AN USEFULL Case of CONSCIENCE Learnedly and Accuratly Discussed and Resolved Concerning Associations and Confederacies with Idolaters Infidels Hereticks Malignants or any other knoun Enemies of Truth and Godlinesse BY M r. HUGH BINNING Sometime Professor of Philosophie in the Universitie of Glasgow thereafter Minister of Gods Word at Goven Usefull for these times And therefore published for the benefit of all those who desire to know or retain the sworn to Principles of the sometimes famous Church of Christ in SCOTLAND Printed in the Year M.DCXCIII That the Present Publick RESOLUTIONS And Proceedings do Import a Conjunction with the MALIGNANT PARTY In the Kingdome and of the Sin Danger and Scandal of that way Sect. 1. That there is a Malignant Party still in the Kingdom IN the Entry to this businesse the Importunity of not a few makes it needfull to speak somwhat to a Question which unto this time hath been unquestioned as beyond all exception That is Whether there be yet in Scotland a Malignant Partie Or Whether there be at this time any Partie who may and ought in Reason and Christian prudence be reputed and looked upon as Malignants and disaffected to the Covenanted Cause of God It seems the more needfull to speak somwhat of this First Because some Ministers are become slack and silent in this point as if now there were no need of Watchfullness and Warning against any such partie 2. Because the expressions of many of the people of the Land run that way that there are now no Malignants in Scotland and that it is but a few Factious Ministers that will still keep up these names that they may more easily with others of their oun stamp weaken and divide the Kingdome for carrying on of their oun ends 3. Because the Inclinations and Resolutions of the Publick Judicatories in reference to most of the Party who carryed that name doth clearly import that they do think they are no more to be looked upon as Malignants as appears from severall of their papers especially the Letter written for satisfaction to the Presbytery of Sterling And therfore this must be laid down as the Foundation of what follows That there is still in the Land not only a few persons but a Party considerable for Number Power and Policy who are Malignant and dissaffected to the Covenant and Cause of God We would joyn heartily in the desire of many that these and other such like Odious names of different parties and factions were taken away But we cannot joyn in the Reasons of this desire which are ordinarly given We wish the name Malignant were Obsolete and antiquate if so be the thing it self which is such a root of bitternesse were extirpated out of the Church yea though the thing it self remained if men would hate it for it self and account it more odious and hatefull than the name imports we would be glad it were no more heard of Because we find this prejudice by all such Appropriated Names that People generally Looks upon that which goes under that name as the only sin and as if there were not that root of bitterness in all which it grows out of in any and so conceive themselves good Christians if they fall not under that hatefull Appellation of Malignants But seing this bitter fruit of Enmity against Godliness and the Godly comes to more ripeness and maturity in many of this Generation than in others who yet are unconverted And seing it hath been the Custome of the Church of God in all Generations to discriminate many more Ungodly and knoun haters of Godliness and his people from the common sort of naturall people and to comprehend them under these names of Wicked of Malignant of Enemies as may appear in the old Testament especially in the Psalms And more especially in our days that name hath been appropriated to such who have declared themselves in their words or Actions to be haters of Godlinesse and the power thereof and his People Or have arisen to the height of Actuall Opposition against these we cannot be blamed for using such a name still for distinctions sake We proceed to some Reasons 1. The constant and Continued Proceedings of the Generall Assembly and their Commissioners for many years past unto this day There is not almost any of their Warnings Declarations or Remonstrances which doth not Assert this and warn against it and that not only before the Kings home coming and taking of the Covenant but also since that time as is evident by the Declaration emitted by the Commission in Iuly Last the Declaration of the Assembly it self a litle after by the Declaration emitted at Sterling since the defeat at Dumbar the Causes of the Fast upon that defeat the Remonstrance to the King at Perth after his escape together with the Remonstrance given in by them to the Parliament All which doe clearly hold forth this Truth 2. Take Christs Rule By their fruits ye shall know them There is a great Party in the Land that adhere to Malignant Principles bring forth Malignant fruits and tread Malignant Paths As may appear in these instances 1. A great many of these who have been formerly engadged in such Courses and under Church Censures did lately Conjoyne together and rise in Arms and drew away the King from the Publick Counsels of the Kingdom and refused to Lay down Arms till they got Conditions agreeable to their mind which Course of theirs was justly declared by the Commission to carry upon it the stamp of Malignancie in an Eminent way 2. The seeking to promove and Establish an Arbitrarie Power in the Person of the King as it hath been still the Endeavour of the Malignant Party so it hath been alwayes taken by the Kirk of Scotland as one of their Characters and that there is a Party now in Scotland who still hold that Principle and drive this Designe of Arbitrary Power is evident First Because these same men who were Lately in Arms did not only take up Arms upon the Kings simple Warrant and without the Knowledge and contrare to the mind of the Committee of Estates But also received the Act of Indemnity and laid down Arms in obedience to the Kings Majesty without so much as mentioning or Acknowledging the Committee of Estates as it is to be seen in a Paper Subscrived by them and in the Remonstrance of the Commission of the Generall Assembly dated at Perth Novr. 29. 1650. The words whereof are these Your Lordships would Likewise Consider Whether it doth not Encroach upon the present Constitution of Goverment of this Kingdom and will not Involve your Lordships in the Guilt of these mens Sin if You shall accept upon their Laying doun of Arms Meerly upon the Profession of Obedience to the Kings Command without any expression of their respect and obedience to the Committee of Estates or any Acknowledgment of their sin and Offence which we hope you will look upon as a most Unnaturall and unseasonable
rending of the Kingdom in the tyme of this heavy Oppression by a common Enemy and exposing the Kingdom to all misery and ruine 2. It may be remembred that in the first Modell of the Aggreement which was made at Bredah that clause which doth concern the determining of Civil matters in the Intervall of Parliament by such as are Authorized by Parliament for that effect and the Kings Majesty hearkening to their Advice was wholly left out And any who are aquainted with expressions and Inclinations of sundry Great Ones in the Land are not ignorant of their dislyke of a Committee of Estates and their desire to have the Administration of Matters in the Intervall of Parliament wholly devolved upon the Kings Councell And the same spirit that would draw businesse from the Committee to a Cabinet Councell would at last draw them from the Parliament it self Because that is also if not more crossing to private Interests and designes than a Committee of Estates 3 Instance There is a Party in the Land who as in their hearts they do envy and in their tongues doe Traduce men that have been stedfast and faithfull in the Covenant and Cause of God so do they Endeavour to the utmost of their power to bring them into Disgrace and Contempt and to get them removed from Power and Trust And upon the other side study with no lesse diligence to get places of Power and Trust in the Army and elswhere filled with such as either have been open enemies or secret underminers 4 Instance Be there not many who oppose the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and Work of Reformation not only by holding up that old Calumny of Malignants concerning the seditious and factious humor of Ministers and their stretching of themselves beyond their lyne and by mocking all faithfull and free preaching of the Word and by bearing down the power of Godlinesse deriding and hating all the lovers and followers thereof by being impatient of the discipline and Censures of the Church But also looking upon the Government of the Church with ane evil eye And strongly enclyning some of them that Church Government be put in the hands of a few Prelates most of them that it may be wholly devolved upon the Civil Government 5. Instance There is still a party in the Land that endeavour to have the state of the Question altered and to have Religion left out of the same That it being stated upon Civil Interest they may take to themselves a greater Latitude in their way of carrying on business This was holden forth to be the designe of the Malignant Party in the year 1648. as appears in the Declaration of the Commission that year in March and there was a Necessary and Seasonable Warning given against it by the Commission in their Declaration of the date July 1650. 3. Reason Besides these who are Excommunicated there be yet in the Land a Considerable number of persons of Chief note who do still ly under Censures of the Church some because of their Accession to the late Unlaufull Engadgment others because of their Accession to the late Course of Rebellion about the time of the Kings escape from Perth beside many others of less Note 4. We suppose that it is most certain and unquestionable that there was lately a Malignant Party and faction in the Land very numerous and powerfull How many men of blood Murderers of their brethren as unnaturall and barbarous as the Irishes they once joyned with against their Countrey How many have watched all opportunities for troubling the peace of the Kingdom and rejoyced in the day of its Calamity How many were the Oppressors of these who Called on the Lords Name in the time of the Engadgment What multitudes of profane and Ungodly mockers of all Godlinesse and Haters and Persecuters of the Godly suarming every where If this be of truth as it is indeed We may say who hath heard such a thing Who hath seen such a thing Shall a Nation be born at once And have they so soon Learned to doe well who have been so accustomed to doe evil When did this Catholick Conversion fall out and by what means Hath the act of Indemnity and Pardon such Influence to Justify these men from all their Butcheries and Barbarous Cruelties The adding of three Thousand to the Church in one day was miraculous in the days of miracles But Behold a greater miracle than that in the days when miracles are ceased many Thousands added to the Church of the friends of the Cause of God in one day and that not by preaching which is the power of God unto Savation Not by spirituall weapons which are mighty through God But by the Carnall weapon of ane Act of Indemnity and the example of one Man the Kings Conjunction in the Cause which at the best hath not such evidence of reality as to convince any and change their mind Sad experience and the Constant Testimony of the Church of Scotland proves that Malignancy is a weed that hath deeper and stronger roots than to be plucked up so easily and that though there be some yet they be but few in the Land who have been once engadged in that way that have really and indeed abandoned and come off the same The point shall more appear by taking off objections that are made to the Contrary It is objected 1. That these who were formerly esteemed Malignants did oppose the work of God because they could not be perswaded in Conscience That the Covenant and Cause were Contrived and Carryed on in a Warrantable way those who were most instrumentall in it seeming to them not only to act without Authority but against Authority But so it is that the King hath now joined in the Covenant and added his Authority to it and therfore it needs not be feared that these men will any more oppose it Nay it may be expected they will no lesse Zealously promove the ends thereof than they did formerly oppose the same Answer This Argument supposeth some things that are false some things at best doubtfull and some things dangerous It supposeth Tuo falsities 1. That it was a ground and principle of Conscience and respect to the Kings Authority that made these men to oppose the Covenant and 〈◊〉 of Reformation If it was the Conscience and Conviction of the Unwarrantablness of it for the want of Authority that stirred them up to oppose the Covenant and Cause Then why did they subscrive it and joyn in the defence of the same against the King 2. It supposeth that the only ground why they did oppose and undermine the same was because the King was of a Contrary mind and refused to joyn in the Covenant and Ratify the same by his Authority which also is false for there were severall other Grounds and Causes of so doing besides this We shall name a few leaving the rest to a further scrutinie 1. The Naturall enmity that is in the hearts of all men against
the Lord and his Anointed his work and his people and the power of Godlinesse which doth effectually work in the Children of disobedience 2. An Enmity against the Power of Parliament and Laws 3. An Enmity against the Union of the Kingdoms 4. An Enmity against the Power of Presbyteries and the Discipline of the Church To which are opposed A sinfull desire of breaking the bonds and casting away the Cords of the Lord and his Anoynte A desire to establish an Arbitrary Power and unlimited Monarchy A desire to Establish a Lordly Prelaticall power in the Persons of a few or to have the Government of the Church wholly dependent on the Civil Power A desire to dissolve the Union of the Kingdoms that they may be thereby weakned and less able to resist Malignant Designs against Religion and Liberties A desire to live loosly without bands in regard of personall Reformation 2. It supposeth somthing that is at best doubtfull to wit That the King hath really joyned unto the Cause of God there being small Evidences of it and many presumptions to the Contrary Especially 1. His bringing home with him into the Kingdom a number of eminent wicked and known Malignants His countenancing of and familiar conversing with such in this Nation since his coming and Correspondence with others of them abroad His deserting of the Publick Counsells of the Kingdome to joyn to a Partie of bloody and wicked men raised in Arms with his Knowledge and by his warrand 2. His not being convinced of any guilt in his Father because of his opposition to the Cause and Covenant notwithstanding of all the blood of the Lords people shed by him in that opposition For verifying wherof we appeal to the Knowledge of some Noblemen and Ministers who have occasion to know his mind and to be serious with him in this thing 3. It supposeth somthing that is of very dangerous Consequence 1. That these mens Zeal to the Cause or against it doth ebb and flow according to the Kings being against it or for it Since they follow the Cause not for it self but for the King will they not desert it when the King forsakes it Can they be accounted reall friends of the Cause who are knoun to favour it only ad nutum Principis As the Comaedian ait aio negat nego Is it not all one to follow the Cause for the King and for a mans oun Interest and advantage both are alike Extrinsick and Adventitious to the Cause both are alike Changable Eccebulus under Constantius was a precise Christian under Iulian a persecuting Apostate and then again under the next Christian Emperor became a Christian And it is like if he had outlived that Emperour till a Heathen succeeded he should have Paganized the second time 2. That very principle that is pretended to unite them to the Cause is in the self most dangerous both to the Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of people and to our Religion beside Their principle of opposition was They conceived the way followed could not be warrantable without the Kings Consent and warrant That people might not vindicate their oun just Rights and Liberties and their Religion without the Kings Concurrence or against Him Now then the principle of their conjunction to the cause must be this Because it is now cloathed with Authoritie which it had not before and which now makes it warrantable This principle therefore includes in the bosome of it the establishing of Illimited and Absolute Power in Kings the Unlawfulness of defensive wars against Tyrannie and Oppression the Kings Negative voyce and the dependent Power of Parliaments upon his Pleasure All which are principles destructive of the Cause and our Liberties and the very characters of our Enemies from the beginning Thus they have changed their way but not their principles and are now the more dangerous that they may not be looked upon as Enemies but as friends Seing it is manifest that it is not the love of the cause that constrains them and they know it was not that principle that persuaded the King but meer Necessity contrare to his oun inclination May we not certainly expect that according to their principles they will labour to set at freedom the King whom they conceive Imprisoned and captivated by the power of necessity within the limits and bounds of a regulated Monarchie and to loose from him all these chains of Involuntary Treaties and Agreements and rigid Laws and Parliaments that he may then act in freedom and Honour according to his oun inclination and theirs both And then farewell Religion and Liberties Objection 2. The most part of these who were formerlie Malignant have now repented of that sin and make profession of their resolution to adhere to the Covenant and Cause of God and to bestow their lives and Estates in defence thereof Therefore they are not now to be esteemed Malignants Answer We would wish from our hearts that we had no answer to this Argument then should we yeeld the point in hand and yeeld it cheerfully that there is no Malignant party now in Scotland But alas that we have so much evidence convincing our consciences and persuading them to deny what is objected We acknowledge some have indeed repented and such we desire to embrace and receive with all tenderness love as Godly Christians worthy to be entrusted But yet the most part of them do still bring forth the same Malignant fruits Their ungodly and wicked practises testify to their face that they have nothing to do to take his Covenant in their mouth seing they hate to be Reformed The late rising in Arms contrare to their solemne and particular engadgments Their bearing down and reproaching the Godly and such as are of known Integrity Their studying to fill places of Trust with men formerly Enemies or Underminers Their continuing in their profane and loose walking All these are more convincing evidences of their retaining their Old principles than any extorted confessions or professions for sinister respects and ends can be probable signs of their repentance and change We desire these things to be remembred That the Engadgment was Carryed on not by Open and professed Enemies but such as had made publick profession of their repentance and were therupon admitted to trust 2. That upon consideration of the hypocrisy and instability of these men appearing in that and other particulars the Kirk and Kingdom of Scotland did take upon themselves strait Bonds and Engadgments to exclude such from Trust untill such time as they had given reall evidences of the reality of their Repentance and of abandoning their former Principles and wayes of which this Kirk was to judge Impartialie as in Gods sight 3. That it hath been confessed and preached by manie Godly Ministers and was given in by sundry in the time of the search of the Lords Controversy against the Land in Novr. last at Perth and hath been bemoaned and regrated by many of the people
who feared God That there is a great deal of sin and Guilt Lying on the Kirk of Scotland for the sudden receiving of Scandalous persons especially Malignants to the publick profession of Repentance before there was in them any reall evidence of their forsaking their former Principles and wayes Objection 3. None are now to be esteemed Malignants in reference to Employment and Trust but such as stand Judiciallie Debarred by Kirk and State to be so for certainly men are not to ly under the burden of so great a reproach upon the privat whisperings and Common reports of others otherways honest men may be wronged and there shall be no end of confusion or terminating this Controversie there being no certain Rule to walk by in it Answer We Acknowledge that surmisings whisperings and reports of others are not sufficient but that a Rule is needfull All the Question will be what is that Rule And though the Judiciall debarring of Judicatories be not all but it must be Ruled by another Rule yet are we willing to take it for so much for even that will prove there is yet a Malignant Party in Scotland Because many are standing under Church Censures These involved in the Late Rebellion are standing under a sentance of the Commission declaring them to be following their old Malignant designes few of them are yet admitted to profession of Repentance We desire it may be Considered that the Rule holden forth by the Kirk of Scotland 1648. for admitting of Persons to Trust is of larger extent than Judiciall sentence or Censure To wit that they be such against whom there is no just cause of exception nor jealousy 2. Albeit a Judiciall tryall or Censure be indeed necessary for inflicting punishment or Censure upon men Yet it is not necessary for avoyding Association with them or debarring them from Trust. 3. If none were to be accounted Malignants but they who are Judicially declared to be such what needed the Kirk of Scotland have frequently taken so much pains to give Characters to know them by there being so clear and Compendious a way besyde Hath there not been alwayes in the Land secret underminers as well as open Enemies And hath not faithfull men avoyded the one as well as the other 4. The Generall Assembly 1648. Declared the taking in of these who followed Iame Grahame to be Association with Malignants though most part of them were then Released from Church Censures Section 2. That the Present Publick Resolutions expressed in The Commissions Answer to the Parliaments Quaere and the Act of the Levie doe not exclude that Party IN the next Place Upon supposall and proof that there is a Malignant Party faction still in the Land It is needfull to examine whether the exceptions contained in the Answer of the Commission to the Parliaments Quaere and insert into the Act of Levie be so Comprehensive as to include all that Party The exceptions be four First Such as are excommunicated 2. Such as are Forfaulted 3. Such as are Notoriously profane or flagitious And 4. Such as have been from the beginning and continues still Or at this tyme are obstinate Enemies and opposers of the Covenant and Cause of God That these are not Comprehensive of the whole Malignant Party in the Land appears First The Rules of the Generall Assembly framed for the exclusion of all such as ought not to be employed in our Armies are far more Comprehensive The Rule is for employing of such only as are of a Christian and blameless Conversation which is turned over by their Commissioners into a Negative All that are not notoriously profane or flagitious Another is For entrusting only these who have been of knoun Integrity and Constant Friends to the Cause of God from the beginning Which is also turned over into a Negative All that have not been Constant Enemies All such by the answer are Capable of some Trust and Employment The Rules agreed upon by the Assembly and Ratifyed by Act of Parliament Anno 1649. And renewed upon occasion of this Invasion was That no Officer nor Souldier that followed Iames Graham should be permitted in the Army Nor any Officer that was on the Engadgment except such as upon Reall evidence of Repentance were Particularly Recommended by the Church Nor any Common souldier but upon sufficient Testimony of his Repentance Now since it is proved that the most part of all such continues still Malignants and retains their old Principles And that the bulk and bodie of the people are Called forth by the Publick Resolution without such exceptions as were conceived before necessary for the exclusion of that Party It follows clearly that the Malignant Partie is not excepted in the present Resolutions 2. Few of these who were in the Late Rebellion and declared not many days since to be following a most Malignant designe and Course are Contained under these exceptions Because very few of them are Excommunicated or Forfaulted and though moe of them be indeed flagitious and Profane Yet very few of them will fall under the Compasse of the Exception Notoriously flagitious Many wicked things will be said to concurr to make up a Profane man some acts will not serve a habit must be demonstrated and though that were shewed Yet there must be also Notoriety of it which imports a man to be famous for Loosnes and Profanity and there be none almost if any in the Land who have been professed Enemies from the beginning and Continue so to this day Iames Graham was not such It is the matter of our sad Complaint that whilst many are Enemies they make Profession and Semblance of friendship 3. These exceptions doe not Comprehend any who are under Censure for Malignancy or Profanity except such as are under the sentance of Excommunication And that even such may not be excluded Lest the Rule be transgressed by admitting and employing Excommunicated Persons 'T is withall resolved that these Persons shall be relaxed from that sentence that so they may be immediately in the same Capacity of Employment with others whatever formerly hath been their Opposition or Defection Some exceptions must be made for Honesty and Credits sake But the nearest and readiest way is taken to make them Ineffectuall 4. These exceptions do not only not reach these who were upon the Unlawfull Engadgment and have not as yet given sufficient proof of their Abandoning their Malignant Principles and Courses But come not the Length of Comprehending these men of blood who followed Iames Graham and in the most barbarous and Cruell way shed the blood of their oun Brethren and Gods people because the most part of these are not Ex communicated nor Forfaulted Nor Notoriously flagitious and Profane Nor such as have from the beginning been and are still Enemies If any will say that such are Comprehended under these exceptions Why did the Commission expresse the exceptions in such terms as to mens common Apprehension do not include many especially seing
there are known Rules particular and distinct without Ambiguity and seing there is such a Propension in Rulers to employ all without Difference which would undoubtedly take Advantage of any thing that seemed to look that way It is likewise manifest that the second part of the Answer relating to the Capacity of Acting is loadned with the same Inconvenience 1. There is no positive determination of the Qualifications of Persons to be intrusted as in former times it was agreed on by the Assembly and their Commissioners but that is now referred to the discretion of the Parliament Together with such Diminutive termes as gives them great Latitude to go upon Before No trust was given to such persons Now it is allowed they shal have some trust and how much is not determined nor what degree of it is prejudiciall to the Cause Which it appears the Parliaments proceedings in Nomination of Officers unquestioned by the Commission is a good Commentarie to expone that they may have any trust except to be Generall Officers 2. Our former Estalished Rule was that no persons should be Entrusted but such as are of known Integritie and have been constant friends of the Cause But how far is this diminished They who are such only recommended to be espcially taken notice of Less could not be said by any more ought to have been said by the Commission And though no such notice be taken of such by the Parliament But on the Contrare those who have been most faithfull and suffered in the late defeat at Hamiltoun They are used as Enemies worse than Malignants in former times yet there is no Testimony given against such things Quantum mutatus ab illo Coetu qui quondam fuit Before we enter upon the Chief Question We offer these manifest and known Truths to Consideration 1. The Occasion of Contriving and subscribing first the Nationall Covenant and then the Solemne League and Covenant was The designes and Practises of the Popish Prelaticall and Malignant Partie against Religion and the Work of Reformation in these Kingdoms 2. Since the Contriving and subscriving of the same it hath been the continual endeavour of that Party somtimes by Undermining and sometimes by open Opposition to undo the same and to bear down all those that clave honestly thereto and faithfully prosecute all the ends thereof 3. That there hath been these many years past and still is such a Party in all the three Kingdoms Considerable for Number Power and Policy 4. That that party hath always prosecuted their designe under a Colour of gzeal and respect to the Kings Authority and Interest 5. That that party hath always been the Authors and Abettors of much bloodshed many Miseries and sad Calamities to these Nations 6. That the People of God in these Kingdoms have taken upon themselves a most Solemne and Sacred bond of ane Oath and Covenant to Discover them and bring them to Condigne punishment 7. That it hath been one of the predominant sins of Scotland under the bond of the Covenant to Comply with them 8. That Indignation and wrath from the Lord hath been following that Party and their Designes these years past 9. That Complyances with them hath alwayes been Cursed to us of God 10. That few of that Party doe really Abandon forsake their corrupt Principles and way and joyn Cordially in the Cause and Covenant 11. That many of them doe after the Profession of their Repentance for their opposition to the Cause and Covenant of God relapse frequently into the same sin 12. That sudden receiving of many of them to Fellowship and Trust and too great Credulity in beleiving their professions hath often cost this Land very dear 13. That upon Consideration of the deep Treachery and Hypocrisie of these men and the sad Consequents following upon sudden receiving of them without Evidence of a Change after long and renewed Experience this Land renewed their obligations more strictly in the Solemne Engadgment 14. That there hath been a Designe driven these two years past to get that Partie again in Power and Trust. 15. That this designe hath been testified against by the Publick Resolutions of the Judicatories unto this time 16. That as it hath been driven at very cunningly and Actively by many Instruments and Arguments of severall sorts so hath it gained ground peece and peece untill at Length many of them are brought into the Court and to the Armie and Judicatories in the Countrey And now by the Publick Resolutions they are generally to be employed and Intrusted Thus the Designe is Accomplished But 17. These men do not satisfie themselves with some Degree of Power But endeavour to Ingross the whole power of the Kingdome into their oun hands and study to bring into Contempt and Cull out these who have been and do continue Constant in the Cause of God 18. That having power into their hands They must act according to their oun Principles and for estalishing their oun Ends. And Lastly That these Principles and Ends are destructive to the Covenant and Work of Reformation That the Employing of and Associating with the Malignant Party according as is contained in the Publick Resolutions is Sinfull and Unlawfull IF there be in the Land a Malignant Party of Power and Policy and the Exceptions Contained in the Act of Leviae doth Comprehend but few of that Party Then there needs be no more difficulty to prove that the Present Publick Resolutions and Proceedings do import ane Association and Conjunction with a Malignant Party than to gather a Conclusion from clear Premisses But that such a Conjunction is in it self sinfull and unlawfull and besides A violation of our solemne Oaths and Engadgments A backslyding from our Principles and Professions And a walking Contrare to the whole tenure and current of our former Resolutions and practises is now to be made manifest First We reason from that Constant standing and perpetuall Rule which the Lord gives concerning the modelling and Carriage of the Armies of his people in all their Wars Deut. 23. 9. When the Host goes forth against their enemies then Keep thee from everie wicked thing And after If there be among yow any man that is unclean by reason of uncleanness that Chanceth him in the night then shall he go abroad out of the Camp he shall not come within the Camp If for Ceremoniall uncleanness he was to be excluded much more for Morall as our Divines Reason from the Old Testament in the point of Excommunication and if for uncleanness not Voluntary much more for Voluntary wickednesse The Reason of all is given verse 14. for the Lord thy God walks in the midst of the Camp to deliver thee and to give up thine Enemies before thee Therfore shall thy Camp be holy that he see no unclean thing in thee and turn away from thee Even as they would expect a blessing of the Lord so ought they to keep their Camp holy as he is holy He gives
such Associations are condemned is more generall and comprehensive Iehoshaphat was reproved for joyning with Ahab because he was ungodly and hated the Lord which is properly in our terms because he was a Malignant and profane man It were a strange mocking of Scripture to Restrict Ungodliness in that place to the sin of Idolatry Confederacie with the Canaanites and other Nations was forbidden on this ground that the people be not ensnared and learn not their works Now is not the Company of and Communion with ungodly men of the same generall profession but mockers and haters of the power thereof as infectious and ensnaring Nay it s more apt to ensnare because of the profession Paul would have as much distance kept with a brother walking Unorderly as a Pagan for such a one as walks contrary to their profession of the true Religion do evidence more ungodliness and wickednesse than a ignorant and superstitious Papist that walks precisely according to his profession There is some Principle of Conscience stirring in the one but it s seared in the other with an hot iron God ranks such who are Uncircumcised in heart with the uncircumcised in flesh Ought not his people to do so to 3. The Rule of modelling Armies and purging the Camp is most Comprehensive Deut. 23. Not only of Idolaters and Forraigners but every wicked thing and Unclean thing was to be removed out of the Camp Now seing these Examples are transgressions of this Law what reason is there to make the only ground of reproving and condemning of them to be because Idolaters were Associated with as if any other might be joyned with that is not an Idolater 4. That Reason against Amaziah's Conjunction with Israel is wrested by some expounding it thus God is not with them is not understood in regard of a state of grace as appears nor in regard of Gods prospering providence because he was often with them in that Regard but it must be understood in regard of an Idolatrous profession But we reply that it is true it is not understood in regard of a state of grace nor simply in regard of his prospering Providence But Ut plurimum the Lord for the most part crossing them till they were cutt off from being a Nation But especially it is to be meant in regard of a Course opposite to God according as the Lord speaks 2 Chron. 15 2. The Lord is with you while ye be with him but if ye forsake him he will forsake you If any will restrict this to Idolatry he hath no ground from Scripture for such a Limitation but being engadged in the business he wrests the Scriptures to his oun destruction Sure we are there are many palpable forsakings of God and Gods forsaking of men beside Idolatry and false worship 5. That which is said That God did not Command Amaziah to dismisse any of his oun Subjects Either it makes nor much to the present business or els it strikes against the Law of God it self that Commanded such strict purging of the Camp From whom I pray you Certainly from wicked Israelites from wicked Countrey men Therefore if there was any such among the men of Iudah he ought to have put them out of the Army as well as the Israelites Nay the Command of dismissing the Israelites was really and upon the Matter a Command to Purge his Camp of all that was of the stamp of the Israelites It is strange that the Civil difference of strangers and Citizens should make such Difference in the point of Conscience Ought we not to hate the Lords enemies with a perfect hatred not as English-men not as strangers but as Enemies Levi knew not his brother this was his honour but many now for respect to their brethren know not God It is the Moral Quality that the Law of God respects without respect of Persons and Countreys To be a Citizen if not qualified doth no more plead for employment in foro Conscientiae and before God than to be a stranger and qualified doth impede trust and employment in foro Conscientiae and before God 5. It may be Answered and it is by some That these Scriptures plead that there should be no Conjunction with wicked men in a Quarrell of Religion but seing our present business is the Defence of the Kingdome all subjects as subjects stand in Capacity of employment for that end though in reference to the defence of Religion there must be a choise Answer 1. The Commission have vindicated themselves in a letter to Sterling Presbytery from that Imputation that it is said they state the Quarrell and Cause meerly upon Civil things in the Answer to the Parliaments Querie But Certainly there is just ground given to these that are watching for any such thing to state the Cause so because they do contrare to all former Custom and Practise mention the Defence of the Kingdom only as it had been of purpose to make the employing of all members of the body or subjects of the Kingdom for its defence more Plausible But we answer to the point The Associations and Conjunctions that are Condemned in the cited Scriptures are some of them for Civil Quarrells so far as we know some of them in the point of just and necessary Defence of the Kingdom and yet that doth not Justifie them 2. The Rule given them Deut. 23. was regulating all their wars and clearly holds forth that all subjects as subjects and members of the Politick body though as such there is an obligation lying on them to Defend the whole yet they are not in actuall and nearest Capacity to the performance of the Duty if they be wicked and unclean And the reason is because the Lord would have the Wars of his People his oun wars and all that they do to his Glory Num. 21 14. 2. Chron. 20 15. Col. 3 17. More especially such solemne undertakings there ought to be a difference between his people acting for Self-defence and other Nations 3. Although the Defence of the Kingdom and Defence of the Cause be Different in themselves yet are they Unseparable Whoever is entrusted with the Defence of the Kingdome really and de facto he is to ipso entrusted with the defence of the Cause Therefore the People of God who ought alwise to have Religion first in their eye ought especially in raising Forces for self-preservation levell at Religion and direct the Choise of Instruments in Relation to that Mark that they destroy not Christians while they save Subjects and preserve our bodies to destroy our souls 3. Reason That which is dissonant from and contrare unto all our former Resolutions and Proceedings Oaths and Engadgments Confessions and Humiliations must needs be most Unlawfull or they themselves as to that point were Unlawfull But the present Resolutions and proceedings are dissonant from and contrare to all these Ergo. Either our Present or our former Resolutions and Practises were Unlawfull either we were wrong before or we