consequents thereof are very observable which were thus Mr Sharp having formerly been intimately familiar with Mr Wood came to visite him under his Sickness whereunto Sharps Apostacy had no small accession thereafter did falsely spread a report by word writ that Mr Wood had reseiled from Presbyterial Government Whereof when Mr Wood was informed he was of new grievously affected and afflicted and thereupon for his own Vindication left this Testimony behind him But Mr Sharp finding himself thereby made a publlck lyar making lyes still his refuge pursueth Mr Wood being dead as well as alive with a new slander alleaging his Testimony to be Fictitious or Extorted from him when through distemper of his sickness he knew not what he did and thereupon caused summond the Witnesses the Writter and some other persons before the High Commission But the contrary of this was and is most Evident not only because this Testimony was written and subscribed a considerable number of dayes before his Death dureing which intervall as before he was so composed that he spake many gracious words about his own soul Ordered his Civil affairs and a famous Physician was not without hopes of his Recovery But also because hearing that some of his faithful Brethren Co-Presbyters were in the town he sent once again for them and before them and some other Ministers at other times purged himself of that unjust Imputation and did bear witness for Presbyterial Government more fully freely then is in the written Testimony some time thereafter of his own accord did call for the Writter there being none other present in the chamber at the beginning did indite and cause him writ the same as it now is without any Alteration as also in a Letter written some considerable time before inviting Mr Carstairs to come and visite him he had made mention of the Backsliding Tryalls and Sufferings of the times and expressed his desire to Live that he might give a more free Testimony to the Truth Notwithstanding all which Mr Sharp obstructing the reading of a Letter written by Mr Carstairs to the Chancelor containing and clearing the matter of fact persisted with great Attestations before the High Commission in his former false alleagance and Slandering both of the Dead and the Living and caused imprison the Writer and one of the witnesses and forced the other whom for his eminent Parts Holiness and Faithfulness he most pursued to a Retirement for his own safety What shall be given to Thee O Sharp Or what shall be done to Thee O false Tongue Sharp arrows of the Mighty and Coals of Juniper The Nationall Covenant OR The Confession of Faith of the Kirk of Scotland subscribed at first by the Kings Majesty and his Houshold in the yeare 1580. Thereafter by Persons of all rankes in the yeare 1581 By ordinance of the Lords of the Secret Councill and Acts of the general Assembly Subscribed againe by all sorts of Persons in the Yeare 1590 By a new Ordinance of Council at the desire of the General Assembly With a General Band for maintenance of the true Religion the Kings Person And now subscribed in the Year 1638. By Us Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons then under-subscribing Together with our resolution and promises for the causes after specified To maintaine the said true Religion and the Kings Majesty according to the Confession foresaid and Acts of Parliament And now upon the Supplication of the General Assembly to His Majesty's high Commissioner and the Lords of his Majesty's Honorable Privy Council subscribed again in the Year 1639. by Ordinance of Council and Act of General Assembly The Tenor whereof here followeth WE All and every one of Us underwritten Protest that after long and due Examination of our owne Consciences in matters of true false Religion We are now throughly resolved of the Truth by the Word and Spirit of God and therefore we believe with our hearts confess with our mouths subscribe with our hands and constantly affirme before God and the whole Word that this onely is the true Christian Faith and Religion pleasing God and bringing Salvation to man which now is by the mercy of God revealed to the world by the preaching of the blessed Evangel and receaved believed and defended by many and sundry notable Kirks and Realmes but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland the Kings Majesty and three estates of this Realme as Gods eternall Truth and onely ground of our Salvation as more particularly is expressed in the Confession of our Faith stablished and publickly confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliament and now of a long time hath beene openly professed by the Kings Majesty and whole body of this Realme both in Burgh and Land To the which Confession and forme of Religion wee willingly agree in our consciences in all points as unto Gods undoubted Truth and Verity grounded onely upon his written Word And therefore we abhorre and detest all contrary Religion and Doctrine But chiefly all kinde of Papistry in generall and particular heads even as they are now damned and confuted by the Word of God and Kirk of Scotland but in special we detest and refuse the usurped authority of that Roman Antichrist upon the Scriptures of God upon the Kirk the civill Magistrate and conscience of men All his tyrannous lawes made upon indifferent things against our Christian liberty His erronious Doctrine against the sufficiency of the written Word the perfection of the Law the office of Christ and his blessed Evangel His corrupted Doctrine concerning originall sinne our naturall inability and rebellion to Gods Law our Justification by faith only our imperfect Sanctification and obedience to the Law the nature number and use of the Holy Sacraments His five bastard Sacraments with all his Rites Ceremonies and false Doctrine added to the ministration of the true Sacraments without the Word of God His cruell judgement against Infants departing without the Sacrament his absolute necessity of Baptisme his blasphemous opinion of Transubstantiation or reall presence of Christs body in the Elements and receiving of the same by the wicked or bodies of men His dispensations with solemne Oathes Perjuries and degrees of Mariage forbidden in the Word his cruelty against the innocent divorced his divellish Masse his blasphemous Priesthood his profane Sacrifice for the sinnes of the dead and the quick his Canonization of men calling upon Angels or Saints departed worshipping of Imagery Relicts and Crosses dedicating of Kirks Altars Dayes Vowes to creatures his Purgatory Prayers for the dead praying or speaking in a strange language with his Processions and blasphemous Letany and multitude of Advocates or Mediators his manifold Orders Auricular Confession his desperate and uncertaine Repentance his general and doubtsome Faith his satisfactions of men for their sinnes his Justification by works opus operatum works of Supererogation Merits Pardons Peregrinations and Stations his holy water baptising of Bells conjuring of Spirits crossing saning
them over-ruled in the Year 1640. the King and Prelats vigorously arm again and prepare for a new war But this intended War is composed by a new Pacification and in the mean time the Parliament formerly adjourned until Iune 1640 doth conveen at the time appointed and by their fourth fifth and sixth Acts fully establish Presbyterial Government ratify the Covenant with the Addition and Explanation of the Assembly and all Acts made thereanent abrogat the Estate of Bishops and all Acts whatsoever made in their favours Thereafter in the Treaty ensuing the Pacification it is agreed that the Acts past in the last Parliament with these to be made in the next Session thereof shall be published in the King's Name and have the strength of Laws in all time coming Which Treaty being closed and the last Session of the above-mentioned Parliament sitting in the Moneth of Iune 1641. the King in person being present among them and the Oath of Parliament for maintenance of Religion in purity as then established and of the King's Authority and the Peoples Liberties according to the Covenant and for endeavouring by all just and humble meanes of Union and Peace betwixt the three Kingdomes appointed to be taken by that all succeeding Parliaments being taken by the second Act thereof superscribed by the King and subscribed by the President the foresaid Treaty is amply and perpetually confirmed and the whole Articles thereof are ratifyed and recorded Thus by all the Security that either Sacred Oaths or Acts of Lawful Authorized Assemblies Ordinances of King and Council doubled and re-iterated Pacifications and Treaties Acts of Parliament Enacted Re-enacted the Kings Authority and Consent being often and solemnly interposed both by promise and hand-writ And all that either Religion Truth Faith Honour or Honesty could devise or grant these Wicked Prelats are cast out of this Church and Kingdom Presbyterial Government fully established the pure Worship of God with His pure and powerful Ordinances and Ministry restored and in the maintenance and pursuance of all these great Blessings the whole Land by many Oaths most Solemn tyes engaged unto the Lord for ever By all which Blessings and the restoring of the Lord 's own Ordinances amongst us as the Work of the Gospel and the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus in the Conversion of many thousands were greatly advanced and the Glory of God in the abounding of true Piety and flourishing of Righteousness did eminently shine amongst us as the memory of these times in all such as fear God and love our Lord Jesus Christ doth sweetly testify so all these great things were transacted to the perpetual shame and confusion of all our calumnious Adversaries without any diminution of his Majesty's just Authority and Greatness As the Power and Glory of the Lord was great in this Land so the splendor and fame thereof reaching unto other Nations it pleased the Lord thereby to provoke His People in England at that time grievously groaning under the Tyrannous yoke of Prelacy and justly alarmed by the imminent fears of prevailing Popery to set about and intend the like blessed Reformation It doth not concern us to reflect on the Causes and beginnings of that War betwixt the King and Parliament there nor what were the transactions betwixt the two Kingdoms in order to that Aid and Assistance given by Scotland and how the same was mannaged But this is certain that upon the Representation of the most just and important grounds of the maintenance of Religion and Liberty against the prevailing power of Popery Prelacy and Tyranny in that Kingdom of England and their most instant and earnest desires for our help and Assistance and rhe most rational clear motives of our own Security the hazard and loss whereof had undoubtedly been the consequence of the Prelats Victory there this Kingdom was induced in the Year 1643. to enter into that Sacred Bond of the Solemne League and Covenant never to be forgotten containing no other Articles then every one's Sincere and constant endeavours in their several places callings for the preservation of the Reformed Religion in this Church in Doctrine VVorship Discipline and Government the Reformation of the same in England and Ireland according to the VVord of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and the nearest Conjunction and Vniformity of all the three in Truth Faith and Love the extirpation of Popery Prelacy Error and Profanity the preservation of the rights and Liberties of the People and of the Kings person and Authority in defence of the true Religion and the Kingdom 's Liberties the Discovery and the punishment of Incendiaries the retaining of the Peace and Vnion of the Kingdomes the mutual assistance and defence of all entering into this League and the performing of all duties we owe to God in the amendment of our lives and in walking exemplarly one before another And all these in order to no other end then the Glory of God the advancement of the Kingdom of Iesus Christ the Honor and Happiness of the King and his Posterity and the true Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdom This is that Covenant which in all the controversies it hath occasioned did never receave a greater confirmation then from the malice and opposition of it's adversaries who in the same Spirit with the same Spite have alwayes persecuted and reproached it with the same Calumnies of Rebellion Sedition and Blood which from the beginning the Devill hath ever been most active to raise and stir up against the Lord Jesus his Gospel Kingdom and Followers But seing such only as are blessed do evite the offence of Truth and all who truely seek Gods Glory or Love the Lord Jesus did and still do heartily approve and embrace this Covenant though it had brought the Sword not only into Britain but with the Truth into all the Earth though it were reproached as unfriend not only to our King but with our Lord Jesus to Caesar and all the Kings of the Earth though it had divided and disturbed not only Realms and States but with the Gospel families and nearest relations and had with Paul moved Sedition throughout the whole World we ought not thereby to be either shaken or offended We know also that all the subtilty and malice of Hell have been set on work and spared no calumny or cavillation by which either it's Words Matter or Manner might be impugned But these are so often and fully answered and without the assistance of any man's Patrociny by the obvious plainness of it's Phrase the Holiness Importance of it's Purpose and the Justice and Necessity of it's way and Manner so clearly confuted that nothing can be added Only seing the Constancy of Truth ought not to cede to the Confidence of prevailing Powers as we have asserted and do hold the subject matter of this League and Covenant to be in it self Holy Just and True so we cannot but disprove
anointing conjuring hallowing of GODS good creatures with the superstitious opinion joyned therewith his Worldly Monarchy and wicked Hierarchy his three solemne vowes with all his shavelings of sundry sorts his erronious and bloudy decrees made at Trent with all the subscribers and approvers of that cruell and bloudy Band conjured against the Kirk of GOD and finally wee detest all his vaine Allegories Rites Signes and Traditions brought in the Kirk without or against the Word of GOD and Doctrine of this true reformed Kirk to the which we joyne ourselves willingly in Doctrine Faith Religion Discipline and use of the Holy Sacraments as lively members of the same in Christ our Head promising and swearing by the Great Name of the Lord our GOD that we shall continue in the obedience of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Kirk and shall defend the same according to our vocation and Power all the dayes of our lives under the pains contained in the Law and danger both of Body and Soul in the day of GODS fearful Judgment And seeing that many are stirred up by Sathan and that Roman Antichrist to promise sweare subscribe and for a time use the Holy Sacraments in the Kirk deceitfully against their own Consciences minding thereby first under the external cloak of Religion to corrupt and subvert secretly GODS true Religion within the Kirk and afterward when time may serve to become open enemies and persecutors of the same under vain hope of the Popes dispensation devised against the Word of GOD to his greater confusion and their double condemnation in the day of the LORD JESUS Wee therefore willing to take away all suspicion of hypocrisy and of such double dealing with GOD and his Kirk Protest and call The Searcher of all hearts for witnesse that Our mindes and hearts do fully agree with this our Confession Promise Oath and Subscription so that Wee are not moved for any wordly respect but are persuaded onely in our Consciences through the knowledge and love of Gods true Religion printed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit as we shall answer to him in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed And because we perceave that the quietness and stability of our Religion and Kirk doth depend upon the safety good behaviour of the Kings Majesty as upon a comfortable Instrument of Gods mercy granted to this Countrey for the maintaining of this Kirk and ministration of Justice amongst us we protest and promise with our hearts under the same Oath Hand-writ and Pains that we shall defend his Person and Authority with our goods bodies and lives in the defence of Christ his Evangel Liberties of our Country ministration of Justice and punishment of iniquity against all enemies within this Realm or without as we desire our GOD to be a strong and merciful defender to us in the day of our death and coming of our Lord Iesus Christ To whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all Honour and Glory Eternally Like as many Acts of Parliament not onely in general do abrogate annull and rescind all Lawes Statutes Acts Constitutions Canons civil or municipall with all other Ordinances and practique penalties whatsoever made in prejudice of the true Religion and Professours thereof Or of the true Kirk-discipline jurisdiction and freedome thereof Or in favours of Idolatry and Superstition Or of the Papisticall Kirk As Act. 3. Act. 13. Parl. 1. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12. of King Iames the sixt That Papistry and Superstition may be utterly suppressed according to the intention of the Acts of Parliament repeated in the 5. Act. Parl. 20. K Iames 6. And to that end they ordaine all Papists and Priests to be punished by manifold Civill and Ecclesiastical pains as adversaries to Gods true Religion preached and by Law established within this Realme Act. 24. Parl. 11. K. Iames 6. as common enemies to all Christian government Act. 18. Parl. 16. K. Iames 6. as rebellers and gainstanders of our Soveraigne Lords Authority Act. 47. Parl. 3. K. Iames 6. and as Idolaters Act. 104. Parl. 7. K. Iames 6. but also in particular by and atcour the Confession of Faith do abolish and condemne the Popes Authority and Jurisdiction out of this Land and ordaine the maintainers thereof to be punished Act 2. Parl. 1. Act 51. Part. 3. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 114. Parl. 12. K. Iames 6. do condemne the Popes erronious doctrine or any other erronious doctrine repugnant to any of the Articles of the true and Christian religion publickly preached and by law established in this Realme And ordaines the spreaders and makers of Books or Libels or Letters or writs of that nature to be punished Act 46. Parl. 3. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 24. Parl. 11. K. Iames 6. do condemne all Baptisme conforme to the Popes Kirk and the Idolarry of the Masse and ordaines all sayers willfull hearers and concealers of the Masse the maintainers and resetters of the Priests Jesuites traffiquing Papists to be punished without any exception or restriction Act 5. Parl. 1. Act. 120. Parl. 12. Act. 164. Parl. 13. Act. 193. Parl. 14. Act. 1. Parl. 19. Act. 5. Parl. 20. K. Iames 6. do condemne all erroneous bookes and writtes containing erroneous doctrine against the Religion presently professed or containing superstitious Rites and Ceremonies Papisticall whereby the people are greatly abused and ordaines the home-bringers of them to be punished Act 25. Parl. 11. K. Iames 6. do condemne the monuments and dregs of by-gone Idolatry as going to the Crosses observing the Feastivall dayes of Saints and such other superstitious and Papisticall Rites to the dishonour of GOD contempt of true Religion and fostering of great errour among the people and ordaines the users of them to be punished for the second fault as Idolaters Act 104. Parl. 7. K. Iames 6. Like as many Acts of Parliament are conceaved for maintenance of GODS true and Christian Religion and the purity thereof in Doctrine and Sacraments of the true Church of God the liberty freedom thereof in her National Synodal Assemblies Presbyteries Sessions Policy Discipline and Jurisdiction thereof as that purity of Religion and liberty of the Church was used professed exercised preached and confessed according to the reformation of Religion in this Realm As for instance The 99. Act. Parl. 7. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12. Act. 160. Parl. 13. of King Iames 6. Ratified by the 4. Act. of King Charles So that the 6. Act. Parl. 1. and 68. Act. Parl. 6. of King Iames 6. in the Yeare of God 1579. declares the Ministers of the blessed Evangel whom GOD of his mercy had raised up or hereafter should raise agreeing with them that then lived in Doctrin and Administration of the Sacraments and the People that professed Christ as he was then offered in the Evangel and doth communicate with the Holy Sacraments as in the reformed Kirk's of this Realm they were publickly administrat according
to the Confession of Faith to be the true and Holy Kirk of Christ Jesus within this Realm and decerns and declares all and sundry who either gainsayes the Word of the Evangel received and approved as the heads of the Confession of Faith professed in Parliament in the Yeare of God 1560. specified also in the first Parliament of King Iames 6. and ratified in this present Parliament more particularly do specify or that refuses the administration of the Holy Sacraments as they were then ministrated to be to members of the said Kirk within this Realme and true Religion presently professed so long as they keep themselves so divided from the society of Christs body And the subsequent Act. 69. Parl. 6. of K. Iames 6. declares That there is none other Face of Kirk nor other Face of Religion then was presently at that time by the Favour of GOD established within this Realme which therefore is ever stiled Gods true Religion Christs true Religion the true and Christian Religion and a perfect Religion Which by manifold acts of Parliament all within this realme are bound to subscribe the articles thereof the Confession of Faith to recant all doctrine errours repugnant to any of the said Articles Act. 4. 9. Parl. 1. Act. 45.46.47 Parl. 3. Act 71. Parl. 6. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 24. Parl. 11. Act 123. Parl. 12. Act 194. and 197. Parl. 14. of K. Iames 6. And all Magistrats Sherifs c. on the one parte are ordained to search apprehend and punish all contraveeners For instance Act 5. Parl. 1. Act 104. Parl. 7. Act 25. Par. 11. K. Iames 6. And that notwithstanding of the Kings Majesty's licences on the contrary which are discharged declared to be of no force in so farre as they tend in any wayes to the prejudice hinder of the execution of the Acts of Parliament against Papists adversaries of true Religion Act. 106. Parl. 7. K. Iames 6. On the other part in the 47. Act. Parl. 3. K. Iames 6. It is declared and ordained seeing the cause of Gods true Religion and his highnes Authority are so joyned as the hurt of the one is common to both and that none shal be reputed as loyall and faithfull subjects to our Soveraigne Lord or his Authority but be punishable as rebellers and gainstanders of the same who shall not give their Confession and make their profession of the said true Religion and that they who after defection shall give the Confession of their Faith of new they shall promise to continue therein in time comming to maintaine our Souveraigne Lords Authority and at the uttermost of their power to fortify assist and maintaine the true Preachers and Professors of Christs Evangel against whatsoever enemies and gainestanders of the same and namely against all such of whatsoever nation estate or degree they be of that have joyned and bound themselves or have assisted or assists to set forward and execute the cruell decrees of Trent contrary to the Preachers and true Professors of the Word of God which is repeated word by word in the Article of Pacification at Perth the 23 of Februar 1572. approved by Parliament the last of Aprile 1573. Ratified in Parliament 1587. and related Act 123. Parl. 12. of K. Iames 6. with this addition that they are bound to resist all treasonable uproars and hostilities raised against the true Religion the Kings Majesty and the true Professors Like as all Liedges are bound to maintaine the King Majesty's Royal Person and Authority the Authority of Parliaments without the which neither any lawes or lawful judicatories can be established Act 130. Act. 131. Parl. 8. K. Iames 6. and the subjects Liberties who ought onely to live and be governed by the Kings lawes the common lawes of this Realme allanerly Act 48. Parl. 3. K. Iames the first Act. 79. Parl 6. K. Iames the 4. repeated in the Act 13 1. Parl. 8. K. Iames 6. Which if they be innovated or prejudged the commission anent the union of the two Kingdoms of Scotland and England which is the sole Act of the 17. Parl. of K. Iames 6. declares such confusion would ensue as this Realme could be no more a free Monarchy because by the fundamentall lawes ancient priviledges offices and liberties of this Kingdome not onely the Princely Authority of his Majesty's Royal discent hath been these many ages maintained but also the peoples security of their Lands livings rights offices liberties and dignities preserved and therefore for the preservatien of the said true Religion Lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome it is statute by the 8. Act Parl. 1. repeated in the 99. Act Parl. 7. Ratified in the 23. Act Parl. 11. and 114. Act Parl. 12. of K. Iames 6. and 4. Act of K. Charles That all Kings and Princes at their Coronation and reception of their Princely Authority shall make their faithfull promise by their solemne oath in the presence of the Eternal God that enduring the whole time of their lives they shall serve the same Eternal God to the uttermost of their power according as he hath required in his most Holy Word contained in the old and new Testament And according to the same Word shall maintain the true Religion of Christ Jesus the preaching of his Holy Word the due and right ministration of the Sacraments now receaved and preached within this Realme according to the Confession of Faith immediately preceeding and shall abolish and gainstand all false Religion contrary to the same and shall rule the people committed to their charge according to the will and command of God revealed in his foresaid Word and according to the laudable Lawes and Constitutions received in this Realme no wayes repugnant to the said will of the Eternall God and shall procure to the uttermost of their power to the Kirk of God and whole Christian people true and perfite peace in all time coming and that they shall be careful to root out of their Empire all Hereticks and enemies to the true worship of God who shall be convicted by the true Kirk of God of the foresaid crimes which was also observed by his Majesty at his Coronation in Edinburgh 1633. as maybe seene in the order of the Coronation In obedience to the Commandment of GOD conforme to the practice of the godly in former times and according to the laudable example of our Worthy and Religious Progenitors of many yet living amongst us which was warranted also by act of Councill commanding a general band to be made and subscribed by his Majesty's subjects of all ranks for two causes One was For defending the true Religion as it was then reformed and is expressed in the Confession of Faith abovewritten and a former large Confession established by sundry acts of lawful generall assemblies of Parliament unto which it hath relation set down in publick Catechismes and which had been for many years with a blessing from Heaven preached and professed in this Kirk
by the erecting of Rule and Government for the security of Religion more particularly and eminently intended 5. That the Powers appoinâ—ed for Preservation cannot warrantably endeavour Subversion 6. That as every man is bound to obey God rather then man so such Violence and intollerable and ineviâ—able injury offered by he Powers on this account as to the person injured destroyeth boâ—h the Common-welath of he people more specially the Glory of God which are the only ends of Governments maketh both the End the Means of Government and Authority and the injured person's Obligation thereunto to cease 7. As the persons one or more reduced to this estate and condition if by a real or apparent incapacity of Acting they conceave them selves called to a Testimony by Suffering ought herein with all patience to give unto God the Glory so having the opportunity of and being called whither to their own Defence or the Assiâ—â—ing of their Brethren in so just a cause they ought therein valiantly to acquit themselves for the Glory of God the mantainance of his Truth and the mutuall preservation one of another 8. As the Combination of more persons whom the same common cause of just and necessary Defence doth join together is founded upon and doth most natively arise from that Primaeve Right and Priviledge which at first gave Being and Rise to all Societies and whereunto the force of extream Necessity through the perversion of that Mean of Government appointed for their Preservation doth ultimatly reduce them so the duty of mutual Assistance is not only warranted by that principle of Humanity and common Stipulation which is the Motive and Bond of mens entering into Society the immediat and subordinat End of all Rule and the most effective Mean whereby that superior end of the Good and Safety of every Individuall therein included can be best secured But also first by that more endearing principle of Christian and brotherly Affection in the Lord upon the indispensible force and obligation whereof the very glory and righteousness of the great and last judgement seemeth to be founded Math. 25 31. to the end And secondly by that supream chief concernment of God's Glory to which the interests of all Powers Common-wealth's must certainly stoop and cede And how is it possible that any scruple anent this can remain with any considerat or conscientious person if we consider that whole Cities Kingdomes Empires for the violation of this duty in not releeving delivering of Innocents from the unjust Tyranny even of lawful Powers have been involved in the Guilt of the violence and cruelty which had been only acted by one or a few persons and have been overtaken therefore by fearfull effects and Iudgments to their utter ruine and Subversion As is most evidently confirmed by that clear intimation thereof made by Ieremiah to the Jewes Chap. 26..15 Know ye for a certain that if ye put me to death ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves upon THIS CITY and upon THE INHABITANTS thereof 9. As the Power exercise of Reformation hath been grosly calumniated by the adversaries as if thereby were meant and had been practised manifest force and violence upon Consciences and Persuasions so on the other hand open Idolatry Blasphemy Perjury Venting and Spreading of Heresy and such like abominations being most dishonorable to God and pernicious to all Common-wealths ought without doubt by all means to be suppressed restrained and severely punished Now that this Vindicative and in case of backsliding Reforming Power is committed to the Magistrat and that he is thereto mainly appointed none will question But what if not only the supreame Magistrat but with him all the Nobles and Primores of the Realme shall turn the principal perverters and chief Patrons of these abominations As we have already cleared that in case either the People or any part of them be violented to a sinful complyance or be wickedly persecuted for adhering to God in the profession and practise of the contrary duties they may lawfully Defend themselves and are mutually bound to assist and deliver one another So it now comes to be considered that seing the maintenance of Truth and the true Worship of God were and are the principal ends and motives of contracting of Societies and erecting of Governments whereunto both the People and Rulers are not only separatly every one for himself but jointly oblidged for the publick advancement establishment thereof that God doth therefore equally exact and avenge the sin of the Rulers only or of the People only or of any part of the People only upon the whole body of the Rulers and People for their simple Tollerance and connivance without their active complyance with the transgressors of necessity both from the principles deduced and from the most visible judgments of God agreeable thereto there must be a Superior and Antecedent obligation to that of Submission incumbent upon all both jointly and separatly for the maintenance vindication and Reformation of Religion in order to the promoting of these great ends of the publick profession of Truth and true Worship which the Lord doth indispensibly require And though this position be indeed more evident where express Covenants betwixt God and the whole People betwixt Rulers and their Subjects and betwixt the People and subjects amongst themselves in order to these Holy Duties can be produced yeâ— seing all Constitutions of Societies and Governments do virtually suppose and imply the same and are founded thereon the Assertion doth with equal certainty firmly hold But that all contradiction may stop it's mouth let the import and true meaning of the Scriptures and instances following be impartially weighed Deut. 13 ver 12 13 14 15. The Lord saith If thou shalt hear that in one of thy cities certain men amongst yow have with-drawn the inhabitants of their city to serve other Gods and if after deligent searchâ—s the thing be found a truth thou shal smite and destroy that city utterly Jos 22 ver 17 18 19. Phinâ—has saith to the two Tribes and the half upon their supposed defection If yee rebel to day against the Lord to morrow he will be wroth with the whole Congregation of Israel And Judges 22. throughout in the case of Israel against Benjamin and Gibeah All the places as they clearly hold out the command and practise most consonant to our position so to think that the same may be evaded by astricting the places to the Hypothesis contained in the letter viz of more or all the cities against one apostatizing and that either an equal division of the cities the one half faithful the other backslidden should bring the matter to an accommodation or that the greater part backsliden who certainly had the casting voice in that Democratick constitution should oblige the fewer remaining stedfast to a sinful acquiescence is to elude all Scripture and mock the Holy Ghost by whom it is given Now whither these places
the uttermost for the advancement of his own Kingdom doth quickly take advantage of for setting on work and promoving of that Mystery of iniquity Which springing up in that bitter root of Pride and working in the Spiritual power and subtilty thereof as it began to work very early in the Christian Church even amongst the Disciples themselves in presence of their and our Lord as appeareth by their contention who should be greatest And notwithstanding all the Grace Power and Presence of the Lord which appeared in the times that followed all the long violent persecution wherewith the Church of God was then exercised yet continuing it's motion did still advance until attaining it's maturity in the revelation of the Man of Sin it filled and overwhelmed the Christian World with these strong delusions of Superstition Idolatry and all darkness that so long prevailed therein So it is the main and only Engine whereby Sathan as in all other Churches so in this of Our's hath so actively bestired himself and attempted the overthrow of their later Reformations These are the causes why notwithstanding of that great and glorious Light which the Lord made to shine amongst us the true Government and Discipline of the Church of Christ though his own great Ordinance instituted both for Fencing and securing of Truth in Purity and for promoving of the same in Power and though by the Light of that same Truth clearly discovered and Manifested through long opposition and many difficulties did scarce in these dayes attain it's establishment Yet the Lord who of his own free Mercy and Grace did visit us with the day-spring of his blessed Gospel from on high did also by his own Power and Presence in and with his faithful Servants at length also compleat his work and establish his Kingdome over us and his Government amongst us And so the Kingdome became the Lord's even the first fruits of the Kingdomes of the Earth unto our Lord Jesus Christ The Progress and Period of this work was from the Year 1560. unto the Year 1592. dureing which space these things are very observable 1. So soon as this Church attained to freedome from persecution and contrary violence they Assembled in their first National Synod in the Year 1560. by vertue of that Intrinsick Power and Priviledg granted by our Lord unto his Church and exercised by his Apostles and their followers and that without any question or control Nor did they so much as petition for the licence of the then Authority though the same might have been more easily obtained then the warrant at that time impetrated for conveening of the Parliament 2. As they first Assembled and by vertue of the same warrant did set on foot and continue a constant series of their Courts and meetings except in so far as by plain force and violence they were restrained so they held the same in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ only and in his sole Authority by Direction of his Word and Spirit concluded all their Counsels Votes and Acts. It 's true that they much and long wished for and thereafter heartily accepted the countenance and concurrence of the Powers for the time and that not only for Decency but also as the gracious performance of that promise Isa 49. ver 23. of the favour and assistance of Kings and Queens to the Church in the later dayes But as they were persuaded that the Lord Jesus perfect in all his house when invested at his exaltation with all Power in Heaven and in Earth did make a full grant and Commission of all Gifts and Offices requisit in his Church 1 Cor. 12. ver 28. Ephes 4. v. 8. 11. Wherein neither King nor Prince is mentioned and that there was no Authority wanting to these first Decrees made at Ierusalem though emitted upon that simple warrant Ast. 15. ver 28. It seemed good unto the Holy Ghost and unto us wherein neither King nor Prince was included so did they account it a gross usurpation for the Kings on Earth in place of their promised Patrociny to which they are oblidged to claim and invade an Over-ruling Arbitriment in the matters of God and his Church beleev that He who established the distinction and confirmed their Right by separating Caesar's things from the things of God doth also exact the same on their part 3. The Brethren conveening in these Assemblies did meet in perfect Parity and Equality against which the Extraordinary employments and Commissions delegated to some upon the account of the particular exigence of these times did grant no Priviledge or Preheminence From these three observations without mentioning the first Book of Discipline containing the true grounds and frame of Presbyterial Government which was compiled in the Year 8560. and then approved by the whole Church and subscribed to by a great many Lords and Counsellors it is evident that Presbyterial Government was from the beginning of the Reformation constantly intended and it's foundation really laid We need not mention that the Pope's Authority and all Jurisdiction flowing therefrom was by Law in the same Year 1560 expresly abrogated and discharged nor that in these first Assemblies greater Benefices were craved to be dissolved and Prelacy reputed to be only an Humane Device nor is it necessary for us to clear how that Extraordinary employment of Superintendency used for a few Years in the beginning was both only designed for an Interim and in it self wholly different from Prelacy and was at length rejected as burthensome All these things are sufficiently cleared by the late Large Apology 4. It is observable that as the Avarice and Power of some who possessed and grasped after the Churches Revenues did by the procurement of a few packed Commissioners in the Year 1671 introduce these Mock-Bishops called Tulchan for the better securing of their own gain which in the Assemblies immediatly succeeding were first protested against then quarrelled and lastly restrained and subjected thereunto So the Lord used the same as a warning to awaken and animat his Servants to a more vigorous prosecution of the establishment of His House in it's due Government In pursuance whereof the Assemblies with the King's concurrence from the Year 1575 until the Year 1581. did with much Prayer Fasting and Painfulness intend the work until by perfecting of the Second Book of Discipline and reducing of the Bishops to a simple Dimission and condemning their Office as unwarrantable they câ—mpleated their work in the exact model of Presbyterial Government in all it's Courts and Officers 5. During this space in March 1581. as we now reckon and after the Assembly had condemned the Office of Bishops as unwarrantable the King his Court and Council did swear and subscribe to the National Covenant By which both the Pope's usurped Authority over the Church in one Article and his wicked Hierarchy in another are abjured And the swearers did join themselves unto this true Reformed Church in Doctrine Faith Religion and
absolutely necessary it leaves no issue or expedient It is not needful here to clear the necessity and advantages which may induce Subjects to the making of Leagues and Conventions in certain cases without the consent of the Prince nor the exigence of these Times for the Covenant we plead for These things are cleared by undenyable Records which all the Wars Blood and Confusions that thereafter ensued flowing either from the perverse and obstinate opposition violence and Persecution of the enemies of Truth or being the effect of Gods Righteous Judgement upon such whose hearts were false and proved unstedfast in His Covenant notwithstanding all the present insulting of the Adversaries doth nothing disprove Neither do we here resume the above mentioned practices of our first Reformers for justifying the case in hand and the explication of these old Acts here obtruded who by all their necessary Leagues Bands and Conventions never conceaved the same to be contraveened Only we cannot but regret that as the Act made in the last Parliament against Conventions and Bonds was a fearful step of the present great Apostacy and directly levelled against the same Covenant by which the Authors of the Acts themselves were and are indissolubly obliged so that old Act Parliament 10. Ja. 6. cap. 12. 1585. which is thereby ratifyed and revived was also one of the woful Acts and effects of the wickedness that then prevailed in the Land and doth relate to and is expresly founded upon the 43. Act. Queen Mary Parliament 6. 1555. which under the colour of discharging Bonds of Man-rent was by the Queen Regent then raging in Persecution against the Professors of the Truth directly intended for the overthrow of the Gospel and Congregation We have hitherto only justifyed the lawfulness or rather the necessity of the Covenant as a League amongst Subjects without the Princes consent and have not spoken thereto as a League with England and the Subjects of an other Kingdom Because as the first point is mainly denied by the Adversary so the same being proven upon in the same grounds first of Just Necessary Defence of our Selves Religion and Libertyes Secondly of the assistance that we owe and do expect in case of Persecution for Truth from all Christians in the bowels of Jesus Christ the obedience of his new and speciall command of Love and the remembrance of that great and last Judgement wherein by this Law all men shall be judged without respect to the difference of Nations and Kingdoms and thirdly upon the ground of the Glory of God which is the great end of all things and to which all inferiour duties of Submission and Obedience ought to cede the Justice and Necessity of the Covenant and League with England may be certainly concluded O! that men who weighing all things in the ballance of their own selfish Interests and designes do make the vain airy enjoyment of Court-favour and the evanishing possession of such advantages as may be acquired thereby preponderate and cast the scales in prejudice of these great and important concernments of the Glory of God and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Might yet be awakened by the terror of that dreadful and glorious Judgement of the last day to an impartial consideration of that duty which we owe to all these that suffer and are persecuted for Truth Surely if not visiting not relieving and supporting when it is in our power of the afflicted members of Jesus Christ shall then be the condemnation of the Reprobat against which the exception of a contrary command of any King or Prince or that the afflicted were by men for Truths sake declared Rebells and Traitors or were of an other Kingdome shall furnish no defence Can we in conscience think that the refusal of Assistance to the persecuted for Christ's sake when instantly thereto required shall be upon any of these pretended grounds excused in that day We do not here mention the supervenient consent and Authority of the King by which the alleaged defects to the acknowledgement of all our adversaries were clearly purged because though the same will afterwards fall in as a great accession to the conviction of all Apostats yet we bless the Lord who hath bottomed our Faith and Consciences upon more sure and fixed foundations and who gave His People more evident and gracious testimonies of His Favour Power and Presence while they sincerely walked conform to the grounds mentioned before the King's assent was obtained then ever since The entering into and taking of this Covenant was so much the more necessary and Praise-worthy in us in Scotland for several reasons 1. because it contains no other then the same Duties and obligations which were before by us so solemnly Covenanted to in our Nationall Covenant neither is the restriction of our Alleageance supposed to be made therein any other then the true and righteous qualification of all such engagements most consonant unto and approven by our first Large Confession of Faith Chap. 25. Anent the Civil Magistrate the Kings Coronation-Oath recorded Ia. 6. p. 1. cap. 8. and the Nationall Covenant as it was taken and subscribed both first and last And though our Adversaries have insulted upon the later Confession of Faith as if both our former principles and practises were thereby disproved yet let the words be considered Viz. Infidelity or difference in Religion doth not make void the Magistrat's Iust and Legal Authority nor free the People from due obedience And we are confident that no sober man will think the acknowledgement of just and legal Authority and due obedience a rational ground to infer that Tyranny over either Consciences or Persons is thereby either allowed or priviledged which is all that by us is contended for 2. Because the same National Covenant did powerfully oblige us thereunto not only upon the account of that obstinate opposition which the perfidious Prelats in England both by raising Wars and breach of Pacification had plainly testifyed the revival whereof in case of any probable Capacity we had just reason to apprehend and by a posterior League at that time a most necessary and probable remedy in pursuance of our former engagement to provide against but also in respect of that express ground of opposition to the bloody bond of Trent and of the detestation of all the enemies of Gods Church who thereby conjured themselves against it contained in the National Covenant which could not but be a very fair persuasion and strong inductive to engage in that sacred Bond of the solemn League Covenant against that same accursed conjuratiō which at that time appeared so active 3. Because the Oath of Parliament first taken in the Parliament 1641. the King being present obliging us to endeavour the preservation of the Peace and Vnion of the three Kingdoms did indispensibly oblige us to enter in this Covenant as a most necessary expedient thereto Having thus summarily reviewed both the Matter and Manner of
NATIONAL SOLEMN LEAGUE COVENANT to which he declareth his cordial assent wishing no longer to live then he might see Religion this Kingdō flourish in all happiness 2. After a Sermon most pertinently plainly and powerfully preached upon that 2 Kings 11. v. 12 17. wherein amongst other things the binding power force of the Oath of God and the hazards of the breach thereof are fully represented the Action commenceth with the King 's most Solemn Renewing of the National and Solemn League and Covenant which was in this manner The King kneeling and lifting up his right hand before the three Estats of the Kingdom the Commissioners of the General Assembly and the whole People and Congregation by his great Oath in presence of the Almighty God the Searcher of hearts he assureth declareth his allowance of the NATIONAL COVENANT SOLENN LEAGUE COVENANT promising faithfully to prosecute the Ends thereof and to establish the same with the Presbyterial Government and the whole VVork of God in all his Dominions 3. That having thus taken the Covenants the King is presented to the People and their willingness to have him for their King demanded which they accordingly declare 4. That he did also swear and take the Coronation-Oath appointed and recorded Parl. 1. Iac. 6. cap. 8. to which both the Covenants are most consonant Promising by the Eternal Almighty God who liveth and reigneth for ever to observe and keep the same 5. That when he Sword was put in his hand he is desired to receave the same For the Defence of the Faith of Iesus Christ of the true Religion ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL SOLEMN LEAGUE COVENANT for the Ministration of Iustice which he accordingly accepteth 6. After the Crown is set upon his head the Peoples Obligatory Oath is proclaimed whereby they all swear by the Eternal Almighty God who liveth reigneth for ever to be true faithful to the King ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL SOLEMN LEAGUE COVENANT 7. Being installed and set upon the Throne he is exhorted by the Minister to remember That his Throne is the Lord's Throne 1 Chron. 29. ver 23. And being a Covenanted King set thereon he ought under God to rule for God and especially to beware that he made not the Lord's Throne a Throne of Iniquity to frame mischief by a Law even such mischievous Laws as have been enacted by his Predecessors destructive to Religion and grievous to the Lord's People 8. The Nobles of the Land being called one by one and kneeling before the King on the Throne and holding their hands betwixt his hands did Swear by the Eternal and Almighty God who liveth and reigneth for ever to be true and faithful to the King ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL AND SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT 9. The action is closed by a most solid and weighty exhortation both to King and People to keep the Covenant and beware of the breach of it which is enforced by these fearful threatenings and instances recorded in the Scriptures of Truth against Covenant-breakers particularly these Nehem. 5. ver 13. where Nehemiah did shake his lap saying So God shake out every man from his house from his labour that performeth not this promise even thus be he shaken out and emptied and all the Congregation said Amen Ier. 34. v. 18 19 20 21. And 2 Chron. 24.23 24 25. With this Pathetick application That if they should break the Covenant God would shake off the King's Crown and turn him from the Throne that he would shake the Nobles out of their possessions and empty them of their Glory and would deliver both to the hands of their enemies who seek their life That breach of Covenant and Rebellion against God was an old and continued Sin in the King's house which God had already severely punished if therefore the King should not acknowledge Iesus Christ King of Zion who is above him but break this Covenant God's controversy against the King's Family would be carried on unto the weakning if not the overthrow of it And lastly both the King and Nobles are certifyed that if the King and they who are engaged to support his Crown shall conspire together against the Kingdom of Iesus Christ both the supporters and the supported will fall together This is that great Action wherein almost all the Solemnities are so twisted with that sacred Bond that the World must acknowledge that never King and People under the Sun became so expresly and strictly obliged both unto God one to another amongst themselves as we were and are by these most Sacred Oaths of the Holy Covenants most indissolubly engaged The fourth and last Advantage was that plenary and last Complement of all Securities whatsoever amongst men viz. the Ratification of all these preceeding Treaties Transactions Engagements and Actions concluded and enacted by the King then having attained the Age of 21 Years compleat and the Parliament fully and freely conveened in the Moneth of Iune 1651. whereby the same did pass into a perpetual Law And this Covenant which from the beginning was and is the most firm and Indispensible Oath of God became at length the very Fundamental Law of the Kingdom whereon all the Rights and Priviledges either of King or People are principally bottomed and secured This is the fair side of the Transactions and providences of thesse times and the effects of the Lord 's favourable presence and the consequence of that Zeal which we have mentioned O! that we had sincerely minded and walked agreeably to all these Engagements surely our times should have endured for ever but seing both our own backslidings and the Lord 's withdrawing from us do evidently testify against us let us ascribe Righteousness unto our God that in the remembrance of all these Judgements wherewith he hath punished us less then our inquities deserve we may not only take unto our selves shame and Confusion of face because we have sinned against Him and thereby stop the mouth of all these blasphemies and boastings of the Adversaries of the Lord and His Holy Covenant which our Backslidings have so widely opened but in the thoughts of His faithfulness be encouraged to hope in His Mercy and for the return of our Departed Glory although we have rebelled against Him The Principal Step of our Defection and the only Rise and Cause of all our Sin and Calamity we acknowledge to have been no other then that which is the condemnation of the World that Light indeed came unto us but we loved Darkness better then Light because our deeds were evil For the Lord did cause His Gospel to shine amongst us in as great Power and Purity as ever any Nation enjoyed and by the Advantages of his own Holy Ministry and Government the accession of our many fold Covenants and Engadgements did beautify and secure the same unto us And though that after a long continuance of all these blessings the Lord by
and Prelacy and all that was done or ensued in the sincere and upright prosecution thereof was and is the Work of God which though Men fight against yet shall they never be able to prevail And as this is our Faith so it is our Hope to all that wait for the Salvation of God that Our God will surely appear for his own Glory and vindicate his Cause and persecuted People and render vengeance to his Adversaries even the vengeance of his Holy Temple and broken Covenent O be not then moved with our Sufferings with are but Light and Momentany for they Work for us a far more execeding and Eternal weight of Glory and for you also a strong Confirmation and abounding Consolation against the like trial that possibly may befal you O then save your selves from this Wicked and Apostat Generation and be ye stedfast unmoveable alwayes abounding in the Work and Cause of the Lord Waiting for the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ which in his Times he shall shew who only hath Immortality dwelling in the Light which no man can approach whom no man hath seen or can see to whom be honour and Power everlasting AMEN The Testimony of CAPT. ANDREW ARNOT one of the former ten who died Decem. 7. DEar Friends and Spectators I am brought by the good providence of God to this publick place of execution which is no dishonour for points of Treason as is alleadged but God knoweth who knoweth the secrets of hearts whether in Rebellion or not I cam forth He is my witness wil be my Judge And whoever they be that any way have been instrumentall or incensed against me to procure this Sentence against me God forgive them I forgive them I am not now purposed to disput the matter of my being in company with these worthy Christians who are now defeat and broken their blood shed and they despitfully mocked by many I acknowledge and declare that I was with them As to the cause of my being with them whither in Rebellion or not God knoweth and all Israel shall know And for me I say the Cause is the Lords who made the Heaven and the Earth though now it be hated And I desire to bear witness with the rest of the worthy witnesses who are gone before and are now staged to that glorious Work of Reformation in Britain and Ireland and to Gospel-Ordinances in their Purity as they have been taught and administrated these 30 Years last by past And I adhere to the Presbyterial way of Doctrin Worship Discipline and Government by General Assemblies Synods Presbyteries and Sessions according to the Patern of the holy Scriptures Jesus Christ himself being the head Corner-stone the Confession of faith Cathechismes Shorter and Larger Directory for Worship National Covenant Solemne League Covenant every Paper tending to the good of the true Religion And this I think fit to Testify Declare under my hand not knowing if I shall have any Liberty to speak intend God willing to Seal with my Blood shortly I confess that unexpectedly I am come to this place though some times I have had some small thoughts of it And I do account my self highly honoured to be reckoned amongst the witnesses of Jesus Christ to suffer for his Name Truth and Cause and this day I esteem it my Glory Garland Crown royall dignity to fill up a part of His sufferings And now I take my leave of you all my dear and worthy Friends and acquaintances The Blessings of the Eternall God be multiplied upon yow and your seed and upon all the suffering Friends of Christ this day upon my dear and loving Wife who hath been a faithful sympathizer with me and upon my dear Children The work of God is now at under but Christ shall carry the Day Blessed is he that believeth and seeth not for there shall be a performance Now the Eternall God who brought again the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead the great sheepherd of the flock strengthen and establish you and all the Lord's people So pray ye and so prayeth your Friend ANDREW ARNOT The Testimony of JOHN SHIELDS Yeoman one of the former ten who died at Edinburgh the 7 day of Decemb. 1666. I Am a man unlearned and not accustomed to speak in publick yet being now called to witness and suffer for the Lord in publick I cannot be altogether silent of that which Religion and Reason hath taught me anent the cause of my suffering I bless the Lord I suffer not as an evil doer especially not for any Rebellion against his Majesties lawful Authority I attest him who is the searcher of hearts that was never my intention in the least and it is as litle the nature and intention of what I have done But for renewing of the Covenant with the Lord and following the ends thereof as to the suppressing of abjured Prelats and Intruders upon the Lords flock and the restoring of the Government of the House of God by Presbyteries as He himself hath appointed in his Word with a faithful Godly Called and Sent Ministery And together with pure Ordinances the Power of Godliness For this I am condemned and to suffer this day This I acknowledged freely before our Judges This I still acknowledg and am persuaded that herein I witness a faithful Confession This Cause and Covenant I commend to all the Lord's People It is not free for you to forsake if You are inviolably ingaged in it It is not safe to desert it because of the Curse of the perjurer and false swearer There is unspeakable blessedness in the pursuance of it whereof I can bear witness to the Lord by my rich Experience since we began to Do and Suffer at this time for him Whereupon I cheerfully lay doun my Life for this his Cause He it is who Justifieth it what man or Authority under heaven can condemn it Arise O Lord let not man prevaill against Thee plead and Iudg this Cause which is thine own for thine own names sake The Testimony of another of the former ten Persons left subscribed with a Friend I designed no Rebellion against lawful Authority but the suppressing of Prelacy and of Profanity and advancing of Holiness in Gods World In a Word I adhere to all the Articles of the good Covenant and did intend the restoring of our good and Soul-refreshing Ministers and the casting out of the dumb greedy Dogs that cannot bark In this Cause I was a free Voluntier pressed by none thinking it my duty to appear for helping the Lord against the Mighty This I testify under my hand from the Tolbooth of Edinburgh the 6 of December 1666. The Testimony of M R ALEXANDER ROBERTSON Preacher of the Gospel and Probationer for the Ministry who died at Edinburgh Decemb. 14. 1666. FEaring that after the example of others I should not be permitted to speak openly to the People I thought fit beside my adherence to what my brethren who have
NAPHTALI OR The Wrestlings of the Church of SCOTLAND For the KINGDOM of CHRIST Contained in A true and short Deduction thereof from the beginning of the Reformation of Religion until the Year 1667. Together with The last Speeches and Testimonies of some who have died for the Truth since the Year 1660. Whereunto are also subjoined A Relation of the Sufferings and Death of M R HEW M C KAIL and some Instances of the Sufferings of Galloway and Nithisdale LAM 1 12. Is it nothing to you all ye that pass by Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow which is done unto me wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger MIC 7 8. Rejoice not against me O mine Enemy When I fall I shall arise When I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a Light unto me ISAI 14 32. What shall one then answere the Messengers of the Nation That the Lord hath founded Zion and the poor of the People shall trust in it Printed in the Year 1667. AD LECTOREM NOn hîc Herculeae sunt cum sudore palestrae Nullus Olympiaco in pulvere Ludus iners Pro sadore cruor Christi de Corpore manat Ardua pro ludo est lucta rapina neces Scotica bis denis luctata Ecclesia Lustris Penè dedit victas lassa labore manus Duros passa Patres dudum velut ame Novercas Vi premitur Stygia fraude subacta gemit Constitit effraenes contra tumidasque procellas Proque Fide steterat dum stetit ulla fides Nusquam cana fides nunc est jurataque Coeli Numina mortales vinc'la nec ulla ligant Credula dum nimis est fida haec Ecclesia vanà Spe lusâ rupto Foedere strata jacet Strata tamen non tota jacet de pulvere surgit Auricomum tollet mox supra astra caput Ipsa triumphalem currum Crux saeva ministrat Sanctorum sanguis fertile semen erit Ecce Sacerdotum turmam Regumque Coronam Pendentem infami de trabe Lector habes Cerne oculo Heroum facies corpora cernas Verba audi videas pectora plena Deo Hîc loquitur Princeps magno cum Judice Vates Et Juvenes Vatum spes animosa senum Hîc Generosa cohors Miles Mercator agelli Cultor Arte rudis spirat ab ore Deum Disce immortalem hinc Animam vitamque futuram Nulla est pro Christo mors male grata pio Pro Christi Crux est diademate Laurea restis Faedere pro Sancto est vitta monile decus READER THE LORD in great mercy having wonderfully and with an outstretched arm notwithstanding all the opposition of Sathan and earthly Principalities redeemed Scotland from the Power and darkness first of Gentilism and then of Antichristianism by raising of some burning and shining Lights and other Instruments fitted for that Work Whereby the Light of the Glorious Gospel from a very small beginning did increase more and more untill at length shining with brightness and heat as the Sun in his strength it filled the Land with knowledge in so much that the name thereof became Jehouah Shammah the Lord is there And having built to Himself a house upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles not only sufficiently instructed with righteous Laws and Judgments for Doctrine and Worship But also provided with all Ordinary Officers necessary in the Christian Church and with a form of Church-Government of his own Institution distinct from and without any prejudice unto the Civil Government of the Kingdom Whereby the Church of Scotland for Soundness of Faith Purity of Worship Excellency of Government Freedom and Power of the Gospel beautiful Order and Unity was not inferior to any if not preferable to most of the Reformed Churches and therefore was deservedly famous and esteemed amongst them Having also for an hundred Years from it's first National Establishment preserved the same from utter overthrow notwithstanding the many various and renewed endeavours of men by force and fraud to reduce it unto the same Errors Ignorance and Superstitions wherein it self at first lay buried and under which others groaned And several times revived and restored it when by it's own Impurity Indifferency and Formality it began to decline or by the Treachery Subtilty or Violence of others it was oppressed Thereby not only disappointing confounding and many times ruining the Adversaries and comforting and strengthening the faithful But also alwayes rebuilding to Himself a Temple the glory whereof did far excell and darken the glory of the former And having many times engaged the whole Land to Himself by several most solemn Obligations of voluntary Surrender and Resignation by frequently renewed Oaths and Covenants So that within these few Years past there were not many persons of age of whatever degree and not so much as one Preaching Minister in all the Land who not only did not make publick profession of the true Reformed Religion but also subject themselves unto the Presbyterial Form of Church Government and Discipline who did not which we desire to be noted for that effect in their own persons swear and subscribe with the hand unto the Lord in the National Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant In so much that as to the publick Profession of the Truth and almost as to the number of persons the Church of Scotland was of equal extent with the Nation and in that respect of all other National Churches did most resemble the old Church of the Iewes The Lord I say having to the conviction and acknowledgement of our selves and others done such great things for us whereof we are glad the present Apostacy whereby Scotland's Bethel is become Bethaven and the Land that was sometimes Holiness unto the Lord is become alas too Edom-like the border of wickedness an Aceldama a Tragical Theatre of blood persecution ought to be unto us no less matter of Sorrow Shame and Fear then it is Sin in itself Wonder and Amazement unto others Who can hear our Covenanted and Kindest Lord who hateth putting away and defieth us to shew the bill of our Mothers divorcement who groaneth under our Backslidings being pressed therewith as a cart full of sheaves complaining that He is broken with our whorish hearts and therefore declaring that He will be no more our Husband nor we His Wife and that His heart cannot be toward us But that He will drive us out of His house and love us no more and not cover the lip for Shame And in consequence thereof who can behold the Fathers house not only defiled by turning it into a house of Marchandise and den of theeves but the Temple casten down to the ground and the Adversary in the midst thereof insultingly and scornfully set up their ensignes for signes of Triumph And furder behold the blood of the Saints shed like water and their flesh given to be meat to the fowles of the heaven and beasts of the Earth and
not lament with Jeremiah Cap. 9 1 2 3 â— Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of the Daughter of my People Oh that I had in the Wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men that I might leave my People and go from them For they be all adulterers an assembly of treacherous men And they bend their tongue like their bowe for lies But they are not valiant fâ—r the Truth upon the Earth for they proceed from evil to evil and they know not me saith the Lord. And this will the more appear not only if we remember the general nature of Backsliding which is a very comprehensive Sin importing less Love Fear and Trust in the true God and proclaiming more Inconstancy Unfaithfulness and ingratitude towards Him then sometimes is found in very Heathens towards their Idols But also if we consider that our present Defection hath all circumstantial Aggravations in the highest degree For it is not in things only Civil Indifferent or of little moment But in things Religious Necessary Important and which at least in their tendency and consequence reach to the very foundation It is not the effect of common humane and invincible infirmity but most free and voluntary yea wilful and deliberate It is not done by stealth or in a corner but avowedly and openly in the sight of the Sun It is not Private and Personal but Representative and Authorized by Acts and Proclamations of King Parliament and Council It is not smoothly and subtilly but most tyrannically carried on by military violence and cruelty It is not of a few or inconsiderable Persons but very Universal The greatest part of all Ranks and of some Ranks almost the whole being some one way or other involved therein It is not only of these who were alwayes of known and professed disaffection to the Cause and Covenant of God but also of many who sometimes being exceeding zealous themselves and exemplary and forcible upstirrers of others therein are now become the chief Ring-leaders theirof and most bloody Persecuters of those who remain stedfast in the Truth It is not in an Heathenish or Antichristian Land or Church divided and broken with several Sects as some others are but even in Scotland so clearly enlightened for which the Lord had wrought so many wonderful works which was under so many obligations of Oaths and Covenants to the contrary and had been so united in the profession of the Truth It is not from violent force Inevitable necessity or irresistible temptation which is neither possible nor yet would excuse it but when the Lord by breaking the yoke of forrain Usurpation had given King and Countrey the fairest opportunity which they ever had to restore confirm and advance His Work as if He had delivered us that we might work all these Abominations And all this for no other end then the base flattering of the Kings humor and inclination the satiating of Prelaticall Pride and Ambition the indulging of the licentious profanity of some Debauched degenerated Nobles and others who could not endure the yoke of Christ's sound doctrine and impartiall discipline And the suppression of Religion and Righteousness in the subversion of the late work of Reformation Whereby we have charged our selves with all the blood that hath been shed upon either side during the former wars Have laid a stumbling block before all who shall see or hear of it to blaspheme Religion as a fiction to condemn the late Work of Reformation as a false pretence for Rebellion and Self-Interest and to affirm that there is neither truth nor ingenuity in the Professors thereof Pass over the Isles of Chittim and see and send unto Kedar and consider diligently and see if there be such a thing hath a Nation changed their Gods which yet are no Gods But Scotland Ah Scotland hath changed her glory for that which doth not profit Be astonished O ye heavens at this and be horribly afraid And so much the rather because few Lands did ever make Defection after this manner but as upon the one hand the Lord gave them up unto more Backsliding until they abounded more with Atheism and all manner of abominations then some Pagan-Nations who never heard nor made Profession of the Gospel So upon the other hand He alwayes pursued them with sorest plagues not only of subjugation at home scattering and exile abroad dividing of Kingdomes amongst themselves and from their former Rulers and final subversion of whole Empires Kingdomes and Common-wealths But also many times with the Final removal of the Gospel and utter dissolution of all visible National Covenant-relation as might be demonstrated from Holy Scripture and other Histories And indeed if He to whom nothing is strange or impossible though they may seem both to us and whose wayes and thoughts are as far above ours as the Heavens are above the Earth do not in the Soveraignity of His Grace recede from His ordinary method of dealing with such apostatizing People and now when he hath seen our way do not heal us we have alas â—oo too just ground of fear that we shall become such a proverb amongst the Nations that the generation to come of our Children and the stranger that cometh from a far Land when they see the plagues of this Land shall wonder and ask Wherefore hath the Lord done this unto this Land What meaneth the heat of this great anger Oh! that the very first and next following steps of Defection together with the Causes of the Lord's wrath against the Land were remembered and acknowledged and that all who have had any accession to the kindling of this flame and who can wholly Justify himself If any would be sure his own mouth should condemn him would draw water and pour it out before the Lord for quenching thereof and that the first resiclers from our National Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to duties would glorify God by Confession that he might turn from the fierceness of his Anger But alas He hath at once pour'd out upon us the Spirit of Whoredome and of a deep sleep and hath both made us to erre from His way and hard'ned our hearts from his fear And as we should look bekind us to the Rise so before us to the Result of thâ—se things for though every runner may read the Primum mobile of this course the great axletree and wheels upon which all moveth and who are the furious drivers and slavish drawers thereof and we have both seen the several degrees of Motion and advancement and smarted the sad effects of the same yet I am affray'd that there is now another Spirit in Persons and Tendency in affairs then some men apprehend Whether there be a sufficient ground in the Holy Scriptures to think with some that before the last fall of the Roman Antichrist the Popish Religion shall once more overshadow the Christian World is not proper
here to enquire But considering the great affinity betwixt Papacy and Prelacy and the already authorized and practized Conformity of the one to the other not only in Government and Discipline whereby they have for the most part the same Ecclesiastical Courts and Officers But also in Worship whereby they have the same Liturgy for substance of Epistles Gospels Collects and Letany The same Ceremonies of Rising Standing to the East Bowing Kneeling Crossing c. the same superstitious fool-like Vestments The same observation of many dayes the same adorning of Churches and Chappels with Altars Books Candles Candlesticks Basins Images and Crucifix's on windows and the same Jesuitical sign upon their pulpit cloath And also in several points of Doctrine preached licensed and printed with many other things tedious to be enumerated Considering also the constitution of the Kingdoms which by Ignorance Atheisme disputing and oppugning of the Authority of the Holy Scriptures Error Superstition Profaneness Indifferency Formality and Hypocrisy in many are much more then formerly disposed to embrace whatsoever shall be authorized or indulged And considering the native tendency of the present Course of Backsliding which leadeth unto the great Whore the mother of all these abominations Nothing but gross wilfull or judicial Ignorance and estrangement from affairs can deny that there is too just ground of fear that ere long if the Lord do not prevent it Brittain may be again precipitated into the old gulf of Antichristianism And so much the rather because it is universally observed and notourly known that the number of professed Papists hath increased more within these six Years then it had for near sixty before the conviction whereof made some of the Prelates themselves say some Years hence that since the Year 1660. there were more thousands of avowed Papists in Scotland compute then what may and must be in England and Ireland then before that Year there were hundreds Whence this is and whether there be any positive Resolution to reintroduce Popery in these Lands I do not affirm but remit it to the consideration of the impartial Reader who understandeth the times and to Time it self a great searcher and discoverer of secrets to declare the genuine meaning and tendency of these things That the King should publish in print that the Papists had been faithful Subjects to him and his Father whilest others under pretence of Religion had involved the Kingdoms in blood Was that bloody Massacre in Ireland whereof they were the known and acknowledged Actors though perhaps not the only Authors such Faithful service That the execution of penal Statutes against Papists should be superseded whilst severe penal Statutes are dayly enacted and executed against Protestants really though not under that name and notion That so many known and open Idolatrous Masses should be connived at tollerated whilst both publick private meetings of Protestants for pure Worship are prohibited by Law and violently interrupted That so many known professed Papists Priests and Jesuites who do not publickly countenance the Prelatical Worship are permitted to live peaceably and enjoy all their Liberties whilst non-complying Protestants for simple Non-conformity to Prelacy are imprisoned fined confined scourged stigmatized and many otherwayes oppressed and persecuted in their Estates Consciences and Names That so many Papists especially in England should enjoy and be dayly advanced to the greatest places of publick Power and Trust not only as members of Parliament Council and Court but as State-Officers Lieutenants Sherifs Justices of Counties and Officers in Army whilst stedfast Protestants for simple non-perjuring are some of them not so much as permitted to sit in Parliament or any other Iudicatory others of them discourted disgraced disarmed imprisoned and proscribed and all of them who will not forswear declared incapable of publick Power or Trust in Church or Common-wealth That a house for Fathers or Friers is provided whilst many faithful Ministers are removed and chased from place to place without any certain habitation That there should be such universal Report so much Presumption of a Popish hand in burning of London which for number and strength of Protestant Inhabitants was the most considerable City in the World and bulwark against the Romish Religion and designes and yet as if men were affrayed to try the truth in that matter so little satisfying effectual course taken to try and punish the Authors and Actors and to repress their many other insolent misdemeanors whilst many thousands of innocent Protestants who never burnt either house or City for no other alleaged crime but their peaceable forbearance to bow to the Idol which the King hath setup are thrown into a furnace of fiery Triall seven times more heated then ever was known in the Christian World for such a Cause all things being considered It may seem strange to the Nations about and to the Generations following that the Church of Scotland which had been so faithful and chast should have suffered herself to be thus prostituted and that if she would not otherwayes after the manner of her Fathers contend for the Faith which she had receaved she did not cry to all the World by Declarations and Protestations as the Maid under the Law that she was forced And that of all the sons which she had brought forth there were so few either to take her by the hand and plead openly for her or to plead with her that she would put away her whoredoms This indeed is and ought to be for a lamentation But let none therefore conclude as some of the profane and perfidious Prelates measuring others after their own baseness and treachery had the impudence at first to misrepresent to the Rulers that all were or are consentient unto this horrid Apostacy for even at the beginning thereof if Synods which were then resolving to bear publick Witness for the then established Government of the Church and against the begun Defection and further progress thereof by the Re-introduction of Prelacy which was then designed had not been some of them by Proclamation prohibited to conveen and others of them violently interrupted and raised by Nobles who by Order of Parliament were present for that effect And if some of her Watchmen who were neither professedly driving on nor secretly breathing after Prelacy Prelatical promotion had not for Reasons best known to themselves too much courted and flattered the Powers by their own silence and withdrawing of their necessary and required concurrence in a publick joint Testimony there wanted not Faithfulness Zeal Courage Resolutions and some Endeavours in others to have emitted such Declarations as probably might have crushed the bold attempt of the Prelates in it's infancy and thereby have prevented much Sin and Suffering which hath ensued thereupon and certainly would have witnessed to all the World that the Church without against her consent was treacherously betrayed and violently forced Neither hath the Truth all along from that time till this wanted many testimonies
together with the former Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to duties should be read publickly to the People upon the day of the Intimation and the last Fast day when the Covenant was to be sworn This resolution of the Commission upon the same grounds was unanimously approven by the Committee of Estats then sitting and by their Act October 14. Ordained to be put in Execution in all things according to the directions of the Commission And accordingly in the moneth of December it was for the second time sworn in all the Congregations of the Kingdome upon the same day except where vacancy or the Ministers being under scandal or process did occasion a delay till another day that the place was supplyed by another Minister with great Solemnity and such mixture of Joy Sorrow as became people entering in Covenant with the Lord And was thereafter Subscribed by all the Swearers After ward the Parliament Conveening in January 1649 by their very first Act except the Election of their President upon the same grounds Resolved to keep a Fast by themselves for the Causes contained in the Acknowlegment and to Renew the Covenant according to the Order of the Commission which was also most solemnly done And last of all the Generall Assembly 1649. by their Act July 7. did unanimously and expresly Ratify the Proceedings of the Commission as to the Acknowledgment of Sins Engagement to dueties the Fasts and Renewing of the Covenant by Swearing and Subscribing thereof Hence as the Covenant it self so the Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins Engagement to duties became National Authorised by the Supream Judicatures of Church and State and are still obliging by Oath Oh! that the Lord had kept these things in the Imagination of the thought of our hearts for ever ERRATA WHilst this was upon the Press some Errors which escaped in some sheets were corrected in others so that thou must not stumble though some Copies be more correct then others Besides other literal escapes which will not marr the sense before thou read the Book correct with thy pen thâ—se following Pag. 3. lin 4. for other as read as other p. 4. l. 32. r. witnesses p. 5. l. 3. r. solemn p. 6. l. 12. r strong p. 8. l. 15. r. sufficiently p. 15. l 29. for or r on â—b l. 16. r. opportunity p. 24. l. 14. for of r. or p. 25. l. 4. r. resolution Ib. l. 32. forâ— are r. are a lb. 33. r. worthies p. 30. l. 21. for 27. r. 17. lb. 23. for 10. r. 8. p. 35. l. 8. r. 1560. Ib. l. 30. r. 1571. p. 38. l. 16. r. 1584. p 67. l. 27. for hoth r. both p. 70. l. 12. for he r. the. p. 81. l. 12. r. during p. 88. l. 18. r. slain p. 100. l. 11. de e the. Ib. l. 12. r. generally Ib. 19. for the r. that p. 103 l. 14. for out r. ought p. 120. l. 16. for what r. that p 129. l 12. r. rageth in p. 154. l. 23. for where r. were p. 188 l. 6. r. his p 281. l. 27. r. it is p. 282. l. 13. r. Advocats A True and short DEDUCTION Of the WRESTLINGS of the CHURCH of SCOTLAND For the KINGDOM of JESUS CHRIST From the beginning of the Reformation of Religion unto the Year 1667. AFter all these great glorious things which the Lord in his Love Mercy and Faithfulness hath wrought for this Land and in his Holiness and Righteousness hath declared amongst us these clear and powerfull Manifestations of his blessed Truth which have so brightly shined forth to the Glory Beauty and Praise of this whole Nation After these many sacred and most solemn Engagements whereby in the evidence and power of the same Truth all Ranks and degrees from the King even to the meanest became and are still bound and devoted to the Most High and Holy Our Covenanted God and to our blessed Lord Jesus Christ who alone is King in Zion and of all Saints and whose are all the Kings and Kingdomes of the Earth for the advancement of his Glory and Kingdome and for the owning and maintaining of his glorious Work and precious Truth which is all our Felicity and Joy And after all this horrid Apostacy and Rebellion whereby the same wretched Nation in the same Generation and almost in the same Persons neither from the conviction of any pretended Reason or Conscience nor from any solid persuasion of the very Advantage designed but in the manifest Spirit of Wickedness and violence have forgotten despised and blasphemed the former power and Glory Rebelled against God by breaking the Holy Covenant Rejected our Lord and Saviour Overturned the Work of his own blessed Spirit and Arme Abrogated and rescinded all these righteous Lawes and Ordinances whereby it was established And by most Unjust Arbitrary and Cruel Lawes and Practises have endeavoured the rebuilding and promoving of the Kingdome of Darkness and Antichrist and precipitating of all men either into the same condemnation with themselves or utter ruine and Extermination After we say all these things which the Lord hath thus wrought and permitted in the midst of us neither the Discouragement and Fainting of some nor the Unsuccesfulness of the more honest and Zealous endeavours of others nor yet our Silence hithertil is greatly to be wondered at For whose eyes can behold all these things without Dimnes and affecting of the heart And whose heart can consider them without Astonishment and Horrour if not Stupefaction or Discouragement How little wonder is it that every visage suppose of the fairest Nazarit be blacker then a coale That every eye run down with waters that the souls of many refuse to be comforted neither do nor dare rejoice as other people When not only by their going a whoreing from the Lord their dayly bread is become the bread or Adversity and the waters of Affliction and when their famine of the Word of the Lord is such that though they wander from sea to sea seeking it they cannot find it Bot also the Comforter that should releeve their souls is far from them and either covereth Himself with a cloud that their prayers cannot pass through or then answereth them only by terrible things in Righteousness How can they who by their Vanities have moved the Holy God to Jealousy and thereby have provoked their Rock to fell them stand before their Enemies or chase a thousand put ten thousand to flight alâ—hough that we should plead with our Mother with our Rulers with all other ranks of persons within the Land that they would put away their whoredomes out of their sight their Adulteries from betwen their breasts yet what hope is there that Words shall prevaill where the Power and Glory of the most High is contemned Or that Reason shall be heard where the Counsell of God is rejected Here indeed is matter of Wonder and Praise even the Longsuffering of the Lord which is Salvation and the Mercy and
owned it and stood to it but did account themselves so much the more obliged to their own Preservation and esteemed the same so much the more endeared to them that the seâ—ing forth of the Glory of God in the maintainance of the blessed Gospel and the propagation and continuance thereof seemed so necessarily to depend thereon which endeavours they did also further extend in the bowels and bonds of brotherly affection in Christ Jesus unto the same duty of defence Assistence to all his members And in effect if their Principles and Practices be well considered it will appear that as when God called them to suffering they loved not their lives unto Death that they might witness a good confession so when they attained to any Probability of Acting they thought themselves indispensibly obliged upon their uttermost hazard to defend the Gospel which they had receaved and to suppress all Superstition and Idolatry contrary therto although the motive of Self-defence had not been conjoined And it will also appear that the Necessity of Convocations and Combinations though not only without but even against Authority Yet being in order to such necessary and just Ends did suffiriently warrand them befor God and all men from the breach of any Law or Act then standing against the same wherewith they might have been charged For verification hereof though the whole course of our Reformation be an unquestionable evidence yet let the instance of their first Appearance be observed wherein both the Motives Actors and all other circumstances do more clearly and beyond all cavillation hold out that only the Love and Zeal of God in the same Spirit in which they had so constantly suffered did stir them up from the pure and vive sense of their indispensible duty and certaine Priviledge against all opposition whatsomever to own and set themselves for the Defence of the Gospel and the true Ministers thereof The passage is thus In or about the Year 1555 the Queen by the instigation of the Prelats perceaving the increase of the Protestants and fearing some inward distraction during the wars then with England if Shee should fall upon a more rigorous and general course did cause all the Preachers to be summoned whereupon the body and generality of the whole Protestants resolved to keep the Dyet But the Bishops apprehending the hazard did procure that they should be commanded instantly to the borders Nevertheless God had so provided that upon the same day the West-land Quarter returned from it which consisting of many faithful men so soon as they understood the matter they repaired to the Queen and plainly in the hearing of the Prelates did charge them with the cruel device intended and certified Her ' of their resolution both to oppose it and defend their Brethren to their uttermost and ceased not until that She was moved to discharge the citation Thereafter in the Year 1557. they entered into a Covenant of constant mutual Defence of the Gospel their Ministers and themselves against all their adversaries in these words VVe perceiving how Sathan in his members the Antichrists of our time cruelly do rage seeking to overthrow and destroy the Gospel of Christ and his Congregation ought according to our bounden duty to strive in our Masters Cause even unto the death being certaine of the Victorie in him The which our duty being well considered VVe do promise before the Majesty of God and his Congregation That we by his grace shal with all diligence continually apply our whole power substance and our very lives to maintain set forward and establish the most blessed VVord of God and his Congregation And shall labour according to our power to have faithfull Ministers truly and purely to minister Christs Gospel and Sacraments to his people VVe shal maintain them nourish them and defend them the whole Congregation of Christ and every Member thereof according to our whole powers and waging of our lives against Sathan and all wicked power that doth intend Tyrranny or trouble against the foresaid Congregation Vnto the which holy VVord and Congregation we de joyne us and so do forsake and renounce the Congregation of Sathan with all the superstitious abomination and idolatry thereof And moreover shall declare our selves manifest enemies therto by this our faithful promise before God testified to this Congregation by our Subscription at these Presents At Edinburgh the third Day of December Anno 1557. God called to witness Like as in the Year 1559. being again necessitated to assemble for and stand to the defence of the Gospel and themselves at Perth they renewed and enlarged the same engagement according to the good hand and Spirit of God upon his Servants in these words At Perth the last day of May the Year of God 1559. Yeares the Congregations of the VVest Countrey with the Congregations of Fife Perth Dundie Angus Merns and Monross being conveened in the town of Perth in the Name of Iesus Christ for setting forth of his glory understanding nothing more necessary for the same then to keep a constant amity unity and fellowship together according as they are commanded by God are confederate and become bounden and obliged in the presence of God to concurre assist together in doing all things required of God in his Scripture that may be to his glory And at their whole powers to destroy and put away all things that doth dishonour to his name so that God may be truly and purely worshipped And in case that any trouble be intended aganst the said Congregation or any part or member thereof the whole Congregation shall concurre assist and conveen together to the defence of the same Congregation or person troubled And shall not spare Labours goods Substance Bodies and Lives in maintaining the liberty of the whole Congregation and every member thereof against whatsoever person shall intend the said trouble for cause of Religion or any other cause depending thereupon or lay to their charge under pretence thereof although it happen to be coloured with any other outward cause And again in the Moneth of August the same Year after having sustained and valiantly resisted a second assault both of the wicked Prelats and of their other violent adversaries by a third band Oath they added a further caution to their former engagements to the effect that in so just and holy a cause they might never by force or fraud be thereafter fainted or divided And lastly in April Anno 15â—0 they ingaged themselves in a fourth bond in these words VVe whose names are underwritten have promised and oblidged our selves faithfully in the presence of God and by these presents do promise that we together in Generall and every one of us in special by himself with our bodies goods and friends and all that we can doe shall set forward the Reformation of Religion according to Gods VVord and procure by all means possible that the Truth of Gods VVord my haue free passage within this realme with
and what is premised do warrand an just extention thereof in favours of the People against backsliden Rulers both supream and subordinat or even in favours of a part of the People with the caution subjoyned against the greater part wickedly backsliden let the World judge Oh! did the wrath of God for the hidden and secret sin of one poor acursed Achan suddenly and fearfully overtake the whole People and ALL THE CONGREGATION of Israel so that that man perished not ALONE in his iniquity and had not our Reformers great reason to fear and tremble least the Manifest Tolleration of proud cruel and flattering Prelats who had perverted the lawful Powers into bloody Persecuters and of Idolatours Priests whose wickedness and Idolatry had corrupted the whole Land might involve not only themselves but the whole Nation in destroying and overflowing indignation We are not ignorant of the no less wicked then ground less cavils of some as if we would make or have every man to be a Phinehas And what then Would God if wishes yea prayers and teares could make it that all his Servants were as Phinehas and that he would pour upon every one of them the same Spirit of Holy Zeall which was in him that by removall of the cause his fierce anger against this poor consuming Land might cease But as for that Act of Phinehas the termes following being generall and ambigous admitting of severall distinctions and subdistinctions as it is not easy without distinguishing in thesi to define an Action and Call Extraordinary and an Action and Call thereunto only Heroicall and to state the true specificall Difference and just limits betwen an Action and Call Extraordinary and an Action and Call Heroicall as they are strickly taken and contradistinguished and clearly and convincingly to demonstrat what and how much more is required in an Extraordinary Call to an Extraordinary Action then is required in a sufficient Call unto an Heroicall Action and whether an eminent measure of Holy Zeal Magnanimity and Fortitude do constitut a sufficient Call unto an Heroicall Action or do only Dispose and fit the person for the right and better performance thereof as a Call unto the Action and the Fitness of the Person for doing of the same are contradictinguished or may not both Dispose and fit the person for performance of the Action and also include and give a Call unto the Action it self So when the matter is fully considered it will be more difficult then perhaps is apprehended to prove that the Act of Phinehas was Extraordinary strickly taken and in contradistinction to that which is only Heroical or that his Call thereunto was Extraordinary in contradistinction to that which is a sufficient Call unto an Heroicall Action and more difficult to determine otherwise then by naked assertion what that Extraordinary Call was Wherein it did consist Wherein it did differ from Exceed or Excell a Call unto an Heroick Action And therefore it will be also hard convincingly to demonstrat that it might not have been lawfully done by another of the Children of Israel whom the Lord had animated thereunto by the same Holy Zeall and Resolution And this is the more considerable because as we very rarely if at all find the Lord commending and rewarding persons for Extraordinary Actions whereunto they had Extraordinary Calls so much and so highly as here He Commendeth and Rewardeth Phinehas So the Text it self Numb 25. doth lay the great if not the only weight and ground of his Commendation and Reward upon his ZEALL and not upon any Extraordinary Call whereof there is not the least hint or insinuation For vers 11. the Lord saith He turned my wrath away from the Children of â—srael while he was ZEALOUS for my sake among them and therefore vers 12 13. promiseth him His Covenant of peace a seed after him and the Covenant of an Everlasting Priesthood BECAUS he was ZEALOUS for his God And if any shall as it is like some will alleadge that Heroicall Actions are not more Imitable then these which are Extraordinary It is humbly offered to be considered anent Heroicall Actions in generall Whether when the matter of an Action is not only Ordinary that is neither Preternaturall nor Supernaturall though not very Frequent but also Just and Lawfull yea and Necessary both by Divine Precept as a Mean to a good and Necessary End and when either there is not or doth not appear any other to do the work whether I say in that case a Spirit of Holy Zeall Magnanimity and Courage wrought and excited by the Lord in his Servants and People moe or fewer being otherwise in a Rationall and probable Capacity be not for that time a sufficient Call unto the performance of these Actions which are commonly called Heroicall and especially when and where the Action is not unnecessarily irrationally nor in vanity attempted but may be and is performed not only without prejudice of the True Necessary and Chief Good of the Church and Common-wealth or of any particular person's just Right and security but also in the case of the Magistrat and others their wilfull and perverse neglecting of their duty is necessarly undertaken and is not only formally intended by the Actor but also natively and really doth conduce to the Glory of God the Good of Religion the preservation and establishment of Church and Common-wealth and of every particular person's Just Rights and Security by suppressing of Impiety promoving of Truth and Holiness doing of Justice Turning away of wrath and removing of present and preventing of future Jugdments And as for the particular instance of Phinehas if the Lord did not only raise him up to that particular Act of Justice but also warrant and accept him therein and reward him therefore upon the accompt of his Zeall when there was a Godly and Zealous Magistrat able whom we cannot without breach of charity presume but also willing to Execute Justice How much more may it be pleaded that the Lord who is the same yesterday to day and for ever will not only pour out of that same Spirit upon others but also when he gives it both Allow them though they be but private persons and also Call them being otherwise in a Physical and probable Capacity to do these things in an Extremely necessitous and otherwise irrecoverable State of the Church to which in a more intire condition thereof he doth not Call them and particularly when there is not only the like or worse provocations the like Necessity of the Execution of justice and of Reformation for the turning away of Wrath and Removall of Judgments that was in Phinehas case but also when the Supreme Civil Magistrat the Primores Regni and other inferior Rulers are not only unwilling to do their duty but so far corrupted and perverted that they are become the Authors and patronizers of these abominations Which is also the more considerable because if upon the fear or suspicion of
places do injoyn either patience when the clear call and dispensations of God do inevitably call unto suffering without which patience were no patience but rather stupidity or that bounty and debonairity which our Lord would have his disciples to practise in the remitting and dispensing with the utmost extensions and points of Right for the better reproving and condemning of the animosities and rigid contentions of men for matters of small or no moment and the more effectuall commending the grace and peace of the Gospel So thence to infer that men should give way to all Violence and Sacriledge to the subverting of Religion and Righteousness is after the manner of Sathan to cheat and abuse men by the holy Scriptures of Truth unto wickedness and error and grossly to exceed that signal rule mainly in these places intended to wit that we should be perfect even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect who though he filleth the earth with his goodness and extendeth his bounty unto all causing the sun to rise upon the evill and on the good yet doth he love righteousness and helpeth and delivereth the oppressed and commandeth the zeal of his own glory wherein He himself doth often eminently appear by the hand of His people to take vengeance on His adversaries Let us therefore in the consideration of what is said Rev. 13.10 he that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword both possess our souls in patience under all the former sufferings and hope and rejoice in the faith of the succeeding delivery there subjoyned These are the Defences which these Faithful men did summarily hint at and being often interrupted were scarcely permitted to propone All which being rejected as unworthy to be heard what wonder if what their Advocats did plead in their defence upon the point of Quarter given to some of them in the field was also repelled We are not to dip in matters of this kind but certainly it much discovereth the spirit of malice and violence that now prevaileth that neither the Nature and Import of Quarter which pertaineth nothing to Grace or Pardon whereof these men were declared incapable but is a paction of the Law of Nations whereby the person worsted by quitting of his arms the only and oftentimes the probable means either of his safety or vengeance doth condition for and redeem his immunity as to life Nor yet the honor of the Granters Persons Commissionated by the King for the command of his Forces with the common Priviledges and dignities belonging to such Offices Nor yet the Practice of all Nations about even in the case of Intestine War Nor the rational arguments of humanity and prudence not to reduce men to utter despair in succeeding Insurrections from which no Kingdom is priviledged Nor lastly the Paucity of these few innocents not exceeding 5 or 6 who could have been thereby benefited there being many other taken and not upon Quarter could prevail against that Pedantick distinction inter bellum justum injustum But this being alleadged to have been bellum injustum as indeed it was in the justest sense therefore no faith nor Quarter must be herein observed quia sc adversus Hostes tantum est Bellum at in Perduelles judicium as if from this one should conclude that though in War there may be faith and Quarter yet in Iudgement there ought neither to be Truth nor Performance All defences therefore being repelled these persons accused were all condemned to be hanged to death as Traitors and their Heads and right Hands to be cut off to be disposed on by the Council and their Goods and Estates to be forfaulted to the Kings use And accordingly upon several dayes this Sentence was executed upon thirty five of these faithful men and by Ordinance of Council the heads of many of them were affixed upon the Ports of several Burghs and the right hands of the first ten to the high contempt of God and His holy Covenant and to the provocation of His jealousy on the Tolbooth of Lanerk where the Covenant was by them solemnly renewed and sworn As for the other five they were and are reprived One of them who in all his Tryall to the conviction of all appeared most constant in the Covenant and bold and pertinent in his Testimony upon the colour of a fit of distraction by which he was once vexed and through the intercession of many in his behalf An other of them for his vile and abject fainting to the very reproach of humanity redeeming his life by becoming Hang-man to seven of his fellows when two ordinary Executioners in the Burghs about had plainly refused declaring they would have nothing to do with the blood of such Righteous men and one of them therefore imprisoned The other three partly because of their fainting and condescendence to take the Declaration and partly through the favour and intercession of friends We shall not nor cannot enter upon the particular declaration of that Grace Constancy and Courage by which the Lords faithful Witnesses were sustained and did bear Testimony to the Word of his Truth the holy Covenant and the Cause and Work of God Only this is certain that the Lord did not more desert that vile abject person to the weakness of flesh and blood whereby he was depressed below the very contempt of men then by His Grace and Glory evidently to manifest the power thereof He was eminently present with such as He honoured to be his Witnesses to cause them contemn and triumph over Principalities and Powers hell and death and all their terrours as may be evident from these things following 1. That the Council pitching upon those men without choise for a Test of discrimination did require several of them by taking the Declaration to renounce the Covenant which they constantly refused And so were Martyred not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection 2. That Mr Hew Mackaile a young man of 25 years of age and an Expectant in the Ministery being arraigned and accused through meer spite of the Arch-Bishop of St. Andrewes against whose Iudas-like Apostacy he had preached four years ago for no greater accession then that he had been some few dayes with these that rose with a sword having been most uncircumspectly taken leaying them because of his infirmity and weakness the day before the Conflict did not only most patiently endure cruel Torture whereby he was examined for the discovery of the contrivance of that Rising which all men knew and saw to be Indeliberat but notwithstanding the promise of favour plainly made to him upon condition of ingenuity which he sincerely used being also condemned did utterly reject all insinuations made unto him upon condition of the least Retractation and bitterly mourning for and repenting of his apparent fainting and relinquishing though it really proceeded more from his infirmity then fear or love of life but rejoycing in