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A33093
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A declaration of the commissioners of the Generall Assembly to the whole kirk and kingdome of Scotland concerning present dangers and duties relating to the Covenant and religion.
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Church of Scotland. General Assembly. Commission.; Ker, A.
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1648
(1648)
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Wing C4219; ESTC R26458
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8,465
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16
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Majesty and his posterity according to the Covenant not being ignorant what confusions and calamities use to attend the change either of the government it self or of the Royall line Neverthelesse the Country being so generally possessed with so dangerous a mistake and misunderstanding of so great a businesse and his Majesty himself professing in his Letter to us dated at Carisbrook Castle Decemb. 27. last that he hath resolved so far to agree to the desires of this Kirk Kingdom concerning the Covenant and setling Religion as he is confident shall give us satisfaction If now we should be silent we might be understood as tacitely consenting acquiescing We are therfore necessitated for undeceiving the Nation for acquitting our selves to declare that a narrative of the state or publick affairs having bin made to us by those who were entrusted for that effect since delivered to us in writing we have more especially taken to our serious thoughts so much of that narrative as was from his Majesty made known unto us his resolutions for satisfaction in point of Religion The first Article whereof is as followeth 1. For the Covenant his Majesty giving belief to the professions of these who have entred into the League and Covenant and that their intentions are reall for preservation of his Majesties person according to their allegiance and no waies to diminish his just power and greatnesse is content so soon as he can with freedom honour and safety be present in a free Parliament to confirm the said League and Covenant by Act of Parliament in both Kingdoms for security of all those who have taken or shall take the said Covenant provided that none who is unwilling shal be constrained to take it Which Article hath nothing in it of his Majesties affection to or liking and approbation of the Covenant but only what he is content to yeild in order to His own interest Yea an Act of Parliament for security of those who have taken or shal take the Covenant doth or may suppose some fault or somewhat justly challengable in the taking of the Covenant which needeth ane Act of indemnity Next the offer is but conditionall and hath in the bosome of it ane complication of such so many conditions as might open a door to some evasion or other by multiplying exceptions difficulties and various notions either concerning the professions of those who have entred into the League and Covenant or concerning his Majesties just power greatnesse or concerning his freedom honour safety or concerning a free Parliament And although the concession were certain absolute it amounts to no more but to a leaving of the Covenant arbitrary which is contrary to the Acts of the Generall Assembly Parliament in this Kingdom to the Declaration of both Kingdoms before cited to one of the chief Propositions of Religion once agreed upon by both Kingdoms for a safe wel-grounded peace viz. The Proposition concerning his Majesties swearing signing of the League Covenant and enjoyning by Act of Parl in both Kingdoms the taking thereof by all the Subjects in the three Kingdoms with such penalties as shal be agreed upon by both Kingdoms so that the first Article of his Majesties offer is a most manifest altering of the state of this cause It is also a strengthning of the hearts hands both of the Sectaries and of the Malignant party a partaking and conniving at the sin of all those in the three Kingdoms who have refused or shall refuse to enter into the League and Covenant an introducing of a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the Kingdom and the honour of the King And therefore we have judged this Article not only unsatisfactory but destructive to the Covenant Neither are we moved with that objection which is hinted concerning the constraining or inforting of mens consciences They refuse a necessary duty who refuse to take the Covenant and the penalty or punishment of such refusall is no constraining of the conscience more then the penalty or punishment of a Subject who refuseth to take the Oath of Allegiance is a constraining of the conscience to Loyalty or more then the punishment of Idolaters Blasphemers and Seducers mentioned so often in Scripture can be called a constraining of the conscience to the fear of of God The words of the second Article are these His Majesty wil likewise confirm by Act of Parliament in England Presbyteriall Government the Directory for Worship and Assembly of Divines at Westminster for three years so that his Majesty and his houshold be not hindered from using that form of Divine Service he hath formerly practised and that a free debate and consultation be had with the Divines at Westminster twenty of his Majesties nomination being added unto them and with such as shall be sent from the Church of Scotland whereby it may be determined by his Majesty and the two Houses how the Church Government after the three years shall be fully established according to the word of God For ought we know the conditions couched in the first Article are also to be understood in this and the following Articles However this second Article as it is but the same in substance with some of his Majesties concessions in former Messages so that which is proposed in it is but a Toleration of Presbyteriall Government in England and that but for three years and is a direct allowance at least of the Book of Common Prayer in his Majesties Houshold and moreover by the second Article not only a door is left open for re-establishing Prelacy and the Service Book But the happy progresse already made in the Reformation and uniformity of Religion according to the Covenant in a confession of Faith Directory of Worship Form of Church Government Catechisme is set aside as so much lost labour in order to a future setlement Free debate with any of the Prelaticall party nominated by his Majesty when there was any such occasion hath not bin declined But we have great cause to be tender of unsetling and razing agood foundation already laid in the work of Reformation And whereas his Majesty will have it determined by himself and the two Houses how the Church Government after the said three years shall be established according to the Word of God This doth at once cut off three of the most materiall Propositions concerning Religion formerly agreed upon by both Kingdoms and from both tendred to his Majesty though some of them be now laid aside by the two Houses of the Parliament of England namely The third Proposition for abolishing Arch-bishops Bishops c. The fifth Proposition That Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant be setled by Act of Parliament in such manner as both Houses have agreed or shall agree upon after consultation had with the Assembly of Divines And the sixth Proposition That such unity and