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
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
and Kingdome as Gods undoubted truth grounded only upon his written Word The other cause was for maintaining the Kings Majesty His Person and Estate the true worship of GOD and the Kings authority being so straitly joined as that they had the same Friends and common enemies and did stand and fall together And finally being convinced in our mindes and confessing with our mouthes that the present and succeeding generations in this Land are bound to keep the foresaid nationall Oath Subscription inviolable Wee Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers Commons under subscribing considering divers times before especially at this time the danger of the true reformed Religion of the Kings honour and of the publick peace of the Kingdome By the manifold innovations and evills generally conteined and particularly mentioned in our late supplications complaints and protestations Do hereby professe and before God his Angels and the World solemnly declare That with our whole hearts we agree resolve all the dayes of our life constantly to adhere unto and to defend the foresaid true Religion and forbearing the practice of all novations already introduced in the matters of the worship of GOD or approbation of the corruptions of the publicke Government of the Kirk or civil places and power of Kirk-men till they be tryed allowed in free assemblies and in Parliaments to labour by all meanes lawful to recover the purity and liberty of the Gospel as it was stablished and professed before the foresaid Novations and because after due examination we plainely perceave and undoubtedly believe that the Innovations and evils contained in our Supplications Complaints and Protestations have no warrant of the Word of God are contrary to the Articles of the Foresaid Confessions to the intention and meaning of the blessed reformers of Religion in this Land to the above written Acts of Parliament do sensibly tend to the re-establishing of the Popish Religion and Tyranny and to the subversion and ruine of the true Reformed Religion and of our Liberties Lawes and Estates We also declare that the Foresaid Confessions are to be interpreted and ought to be understood of the Foresaid novations and evils no lesse then if every one of them had been expressed in the Foresaid confessions and that we are obliged to detest abhorre them amongst other particular heads of Papistry abjured therein And therefore from the knowledge and consciences of our duety to God to our King and Countrey without any wordly respect or inducement so farre as humane infirmity will suffer wishing a further measure of the grace of God for this effect We promise and sweare by the Great Name of the Lord our GOD to continue in the Profession and Obedience of the Foresaid Religion That we shall defend the same and resist all these contrary errours and corruptions according to our vocation and to the uttermost of that power that GOD hath put in our hands all the dayes of our life and in like manner with the same heart we declare before GOD and Men That we have no intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may turne to the dishonour of GOD or to the diminution of the Kings greatnesse and authority But on the contrary we promise and sweare that we shall to the uttermost of our power with our meanes and lives stand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne the Kings Majesty his Person and Authority in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true Religion Liberties and Lawes of the Kingdome As also to the mutual defence and assistance every one of us of another in the same cause of maintaining the true Religion and his Majesty's Authority with our best counsel our bodies meanes and whole power against all sorts of persons whatsoever So that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us for that cause shall be taken as done to us all in genearal and to every one of us in particular And that we shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer our selves to be divided or withdrawn by whatsoever suggestion allurement or terrour from this blessed loyall Conjunction nor shall cast in any let or impediment that may stay or hinder any such resolution as by common consent shall be found to conduce for so good ends But on the contrary shall by all lawful meanes labour to further and promove the same and if any such dangerous divisive motion be made to us by Word or Writ We and every one of us shall either suppresse it or if need be shall incontinent make the same known that it may be timeously obviated neither do we fear the foul aspersions of rebellion combination or what else our adversaries from their craft and malice would put upon us seing what we do is so well warranted and ariseth from an unfeined desire to maintaine the true worship of God the Majesty of our King and peace of the Kingdome for the common happinesse of our selves and the posterity And because we cannot look for a blessing from God upon our proceedings except with our Profession and Subscription we joine such a life conversation as beseemeth Christians who have renewed their Covenant with God We therefore faithfully promise for our selves our followers and all other under us both in publick in our particular families and personal carriage to endeavour to keep our selves within the bounds of Christian liberty and to be good examples to others of all Godlinesse Sobernesse and Righteousnesse and of every duety we owe to God and Man And that this our Union and Conjunction may be observed without violation we call the living GOD the Searcher of our Hearts to witness who knoweth this to be our sincere Desire and unfained Resolution as we shall answere to JESUS CHRIST in the great day and under the pain of Gods everlasting wrath and of infamy and losse of all honour and respect in this World Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with a happy successe that Religion and Righteousnesse may flourish in the Land to the glory of GOD the honour of King and peace and comfort of us all In witnesse whereof we have subscribed with our hands all the premisses c. The Article of this Covenant which was at the first Subscription referred to the determination of the General Assembly being determined and thereby the 5 Articles of Perth the Government of the Kirk by Bishops the Civill places and Power of Kirkment upon the reasons and grounds contained in the Acts of the General Assembly declared to be unlawful within this Kirk we subscribe according to the determination foresaid A Solemn League and Covenant For Reformation and Defence of Religion The Honour and Happiness of the King and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of Scotland England and Ireland WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdoms
Glory and the Kings service that can be imagined as the Letter it self set down at large in the Apologetick Narration doth testify And though this duty and employment was no other then what the meanest subject in the most private capacity might and all were indispensibly obliged to have done yet those Ministers and one Gentleman with them are therefore instantly without hearing committed Prisoners 3. This Committee proceeding to prepare for the succeeding Parliament which was all it's work and design the Parliament siteth down the 1 day of January Where having taken the Oath of Supremacy without respect to it's due limitation contained in the 114. Act. Ia. 6. Parl. 12. 1592. then standing unrepealed and exalting the Kings prerogative upon the alleaged Warrand of the VVord of God and Laws of the Land but in effect directly contrary to both above all Offices Parliaments Laws Leagues Conventions Peace and War and likwise upon meer assertions alleageances in place of declaring upon known and certain grounds which is all that any Parliament can lawfully do directly Innovating the Fundamental Law Constitution of the Kingdom thereby making the Kings Throne the foundation of all the succeeding Perjury and Apostacy They spoil and divest first the Solemn League and Covenant and then the National Covenant Presbyterial Government the whole Work of God of all legal warrand and Authority Declaring all Acts and Practises made and standing in favours thereof to be void and null And by the same great Act rescissory they revive and reinforce all the corruptions and Superstitions of Crossing Kneeling and the like introduced by any Parliament since the Reformation As the Acts of the first Session of the last Parliament do clearly testify Although that these Acts have been and are both in themselves in their effects just cause of great astonishment and mourning to all the Faithful in the Land yet when we remember that height of Wickedness and Profanity that then abounded and the false flattering perjurious Sermons practises by which the Parliament was thereunto instigated but most of all that Act that then passed for an Anniversary Thanksgiving wherein as if we had been delivered to commit all this great Wickedness the Spirit and Work of the Lord are heinously blasphemed and calumniated as the only Author and Cause of all the Blood Bondage Usurpation Rebellion Rapine Violence and other Evils that either the malice and wickedness of men had caused or God in his Righteous Judgement had therefore permitted or inflicted and the Ranversing of our Blessed Reformation Holy Covenants and the Righteous Laws whereby they were established accounted the Restitution of Religion Righteousness and Liberties And the 29 of May as most Auspicious appointed for the yearly solemn commemoration thereof A day the profane Institution whereof cannot be better demonstrated then by it 's more profane observance and celebration ever since practised These things we say being considered do justly adde horror to our astonishment trembling unto our mourning But that their practise might be also consonant to their Acts and Statutes and by cutting off or laying aside it 's most eminent Opposers the return of Prelacy might be more effectually promoted in the same Session of Parliament not only was that Innocent and Faithful one Mr Cutâ—ry singled out and signally honoured by God to bear testimony to the Kingdom of His Son Jesus Christ His Cause and Covenant for no other fault then his faithfulness therein and his Declining the King's usurped Authority in prejudice of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus and the priviledges of His Church clearly warranded by 114 Act Parl. 12. la. 6. then standing unrepeal'd and by a great cloud of faithful Witnesses who in like manner did testify against this Usurpation cruelly slain and put to death But also under the colour of certain Epidemick crimes wherein the Soveraignity of Divine Providence more then any man's malice had involved the whole Land others who had been eminent in the Work of God particularly the Marquess of Argyle were condemned to death and forfeited and several other Faithful Ministers besides these who were at first imprisoned by the Committee of Estates were without any cause signifyed imprisoned confined or otherwise vexed and incapacitated 4. The rise and re-establishment of this Antichristian Prelacy being thus prepared in the interval after this first Session of Parliament the King nominateth and presenteth Bishops and four of them being called to Court are there Re-ordained and Consecrated and that in such a manner as doth clearly infer their disowning and renouncing their former Minstery and their Warrand Mission thereunto In consequence whereof all the Ordinary meetings of Presbyteries and Synods are discharged until they should of new be licenced Authorized thereto by the Bishops now nominated and appointed and to the effect that matters might the better succeed several of our Faithful Ministers upon groundless suspitions and for refusing of the Oath of Supremacy arbitrarly and rigorously imposed without so much as admitting such qualifications as no Christian ought or can deny are some of them Banished and others confined 5. The second Session of this last Parliament sitting in May 1662. by their first Act they restore and re-establish Prelacy in all it 's pretended Rights Dignities and Priviledges but in effect in it's real Usurpations and Corruptions And for the better setling thereof and evident declaring to the World how Erastian and Antichristian this Woful Government is both in it's Rise Designs and Effects as by this Act the Restitution thereof is expresly founded upon the King's Supremacy as being an inherent Right in the Crown for the disposal of the external Government of the Church So it is also declared that whatever the King shall determine with advice of the Bishops and such of the Clergy as he shall nominate in the externall Government of the Church shall be valid and effectual without any other Proviso then that the same be consistent with the Laws of the Realm But the Absolute Complement of all Wickedness and the Hight of Usurpation above all that ever the Papacy it self aspired unto is that which followeth whereby the King and Parliament for clearing all scruples which may occurre from former Acts and Practices do rescind all former Acts by which the sole and only power of Jurisdiction within this Church doth stand in the Church and in the Meetings and Assemblies thereof and all Acts of Parliament and Council which may be interpreted to have given any Church-power Jurisdiction or Government to the Office-bearers of the Church their respective meetings other then that which acknowledgeth a dependence upon and subordination to the Soveraign Power of the King as supream and is to be regulated and authorized in the exercise thereof by the Bishops who are to put order to Ecclesiastick matters and to be accountable to the King for their Administration And the foresaid 114 Act Parl. 12. la. 6. whereby the Priviledges Power
whereof She was in Possession three hundred years before there was a Christian Magistrat in the world Authorizing it And will Imprison Confine Condemn and Banish Ministers for pleading and Practising this Right as King James did not a few in and about the Year 1606. and the Present King of late by Parliament Council and Commissioner did interdict all the Lawfull Assemblies of the Church which did not derive their Power from the Abjured and Perjured Prelats and if he will not only claim the only power of indicting â—â—lemn Fasts and Thanksgivings as de Facto is done these â—or 6 years past but also institute a day to be Aniversarily â—oly for ever which no mortal man can do If I say 〈◊〉 will thus Invade the Kingdom of Christ confound it 〈◊〉 the Kingdoms of the World and equally Exerce the â—overnments of both no man needs pronounce but rather fear the Domesticall and Personall doom Executed upon Saul and Uzziah for usurping the Priests office How in â—quall dealing is it that He who clamoureth so much of other men and particularly Ministers wandering without their sphere and overstretching-meddling with Civil affairs should himself be Circumscribed and move within no Fixed sphere Is it not enough that He have a Power Objectively Ecclesiasticall about Church affaires but he must also have a Power Formally Ecclesiasticall whereby he may Exerce Acts purely Spiritual and proper to Church Officers Will it not suffice him that he have an Externall Power of providing for the Church and protecting of her from Outward Violence or Inward Disorder but he must also have an Internall power of Doctrin Government and Disciplin the several Forms Acts thereof Is is not Sufficent that he have an Imperat Power whereby He may command all his Subjects as such to do their respective duties but he must also have and Elicit power whereby he may at least materially or equivalently Exerce Spirituall Acts in his own person Will it not please him that he have a Civil Power of Punishing Church Officers as Subjects for Civil transgressions but he must also have a Spiritual Power of Censuring them for Ecclesiasticall offences Will it not content him that he have a Secundary Power of Judiciall Approbation or Condemnation of what the Church hath already found and declared to be Truth or Error but he must also have a Primary and Immediat Power of Cognition of Truth and Error Antecedent to any Judgment of the Church thereanent Will it not satisfy him that he have a Discretive Power whereby he may not Implicitely Ratify Ecclesiasticall Sentences but he must also have a Definitive Power of Authoritative Decision And in a word is it not enough that he have a Cumulative Power of Confirming and Strengthening the Power and Priviledges of the Church but he must alsâ— have a Privative Power whereby if he please he may destroy the same That the Lord hath had and to the Worlds end will have a Church none who beleeve the Authority of the Holy â—criptures can deny or question And that he hath fixed Discriminative boundaries betwen his own and the Kingdoms of the Earth that is betwen his Church and other Civil Societies and their respective Governments is no less evident For though both consist of Men and sometimes of the same Persons though both have Order and Government a Power to Exercise the same and that Derived from God and the Persons invested therewith should be qualified and in the Exercise thereof should walk Absolutely by the Rule of the Word Punishing and Censuring after clear Conviction by Confession or Probation And should Ultimatly aime at the Glory of God and Good of the People and for that effect be mutually subservient and useful one to another in these amongst other things they aggree Yet they are Formally distinct For they consist of men under distinct Notions and Relations Civil Society and Policy is founded upon the Light and Law of Nature Ecclesiasticall by Revealed Positive precept The one is Common to all men as Men the other is Peculiar to those who profess the True God The Form of the one may be Monarchical the other not The object of the one is Civil the other is Spirituall The Nature of the one and Manner of Exerceing it is Magisterial the Other Ministerial The Acts and Sentences of the one are Corporall rhe other Spiritual The Immediat Rule of Exerceing the one is the â—awes of the Land and the other the Word of God and â—cclesiastical Constitutions aggreeable thereunto The one â—s performed in the Name of the Supream Magistrat the other in the Name of Jesus Christ The Immediat End of the one is the Good of the Common-wealth the other the Good of Souls Yea though the Church and Common-wealth of the Jewes of all others that ever were did most aggree yet were they Formally distinct for they had ordinarily distinct Rulers the Priest and Levits for the one Judges and King 's for the other They had distinct Acts Sacrificing praying c. in the Church Death Banishment Confiscation Inprisonment Ezra 2 26. in the State They had distinct Objects the Matters of the Lord and the Matters of the King 2 Chron. 19.11 Distinct Lawes the Ceremoniall for the Church the Judicial for the Common-wealth and the Morall for both They had sometimes distinct Members when these of the One were not admitted to some Priviledges of the Other The Form of the State did alter from Judges to Kings but the Churches was unalterably the same And they had their distinct Periods of Duration for the Church continued though corrupt after the Civil Government was overturned by the Romans And as the Church and State of the Jewes were in these things distinct so had they their distinct Governments and Judicatories for Exerâ—â—ing the same Respectively For Exo. 24.1 there are 70. Elders who v. 14. appear to be vested with Authority and to have Aaron and Hur for their Presidents or Moderators now these 70 Elders cannot be the 70 who Numb 11. shared of the Government with Moses for these mentioned Exod. 24. were in Authority when the Israelits were at Sinai whereas the other mentioned Numb 11. were chosen after they went from Sinai neither can they be any other 70 in Civil Authority because before the Election of those Numb 11. Moses was alone in the Government Again Deut. 17. there are distinct causes viz. Blood Blood plea and plea which were Civill and Stroke and Stroke which whether it was Leprosy belonged to the Priests to Judge of Lev. 13.3 Distinct Rulers viz. the Priests the Levets and the Iudge who v. 11. are distinguished by the disjunctive particle Or Distinct Acts of telling or exponing the Sentence of the Law of telling Iudgment v. 10.11 distinct Penalties of Death and puting the Evill from Israel v 12. Further in â— Chr. 23.4 Ye will find 6000 of the Levites who were Officers and Iudges which must needs have been in Ecclesiastical affairs
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
Ministers who dare to preach in contempt of that Act to be punished as Seditious persons and also to be careful to remove and dispossess such who should be Suspended or Deprived for non-conforming declaring that if they thereafter presume to exercise their Ministry they should be punished as Seditious persons Thus in the height of Perfidy and Violence men under the pretext of abused and perverted Authority proceed to dare and presume against God their own Consciencâ—â— all their Sacred Indissoluble Oaths and Engagements and to persecut such for preaching who standing stedfast therein and having a dispensation of the Gospel committed unto them by him who is King in Zion higher then the Kings of the Earth may out to contemn the menaces of vain Man in regard of that heavy and severe woe sounding in their ears if they preach not the Gospel But the Act doth furder proceed to require of all a due Acknowledgement of and hearty Complyance with the Kings Government Ecclesiastical and Civil and therefore to ordain and declare that who ever shal ordinarily and wilfully withdraw and absent themselves from the ordinary Meetings for divine VVorship in their own Churches on the Lords day whether upon the account of Popery or other dissaffection shall incurre each Heritor the loss of a fourth of that years rent each Yeoman the loss of a fourth or under of his moveables each Burgess the loss of his Liberty and Burgeship with the fourth of his moveables and concludes with a reference to the Council for further punishment more effectual execution likeas in order hereunto the Council by several Proclamations since have so much intended the severity of this Act that every Parish in stead of having a Lawfull Pastor is now inslaved to a Graceless Violent Hireling as it's Lord and Master and to the extortion of Souldiours appointed for his Executioners and Exactors We shall not here debate the Lawfulness or Unlawfulness of the Obedience here required only for the vindication of many thousands of the Faithful who by their sufferings have born Testimony against this Act we add 1. that waving the ordinary captious maner of proposing the question in the terms of Hearing or nor Hearing which strickly taken are not the subject thereof we are assured that none seriously pondering the obligation of the Oath of God sincerely really constantly all the dayes of our life to endeavour the extirpation of Prelats and their dependants but they will acknowledge that the owning of and submitting to the Apostat Curats according to this Act as our Ministers is most diametrally opposit thereto Can we Lawfully Own such whom we are bound to abhorre Or Submit to such whom we are bound to extirpate Surely this were to rebuild what we have destroyed 2. That though some nimble Sophisters who fear not after vowes to make inquiry can and have swallowed both Owning and Submitting as not repugnant to the duty of Extirpation yet seing the direct contrary thereof is by the terms themselves very significantly imported and that these terms were for this express cause and design particularly elected and made choice of by the Parliament for ranversing of the Obligation of the holy Covenant no sober man will be tempted by their delusion to think either that Owning and Submitting signify no more then Simple Submitting or that that Active Assenting and Complying Submission here mean'd is no more then that Stil and Passive Submission unto which men by the force of inevitable necessity and against their wills are oftentimes constrained 3. That whoever pretending to enter into the Ministery doth presumptuously contemn and despise the sacred Rule and Order of Entry appointed by the great Shepherd cannot be reputed to enter by the Door nor to be so much as Externally by him Sent or Called But such as do enter by gross and palpable Perjury and wicked Violence and Intrusion do without question contemn the sacred Rule and Order of Gods Word so that to admit such to be so much as Externally Called were to make the God of Order the Author of Confusion and him who is the Truth the favourer of Perjury We know that this notion of an External Call is conceited by many to be no other thing then the performance of such Rites and Solemnities as are prescribed to the Admission of a Minister done by such a Person or Persons on whom the like hath been performed but seing that by many instances of gross Disorder and Violence which are obvious for any man to suppose many absurdities might be hence inferred and that to be Externally Called according both to the meaning of Truth and the import of the words is to have such a Visible Evidence of the Call of Iesus Christ as in Reason and Charity doth oblige all men to receave the person so called as truely sent Certainly if any Person force his own Entry into the Ministry by open and profane Contempt of the Rule and Order given by our Lord Jesus he doth in like maner as palpably disprove any Evidence of a Lawful Call which he can pretend to no man is obliged either to Beleeve him to be Called or to Receave him as Sent. Which things are so evident in themselves that whoever denyeth them is obliged by the same consequence to affirm that if Simon Magus had in his horrid wickedness purchased the Apostleship by money the Christian World had been bound to Receave him as an Apostle 4. Though we are not to lanch out into these depths how the Soveraignity of Divine Providence hath suffered Churches to fall away into Apostacy and again recovered them and if during these times of Apostacy a standing Ministry still continued or how long it did if not what way it was revived and raised up in which cases true Faith in Jesus Christ which is the substance of all and a conscientious walking according to the measure of the times doth certainly purge and sustain many things otherwise chargeable with Informality Yet of this weare confident that it hath alwayes been both the sin and misery of all Apostatizing Churches that they have not resisted the beginnings of Defection and when the Authors theirof did prove incorrigible though formerly Ministers that they did not separate from them and account them as Heathens and Publicans which course if duely and zealously observed had undoubtedly put a great stop and hinderance to the rise and wicked Usurpation of Antichrist all whose malice and violence without the delusion and complyance of such who ought to have resisted them had never proven so effectual 5. That a man may be a Minister and yet not a Minister unto all so as to oblige them to receave him as sent to them which may be intuitively understood beyond the light and power of any demonstration if we but suppose the case of a particular Congregation living under and acknowledging their own lawful Pastor that amongst such a few violent persons arising bring in
every person to know to what Parish they belong and that at the Church door without permitting them to come forth until they either give their Oath or pay the Fine not only with such cursing swearing and confusion as would make Infidels amazed to see the Lords day so profaned by Christians professing the same common Faith but with such rigor by taking by force the Bibles or garments from some poor persons who have not wherewith to pay and insolent beating and wounding of others to the effusion of blood as may justify the greatest Barbarity We need not instance particulars in a truth so universally known We proceed to another kind of this same violence practised in other places where Curates are planted who to force and compel the people to that complyance with their Ministry which in conscience they are bound to abhor cause form lists or rolls of such as keep not the Church and calling them after sermon both Men and Women by Name and Surname they amerciate the absents in such summs and Fines as they please for the most part far exceeding the pains contained in the Act of Parliament whereupon the Souldiours are immediatly warranted to go and exact the same by quartering Which Practice is not more unjust in it's illegal and summar procedor then rigid and exorbitant both as to the quantity and the maner of exacting it by reason of their riding and quartering money which is therewith exacted and the other inconveniences which inseparably attend the rapine and violence of profane souldiours 3. In many places not contented thus to Fine and Exact the souldiours on the Lords day go to private houses and by plain force compel and drive to the Church all such as they find and oftentimes do insolently beat and abuse persons who by reason of infirmity or sickness are really unable A practise so cruel and absurd that some of themselves have said it was our Lord's way to drive buyers and sellers out of the Temple but not to drive them into it 4. As to the exacting and levying of the Parliaments Fines the same was done by a reference of the Councill to the Commissioner and his orders thereon in such an oppressive and exorbitant manner as cannot be paralelled For 1. Parties of horse being directed to several Shires when a party arrived in any Shire they direct their order to all the persons therein Fined intimating to them and every one of them to pay their respective Fines with three shillings sterling per diem for every horse-man in the party from the day and date of their Order until the Fine be payed and the payment signified to the commander of the Party By which extortions many have been compelled to pay more for Quartering then the summe and quantity of their Fine and during the time of these oppressions many have computed that the Sherifdoms of Air Reâ—frew were compelled to pay upon the accompt of Quarterings over and above the Fines betwixt two and three thousand merks Scots per diem 2. There was no defence nor exemption allowed against these Quarterings for whether the person fined did liberat himself by taking the Declaration or that it was alleaged that he was Minor or an Infant or never Charged or that his Predecessor charged was since Deceased or that his predecessor was never Charged yea Died before he was fined or that the person quartered on was only Relict of the person fined a poor Widow living upon a mean Joincture or that the person quartered on had no Relation to the person fined save that he lived in the house and place which once pertained to him and which this person lawfully Purchased even before the other was fined Yet all was repelled and no complaint of this rigor and violence could be heard or receaved but on the contrary the complainer especially if he refused to take the Declaration was rejected with most insolent reproaches and menaces 3. That both in the up-lifting of the Fine and exacting of the Qwarterings the extremity of rigor was used by dragging some to prison who either were known altogether indigent and insolvent or did offer to renounce the Benefit of the Act of Indemnity the forfaulture whereof was the alternative and utmost certification for not payment of the Fine contained in the Act of Fining or by Plundering Beating and Spoiling others without possibility of redress We need not adduce Particular Instances for the verification of these things seing they were not done in a corner But the cry of this violence as it filled the whole Land so no doubt it also reached unto the very Heavens and is entered in to the ears of Him who hateth violence and loveth righteousness who saith unto Princes remove violence and spoil and execute judgement and justice take away your exactions from my people One thing mainly to be considered is that as Prelacy is the great cause of all the Sin and Misery that afflicteth us so was it by the instigation of the same wicked Apostats that these Fines so long delayed were thus at length rigorously exacted And that for no other purpose then the leavying of moe Forces for their security and support and the better strengthening of their Tyranny Certainly were it not of the Lord who because of our contempt of his glorious Gospel and blessed Ministry hath plagued us with stupidity and smitten us with madness blindness and astonishment of heart to give unto us the reward of our own hands and to cause us to eat the fruit of our doings it were impossible that rational men after the feeling of so sore grievances and the teaching of so many and sad experiences should still couch under the burthen and submitt themselves to the yoke of a few insignificant Apostate Upstarts and not rather acquit themselves like men by pulling off these vizards of Religion under which they mask their villanies and plucking them out of that Sanctuary and great refuge of Loyalty which they do not more pretend then profane by all their horrid Rebellion against God and their cruell Persecutions of His faithfull Servants and the Kings true Subjects which they palliat under this pretext to the effect that in the righteous and deserved Punishment of these wicked men both the sin and Backsliding of the Land might be sisted and the fierce anger of the Lord averted This is the wickedness and violence of accursed Prelacy which though it hath diffused it self over the whole Land and left no corner thereof untouched yet as the West hath been more grievously thereby oppressed and afflicted so poor Galloway in a manner hath been the point in which all it's malice and Tyranny hath been concentred We need not here search after Particulars or be curious for the verification thereof the cries and groans of that afflicted Countrey have filled all mens ears and the desolations thereof are obvious to every ones eyes Nor need we insist to purge their innocency or clear the causes of
any other the like Instance which can be adduced or instructed from the parallel of any other Age or Nation Therefore it was altogether Lawful Righteous and Necessary Which answer though the Lords faithful Witnesses did sufficiently insinuat and propone yet both the Constitution of the Court and persons of the Judges before whom they were arraigned were such as the same was rather accounted an aggravation of their Crime and Treason But seeing this was not done without the specious pretexts not only of iniquous Laws but also of Religion and Scripture We shall briefly consider first that Queree often made to them where they had read or how they could instruct that under the Pretence of Religion it is lawful for Subjects to rise in Rebellion against lawfull Authority To which it is answered that this Queree is a clear begging of the question by expresly supposing that the late Rising was only in pretence for Religion but really in Rebellion which ought first to have been proved and is in effect an arrant calumny and falshood 2. That even the Queree it self seems to imply and grant that for Subjects to rise in Arms really for the defence of Religion against the invasions of the Powers under the pretence of Lawful Authority is both lawful and laudable Which being the true case and cause of this late Rising and so clearly warranted both by the Word and Covenant of God and the practise of all Reformed Churches we are content to refer these poor mens Innocency unto the Consciences and secret thoughts of their adversaries Secondly we shall consider these texts of Scripture which were pretended against the Innocents and 1. it was much urged that Rebellion is as the sin of witch-craft To which one of themselves did roundly and clearly answer that the place having been spoken by the Prophet to a King because of his disobedience and contempt of the command of God and not to Subjects would sooner conclude his Accusers then himself to be a Rebell Secondly it answered that Rising up against Authority it self the Ordinance of God and disobeying the Powers therewith vested standing and acting in their right line of Subordination is indeed Rebellion and as the sin of witchcraft but to resist and rise up against persons Abusing sacred Authority and rebelling against God the Supream is rather to adhere to God as our Liege Lord and to vindicate both our selves and his abused Ordinance from man's wickedness and Tyranny The second text objected was that Math. 26.52 where even our Lord himself when violently seised upon by wicked men but who were then in Authority did nevertheless restrain his disciples from his own defence and rescue saying unto Peter Put up again thy sword into his place for all they that take the sword shal perish with the sword To which as it was sufficiently answered without any reply by one of these Impeached whom they accounted distracted though without the least appearance of impertinency who thereto did oppone Luke 22.36 Where our Lord speaking at the same time and to the same purpose saith he that hath no sword let him sell his garment and buy one Yet for further clearing we say 1. That from the place it self in all the Evangelists it is most evident that that command was given and these words spoken by our Lord only for to testify his voluntar submission unto the Fathers will by laying down of his life for fulfilling of the Scripture as is clear from the same 26. of Matth. v. 54. Iohn 18.11 otherwise the context being considered that not only in Luke 22.36 cited He forewarning his disciples of hazards to come adviseth them to provide swords and weapons and in the 26 of Matt. asserts his power to have called 12 legions of Angels to his assistance which clearly implyes the lawfulness thereof this Scripture objected doth more confirm then impugn the Lawfulness of Defensive Arms. 2. Is it possible that men should be so much demented by flattery as to think that it was unlawful for Jesus Christ the Mighty God and Lord over all to have defended himself by the assistance of his Disciples against the horrid Wickedness and Insurrection of the vilest of His creatures had it not been that it was necessary that the Scriptures concerning him should be accomplished 3. Where our Lord saith in the place objected all they that take the sword shal perish with the sword as He thereby only condemneth Unjust and Offensive war so the Saying it self by its later part doth tacitely imply the Lawfulness and Justice of both Defensive and Vindictive Arms the same being otherwise justly founded Though these Texts were only objected yet to help our Adversaries who are known not to be much conversant in the Scripture and to obviate the scruples that may thence arise to others we subjoyn a third text Iohn 18.36 where our Lord saith if my Kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Iews whence some infer that all Arms even in Defence of Religion are unlawfull and prohibited But it is answered as the intent and scope of our Lord's answer was to clear himself of that calumny objected against Him by the Iews that he made Himself a King in opposition to Caesar so the meaning of it is plain and obvious to wit that our Lord's Kingdom is not of the Nature and for the Ends for which other Kingdoms of this world were instituted but wholly spiritual for declaring the Truth and thereby gaining souls unto glory Whence as our Lord would there infer that he came not to conquer to himself Disciples by outward force and thereby to gain followers by the spoiling of Caesar and other Princes so it is without all shaddow of connexion thence to conclude that a people having receaved the blessing of the Gospel and Kingdom of Iesus Christ should without Resistance suffer themselves to the manifest dishonor of God and the hazard of the eternal damnation of themselves and their posterity to be impiously and sacriledgiously spoiled and deprived thereof when they are in a capacity to defend the same The truth whereof together with the hypocrisy of our Adversaries may soon be discovered if the Question be but stated in the terms of one Forraign independent Prince's invading another meerly upon the account of the Christian Faith and whatever solution or evasion they shall herein make will as exactly quadrat to the case in hand it being almost ridiculous to conceave that the greatest aggravation of Invasions of this Kind to wit that it is made by a Prince upon his own Subjects whose Profession he himself is principally bound to maintain should import any speciality and difference in the cases The last text is that of Math. 5.39 and remanent verses to the end where our Lord saith resist not evill but whosoever shall smite thee c. with the other parallel places specially Rev. 13.10 But it is answered that as these
upon his royall Posterity and to give unto them good and faithfull Counsellors holy and wise Counsels and prosperous successes to God's Glory and to the good and interest of His people and to Their own Honour and Happiness 11. I do here now submit and commit my Soul and Body Wife and Children and Childrens Children from generation to generation for ever with all others his Friends and Followers all His Doing and Suffering Witnessing and Sympathizing ones in the present and subsequent Generations unto the Lord's choice Mercies Graces Favours Services Employments Impowerments Enjoyments Improvements and Inheritments on Earth and in Heaven in Time and Eternity All which suits with all others which He hath at any time by His Spirit moved and assisted me to make and put up according to His will I leave before and upon the Father's Mercifull Bowels and the Son's Mediating Merits and the Holy Spirit 's Compassionate Groans for now and evermore Amen The Joint Testimony of these who died together in Edinburgh Dec 7. 1666. subscribed by them in prison the same day of their death Men and Brethren THis is a great and important work both for us who are now to render up our spirits to Him that gave them And for yow who are not a litle concerned in the Cause and in our blood by justifying or condemning our sentence And therefore as we speak to yow as Dying men who dare not dissemble with God or man nor flatter our selves So ye should not be idle curious or unconcerned Spectators We are condemned by men and esteemed by many as Rebels against the King whose Authority we acknowledge But this is our rejoycing the testimony of our conscience that we suffer not as Evill doers but for Righteousness for the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ And particularly for our renewing the Covenant and in pursuance thereof for Preserving and Defending of our selves by Armes against the Usurpation and insupportable Tyranny of the Prelats And against the most unchristian and inhumane Oppression and Persecution that ever was enjoyned and practised by just Rulers upon Free Innocent and Peaceable Subjects The Covenant and Cause being so just in themselves and the duties of Self-preservation and mutual Defence in maintenance thereof being to Judicious and unbyassed men so clear we need to say the less for vindication of our Practice Only the Lawes establishing Prelacy and the Acts Orders and Proclamations made for Complyance therewith being executed against us by Military Force and Violence And we with others for our simple Forbearance being Fined Confined Imprisoned Exiled Scourged Stigmatized Beaten Bound as beasts and Driven unto the mountains for our lives And thereby hundreds of Families being beggared several Parishes and some whole Country-sides exceedingly impoverished And all this either Arbitrarily and without any Law or respect had to guilt or innocency Or Unjustly contrary to all Conscience Justice and Reason though under the Pretence of iniquous Laws and without regard had to the penalty specifyed in the Law And all Remonstrating of Grievances were they never so just and many and Petitions for Redress being restrained by Laws condemning all former Remonstrances and Petitions in the like cases There was no other remedy left to us but that last of necessary Self-preservation and Defence And this being one of the greatest Principles of Nature warranted by the Law or God Scriptural Instances and the consent and Practices of all Reformed Churches and Christian States abroad and of our own famous Predecessors at home It cannot in reason or Justice be reputed a Crime nor condemned as Rebellion by any humane Authority Though we be not the first that have suffered for the Cause or God within the Land yet we are among the first that have been Legally condemned and put to Death Expresly for taking the Covenant And we are so far from being ashamed thereof that we account it our honour to be reckoned worthy to suffer for such a Cause And cannot but bless the Lord that we have such a cloud of Witnesses in this and other Reformed Churches going before us in the same duty for Substance and in Suffering therefore We cannot but regret if we could with tears oâ— blood the Nationall and Authorized Backsliding of the Land by Perjury and breach of Covenant The overturning of the Work of Reformation The great Desolation of the House of the Lord by smiting of the Shepherds and scattering of the Flocks The Intrusion of so many mercenary Hirelings into the Ministry who because of Apostacy Perjury Ignorance and Profanness can neither be acknowledged as God's mouth to the People in Preaching nor employed as their mouth to Him in Prayer The abounding of Popery Superstition and Profanness by unheard-of Oaths Blasphemies Uncleannesss and Drinking even in some whose Office and Place requireth them to be more Examplary And the shedding of the Blood of the Saints by the rage of Persecution And therefore we cannot but disown all these abominable Laws Courses Practices declare our abhorrence of the same dissent therefrom Protesting before Angels and Men that we be not interpreted as consenters thereto and beseeching the Hearer of prayer that we be not involved in the guilt thereof nor partake of the plagues which follow thereupon As this Land was happy above all Nations for the purity and plenty of the Gospel and for a Form of Church Government more conform to the Patern in the Scriptures then in others of the Reformed Churches So we acknowledge His great goodness to us in speciall that gave us our lines in such pleasant places For we have such full perswasion of the Truth of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland And have felt so much of the Power and Sweetness thereof that we do here declare our firm belief and perswasion of and adherence to the same in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Nationall Covenant the Solemn League and Covenant the Confession of Faith Catechisms Directory of worship and Propositions for Government Accounting it our honor and happiness to have been born in it to have lived in Communion with it and now to die through Grace Members Witnesses and Asserters thereof And further as Christians and as Members of the same Church and Common-wealth in the Fear and zeal of our God in Love to our Brethren in desire of the Perservation of Church and Kingdom and for our own Exoneration now when we take our leave of the World We do seriously and in the bowels of Christ Supplicate Warn Exhort and Obtest yow all the Inhabitants of the Kingdom from the King to the meanest of the Subjects according to your old Principles Professions Promises Declarations Oaths and Covenants faithfully to Own Maintain preserve and Defend the said Religion And after the example of our Noble and Renowned Ancestors to quit your selves like Men Christians in endeavouring by all just Means according to your Places and Powers to shake off this heavy
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
is not for evill doing that I now suffer although I be charged with Rebellion against the Kings Authority yet 1 declare before God and you all that in all this matter I never intended to wrong his Majestie 's just Power and greatness but for conscience sake did respect Authority as the Ordinance of God appointed for the punishment of evill doers and that I wish his Ma all welfare both in this life and the world to come and that it may be his happiness to consider his Obligations to God and Perform the same that so it may be well with him and his Posterity to many generations and I pray God make him a friend to His Cause and the truly Godly who own the same though falsly called Phanaticks or turbulent persons I declare I have such persuasion of the Interest of Religion Reformed and sworn unto in the Covenant that I dare venture not only to lay down my own life but if every hair of my head were a man they should all be put to venture for this cause I would not have the world to stumble at the Cause because of my death after this manner for I rejoyce greatly in it and I desire every good Christian as they tender their own souls that they would grip fast lay hold on and cleave to Jesus Christ and His way My coming out at this time I say was not against his Majesty but for the Covenant which is now troden under foot my intention was for the Cause of Christ I take God to witness it was nothing else I came out for and for that I am free to lay down my life I bless God I am much encouraged in this and not at all afraid to die for so good and clear a Cause and I hope He will bring me thorow all my difficulties in this dark shadow of death I hope I have the peace of a good conscience and have had some glimpses from Jesus Christ of His countenance and reconciled Face since I came into this prison for which I desire to bless His Name with all my soul heart and spirit And I rejoyce that He hes made use of me to suffer for His Cause And I think it too litle not only to lay down my body but if it were possible even my very soul at the stake for that Cause and for Jesus Christ my good and kind Master who hath loved me and given Himself for me I give the Lord thanks that I had some of His Presence since I came into this condition and again I say I am much encouraged and not afraid to die and bless Him that I die not as a murtherer or evill door or Rebel to Authority but for such a cause as this O that it were the happiness of my Nation of England once to subiect themselves unto the sweet yoke of Christs Reformed Government under which this Nation of Scotland hath enjoyed so much of the Power and life of the Gospel by a faithful Ministry according to the Covenant sworn by them both And now my dear Friends in Christ and fellow-Covenanters though I be a stranger in this Land being an English-man but trifted by providence in the prosecution of my calling to have my residence for a time here in Scotland which I look upon as a singulare evidence of God's special love to me though I be a stranger I say to many of you yet I must be bold as a dying friend to beseech you by the mercy of God and by your appearance before Jesus Christ when we shall have to do with none but Him as our Judge that ye be faithfull and stedfast in the Cause of God and Covenant which ye have sworn with hands lifted up to the most high God which no Power on earth can loose you from and that ye keep you from snares unto the contrary and not suffer your selves to fall into a detestable Neutrality and Indifferency in that Cause of God And especially that ye keep your selves free of any Engagements by word or write that may wrong your Oath of the Covenant I commit my Wife and Children to His care who careth for them that put their trust in Him before the Sons of men not doubting but they shall be eyed with goodwil and favor by the Godly after I am gone And now I render up my Spirit to Him who gave it me and for whose sake I now lay down my life To this God my Covenanted God be glory blessing and praise for now and ever Amen That this is my mind and Testimony which I leave behind me I witness by my ordinary subscription R. SHIELDS The Testimony of HUMPREY COLHOUNE At his Death in Edinburgh Decemb 22. 1666. Dear Friends and Spectators I am come here this Day to this Place to die this Death for crimes for which I thank God my Conscience doth not condemn me My crime as is alleaged is for Disloyalty against the King's Majesty Yet I thank God that my appearing lately with the Lord's People was from my sense of my obligation in the Covenant and the sense of the wrongs done in the Land and the crying oppressions committed therein This was the end of my appearing for the Lord against His enemies to bear witness against the same The which obligation of the Oath of God I judge that none on earth can loose the Conscience from I bless the Lord again and again I die for this Oath and Covenant And I thank God also that I have by the great mercy of the Almighty God in Christ Jesus obtained mercy and forgiveness for all my transgressions both against the first and second Table of the Law And that through that Ocean of grace which is in the Lord Jesus Christ I believe that I am justified and sanctified and believe now to be glorified with Him by that blessed blood of His which hath purchased this Salvation to me through faith in the same made application of according to the good Covenant of grace He hath performed this out of his vvonderfull and incomparable free-grace And this is my joy and exceeding great rejoycing and consolation and all my salvation for vvhich I am Grace's debtor throughout all Eternity I die vvith this my Testimony my adherence to the National Covenant to the Solemn League and Covenant to the Work of Reformation a great length carried on and now overthrown most sinfully by ungodly Men vvho have established their Apostacy by Law which no just Power on earth could ever do Also I adhere to the Presbyterial Government the Confession of Faith Cathechisms Larger and Shorter And to the Solemn Acknovvledgement of the Church of Scotland And Publick Testimonies thereof against the sins of the time This day I rejoyce that He hath counted me vvorthy to lay dovvn my life for Him as one that beareth vvitness against the breach of all the Sacred Oaths and Ties that were established in this Land yea by the just Laws both of God and Man which never could