with their faithfulness, but if they dis∣cover any measure of zeal against Antichrist, he will quickly diminish them.

Thus far I have compendiously deduced the Account of the Progress, & Prosecution of the Testimony of this Church to the present State thereof, as it is Con∣certed & Contended for, by the Reproached Remnant now only Persecuted: which I hope this pretended Li∣berty shall be so far from obscuring & interrupting, that it shall contribute further to clear it, and engage them more to Constancy in it, and induce others also to Countenance it, when they shall see the sad effects of this Destructive Snare, which I leave to time to produce: And hope, that as the former Representa∣tion of their Cause will conciliate the Charity of the

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unbyassed, so an Account of their Sufferings thereupon will provoke them to Sympathie. To which I now proceed.

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