harme Therfore the Lords of secret Counsell ordaining letters to be direct to command and charge the whole Ministers presently being in this Burrow except the ordinarie Ministers of the Burrow and such others vvho upon the notorietie of their lawfull adoes heer shall procuâ—â— warrant from their Ordinarie and failing of him from one of the Archâ— to remaine and abide still heer by open Proclamation at the Market crosse of Edinb to remoue depart out of the said Borrow within 29 houres next after the said Charge that they onnâ— wise presume to repair again thereunto during the time of this Parliament under pain of rebellion And if they or any of them fâ—ile the said space being bypast to denounce c. vvhich denunciation to be used at the Market crosse of Edinburgh shal be as sufficient as if it were used at the market crosse of the head Burroâ— of the shire where they dwell certifying them also that their denunciation they shall be taken apprehended warded and punished accordingly Archip. That is more then ever I looked could haue proceeded from Christian authoritie professing the same reformed religion with us It was a strong prognostick of great rigor against the persons of the Ministers and of great preiudice to the cause of religion What was the resolution of the Ministers Epaph. They could not stay against the proclamation they could not altogether desert the cause in so desperate a time And therefore finding that the commissioners of Shires were sent for and earnestly desired to make knowne their grievances with faire promises of satisfaction a strong preparation to purge the great matter of all opposition and that after assayes there was no hope of recalling of the rigor denounced against them for obedience first to God and next to God unto his Maiestie they resolved as followeth VVEE the Ministers of Iesus Christ in his Highnes kingdom of Scotland being convened from the quarters of the Countrey to concurre for the weale of the Kirke and according to the ancient custome thereof observed before in Parliaments to consult upon weightie affaires as the present case requireth consideration and being charged at the market crosse of Edinburgh to remoue forth of the sayd Borrow within 29 houres immediatly following the sayd charge as also justly fearing harder sequells to follow upon such beginnings haue concluded according to the necessitie layd upon us to haue our informations and admonitions to the honorable Lords of Parliament attesting them in the name of our Lord Iesus to remember the labours and sufferings of their honorable predecessors and to doe in the matters in hand as they would be accepted at his glorious appearance and praying to the Father of lights to open their eyes and to incline their hearts to try things that differ and approue things expedient Archip. Informations and admonitions good for them cannot be evill for me and others and who knoweth if being represented to them after so many sensible confirmations from heaven and earth they consider of them more advisedly and unpartially and so many as haue lost their first loue remember from whence they are fallen and doe their first workes Epaph. Some preposterously iudge of all reasons by the conclusion and not of the conclusion by the reasons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others are so obstinatly set against al persuasion that Ne si persuaseris persuadebis And a third sort close their eyes and ears against all information they fear that the light of their minde prejudge their affection and they be made to beleeve that for true which they wish were false yet both for their sakes whose repentance wee are seeking and for your owne and others whom we would confirme behold some of the many then left behind us Reasons left by the ministerie to the members of parliament YOur Honors assembled in this present Parliament ought to abstaâ—â— sâ—â— ratification and all corroboration whatsoever of Perâ—h Assembly and Actes thereof for the reasons following and many moe alleaged and to be produced if your great adoes could permit 1 It is but an assembly single and in it selfe diuided 2. in forme of proceeding not onâ—ly different from others but directly against the order establishâ—d by the kirk 3. In effect contrarious to all generall and provinâ—iall Assemblie Pâ—â—sbyterâ—es and Sessions as they are institute and have been hâ—lâ—â— in Scotland since reformation of religion within the same 4. The carried s ntence and actes thereof are repugnant to the forme of religion retrived beloved professed established and defended by this kirke and whole body of this Realme by your Honorable predecessors of worthy memorie and your selues and practised vniversally and in the severall paroches of this kingdome these sixtie yeares and aboue Non est a consuetudine recedendum sacise nisi rationi adversetur much lesse from a known truth directed and blessed by God in such abundance of benefits as the lend hath enioyed with religion No kirk Protestant nor Lutherane nor of other profession Papist or whosoever wil go in a change without some evident at least apparant reason of the word The change but of the old Calendar for the Popes new one and that is but a small thing made a great hurly burly both at Rigâ—m Livonia and at Augusta 2 Such ratification should crosse and directly preiudice the acts of Parliament 1592 and the provision expressed in the end of the act of Parliament 1â—97 And all other acts set downe in favour of the iurisdiction of the kirk libertie thereof assemblies and discipline Item his Maiesties proclamation published and printed at command of his Counsel 1605. Item the protestation made at Perth 1606 and all others made before and since Item the covenant made by the ministers and professors of this kingdome 1596 and 1597 and all other bands whereby Pastors and flockes haue oblâ—shed themselves in persons and continuall practise to stand to the forme of religion received and practised Tales legum mutationes would proue legum vulnera Quae in suo statu eademque manent etsi deteriora sunt tamen vtiliora sunt Reipub. quam quae per renovationem vel meliora inducuntur And with what credit and constancie could your Honors confirm separation from your fathers and the break of ancient vnitie conformitie with your own kirk when it may be truely sayd Melius atque rectius olim provisum quae convertuntur in deterius murantur 3 The reformers of this kirk and such as by a long continuance follow them said a sure foundation and builded upon the same without errour notwithâ—tanding of diffiâ—ile times It were our wisdome to go forward not haâ—kâ—â—rd to strengthen and not to weaken David left not the 〈◊〉 where Saul left it nor Salomon where David If our fathers were in the way our change is errour and out of the way And shall we say now thâ—â— our sound ancient profession is priscus rigor cui jam pares non sunt homines
and through the spirit of slumber excusing himselfe from the common warning Giue an account of thy stewardship command a yong man in a place of service to doe vvhat pleaseth him whether of the two shall make the commentary upon that clause And must not such a tender flexible creature be more readie to please his Maker then to stand upon points to the vvhat becommeth his place Archip. So great alteration against so many strait bonds the omitting of the ratification of the reformed Christian Râ—ligion at such a time and the re-establishing of superstitious Antichristian ceremonies might haue made the hearts of the agents to quake the mindes of the multitude vvho vvere suffered to bee present to bee miscontent and the heavens and earth to bee astonished Epaph. Ye bring me now to the third point that I proponed wherein I may say Many witnessâ—â— oâ— aâ—â— sorts against the â—â—â—â—eding concluâ—â—on of Parliament that beside the Supplication Informations Admiâ—â—â—tions and Protestation of the Messengers of God put out of the town the mindes of the Actors the voyces of the people declaring their feare and griefe and the Heavens aboue vvere witnesses of the truth against that Act. Aâ—â—â—ip How can yee judge of the mindes of the Actors The Lord knoweth the hearts and tryeth the reines Epaph. And will also reward every man openly according to his vvorks done in 〈◊〉 Yet none of the Actors could say that in that action heaveÌ„ 〈◊〉 to honour God or to do good to his worship The most part of theâ— had professed freely in private many times before their dislike of the cause and crooked convoy thereof And the Lord in his vvise providence discovered the feare of their hearts that last day of the Parliament very early For about foure houres in the morning there went a pittifull cry through the high street of Edinburgh Eye fâ—â—â—ly Fire Fire The terrible sound of the common bell which is seldome heard but upon great motions filleth the cares of men raiseth many out of their beds and bringeth them in armes bare footed to the street thinking that the people had made some insurrection Through this confused confluence of people and trouble of the vvhole town albeit it was hard to discern whether Master or servant was readiest to doe homage to servile feare yet it vvas manifest that men in highest places and known to haue strongest hand in the present course were in greatest perturbation and perplexitie till they were assured that there was no other intention but to quench a fire wherby a lodging at the New will of the Cowgate was destroyed vvithout recoverie vvhich had been interpreted prodigious in any other place at such a time and at this time and place if the hearts of men had not been possessed vvith a greater fear at the first Archip. How vvere the people vvitnesses and by what meanes did they declare their judgement Epaph. It vvere a thing impossible to relate all their Observations As when the newes vvere first brought to Scotland that the Marquesse of Hammilton had undertaken that Commission it vvas â—â—grated by the best sort of all rankes that the sonne of so vvoâ—â—hie Parentâ—â— a nobleman of so great expectation and good affection to Kirk and Commonwealth should be tempted to giue proofe of his fortaine learning upon employment so directly crossing the will of the onâ— and weale of the other So the common-people partly out of their respect to him and partly out of their feare of his Commission had frequently in their mouthes â—hese old verses of Knight Keggow O wretched Scot when Keggow turnes thy King Then may thou doole and dolour daily sing For from the South great sorrow shall be bring Therefore o'r Scot right short shall be his ring And The time will come I trow as Thomas sayes Heardmen shall hunt you up through gartings gill Casting the padle and letting the plough stand still Again the last day of the Parliament great multitudes being conveened in the utter Court of Hâ—lyâ—oode-house to bâ—hold the solemnity order and honours as they were borne did obserue at the verie instant vvhen the Lords vvent to their horses and vvere now mounted a Swan flying over their heads from the North towards the South flaffings with her vvings muttering her ominous song whereat shaking their heads in their manner and whispering amongst themselues they declared vvhat opinion they had of the proceeding and vvhat feare of a bad conclusion Ar hip These two instances vvhatsoever forâ—e they haue in themselues are sufficient testimonies of the disposition and feares of the people But how was it that the heavens were witnesses at that time for I can not thinke that yee can like superstitious observation more then superstitious adoration Epaph. I loue not the snares of superstition which is the very reproach of the Godhead I know that faith in things divine and right reason in things civill is better directer then the observation of rare and prodigious events made by man who are guided by their senses Signes must follow and not lead the truth Lucretius ait Epiâ—urum magno metâ—â— liberasse humâ—nas mentes quod superstitiones â—ustulent fortuito geâ—â— omnia confirmaâ—t But I dare not deny the power of particular providence in all the works under the Sun lest vvith sensuall Epicures or vvith the secure world I be forced to distribute her heavenly praises betwixt her enemie fortune in secret and her handmaid nature in seen second causes The incomprehensible course of that highest providence in Gods admirable vvisedom to the foot of vvhose chair the highest link of the chaine of second causes is fast tied hath made the great changes of states whether of Kirkes or Commonwealthes to be sensible by concurring signes as it hath been ordinarie in all time by observation and record of these vvorks of God to giue warning to the vveak agents of great actions touching the great God in his honour and men in their happinesse to try themselues vvhether in their proceedings they haue vvalked dutifully with the convoy of truth going before with wisdome at the one hand charity at the other that so they may either rejoyce or repent or at least be coÌ„vinced against that day of the rightous judgmeÌ„t of God When the controversiâ— vvas betwixt Cyrillus and Nâ—storius vvhich by many Kâ—â—k men in the cast favouring Nestorius part vvas counted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a â—â—aâ—lâ— about vvords especially by Acacius vvho called Cyâ—â—llus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 precise in termes And vvhen that Controversie vvas to be decreed by the Councell of Ephesus upon certaine signes and presages of hard successe this verse vvas ordinarie in the mouthes of men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For when mischiefe hangs over the Kirk Then signes like these begin to work And Machiavel him selfe agreeth to the generall de Repub l. 1. c. â—6 through force of experience in the mutations of States but
all matters of faith how soone they appeare in Scripture In this third kind mâ—n may sinne very â—angâ—rously of obstinacie as in the second of Error and in the first of Ignorance Albeit before men the greatnesse of the injurie bee esteemed for the most part by the obiect â—aâ—tia personae su pâ—et â—mpâ—â—tatem 〈◊〉 before God the qualitie of the doer and maner of doing agaâ—egs the sinne no lesse thâ—n the substance of the deed Paul his eating of flesh may be a great guiltinesse as well as his persecution Remember the hoove of Moses Daniels meat and the opening of his window Mordecai his preâ—senesle Eleazars morsel Pauls houre and appearance of evill Christ Racâ— his rite of washing of hands Ismaels laughing c. The smallest matters the least gestures the shortest time the meanest appearance of evill which are mole-hills in the worlds estimation may be mountains in the eyes of God especially being found in some persons and done after a certaine manner The warning Be ye holy as I am holy is most frequent in Leviticus a book of ceremonies which both giveth comfortable assurance that God will accept of our services in the least duties and teacheth also that true holinesse the perfect paterne whereof he pointeth at in his own holines extendeth it selfe to the care of the smallest rites Archip. I must confesse by your discourse and examples that it is so But I see not the reason wherefore it should be so how can so mean matters be capable of so great guiltinesse Epaph. A natural Naaman would speak so of the whole rites of Christian religion of the very substance of both sacraments But I vvould wish you to thinke that as in matters fundamentall so also in rituall there bee three sorts of sinne one of Ignorance the cause wherof is in the mind another of Infirmitie comming of the affections and the third of obstinate maliciousnesse rooted in the will No man but he sinneth daily in things indifferent of Ignorance not knowing them to be indifferent No man but he sinneth frequently of Infirmitie in things indifferent miscarried with some passion or temptation but who against engyring light doth sinne obstinately in the least jot of that unalterable veritie can you deny but hee sinneth heynously in a matter of faith The enforced ceremonies may seeme small to our adversaries because they bring small reason for them and may seeme to bee no matters of faith because they bring no word of faith for them yet the matters vvherewith Christ charged the Scribes and Pharisees were not so great I haue often observed in my experience That a little leavâ— sowreth the whole lumpe and I know by my owne heart That a narrow faith makes a roome conscience Archip. Shew me then how a man shall behave himselfe that he faile not in matters of faith Epaph. It is a good distinction of faith How every one shall be kept from faâ—â—ing in matters of faith that is observed by Lombardus out of Augustine There is one faith vvhereby vve beleeue another faith which vve beleeue In respect of the one all our actions especially in the vvorship of God and more specially such of them as are controverted and called in question must bee matters of faith Hee that doubteth is damned if hee eat because hee eateth not of faith In respect of the other whatsoever is prescribed in the word is a matter of faith whether it be ceremony or substance whether expresly or by consequent whether in the particular or in the generall Fides quae creditur ducat fidem quaÌ„ creditur Now right order requireth that the faith which I beleeue be the leader of the faith whereby I beleeue otherwise this will bee a faithlesse faith and proue effectlesse in the end As the order of Nature is Matters Res conceptus voces Verbuâ— fides en â—us Thoughâ—s Words so the order of the kirk is Scripture Faith Worship I◠〈◊〉 the first Axiome of our profession and the best rule for our dirâ—ction That the Sâ—â—â—â—ture is the oneâ—y Canon of all things belonging to religion and the onely judge of all controversies All which shall be more cleare wâ—â—n we sâ—â—â—ke of indifferencie the other branch of your appearance Archip. Dâ—ctrine of th ngs indifferent obâ—cure As Archimâ—des tombe when Cicero came to visite it was all overgrowâ—â— with thâ—◠〈◊〉 so seemeth the matter of indifferencie to me noâ—hâ—ng more talked of nothing lesse knowne We are all in time â—laâ—e motion c. yet the nature of time place motion is so all digested after so manifold assayes that it gaue occasion to one â—o say That they hauâ— so many bones that the Philosophâ—rs are like to wiâ—rie on them and haue need of cranes to pluck them out of their throats All our senses and wits are exerâ—ised about things indiff rent and yet so ignorant of the nature and vse of things indiffâ—rent that the wittiest that I haue h ard or read are like the Fox in the Fable liâ—king onely the outside of the glasse but never comming to the meat within wherof if it hath been your happines to taste I beseech you call me to the banket Epaph What wiser will ye be when I haue told you the Scholastik distinction of Indifferentia Identitatiâ— in things altogether coincident Indifferentia communitatis of things generall in respect of their particulars Receptionis of the matter in respect of the diversitie of formes Indifferencie taken in a thâ—efold sen e. Aliqâ—â—d dâ—citut AdiaphoraÌ„ sive indiffereÌ„s â—ribas modis 1 Comparatâ—ve per â—â—ationem 2 Effective et per cons quentiaâ— 3 Subiective et formaliter actionis in respect of this or that particular action and have out of their smokie subtilties discoursed vpon them severally when I haue deaved you with Puel Meisnerus and many moe their rulâ—s their restrictions and ampliations yee will esteeme them all but shelles and not kirnels and so will depart as hungry as yee came And therefore to lâ—aue them to themselves and not to bee nice with you about the word of Indifferencie brought rather from Athens or Rome then from Ierusalem would you tune your care a little to our common phrase yee may obserue that we call a thing Indifferent in a threefold sense First by comparison or relation of one thing to another Secondly in respect of the effects and consequents that it hath And thirdly a thing is indifferent in the owne nature and qualitie beside which three wayes we use not to name any thing indifferent I will cleare them unto you orderly Archip. Ye haue need for that popular indifferencie of yours seemeth to mee as obscure as the other Scholasticke indifferencie And first what call ye the Relatiue indifferencie or indifferent by comparison Epaph. Any thing is called of us indifferent in the first sence 1 Comparativâ— peâ— relationem indifferens vvhen it is taken with comparison or relation to the maine or
necessarie he shall sweare to subscribe and fulfill under the penalties foresayd and otherwise not to be admitted 9 And in case he be deposed by the general Assembly Synod or Presbyterie from his office of the ministery he shall also tyne his vote in Parliament ipso facto and his benefice shall vaike And further caution to be made as the kirk pleases and findes occasion anent his name that for the kirk should vote in parliament it is advised by vniforme consent of the whole brethren that he shall bee called commissioner of such a place It is also statute and ordained that none of them that shall haue vote in Parliament shall come as commissioners to any generall Assembly nor have vote in the same in any time comming except he be authorized with a commission from his own presbyterie to that effect It is moreover found by the Assembly that crimâ—u ambitus shall bee a sufficient cause of deprivation of him that shall have vote in parliament Sess 8. The generall Assembly having reasoned aâ— length the question anent his commission who shall vote in Parliament whether he should endure for his life time except some crime or offence intervene or for a shorter time at the pleasure of the Kirk Findes and decernes that he shall annuatim giue accompt of his commission obtained from the Assemblie and lay down the same at their feet to be continued or altered therefrom by his Majestie and the Assemblie as the Assem with consent of his Maâ— shall think expedient to the weale of the Kirke Whose whole conclusions being read in audience of the whole assembly and they being ripely advised therewith ratified allowed and approved the same and thought expedient that the said Cautions together with such others as shal be concluded upon by the Assemblie be insert in the bodie of the Act of Parliament that is to be made for confirmation of vote in Parliament to the Kirk as most necessarie and substantiall parts of the same Then briefly to assume and conclude but so it is that their new L. B. neither in the entrie to their office nor yet in their behaviour therein hitherto haue kept one jot of these constitutions and cautions but hath broken all therefore such roomes and offices should not be confirmed to them in this present Parliament CHAP. VII That the Office of Bishoprie is against the lawes of this Realme OVr Soveraigne the Kings most excellent Majestie came into the world and entered to his Kingdome of this Realme with the cleare light of the Gospell and the establishing of a reformed Kirk therfore as a most godly and Christian Prince hath in his all Parliaments confirmed ratified and approved the freedome and libertie of the true Kirk of God and religion publickly professed within his Majestie Realme as in his first Parliament holden by his Majesties good Regent the Earle of Murray Likewise in his Highnesse second holden by his grandfather the Earl of Lennox the same is ratified in the first Act of his first Parliament holden after the taking of the governement in his Highnesse own person Also in the first of his sixt Parliament holden at Edinburgh the 20 of October 1579. Our Soveraigne Lord with advice and consent of his three Estates and whole bodie of this present Parliament ratifies approues all and whatsoever Acts Statutes made of before by his Highnes with advice of his Regents in his own reigne or his Predecessors anent the libertie and freedom of the true Kirk of God and religion now presently professed within this realme and specially c. The second act of the same sixt Parliament is expresly for the jurisdiction of the Kirk which is there said to consist stand in the preaching of Iesus Christ correction of manners and adminstration of the holy Sacraments and declares that there is no other face of a Kirk nor other face of Religion then is presently by the favour of God established within this realme And that there be no other Iurisdiction Ecclesiasticall acknowledged within this Realm other then that which is shal be within the same kirk or that which flowes there from concerning the premisses And in his Majesties seventh Parliament at Edinburgh October 1581. In the first Act there is a generall ratification of the libertie of the true Kirk of God and confirmation of all the Actes and Lawes made to that effect before by particular rehearsall and catalogue and amongst the rest The ratification of the libertie of the true Kirk of God and religion and anent the Iurisdiction of the Kirk of God twice And after the Kings perfect age of 21 yeares in the eleventh Parliament At Edinburgh Iuly 1587 there is a cleare and full ratification of all Lawes made anent the libertie of the Kirk Now if any will say what is all these Actes against the Bishops I say direct for whatsoever is for the Ministers Presbyters and Assemblies is against the Bishops But so it is that all these Acts are for theÌ„ because as we haue shown the doctrine and constitutions of the Ministers Assemblies hath been ever since the reformation against the corruption of Bishops and that is the freedom libertie and discipline of the Kirk which is confirmed for verification whereof we alledge first the Confession of faith confirmed by Parliament and registred among the Actes thereof wherein the 19 Article anent the notes of the true Kirk ye haue last Ecclesiasticall Discipline uprightly ministred as Gods word prescrived But so it is that out of the Word the doctrine of the Ministers hath been against the Bishops as also the discipline set down in the Generall Assemblies Next that the first Act of his Majesties Acts of Parliament Our soveraigne Lord with advice of his three estates and whole bodie of this present Parliament hath declared and declares the Ministers of the blessed Evangell of Iesus Christ whom God of his mercie hath now raised up to be the true and holy Kirk Thirdly that golden Act which clearely crownes and formally concludes the cause viz. the first Act of the 12 Parliament of King James the 6. At Edinburgh Iunii 1592 intitulate Ratification of the libertie of the true Kirk of generall and synodall Assemblies of the Presbyteries of Discipline which speakes this plainly in the end Item our Soveraigne Lord and Estates in Parliament foresaid abrogates casses and annulles the Act of Parliament made in anno 1584 granting commission to B. and other Iudges constitute in Ecclesiasticall causes to receiue his Highnesse presentation to Benefices and giue collation thereupon and to put order in all causes Ecclesiasticall which his Majestie and Estates foresaid declares to be expired in it selfe and to be null in time comming and of none availe Force nor effect And therfore ordaines all presentations of Benefices to be direct to particular Presbyteries in all time comming with full power to giue collation thereupon and to put order to all manners and causes
plead for re-entrie That no Act passe in derogation or prejudice of the Actes alreadie granted in favour of reformation libertie of Assemblies convenient execution of Discipline c. or for corroboration of new opinions against the same whether Episcopacie or ceremonies the shadow thereof which for the peace of the Kirk by heavenly wisedome should be rejected rather then ratified That all Ministers that are removed from their Charges be restored to their places functions and stipends The happines to liue under his Majestie and his Heires ordinary Iudges and Rulers appointed by lawes and custome and established by the Actes of Parliament that our cause be lawfully cognosced according to order and justice before any sentence passe against our persons places and estates and not to be judged by any judicatorie forraigne and not established by the Lawes of our Country We trust that as Abraham composed the variance betwixt his own and Lots servants Moses interceded betwixt the Hebrews and Constantine betwixt the Ministers of the Kirk So the Lord shall giue you courage to intercede with his Majestie and his Highnesse fatherly disposition to set the pillars of the earth that were shaken and to take off the heavie burthens the burthensome ceremonies the burthensome censures and the hurthenous abuses which many haue groaned under And with a readie and royall hand to quench the beginning fire of deprivation of Ministers by Ministers of hindring Gods substantiall worship by him commanded and withdrawing from the people the appointed food of their soules and necessarie meanes of their faith and salvation of smiting of many a true shepheard and committing the flocke to many Wolues and blind guides of leaving the Papists cause and suppressing the best Ministers whereby they get rest to mischeife the Kirk and build up their own Synag gue and that for the sake of Ceremonies no more necessarie for the sâ—â— use of Christ then faiâ—ding for a chast maâ—â—on more readie to crosse the commandement of Christ wherby we are charged to pray to the Lord of the Harvest that he would thrust forth labâ—rer into his Harvest then for the edification of the body of Christ Thus â—â—mbly coÌ„manding the innocencie of our selues petitioners and our just right and possession of that reformation which we earnestly craue to be continued to your Honourable charitable judgement We pray God for Christs sake to enable you to doe that which may be acceptable to himself profitable to his Kirk and comfortable to your own soules at that day when we must all appeare before the â—â—dgement seat of Christ that man may receiue the thing which are done to his bodie according to that hee hath done whether it be good or ill and to blesse his Maâ— and Royall issue with peace and truth for ever And your Honours with sound Religion and loyaltie in this life and endlessâ— glorie with Christ for ever Archipp The supplication seemeth so reasonable and religious that no man needed to be ashamed to present it no man could refuse to accept it Epaph. It was indeed presented by a faithfull Minister in name of the Kirk and of his fellow Ministers in all humility and after the prescribed order to the hand appointed by Authority and obliged by office to receiue petitions of that kind from any corporation oâ—â—â—â—e leâ—ge of this Kingdom But after some refusals and sundry significations of unwillingnes it was received at last but subscribed by the Presenter and with su h misregard of the messengers of God and matters of his Kirk that he pla nly profâ—ssed his doubting whether he vvould exhibit it in Parliament or not Relegentem oportet esse religiosum nefas Archipp Notwithstanding all this diligence in proclamations conventions devising and presenting of petitions and supplications the Parliament was not holden then but in August what could be in doing in the two monthâ—s interjected For the estate of Bohome and the Palaâ—nate abroad cryed to hasten the subsidie for their present succour and safety And the Parents of Perth Articles at home longed to see the day when that birth of their braines should be perfected in a Parliament Epaph Parliament continuâ—e From the first of Iune vvhich vvas the appointed day the Parliament was continued to the twenty three of Iuly upon what causes in so urgent a necessity upon the one part and so earnest desire on the other it belongeth to the search of stately wits It is well known that the length of secret deliberation and shortnes of open determination is meetest for some matters And as well known amongst us that there vvas al 's great unwillingnesse to the one cause as affection to the other Nihil magâ—â— discriminis coÌ„sihis tam inimicum quam celeritas Qu câ—uid est incoctum non expromunt benecoctum duunt But the pretext behoved to attend the intended purpose And therefore during this delay great was the negotiation betwixt the rich Merchants of faire vvords and fine promises and the hungry servants of lingring hope who thought it now a fit time to draw up their particulars and the principall cause in one bargaine What will yâ—e giue me c. All these things c. Everie wit that had a venalâ— vote thought at this Market to repaire his losses to re-edifie his estate upon the ruines of the Kirk and faire words made fooles faine Our vigilant Bishops set themselues and send forth their explorators and Brokers to try the inclinations of Noblemen Commissioners of Shires Barones and Burgesses And as they were found affected cold hot or lukewarme they vvere vvrought upon to bee present absent or to resolue vvisely against the day appointed vvhereby many honest simple soules vvere put to a hard choice either to perill Religion or to vvant promotion NoÌ„ minus ego te spe quam tu me voâ—e tua delectasti and so made many to vvrong themselues in forsaking the truth vvhich vvas in their heart for hopes vvhich are never likely to fill their hand Where the feare of the Leaders of the course vvas greatest there albeit vvith a dissembled secrecie greatest confidence vvas professed by making it come to mens cares privily that Perth Articles vvould certainly bee ratified and therefore it vvas needlesse to oppone vvhich vvent through the Countrie as a Proclamation of victorie to dash some and as terrours of desperation to make others to crie Our opposition will doe us evill and the cause no good And servile spirits to determine where the mightie and multitude are there will wee bee By this crooked policie the sillie simpliâ—itie of many professours rawly resolved to stand in the day of tryall vvas deluded And Noblemen tempted to lurke in a diffiâ—ill time easily obtained licence vvithout great triall of a just cause as vvhose absence then presence vvas accounted better service Archipp When these two moneths of Preparation vvas thus past and the purpose matured vvhether vvas the appointed day observed Epaph. As there vvere preparatorie years betwixt
Constantines course was more commendable Perfecit Constantinus quod Philippus jam caeperat It were our dutie if our fore-beears had done wrong to practise the rule Quae illicita à Praedecessoribus invenitintur admissa in melius revocari oportet 4 Observation of dayes kneeling c. as they are straitly enioyned are voyd of the necessarie properties required by the wisest fathers in a lawfull ceremony ut fidei congruat saluti proficiat disciplinae conducat So in this kirk neither are they necessary expedient nor sitting the frame of our reformation they edifie not they divide and destroy in so far as ceremonies being testes religionis they are signes to the adversaries of the truth that we repent our reformation which is not and presages to returne to their damned corruptions which by the grace of God wee meane not in substance or ceremony To reinduce them say the divines of Germany is to disturbe the peace of the kirk to grieve the godly to wound the weak to countenance Poperie by shew of inclination towards it or commoderation with it In neighbour kirks where they most prevaile their removall is most earnestly sought 5 In Perth assembly they are concluded not as lawes binding either to fault or pain but as admonitions or institutions Magnum est discrimen inter ecclesiastica decreta politica quorum necesse est illa minus obstringere conscientias Nam in ecclesiasticis spectanda est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In politicis auteÌ„ parenduÌ„ est quamvis tu eam eutaxiam non videas Such ceremonies are juris privari non publici Ilk man is bound in conscience by the word first to discern what is indifferent and then to direct himself in the right vse of every individuall thing for his own edification And if ministers and professors be restrained from that search and brought under a compelled obedience by the law that were to revive the ancient servitude of the Germanie Adiaphorisme wherewith the godly would never suffer themselves to be intangled Nulla lex sibi solam conscientiam justitiae suae debet sed ijs a quibus obsequium exspectat 6 Our forebears finding the controâ—â—ted ceremonies to be the monseâ—ebs of Popery like the mowdiworts in Thessaly that overtheâ— a whol toâ—ne Quod in Papatu dolendum in reformatione auferendum â—utaâ—ent They not onely took away Beal but the calves of Dan and Beâ—hel They thought it no wayes meet to follow Pilats policie to please the Iewes with scourging of Christ that they might keep him aliue And will the Papist be pleased with scourging the doctrine by invoctions c. And taking againe some of these ceremonies will that preserve us against their heat breathed out against us as heretikes and make us lurke under mitigation as if we were now but schismatikes Non est ad hunc modum in religione agendum sayth one tota enim repurganda est ad vivum emendanda And another sayth Atqui praestaret sâ— pultam esse doctrinam ad tempus quam sic slagellari Jt is to be feared that before it be long that men disaffected to the ancient order shall further presume ere it be long to giue out other doctrine as well as new ceremonies 7 Ratification would compasse a great many Ministers and professors of this Kirk between two dangerous straits either to practise against the truth as they vnderstand it and haue walked in it and against the personall band whereby they haue oblished themselues to stand constantly to the obedience of it or else to fall under the breach of a civill law more hardly perhaps to be persued then the lawes against heresie blasphemie breaking of the sabbâ—th day c. In such a case as wee are alwayes ready in our goodâ— and â—oâ—ies to the increasing and upholding of his maiesties honour and estate so according to our possibilitie and the occurrent necessitie of his Highnesse affaires we cheerfully offer our best supplies and helpe And for ease of our iust grievances and feares of our Christian libertie from constraint of ceremonies we humbly beg to haue returned ratification of our ancient liberties of religion Ceremonies should bee persuaded by reason and not inforced by compulsion Propter externoritus disciplinae homines pios ferire neque domini est voluntas neque purioris Ecclesiae mos. In the name of the Lord Iesus wee require your Honours that at this time ye walk in the matters of the kirk as one day yee shall be iudged dutifull according to the Scriptures following Beware of men beware of evill workers Let no man beguile you with entising words Stand fast in the faith quit you like men Be strong Stand fast in the libertie wherewith Christ hath made you free and bee not intangled againe with the yoak of bondage Hold fast the forme of sound words That good thing which is committed unto thee keepe Contend earnestly for the faith which was once given to the Saints Seing ye know these things before beware lest yee fall from your owne stedfastnesse Strengthen the things which remaine that are ready to die Remember how thou hast received and heard And hold fast and repent If thou watch not I will come upon the suddenly like a thiefe in the night and thou shalt not know what houre They haue no courage for the truth upon earth Jerem. 9.3 Five reasons wherefore the fiue Articles of Perth ought not to be ratified in this present Parliament Other reasons FIrst because that assembly was not lawfully constitute wanting a fundamentall priviledge of a lawfull assembly in respect that contrary to the act of the generall Assembly holden anno 1600 and anno 1568. Bishops Barons and Burgesses voted not being authorized with Commissioners from Synods Presbyteries nor Sessions of Kirks His maiesties letter direct to particular Barons and Burgesses without commission from their incorporations could not giue them vote in Parliament much lesse in the generall Assembly Secondly putting the case that those Articles were indifferent yet the Assembly hath erred in respect it hath concluded contrary to the Apostolick rule in things in different which is that the practise should not onely not compell him that for conscience refuseth to practise but also least hee offend him should forbeare to practise himselfe Propter conscientiam non tuam sed ipsius dico 1. Cor. 10.29 If thy brother be grieved for thy meat now walkest thou not charitably destroy him not for thy meat for whom Christ hath died Rom. 14. vers 15. Thirdly because the foresaid Articles being determined in alteram partê per circumstantias impeditivas in themselues are unlawfull The observation of it drawing with it a revolt and returning back againe to Popish rites and ceremonies a violation of our profession suâ—â—â—tions and othes whereby we renounced them a confirming of Papists in their errours and putting them in hope of our comming to them in more substantiall poynts a grieving of the hearts of all zealously affected a
other insinuations to perswade a large supply And for furtherance therof his L. professed to haue vvarrant to giue vvay to any good advice wherby mony might increase abound among us after the taxation His L spake for the â—â—ue Articles under the name of matters of Kirk Discipline that had been concluded in former Assemblies practised in the Primitiue Church not forbidden by the word of God so able to be defined by the Prince who hath lawful power to command in matters indifferent He doubted nothing of their good affection concourse to the good advancement of so necessary a service is was then in hand And for himself he should striue to let his Maj. know every mans part he for his part would contribute his best endevours to a good successe In the third place 〈◊〉 Lord Chancellâ—â—r had his Quanquâ—m wherin he spake to the â—â—â—our of the auncient the quality of the Solium Regale where the Commissioner â—aâ—â— the persons vvho were members of that Assembly severally giving every one his own due with repetition of some things touched by the CoÌ„missioner the Bish of S. androes concerning the necessity imposed upon our liberality experience to giue way to the Church ordinances fetching some conclusion from old judgement of Reâ— and Sacerdos in the person of Numa he ended with an exhortation to the Lords to goe cheerfully and with a good mind to the election of the Lords of Articles Archip. Never was Scipio Hannibal Maccabeus never Câ—drus Thrasybulus nor Themistocles or any Grecian Romane or Iew so much obliged for their Countrey as these three persons for the defence and maintenance of the true Religion and common estate of Scotland of the priviledges lawes and liberties pertaining to the one and the other they being debters to the Kirk and Common-weale of their life liberty honourable places and callings of their present condition and future expectation and lying under the obligation of birth education imitation of their honourable predecessours of their offices personall promises and whatsoever other obligatorie respects And therefore it cannot be but in the midst of so many dangers present and imminent they behoved to say something both for testfying their hearty affections and for the weale of the Realme Epaph. That was not their errand and had been a contradiction to the other part of their speech and to their following actions and therefore without further mention of publicke matters or any insinuation of their oblished affection to their spirituall mother the Kirk crying for their help or to their naturall mother the Countrey trembling under the burthen of divers calamities and under the terrour of forrain feare the actions of the utter house were closed for that time Archip. Was there no further done that day for advancement of the purpose Epaph. Not so much in shew as that vvhich is done but more in substance For the Lord Commissioner Election of the Lords of Articles and their proceedings the Nobility and Prelates with Chancellour Treasurer Secretarie and Clerke Register Officers of Estate the life and leaders of this compend of the Kingdome went into the inner house for election of the LL. of Articles not after that most free forme beseeming Parliaments and Counsels where choice is made of persons most indifferent of best judgement and no way partially affected to any partie or restrained to the loue of any cause but by some learned oblivion of this most reasonable rule and by some new law hid custom and singular practick for performing of the most free harmelesse and innocent part of this high action the election of the Lords of Articles proceeded in another sort Archip. Ye are now upon the primum mobile the secret wheeles which guide the hand and hammer without and therefore remove the cover that I may see the beginnning of the motion Epaph. The Bishops who from their first fabrick haue sounded many ill houres to this Kirk and Countrey continually behaving themselues as Peeres of the Kingdome professed parties against the Ministers and Discipline and as partiall Iudges and led Witnesses when questions concerning Ministers or Kirk governement did occurre or where opposition was to be made to matters proponed in prejudice of the one and the other they went to their roomes and were not onely silent contrary to the debt of their places but all singing one song the rest following the first in a reasonlesse harmony rare to be found in Paris Venice or the most famous Counsells in the world they did choose those eight of the Nobility Auguss Mortoun Nithesdall Wigtoun Roxburgh Buckâ—lugh Scone Carnegie and these made eight of the Bishops Santâ—ndroes Glasgow Dunkeld Aberdeen Brechin Dumblane Argyle Orknay and these altogether did choose eight Barones and eight Burgesses A faire election of foure eights receiving their names from the clieff of the song and inspired with the concord of the first eight who would bee loath to choose any different from their owne minde and of the second eight conforme to them Archip. Was there never a note out of tune Epaph. By providence two notes of the third eight and one of the fourth jarred a little to make the melodie of the whole 32 the more sensible to the eares of the hearers by their irregularity Finally for augmenting the number of fair drawn voters the seven Officers of Estate Chancellour Treasurer Secreter Privie-seale Iustice Clearke Advocate and Clearke Register are adjoyned all faithfull servants and loath by crossing or comming in the contrary of present intentions to perill their liberall pensions their great Offices their present imployments and hopes of higher preferment Archip. That election so enlarged and qualified with those last seven is a strong first fell and a great conquest of votes in favours of chiefe desires Epaph. Yet it is not quarrelled here as in former times when mens own particulars were in hand Then presence was weak now absence is strong What Prince and prelate could nor work vvhen Kirk rent sacrilegiously possessed was but under feare of quarrell now in these Halcion daies vvhen mens particulars are out of feare Politickes and Prelates can easily bring to passe and so the first strength of the Parliament is taken in presage of expected victorie Archip. No marvell for the case is altered Which vvas the first meeting of the Lords I may say of the fiue Articles thus elected Epaph. Vpon Thursday the 26 of Iuly after the Cabinet Counsell vvhich daily met in the Abbay by sixe in the morning and sate vvhile nine to dresse and dispose matters to be done in such a course as might leade most easily to the destinate end Archip. Those Lords of Articles convened did they enter at their first meeting upon the fiue Articles Epaph The Kirk is prejudged heere of her ancient priviledge to her great losse and they that all matters may be rightly tymed are wisely directed to treat of the matter of Taxation in the first place because so many as
the forme of godlinesse but denying the power thereof and living as without God in the world Next they become Atheists in affection vvishing that there were not an infinite iustice to bee revenged vpon their vvickednesse At last the Lord giveth them over to Atheisme in opinion that they say in their hearts There is not a God So may I say of Adiaphorisme and iudging of indifferencie many at the first are brought to practise without consideration Afterward finding themselves wrong but either for feare of shame or skaith refusing to follow the retrait of their conscience they wish in affection that they were not matters of faith In the end the mistresse being vowed by the hand-maid understanding is set on worke to finde out probabilities colours and appearances to make them to seeme indifferent Observe particular practises and ye shall finde it to be so Archip. These indeed are the methods of earthly wisedome Vpon the contrary by heavenly order the truth comming from aboue shineth first in the minde by her light sendeth down her heat to the heart and then in knowledge and zeale ruleth the outward action But whatsoever bee the vvayes of mens vvits thinke yee indeed that the things in question are matters of faith and not indifferent I vvould not vvish you to be singular Epaph. A peremptory answer I perceiue vvould chase you away I shall let you see my reason before I tell you my opinion first of matters of faith and then of things indifferent If yea joyne vvith mee I vvill bee no more singular at least in your estimation And I nothing doubt to bring you and all such as will giue place to the truth to be of my opinion be upon what side they will Archip. There is nothing I desire more to heare vvhat haue you then to say of the first vvhether they bee matters of faith Epaph. It is a sound and received distinction that matters of faith are not all of one kinde Three degrees of maners of faith but stand in three degrees of difference There be some things of the foundation of faith somethings vpon the foundation and some things about the foundation The first sort toucheth the life and soule of Christian religion and thus the Articles of the Creed are accounted matters of faith The second is of their necessarie attendants by cleare and undenyable consequence following the former at the heeles so that no man perswaded of the former first principles can haue any hesitation almost concerning these And the third is extended to all things revealed in Scripture concerning whatsoever purpose although most indifferent in it selfe There is nothing of so meane importance written in the word but it must bee ranked among the matters of faith how soone it is manifested to bee of divine authoritie Neither can hee haue any faith at all who hath not faith of all that hee knoweth to bee written Archip. No man will deny that for I haue learned Quaedam nec sum necessaria creâ—â—tu per se nec per authoritateÌ„ scripturae quaedam necessaria per se per authoritatem scripturae quaedam necessaria creditu non per se sed per authoritatem scriptura that as there be some things neither necessarie of themselues to be beleeved nor by the authoritie of Scripture some things that are necessarie both wayes so there be many things necessary to be beleeved not of themselves but by authority of scripture But what is that to the purpose Epaph. I haue heard great men say They are no matters of salvation that is to say they are not of the first degree of matters of faith and therefore not to bee much respected as neither helping nor hindering our happinesse But consider I pray you this second ground and compare it with the former that according to the three forenamed degrees of matters of faith without there bee answerably within the minde of man as many degrees of damnable infidelitie these are Ignorance Error and Obstinacie Ignorance of matters of faith of the first degree condemneth for whether amongst professors And accordingly three degrees of infidelitie or without the limits of the visible Kirk he that knoweth not the principles of Christian religion cannot be saved Error in the second bringeth condemnation because he who denieth that which followeth by necessary consequence upon the principles of religion hath not knowledge of the principles themselues He that denieth the consequent denieth also the antecedent albeit he should professe that hee cannot see the necessity of consequence Archip. I doubt of that for may not I know many grounds without knowledge of the conclusions which may bee even by necessary consequence deduced from them because I never had occasion perhaps to think upon them Epaph. Therefore I say not that Ignorance but Error of matters of the second sort is damnable And that he who after consideration denieth the consequent denieth the antecedent The Iew making confession vvith the fathers of his faith in the Messiah but denying that the Messiah is come doth indeed deny the Messiah The Anabaptist professing that he beleeveth in Christ but denying him to haue taken flesh of the virgin doth indeed deny the Mediator Al 〈◊〉 the Papist avouch that hee is sound in the doctrine of Christs person and offices yet by consequent hee denyeth both and may look for Anathema 〈◊〉 preaching another Gospell He that sweareth the king to be hâ—s Soveraigne and denieth him lawful obedience cannot be excused by pretending that he seeth not the necessitie of consequence And he that admitteth the princely office of Christ but vvill giue no place to his râ—yall scepter neither in his owne heart nor in the government of the kirk but putteth a crowne of thornes upon his head and in his hand a â—eed will be attained of treason against the king of glory and vvill bee iudged an usurper of his incommunicable dignitie Archip. It is now evident and I cannot but thinke worse of such false friends then of avowed adversaries Albeit I would professe that if I wer ministring the Lords supper yet it is but my imagination except I keepe the Lords institution 1 Cor. 11.20 But come to the third degree of infidelitie Epaph. â—â—â—na domiâ—a non est â—â—si que leâ—itâ—me iÌ„â—xta instiuâ—onem dominicaâ— obserâ—â—tur Paâ—â—us In the third kind of matters of faith neither Ignorance nor Error but obstinacie bringeth condemnation We are all ignorant of many things but vve must know the articles of faith We all erre in many things but we must be free of error about the necessarie consequents of these articles and free of obstinacie in the meanest matters Sâ— that as it is not Ignorance but Error in the second sort that condemneth so it is not error simply but obstinacie in the third sort and Ignorantiâ— praâ—e dispositionis that condemneth No man beleeveth expresly all matters of saith No Christian but he carrieth a minde prepared and ready to yeeld to
voluntate legislatoris Yet the distinction of the bounds belonging to everie synagogue vvas left to the power of the kirk of the Iewes no lesse then the distinction of Parishes now to the Christian kirke and all the distinct office-bearers are prescribed now as well as then As unlawfull now to bring in a new kinde of ministerie into the kirke as it vvas at that time and will prove in the end to be no better then strange fire 2. For places there cannot be a common place now for solemne vvorship for either there behoved to be one for the vvhole Christian vvorld vvhich no man vvill affirme except a Roman Catholick or else one in every nation vvhich vvere the erecting of a proper religion in everie kingdome and a making of everie countrey a Canaan by it selfe and not a part of the kirk vniversall having communion with all the Saints But as the Kirk now hath a place of meeting for every congregation so had the Iewish kirk the like power and libertie in building their synagogues and no greater holines in the one place then in the other 3. For times in vindicating his festivall dayes from the blame of Iudaisme he denieth that the kirk hath power to make dayes like the Iewish dayes in appropriating a vvorship to them vvhich is not lawfull to performe another day but seemeth to slip in two things 1. that hee giveth power to the kirke to make dayes as holy as that day vvhich is more holy then the Iewish dayes putting no difference of holinesse betwixt the Sabboth and the dayes appointed by the kirk but maketh all the difference to be divine institution As D. Downame precept 4. addeth to the vveekly Sabboths all other Sabboths lawfully ordained by the kirk All which are to bee consecrated sayth hee as Sabboths to the Lord. And for example of Sabboths lawfully ordained he bringeth the feasts of Christs Nativitie Resurrection c. giving power to the kirk to make Sabboths like Gods Sabboths 2. He slippeth in his appropriations of the two sorts of it he striveth to remoue the one that is the appropriation of the worship to the day albeit he knoweth that it would not be counted lawfull to solemnize the feast of the Nativitie Resurrection c. upon other dayes the solemne remembrance of these benefites being the proper vvorship of the dayes and not the instruction of the people in the grounds of the Catechisme The solemne vvorship of the Passouer Pentecost and Tabernacles was appropriated to the owne times yet it vvas lawfull to instruct the people in the knowledge of the benefites at other times The other appropriation of the day to the vvorship he passeth vvith silence as that it made not a Iudaicall difference of dayes When I say it is not lawfull to exercise that vvorship another day and to exercise another vvorship that day I make difference of dayes both wayes As I doe of meates vvhen I say out of a religious distinction of meats I will eat any meat except that and no other meat but that Had it beene the Lords will that his people should haue kept anniversarie and ordinarie feasts seeing they were no lesse positiue might haue been as easily determined as the weekly Sabboths he had not passed them vvithout determination Finally all that he hath set down concerning order is no more determined in the kirk of the Iewes then in the Christian kirk as vvherat and how the Priest or Levit should begin proceed close Psalmes praying reading preaching what petition to bee proponed circumcision in stead of baptisme the passover in place of the communion marriage and all things in doctrine discipline and divine service What hath the Doctor meaned when he tooke upon him the demonstration of Christian libertie in this poynt except he could haue brought better instances There were many poynts of service as sacrifices vvashings anniversarie dayes c. vvhich we haue not but the determination of such as we haue is as particular as theirs except vvherein the nationall circumstances make impediment They had multitude of observations with direction wee haue the benifit of distinct direction without the burthen of multitude of observations Archip. If he had vvell paralelled the Iewish and Christian kirk in the particulars he had not set down that for a priviledge and libertie of the Christian kirk vvhich is so manifestly common to the kirk of the old testament What think ye of the extent of the power of the kirk as he hath considered it Epaph. Some things are essentiall some things vniversall in time and place both are determined The individuall circumstances of particular times places and personall conditions pro re nata are left to the kirk even as in policie oeconomie c. some poynts must be left because they either cannot or need not be determined In his discourse upon this poynt he proveth vvorthy of his wages because in the enumeration of ceremonies he forgets the Surplice Crosse left he should crosse his paterne in any thing and to giue proofe of his purpose of more conformitie Albeit he cannot deny but the crosse surplice c. vvhich he dare not remember are new rites sensible and as dangerous additions and no lesse positiue in the vvorship of God then salt oyle spittle holy warter lights God giue you and all the ministers of the Kirk of Scotland the spirit of discretion vvhen ye set your selues down at the feet of your generall Preceptor and preceptorie Dictator to learn rules of obedience in matters indifferent If obedience be due to the kirke because therby confusion scandall and schisme is eschued then vvhere all these evills through obedience do daily encrease obedience to the kirk is disobedience to God And vvhether it be lawfull to enquire and to haue respect to scandall after that the Canon is concluded I referre you to that vvhich I sayd before of scandall Arch. All that you can say against his preface the book it self wil seem as smal in his phantasie as the Rhapsodie of Perth assembly against which he his fellow-labourers framed this answer Epaph. Not the phantasie of man but the veritie of God is to be respected of us He calleth that treatise a Rhapsodie for what cause I know not except that the author delighteth not after his fashion to Mercurialize and borroweth help of the Ancients of the Scholastickes and modern Divines Who loveth not the exquisite Bee-work gathered out of so great diversitie of flowers more then the spiders webb twisted out of her own bowells vvhich striveth for nothing but to catch the blind and vveak flies when she hath eviscerate herselfe all the yeare long Archip. Will ye speak nothing of the particulars contained in the book it selfe Epaph. Ye haue driven me further already then I intended at the first Particular polemicks are to be referred to their own lists yet I could shew you by a claw or two that ye need not fear the Lyon In the
As in the privation naturall there is no regresse to the habit so Courtiers for the most part find it in the Politicall others Kirks haue felt it and we may look for it in the spirituall privation The Kirk that the Lord speweth out is under a dreadfull and desperate course 1 Because he plagueth them vvith delight will so rejoyce to destroy them and cut them off as he did before rejoyce in doing theÌ„ good 2 because that vomiting imports that he vvill make them a reproach and 3 because they shall never recover their wonted dignity for the Lord vvill not returne to his vomit Gods goodnesse towards us hath been more then ordinary our sinnes already committed are not common because vve goe on in a course not of ignorance or infirmity but in obstinate 〈…〉 many warnings of the 〈…〉 the vvorkes of God In the land of uprightnesse will ye deale unjustly and will ye not behold the Majestie of the Lord There be many this day vvho maintaine the same opinions that the fathers defended of old yet that which vvas onely errour in the fathers is in them heresie Origen and Tertullian were so highly respected in their time that Vincentius Lyrinenfis counteth the one the chiefe of the Greeks and the other of the Latine Fathers And yet their followers who vvith pertinacy persisted in their errours against manifested truth vvere judged Heretickes and stiled Origenists and Tertullianists Therefore our judgement must be answerable it shall not be common Adhuc â—isericordum adversatur nihil est infocticius sodicitaeem peccâ—â—um qua poenais nutrium impunitas â—ala voluntas velut interior hostis roburaâ—â—â— August op â— Men haue medled vvith ceremonies and the externall vvorship of God The Lord hath given retribution in things externall if they repent not but goe forvvard against the life and body of Religion the Lord vvill not spare their liues and bodies but shall proceed from famine to the svvord and other more grievous punishments vvhereby he shall declare that vvith the frovvard he dealeth frovvardly They vvho vvill not confesse that to be a sinne against God that they haue done shall be left in his justice to fall into that vvhich shall make them cry We haue sinned and haue done wrong to the Kirk of God And vvho are so hardned that they vvil not heare the voice and feele the finger of Iehovah in his by past vvarnings and present iudgements shall be stricken vvith a iudgement ere it be long that shall make both their eares to tingle The Lord hath not left himselfe vvithout a vvitnesse this yeare vvrath is gone out from him and the sword of his vengeance is drawn When the seales were opened the voice exponed the meaning afterward the trumpet was sounded for him who would not heare that voice and for the despiser of the trumpet nothing was prepared but the stiâ—â—â—d secret powring out of the viall of judgement There be mâ—â—â— expounding voyces blessed be our God in all the corners of this Nation opening up the meaning of the seales if we be not wise the next sound may well be loud but it shall not be articulate to tell men their particular transgressions procuring wrath and then judgement shall come without advertisement Long long haue the white colours of peace hung in our eye The Lord is now displaying his bloudie banner what remaines if we giue not over but that doolefull ensigne of death without mercie Blessed are they for ever vvho endure to the end Blessed are they vvho are marked in the forehead albeit the marke be not sensible to the vvorld which seeth not the sealed ones not can not learne their song yet it assureth them in the secret off their hearts of the Lords protection from his devouring Angell Although when trangressions are come to the full the Lord raiseth up men of a fierce countenance and understanding darke sentences furnished in a time of defection with gifts most fitting for destruction The Lord shall notwithstanding saue his own from their craft and cruelty so farre as serues for their wished blessednesse shall poure out of his spirit upon his servants to giue testimony to his glorious truth in the midst of persecution and shall make them able to discerne betwixt appearance and substance pretexts and reasons promises and purposes successe and conscience that they goe not blindfolded with the world to perdition Archip. I thanke God I am for my part more able to discerne of them then before and vvith the spirit of discretion to others But all this time ye haue said nothing of our covenants oathes subscriptions professions and the particular bonds of this Kirk obliging us beyond all other people and nations neither haue yee entered into any particular concerning the fiue Articles Epaph. It was my part to answer your demands When ye shall urge and God shall giue opportunity I shall expound more largely and apply more particularly the generall verities expressed before For this time I onely wish ye be as good as your word in the beginning to follow hardly when ye see truth going before and to commit the event to the providence of the most high Archip. That is my present resolution and I hope to die in it The Lords grace be with you and with all them that loue the comming of the Lord Iesus Christ who shall bring an eternall decision upon all the controversies of men FINIS