over-whelmed us with the same confusions in Religion which they have effectuated on the neighbour kingdome and when Religion is overthrowne and destroyed these kingdomes which GOD avert and we hope he shall for his own glorie and Names sake is it not endangered in all Orthodox protestant kirks abroad round about us Who this day are looking at the standing or falling of it in these kingdomes as the apparent means of the standing or falling of it amongst themselfs also By this brief narration may be seen that which we doubt not but every sensible man doeth see by him self That what so ever can be deare and precious to any people in the world are all to us now lying at the stake and that therefore every one amongst us as we would not render our selves reproachfull to all nations round about us and willinglie involve our selves in the greatest miseries that a people can be brought unto ought to take their lyfe in their hand and according to their stations places and power to be forth-coming to the defence of these things against vnjust violence And now in the third place Let every one of us adde to these things the consideration of the bonds and obligations that lye vpon us to this duetie by the Law of GOD the law of nature our Nationall Covenant and Solemne League and Covenant and the paines therein contained whereunto we have devoted our selves if we shall desert or faill in performing that duetie and we think every sensible heart may tremble to intertayne any thought of lying back from or slacking in the duetie being called thereunto by lawfull authoritie We doubt not but sundrie things may be and are alreadie suggested to the people of GOD in this Land to weaken their hands and to discowrage their hearts in doing their duetie and to obstruct necessary raising and levying of forces at this tyme against which we-desyre all in the feare of GOD to arme and guarde them selves that they hearken not thereunto as they would not bring upon them selves the guilt of al that the Land hath already suffered all that it may yet suffer in Religion Liberties Governement the lyves and estates of people from that enemie if they be not with-stood Certainlie we know nothing which ought to move any to lye back or to slacken their hands in any wyse As to what is suggested by some for treating with the enemie rather than hazard the effusion of more blood wee confesse that blood especially the blood of GODS People should be very precious and rather than the effusion of it be hazarded very much damnage in our matters should be sustained and borne with yea much in outward things quitt and renounced And we confesse that we should seeke peace with all men as farre as is possible and follow after it And if there might be a Treatie with these enemies even after all the wrongs they have done in this Land without wronging Religion in these kingdomes united in Covenant for mutuall defence and maintainance of Religion without making our selves accessorie to all the violence done by them against Religion and Governement in England without falsifying our vowes made to GOD our Declarations and Treaties made and emitted before the world to maintain the Kings person just right and authoritie by all lawfull and necessarie means according to the Covenant In a word without quyting the Covenant and running into the same guiltinesse of perfidiousnesse and perjurie that they haue runne into we should not be against it but we leave it unto all honest and judicious hearts to think if that can be But the maine and principall thing which we perceave may be represented vnto and may breed scruple in the myndes of honest people in the Land as to acting at this tyme in the way and course agreed upon and appointed in the publict resolutions is Because of the admission of such to act against the enemie as have been formerlie excluded For removing this scruple from the myndes of these that are honest and godlie who we acknowledge ought to be had in tender respect we doe desyre first That the course resolved upon and the necessitie requyring the same may be looked upon and seriouslie considered The resolution is this That all sensible persons be raised and permitted to act against the publict enemie for defence of the kingdome excepting such as are excommunicated or forefaulted or knoweâ—â—â—e profane and flagitious or have been from the beginning or continue still or are at this present tyme obstinate enemies to the Cause and Covenant And provyding that no person get such power put into their hands as may be prejudiciall to the Cause of GOD The necessitie of this course is so great and evident that no man can but see it Considering the necessarie duetie of just defence against an enemie intending by violence to destroy our Liberties and Governement and to force us to quyte and renounce our Covenant sworne to the most High GOD And considering That our former forces being ruined a great part of the kingdome being absolutelie under the power of the enemie It is not possible to rayse a competent power in warrantable prudence to oppose the enemie unlesse there by a more generall calling footth of people in parts that are yet free then have been before Now the case being thus can the calling of such as are subjects of the kingdome limited with such exceptions and provisions be a sinfull course or sould any truelie godlie and honest subjects withdraw their necessarie concurrence for the just defence of the kingdome For first It hath been through all generations and is the universall uncontroverted practise of all Christian kingdomes and States approved by the judgement of the soundest Protestant Divynes in case of just and necessarie defence against forraigne invasion to imploy all such as are acknowledged subjects and citizens in such a way as is not evidentlie destructive to Religion and particularlie the practise of our owne first reformers of this Kirk who did receive and admitt unto communion of Counsells and acting against the Queene Regent and her faction of Frenches and others sundrie of the subjects who had been before upon her part opposing the Professours of the true Religion then called the Congregation when as they came to acknowledge the errour of their former course and were willing to joyne with the Congregation in the Cause of GOD. Secondlie As the law of nature doeth bynd and obliedge every one that is a member of the politick bodie of a kingdome or State to endevour to the uttermost of their power the preservation of the whole and of the fellow members in a just quarrell and cause against unjust violence which if they refuse to doe they are guiltie of murther and treacherie agaynst the Common-wealth So this same law of nature alloweth the bodie and layeth an obligation upon such as are Rulers to call for the help and assistance of every member as necessitie requyreth for defence and
COVENANTS made in His Name though they bee but with men Verilie our hearts do tremble to think and all People in this Land haue cause to mourn before the LORD that any haue been found amongâ—t vs who haue alreadie fallen into such abhominable and fearfull defection contrarie to so Solemn Vowes Especially having so clear and wel grounded Testimonies and Warnings tymously given them both by State and Kirk to avoyd such Courses These that hitherto haue been preserved from such falling would be the more watchfull over their hearts and take heed lest they fall and be not high mynded but fear Wee do not think it necessary to insiâ—t in guarding the mynds of People agaynst the Snare of that Argument Which the Enemies take from the great success and series of providences wherewith their undertakings and course have been followed whereby they would dazle the eyes of the Ignorant and Simple this being aboundantlie dashed in former Papers and even of it self evidently absurd the Word of GOD being so clear for this and experiences in all Generations yeelding so manyfold examples thereof That often tymes in the LORDS Holy Providence wicked men in most wicked courses even agaynst GODS own People may haue much prosperitie for a tyme for the tryall and humbling of his own and the greater judgement vpon their Enemies when they haue filled vp the measure of their iniquitie Providences are not our Rules whereby to judge of the justice or injustice of a course But the Law and the Testimonie if they speak not according to this Word there is no light in them what-so-ever bee the successes of men But wee shall exhort every one and it will bee their wisdom to watch agaynst and to hee aware of the Snares of such as by subtile suggestions and whisperings labour to alienate the hearts and affections of People from these that are in publick trust in State and Kirk and to render all their Resolutions for the publick safetie suspitious and odious the hearkening where unto is indeed a step vnto Defection and may readily leade on to down right complyance with the Enemie In the next place Wee earnestly desyre all People to consider That it is not enough for them in these tymes Not to joyne or act with or for these Enemies But that they ought also according to the utter most of their power to act and improve them selves agaynst them And therefore wee do exhort every one in the Fear of GOD to giue all loyall and heartie obedience unto such necessary and lawfull Orders and Commands as are or shall be emitted by the Civill Authoritie in reference to acting agaynst the sayd Enemie If ever there was People in the world who had cause to bee a willing People to this and to bestir them selves with all their power to oppose and defend them selves agaynst an Enemie Wee certaynlie the People of this Land at this day haue cause to do so agaynst this present Enemie Whether wee consider the Enemies what they are and what is the cause of their Invading and Persecuting vs Or whether wee consider our Concernments that are in hazard of their Designs and Crueltie Or whether wee consider the Bands and Obligations whereby wee are tyed before GOD and the World to mayntayn and defend the same For the first Wee shall not need to adde any new thing to that which was holden foorth by the COMMITTIE of ESSTATES in their answer to the declaration of the pretended Parliament of England and the declaration of that armie when they first entred into this Land we shall only desire that what was said there may be now called to minde and reviewed Pag. 17.18 For the second we shall desire all ingenuous honest and godlie hearts to consider these things 1 How many of our deare brethren flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone are slain with the sword innocentlie and without cause and how manie carried into Captivitie and therein sterved with hunger or cold sent away as slaves 2. A great part of our Land subdued and lying under their feete and the LORDS people our brethren there oppressed spoyled inslaved in their bodies endangered in their soules which lye open to the poyson of their pernicious errours being destitute of the ordinances of GOD and their Ministers who might informe comfort and strengthen their hearts in the LORD whose distressed condition and sadd afflictions crye to us for help and relieff and crye to Heaven agaynst us if we shall lye by for that woe which is pronounced agaynst these that are at case in SION and remember not the affliction of Ioseph 3. What these are alreadie suffering that the same is threatned agaynst the rest of the Land and cannot be avoyded if we shall not tymouslie ryse up and seeking the LORDS help and assistance faythfullie and actively make use of that power which GOD hath mercifully in His providence left yet in our hand agaynst their violence 4. Is anie thing lesse intended and persued by these men then the destruction of our King now in Covenant with GOD and his people the utter overturning of our governement under which we have lived subsisted for so many generations and the enthralling us and this ancient Kingdom in bondage and slaverie unto them as without all which they conceive they cannot promise securitie to them selves in their violent and wicked unparallelled usurpations at home in their native countrey 5. Is not Religion also and the cause of IESUS CHRIST which ought to be deare and more precious unto us nor any thing or interest worldlie under heaven and for defence of which our lyves ought not to be deare to us in danger of utter subversion and ruine by these mens crueltie and impietie What they have done in their owne countrey in the matters of Religion by continuall obstructing the work of reformation by crafetie under myninges whill it was carrying on and then at last breaking it in peices when they had gotten power in their hands by avowing all sorts of impious and blasphemous errours and setting up ane abhominable toleration thereof and now at last of poperie by oppressing persecuteing and casting out honest and faithfull Ministers of CHRIST for preaching and speaking against their errours injustice and usurpation refusing to approve their usurped power Is now so manifest befor the world that none can be ignorant thereof And albeit in their invadeing of us they pretend only to be acting civill matters as they say their libertie safetie yet certainely because they cannot promise themselfs securitie in their errours confusions and impieties in England so long as Religion stands inteer in this kingdome especiallie so long as presbyteriall governement which is the hedge of trueth and a terrour to heresies and Hereticks is keiped up and our religious League and Covenant which binds to the maintainance of Religion is avowed by any of these nations their crueltie and violence will have no rest if they gett way untill they have
delyverance of the bodie from destruction provyding it may be without the undoing of a greater good than is the preservation of the bodie as it is in the present case and publict resolution which if they refuse or neglect to doe they runne them selves into the same guiltinesse and betray their trust Thirdlie The Word of GOD doeth hold out to us sufficient cleare warrand for this practise We may fynd in the book of Iudges That when upon defection from the puritie of Religion and the Covenant of GOD that ancient Kirk was brought under the oppression of forraigne enemies yet so soone as the LORD of His good pleasure raised up Governours for their defence and delyverance the whole people were raised and gathered together for that end and called out promiscuouslie not-with-standing a great part of them no question had been in the defection and it cannot be sayd without groundlesse rashnesse that all such had given convincing evidences of their repentance nor do we fynd that any godly refused to concurre with their fellow subjects or that any of their Governours are reproved for not excluding from rysing in armes for the necessarie defence and delyverance of the Land such as had been in the defection But on the contrarie we synd such sadlie reproved and terrible curses pronounced against them who came not foorth to joyne in the worke See Iud 5. vers 15.16.17 and 23.2 The lyke may be seen in the Historie of the Kings and Chronicles where after defection from Religion and the Covenant of GOD gracious reforming kings arose and had to doe against forraigne invasion 3. We doe fynd in 1. Sam. 11. a cleare exemple of this practise approven of GOD and followed with His Blessing making it succesfull where Saul in the case of Iabesh Gilead besieged by a forraigne enemie commandeth all Israel to come foorth for the desence and delyverie of their brethren vnder the paine of severe civill censure and accordinglie all being moved by the feare of GOD falling vpon them as it is sayd They did come foorth as one man yet as we may perceive Cap. 10. vers ultim manie of them as is apparent a great faction were sonnes of Beliall wicked and turbulent persons who as they had before turbulentlie rejected Samuels governement and requyred a king so then had they opposed the Word and cleare revealed will of GOD in calling Saul to the government of his people Neither is there any thing can be brought in Scripture which speaketh against this resolution in our present case to wit Of just and necessarie defence against forraigne invasion whereby the whole Kingdome Lyves Liberties and estates of the people thereof are in danger of utter ruine As for any scruple or doubt which may be in the mynds of honest and godlie people agaynst the publict resolution there may be cleare and sufficient satisfaction unto such as are not wilfullie resolved unto the contrarie For as to former declarations and publict resolutions and our solemne acknowledgement and engagement made after the unlawfull engagement against England whereby manie are debarred from places of power and trust in counsells and armies It would be considered that these things were done in relation to acting in a way of prosecution of the cause but were no wayes intended to the prejudice of just and necessarie defence of the kingdome against forraigne invasion for which we are allowed and bound by the law of nature which no humane lawes or resolutions can infringe or prejudge to make use of all subjects in the kingdome if the making use of them be not sinfull in it selfe And to the end it may appeare unto all who are scrupled from the solemn engagement concerning the present publict resolution for acting against the enemie That the intention and end of that engagement was no other then what hath been presently sayd we doe desyre it may be remembred that at the tyme when that solemne acknowledgement and engagement was a forming and drawing up it was represented by some then present that it might be a thing prejudiciall to the kingdomes safetie incase of forraigne invasion if so many were absolutely debarred from taking armes And it was then answered publicklie that in such a case all subjects within the kingdome might and ought to ryse for the just defence thereof And therefore in the obligatorie part of the acknowledgement and engagement in the 6. article thereof pag. 12. which concernerh complying with malignants nothing is expressed which importeth the bynding up of the hands of the kingdom from imploying any that are acknowledged subjects for the necessarie defence thereof nor is there so much as any mention of ARMIES made therein at all These things are well knowne and cannot be forgotten by such as were upon the Commission at that tyme. As for anie thing that is sayd in latter declarations concerning this matter even in relation to defence against our invaders as it stretcheth further then the known intentions of our first resolutions So it is to be considered that it was in a tyme when the whole kingdome was inteere and their might be choyse made of instruments to act we confesse that in such a case choyse should be made of the best instruments But the case is altered and yet neither at this tyme is it resolved that any shall be imployed that are profane or continuing in enmitie to the Covenant or cause of GOD. As to what is alleadged from the eminent danger apprehended to follow upon and accompanie the way resolved vpon because thereby manie being to be imployed who have formerlie been in opposition and courses prejudiciall to the cause It may be feared that these having gotten power in their hands cannot but imploy the same according to their owne principles and for establishing their owne ends destructive to the Work of GOD In answer to this We desyre it be considered 1. Suppose there were some danger in this kynd yet it is not certaine and inevitable And on the other hand if necessary help in it selfe not sinfull be not employed there is certaine ruine from the wickednesse and crueltie of our enemies both to kingdom and cause without an extraordinarie divine work which we have no warrand to look for neglecting ordinarie meanes 2. Many of these who have been debarred hitherto have been formerlie active and forward for the Covenant and Cause of GOD have now ackowledged the sinfulnesse of their fal from their steadfastnesse have bound them selves to steadfastnesse faythfulnesse in tyme coming by all the bonds that can be imposed upon men 3. The reason why many of these did oppose the Cause of GOD was their sinfull preference of the Kings interest which was then in opposition to the Cause But now that being removed and the Kings interest and the Cause of GOD being joyned there is not such danger that way We acknowledge that it is all one with GOD to save with many or with few and that as it is a great