as the Presbytery superintends the Parochial Session In this Judicatory the Leading men of the Faction lay their Heads together form their Projects and when the Commissioners return from hence to their several Presbyteries they intimate to the Particular Ministers what Points they are to Preach upon for the Advancement of those Designs The General Assembly is Sovereign and Independent Hither lies the Last Appeal and the Jurisdiction of it is Universal in what concerns Ecclesiastical Matters and Persons or Temporals in Order to Spirituals They look upon themselves as immediately Entrusted by Christ and to Him only do they hold themselves Accomptable Whosoever does not obey this Sovereignty tho' the King himself he is to be Excommunicate and the Nobility Gentry Collective Body nay every Individual Person is to assist to the Compelling Censuring and Punishing of him to the Utmost of his Power So that the King himself is at their Command and to order the Execution of their Censures in Estate Body Life and Death To This Judicatory Two Preaching Elders and a Lay-Elder are sent as Commissioners from every Presbytery in the Kingdome so that the Clergy have thus far Two to One but then reckoning that every Borough and Corporation sends One Commissioner and the Universities and Colledges their Commissioners too which are most of them Lay-men this Assembly of the Kirk is turn'd into a Council of State The King himself is also a Member of this Assembly either Personally by Himself or Virtually by his Commissioner but without a Negative Voice or any Power there beyond that of a Lay-Elder The Major Part carries it and whatsoever They Vote tho' against the Kings Opinion and Conscience he is bound to see it put in Execution upon pain of being Excommunicate and Depos'd from his Government And if any thing be propos'd in this Assembly as Spiritual tho' never so hazzardous to the Crown if they tell you that it is for Christ's Glory there 's no opposing of it in favour of the Publick Peace or State The Proper President is a Preaching Elder and this Judicatory they accempt as Christ's highest Tribunal upon Earth from whence there lies no Appeal They are oblig'd to meet once a year and they Indict and Adjourn themselves by their own Power without allowing the King to appoint either the Time or the Place only if there be any Occasion of meeting before the time set their Commissioners give an Accompt of it to the King The steps by which they mounted to this Arbitrary Jurisdiction were A Dislike First Of the Church-Government Secondly Of the Church-Governours Thirdly They propos'd a Reformation after the Geneva-Copy which not being admitted Fourthly They fram'd a Model of their Own And lastly by Fraud Violence and Rebellion they Impos'd it upon the Nation The English Presbytery THis was the Method also and the Design of the English Disciplinarians under Queen Elizabeth as appears by the Records of those times tho' many particulars of the Conspiracy were never brought to Light The Examples of Geneva and Scotland were at every turn press'd upon the English and a Confederacy was carry'd on in Both Nations for the Erecting of the same Platform of Presbyterial Discipline which one Davison a Scotch-man affirms to have no less Warrant to be continu'd perpetually within the Church under this Precept Feed my Sheep than hath the Preaching of the Word or the Administration of the Sacraments From 1560 to 1572 they vented their Spleen only in Libels and Conventicles In Novemb. 72. they Erected a Presbytery at Wandesworth in Surry and from that time to 1583 their Design was agitated in secret Meetings which they call'd Conferences wherein at a London-Meeting they came to This Conclusion That the Present Government of the Church by Arch-Bishops and Bishops is Anti-Christian and that the only Discipline and Government of Christ that is by Pastors Doctors Elders and Deacons shall be Establish'd in Place of the Other In 1583 Their Book of Discipline is Drawn up which they call'd the Synodicall Discipline and an Assembly being held upon it among other Decrees it was order'd That the Comitial Assemblies are to be monished to make Collections for Relief of the Poor and of Scholars but especially for Relief of such Ministers here as are put out for not Subscribing to the Articles tender'd by the Bishops also for Relief of Scottish Ministers c. These Scottish Ministers were they that Justify'd the Rebellious Act of making King James a Prisoner in 1583. and took Sanctuary in England upon the Parliaments Declaring it Treason And who so proper Instruments as They for the Promoting of another Rebellion in England Their Book of Discipline was review'd and put in Practice in 1587. In 1589 it was Perfected and in the Year following the Conspiracy was detected when upon Examinations of Littleton Edmunds Johnson Barbon Holms Brown c. it appear'd that the Discipline was Fram'd Subscrib'd and Carry'd on in all Respects after the Scottish Project and Model By Publique Justice upon some of the Principal Incendiaries and King James his Vigilance and Care afterwards the Consistorians were for a long time kept within some tolerable Compass Their Mouths were stopt upon the Conference at Hampton-Court Anno 1603 with a strict Proclamation for the Observing of an Vniformity in the Church Episcopacy was restor'd in Scotland in 1610 and an Act pass'd in a General Assembly at Aberdeen in 1616 Authorizing the Compiling and Framing a Publique Form of Liturgy or Book of Common Prayer to be first presented to the King and after his Approbation to be Universally receiv'd throughout the Kingdome Which Book pursuant to the Act was by the Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews sent up to his Majesty and by himself and his Order Examin'd Corrected and Return'd But his Majesty dy'd before it could be put in Practice And this was the Book which with very little Alteration and That too in favour of their pretended Scruples was by the late King's Proclamation in 1637 commanded to be publickly Us'd in all Counties of that Kingdome There were also diverse of the English Rites and Ceremonies settled in 1618 by Five Articles that pass'd the Assembly at Perth Which Articles cost King James an Expensive Journey into Scotland the Year before where he was forc'd to tell them plainly in a Speech at St. Andrews That it was a Power belonging to all Christian Princes to order Matters in the Church and that he would never regard what they Approv'd or Disapprov'd except they brought him a Reason which he could not Answer To which upon Consideration they made his Majesty this Return That if he would grant them a Free Assembly they would therein satisfie his Majesty in all the Points he had propounded The King depending upon it return'd into England and the day of the Assembly being come and nothing done according to their Promise his Majesty went a short way to Work with them and took away their Augmentations that he had formerly
according to the Oraculous sence of them that Impos'd it that betwixt their Consciences their Safeties and Estates they were in a great streight He that Considers the Solemn and the Awful Circumstances that accompani'd the taking of these Engagements the lifting up of the Eyes and Hands the Attesting of Almighty God the Invocations of the Great Name of the Lord and their Appeals to the Searcher of all Hearts and Compares their Actings with their Protestations will find them perhaps the most Impious and Extravagant Contradiction in Nature And That 's the thing next to be Observ'd in a View of the Fabrique they Rais'd upon this Goodly Foundation After this Hypocrisie in the very Frame of their Project there was but little of Good Faith to be expected in the Menage of it And all their Covenants under Colour of Reforming the Government were both in Construction and in Effect but so many Othes for the Abjuring of it and the setting up of a more Blasphemous Oracle in the Name of Christ Jesus than ever was silenc'd at his taking Flesh upon him by his Holy Power I call their Covenants Oracles as well in respect of the Inspiration as of the Imposture But we shall better understand them by Tracing their Motions from One Usurpation to Another By Letters from Sterling of March 10. 1556. Knox was invited from Geneva with This Assurance That the Faithful in Scotland were ready to jeopard their Lives and Goods for the setting forward of the Glory of God as he would permit These Letters came to his Hand in May. And in September following with the Privity and Encouragement of Calvin he left Geneva and Octob. 24. arriv'd at Diepe with Intent to Embarque for Scotland where he met with other Letters disswading his Return See his History of Scotland Fol. 107. The Faction was now ready to give up the Cause and had undoubtedly so done but for Knox his Letter to some of the Nobility upon That Occasion which re-Confirm'd them in their Resolutions Your Brethren says he are Oppress'd Fol. 109. and you ought to Hazzard your own Lives be it against Kings or Emperours for their Deliverance So that here was Violence Intended you see in the very first Proposition By the Instigation of this Letter they enter'd into their first Covenant at Edinburgh in Decemb. 1557. Fol. 110. and Immediately after the Subscribing of it they Order'd the Common Prayer of England to be read weekly on Sunday and other Festival Days in all the Parish-Churches of That Kingdom with the Lessons of the Old and New Testament Conformed to the Book of Common Prayers Fol. 111. Soon after This they Petition'd the Queen and Council for the Use of the Common Prayer in the Vulgar Tongue which was granted them with an Exception only to Edinbourgh and Leith for fear of Tumults And upon the Neck of this Petition follows a Protestation deliver'd in Parliament 1558. against all Acts of Parliament for the Punishing of Heretiques the Removal of all Prelates and their Officers from any Place of Judgment Fol. 133. Foretelling by way of Menace that if Abuses should chance to be Violently Reform'd the Government may thank it self From Protesting they Gather'd themselves Together at St. Johnston the Town Declaring for them Hereupon the Preachers were Summon'd to appear at Sterling May 10. 1559. And on the Other side The Brethren Concluded that the Gentlemen of Every Country should Accompany their Preachers to the Day and Place appointed that is to St. Johnson where they had their First Assembly Upon this Contempt the Ministers were Proclaim'd Traytours and the Multitude fell to the Demolishing and Rifling of Religious Houses where they found great Booty and so they Proceeded to the fortifying of themselves and calling in of their Friends to their Assistance Maintaining their Ground by Force notwithstanding A Proclamation for all of them to avoid the Town under the Pain of Treason Which Place soon after was Deliver'd up upon Composition From the Pretence of Defending themselves in St. Johnston they Advanc'd shortly after to the Assaulting of it and so the Burning of Scone the Seizing of the Minting-Irons for the Coyning of their Plate And then from Monasteries and Abbies they went forward to the Defacing and Pillaging of Cathedrals Parochial Churches and there were few Chancels that scap'd them In their Answer to the Queens Proclamation of Aug. 28. 1559. they Rise from matter of Religion to matter of State Knox Hist. of Scotland Fol. 174. And in Direct Terms Fol. 179. They Affirm that it appertaineth to the Nobility and also to the Barons and People to bridle the Rage and Fury of misled Princes which was only a Prologue to the Formal and Solemn Deposal of the Queen Regent at Edinburgh Octob. 24. 1559. that ensu'd After This they emplor'd Aid from England under Colour of Maintaining their Ancient Liberties And the Treaty was sign'd at Berwick by the Commissioners of Both Nations Feb. 27. 1559. By these Persecutions they brought the Queen Regent to her Grave And upon her Death a Peace was Concluded the Armies to Disband and the French and English Succours to return Home In Decemb. 1560. Francis the Second of France departed this Life leaving the Queen of Scots an Unfortunate Widdow Poor and Helpless They were now out of Fear of France and there was no Danger from England in regard of the Queen of Scots Pretensions to That Crown so that they resolv'd now to play their Own Game And their First Act was the Abolishing of the Common-Prayer in a Convention at Edinburgh which they had formerly Embrac'd and Confirm'd by a Solemn Decree and Subscription And the Presenting of a Church-Government of Knox's own Contrivance and not much differing from the Geneva-Model to a Convention of the Estates under the Title of The Confession of the Faith and Doctrine believed and Professed by the Protestants of Scotland The States took Time to consider of the Form of Polity but pass'd an Act however for the Demolishing of Cloysters and Abby-Churches Whereupon says Spotswood in his Church-History Fol. 175. there ensu'd a Pitiful Vastation of Churches and Church-Buildings No Difference was made but all the Churches either Defaced or Pull'd to the Ground The Holy Vessels and whatsoever else Men could make Gain of as Timber Lead and Bells were put to Sale The very Sepulchers of the Dead were not spar'd The Registers of the Church and Libraries cast into the Fire And All This colour'd with the Warrant of Publique Authority Take Notice here that after the Convention was Dissolv'd their Book of Polity was Subscrib'd notwithstanding the Postponing of the Question And we shall see now that they treated the Queen her Self no better than they had done the Queen Regent Upon this Nice Juncture of Affairs the Queen was Invited Home And Aug. 20. 1561. She arrived at Leith declaring upon her Entrance That there should no Alteration be made in the Present State of Religion only
of the Kirk presses the Two Houses to a Speedy Establishment of the Presbytery And here again no Mention of his Majesty But what 's the Sum now of these Propositions that stand in Competition with the Kings Freedome Life and Dignity First Only the Justifying and Confirming of all they had done Secondly The giving away of the Militia of England and Ireland for Twenty Years with Power to Raise Men and Money Thirdly His Majesty must Swear and Sign the Covenant Impose it upon the Three Kingdomes Abolish Episcopacy and settle Religion as Both Houses shall Agree Fourthly All Honours since 1642. must be made Null and Void No Peers admitted in Parliament for the Future but by Consent of the Two Houses Fifthly All Great Places and Offices of Honour in England and Ireland to be Dispos'd of by Consent of Parliament and in Fine his Majesty must deliver to Death Beggery and Scorn all that ever Serv'd him Thus was this Glorious Prince Betray'd and Sold according to the COVENANT Here 's the True English of it and the Divinity of that Moloch to which this Nation has offer'd up so many Noble Sacrifices Are not our Fundamental Laws Persons Consciences and Estates Secure and Happy under the Care and Wing of such Blessed Guardians How meanly have we Prostituted the Reverence of the Land and of the Government to the Lusts of these Imperious Shameless Ravishers Take Notice here of some of the Kirks following Resolves upon the Main Point in Question First That the Kings Taking of the Scotch Covenant and Passing Some of the Propositions does not Warrant Scotland to Assist him against England Secondly That upon bare Taking the National Covenant they may not Receive him Thirdly That the Clause in the Covenant for Defence of the Kings Person is to be understood In Defence and Safety of the Kingdom Fourthly That his Majesty shall Execute no Power in Scotland without satisfying every Point Fifthly That Refusing the Propositions he shall be dispos'd of according to the Covenant and the Treaties Nor would the Two Houses Probably have Us'd him any better if he had gone to Them For upon his First withdrawing himself they Voted it Treason and Death without Mercy for any Man to Harbour and Conceal the Kings Person upon a Supposition that his Majesty was then in London This was the 4th of May and on the 6th the Commons Voted him to Warwick Castle which was Unvoted again upon the 9th and in June they Voted the Kings going to the Scots a Design to prolongue the War Let me not appear to Confound the Faction of Scotland with the Nation for no Country affords greater Instances of Integrity and Honour Nay I have heard it from good Authority that the Kings going into Scotland which he most earnestly desir'd was carry'd in the Negative only by Two Voyces His Majesty is now under the Care of his New Governours and a Prisoner to the Covenanters at Holdenby where he desir'd only Two of his Chaplains that had not taken the Covenant and Then a Common-Prayer Book for his own Private Use but Neither could be Granted him At the Isle of Wight the same Faction had the handling of him again where they still Treated his Majesty much at the same Rate And they Us'd his Royal Successour not much better in 1650. When to Auspicate the Project for the Recovery of his Crown in the very Dependence of a Treaty at Breda with him upon the Instigation of the Kirk they Murther'd the Brave and Generous Montross with the most horrid Circumstances of Malice Imaginable And how they Us'd the King himself afterward at his Coming among them I am not willing to mention Nay when the Time appointed by Gods Providence was come for the Restoring of the King the Presbyterian Ministers in London Publish'd a kind of Squinting Gratulation upon That Occasion as if Popery were coming in with his Majesty for Company And the same Party upon the Re-Admission of the Secluded Members press'd upon the House of Commons these Two following Votes for the Justification of the Rebellion in 1641. and in order to the Exclusion of the Royal Party from the next Choice 1. I do Acknowledge and Declare that the War undertaken by Both Houses of Parliament in their Defence against the Forces rais'd in the Name of the Late King was Just and Lawful and that Magistracy and Ministry are the Ordinances of God 2. Resolv'd that All and Every Person who have Advised or Voluntarily Aided Abetted Assisted in any War against the Parliament since the First day of Jan. 1641. His or Their Sons unless He or They have since manifested their Good Affections to This Parliament shall be Vncapable to be Elected to serve as Members of the next Parliament So that as their Feud against Kings is Implacable their Aversion likewise to all those that Love their Prince descends from Generation to Generation How Inconsistent Presbytery is with Monarchy is sufficiently manifest But they 'l say for themselves that Kings may be Misled and that it is not the Form of Government that is Grievous to Them but the Male-Administration of it To which it may be Reply'd That All Governours under what Form soever are to Them Alike where they themselves are not Vppermost And that the Reformation of Personal Failings will not do their Business without the Total Subversion of all those wholesome and Profitable Laws that stand in the Way of their Discipline It being their Custome to Reproach Princes and their Ministers for straining the Prerogative while they Themselves at the same time Usurp over Kings Parliaments and People And Trample under their Feet All that is Sacred in Society and Government Princes 't is true may have their Errours and their Passions but what have the Innocent Laws done Are They Popishly Affected too But where ever Presbytery reigns there can be no Law but their own Will Did they not in Scotland Damn Bishops as Anti-Christian and Deprive Ecclesiastiques of their Voyces in Parliament Convention and Council notwithstanding Three Acts of Parliament that is to say of 1584. 1597. and 1606. expresly to the Contrary And did they not pronounce the Acts of the Assemblies of Glasgow and Perth to be Void and Illegal tho' Enacted as Municipal Laws Ask them now says his Late Majesty Large Declaration Pag. 416. by what Authority they do these things expresly against Acts of Parliament Acts of Council and Acts of General Assemblies They Answer that Those Acts of Assembly were unduely Obtain'd and that now they have Rescinded them For Acts of Parliament and Acts of Council they Express great Wonder that any man should Question their Authority over-Them For if Christ be above the King Christs Council must likewise be Supreme Parliaments being only the Council of the Kingdom And for the Kings Privy Council and Judges they must submit to the Councellours and Judges under Christ who is the King of Kings Nor is