A DECLARATION OF THE ARMY OF ENGLAND Upon their March into SCOTLAND AS ALSO A Letter of his EXCELLENCY the Lord Generall CROMWELL To the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of SCOTLAND Together with a Vindication of the aforesaid Declaration from the uncharitable Constructions odious Imputations and scandalous Aspersions of the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland in their Reply thereto And an Answer of the Vnder-Officers and Souldiers of the Army to a Paper directed to them from the people of SCOTLAND Printed at London and reprinted at Edinburgh by Evan Tyler 1650. A DECLARATION of the ARMY of England upon their march into Scotland To all that are Saints and Partakers of the Faith of GODS Elect in Scotland WE the Army of England do from the bottom of our Hearts wish l ke Mercy and Truth Light and Liberty with our selves from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Althâ—ugh we have no cause to doubt but that the Declaration of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England bearing date the 26. of June 1650. and published to manifest to the World the Justice and Necessity of sending their Army into Scotland may satisfie all impartiall and uninterested men in all the Nations round about us the matters of Fact therein contained being true and the Conclusions made from thence and the Resolutions thereupon taken agreeable to the Principles of Râ—ligion Nature and Nations and therefore it may seem to some if not improper yet superfluous for us their Army to say any more Yet however out of our tendernesse towards you whom we look upon as our Brethren and our desire to make a distinction and separation of you from the rest as who through the cunning practices of some wicked and designing men byassed by particular Interests or for want of a true and right Information and Representation of the great and wonderful Transactions wrought amongst us and brought to passe by the meer finger of our GOD may possibly be scandalized at some late actions in England and thereby be involved in that common Cause so much from Heaven declared against by blasting all persons and parties that at any time in the least under what pretence or disguise soever engaged therein and so with them to become partakers of their Miseries We have therefore thought fit to speak to some particulars and that as in the presence of the Lord to whose Grace and in the dread of whose Name we do most humbly Appeal and who should we come to a day of Engagement will be a sore witnesse against us if we utter these things in hypocrisie and not out of bowels of love to perswade the Hearts and Consciences of those that are godly in Scotland that so they may be withdrawn from partaking in the sin and punishment of evill doers or that at least we might exonerate our selves before God and Man do Remonstrate as followeth And for as much as we believe many godly people in Scotland are not satisfied with the proceedings of this Nation concerning the death of the late King the rejection of his Issue the change of the Government and severall actions conversant thereabout Although it cannot be supposed that we shall in this Paper meet with all Objections that may be made these very particulars alone requiring more lines then we intend in the whole Yet we briefly say That we were engaged in a War with the said King for the Defence of our Religion and Liberties and how many times Propositions for a safe and well grounded Peace were offered to him and how often he refused to consent thereto you well know which according to humane accompt he might have closed with had not the righteous God who knoweth the deceitful heart of man and is the Preserver of Mankinde especially of his people in his secret judgement denyed him a heart to assent thereto By which Refusals he made it appear That nothing lesse would satisfie then to have it in his own power to destroy Religion and Liberties the subversion whereof he had so often attempted That He was a man guilty of more Innocent Blood in England Ireland and Scotland even of those he ought to have preserved as a Father his Children then any of his Predecessors or we think then any History mentioneth the guilt whereof he brought upon his Family by solemn Appeals to God That the Son did tread in the Fathers steps and pursue his Designes destructive to Religion and Liberty That a party in Parliament false to God and to their trust were willing and did endeavour to betray the Cause into the late Kings hands That a remaining number in Parliament desiring to be true to God and to the People that intruâ—â—ed them out of Integrity of Heart and fearing that the high Displeasure of God would fall upon them if they had not done it did bring to Justice and cause to be executed the said King did reject the Person now with you did lay aside the House of Lord an Estate not representing the Pâ—ople nor trusted with their Liberties yet at that time very forward to give up the Peoples Rights and obstruct what might save them and alwayes apt enough to joyn with Kingly Interest against the Peoples Liberties whereof we wish you have not the like sad experience and did for the good of the People resolve the Government into a Commonwealth And having done all this that they are not accountable to any other Nation â—s sufficient to say to you except it be to exciâ—e you to rejoyce in this wonderful work of God and to be thankful to him for so much Deliverance as you have thereby and leave the rest to the State of England to whom it doth onely and properly belong who have manifested their regular proceedings therein according to the true and equitable â—ntent of the constitution of England and the Representors of the People in Parliament in their several and respective Declarations if they be looked into to wh ch we refer you Besides it is worthy consideration with how many Providences this Series of Action hath been blest which would require a Volumn to recount If Treaties be urged against us It is easie to say by whom they were broken and how eminently even by the then full authority of the Parliament of Scotland and the Invasion by Duke Hamilton and yet that not the first breach neither And if it be saâ—d That hath been procested against and revoked since We ask Doth that make up the breach so as to challenge England still upon Agreements and Articles you know as to Right it doth not except you suppose that England made their bargain so That Scotland might break and England remain bound whereas it is a known Law of Nations That in the breach of the League by the one party the other is no longâ—r obliged If the Covenant be alleaged against us this may be said by us with honesty and clearnesse Religion having therein the first place civil Liberties the next
exceedingly stirred up to pray to the Lord even day and night that he would arise to destroy Antichrist save his People Whilst this spirit of prayer was poured forth upon Gods People in England Attempts were made upon Scotland to bring them to a conformity in Religious worship by endeavoring to impose upon them a Popish Service-Book which was through the great goodnes of God by his People in Scotland rejected which made the wrath of the late King and his Prelates wax so hot against them that Scotland 〈…〉 â—erve it self but by coming into England 〈…〉 the godly in England did not then count an Invaâ—â—on to destroy Eâ—gland no more than they do this our preseâ—t march for the ruine of Scotland but rejoyced to see some appearing against that Antichristian power that had persecuted the Saints and were assured that the Lord was come forth to answer the many prayers and tears that were then poured fortâ— foâ— that purpose And therefore so far as we had aâ—y oportunity furtherâ—d the designs of that Army some of us hazarding ou lives by spreading their Book intituled The Scots Intentions and pleading for the lawfulnesse of their proceedings Let us remember how the Lord was pleased graciously to â—nswer the prayers of his Pâ—opâ—â— at that time in their deâ—â—â—â—rance from the Army aised by the 〈◊〉 King his Prelates for the destruction of all the People of G d in England and Scotland in so much that soon after Scotland sits in peace enjoyiâ—â— their former Liberties without being imposed upon by the Antichristian Prelacie in England England obtains a Parliament to whom they have oportunity to complain of their grievances and through the great goodnes of God so constituted that grievances are heard and Overtures made by them to the late King for their redresse which was so irksome to his oppressing tyrannical and bloody spirit that he again betakes himself to overthrow the Pa liament by force and to that end entertains the Officers of the Army that had gone forth against our Brethren of Scotland and withdrawing himself from his Parliament an appearance of a Civil War begins which being made known to us the Inferiour Officers and Souldiers of this Army then in our private callings we found our hearts extraordinarily stirred up by the Lord to assist the Parliament against the King being abundantly satisfied in our Judgements and consciences that we were called forth by the Lord to be instrumental to bring about that which was our contâ—nual prayer to God viz. the destruction of Antichrist and the deliverance of his Church and People And upon this simple account we engaged not knowing the deep Policies of worldly Statesmen and have ever since hazarded our lives in the hie places of the field where we have seen the wonders of the Lord against all the opposers of this Work of of Jesus Christ whom we have all along seen going with us and making our way plain before us And having these things singly â—n our eye namely the destruction of Antichrist the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ the deliverance and 〈…〉 Church in the establishment of his Ordinancâ—â— amongâ—â— theâ— in purity according to his Word the just Civil Liberties of English men We did many of us rejoyce at the Covenant because we found in it a strain to these ends Although some being more enlightened did apprehend it to be so mixt with worldly interest that they justly feared that the interest of Jesus Christ would be onely pretended to and the interest of this World yea of Antichrist himself carryed on under a vizard as we have since had abundant experience of which hath made us we confesse not to Idolize the Covenant as we fear too many do though we trust it will appear before God Angels and Men that we shall ever pursue its true and lawful ends according to the plain and candide meaning thereof though we do not upon every occasion urge the Covenant as we see every party though as far different as Light and Darknes is apt to do the Lord having by his Word and by his Spirit convinced us of our duty therein though there had been no such Covenant at all entered into But when we saw that under the pretence of the Covenant A Corrupt party in Parlâ—ament by their worldly policy after the War was ended in England and the late Kings Party subdued with the losse of thousands of the lives of Saints whose death is precious in the sight of the Lord did endeavour to set up the King upon his own tearms and with him to establish a National Church-Government not in all things agreeablâ— to the word of God but destructive to the just Liberties of the true spiritual Church of Christ which he hath by his own most precious Blood purchased for them and is now come forth to bestow upon them which did sufficiently demonstrate it self by the de lings of the then Master-builders with the Churches of Jesuâ— Chrisâ— in and about London that were then threatned to be dissolvâ—d and Laws making for preventing the Communion of Saints with one another except onely in that one publique Form then about to be established to the great astonishment of many of us that had lifted up oâ—t hands to God and sworn to endeavour a Reformation accordâ—ng to the Word of God and therefore after much waiting upon Gâ—d by prayer and examining our own hearts about the ends and sâ— cerity thereof we were abundantly satisfied that it was not onely lawfull but our duty to keep our Arms in our hands till the ends before-mentioned 〈…〉 to that purpose the Army whereof we 〈…〉 and did march up to London to propose to th◠〈…〉 establishment that might be more forthe carrying on of th◠〈◊〉 of Religion and Liberty and though therein we were not at that time successefull yet most wonderfully and graciously preserved by the Lord extraordinarily convinced after much seeking the face of God that our fayling was in endeavouring to set up the King upon any terms he being a man of so much blood that the Lord would have no peace with him nor any that should go about to establish him Whereupon after his own hardned heart had hindred him from yeelding to any overtures that were made to him by the Parliament through whom all the Armies Proposals were to be tend ered And a second War more dangerous then the former contrived by him his son now with you together with those in Scotland that hated us of the Army of England under the name of Sectaries being by the unspeakeable goodnesse and mighty power of God waded through and a second testimony given from heaven to justify the proceedings of his poor servants against that bloody Antichristian brood though with the losse of many precious Saints we were then powerfully convinced that the Lords purpose was to deal with the late King as a man of blood and being perswaded in our Consciences that he and
the Kings Interest and constitution of Parliament the last and these with subordination one to another The Covenant tyed us to preserve Religion and Liberty as the ends of it even when these were inconsistent with the preservation of the Kings Interest and the frame of Parliament because when the means and the end cannot both be enjoyed together the end is to be preferred before the means Now that there was a real inconsistencie between the end and the means and that the leâ—â—er did fight against the greater is your own judgement who a Book of yours called A necessary and seasonable Testimony against Toleration say thus of the two Houses pag. 12. And doubtlesse the Lord is highly displeased with their Proceedings in the Treaty at Newport in reference to Religion and Covenant concerning which they accepeed of such Concessions from His Majesty as being acquiesced in were dangerous and destructive to both Had we not then appeared against these Concessions and lâ—kewise against those of both Houses who acquiesced in them had not Religion and Liberty both been destroyed which now by the blessing of God are preserved And if that action concerning the Parliament deserve a Charge yet least of all from your selves who when you saw the Parliament which sent Duke Hamilton with an Army into England proceed in ways destructive to Religion and Liberty you countenanced and acted with those that rose up for publique Safetie though contâ—ary to Acts of Parliament and called a new one excluding whom you thought fit all which was done by vertue and authoâ—itie fâ—om the Committee of Estates then sitting at Edinburgh which indeed was no Committee if you respect formalities the breach whereof you so often charge upon us being constituted of such persons as by Act of the fore going Parliament had not legal right to fit or act therein they not having taken the Oath for faithful discharge of the Trust reposed in them in reference to the late Engagement against England injoyned by that Parliament to be taken by every Member of the Committee at his first sitting or else to have no place or vote therein as is fully set down in the Commission for the constituting of that Committee of Estates We could more particularly set forth how the Committee of Estates there sitting according to the literal sense of the afore mentioned Commission was broken and driven away by that force raised and acted by you as aforesaid but we spare not seeking to justifie our actions by yours but to shew that you have done the same things for preservation of Religion and Liberty which you so highly charge as evil upon us And therefore we further desire you seriously to consider That the inconsistencie of our Religion and Liberties with the Kings Interest and former constitution of Parliament did not arise from our jealousies or pretences but from the hardnesse of the Kings heart and the backsliding of the greater part of those that were intrusted in the Parliament by their acquiescing in those Concessions and endeavouring immediatly to bring in the King upon them We therefore reckon it no breach but a Religious keeping of the Covenant according to the equity thereof when our Parliament for Religion and Liberties sake and the Interest of the People did remove the King and Kingship As also we assert our selves Keepers of the Covenant when the competition hath been between the form and substance if we have altered some forms of the Government in part for the substance sake As for the Presbyterial or any other form of Church Government they are not by the Covenant to be imposed by force yet we do a d are ready to â—mbrace so much as doth or shall be made appear to us to be according to the Word of God Are we to be dealt withall as Enemies because we come not to your way Is all Religion wrapt up in that or any one Form Doth that name or thingâ— gâ—ve the difference between those that are the Members of Christ and those that are not We think â—ot so We say Faith working by love is the true Character of a Christian and God as our witnesse in whomsoever we see any thing of Christ to be there we reckon our duty to love waiting for a more plentiful effusion of the Spirit of God to make all those Christians who by the malice of the World are diversified and by their own carnall mindednesse do diversifie themselves by severall Names of Reproach to be of one heart and one minde worshipping God with one consent We are desirous That those who are for the Presbyterial Government should have all freedom to enjoy it and are perswaded That if it be so much of God as some affirm if God be trusted with his own means which is his word powerfulâ—y and effectually preached without a too busie medling with or engaging the Author ties of the World it is able to accomplish his good pleasure upon the mindes of men to produce and establ sh h s purposes in the World concerning the Government of his Church And as for the Blasphemies and Heresies wherewith some Statâ—sts amongst you have laboured to brand us We caâ— say That we do own those sound Grounds and Principles of the Christian Religion preached and held by the generalâ—ty of godly Ministers and Christians of these later times alhorring from our hearts and being ready to bear our witnes against any dâ—testable Blasphemies and Herenes laâ—â—ly broken out amongst us we have already punished some amongst us for Blasphemie and are further ready to do it but how unâ—â—genuously we have bin dealt with by some amongst you and of our own Countrymenâ— in heaping Calumnies upon our heads â—o render us vile â—nd odious to our Bre hren yea and the whole world we leave â—o God to judge who w ll we trust in due â—ime make these things manifest But were Presbytery thus to be contested for and that in uâ—holding it all religion did and would flourish yet how improbablâ— it is That the course taken by those in Author ty with you will produce the things you desire to say no more let your own experiences a little minde you What pretenders were some Lords and other persons in the North of Ireland whilst they miâ—gled the Presbyterian wâ—th the Kingly Iâ—terest and the Ministers by their preaching seduced the people from their Obedience to England under the same pretence But no sooner had those persons got the power into their own hands but they shook off the Ministers by threatnings causing some of them to quite the country and in generall discouraging the exercise of the Government there declaring plainly by their actions that it was but a device to draw on the Royall Interest and those very persons that did get power into their hands under those pretences immediately joyned with Owen Roe O Neal and those bloody Irish Rebels upon the Kingly Interest It will not be unfit to minde you also how the Nobility and
ridiculous Evasion invented by men professing honesty Are they charged to intend a new War upon us against the judgement of the Kirk and State And do not the principles they own act by in reference to us declare evidently what their judgements are They have engaged to their King to use al lawful means to restore him they deny a Treaty to be such a means boasting to their King That they have refused it they professe the Parliament of the Common-weaalth to be Vsurpers deny all their Authority And yet these men intend not an I vasion Did they think to compasse the whole Design by Insurrections amongst our selves making way to their ends by the blood of others Or have they dispenced with themselves to say what they please so t may be for the advantage of the Kirk and State of Scotland The businesse of Religion shall be spoken unto in its proper place onely in generall we cannot but observe That the neer approaches which are made in Scotland to Spirituall Tyranny and outward Violence to the utter ruine of the most Conscientious Dissenters in the least with slavish ignorance in the people which for the present yield them outward Peace and Conformity not unlike that under the Inquisition are undesireable paterns for our imitation nor certainly are comprised within the verge of the Covenant It is of all things most strange to us That they and their Statesmen should devise a Covenant to secure Religion and Liberty and now are acting as fast as they can to hazard Religion and Liberty to secure that Câ—venant We mean that part of it which concerns the King and frame of Parliament This is a strange abuse of the glor ous Name of God under colour of Religion to prise a Covenant in the Letter of it so as thereby to destroy the ends for which it was made as if their Resolution were rather to lose Religion and Liberty then not to have a King both of England and Scotland to hold up that carnall Interest which is their greatest darling Which King though he be but a Ward to the Committee of Estates in Scotland yet must needs be allowed a Negative voice in the Legislative pâ—wer in England and so much Arbitrary power besides as may at all times greaten the power and riches of the Scottish Lords Is it not most strange that the Covenant â—hould be so much in their mouths and pens and so little in their actions who while they did but the other day declaim so much against Ma ignancy as a great and dangerous sin have now pulled in the head of Malignants as appears by his Commissions given to Papists and such as never came so much as formally under their Covenant And who is so Malignant still that they dare not trust him farther then some Lords his Keepers will suffer him to goe Was not Duke Hamiltons taking of the Covenant enough with them to invest him with power to â—estroy the Covenant And can the Vizard of their Kings taking the Covenant perswade any man of common undeâ—standâ—â—g that he will either support their Kiâ—k or Covenant longer then tâ—ll they have by one meanes or other if not prevented by us furnâ—shed him with a Covenanting Army of his own Principles and then they will finde they will be twice catched in a Nâ—t of their own making which they laid for others Are not his present Darling-companions which he brought from beyond Seas Prince Rupert Ormond and his Fathers and Motheâ—s Confederates in England still the onely men that if he were foot-loose he would embrace If they will needs blinde their eyes and hearden their hearts we blesse our heavenly Father that he hath opened our eyes to see things that doe belong unto our peace according to the diâ—ection of his holy Word But now to their Charge upon the Army as to the Covenant they say It did not appear that Religion and Civill Liberty was inconsistent with the frame of Parliament and thâ—t their words in their own Book did prove no more but That the then actings and the frame of Parliament were inconsistent Be it so This is sufficient to justifie our proceedings if all their Liberties in Scotland had but one Neck and their Heaâ—sman stood ready after Sentencâ— given upâ—n them to â—ut it off woulâ— not they then immediately either hold his hands 〈◊〉 give all for gone Whereas they say Was there no other way to help the irregularity of these proceedings If they had known any it had bin as easie to have named it as to have asked the question But for ouâ— parts we knew no other way Had not the Army appeared in that nick of time against the consenters to the Propositions at Newport Religion and Liberty had been irrecoverably lost as far as we can understand Our consciences bear us witnesse we did with exactnesse keep the Covenant in excluding those we did They say further The Army took away altogether the lawfull Power we cannot beleive them til they prove it there being now and always a lawfull Power in the Commons of England sitting in Parliament And as for those that acquiesced in destructive Propositions were they any more a lawfull Power then Duke Hamiltons Faction in their Parliament or if they will have the excluded Members lawfull Powers what did we more then they that put â—he oppâ—site party out of power so soon as they could by our Assistance That which they say concerning the Armies Proposals That they were destructive and yet they would not have thought it a fit Remedy for any to have destroyed them We reply First they were but Proposals for Câ—nsideration not determinations as those Votes upon the Propositions were and so there was no need of any Remedy against them but Advice Secondly if the Lord had so far left them as to have made any concâ—usions with the King upon those Proposals our juâ—gement is as their Repentance hath already witnâ—ssed they would have accounted it a great Mercy by any Power to have been restrained They further demand If Liberty be preserved how comes it then to passe that so many groan under the yoke of their Oppressions Hath there been at any time a greater thraldom in England then that every man must be bound to swear an Oath c To this we say We know of no such Oath that is to be Sworn the Engagement being a bare Promise and no more aâ—d here we are sure their charge is false in fact Aâ—d how this Engagement is a yoke of Opâ—ression we see not when it is onely a Promâ—se To be faithfull to the Common-wealth and the Preservers of our Liberties and Lives which those that are excluded would have destroyed Nor can we understand how this is a maintaining of unlawful Usurpations when two of the three co-ordinate Powers did oppose and at length exclude the King who was the third Estate for Male-Administration You had your hand in the work to assist the two Houses so to
do and when one of the three Estates excluded two viz. the King and Lords for their conjunction in the destructive Propositions at Newport what Usurpation was this in one of the three Estates more then was formerly in the other two As for the Burthens you speak of as an Impeachment of civil Liberties It is the great grief of the Parliament that they are necessitated to lay any Burthens Yet we may desire you to remember They lay those Burthens in an equal proportion upon their own as well as other mens Estates and we cannot but wonder that they should be challenged by you for this the little finger of your Lords upon your people and which we with much bitterness call to minde upon ours also having been heavier then the Loyns of our Parliament Religion you say is troden under foot lies in the dust is despised as of no value How unbrotherly unchristian and false a charge this is the Acts of Parliament latâ—ly made against Adultery Incest against Swearing and Blasphemy and the Acts for the strict keeping of the Sabbath for the better propagation of the Gospell in several parts of our Nation will be a sufficient evidence We take Religion to be a worshippâ—ng of God according to his Word walking in our conversations according to the Gospel attending upon the publ que Ordinances of the Word preached publique and private Prayer and Sacraments when administred according to the Gospel In which to be conversant with Humility Faith and Reverence â—s the practice of the Army That Religion is troden under foot and dispised of many as we acknowledge it so we desire to make it the matter of continuall mourning And we think we may without presumption speak it to the glory of the free and rich Grace of God in Jesus Christ That as much of the Spirit of Christ and the power of Godliness is given out in England as in any Nation of the world we know of And give us leave to ask you of Scotland who alone would seem to be true Reformers whether we have any such National sins as the compulsive joyning together of the precious with the vile in the Administration of the Seals of the Covenant of Grace or the corrupt and forcible Constitution of the matter of your Churches making them up of people grosly ignorant and very scandalous in their Lives and Conversations and in many places having Elders little better qualified Page 9. they say though they endeavor to justifie their actings against the Army Parliament of England by the proceedings of this Kingdom yet there is a large difference in many particulars There is such an agreement in those particulars they rehearse as makes these proceedings justifiable upon their grounds 1. There was a considerable part of the lawful Authority of England acted in these Proceedings was not a House of Commons a considerable part 2. Many of the best affected and most godly People in the Land consented thereunto and when the two Housos acted without the King there was but a Party of the People did consent 3. A considerable number of Orthodox and Godly Ministers went along in those Resolutions and you know the plurality of the Ministers never went along with the two Houses in their opposition to the King And if it be true that they say that their whole Kirk consented to your ways how came it to passe so many Ministers were excluded from their places for accession to Duke Hamiltons Engagement 4. This was no protecting or promoting any Design against Religion or Government but the carrying on of Reformation of Religion and Government according to the Word of God 5. We know of no new power set up but the continuance of the old they having only excluded such as were false to their trust as you excluded Duke Hamiltons Faction Page 10. As for what concerns the Presbyterial Government whether it be to be imposed or left free according to the Covenant they decline that Debate or rather defer it till they are in better condition to prosecute such an Argument and then there is no doubt but their Principles and Professions will lead them thereunto Having declared the principall end of their assistant Forces formerly sent to England to be Reformation in Religion which in a Scotish Construction must needs be Presbyterial Government but because they insist not upon it we shal also leave it and joynwith them in that undenyable position That by Covenant we are obliged to a Government according to the Word of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches but we cannot hold pace with them when they say That by a Synod of Divines sitting in England it hath been made appear that the Presbyterial Government in the Scotish Latitude and onely it hath its foundation upon the Word of God That Synod though they have gone far enough yet are not so through paced in that business but cautelously express themselves in many parts of the Presbyterial Government by saying Things may be done according to the Rule which either signifies nothing or else this that somtimes they may not They further say That Preaching the Word of God is not the onely means appointed by him to accomplish his pleasure upon the mindes of men to produce and establish his purposes in the world concerning Church-Government Certainly in the best estate of the Church which we conceive to be the times of the Apostles it was the onely and sufficient means but yet we deny not but the Magistrate owes a duty to the Church and Ordinances of God which is to preserve the Liberty and outward Peace of them which the present Government of England notwithstanding all Oblatrations ceases not to do Whereas the Army is charged with dealing with the Scots as Enemies and invading them because they came not to their way doubtless the Army moves not upon that Princiâ—le but this rather That they will not suffer England to hold on in their own way of a Commonwealth but have entertained a pretender to the Government of this Nation after all his own and Fathers forfeitures and that upon condition of using all means which they shall judge lawfull for the restoring him to the Possession thereof which when they shall accomplish we shall have little reason to expect but that Religion and Liberty so much contested for will be made a Sacrifice to Royall Malignancy As for the terms of Usurpation and insolency we shall onely say this They are so much in the thoughts and actions of them that writ them that it s no wonder that their pen misses them not And whereas the Army is charged as Enemies to Uniformity notwithstâ—nding the professed desires of Unity amongst Christians and that their way and practices have brought forth this unparalleld diversity of Opinions who knows not but that it hath been very usual in all times of Reformationâ— especially when the Reformation is carryed on by War for Truth and Error Liberty Licentiousnesse to creep
unlesse we should thus retort it The purpose of the Scots is not for publique Liberty and common Safety but something that concerns themselves and therefore the great wheel of their Design is A Pretence of Religion and Reformation The next is like unto it charging them with A seeming holinesse and a reall treading under foot the Truth and Ordinances of God giving us full assurance That Conscience and a Christian spirit were very little consulted withall in this Reply in comparison of that cursed Maxim Câ—lumniare fortiter aliquid adhaerebit which seems to be the sole Rule walked by by them All the particulars of this parting charge being the issues of Envie Uncharitablenesse and Evill speaking Neither is the fifth of any better temper then those before about their conjunction with all sorts of persons for the pursuit of common Safety and Liberty and therefore bearing with different Judgements and Opinions in the things of God which being charged on them by those who have actually closed with him and admitted him to the Exercise of Regall Power amongst them by whom are imployed all sorts of profligate wretches blood-guilty Rebels Popish Idolators with whom the Assembly of the Kirk is now in actuall conjunction for the pursuit of one Design is not of any great weight unto us and as we could easily discharge them of this Imputation so far as to take off all just offence yet we cannot but declare That we think it much better to exercise-mutuall forbearance in some lesser Differences whilest the foundation is held and kept entire then to have amongst us an outward Uniformity as the issue of an Ecclesiasticall Tyranny which we wish the Assembly to free their Kirk and Nation in Further The Army hath neither usurped on or trodden under foot the Ancient Government of England which in the sixt place is charged on them but in their places have assisted to remove all Usurpations upon the Liberty of the People of England restoring it into the hands of the Peoples Trustees to whom of Right it doth belong actually leaving it instated in the hands of that Parliament wherein it was at the beginning of these troubles And as to the moulding of Scotland to the same frame mentioned in the last place the truth is That saving the earnest desire of our Souls that all who belong to Christ â—n that Nation may enjoy the Liberties and Priviledges purchased for them by Christ with our own Security from designed Evils We should be very indifferent into what mould or fashion that Nation be framed Thus having laid open the manifold Mistakes Falsities unjust Charges politick Insinuations unchristian Censurings and the like not onely Ungospel-like carriages but also uncivill Railings of this Paper of the Generall Assembly We shall close with our hearty Suppliâ—â—tâ—ons That the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ would in his due time cast down all the earthly combinations of all sorts of men that set up themselves and their own corrupted Interest in the room of that Scepter of Righteousnesse which he hath given into the hands of his Son With this foregoing we have also seen an Answer of the Generall Assembly to the Declaration of the Parliament of England which also in due time the Lord assisting shall receive a full Reply That an Ecclesiasticall Assembly conveened for the Reiglement of the House of God should account it their duty as such to put forth Manifesto's and make Reply's to States and Armies in things of Civil Concernment relating to the publique Affairs of Nations would seem strange unto us were we not in some measure acquainted with the Constitution actings and assumed Power of the Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland which make them justly to be reckoâ—ed to have a place among the Powers of this world and therefore called to this Imployment But that such a Frame and Structure of Ecclesiasticall Authority as is at present in Scotland erected such Administrations of Censures with corporall Penalties and an absolute subserviency of the Secular Power of their Nation for their pursuit and setting on that such a worldly Jurisdiction over the men of the world as is there exercised amongst them is the genuine issue of Reformation according to the Word of God we are not as yet able to apprehend rather it seems to savour of the old Babylonish Leaven which in due time the Lord will remove And we professe sincerely That although our hearts have been often pained within us for the many Errors and Misperswasions about the things of God with Blasphemies and Reproaches of his Name that have broken forth amongst us which we hope through his goodnesse are already in a great measure abated yet we cannot apprehend any such danger from them to the true Interest of the Lord Christ and the Gospel as from such Politicall Combinations to persecute and destroy all breaking forth of Light Truth that suit not their present apprehension Is it not from the misguiding of such an Interest that their Kings taking the Covenant is cryed up as such an acceptable Service and Worship of God when their own hearts know full well That he submitted unto it as a hard Imposition in a Civill Treaty for the change of his condition from Banishment unto a Crown which whither it may be looked on as the performance of a Duty in a Gospel-way We doubt not but the Assembly will one day be able to dâ—scern To the People of SCOTLAND Especially to those amongst them that know and fear the Lord from whom yesterday we received a Paper Intituled From the People of Scotland To the under-Officers and Souldiers of the English Army We the under-Officers and Souldiers of the English Army do send greeting AT the beginning of the late great and wonderful workings of God in these two Nations of England and Scotland we the under-Officers and Souldiers of the English Army now in Scotland were most of us if not all men of privat Callings and not at all interested in matters of Publique and State affairs but yet very many of us in whom the Lord had begun to reveal himself in the face of Jesus Christ were sensible of the Antichristian Tyranny that was exercised by the late King and his Prelates over the Consciences Bodies Estates of the true spiritual Church of Jesus Christ namely those that were born again and united to him by his Spirit who were then by that Antichristian Crue termed Puritans Sectaries Schismaticks c. and for not conforming to all the Canons Ordinances of their National Church were frequently imprisoned banished otherwise grievously molested at the pleasure of those that then ruled amongst us Under these sad sufferings of the People of God our souls mourned and understanding by the manifold gracious promises in the Word of God that a time of Deliverance was to be expected to the Church of Christ Destruction and ruine to Babylon our hearts together with all the truly godly in England were
his Monarchy was one of the ten hornes of of the beast spoken off Revel 17.12 13 14 15. and being witnesses to so much of the innocent blood of the Saints that he had shed in supporting the beast and considering the loud cryes of the souls of the Saints under the Altar we were extraordinarily carried forth to desire Justice upon the King that man of blood and to that purpose petitioned our superiour Officers and the Parliament to bring him to justice which accordingly by a high hand of providence was brought to passe which Act we are confident the Lord will own in preserving the Common-wealth of England against all Kingdoms Nations that shal adventure to meddle with them upon that account When God executes his judgements upon malefactors let none goe about to resist when he brings forth those his enemies that will not suffer Jesus Christ to be King in the midst of his Saints and breaks them in pieces like a Potters vessell Let not Scotland nor any other Nation say what doest thou We fear they have been too busie already the Lord that sees the secrets of all hearts knows the compliance of Scotland with the late Kings issue now with you was in order to disturb the Peace of England for being Gods 〈…〉 bloody Tyrant and a supporter of the throne of the 〈◊〉 but blessed be the Lord the crafty are taken in their own snare England sits in peace whilest Scotland receives into their chief City their new King at the very hour wherein an Army that had marched three hundred miles is facing them at the very gates we wish our Brethren of Scotland especially those that truly feare the Lord would consider these things and not slight the providences of God so much as they do when Scotland chose new gods and would have a King out of a Family that God hath rejected then was War in the gates and though we do not think providences alone a sufficient rule for Gods people to walk by yet we do know that the Lord speaks to his people by his providences as well as by his word and he is angry with his people that does not take notice thereof and promiseth blessing to those that doe Psal 107. and the latter end And here give us leave not in a boasting spirit but with meeknesse and fear to tell you that we are perswaded we are poor unworthy Instruments in Gods hand to break his enemies and preserve his people You have acknowledged us in yâ—ur own Papers to be a rod of Iron to dash in pieces the Malignants but withall say we must now be broken in pieces because we now set our selves against the lot of Gods Inheritance Let us here speak for our selves yea the Lord speak for us who knows our hearts and all our wayes we value the Churches of Jesus Christ who are the lot of Gods Inheritance ten thousand times above our own lives Yea we do blesse the Lord we are not onely a rod of Iron to dash the common enemies in pieces but also a hedge though unworthy about Christs Vineyard and if we know our own hearts where ever the lot of Gods Inheritance shall appear to be found in Scotland we shall think it our duty to the utmost hazard of our lives to preserve the same But if there be any that have taken counsell together against the Lord and against his anointed whom the Lord hath decreed to set upon his holy hill of Sion we are perswaded the Lord hath brought us hither as Instruments through which he will speak to them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure We desire it may be known to you our Brethren of Scotland that we are not souldiers of fortune we are not meerly the servants of men we have not onely proclaimed Jesus Christ the King of Saints to be our King by profession but desire to submit to him upon his own terms to admit him to the exercise 〈…〉 in our hearts to follow him wheresoever he 〈…〉 of his own good will entered into a Covenant of Grace 〈…〉 of Saints and be assured it is he thaâ— leadeth us into Scotland as he hath done in England and Ireland and therefore we do in the spirit of brotherly love and of the fear of the Lord beseech you to look about you for our Lord Jesus is coming amongst you as a refiners fire aâ—d as Fullers sope and blessed are those in whom the least dram of sincerity shal be found We have seen a Paper directed to us from the people of Scotland which hath bin publickly made known to us wherein we are first desired to consider the lawfulnesse of our marching into Scotland We blessed God we did that before we came here and are abundantly satisfied that we are brought hither by the Lord Nay many of us lying under temptations of flesh and blood and going about to frame excuses to take us from this march found that to have stayed behinde had been to have deprived our selves of much sweet communion with God that now through his goodnesse we do enjoy We have also considered the arguments by which you go about to weaken the grounds of the Parliaments and our superiour Officers leading us into Scotland and must needs give you this returne that we are stâ—ll abundantly established in this beliefe that what the Parliament of England hath done in sending us into Scotland hath been of absolute necessity to preserve themselves from being destroyed in their Religion and Liberties which they have been at so much cost both of blood and treasure to purchase and preserve And therefore by the way must needs tell you that we can not endure to hear them called a pâ—etended Parliament wh ch we desire you to take notice of that if you write to us again you would speak more reverently of the authority of our Nation or else we shall easily think you will upon every occasion be r ady to iâ—vade England that you may set up an authority which you may call lawfull And let us as in the presence of the Lord further assure you that we have already examined our own consciences as before the Lord and have a clear assurance in our hearts that he will countenance us in this action and that we do not break any Covenant which we have sworn before God Angels and men but could be contâ—nted â—hould we not thereby Idolize the Covenant to march to any Engagement with you if call d thereunto by the Lord with the Covenant on the tops of our Pikes and let the Lord judge who hath observed the ends of the Covenant best you or we we doe acknowledge we have not been the exact performers yet not the wilfull breakers thereof Our consciences also bear us record we do above any thing in the world desire the Union of the two Nations and it is our prayer daily that those that feare the Lord in England and Scotland may become one in the hand
of the Lord and joyn together in the advancement of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and throwing down and trampâ—iâ—g upon the seat of the Beast why should not Scotland as well as England rejoyce to see the horns of the Beast cut off that we may joyn together to hate the whore and to burn her fl sh with fire The Lord is our witnesse whom we fear we come not to oppresse you or shed your blood we have cryed to the Lord again and again to prevent it we have sent our Declarations of love to the people of God in Scotland wh ch some amongst you though they pretend to answer do most iâ—juriously and unchristianly keep from their sight nay most falsly misrepreseâ—ting us as a people comewith intentions to destroy the poor Inhabitants and that we are lâ—ft of our God to be destroyed but we have made our prayer to the Lord and made known before him their sayings who have told the people of Scotland that God hath forsaken us and therefore bid them persecute and take us saying now the Sectari s dayes are come c. But the Lord is still with us he is our refuge prâ—sent help in trouble ready to be found we do believe the cry of the oppressed in Scotland will be heard and woe be to those that are the cause thereof Our quarrell is still against Malignants the Root whereof is now through the evill policy of some States-men become the head of Scotland We do not quarrelâ— with those whâ—se hearts are upright with Jesus Christ and faithfâ—ll and loving to England but with those who are most treacherous and fâ—lse to both And therefore we dare not any of us though tempted thereto by your Papers be so carnally wise as to desert the caus and work of Jesus Christ in which we have hâ—therto bin so long so miraculously carried on do you think we a e men so weakly principled as to be perswaded without the least stâ—ength of Arguments to desert the interest of our own Nation and expose thousands of the precious Saints of Jesus Christ to be trampled upon as the dirt of the â—râ—ets when the Lord is about to put on their beautifull garments and to maâ—e them a praise in the earth â—r can we thâ— ke you betray our superiour officers in whom wee see so much of the sweet spirit 〈…〉 mouths are opeâ—â—â— wâ—â—e 〈…〉 for such a thing â—he â—ord 〈…〉 upon him we shal with 〈…〉 Which we humbly 〈…〉 of any more blood 〈…〉 â—nd comfortable to you 〈…〉 with ioyâ—â—â— â—â—â—land and â—eave Scotland 〈…〉 English Army haâ—◠〈◊〉 â—mongst them Which 〈◊〉 might be â—ooner effected were you â—â—â—ve suffered to conferre and 〈…〉 hearts one to an other we do beleive much of the bitâ—â—◠〈…〉 would be allayed in our brethren of Scotland did 〈…〉 â—â—ceedingly we are slandered by the pens tongues 〈…〉 â—en concerning our Religion and faith towards God 〈…〉 we may not vainely boast of 〈◊〉 according to the 〈…〉 we are ready to give an answer to the meaâ—est 〈…〉 Scotland that shall aske a reason of the faith and 〈…〉 with meeknesse and fear indeed we account our best way of contending with 〈…〉 is to pray the Lord to 〈…〉 sound in his 〈…〉 That so we 〈…〉 the â—ord 〈…〉 â—â—â—science they that â—â—eak evill of u◠〈◊〉 of evill doers 〈◊〉 ashâ—med whilest they â—aâ—â—y accuse our good conversation in Chrâ—â—â— And thus we have in the naked plainnesse of our souâ—s opened our hearts unto you our dear brethren that fear the Lord in Scotland where ever you be 〈…〉 â—ighest Councels or the poorest cottages 〈…〉 Lord will in his due time 〈…〉 â—â—â—ells and make you one with those that fear the Lord amongst us which the God of and Father of 〈◊〉 Lord Jesus Christ and in him our â—â—d and our Father â—â—so bring 〈…〉 in his due time and in the mâ—an time make both 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 â—â—derstand the things thâ—t concerne the exaltâ—â—◠〈…〉 that in all our undertakings we may be subserviâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the affairs 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ And above all things take heed hoâ—◠〈◊〉 stirre up any of the powers or strength of this world 〈…〉 â—ne an other The grace of ouâ— Lord Jesus Christ the Prince 〈…〉 â—e with you Amen From the Beâ—gâ—â—r at Muselâ—â—â—â—gh August 1. 1650. The â—â—ply of the Generall Asseâ—â—â—â— oâ— the Kirk of Scotland to the Declaration of the Army to which the foregoing Vindication refers As also the Paper of the people of Scotland to the Under-Officers and Souldiers of the English 〈◊〉 â—ad been â—erâ—to annexed but that we understand they were both Prinâ—â—◠〈…〉 in this City before our entrance thereinto FINIS