justifie a bad Action If we should spear at some Ministers wherefore bowed ye to the Supremacy wherefore accepted ye the Indulgence It was â—o get liberty to Preâ—ch the Gospel say they Wherefore did ye accept this Toleration They will Answer it was to Preach the Gospel that we did it and it was the Salvation oâ— Souls that we intended thâ—reby and is not that a very good end Poor Man has thy Preaching no other end but the Salvation of Souls Ay ay ye think ye have a brave Pleâ— of it but remember though it be the indispensible Duty of Ministers to Preach the Gospel yet to accept of a Liberty to preach the Gospel no way which encroaches upon and wrongs the Prerogatives of the great King and head of the Church is a sin though their end be good in accepting the same Where is thy Obedience Man For Obedience is better than Sacrifice Constancy and Faithfulness in the Matters of God is called for at Ministers hands The conversion and edification of Souls is indeed the great end of pâ—eacâ—ing the Gospel but that is not all it is but the one half of the end of it There is also the Glory of Christ He must and will be Gloâ—ified whether Souls get good by iâ— or no For the Preaching of the Gospel is not only the Testimony of Christ but the Testimony for Christ Ministers must obey all Christs Commands For what cares the Lord for thy Sacrifice or thee either that thou has gottâ— from the Aâ—â—â—lekites For the preâ—ching of the Gospel by accepting and improving of the Liberty granted by this Toleration is not a Testimony for Christ seing it so wroâ—gs and 〈◊〉 upon the Prerogatives of Christ And it is no less than presumption for any to expect the Lord's presence at any of the Tolerated Meetings For they have not a promise for i◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 And now â—â—ough we suffer under their Hâ—nds for this we have nothing to say ouâ—â—dore the Righteousness of the LORD therein Thirdly Another Aggravation of Saul's Sin was a disobeying a perâ—mptor Commission which he got to go and destâ—oy the Amalekites beside what the Children of 〈◊〉 goâ— in commandment from the Lord to blot out the remembrance of them from under Heâ—â—â—n Deut. 25 17. â—aul got a particular Commiâ—â—â—on to go and destroy them all and to have nothing â—o do with theâ— The Lord hath told us and we are commâ—nded perempâ—orly not to meddle with his Enemies and to have a 〈◊〉 not to 〈…〉 It is utterly unlawful in matters of Religion to tamper with the Eâ—emies of God and yet for all this we cannot forbear to take and give with them out Fathers 〈◊〉 with them when they fell upon these Resoluâ—â—ons and all alongst 〈◊〉 our â—ampering with them 〈◊〉 destroyed us and we conâ—inue this day to run ouâ— Heads against the Bosses of 〈◊〉 's Backâ—ers and on these Rocks on which the People of God have perished formerly Then in the lâ—â—t pâ—â—ce the Propheâ—â— convincâ—ng him of his sin Wherefore 〈◊〉 thou not Obey the Voice of the LORâ— And here the Proâ—het 〈◊〉 iâ— Rebellion Hence we Note that all Rebellions in the World Rebellion against GOD is the greatest and of all Rebellions in the World the Rebellion of a King against GOD is the greatest For it is called here as the sin of Witchcraft The Brutishness of the Enemies appeared much in using this Argument that Rebellion was is the sin of 〈◊〉 against some of the Prisoners taken at Pentland but some of them â—nswered very pertinently which was to this purpose that the Rebellioâ— there spoken of was not the Rebellion of a People against a King But the Rebellion of a King against GOD and this was Sauls sin It iâ— true to Rebell against Lawfull Mâ—â—istrates that are Ordained of GOD 〈…〉 sin but it is no Rebellion to 〈…〉 But now what is this Rebellion There 〈◊〉 several things in Scripture called Rebellion against GOD. I shall mentâ—on these five or six of them First Murmuring against the LORD is called 〈…〉 Numb 14 9. O there hath been much sed Murmuring in ouâ— days many of us hath murmured in the Wilderness We have 〈◊〉 against him And it is to be feared that many of uâ— shall die in Ordinances appointed by Him 〈◊〉 His word Josh 22 19. But 〈◊〉 not against the Lord nor against us in building you an Altar 〈◊〉 the Altar of the Lord our God. Alas 〈◊〉 hâ—th been much of this Rebellion in Scotland setting up Worship not according to his 〈◊〉 Inveâ—ting preverting and corrupâ—â—ng the Worship of GOD Hence conformity with Prelacy 〈◊〉 Rebellion against God For he never appoint 〈◊〉 Lord his 〈…〉 Word It is none of his Ordinances Hence this Antichristian Toleration is 〈◊〉 against GOD There is no Warrant for it in his Word The 〈…〉 of this Toleration whereby the power which the 〈◊〉 claims in 〈…〉 is Recogâ—osâ—â— the Evils in it in â—ffect justified and not witnessed agâ—inst and the wicked Design of its gâ—â—nting strengthened is Rebellion against GOD and this Toleration is a 〈…〉 against GOD The Clâ—iming an Absolute power which is the prerogative of God O such a dreadful day 〈◊〉 coming upon him and all that take part with him Thirdly 〈◊〉 iâ— called Rebelliâ—n against GOD Isa 1 2 O there hath been much 〈…〉 and Ways in Scotland There is a great Backsliding from Prâ—ctice Princâ—ples 〈…〉 it was always the Pâ—â—â—ciple of the Church oâ— Scotland to oppose Tyranny and 〈…〉 the Doctrine of the Church of Scotland to be against a Toleration It was their conâ—â—ant Principles neither â—o give Toleration to Papists noâ— take 〈◊〉 from Papists But O there is a great Backsliding from former Fâ—ithfulness and from former Love and Zeâ—l Fourthly Obstinary and â—eâ—using to hearken to the Coâ—â—andments of the Lord and to turn again unto Him is 〈◊〉 Rebellion Ezek. 20 â— Dan. 9. 5. O there hath been much Rebellion in Scotlands Fifthly Confederacy and Asâ—ociation with the Enemies of GOD it called Religion agâ—inst Him Hosea 7. 14. And they Rebelled against ME. And one of the ways whereby they Rebelled against 〈…〉 calling to Egâ—â—â— and going to Assyria 〈…〉 11. they were going back to Egypt to geâ— help from them that was in Conâ—edeâ—â—â—â—â— and making 〈◊〉 with them O there is much of this Rebellion in Scotland many â—re saying a Confederâ—cy with enemies and are at Peace with them and this Rebellion is the sin and shame and the Judgment of Backsliding Scotland And wâ— to â—ll them that have any â—ccession to this dreadful Confederacy I shall say no more at this time The LORD Himself give you to consider what is said Amen
Faithful in Witnâ—ssing for Truâ—h but they must wrestle with Gâ—d as well as for God and their Wiâ—nâ—ss must be as publick as can be fâ—r the expressions of seeking the truth and mâ—king up the Hedâ—e does import iâ— seeing these cannot be done buâ— in a publick manner But alas There is nâ—ne found this day to stand in the Gap and to plead with their Mother thaâ— she should put away her Whoredome and Defections yet it is the only way to turn away Wrath for all that Hoâ—ea 2. 2. Ala We have few in Scotland this day to Wresâ—le Mourn and Plead And yet every Rebellion that it done against Gâ—d when we do not declare against it we declare our selves guilty of concealing Treason Secondly Against whom should we Witness against all Great or Sin â—ll they must not Spare tâ—em when they Sin eiâ—her 〈◊〉 Fear or Favâ—ur So we find Samuel here did Witness against Saul and Nathan the Prophet did Witness against David Hanani the Seir against Assa and against Jâ—hâ—shaphat So we find â—â—aiah did Witness agâ—inst Hezekiah Elijah against Jerobeam and Elijah against Achab. Yea many times these Examples has been â—dâ—uced to us to Witness against all Sins be 〈…〉 it will Especially Mâ—nisters shâ—uld preach against the sins of Tyrants Our ancient Reâ—â—â—mers at the beginning or the Reformation made use of the freedom and faithfulness of the Prophets in reproving the sins of the King of Judah and Israel to prove the lawfulnâ—ss of what they did in reproving the sins of the Great Folk in their time And some of tâ—en took the Freedâ—m to say there is many Folk now a days that wiâ—l hâ—ve no other Religion than the Queens and the Queen wiâ—l have no oâ—her Religion than the Cardinals and the Cardinal wiâ—l have no other Religion than the 〈◊〉 and the Pâ—pe will have no other Religion than what pleases the Dâ—viâ— And so it may be said of many in our dâ—y Many will have no other Minister but such as pleases the King the King does nâ—thing but that pleases the Pope the Pope dâ—es nothing but what pleases the Devil And look Ye and see what sort of Preaching that must be then Have ye not a brave Tolleration of it then For upon these Terms was it given That Ministers should preach nothing that war Seâ—itâ—â—us â—r Treasonable or might any way tend to alâ—enat the hearts of the People from the King and his Government And what is that But that they shâ—uld preach nothing against the sins of the Time nothing of the Tyrannie of the Time nâ—thing against that Absâ—lute Power he hath arrogated nothing of the Incoming of Pâ—pery at the Gate and Gap of this Tolleration nor of the Snares of the Times not what was the People's Duty in such a Case for that would be Seditâ—â—us by the King the Pope And christ and the Devil And alas it is sad 〈…〉 that this Toleration is complyed with and that the Freedom and Faithfulness that shouâ—d be used in these things is forborn by the Ministers that Preaches in the Meeting Houses for this pleases the King and the Pope and the Devil well Thirdly When is the time that Ministers should be thus Free Faithful and Publick to Witness against publick sins Samuel took a very fit time to reprove and convince Saul just after the committing of the sin And if ever there was a time to Witness against publick Sins this is it But in Answer to this I shall shew you from Scripture when is the time and Season of giving a publick Witness and Testimony for Truth and against Sin. As first when Enemies are relenting a little from thâ—ir Cruâ—lty former Rage and Fury against the Lord's People yields somewhat and offers Liberty upon easier Terms than before when they are very accommodating and yielding then that is the verâ— Season of a Testimony for Truth without yeilding in the least to them Thus it was with Pharaoh he was very stubborn at first but after that he had keeped the Children of â—rael long in â—ond he yields much and grants to let them go upon condition that they would let him but keep some of the Sheep but Moses thought this a fit time of giving a Testimony he would not yeild to Pharaoh in this not a Hoof says Moses shall be left behind us and we should all be Slaves this Hundred Years Nâ—y though we should never be delivered The Tyrant upon the Throte hath somewhat relented of his former Fury he hath yeilded somewhat and offers Accommodation with the Lord's People but yet upon câ—nditionâ— Destructive to the cause of Christ Then now is a time of giving a Testimony declaring thâ—â— we will not quite one Hâ—of of Truth nor yeild to him in the feast So when ever Enemies will be pleased with less than formerly that is the time to testifie against Sin. Secondly When ever there is a Toleratiâ—n granted when Idolatry and Iâ—â—laters is Tollerated as in Judâ—es 20. The Children 〈…〉 to the Cananites there came an Angel of the Lord to wit a Prâ—phet and testified against thâ—m And Soul hâ—re had given a Toleration to Agag by sparing of his Life Samâ—â—â— testified against him and tâ—ld him that he was but a Rebel to 〈◊〉 for the doing if it◠〈◊〉 when 〈◊〉 gave a Toleratiâ—n to 〈◊〉 he called him his Brother and 〈◊〉 his Life there comes a Prâ—phet 〈◊〉 the Lord and reproveâ— him 1 Kings â—0 and says Thy Life shall go 〈◊〉 his Life and 〈◊〉 People 〈…〉 As also when Ahâ—z toâ—k a Toleration from the Aâ—syrious and entered into 〈◊〉 Assâ—ciâ—tion and Confederacy with Tiglath Pelezar King â—f 〈◊〉 the Prophet 〈◊〉 thought this the Season of giving a Testimony Chap 8 12 Saâ— ye 〈◊〉 a Conâ—ederacy to all them to whom this People shall say a Câ—nâ—ederacy And is not nâ—w Idolatry and Idolaters Tollerated is not Papists and Quakers Tolerated Then this is the time of giving a Testimony for Truth and against every thing contrarâ— to it Then Thirdly When People are halting between two Opinions then is the time of giving a Testimony as Elijah the Prophet did 1 Kings 18. When the Children of Israel were halting between two Opinions he shewed himself to Achab who has sâ—ught his Life many a day before And at this time many People are halting between twâ— Opinions for some will go to the Curats one day and to the Tolerated Meetings another and come to the Field Meetings the Third then this is the time of giving a Testimony For we must tell you not to halt between two Opinions and as Elijah said to them if the Lord be God follow Him but if Beal then follow Him So we say unto you if ye be for God then avouch it and of you be for Antichrist then be for Antichrist it is no time now to keep Peace both with CHRIST and Antichrist for it is a thing impâ—ssible Fourthly When the wicked are very high in Power as Hâ—man in the Days of
Mordecal then is the time of giving a Testimony as we see Mordeeâ—â— did he would not Reverence him nor reveal his Cap to him though his Life should have gone for it and the Life of all the Jews So now is not now the Papists high in Pâ—wer Hosea 8 1 Set ye the Trumpet to thy mouth and what shall he sound when he hath it there Even this among these things Verse 4. They have set up Kings but not by me They have set up a Popish Tyrant upon the Throne of Britain for which the Wrath of God shall come on this Land. When Enemies are come to a great height of Heaven daring Wickedness is it not then a time for Ministers to preach freely against them To set the Trumpet to their mouth and give a certain sound O it was the Duty of all the Ministers in Scotland when ever this Popish Tyrant mounted the Throne to have set the Trumpet to their Mouth and sounded an Alarm and to have given the People Warning of the great danger they were in thereby they should have told them they have set up a Tyrant yonder upon the Throne of Britain and Ireland who is seeking to Subvert and overturn Religion and all the Liberties of Mankind and he hath now arrogate to himself an absolute Power whereby he may do what he pleases O therefore have a care of your selves have nothing ado with him make no Bargain or Transaction with them Fifthly When the Servants of God are in hazard to be destroyed for the Testimony and are to be massacred and murdered by Cruel bloody Enemies then is the Season of a Testimony and appearing publickly to tell the People the hazard in ordeâ— to the preventing of the same as we see in the case of Mordâ—cai and Esther when the Jews were in hazard to be massacred and murdered And now are we not all as really in hazard to be massacred and murdered as ever the Jews were For it is well known that the Papists have as great hatred at aâ—l Preâ—byterians as they had at the Jews and is not this the time of giving a Testimâ—ny against them Alas it is sad to see many at peace with Papists and like to live in Neighbourhâ—od with them But I must tell you it there is not a Man this day in Scotland at Peace with Papists but he is a Râ—bel to Christ For if he were faithful to Christ then he miâ—ht expâ—ct to have Satan and all his Instruments on his top Sixthly The time 〈◊〉 Defectiâ—n especially the time of Defections of Ministers is the season of giving a publick Testimony so Truth against them as we see in the 13 of Ezek 2 verse He it bidden Prophesie against the Prophets and also he is bidden tell them they are but Daubers and that the Wall should â—all which they had daubed with untempered Mortar and we have also this to mâ—kâ— the Sâ—â—sâ—nâ—fâ— a publick Testimony for truth and we shâ—uld look upâ—n the havinâ— of it as matter of Sorrow and Lamentation But alas hath not many Mâ—â—â—sters this day gâ—ne on in sad stâ—ps of Deâ—ection are they not daubing with Vntempered Mortar This shâ—uld be told them that they are unfaithful to Christ in doing such things and that by their so doing that they bring not only the Wrath of GOD upon themselves but upon the whâ—le Land. Seventhly When the Testimony is discharged and Duty interdicted by Law then is the very Season for a Testimony for it As in Daniel's time when Prayers were interdicted by Law he would prâ—â— then as well as ever though he was a very wise man and no Pharisee yet he not only disobeyed the wicked Law but he wouâ—d let his Enemies know it that he did not â—bey it by opening his windows And have we not this also to make this the very season of a Testimony for truâ—h and against enemies when the Covenants are not only broken and burnt but declared Criminal to be owned and this makes it the very time of declaring publickly the Obligaâ—ion thereof upâ—n us and our Adherence thereunto Likewise is not Field-Meetings which the LORD many times signally countenanced strictly interdicted by a wicked Law and dischaâ—ged under pain of Death and this makes it to be an inavoidable Testimony to keep them up 〈◊〉 bloud shâ—uld be mingled with our Sacrâ—fice Now by these things may we not see when â—he Seâ—son is for giving a publick Testimony for Truth and against the Enemies thereâ—f And 〈◊〉 have all these concurâ—ing in our Câ—se which makes the giving of a publick Testimonie for Truth and against in Enemies an indispensible Duty For in our Case the Object is â—eat Now â—hen the Prerogatives of CHRIST Who is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth is usuâ—ped by this Absolute Power which the Tyrant upon the Throne this Vâ—sse◠〈◊〉 Antichrist hath blasphemously arrogated to himself When this Popish Tyrant claim this absolute Power to himself and when the Privileges of the Church and Liberties of Mankind is encroached upon by this Monster and when the Wrath of God is burning against the Generation 〈…〉 then to keep silence O who caâ— hold his Peace The Lyon hath Roared who can but 〈◊〉 There is none can hold their Tongue that hath any Zeal for the Gâ—d of Israel No he they cannot Secondly The second thing to be considered is Saul's accâ—sting of Samuel when they were met Saul took the first word for he had an ill Conscience in this There is these two things First 〈◊〉 flattering Complement just like the Flatterers in our day Secondly A flauoring Profession First then There is here a flattering Complement and Saul said unto him Blessed be thou of the Lord O Terrible this was a taking of the Lords Name 〈◊〉 vain Hence we observe That Hâ—pocritical Enemies of God are sometimes very free of their Complements and oftimes are very ready to bleâ—s as Saul was here but their Blessing had better been wanting for they are noâ—hing worth We find this Expression very frequent blessed be thou of the Lord As First When any body gives them any thing then they will get their Blessing for it as we see Micahâ—s Mother did when he told her that he had the eleven hundred Shekels of Silver about which she had cursed and she said Blâ—ssed be thou of the Lord my Son Judges 17 2. So if any Body will give the Enemies any thing they may expect their Blessing but they will not be much the Richer of it when they have gotten it Secondly When any Body makes any Address to them or help them to do an â—ll Turn then they will get their Blessing for iâ— As when the Ziphâ—tes these Intelligencers came and told Saul where David was and Saul said Blâ—ssed be ye of the Lordâ— as if he had said Blessed be ye of the Lord for ye are â—oyal Subjects seing ye câ—me to tell me where my Enemie David hâ—unâ—s bleâ—â—ed be ye Thirdlie When such an Occasiâ—n