should we be cautions of ingaging in such a businesse where there is a constituted settled Church without their advice 7. It were a manifest breach both of our Nationall Covenant and of the Solemne League and Covenant to determine or approve of a businesse so highly concerning Religion without the advice and concurrence of the Generall Assembly or their Commissioners seeing by both Covenants we are plainly oblieged to preserve and maintaine the doctrine discipline and government of the Kirke which yet cannot be preserved but overthrowne by such a Parliamentary determination and Declaration concerning the Covenant and Religion without the advice and consent of the Kirke Neither can we expect the blessing of God upon our undertakings if in this cause wherein the honour and glory of God and the good of Religion is so highly concerned we should engage without the advice and concurrence of the faithfull Ministers of this Kirke whom God hath used as maine instruments in the beginning and progresse of the worke of Reformation Edinb 20. April 1648. Answers of the Parliament to the desires given in to them by the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly and to the papers given in by them upon the 13 and 18 dayes of this month THe Estates of Parliament having againe taken to their consideration the desires given in to them by the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly And having also considered the papers given in by the said Commissioners upon the 13 and 18 dayes of this month doe conceive that the Declaration of Parliament is a full and satisfactory answer to the first eight Desires As also to the other two papers in so far as the same are concident with these desires And as to the other particulars of their two last papers concerning the way and time of sending Propositions to the King 1. It is answered That the Parliament conceives the same way is now taken that hath been formerly And in regard the Parliament of England have laid aside these Propositions concerning Religion and the joynt interest of the Kingdome of Scotland We are necessitated to make our first applications to them who must first agree and condescend thereunto before his Majesties assent can be demanded And that it evidently appeares by the Declaration that we really intend to insist for satisfaction from his Majesty in that that concernes Religion before all worldly things And that so soon as his Majesty shall be in such a condition of freedome honour and safety as his concessions may be effectuall And as to that prejudice alleadged in the preparative of taking resolutions in that which concernes Religion without advice and consent of the Kirke 2. It is answered That as we have never hitherto taken any resolutions in that which concerns Religion without advice of the Kirke And since what is now declared by the Parliament in order to Religion is not upon any new grounds but in pursuance of the same grounds contained in the Covenant in the Acts of the Generall Assembly and Acts of Parliament And that in our demands concerning Religion as the advice of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly hath been desired so we shall never doe any thing that may prejudice the just interest and liberty of the Kirke of Scotland And for their desire to be satisfied in the whole matter It is answered That it is cleare by the Declaration which containes the grounds and resolutions of the Parliament on the whole matter That there is nothing therein which doth crosse the demands concerning Religion or is inconsistent with the security thereof And farther It is ordained that the Parliament having agreed unto the Declaration it be communicated to the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly before it be published and in matters that concernes Religion that the Parliament will be ready to heare and consider the advice of the Commissioners of the Kirke Extract out of the bookes of Parliament by Sir Alex Gibson of Dury Knight Clerk of his Majesties Registers Councell and Rolls c. Alex. Gibson Cler. Regist Edinb 25. April 1648. The humble returne of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly to the answer of the Honourable and high Court of Parliament to our 8 Desires and to our papers of the 13 and 18 of this Month. WHereas your Lordships did communicate unto us your large Declaration containing principally your Lordships resolutions concerning dangers and duties relating to Religion we wish your Lordships had been so tender of the liberty and due interest of the Gen. Assembly their Commissioners as to have communicated to us a busines so highly concerning Religion before not after your Lordships resolutions taken therein And that your Lordships had not given just cause to so many so considerable Members of Parliament who have given most reall and constant testimony of their integrity in this cause to dissent from and protest against your Lordships proceeding to determine a businesse of this nature without consultation with us and our consent had therein For our part the trust committed to us is so precious that we may not hold our peace in such a case but must freely professe and declare to your Lordships That this Act being really a taking from us to your selves the antecedent judgement and determination of danger sand duties so highly concerning Religion in this present juncture of affaires the liberties of the Kirke are so far prejudiced as could not have entered into our hearts to expect after so solemne obligations to preserve and maintaine the Doctrine Discipline and Government of the Kirke of Scotland We therefore protest for the preservation of the Liberties of this Kirk according to the word of God Solemn Covenants former lawes and laudable customes of this Kirk and Kingdome and that this act of your Lordships be no preparative for the future Finally that it shall be yet free unto us according to the duties of our place and as there shall bee cause to give our judgements in an Ecclesiasticall way of the materialls of the said Declaration so far as Religion is therein concerned as freely as if your Lordships had taken no resolution thereupon These things being premised And desiring your Lordships to remember what we did formerly professe in our late petition that we never were nor now are averse from any Ingagement being first satisfied in the grounds of undertaking and in the way of managing the same Wee proceed to make our humble returne to your Lordships answer of the 20th of this month to our eight desires and our papers of the 13th and 18th of the same month Whereas your Lordships conceive that your Declaration communicated unto us is a full and satisfactory answer to our eight desires we must clearly professe to your Lordships that we can find no such thing in that Declaration as a satisfaction to our eight desires But that we find diverse things in it which we humbly conceive to be very prejudiciall to these our desires and of very
humble desires whereupon the same day we were invited to a new conference with some of their Lordships which did not produce the wished effect and satisfaction which we were waiting for Upon the 28. of March we received the Parliaments answers to our eight Desires which leaving us still unsatisfied did occasion our humble Representation of March 29. whereunto we received no other answer but a desire of Parliament sent us the next day for a conference upon our said Desires and the parliaments answer thereunto and also upon the state of the Question and whole matter But as we were willing to conferre upon our 8 desires and the unsatisfactorinesse of the parliaments answers thereunto so till we should receive a cleer and reall satisfaction to these our desires we Declined a Conference upon the state of a Question for Warre for the Grounds and reasons expressed in our paper of the 30 of March and did accordingly give order to those of our number appointed to conferre But the power given to the Committee of Parliament containing nothing of further satisfaction to be give to our desires that their Conference after some time spent in debates proved no lesse ineffectuall then the former two Upon the 11 April It was Ordered by the Parliament that the demand concerning Religion thought fit by their Lordships to be sent to the Parliament of England should be communicated unto us whereunto we returned an answer by our Paper of the 13. of that moneth And that we might leave no meanes unessayed for satisfaction in those particulars wherein most part of the Provincial Synods hath joyned with us in supplications to the Parliament without which many others as well as our selves could not be satisfied in conscience to concurre in the Engagement We did by our Petition of the 18. further insist with their Lordships in all humility and earnestnesse for satisfaction to our desires and to be cleared upon the whole matter Unto all which we have received no other answers for the satisfaction of our consciences but the Paper delivered in to us from the Parliament upon the 20. of April together with their Lordships Declaration unto which we were remitted for satisfaction in most things we had desired But how great reason we have to be still unsatisfied will appeare by our Answer to their Lordships paper of the 20. of April and by our humble Representation upon the Declaration it selfe expressing more fully our sense of the whole matter and although we might have justly desired some weeks for deliberation about an Answer to so large and so premeditate a Declaration concerning things of so high a nature yet we made much haste that our Representation thereupon was fully agreed and concluded among us upon the eight day after we received the Declaration it selfe If the Honourable Estates of Parliament had been pleased to delay the sending away of their demands to England and the publishing their Declaration to this Kingdom till they had received and considered our Humble Representation thereupon We know not but it might have by the blessing of God conduced much to the preventing of great and sad inconveniences But now their Lordships Declaration being emitted as it is we have too much cause to feare that the Malignant party shall make use of it to the ensnaring of many unlesse timous warning and information be given them For our part it hath been our endeavour which we are confident is desired with us by all the well-affected both in Church and State that there may be no rupture in this Nation but a firme union and conjunction upon the first principles and grounds of engaging in this cause And as we have not been tenacious of words but of things nor of any other things but such as highly concerne the glory of God solemn Covenants and the good safety and security of Religion so we shall be blamelesse before God Angels and men of all the evils distractions and confusions which may follow upon or be occasioned by the not satisfying of so just and necessary desires And now for the result of the whole busines As we were before and still are ready to consent and agree to the engaging acting in war if we were satisfyed in our consciences concerning the grounds of undertaking and the means and ways of prosecuting the same and concerning the other particulars contained in our Papers presented to the Parliament So not being satisfyed in those and looking upon the war as it is now stated matters standing as they do and the whole complex businesse taken together We cannot but with all dutifull respect honour both to his Majesty and to the Estates of Parlia plainly dissent and differ from the same being so far from a cleer satisfaction in our consciences concerning the lawfulnesse and necessity of a War upon the grounds and in the manner expressed in the Declaration of Parliament that contrariwise we are cleerly perswaded in our consciences it is an engagement of most dangerous consequence to the true reformed Religion both in Doctrine Discipline Worship ond Government prejudiciall to the due interest and liberty of the Kirk favourable and advantagious to the Popish Prelaticall and Malignant party inconsistent with the union of the Kingdom and the satisfaction of the Presbyterian party in England and therefore contrary to the Word of God to the Solemn Covenants first Principles and publique Professions of this Kirk and Kingdom and a remedy worse then the disease and a course whereupon we cannot expect a blessing from God For which reasons expressed more fully and particularly in our Representation upon the late Declaration of Parliament we cannot in our consciences allow either Ministers in their places and callings or any others whatsoever to concurre and cooperate in the Engagement but trust that all that have in them true tendernesse of conscience and tremble at the Word of God will by his grace and assistance keep themselvs unspotted and free in this busines and will choose affliction rather then iniquity and take their hazard of suffering rather then of sin believing that the wrath of man shall turne to the praise of God and the remainder of wrath He will restrain We know there is much zeale pretended for the ends of the Covenant uniformity of Religion suppression of Sectaries and the like But the more pretence be made of Religious ends the Malignant designes varnished and painted therewith are unto God and good men so much the more hatefull Doth the same fountain send forth both sweet water and bitter Or how can true zeale against Sectaries lodge in one breast with zeal for Malignants Besides if Religion and the Glory of God be now chiefly aimed at what meaneth the refusing of that satisfaction and security which hath been desired for Religion And if there be such zeal against Sectaries in the Engagement what meant it that not long ago when the dangers of the true Reformed Religion in this Kirk from the prevalent party
reason to obtaine the same in a peaceable way And finally wee expect that your Lordships will do nothing that may strengthen the Popish Prelaticall or Malignant party who are waiting for their day or that may discourage or weaken the Presbyterian party in England or render your wayes suspitions unto them but that your Lordships will imploy all the power which God hath put in your hand for advanceing his honour and the Kingdome of his Sonne Many of your Lordships have been instrumentall in as glorious a worke of reformation as any age hath seen and all of your have been witnesses therto and if any thing shall proceed from you for weakening or defeating thereof as it will bee matter of high provocation against the Lord so doubtlesse it wil be trouble to your soules in your latter end and meet you in the day of your accounts And if your Lordships shall refuse to hearken to this our humble supplication we take God to record that we have exonoured our selves as in his sight and that we and the Kirk of Scotland whose trust we discharge in the publique affaires thereof are free of all that guilt that shall follow upon any undertakings or resolutions tending to the prejudice of Religion the honour and happines of the King and the union and peace of the Kingdoms But we desire to perswade our selves better things of your Lorships and that you will give us such satisfaction as may incourage us to bear reall testimony of your Lordships that ye intend the settling of Religion and the carrying on of all things in such a way as may contribute for the securing of the same A. Ker. The dissent and protestation of some Members of Parliament against their Lordships proceeding to a determination in the Declaration concerning the breaches and demands c. WHereas the draught of a Declaratian hath now beene read concerning the breaches of the Covenant in matters of Religion and the demands to bee made for remedy and reparation thereof the dangers to Religion and the duties whereunto we are oblieged by Covenant for Reformation and Uniformity in Religion and the security to be had for establishing the same upon which grounds a warre is principally founded And whereas we have earnestly desired and insisted That there may bee no proceeding to any determination concerning the said Declaration before the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly be first consulted therein We do hereby enter our dissent from proceeding to the determination of matters so highly concerning Religion without the advice and concurrence of the Kirke as a preparative of most dangerous consequence to Religion and destructive to the liberties of the Church as contrary to the National Solemn League Covenant and to the known lawes and constant practices of this Kingdome And we do protest that we may not be included in any such vote or resolution but may be free of al the guiltines confusions distractions and evill whatsoever that may follow thereupon to Religion the King this Kirk and Kingdom And the union betwixt the Kingdoms The Reasons of the aforesaid Protestation THat the Parliament ought to take into consideration the papers already presented by the Kirke and advise with them concerning the draught of the Declaration before they approve the same for the Reasons following 1. The chiefe subject of the Declaration is concerning the breaches of the Covenant in matters of Religion and the demands to be made for remedy and reparation thereof the dangers of Religion with the duties whereunto we are oblieged by Covenant for Reformation and uniformity in Religion and the security to be had for the establishment of the same And so much the more the Kirke is to be consulted therein that upon these grounds chiefly a warre is founded concerning the lawfulnesse whereof the advice of the Kirke ought to bee taken the grounds being taken principally from the interest of Covenant and Religion 2. It is acknowledged and declared by the Laws of the Kingdome in severall Acts of Parliament that the Assemblies of this Kirke are the competent and proper Judges against all matters Ecclesiasticall And when there were greatest controversies in matters of Religion betwixt his Majesty and this Kingdome that which was earnestly sought for as the proper and only mean to put an end to all differences touching matters of Religion and assented to by his Majesty in a solemne agreement was that all questions about Religion and matters Ecclesiasticall be determined by the Assemblies of the Kirke as matters Civill by the Parliament which expresse words are set down in the 4 and 38 Acts of Parliament 1640 and by many Acts of Parliament it is particularly acknowledged that in matters of Religion the antecedent judgement is the Kirke and the consequent judgement or Civil sanction is the States as in the Kings oath of Coronation and the first act 1592. anent the liberties of the Kirke inserted in our Nationall Covenant and repeated in the act rescissory 1640. which evinceth that the Parliament should communicate the Declaration to the Kirke before they resolve upon it among themselves 3. All our Supplications Remonstrances Declarations Protestations Acts of Assembly and Parliament and our defensive Armes in anno 1639 and 1640 were not onely against the Innovations then urged in the book of Canons Service book c. for the evill matter therein contained but also against the dangerous manner of introducing the same without the advice and consent of the Assemblies of the Kirke and Lawes of the Kingdome 4. Our Nationall Covenant and our Solemne League and Covenant were first drawne by the Kirke And their interest interpretation thereof especially so far as concernes Religion was never hitherto denyed but by the constant practice of this Kingdome the Assemblies of the Kirke were alwayes consulted anent the dangers thereunto and the duties grounded thereupon and touching the demands and security for Religion before any expedition or Declaration for War offensive or defensive 5. The Parliaments assuming to themselves the sole judging of the breaches of Covenants demands for reparation the dangers to duties for and security of Religion is a most dangerous preparative and destructive to the liberties of the Kirk for subsequent Parliaments may according to this president without the advice and consent of the Assemblies of the Kirke impose upon them new Confessions of Faith formes of worship and Church government and so change the very substance and fundamentals of our Religion likewise this preparative in a Parliament of Scotland will confirme such in their opinions and practices in the Parliament of England who maintaine the Errastian tenets wherefore if extirpation of Errastianisme be intended in England as is professed it should not be practised at home 6. Even the Parliament of England would not ingage in the League and Covenant untill they had first advised it with the Assembly of Divines in point of conscience albeit that Assembly hath no jurisdiction how much more
before either Church or Kingdome can say they are in a condition of safety And is this to endeavour the settling of Religion before all worldly interests or rather to make it come after the Kings interest 7. We fear that if after so many instructions from the Parliament Convention and Committee of Estates to their Commissioners at London from time to time for endeavouring in the first place the settlement of Religion and then to endeavour the removing of the Civill differences and the restitution of the King upon his first giving satisfaction in Religion and the grounds of a solid Peace And if after it was declared by this Kingdome during His Majesties being at Newcastle that they could not admit of his Majesties coming to Scotland in freedome unlesse his Majesty granted the Proposition concerning the Covenant and Religion and gave a satisfactory Answer to the rest of the Propositions Likewise if after such a Declaration of the Parliament of this Kingdom January 16 1647 for his Majesties being in some of his Houses with such attendance as the two Houses should think fit untill He give satisfaction in the Propositions If after all this it be now insisted upon that his Majesty may be restored with Honour Freedome and Safety before such satisfaction had from Him we feare it shall lie as a great scandall upon this Kingdome and as too sensible and apparent a change of their former principles and professions in a point so much concerning the security of Religion 8. We are very apprehensive that your Lordships urging the disposal of the Kings Person in England in such a way as that he may come to London with Honour Freedom and Safety without his Majesties giving or your Lordships desiring his Majesty to give satisfaction and security in Religion in such things as belong to the safety of the Kingdome without which there can be no lasting security expected to Religion At it is a farre different point from the urging of a joynt interest in the disposing of the Kings Person by both Kingdomes for the good of both so it will be fudged by most of all parties in England that ever concurred in this Cause to be so prejudiciall to their Nationall Rights and Liberties and such an enchroachment thereupon though your Lordships declare you have no such intention as that it will unite them all in opposition to this Kingdome and consequently alienate them from the intended Uniformity in Religion according to the Covenant As these reasons make us conceive your Lordships second demand to import no small danger to Religion So we would not be understood as if we had any thoughts to decline the restoring of his Majesty to the same condition he was in by the agreement of both Kingdomes when he was taken away by a party of the Army under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax that both Kingdomes may freely make their applications to him Concerning your Lordships third demand That the present Army of Sectaries may be disbanded for the ends expressed in the demand As we think no persons what soever fit to be imployed or entrusted in the Armies of either Kingdom who have not taken the Covenant and that all Sectaries in England that are in Arms should be disbanded and disarmed So we conceive there is also reason for your Lordships to foresee and provide against the danger of the rising again of the Popish Prelatical and Malignant party in armes and therther because of the late commotions begun by some of them both in England and Ireland There being also some both in Wales and Ireland actually in arms who have discovered and declared their principles and ends to be very Malignant wherein we are informed they are the more animated and encouraged upon confidence of some agreement between his Majesty and this Kingdome It is further to be considered that this Demand being joyned with the second the present Army in England disbanded and his Majesty brought to London with Honour Freedome and Safety how easily may all the Malignant Popish and Prelaticall party in his Majesties Dominions flock unto him Which how prejudiciall it may be his Majesty keeping still his principles is easie to be judged As for the exceptions added in your Lordships demand to passe the ambiguity thereof your Lordships except from the laid disbanding the Garrisons necessary to be kept in England and desire that these Garrisons may be commanded by such as have or shall take the Covenant and are well-affected to Religion and Government but do not desire any such thing concerning the Garisons themselves which may be understood as a tacite confession on your part that all the Garisons to be kept in England may be of such as have not taken nor shall take the Covenant nor are well affected to Religion and Government provided that those Garisons be commanded by such as your Lordships describe We have but one point more to adde concerning this third and last demand For we cannot conceal our feares and apprehensions that your present resolutions and proceedings and the entertainment of English Souldiers whereof many are Papists and Malignants and some eminent in Malignancie is not the way to further but to retard and hinder the disbanding of the present Army in England and to frustrate the ends your Lordships propose in your Declaration for the disbanding of that Army And whereas your Lordships declare that it is not your intention at all to make a Nationall engagement against the Parliament and Kingdome of England but for them as we shall not presume to speak of the Nationall Rights and Priviledges of another Kingdome So we cannot see how the principles of your Lordships Declaration can consist with the first part of our third Desire which was That there may be no such quarrell or ground of the Waâ—re as may break the Vnion between the Kingdomes for we conceive there are diverse such quarrels in the Declaration as fall directly and necessarly upon the votes and proceedings of the Houses of Parliament even when they were most free Concerning that which your Lordships adde in reference to the latter part of our third desire and to out whole fourth desire We humbly conceive it is very farre short of that which is no lesse your Lordships duty then our desire for 1. Your Lordships onely declare Association and Conjunction of Forces with those who shall refuse to sweare and subscribe the Covenant which doth not exclude Association of Forces with such as neither have taken nor shall take the Covenant so that they be not urged thereto and so not nerckoned among refusers This we have the more reason to take notice of because your Lordships have before in this same Declaration complained that there is no urging of the Covenant in England nor no execution of publike Orders for taking of the same Which being so how shall your Lordships finde the Malignants in England to be refusers of the Covenant except your Lordships enforce it upon them
or any thing else in the Declaration His Majesty may be restored to the exercise of His Royall Power before security had from Him for Religion as we desired The next qualification added by your Lordships immediately is in these words having found His late Concessions and offers concerning Religion not satisfactory where first the words having found may be variously understood either when His Majesty shall have found or when your Lordships shall have found or because His Majesty hath found or because your Lordships have found Next the words not satisfactory are as doubtfull and may be interpreted in severall sense either that His Majesties late Concessions and Offers concerning Religion are not satisfactory in themselves or that they are neither satisfactory to your Lordships nor to us or the meaning may be only that they are not satisfactory to us Which doubtfulnesse in the sense of the words we have more cause to observe because your Lordships have not hitherto returned us any clear or positive answer to our fifth desire That his Majesties late Concessions and Offers concerning Religion as they have been by the Church so may be by the Parliament declared unsatisfactory Only your Lordships are pleased here to make a light transition over that which we conceived to be unto us a grave Subject of a Solemne Declaration The third qualification in the assurance to be required from his Majestie is that he shall agree to such act or acts of Parliament and Bils as shall be presented unto Him by His Parliaments of both or either Kingdomes respectively for enjoyning the Covenant and establishing the Presbyteriall Government Directory of Worship and Confession of Faith in all his Majesties Dominions But we humbly conceive it were more for the Glory of God good of Religion and his Majesties own happinesse that his Majesty should after the example of the Godly reforming Kings of Judah and of the best Christian Emperours of old in the Christian Church Declare his own zeal and forwardnesse for the Reformation and settling Religion and that your Lordships should do well to sollicite and incite his Majesty hereunto rather then to seem to yeeld so farre as that his Majesty shall be free for his part till his Parliaments of both or either Kingdomes respectively agree what acts or Bills to present to him The preparing and presenting whereof how much it may be retarded and obstructed by the prevalency both of Malignants and Sectaries we know not seeing therefore His Majesty oweth a duty doth to God and to his people for the Reformation and settlement of Religion your Lordships may do better to sollicite his Majesty and to desire that he will positively declare himself willing and ready for his part and for that duty which is incumbent to his Majesty and that he give assurance for the same in the particulars Your Lordships further declare in reference to our eighth and last desire that you are willing to subjoyn to the grounds of your undertaking an Oath wherein both in the framing thereof and otherwise your Lordships are willing the Church shall have their due interest as formerly in the like cases Where as we know not how far your Lordships meaning doth reach in the word other wayes and in the word due so we know not why your Lordships did not think fit to agree to our desire as it was conceived and the words stood viz that there may be no ingagement without a solemn Oath wherein the Kirk may have the same interest which they had in the Solemn League and Covenant which desire is so far unsatisfied that for our interest in the matter of the Oath and in the grounds of the undertaking we do nat see it allowed or preserxed to us but rather that the Declaration holdeth forth the grounds of the undertaking already resolved upon by your Lordships only leaving us an interest in the forme of an Oath to be subjoyned and that not without some uncertain and dubious qualifications as hath been touched Mean while we see only a Declaration without an Oath and as Declarations are alterable by Parliaments and their proceedings sometimes not agreeable to their Declarations which he experience of these times hath taught us so if there were an Oath subjoined to the grounds of undertaking expressed in this Declaration we could not account it a lawfull Oath but that it would make the businesse worse Your Lordships adde somewhat further relating to the matter of our first and second desires namely that your Lordships are resolved not to engage in any War before the necessity and lawfulnesse thereof be cleared so as all who are well affected may be satisfied therewith and that reparation to such bpeaches and injurics as are or shall be condescended upon shal be demanded in such a just ane fit way as shal be found most lawfull and expedient This clause as likewise that which followeth that many of the dangers with the grounds and resolutions are by this Declaration of your Lordships made known to this Kingdom seems to hold us in suspence till all the dangers grounds and resolutions be made known and till the lawfulnesse and necessity of the War be cleared and the way of seeking reparation resolved upon yet eour Lordships may be pleased to remember that in that part of your Answer to us of the twentieth which is a return to our desire of knowing fully your Lordships resolutions and being satisfied on the whole matter we were remitted to the Declaretion as containing the grounds and resolutions of the Parliament on the whole matter As to that which followeth concerning a present putting of the Countrey in a posture of defence as in Anno 1643. we should be glad it were made to appear really that the grounds principles and end were the same now they were in the year 1643. Otherwise the like Act upon different grounds and for different ends make it not the same cause Your Lordships do indeed speak of the principles expressed in the Declaration as the same with the first principles contained in our Nationall Covenant and in the Solemn League and Covenant But what reason we have to conceive they are new and different principles may appear by the severall particulars before mentioned We cannot here passe a new interpretation which the Declaration puts upon the Solemn League and Covenant viz. That we did solemnly sweare and promise before God and his Angeli to endeavour Reformation of and Vniformity in Religion and church-Church-Government in all his Majesties Dominions according to the Word of GOD and the example of the best Reformed Churches Where we passe your Lordships limiting and restricting of Uniformity more then the Covenant doth which may infer that Uniformity in Church-Government between the Churches of CHRIST in these three Covenanted Kingdoms is not to be urged in any other manner or measure then we have a precedent of in other reformed Kirks but that which here we chiefly aim at is the following clause of the Declaration
the trust of the publicke affaires of the Kirk determine judge and declare by an antecedent judgement matters so highly concerning Religion as these contained in the Parliaments late Declaration Wherein there are not onely dangerous expressions concerning the Confession of Faith Directory of Worship and Presbyteriall Government as we have particularly instanced in our late Declaration but likewise in the close a strange and new sense put upon the Covenant and Acts of Generall Assemblies without so much as first consulting us concerning such a sense thereof which might have beene prevented if they had consulted us therein Notwithstanding of all which the Declaration being communicate to us from the High and Honourable Court of Parliament and wee having promised a speedy returne thereto which accordingly after eight dayes we performed the matter being copious the Declaration was ordered by the Parliament to be Printed and the three demands contained therein sent away to England with out staying a little for cur Answer which we had let them know we were preparing whereas a very short delay might have by the blessing of God brought unto their Lordships more light and matter of second thoughts We can as easily acquit our selves of any incroachments upon the unquestionable Rights of Parliament We are obliged by Solemne Covenant to endeavour the preservation of the Rights and Priviledges of Parliament And to encroach upon the same were indeed a hainous crime wherewith if any shall reproach us let them take heed what the ninth Command will exact of them yet they who will remember how in all ages the most faithfull servants of God have usually been traduced as troublers of and encroachers upon the Rights of the Civill Magistrate will not much marvell that what hath been is now As to the three instances mentioned in the Letter to prove that great encroachments are made upon their Lordships unquestionable Rights First it is said What can be more civill then to determine what Civill duties we ought to pay to our King or what Civill powers hee ought to be possessed of We aske again whether in our late conferences with their Lordships concerning an engagement in War there was any thing more proper to be insisted upon by us then the securing of Religion before all worldly interests and particularly that security may be had from his Majesty for the point of Religion before his restitution to the exercise of his Royall power Must not duties to God whereof the securing of Religion is a maine one have the supream and first place duties to the King a subordinate and second place Next as we have not determined what Civill duties the Parliament ought to pay to the King or what Civill powers he ought to be possessed of and as it is competent to the Parliament to judge of Civill duties between the King and his People in their owne way so can we not admit that it is proper and competent onely to them to judge of those duties for the duties of the second Table as well as of the first as namely the duties between King and Subject Parents and children Husbands and Wives Masters and servants and the like being contained in and to be taught and cleared from the Word of God are in that respect and so far as concerneth the point of conscience a subject of Ministeriall Doctrine and in difficult cases a subject of cognizance and judgement to the Assemblies of the Kirke And here it is not to bee passed that the Kirke of Scotland in the large Confession of Faith ratified by Acts of Parliament did long since determine the duties of the King and Subjects The like whereof may be seen in the other Confessions of Faith of the Reformed Churches Secondly whereas it is said Is there any other Authority in this Kingdom but that of the Parliament and what flows from them that can pretend Authoritative power in the choice of the Instrument and Managers of their publik Resolutions We humbly ask is there any Ecclesiastical Authority within this Kingdom that hath pretended or doth pretend to such a power for we know no such thing An Authoritative power and choice of the Instruments to be entrusted in Committees of Parliament Armies doth not belong unto us but unto the Parliament Nevertheles it was very competent for us among other things requisite for the safety and security of Relâ—gion and our Solemne Covenant to represent to the Parliament the Qualifications which we judged from Gods word to be necessary in such as are entrusted with the managing of so great Affaires and so highly concerning our Religion and Consciences Which we have had the more reason to insist upon for our owne and others satisfaction we being desired to joyne and concur in the businesse Suppose a Minister preaching before the Election of Magistrates which is usuall and shewing from the Word of God the Qualifications requisite in Magistrates and that none ought to be chosen but such as are so and so qualified who will challenge such a Minister of assuming the Authoritative power of choosing Magistrates And if the choosing of particular Magistrates in Cities and Boroughs contrary to the Rules and Qualifications of the Word be sinfull and blame-worthy how much more the committing of so great a publicke trust in Committees and Armies to divers not qualified with the necessary Qualifications To the third Instance which asketh Is it a subject for the Dispute of Church Judicatories whether his Majesty hath a negative voice in Parliament or not We answer so far as the Scriptures of the Old or New Testament hold forth any light to us what Power is due and what is not due to Kings it well agreeth with our places and callings to communicate such light to others as we see need Wee know no Church Judicatory that hath disputed whether his Majesty hath a negative voice in Parliament but we had just reason to supplicate the Parliament that they might not interest themselves in any quarrell for his Majesties Negative voyce because of the great dangers which may thereby come to Religion not onely by future disappointments of the so much desired settlement of Church affaires but by quarrelling the Solemne League and Covenant it selfe and the begun Reformation and Uniformity in Religion which hath been purchased with so much pains hazards losses and sufferings And now we shall take all these three instances joyntly and make this further answer to them all First although the points had been meerly Civill yet by the Confession of Faith agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster and approved by the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland as sound and Orthodox as the Act more particularly beareth we are allowed to apply our selves to the Parliament by way of humble supplication even in Civill matters The Parliament also having in their Declaration expressed their desires and resolutions that the said Confession of Faith be confirmed and established have upon the matter allowed
20. the reasons of our not proceeding in that conference and that the cause was not in us We do now as the servants of Iesus Christ for our own exoneration for preventing of mistakes and for a cleare understanding between your Lordships and us represent these our humble desires which we recommend to your Lordships serious thoughts I. That the grounds and causes of undertaking a Warre may be cleared to be so just as that all who are well affected may be satisfied in the lawfulnesse and necessity of the engagement and that nothing be acted in reference to a Warre before the lawfulnesse of the Warre and state of the Question be agreed upon II. That as the breaches of the Covenant by the prevalent party of Sectaries are evident so we desire and hope that according to the Treaty it may be condiscended upon and declared by the parliment what are those breaches of Peace which they take to be a ground of War and that reparation thereof may be sought III. That there may be no such quarrel or ground of the War as may break the Union between the Kingdomes or may discourage or disoblige the Presbyterian party in England who continue firme in adhering to the League and Covenant IV. That if the Popish Prelaticall or Malignant party shall again rise in Armes this Nation and their Armies may be so farre from joyning or associating with them that one the contrary they may oppose them and endeavour to suppresse them as enimies to this Cause and Covenant on the one hand as well as Sectaries on the other V. Seeing your Lordships undertaking should be in the first place for Religion We desire that his Majesties late Concessions and offers concerning Religion as they have been by the Church so may be by the Parliament deelared unsatisfactory whereby your Lordships may give further evidence of the reality of your intentions for the good and safty of Religion VI. That your Lordships may be pleased not to fix or settle upon any such state of a Question as doth not containe security to be had from his Majestie by his solemn Oath under his hand and seal That he shall for Himselfe and his Successors consent and agree to Acts of Parliament enjoyning the League and Covenant and fully establishing Presbyterian Government Directory of Worship and Confession of Faith in all his Majesties Dominions and that his Majesty shall never make opposition to any of these or endeavour any change thereof And that this security be had from his Majesty before his Restitution to the exercise of his Royall power Which desire we propone for no other end but because we cannot see how Religion which hath been and we trust shall be the principal end of all the undertakings of this Nation can be otherwise secured but that without this security it shall be left in very great hazard VII That for the same end of securing Religion which is professed to be the principall cause of engagement and for securing all other ends of the Covenant such persons only may be intrusted by your Lordships to be of your Committees and Armies as have given constant proofe of their integrity and faithfulnesse in this Cause and against whom there is no just cause of exception or jealousie That so we may the more confidently encourage our Flocks and Congregations to follow the Cause of God in their hands and not to doubt of the fidelity of those who shall be entrusted by your Lordships VIII That there may be no engagement without a Solemn Oath wherein the Church may have the same interest which they had in the Solemne League and Covenant the Cause being the same All which desires being duely pondered by your Lordships in an equall balance will we trust be found just and necessary and do not doubt but satisfaction from your Lordships therein may be a happy and effectuall meanes for facilitating the state of the Question and for uniting this Nation in an unanimous undertaking of such duties as are requisite for the Reformation and defence of Religion the Honour and Happinesse of the King the Peace and safty of the Kingdomes A. KER Edinb 27. March 1648. Answers of Parliament to the Desires of the Commissioners of the General Assembly represented by them to the Parliament THe Estates of Parliament now conveened in this first Session of the second Trienniall Parliament having considered the desires of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly represented to them They after full debate and consideration concerning the same for answer to the first desire 1. Declares that the grounds and causes of undertaking of war shall be cleared to be so just as that all who are well affected may be satisfied in the lawfulnesse and necessity of the engagement And declares that they will be very carefull that nothing be acted in reference to a warre during the conference and untill the same be reported to the Parliament 2. Item For answer to the second desire The Estates of Parliament thinks fit that the breaches of the Covenant and Treaties be represented And the seeking of Reparation and the best time and manner thereof considered and appoints the Committee of twenty foure or such of their number as they shall appoint to do the same 3. Item For answer to the third desire The said Estates of Parliament declares that this Kingdome will be so farre from making warre against the Kingdome of England That any engagement they shall enter into shall be for strengthening the union betwixt the Kingdomes And for encouraging the Presbyterians and well-affected in England 4. Item For answer to the fourth desire The Estates of Parliament agrees to the substance and matter of this fourth desire And remits to these who are to be upon the conference for stating the question to explaine the same 5. Item To the fist desire The Estates of Parliament for answer to this desire declares That upon the agreement on the haill matter and state of the question they will declare his Majesties concessions concerning Religion not to be satisfactory 6. Item to the sixt desire The Estates of Parliament for answer to this declares That since Religion hath been and they trust ever shall be the principall end of all the undertakings of this Kingdome So they will be carefull that the present question to be stated shall containe security and assurance to be had from his Majesty be his solemne oath under his hand and seale That he shall for himselfe and his Successors give his Royall consent to passe acts of Parliament enjoyning the League and Covenant establishing Presbyterian Government the Directory of worship and Confession of Faith in all his Majesties Dominions and that his Majestie shall never make any opposition to any of these nor indeavour any change thereof And as to that clause viz. That this security be had from his Majestie before his restiution to the exercise of his Royall power The Estates of Parliament remits this to these on the
we insist upon the prejudice that preparative of the taking of resolutions in that which concernes Religion without the advice and consent of the Kirke may bring to the interest and liberty thereof But conceiving that wee have just reason to looke upon the demand as intended to be a ground of warre in case the Sea-men shall be refused by the Parliament of England we cannot returne our thoughts thereupon untill your Lordships shall be pleased to give us a satisfactory answer to our eight desires formerly propounded to your Lordships and untill you shall be pleased also to acquaint us with the Articles of the breaches of the Covenant and Treaties and other demands for reparation thereof mentioned in the paper sent to us that so we may not only know that no other of the demands doe crosse this or tend to the hinderance of the work of Reformation but also that we may be satisfied in our consciences upon the whole matter and be assured that all things are so ordered and resolved as may indeed contribute for establishing the Covenant and settling of Reformation of and Uniformitie in Religion and attaining all things expressed in your Lordships demands communicated to us In the meane while seeing your Lordships do professe that the Cause is the same and the cheif ground of the undertaking is for Religion Wee desire your Lordships seriously in your consciences to ponder how yee can make the refusall of this demand a cause of warre against the Parliament of England with whom this nation was lately ingaged in a warre in defence of the League and Covenant and ends thereof when the King was in armes against both and yet ingage in a warre for the King while he still refuses to settle Religion and injoyn the Covenant and will come no further at the uttermost then to leave the Sea-men Arbitrary as is evident from his late concessions Or how your Lordships can propound any such demand unto others whilst your selves have not declared the Kings concessions so much as unsatisfactory seeing these concessions are distructive to most of the particulars contained in your Lordships demands A. Ker. Edinb 18 Aprill 1648. To the Right honourable and High Court of Parliament The humble Petition of the Commissioner of the Generall Assembly REligion being of all things the most excellent as it hath been the principall end of all the in deavours and undertakings of this Nation so it is the main subject of our thoughts and cares and we trust is most in the hearts of all the faithfull Ministers and godly people throughout the Land as severall of their supplications unto your Lordships do make evident It was from the tender regard we had of this so precious a jewell that we did emit a Declaration concerning present dangers and duties And it was also from our respect thereunto perceiving your Lordsh inclined to an ingagement from which wee neither were then nor now are averse being first satisfied in the grounds of the undertaking and in the way of the managing of the same that we did afterwards propound some humble desires unto your Lordships containing things necessary for a right undertaking for and securing of Religion and preserving the Vnion between the Kingdomes But after long attendance and most earnest expectation having received no satisfaction from your Lordships in these our desires and conceiving that your Lordships resolutions are towards an ingagement in a warre We doe from no other principle and intention then the love of the truth and the discharge of the trust committed unto us as the servants of the living God and his son Jesus Christ who shall judge the quicke and the dead intreate and obtest your Lordships that as you doe professe that any undertakings which yee now are or shall bee necessitated unto shall onely be for settling Religion Truth and peace under His Majesties Government So for convinceing our consciences and all the faithfull Ministers and people of God in both Kingdomes of the integrity of your intentions that your Lordships will be pleased to give us satisfaction in all these our former just and necessary desires and that for the said end your Lordships wil make it appear that you meane to be far from interessing your selves in any thing that may put in His Majesties hands such power as may not onely bring the by-gon proceedings of both Kingdomes in the League and Covenant in question but also for the time to come make void all the authority of Parliaments though proceeding never so rightly in reference to Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms And that your Lordships will be pleased to make it manifest that you will be so farre from associating with or giving trust and countenance to any within the three Kingdoms who do not swear and subscribe the Solemne League and Covenant That on the contrary your Lordships will hold them all for professed Adversaries and Malignants and indeavour to suppresse them if they rise in Armes Which we think we may with the greater reason and confidence expect from your Lordships because yee have resolved to demand of the Parliament of England that an effectuall course be taken by the Houses for injoyning the Covenant to be taken by all the Subjects of the Crowne of England Conforme to the first Article of the Treaty the Declaration of both Kingdomes in anno 1643 By which all who would not take the Covenant were Declared to be publique enemies to Religion and the Countrie and that they are to be censured and punished as professed Adversaries and Malignants And we trust that whilst your Lordships require of them the performance of duties contained in the Treaties and Declaration you will make it appeare that you intend to do nothing your selves contrary thereunto The obligation therein being equall in regard of both and the performance alike conducing for Religion and the Covenant And we doe humbly intreate that your honours will be pleased to make known unto us your resolutionsupon the whole matter that we may see there is nothing therein that may crosse your Lordships demands concerning Religion and be inconsistent with the security thereof and our desire for the same And that what shall be thought fitting to be demanded of the Parliament of England concerning Religion for rendering the same the more effectuall your Lordships will at the same time solicite His Majesty for His Royall assent thereunto that His Majesty and all others may know that what you intend on His behalfe is with a subordination to those ends And so his Majesty may be induced to remove al obstructions on his part that hinder the settling of Religion and his Majesties Government And being desirous that all meanes bee first assaid which may prevent the effusion of more Christian blood so farre as is possible Therefore as the messengers of peace we doe supplicate that your Lordships will take such course for seeking reparation from the Parliament of England as may bee most probable in
that Confession of Faith hath in it some necessary cautions provisoes and explanations which as the Generall Assembly judged necessary to be added in their Act so we do not think that part of your Lordships demand as it stands without any such caution to be safe enough which among other things shewes the danger and inconvenience of your Lordships taking resolutions in things concerning Religion without our advice and consent 5. As we desire that Reformation of and Uniformity in Religion may be endeavoured by your Lordships in all fair lawfull and brotherly wayes according to the Covenant and heartily approve any such desire as your Lordships shall send to the Parliament of England by the advice and consent of this Kirk for in joyning the Covenant and for bringing the Churches of CHRIST in the three Kingdoms to the nearest Conjunction and Uniformity in one Confession of Faith Directory of Worship and Presbyteriall Government So we would be very cautious and tender when such desires are turned into causes of War if not obtained which is the present case as we understand by your Lordships expression in the precedent Paragraph Your Lordships second demand is That the Kings Majesty may come to some of his Houses in or near London with Honour Freedome and Safety that applications may he made to him by Parliaments of both Kingdoms for attaining his Royall assent to such desires as shall be by them presented to him for establishing Religion as is above exprest and setling a well-grounded Peace This demand we conceive to be of dangerous consequence to Religion and the Covenant for the reasons and considerations following which we humbly offer to be considered by your Lordships 1. All applications and desires to his Majesty for Religion are suspended till he come with Honour Fredome and safty to some of his Houses in or neere London We know not what length of time this may draw to or how much danger there may be in the delay 2. The establishing of Religion here mentioned as that which your Lordships intend to desire of his Majestie is according to that which is above expressed where we doubt not your Lordships referre to your first demand which went before Whereas the establishing of Religion in such a manner as is there expressed we do not think safe for the reasons before given 3. We conceive that this second demand amounts to no lesse then the restitution of his Majesty to the exercise of his Royall Power before Applications made and desires presented to him much more before assurance and security had from him for the setling of Religion in the right manner and according to the Covenant For besides what we have expressed in our last Paper presented to your Lordships that this honour freedom and safety is conceived by your Lordships to be such as may enable his Majesty to effectuat his Concessions concerning Religion And what is that lesse then the exercise of his Royall power restored This we further adde that we humbly conceive his Majesties Honour may comprehend or may be made use of as comprehending not only the possession of his Revenews but also the exercise of his Royall Government Next being in freedome he may repare to any part of his Dominions in Scotland England or Ireland And lastly being restored to be in a condition of safety he may provide Forces for guarding Himselfe against all apprehended dangers for if Guards should be set about him by his Parliament it will be said to be contrary to the condition of freedome So that bring restored to some of his Houses in or near London with Honour Freedome and Safety We do not conceive what he shall want of the exercise of his Royall Power Considering withall that neither himselfe nor any others will conceive the Honour Freedome and Safety to be Kingly and such as becomes his Royall Person if he shall want the exercise of his Royall Power Yet this restitution of his Majesty to the exercise of his Royall Power before security had from him for settling Religion Your Lordships know by our eight Desires and other wayes is conceived by us to be inconsistent with the safety and security of Religion 4. If his Majesty were once come with Honour Freedom and Safety to some of his Houses in or neare London We know not what influences he may have upon the Houses of Parliament to obstruct and hinder their presenting of Bils to Him for enjoyning the Covenant abolishing Prelacy and the Booke of Common-prayer Establishing the Confession of Faith Directory of Worship and Presbyteriall Government Or what strength his Majesty so restored may again attain by the assistance of the Popish Prelaticall and Malignant party for a new and bloody Warre to the devastation of these Kingdomes and the ruine of our Religion and Liberties Which things we have the more cause to feare and apprehend his Majesty having declared and professed that he is obliged in conscience to emprove all the power which God shall put in his hands for the establishment of Episcopacy 5. To insist upon the bringing of his Majesty to some of his Houses in or neer London before satisfaction and security had from him in point of Religion and in such other things as are necessary for the safety of the Kingdoms could not as we conceive but be an exceeding great discouragement and offence to the Presbyterians in England who will conceive if such a thing be pressed upon them that the remedy propounded in your demand is worse then the disease And we have also heard that the Parl. of England when they were as free as ever they were would never agree to his Majesties comming to London with honour freedome and safety without security first had from him in such things as are necessary for Religion and the safety of the Kingdome 6. Seeing your Lordships are oblieged by the third Article of the Covenant to defend his Majesties Person and Authority in the perservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdome We conceive your Lordships should not demand from nor presse upon the Kingdome of England His Majesties restitution with Honour Freedom and Safety except with that qualification in the Covenant and with a subordination to Religion and the Liberties of the Kingdoms And how can this subordination according to the Covenant be said to be observed in your Lordsh demand as it stands for if His Majesty be brought to some of His Houses inor near London with Honour Freedome and Safety before so much as applications be made to Him for establishing Religion and Peace we then leave it to your Lordships consciences whether His Majesty shall not be restored to His Honour before Jesus Christ be restored to his Honour and set upon his Throne of Government in His Church whether His Majesty shall not be in a condition of Libertie before the Ordinances of Christ have a free course and whether His Majesties safety shall not be provided for and secured
which we suppose your Lordships intend not to do 2. Your Lordships do not declare that if any who have not taken and shall not take the Covenant nay not so much as they that shall refuse the Covenant if they rise in Armes your Lordships will oppose them and endeavour to suppresse them onely your Lordships say you will not associate nor joyn forces with them 3. Wheras your Lordships say That you will be so farre from joyning or associating with the Popish Prelaticall or Malignant party if they shall again rise in Armes either to oppose or obstruct all or any one of the ends of the Covenant that you will oppose and endeavour to suppresse them as enemies to the Cause and Covenant We beseech your Lordships to consider whether this part of your Declaration doth not reserve a latitude that if the Popish Prelaticall or Malignant party shall rise in Armes for the Kings restitution and can but have so much cunning with is more nor probable as to conceal their intentions of obstructing or opposing all or any one of the ends of the Covenant in such a case it may be free to your Lordships instead of opposing or endeavouring to suppresse them that you shall both protect their persons and estates and also joyne or associate Forces with them In all which we have the more cause to be full of feares and apprehensions because of so many English Malignants even now protected and entertained in this Kingdome in hopes of military imployments yea diverse of them as we are informed such as have served against this Cause and Covent As to that which sollowes relating to our seventh desire concerning such as are to be intrusted in Armies and Committees we shall need to say no more then was expressed in our humble representation March 29. Namely that your Lordships omit in your Answer some of the qualifications expressed in our desire viz. such as have given constant proofe of their integrity and faithfulnesse in the Cause and against whom there is no just cause of jealousie that so we may the more confidently encourage our Flocks to follow the Cause of God in their hands and not to doubt of their fidelity Which qualification being contained in our desire and omitted in your Lordships Answer we are not without feares that this omission may be made use of by some as if your Lordships had not meant to agree sully to that desire and so take occasion to deale for employing and entrusting such in the Committees and Armies as may be justly excluded by the qualifications contained in our said desire These things having beene before presented to your Lordships and there being nothing in your Lordships Declaration to satisfie or take off these our feares but such expressions insisted upon as keepe aloof from the qualifications desired by us all that are unbyased may easily judge whether we have not herein some reall ground to be unsatisfied That which followeth in the said Declaration concerning the rescuing of his Majesties Person that He may come with Honour Freedome and safety to or neer London where both Kingdomes may make their applications to him for settling Religion and Peace we have before spoken fully to it And whereas your Lordships adde a kind of Salvò in satisfaction to our fifth and sixth desires it will plainly appeare that these desires are not satisfied by any thing here expressed in your Lordships Declaration Your Lordships say You resolve not to put in His Majesties Hands or in any others whatsoever any such power whereby any of the ends of the Covenant may be obstructed or opposed But may it please your Lordships to give us leave to put your in minde 1. That your Lordships words may be understood either in this sense that you are not resolved to put any such power in His Majesties Hands And if so your Lordships know what you resolve not now you may resolve afterwards Or in this sense that your Lordships are resolved that your shall put no such power in His Majesties Hands and if so then there remaines some doubt how far that power extends which your Lordships conceive shall not be able to obstruct or oppose any of the ends of the Covenant or endanger Religion and Presbyteriall Government Or whether it be meant to be extended to his Majesties negative voice 2. When your Lordships say that you are not resolved to put any such power in His Majesties Hands this needeth not hinder your Lordships yeelding and acquiescing if others put such power in His Majesties Hands For resolutions not to doe a thing may stand with resolutions nor to hinder it 3. When your Lordships have resolved to oppose the puting of any such power in his Majestis Hands as may be destructive to Religion Yet upon supposition that His Ma jestie is come to London with Honour Freedome and Safety we doubt whether it may not prove impossible to your Lordships to hinder the putting oft such a power in His Majesties Hands Your Lordships adde what assurance you intend to crave from His Majesty for satisfaction in point of Religion But withall we observe three limitations or qualifications joyned therewith which so far as we are able to judge leave this great point in a very dangerous uncertainty 1. Your Lordships resolve that his Majesty give this assurancè for Religion before any agreement or condition to be made with His Majesty which is the expression chosen by your Lordships instead of that clause in our sixt desire Before his restitution to the exercise of his Royall Power If your Lordships expression were only a more smooth one with the like security to Religion such as your Lordships Answer March 27. did put us in hopes of we should have chearefully acquiesced but we are so far from perceiving the like securite to Religion that we rather feare your Lordships qualification may make void and firustrate the security that we desired For first It clearely supposeth that his Majesty shall come with Honour Freedome and safety to London before any agreement or condition to be made with Him For such agreement or condition to be made with his Majesty being posterior to the assurance to be had from Him for Religion must be much more posterior to his Majesties coming to or neer London with Honour Freedome and Safety according to the method of proceedings proposed in the Declaration Now being once at London with Honour Freedome and Safety and that without any agreement or condition made with Him it is not probable to us that his Majesty will then desire any agreement or condition unlesse it be for some Concessions on his Parliaments part and among other Concessions probably somewhat for Episcopacy too for establishing whereof He conceiveth Himselfe obliged in conscience to make use of His Power as was before observed The result of this point that we humbly conceive is that notwithstanding of that clause before any agreement or condition to be made with his Majesty
us to supplicate their Lordships concerning such things Next we say that in all the three instances which are given our supplications and desires were to avert what we justly conceived to be destructive to Religion We hope no man will have the face to say that the Assemblies of the Church may supplicate against dangers of Religion which fall within the first Table but not against dangers of Religion which fall within the second Table or that they may supplicate against dangers of Religion arising from other men but not against dangers of Religion in which his Majesty is any way concerned or which flow from a bad choice of the Instruments and managers of publicke resolutions The Episcopall disease of medling with Civill affaires we trust through Gods mercy neither hath nor shall have any place among the Ministry of this Kingdome who by their Nationall Covenant abjured the Civill places and power of Kirk-men Onely we shall desire it may be remembred that there were other Episcopall diseases and distempers beside this as namely encroaching upon the liberties and priviledges of Ecclesiasticall Assemblies the forcing of the consciences of Gods people and persecuting such who could not in conscience obey Wherefore it is necessary that all the Episcopall evills and disorders be carefully avoided And as we doe not doubt the ensuing Generall Assembly will doe what shall be fit for them to prevent the villifying and contemning the authority of Parliament if it be found in danger to be villified so we humbly conceive they will not be unmindfull to prevent the villifying and contemning of the authority of their owne Commissioners The following clause in the Letter putteth over to the Generall Assembly any of the Ministery who shall offer to stir up the Subjects of this Kingdome to disobey or deny to give Civill obedience to their Lawes it being expresly provided by the second and third Acts of King James 6. his 8. Parliament in Anno 1584. that none of his Majesties Subjects under the paine of Treason impugne the Authority of Parliament Where first we shall desire that two knowne distinctions which in this passage of the Letter seem either to be confounded or forgotten may be remembred Civill obedience to Acts of Parliament is either in things unlawfull and contrary to the Word of God or in things lawfull and right In the former case it is a sin to obey in the latter case a sin not to obey Againe the Authority of Parliament is one thing an Act of Parliament another thing We doe still acknowledge their Authority when we obey not this or that Act. And whatsoever bee the Treason of impugning the Authority of Parliament it can be no Treason to obey God Father then man Neither did the Generall Assembly of Glasgow 1638. and such as were active for the Covenant at that time commit any Treason when they impugned Episcopacy and Perth Articles although ratified and strengthened by Acts of Parliament and standing Laws then unrepealed As to the two Acts cited in the Letter if the Order of the Printed Acts be followed the third hath nothing in it of what it is cited for neither know we for what use it can be cited and applyed except to the abridging of the Liberties of Ecclesiasticall Assemblies for it dischargeth all Judicatories and Judgements Conventions and Assemblies Ecclesiasticall without his Majesties speciall licence and Commandement which how contrary it is to the word of God to the example of the primitive Church to the Judgement of found Divines to the Liberties of this Kirke and to our Solemne Covenants is more manifest then to need that we should insist upon it But if the Order of the unprinted Acts be followed the second of these Acts doth not mention the Authority of Parliament but of his Majesty and his Councell However we are heartily sorry for the citation of the acts of that Parliament a Parliament which reintroduced Episcopacy and so made defection from the Nationall Covenant sworne three yeares before For Captaine James Stewart then Earle of Arran and Chancellour and the few Prelates of that time contrived and procured such Acts of Parliament as might serve their ends The same Acts were alleadged and urged by his Majesties Commissioner in Anno 1638. for Episcopacy whereunto this Answer was made at that time The Acts of Parliament 1584. are of severall natures but they were protested against by the Ministers of Edinburgh in the name of the Kirke of Scotland at the Market Crosse of Edinburgh when they were proclaimed and as they were made in that time which was called the houre of darknesse of this Kirke Tyranized over by the Earle of Arran so are they repealed 1542. Cap. 114. It is not to be forgotten That after the making of those Acts of Parlament they were so generally disliked by al good men that the chief Courtiers of that time thought it necessary to employ Master Patrick Adamson a chiefe deviser of these Acts to make a Declaration of the meaning thereof in his Majesties Name which he accordingly performed Concerning which Declaration the said Master Patrick pretended Archbishop of St. Andrews did afterwards in his renunciation make this Confession As where I am burthened to be the setter forth of a Booke called the Kings Declaration wherein the whole Order of the Kirke is condemned and traduced I protest before God that so I was commanded to write the same by the Chancellour for the time but chiefly by the Secretary another great Courtier who himselfe penned the second Act of Parliament concerning the Power and Authority of Judicatory to be absolute in the Kings Power and that it should not be lawfull for any Subject to reclaime from the same under the penalty of the Act which I suppose was Treason Beside that Declaration his Majesty himselfe having received a supplication from divers well-affected Ministers with their Animadversions upon the said Acts of Parliament did pen with his owne hand another Declaration of the meaning thereof But by both those Declarations it may be easily understood that the said Acts were intended for innovating and changing the Government and Discipline of this Kirke for setting up Bishops and for suppressing the best Ministers and accordingly they were made use of afterwards for the ground of a charge against the Ministers that were banished It shall not be amisse here to insert that part of the Ministers Animadversions given in to his Majesty at that time which concerneth the second Act of that Parliament the words are these As concerning the second Act the Narration thereof appeareth to bee slanderous against some of the Ministery which wee would wish to be reformed or otherwise conceived except the truth thereof were verified And as to the substance of the Act it selfe it attributeth to your Majesty a Sovereigne power of Judgement not onely upon the persons of your Subjects but also in all matters wherein they or any of them shall be apprehended summoned or charged