Reasons of a fast, appoynted by the Commission of the General assemblie to bee kept through all the kirks of this kingdom, on the Lords day; December 22, 1650.

REASONS OF A FAST, Appoynted by the Commission of the Generall Assemblie: To bee kept through all the Kirks of this Kingdom, on the LORDS DAY; December 22. 1650.

THe Commission of the Generall Assemblie, seriously considering, That how-so-ever this Land lyeth under the Guiltiness of many-fold Provoca∣tions of al sorts, against the Cō∣mandemēts of the Law of GOD, abounding, in all Rancks & Con∣ditions of People: Yet, that the despysing and refusing of the Gospell, and of the Rich Free Grace of GOD in CHRIST held foorth therein, is the Great Na∣tional Sinne of this Kirk and Kingdom, against which the LORD is most evidently and remarkeably, plea∣ding a Contraversie in His present judgements vpon the Land: And, that this is the very Fountayn and Cause of so great abounding of all other sinnes. Con∣sidering,

also, that this Sinne having been often men∣tioned and held foorth amongst the Causes of former Fasts, hath been little, or no wayes at all, layd to heart. Yea, nor well understood what it meaneth by the most part of People. And, therefore, having appoyn∣ted a Fast and Humiliation to bee kept especially for this Sinne, on the LORDS Day, December xxij. 1650, throughout all the Congregations of this Kirk, it is thought fit, to the effect, That all may haue the more clear and distinct apprehension of the foresayd Sinne, and bee helped the better, to discern their guil∣tiness therein; To hold foorth unto People, the Mayn Branches thereof, in this Paper which is desyred to bee read in all Congregations.

Sinnes relating to the Gospell-Ordinances.

FIrst: To the WORD. Neglecting to come and attend on the Preaching of the Word, both on the LORDS Day, and on week dayes, in these places where such Exercises, are on these dayes.

2 Not comming to the Preaching of the Word, for the right end, viz to fynd communion with Christ, and a taste of His goodnes and excellencie, & to be built vp in the most holy fayth: but eyther out of custome or to eschew censures, or to satisfy & hold off the challēges of a naturall conscience; or some other by-respect. And not preparing the heart befor hand in secret, to come with Godly fear and reverence, humility, spiritual hun∣gring and thirsting after the Kingdom of God, and the Righteousnes thereof, and desyring as new born babes the sincere milk of the Word, to grow thereby,

3 That when People are at the preaching of the word, besyds great carelesnes, overlines sleeping, wandring of the heart, & in advertencie to what is preached; the Word is not heard as an Ordināce and meane appoyn∣ted of God to work vpon, and carry in grace and com∣fort vnto the heart, but is only reguarded as other dis∣courses proceeding from mens ability and parts, and is accordingly esteemed by the most part, or at most is on∣ly made vse of, as a mean of informing the judgement.

4 That in the preaching of the Word, neyther doeth Ministers speak the same as the Oracles of God, not re∣mēbring themselves to be the ambassadours of Christ, speaking in Gods stead: nor doeth people present thē∣selves in so immediat a way befor God Himself as to re∣ceive the Word not as the Word of man, but as the true Word of God; whence it commeth to pass that there is litle trembling at the Word, and so litle rejoycing in it.

5 That people in the hearing of the Word, contents themselves with mans teaching, and doeth not in the conviction of their own blindnes & vtter inability of themselves to perceive the things of the Spirit, and of the insufficiencie of the outward means without Gods immediat work therewith vpon the heart; imploy Him self to teach them inwardly by His Spirit, joyning with the outward means, according to the promise of the Covenant. They shal be al taught of God: whence it commeth to pass that there is so much Preaching, and so little profiting, so much Learning, and so little speed comming in the knowledge of GOD.

6 The not mixing of the Word preached with

Fayth, whyle as in the hearing thereof; even these who seem to giue most heed thereunto do for the most part, rather imploy the judgement, to consider and judge of the pertinencie, coherence, the way of utte∣ring of the doctrine delivered; or in a meer speculatiue way to apprehend the matter & trueth of what is spo∣ken than they do labour, with the heart to close with, embrace and apply to themselues the Trueth preached.

7 No care to lay up, & hyde the words of CHRIST in the heart, to remember the same for use making: But letting them slip and run thorow; which the Apo∣stle accounteth a neglecting of the Great Salvation of GOD, (HEB. 2.1.3.) Nor imploying the Spirit to bring the Word that hath been heard; but forgot∣ten, to remembrance: Not making conscience to con∣ferre on the Word Preached, and to whet it on, upon an other. Not taking payns, nor delight in it, in pri∣vate, to reade, and meditate on it.

2. IN relation to the Sacraments. And first in general & cōmon: Not making vse of them as Seals of the Covenant of Grace, and promises thereof made to us in Christ; but laying al the weyght of confidēce vpon thē selves & being cōtent with the deed done, which was the ordinary sin of the Iews in the vse of Circumcision, & other Rits and ceremonies of the Law, so often char∣ged vpon them in Scripture. Then particularly.

In Baptisme. 1 In Parents bringing their Children therevnto, eyther out of meer fashion and custome, as meerly to have a difference put between them, and vn∣christned people, or in effect as vnto a meer ceremonie:

and not from any sense that they are vnclean from vn∣clean, born dead in sins, and children of wrath of them∣selves, defyled with original guilt and corruption, nor from a desyre that they may be spiritually regenerated, incorporated vnto Christ, to be made partakers of the vertue of His Death & Resurrection, to be washed from their filthines in the blood of Christ, and to get interest in the Covenant of grace, and promises thereof, sealed vp vnto them. 2 Not setting themselves in the admini∣stration of this Sacrament to consider & pryze the free love and grace of God, which hath prevented vs, & our seed in provyding such a fountain for sin & vnclea∣nes in Christ, making such a Covenant with vs, so well ordered in al things, & sure preventing vs and our seed with the seall thereof; nor to apply the Covenant and the promises thereof for our selves and our seed, and this Sacrament as the seall of the same. 3. The great & evident slighting of the administration of this Sacra∣ment, while as few in the Congregation joyneth therin eyther for their own edification, or to hold vp the bap∣tized to God, that He might bless His own ordināce to them, and receive them in amongst His Children in Christ: and many with-draweth themselves from the administration thereof, as if it did not concern them▪ and only the Minister and Presenter were to be actors in it. 4 Parents not making conscience, to make known vnto their Children when they come to years of Capacity their Baptism, the ends and vse thereof, and the obliga∣tion therby layeth vpon them as consecrated to Christ. 5 The not making vse of this Sacrament all a-long the course of our, lyf for renewing & strengthening our cō∣fort

in the Fayth and assurance of our Regeneration & Adoption; and of our interest in God, as our GOD and Father in CHRIST: and for strenthening through Christ our resolutions & endeavours of Mortification, and newness of lyf. Which is a great despysing of this Ordinance.

In the Lords Supper, 1. The great profanation ther of, by the comming and admitting there vnto: of many gross Ignorants, who cānot discern the Lords Body, nor knoweth how to examine thēselves, māy profane Ones, Godless Livers, without the Worship of GOD, in private, and into many places al sorts of persons pro∣miscuously without making a difference between the precious & the Vyle: whereby the Blood of Christ, is much profaned (altho the constitutions of our Kirk were they well observed▪ doth sufficiently guard against these evills) Which no doubt is one of the mayn sins, for which GOD hath beene provoked to suffer so much of our blood to be shed. See 1, Cor. 11.30.

2. The little or no care or payns that is taken for preparation to so high and holy an Ordinance, where∣in we are called to the nearest and most familiar Com∣munion with Christ, that is: heere vpon earth: most part contenting themselves giving their presence at a Preparation Sermon, many not making conscience of so much as this. Very few separating themselves, as is needfull to examine themselves; that being sensible of their Guiltyness, Spirituall inlacks &c. They might come with humble, broken, and contrite Spirits, with Spirituall hunger and thirst, for Christ Crucified. And sincere purposes of heart, to forsake their former sinfull

courses, and to renew their Covenant with GOD, in the strength of CHRISTS Grace.

3 The great and lamentable Blockishness of the most part, in the participation of this Ordinance, who may be, have some kynd of amazement at the Solemnityes thereof, but doth no wyse therein exercyse themselves in remembring the Lords Death, till He come agayn to apply the same to themselves: for peace with GOD, and mortifying the Body of Sin, for working deep Re∣pentance, and Gospell sorrow for Sin, and getting the Love of Christ, more kindled in them, and their hearts enlarged with greater thankfulness towards Him, Who loved vs, and gave Himself for vs. And on the other hand the great heartless sinfull Dejection of many sen∣sible Souls, who at no tyme are readyer to be plunged in legall heavyness; & feeding as it were on gall, and Worm-wood: then at this Ordinance, wherein they ought to be most rejoycing through Fayth, on the pro∣pitiation in the Death of Christ, so familiarly set foorth therein to them.

4 That the tyme and occasion of this Sacrament, is vsed by the most part, only for some outward restraint of grosser sins, for a day or two before and after; but all such goodnes being as a morning clowd, no constan∣cie nor reall reformation: but presently turning to wonted, naturall, worldly, and carnall courses; Not∣with-standing renewed remembring of the Death of CHRIST, and Profession of renewing Covnants with GOD.

3. IN Relation, To the Ordinance of Discipline: 1. Which partiality in the administration of there∣of, with respect of persons, and according to affection; which appeareth in that, whyle as Offences and Scan∣dalles, in meaner persons, are taken notice of, challen¦ged and censured: There is not the lyke Christian-Freedom, Faythfulness and Zeall used, towards such as are more eminent for Wealth, Place, or Dignitie, in the World.

2 Want of a Spirit of Meekness, sometymes in the administration thereof; whereby men, if GOD per∣adventure would give them Repentance, might bee recovered out of the Snare of Satan. And, on the other hand, want of Zeall often tymes, to saue others with fear, plucking them out of the Fyre.

3 Much Vilifying, Contemning of the Censures & Exercise of Discipline: Yea, hateing thereof, and the Officers of the Kirk for it.

4 Not making use of it, as a Spirituall Medicine, and Means of Salvation: but as a meer Punishment, which as it is in it selff a miss-apprehension and abuse of this Ordinance: So is (no doubt,) the cause of so much impatience and indignation agaynst it in people; and of so much inaequality, and mixture of selfish affe∣ction, in the administration thereof.

5 The great Formality, that is every where, in the vse thereof, whyle as, so bee it, that persons under censure continue out their set tyme and dayes of cen∣sure, little care or respect is had of the effects for which it was instituted: To wit, Humiliation of hearr, and

Godly sorrow, bringing foorth Repentance, not to bee repented of; which maketh the administration thereof, to look too lyke the way of Popish Pennance.

4. IN Relation to Prayer: 1. Great neglect thereof by most part of persons and families throughout the Land in private and secret.

2 Many more imminent persons in the World, ac∣counting the performance thereof in their families, (al∣tho this bee incumbent to them, by their Place and Station,) a disparidgement; and therefore turning it over vpon others, as a Service bee low them.

3 In the publick Prayers of the Kirk, Peoples lying by, from joyning therein, al along with their Spi∣rits, which should bee stryving together with the Mi∣nister; either mutering words of their own; or taking liberty to themselues, to bee ydle in the work, and raving in their thoughts: As if the Minister only were to bee an Actor in that Service.

4 Not using this Ordinance, as a mean of commu∣nion with GOD, and of obtayning blessings from Him: But using it meerly as a Duety; and many as a matter of meer task. Whereof many may bee con∣vinced by this; That they do not make conscience, nor setteth themselues to obserue what commeth of their Prayers; how they are taken off their hand, what speed they haue come, and what answer they get.

5 The little care that is had either by Ministers, or others, to pray in the Spirit; or to imploy the Spirit of Grace, and Supplication for this Service: The most part

in their performāces thereof, too evidētly acting meer∣ly their own memory, invention, wit, &c. And that often tymes with apparent affectation.

5. RElating more immediatelye to CHRIST Him∣self, and the Free Grace of GOD in Him, which is the Matter and Object of the Gospell, as:

1 Gross ignorance in the most part, and great short comeing of the best in the knowledge of Iesus Christ His Person, offices, His blessings and benefits, of the Covenant of grace; established in Him and the way of making vse of Christ and the covenant of grace.

2 Undervaluing and misprysing of Christ, commu∣nion with Him, & His spiritual graces and blessings. Which appears most evidently, by the great neglect of the vse of these means and exercyses, publick, privat & secret wherein He offereth Himself to be sought & found: the great wearying of them: great willingnes and readines to bestow tyme and payns vpon things worldly even vanityes & trifls than on these; preferring the interests of creatures to the interests of Christ; and not giving Him the preheminence above al: by the rea∣dines which appears in people in tymes of tryall to cō∣ply with sinful courses; to the prejudice of Christs causs and the hazarding of their own peace with God, for maintayning their case; temporary safety and worldly commodities rather then to deny themselves: take vp their cross and follow Him.

3 Not receiving of Christ, nor making vse of Him as He is held foorth in the Gospell, in His fulnes of grace,

nor living in fayth by Him, more especially in Not re¦ceiving and making vse of His free gifted and impu∣ted Righteousnes for Iustification, acceptation befor God, and for peace of cōscience. while as most part se∣curely rest on meer outward church priviledges: many confyde in their own Morall Honestly, performan∣ces,; and Duetyes. So going about to establish their own Righteousness, and following Duetyes this way to make their Peace, and Reconciliation there by with GOD: AND even the Best Professours no not so purely & inteirly rest on his righteousnes as the Gospell requyreth: as well appear by these things a∣mongst many others: heartless fears, miss-be-lieff, I car∣ring to apply Christ, and to make vse of the promises, not rejoicing in Christ, and His propitiation with hu∣mility, when there is a discovery, challenges and appre∣hensions of want, short comming & failing of duetyes, which in effect is in a degree, and in part an establishing our own righteousness and not submitting to the Righ∣teousness of GOD. Not making vse of Christ, for San∣ctification, according to the promises of the Covenant, and not acting in a way of dependence on Him, in al the performances of our common Christian calling, and of particular lawful vocations, for direction, quickning, strength to mortify corruptions, to every duety and to carry vs through agaynst discowragements, & tenta∣tions: but acting only or most part by the strength of our own wits, abilityes, and payns

In not making vse of the Mediation and intercession of Christ, in approaching to the Throne of Grace, in prayers, supplications, and thanksgivings: while as

many doeth neglect prayer altogether albeit they have some course of performancce of this duety, yet knoweth not what it is to put their prayers vp to GOD thorow the Mediator, tho they may perhaps name His Name, but doth as that Uzziah who would offer in∣cense himself, neglecting the high priest: and even be∣lievers themselves doth not directly, distinctly, and steadfastly in their approaches to God, eye Christ, to offer in al their service through Him, nor do come with that humble boldness and full assurance of fayth in God as a Father, where with the intercession of Christ war∣randeth them to come, Heb. 10.19.20, 21, 22

4 Not walking as becometh the Gospell of Christ, in Righteousnes, godlines, and sobriety: many not-with∣standing their profession of the gospell, and claming interest in Christ, and His grace, yet living loose, pro∣fane, godless, carnall, and earthly in their way, in effect turning the grace of God, vnto wantoness & securety, and taking liberty to sin, because grace doth abound. And even best not so constrayned with the love of Christ, to live to Him, who dyed for them, not stry∣ving to keep the thoughts of the love of Christ, and the free grace of God, in Him, vpon their hears, so fresh & constant, as they should be, to keep thē watchfull, ten∣der zealous, & enlarged for God, and His Honour.

6. In relation to the operations of the Spirit wherein the Gospel is the Ministration, & maketh it effectuall, as:

1 Profane mocking, miscalling, & mis-interpreting the tender & acurat wolking of the Godly in the

wayes of God; as vnnecessary and prowd precyseness: And their Spirituall exercyses, as fantastickness, me∣lancholy, or madness. Which is a horrible sin, sib to that which is vnpardonable: yet, very frequent a∣mongst carnall and naturall people.

2 The meer naturall and morall way of living, in a civill honesty, and sitting down contented therewith, of the most part of people not labouring in their con∣versation, to walk after the Spirit: i. e. upon Spirituall Principles, according to the Spirituall Rule, (of Gods revealed Will in His Word,) nor for Spiritual ends the Honour of God, Glory, and immortality.

3 Not observing and yeelding vnto the knockings of the Spirit, whereby Christ maketh tender to come in to hearts, that He may sup with them, and they with Him: resisting and quenching His motions, whereby He stirreth vp to Duetyes stiffling or putting by His challenges, whether in publick or secret, which tendeth to repentance, humiliation, or with-draw-ing from sin; not being tender of His presence and consolations, to entertayn the same; but grieving Him, by mispryzing them, refusing them, careless walking, in not attending on His direction and guiding, in giving way to known sinfull thoughts, and lustings in a continued tract, altho not growing vp to a full accomplishing of them; and sometymes in giving way even to grosser out-brea∣kings, and in not watching agaynst predominant cor∣ruptions, whereof even the best are much guilty.

4 Not delighting in, nor improving Spiritual com∣pany and spirituall exercises.

7 Of Ministers, in relation to their preaching of the Gospell, as:

1 Many not labouring to sett foorth the Excellency of Christ in His Person, Offices, and the vnsearchable Riches of His Grace, the new Covenant, and the way of living by Fayth in Him: nor making this the mayn and chief Theme, and matter of their preaching, as did the Apostle, 1. Cor. 3.2. 2. Cor. 4.5. Coloss. 1.28. Nor preaching other things with a relation to Christ; To wit, Not preaching convictions, reprooffs, dis∣coveries of sin, and of short commings in Duetyes, and threatnings, to leade to Christ, to pryze Him the more highly, and to embrace Him the more earnestlie; espe∣cially for justification; and pressing Duetyes, in a meer legall way; not urging them, as by the authority of Gods Commandements; so from the love of Christ, & the grace of the Gospell, nor poynting and directing people to their furniture for them in Christ: often tymes craving hard, but giving nothing wherwith to pay.

2 What they preach of Christ, and the matters of the Gospell, not preaching the same in a Gospell way whereof. See 1. Cor. 3. from the beginning at length.

3 Not commending as they ought, neither their own work, whether of meditation, or delyverie, nor their hearts to Christ, that He might give the increass: but going about the work, either altogether in their own strength, or much that way.

4 Often tymes not speaking, because they believe, and many not seeking for communion with Christ, in their own personall estate; and to feele the power of the Word, vpon their own hearts: that they might speak so.

These branches of contemning and abusing of the Gospell, are thought fitt for the better Information of

all to bee held foorth at this tyme, as beeing most ob∣vious, recommending with all to Ministers, to apply themselues, to make a more full and particular disco∣very thereof; as is not doubted, but they will do, ac∣cording to their wisdom and vnderstanding, in the Gospell; and the experience they have by observation of their own hearts, and of the wayes and consciences of people.

It is also found needfull and appoynted, that in re∣guard it is not one or two, but many provocations of the people of God in this Land. which have drawn on the present sad calamities and judgements: and that the ser∣vants of God, tho they have condescended vpon many sinnes of the King and his Family of Iudicatories and of the people as vndoubted Causes thereof: yet are per∣swaded, that there is need of a further discovery. Ther∣fore vpon the foresayd day of Humiliation, & at other tymes both in publick and private earnest supplications to be made to God, for light and unanimity to His ser∣vants in this matter; that the causes of Gods wrath be∣ing more fully and throughly seen; and the hearts of al humbled accordingly befor God, wee may bee yet sett in a Way to fynd the Lords Mercy in due tyme.

FINIS.