approved there the same may be with publick humiliation all Religious answerable solemnity sworne subscribed by all true professors of the Reformed Religion all his Maj. good subjects in both Kingdoms Thereafter on the same day it was approvedby the Convention of estates then sent unto the kingdome of England where after mature deliberation it was approved by the learned assembly of Divines by Both Howses of Parliament by them in their solemne assemblies after sermon solemnely sworne subscribed by Ordinance of Parliament sworne suhscribed in all the parishes of the Kingdome a copy thereof appointed to be affixed in every parish Church also a faire Copy thereof with all the names of the members of Parliament who subscribed the same is ordained to be affixed at the end of the great Hall of Westminster When thus it was sworne subscribed in England The Commissioners of the Gen. Assembly Octob. 11. 1643. ordained the same to be with publick Humiliation all Religious solemnities received sworne subscribed by all ministers professours within the Kirk for this effect it is ordained That the League Covenant be forthwith printed that the printed copies bound with some clean sheets of paper be sent unto the ministry that every minister upon the first Lords day after the same shall come to his hands read explaine it by Exhortation prepare the people to the swearing subscribing thereof solemnely the Lords day next immediately following ordaine that presbiteries proceed with the censures of the church against all such as shall refuse or shift to swear subscribe the same And the Commissioners thinke it very convenient for good example the better encouragement of others that it be solemnely sworne subscribed by themselves now present before the Congregation in the East kirk upon friday next the 13 of this instant after sermon exhortation to be made by Mr Robert Douglas Moderator that the Commissioners of the Convention of estates now in towne the Commissioners from the Parliament of England Divines of that kingdome here present be earnestly desired to joyne with them in this solemne Religion action Upon the 12 of Octob. the Commissioners of the convention of Estates did also ordaine the same to be sworne subscribed under the paine of being punished as enemies to Religion his Maj. honour peace of the kingdoms to have their goods â—…ents confiscate c. also ordaine all Sheriffs Stuarts others his Maj. magistrates in Brugh land Committies in the severall shires to be assisting to ministers and presbiteries in procuriing reall obedience hereunto Which deed of the Commission of the Church was ratified approved by the Gen. assembly Jun. 28. 1645. So is the deed of the convention of estates their commissioners approved ratified by act of Parl. July 15. 1644. where the League Covenant is insert in the Registers Thus the kingdoms of Scotland England after other meanes of Supplication remonstrance Protestation and sufferings to the end they might preserve themselves and their Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practises of these Kingdomes in former times and the example of Gods people in other Nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutuall and solemne League and Covenant wherein all did subscribe and with hands lifted up to the most High God did swear as they should answer at that great day to God the searcher of all hearts That sincerly really and constantly they should endevour in their severall places and callings 1. To preserve the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine worship Discipline and Governement and to Reforme England and Ireland according to the word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and to bring the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith forme of Church governement Directory for worship and Catechising 2. To endevour the extirpation of popery Prelacy Superstition Heresy Schisme Prophaness and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godliness 3. To preserve the Rights and privileges of the Parliaments liberties of the Kingdomes and the Kings Maj. person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and liberties of the Kingdomes 4. To discover all such as have been or shall be incendiaries Malignants or evill Instruments hindering the Resermation of Religion dividing the king from his people and the kingdomes one from another or making any fâ—…on or parties among the people contrary to this League and Covenant that they may be brought to triall and condigne punishment 5. To endevour that these kingdomes may remaine conjoyned in a firme place union to all posterity 6. To assist such as enter into this Covenant and not to suffer themselves any maner of way to be divided or to make defection or to give themselves to a detestable indifferency and neutrality in this cause but shall continue â—…in against all opposition and promote the same according to their power against all sets and impedimentes whatsoever When these hands did thus enter in Covenant with the great God of heaven earth many of soul was converted which was as the finite of this noble Marriage when they saw the wonderfull works of the Lords right hand whereby he openly â—…nyably owned that Covenant such as entred into 〈◊〉 Then did these Churches flourish begin to have a beautifull countenance to be admired abroad by strangers who stood astonished at the report of what they did hear dayly of the Lords owneing fighting for that Covenant seconding the Covenanters in carrying on the Ends of the same But at length after the Lord had by many signes wonders testified his displeasure against broken the whole strength force of the Popish Prelaticall Malignant faction wrought deliverances in all the three kingdoms for the people that engadged in Covenant with him It seemed good in his eyes who doth all things according to the counsell of his own will to suffer another enemy to arise to trouble his Church to try his people viz. the Sectarian party who grew to such an hieght in the English Army that they over-ruled the Parliament of England putting away the House of Peers they modelled the House of Commons as they thought good erected a New Court which they called an High Court of Iustice before which they did Impannel the King at length did violently take away his life Januar. 30. 1649. against which deed the Commissioners both from the Church State of Scotland did protest were therefore hardly used at London When the report of this cometh to the eares of the Parliament of Scotland which was then sitting They upon the 5. of Febr. 1649. considering that for as much as the kings Maj. who lately reigned
furder proceeding in these things which grieve the Spirit of God and give offence to your Maj. good subjects who are engadged with you in the same Covenant and work of reformation And that your Maj. for establishing the hearts and strengthening the hands of these who are faithfull in the work of the Lord for quashing the hopes endeavours of adversaries would be pleased to give publick signification of your approbation of the Covenant And of your purpose to adhere unto the same to carry on the work of God in these Kingdoms according thereunto that your Maj. eyes may be upon the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with you We hope your Maj. will not take offence 〈◊〉 we be the Lord's remembrancers to you That you were pleased a little before your coming to this kingdom afterwards at the time of your coronation to assure declare by your solemne Oath under your hand seal in the presence oâ—… Almighty God The searcher of hearts your allowance approbation of the Nationall Covenant the Solemne League Covenant faithfully obligeing your self to prosecute the ends thereof in your station calling that your Maj. for your self Successours should consent agree to all acts of Parl. enjoyning the nationall Cov Solemne League Cov. fully establishing Presbyteriall Gov directory for Worship confession of faith Cathecismes in the Kingdom of Scotland as they are approven by the Gen. Assemblies of this kirk And Parliaments of this Kingdom And that your Maj. should give your Royall assent to acts ordinances of Parl. past or to be past enjoyning the same in your Maj. Dominions that yow should observe these in your practice family should never make opposition to any of those Nor endeavour any change thereof And we desire to be persuaded that no length of time hath made your Maj. forget Or weakened in your Maj. heart the sense of the obligation of the great solemne Oath of God in the Covenants Yea that the afflictions where with God hath exercised your Maj. these years past the great wonderfull deliverance that of late he hath granted unto you hath fixed deeper Impressions upon your heart spirit that among all the kings of the earth Reformation of Religion shall have no greater friend then your Maj Yea that as yee are more excellent then the kings of the Earth in regaird of the purity of profession solemne engadgments unto God And long exercisednesse with manifold afflictions in the Lord 's setting you over these Kingdomes which are not only thorow grace the first fruites of the gentiles But also are among all we know in the World the most eminent for the power purity of the Gospel So shall your Maj. in your Princely Station dignity excell them in the zeal of God for the Kingdom of Iesus Christ And that by how much more your Maj. by the constitution good hand of the Almighty is lifted up above the sphere of your subjects by so much more shall your motion be more vigorous active unto the carrying about by the influence of your royall Head by your example all the Orbs of inferiour powers persones in these kingdomes in subordination to God your Maj. in the practice of godlinesse vertue It is the desire of our soul that your Maj. may be like unto David a man according to Gods own heart Like unto Solomon of an understanding heart to judge the Lord's people to discerne betwixt good bad Like unto Iehosaphat whose heart was lifted up in the wayes of the Lord Like unto Hezekiah eminent for godlinesse and integrity Like unto Iosiah who was of a tender heart did humble himself before God when he heard his word against Ierusalem the inhabitants of Iudah and not only made a Covenant before the Lord to walk after the Lord and keep his commandements with all his heart and with all his soul to performe the Covenant but also caused all that were in Ierusalem Benjamin to stand to it took away the abomination out of all the countreyes that pertained to all the children of Israël and made all that were present in Israël to serve even to serve the Lord their God So shall your Maj. inherite the honour blessing of these kings upon the earth and their happinesse in heaven So shall your Maj. person be preserved your government established over these kingdomes Which is the unfeigned desire and fervent supplication of your Maj. most humble loyall subjects Now the Reader having considered this humble addresse and supplication may judge if there was any thing therin either treasonable or seditious reflecting on his Maj. on the government of the kingdom of England or the constitution of the present Committy of Estates or any thing tending to the raiseing of new tumults and re-kindleing a civill warre among his Maj. good subjects as their enemies were pleased to give it out oâ—… which did deserve imprisonement yea whether it was not their duty the duty of all the Ministers of Scotland to be thus faithfull in giving timeous warning and faithfull exhortation unto their Prince that they might have prevented as much as lay in them the sad defection which was then feared indeed followed thereafter Nether let any say that such things might well be gathered from their other letters for they had nothing beside that letter save some scrols of a letter and some instructions to one of their number for no other purpose then for the communicating of the supplication unto the Ministers of their judgment in severall Presbyteries within the Synod of Glasgow for desiring their approbation thereof concurrence therein This is one sad dispensation But it is only the beginning of sorrow of much woe following SECTION IIII. The suffering of the Noble Marquise of Argile who was executed the 27 Day of May 1661. examined by law WHile the Parliament is in hand with reverend Mr Guthriâ—… who had been a prisoner since the 23 day of August 1660 of whom mention shall be made in the next section They have also the worthy renowned Marguese of Argile among their hands who though he had a maine hand in bringing home the king closeing the second treaty at Breda yet while he is going up to London after the kings late returne from exile to congratulat his Maj. returne is made prisoner in the Tour of London thereafter is sent down to Scotland indited of heigh treason before the Parl. at length is beheaded his head is stuck up upon the tolbooth of Edenburgh Questionlesse strangers will think it behoved to be some great matter for which the life of such an eminent famous nobleman who had been so renowned at home abroad for his faithfulnesse and constancy in carrying on the work cause of God was taken But the very truth is what ever
been already said Obs 8. Mr Stilling fleet is not well pleased with such as lay any weight upon the former ground mentioned viz Christ's being obliged there unto by his office as mediator King Lord of his house would have them rather proving that Christ hath determined a forme of Governement then that he ought so to have done Therefore we shall shew that Christ hath so done indeed And what the Apostles did at his command or by vertue of the commission he gave unto them will easily be granted to be equivalent But to passe this Christ himself hath laid down the maine ground foundation of a species of governement in Math. 18 ver 15 16 17. For there he is setting down a course for the removing of scandalls that will fall out among his Disciples followers ordering the matter so that when privat meanes will not gaine the offending brother more publick meanes must be used he must be brought unto the Church judicature that Church judicature hath power to excommunicat him if so be he heare them not as to the removing of the scandall It is true many parties endeavour to presse these words for their own use but it will not hence follow that therefore these words are incompetent to determine any one forme for if this ground be relevant much of the scripture should become incompetent to determine matters of faith doctine because severall parties labour to wrest the same to their own judgment It would be tedious here to examine the clames of all parties unto this place the present work is only to deal with Mr Stillingsleet therefore only his notions concerning this place must be examined Concerning this place then he giveth his judgment 2. part cap. 5. § 8. first he taketh the trespasses mentioned to be matters of private offence injury not matters of Scandall his grounds are these 1. The parallel place Luk. 17 ver 3. is to be understood of privat injuries because it is in the power of each privat person to forgive them Ans. So said Erastus before him but after narrow search it will be found that the forgiving mentioned in the Text Math. 18. is a desisting from any further prosecution of the bussinesse a forgiving which must not be granted untill the brother be gained But whether the offending brother be gained or not all private injuris must be forgiven him none must keep up a Spirit of revenge against him And therefore these trespasses must be matters of Scandall which unlesse the offending brother be gained must be prosecuted untill the yondmost step be used 2. He sayeth It appears from the next words of Peter ver 20. This is another of Erastus's shifts But for answere It will not appear till Mr Stillingfleet first cleare that there is such a connexion betwixt these verses as will undoubtedly demonstrat that one purpose is to be understood in Both. But commentators shewe the matter to be otherwise indeed there is nothing that can so much as ground a probability of such a connexion here unlesse it be these words Then came Peter to him but whosoever shall look on Luk. 8 v. 19. shall have the like thus Then came to him his mother c. And yet this was not immediatly after what was said before as will appear when compared with other Evangelists And so since it is not certaine that this was immediatly after the former purpose no reason can be given to evince the identity of these purposes 3. He sayeth If it were meant of any scandalous sin it might so fall out that matters of scandal should be brought before the Church when only one person knowes it Ans. It is not said that every such scandall or trespasse whereof only one is conscious should be brought in publick but that more noture scandalls ought to be brought before Church judicatures when more privat admonitions will not gaine the offender But 2. This inconvenience will recurre upon himself in the case of privat offences But next as to the word Church he sayes It is a select company called together to hear the whole cause this was agreable to the jewish practice pudefacere coram multis delictum publicare to this the Apostle alludeth 2 Cor. 2 v. 6. this is the reproof before all 1 Tim. 5 v. 20. Ans. 1. The word Church is not usually so taken in the New Testament the Hebrew words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Old Test. do alwayes import a company imbodied in a stated way as a fixed congregation either for governement or Worship Mr Leigh in his Critica sacra sayeth that among the Grecians chiefly the Athenians from whom it came it was used for a multitude called together by the command of a Magistrat 2. Christ sayeth tell the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so directeth them to a fixed standing company 3. That pudefacere coram multie being the same with 2 Cor. 2 6 the censure of many confirmeth this For that censure was by a Church judicature conveened in the name of the Lord Iesus to take course with a scandalous person 1 Cor. 5. Againe 4. No commentator taketh the words so only Grotius other Erastians put such a glosse upon them 5. Christ's scope is to have the offending brother gained not to have matters of fact which are questionable cleared 6. If this be the meaning of the word Church what shall be the sense meaning of these words Let him be unto thee as a heathen man a Publican He answereth Tho meaning is look upon him as an obstinat refractary creature meddle no more with him then with a heathen a publican And is this all the punishment which the offender must meet with Who gave privat men this power to passe such a sentence But 2. This must be a Church sentence because it is added Whatsoever you shall binde on earth shall be bound in Heaven c. To this he replyeth That the meaning is it is an evidence that his sin is bound upon him that he is lyable to punishment But how is his sin bound upon him or how is he made lyable to punishment There must be something done on earth which God must ratify in Heaven on earth there is none to do any thing but either the pursuer himself or the select company It cannot be the pursuer for that were a dreadful intolerable slavery to subjecte every man to the lust of his enemy pursuer If it be the select company how or whence have they this power If they be cloathed with authority then are they a judicature this is the thing pleaded for And thus it appeareth that scandals are here understood that this Church is a Church judicature notwithstanding of all which Mr Still hath said to the contrary which is but the very same which others had said