the coast of Scotland before he would condescend to the subscribing of these Demand which were sent from the Parliament upon the report of the close of the Treaty as it was first closed in Holland and the Commissioners were so far out of hopes of obtaining their desire that even when they were come near the shore they were preparing Papers of exoneration and when in an instant on the suggestion of some Malignants he did condescend to subscribe the Demands and take the Covenant it was with a reserve of a Declaration to be printed therewith which he did not pass from untill the Commissioners of the Church did refuse to admit thereof Sixthly Within a few dayes of his coming to Scotland when removing Malignants from his Family and Court was earnestly pressed by the Commissioners both of Kirk and State at Falkland he shewed himself very averse from the same and did not only at that place but at all places and times afterwards countenance and entertain men of that stamp who were in his Family and Court and came to the same Seventhly He did for a long time refuse to subscribe the Declaration which was tendered to him for the acknowledging of his own and his Parents guiltiness for the time past and according to his duty for the time to come and after that he had with a great deal of reluctancy subscribed the same he did oftentimes express That he did not think his Father guilty of bloud and that not withstanding he had so declared he had his own meaning thereof Eighthly As he did first by Letters authorize sundry of the Malignant party to rise in Arms without the knowledge of the Committee of Estates and contrary to the standing Laws of this Kingdom so did he himself within a short time thereafter desert the Publick Councels of the Kingdom and joyn with the Malignants Ninthly During the whole time of the Treaty and after the close thereof he had correspondence with all the Malignants of the three Nations to sundry of which he gave Commissions These Instances do clearly â—nough prove what was said concerning the Kings continuing in a course of enmity to the Work and People of God which made it a sin in us whilest he was in that condition to entrust him with the Interests of both neither was our carriage here more faulty in the matter then it was rash and precipitant in regard of the manner The news of the late Kings death brought to Edinburgh on the Lords day at night the Parliament did the next day before twelve of the clock proclaim this King with all publick solemnitie without setting any time apart to seek the Lord for Counsel and direction therein which as both Reason and Religion might have taught us to have used more deliberation amongst ourselves and more supplication to God before he whose Father and himself had been engaged so much in opposition to the Work and People of God had been proclaimed King and within a short time thereafter solemn Address was made to him for offering him the Crown and Kingdom upon some verbal and paper security without any previous Address for informing his conscience or taking notice whether he did adhere to his former principles and way and when the Lord was pleased to render these Applications ineffectual and to bring back the Commissioners to this Kingdom and Kirk without any satisfaction to their desires we did again no less precipitantly then before rush on a second Address which was at one and the same day concluded and proponed in Parliament not only without any previous Consultation or Debate had there anent amongst these who had been tender and faithful to the Work of God from the begining but without their knowledge and contrary to their expectation and afterwards in regard of the close and dispatch of Commissioners which was so passionatly and violently driven on that many were impatient even of the most necessary delaies and of the most reasonable contradiction in any thing that related thereto and it is not to be past without observation that whilest we were treading these slippery and sinful steps the Lord suffered not us to want warning We shall not insist on the sad apprehensions that were in the hearts of many of the godly in the Land in reference thereto So albeit they durst not altogether deny duty to be in making Application to the King yet did the sence of the Lords controversie with him and his house together with his walking in his former way lie heavy on their spirits and made them rather fear a curse then expect a blessing thereupon Nor shall we speak of the passionat inclination desires and endeavors of the Malignant party and of their rejoycing herein and of their heightning of their hopes thereby But we desire it may be remembred That whilest the second Address was in preparing not only did the Lord give us warning of presumptions first of the King his authorizing of Iames Graham to invade this Kingdom and of his encouraging him by Letters to go on in that Invasion even whilst he was in terms of a Treaty with Us but also by Iames Graham his actual invasion a little thereafter by the Kings Commission and by bringing to our hands the authentick Commission it self and sundry Letters under the Kings own hand testifying his adherence to his former principles his affection to that great Enemy of this Cause and Kingdom And what were all these instances which we have formerly spoken of in the Kings carriage but warnings from the Lord to have taught us wisdom in this thing We know that some may think it unsutable for us to meddle in these things which seems to have been otherwise determined by the General Assembly of this Kirk 1650. and that others may wonder that that Assembly should have so determined We shall not now stand to debate how far that Assembly did approve of these things which concern the Treaty with the King anent the security of Religion but the Lord having declared so much from Heaven against the whole Land it concerns us and all others impartially to search into and to discover the causes thereof so far as he is pleased to convince and give light therein and we do in charity and not without ground presume That of all the passages of procedor of the Kings carriage in the Treaty and from the beginning in order to this Kingdom and the enemies thereof had been impartially and freely discovered and made known to the Assembly as they have been since they had nor gone the length which they went 6. Step. For understanding of the sixth Step which relateth unto the rejecting the discovery of guiltiness and causes of the LORDS contending with us It will be needfull to speak some what for clearing of the matter of fact in the instances which are given in the Article The first instance is in the causes of humiliation condescended on by the Commission of the Generall Assembly at
a blessing to it because of the ordinariness and apprehended easiness of it whereby the Lords Name is much taken in vain and the People little profited 3. Looking on that Exercise as a work below us and not condescending to study a right and profitabl way of instructing the Lords People 4. Partial in Catechising passing by these that are rich and of better quality though many of such stand ordinarly in great need of instruction 5. Not waiting upon and following the ignorant but passionatly upbraiding of them often 5. In Ruling and Discipline 1. NOt making use of this Ordinance of Church-Censures for gaining of souls but turning it in a meer Civil punishement and in the administration thereof becoming either coldrife or without a spirit of meekness and using a way either merely rational by wordly wisdom or meerly authoritative more then by motives drawn from the love of Christ and by our carriage in Judicatories putting a humane shape upon the Ordinances of Jesus Christ carrying our selves in too stately a way like the men of this world 2. Partiality in administration of Censures with respect of persons not using the like faithfull freedom towards high and low sib and frâ—md 3. Rash taking on us to open and shut Christs door 4. By our practice teaching as it were formality in Repentance to offenders hardening them in their sins by accepting bare forms without any evidence of Repentance and loosing when we were perswaded Christ did not loose and of late turning profession of Repentance into a State engine for men to step unto preferment and publick employments 5. Following scandalous persons with the highest Censures of the Kirk with little or no care to hold them up to God 6. Want of compassion to these on whom Discipline is exercised not laboring to convince them of sin but imperiously and with passion instead of zeal threatning them thinking it sufficient if we be obeyed though they be not gained to Christ. 7. Superficial sinful and slight censuring one another at times appointed for that end in Presbyteries and Synods and neglect of faithful freedom and love in performing that duty 8. Admitting of men to the Ministry who were not qualified with Grace aswel as Gifts not withstanding the Word of God and Constitutions of this Kirk do require the one aswel as the other which hath been the fountain of many evils 9. Great unfaithfulness in bringing in and holding in unworthy persons in the Ministry and keeping Censures off unfaithful men 10. Unfaithfulness in giving Testimonials and Recommendations and receiving persons upon Testimonials meerly negative especially Expectants and Students of Divinity 11. Constituting Elderships of such men as are known to be ignorant prophane and disaffected to the Work of God and being careless to have them consisting of the most able and godly men within the Congregation a great cause of much ignorance prophane and scandalous carriage among the People 12. Neglecting to remove from the Elderships such as are ignorant and scandalous 13. Neglecting to hold out the necessary qualifications and duties of Ruling Elders and to stir them up to their duty 14. Not carrying our selves in Judicatories and other wayes toward Ruling Elders as towards Brethren and joynt Overseers in the work of the Lord. 15. Not making conscience of keeping Kirk Judicatories but wearying of the expences and attendance whereby diverse things hath been hastert and miscaried therein willing deserting of them and shunning to give testimony in them for fear of inconveniences 16. Not stouping to a gaining way in Debates nor making application to God for knowledge of his mind in things debated before they pass in a conclusion 17. Wearying to hear men fully who represent their doubts and to weigh all the Arguments that can be represented for the negative before the affirmative be concluded 18. Too great animosities in Judicatories even about matters of small weight 19. Pride impatience and peremptoriness of spirit not staying on others clearness in our debates and conclusions through which it comes to pass that we judge rashly of precious men and alienatition of affections steals in and is entertained 20. Hasty concluding of Acts pressing obedience thereto without convincing grounds holden forth from Scripture for satisfying the consciences of the Lords People 21. Silence in Assemblies when unsatisfied being carried by the authority of men and too much following other mens light and suppressing their own 22. Making Votes subservient to the humors of men and humane interests 23. Some altogether neglecting wholsome Acts and Constitutions of Assemblies and others receiving their Acts too implicity 24. Too bitter expressions against Adversaries in Publick Papers and Sermons for eshewing reproaches whereof there is no fruit but irritation 25. Abusing transportations by making them too frequent and almost the ordinary way of Planting places of any eminency sometimes enacting them when there is no pressing necessity and without tender endeavouring the satisfaction of the People interested and without care of providing them thereafter In relation to the Publick 1. NOt studying the controversies of the time that we might be enabled to hold forth light and convince gain sayers of the truth 2. Not fearing to meddle in matters too high for us and desiring to be taken notice of more then to be stedable in the Publick 3. Following of Publick bussiness with too much neglect of our Flocks 4. Following of Publick bussiness with much pride and passion and loftiness of spirit upon carnel principles and desire to be esteemed of rather then true zeal to Jesus Christ and his matters and with little or no prayer 5. Superficial admitting of all to the Covenants and solemn Acknowledgment without taking sufficient pains to instruct and inform them in the knowledge of the things contained therein 6. Being too instrumental for bringing disaffect persons to trust 7. Unequal zeal against enemies cooling in our zeal against one enemy as it is increast against another 8. Much repining at the judgments of God upon the Land from carnal respects and transferring the causes of the wrath off our selves upon others 9. Too easie satisfied in such things as might tend to the prejudice of Christs intâ—aest weighing the consequences of great Revolutions more by respect to our selves then to his honor 10. Agreeing to receive the King to the Covenant bracly upon writing without any apparent evidences of a real change of Principles 11. Not using freedom in shewing what we were convinced was sinful in reference to the late Treaty with the King but going on therein when we were nor satisfied in our consciences for fear of reproach and of being mistaken 12. Silence in Publick and not giving Testimony after a discovery of the Kings Commission given to Iames Graham for invading the Kingdom 13. Pressing the King to make a Declaration to the world whilest we knew by clear evidences that he had no real conviction of the things contained therein 14. Too much desiring to lurk upon by ends when called to give a Testimony 15. Not bearing Testimony against Publick Defections in a right and spiritual way 16. Unfaithfulness in bearing burden with them whom the Lord raised up to be his witnesses against the publick backslidings omitting to bear Testimony our selves upon carnal respects and lukewarmness in adhering to publick Testimonies formerly given A Postscript Which could not be gotten printed THe foregoing causes of Gods wrath being on severall dayes of solemne Humiliation laid out confessed before the Lord we thought fit to subjoine here some other causes of our late Humiliation as 1. The late declining of the Land by consenting engaging unto the publick actings of the present Powers so contrary to the Covenants so much prejudicial to Religion liberties 2. The defection of diverse who are accounted religious from their former principles unto Separation other Errours of the time 3. The Usurpation Carriage of the present pretended Assembly 4. The English their great Encroachments upon the Liberties of this Church 5. That the promised Conversion of His Ancient people of the Jewes may be hastened 6. That the Lord may make our present resolutions for reforming our selves our Elderships people effectual and may bless our Endeavours to this purpose FINIS
and affection to the Cause and of a blameless and Christian Câ—nversation notwithstanding of the solemn publick Confession of these sins and Engaging unto these duties a little before that time 5. Step. The Authorizing of Commissioners to close a Treaty with the King for the investing him with the Government upon his subscribing such Demands as were sent to him after he had given many clear evidences of his disaffection and enmity to the work and people of God and was continuing in the same And the admitting of him to the full exercise of his power and Crowning him notwithstanding of new discoveries of his adhering to his former principles and way and of many warnings to the contrary 6. Step. The Rejecting of Discoveries of guiltiness and causes of the Lords contending with us and of our duty in reference therto such as the cause of humiliation offered by the Commission of the General Assembly to the Committee of Estates at Leith before the defeat at Dumbar The causes of humiliation condescended on at Sterlin immediately after the defeat at Dumbar The Remonstrance of the Gentlemen Ministers and Forces in the West and many other testimonies of Presbyteries and Synods together neglecting the means tending to peace and to the preventing the effusion of more blood from pride and bitterness of spirit against those who had invaded us 7. Step. The Publick Resolutions of Kirk and State for bringing in the Malignant party first to the Army and then to the Judicatories and to the actual intrusting of them with the power of the Kingdom both Military and Civil whereby the state of our cause is not only turned up side down by subordinating the interest of God to the interest of men but the work and people of God have been entrusted to the enemies thereof 8. Step. The joyning of many engaged in the Covenant and Cause of God in Arms with the Forces of the Kingdom after that by the Publick Resolutions there was a prevailing party of Malignants brought into the Army who had the sway of Counsels and Actings therein and were carrying on a malignant interest 9. Step. The pre-limiting and corrupting of the Gen. Assembly in regard of the free lawful and right constitution thereof excluding such as were faithful and constant in the Cause and making it up for the most part of those who had been active and instrumental in carrying on a course of Defection or were consenting thereto whereby it came to pass that that Meeting did ratifie and approve the Defection it self and did not only censure sundry for protesting against them but also laid a foundation for censuring all such Ministers and for keeping all such out of the Ministry who did not approve of their Constitution and Acts and did issue Warnings and Declarations reflecting exceedingly upon and contradicting and condemning former pious and warrantable proceedings and the instruments thereof 10. Article Deep security impenitency obstinacy and incorrigibleness under all these and under all the dreadful stroaks of God and tokens of his indignation against us because of the same so that whilest he continues to smite we are so far from humbling our selves and turning to Him that we wax worse and worse and sin more and more Having at our last Meeting intended and promised to enlarge more fully and particularly these Generall Heads of the LORDS Controversie with the Land then condescended on We shall now prosecute and perform the same so far as we conceive is needfull and may be helpfull to others for the better understanding thereof IT were superfluous to speak any thing to the 1. Article which relates to the grosse ignorance of many thousands in the Land the truth of the thing being unquestionably acknowledged and bemoaned by all the faithfull and godly Ministers in the Land and that a great many come to age are grosly ignorant of the first Principles of Christian Religion which sin of ignorance although it be extenuated and slightly looked on by many yet it is holden forth by the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures as the fountain of the estrangement of souls from the life of God Ephes. 4. 18. through the blindnes that is in them having the understanding darkned being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnes of their heart of all their disobedience and living in their lusts 1. Pet. 1. 14. as obedient children not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance And as that which makes them lyable to the wrath of God in the day of Christs appearance 2. Thess. 1. 8. When the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them who know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord-Iesus Christ. The guilt of this sin is much aggravated by these Circumstances 1. It is willfull under the light of the Gospel and the means of knowledge 2. In regard of long continuing therein many have lived under it for so many years together even till their old age 3. From the grossnesse of it being such in many as they know almost nothing of the very Letter of the Scriptures either of their sin and misery or of the mercy and remedy that is holden forth through Jesus Christ or of the dutie which they owe to God and their Neighbour nothing almost either of Law or Gospel of the Covenant of Grace or of the Covenant of Works of Commandments Threatnings or Promises except in such a generall and confused way as is altogether uselesse unto them and fruitless in them 4. In regard of the multitudes of these who lye under it which is very great in all the corners of the Land especially in the Highlands 5. In regard of the quality of persons who are not onely servants and Commons but Masters of Families and persons of some note in Burghs and in the Countrey yea not a few who have the place of Magistrates and Elders The Article doth also mention ignorance of the Works of God by which is meant not only the Works of Creation wherein the Eternall Power and Godhead are clearly seen Rom. â— 20. For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternall Power and Godhead but also the ignorance of the Works of Providence which are great and marvellous Rev. 15. 3. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints And albeit these should be sought out of all these that take pleasure therein Psal. 111. 2. and the right understanding and observation of them hath a large promise made thereunto Psal. 107. 43. Who is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindnes off the Lord. Yet doth the ignorance thereof exceedingly abound
the corruptions both of Kirk and State And that it was for restraint of this and for their own just defence against tyranny and unjust violence which ordinarily is the fruit and effect of such a power that the Lords People did joyn in Covenant and have been at the expences of so much blood travels and pains these years past Fifthly That the King being averse from the Work of Reformation and the Instruments thereof and compassed about with Malignant and dis-affected men whom he hearkens to as his most faithfull Counsellours and looks upon as his most loyall and faithfull Subjects being admitted to the exercise of his power before satisfaction given would by these counsels endeavour an over-turning of these things which the Lord hath wrought amongst us and labour to draw Publick Administrations concerning Religion and the Liberty of the Subject into that course and Channel in which they did run under Prelacie before the Work of Reformation Which we had the more cause to fear because his Royall Father did often declare That he conceived himself bound to imploy all the power that God had put in his hands to the utmost for these ends and that he adhered to his Fathers principles and walked in his way and had made a peace with the Irish Rebels by which is granted to them the full liberty of Popery From these Principles the Generall Assembly did then infer That it would be the wisedome of every one who dwells in this Land to take heed to such a temptation and snare that they be not accessory to any such designes and endeavours of bringing or admitting the King to the exercise of his Power without satisfaction given concerning the security of Religion and Liberty of the Subjects as they would not bring upon themselves and on their Families the guilt of all the detriment that would undoubtedly follow thereupon to Religion and the Covenant and of all the miseries and calamities that it would bring on his Majesties Person and Throne and on these Kingdoms Such a thing say they would in all appearance be the under-minding and shaking off if not the over-throwing and destroying the Work of Reformation and that therefore whosoever attempts the same do oppose themselves to the Cause of GOD and will at last dash against the rock of the Lords Power which hath broken in pieces many high and losty ones since the beginning of this Work in these Kingdomes From all which it dotli appear upon good grounds that it was an high provocation to admit the King to the exercise of his Power or to intrust him with the Cause and People of GOD whilst he was continuing in his former disaffection to and eninity against the same with which sin the Lord hath been so displeased that he Hath in a great measure verified the same things on the Land which are holden forth by the Generall Assembly and which would be the consequents thereof We know that it will be objected by many That the King did desist from and abandon that course of enmity against the Work and People of God before the close of the Treaty and that he did give satisfaction concerning the security of Religion and Liberty of the Subjects by condescending to and subscribing these demands which were sent to him from the Parliament of this Kingdom and the Commission of the Generall Assembly To which we reply First that these demands were desicient at least not so plain and positive and expresse in the main and necessary thing to wit a reall abandoning of former malignant courses and principles and a reall and cordiall cleaving to the Work and people of God without which there could not be a reall security it was not a shadow of security for Religion and Liberty or a paper and verball security onely but a reall security which we were bound before the Lord to have evdeavoured and obtained before the close of a Treaty with the King for intrusting him with the Government and to authorize Commissioners to settle with him upon such paper-securities and accordingly to intrust him was but to mock God and to deceive the World and to betray and destroy our selves by giving up all the precious Interests of Religion and Liberty into the hands of one who was in a course of enmity to these Secondly it is certain if men will not deny clear and evident truths that the King had not only before the authorizing of these Commissioners to close a Treaty with him upon his condescending to these Demands given evidence of his emnity to the Work and people of God but also was continuing in the same during the time of the Treaty and that he had not abandoned these Principles and courses at the close of the Treaty And when he did swear and subscribe the Nationall Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant Nay the whole tenour of his carriage did then and afterward convincingly enough to intelligent men demonstrate him to be the same he was before We shall not need bring many instances therefore passing over these things which he did before this Kingdome began to treat with him such as the Declaration emitted by him when he was Prince against the Cause and People of God and his Printed Declaration at Iersey as King against all who had been in opposition to his Father in these troubles We shall mention only a few particulars that fell out thereafter to wit these first he did not only countenance and entertain the most Capital and known Enemies of this Kingdom such as Iames Grahame and others who had shed much of the bloud thereof but also did give Commission to the said Iames Grahame to make war upon and invade the Inhabitants thereof as Traitors and Rebels Secondly in the whole progresâ—e of the Treaty as he did communicate and take counsell with known dis-affected and malignant men in all things relating to the same and not moving a step but according to their advice so did he procrastinat and delay to grant what was desired untill all other means of help had failed and his own estate and condition was now become desperat and what he did grant was not all at once and cheerfully as if it had been a duty but by little and little and by a kind of coaction and merchandise as if it had been a bargain of buying and selling Thirdly after the Treaty was brought to some close he did before his coming to Sea receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper from one of the Prelatical Chaplains and according to the Serviâ—e-Book notwithstanding the Commissioners of the Kirk did represent the evill thereof to him and did earnestly deal with him to the contrary Fourthly he brought to Sea and into Scotland with him almost the whole Train of Malignant and dis-affected men who had followed him in his former evill courses and fled from the Justice of both Kingdoms and these he did more familiarly intirely converse with then with others Fiâ—thly he was neaâ—
by any amongst our selves or hinted at by any amongst them were slighted and some time entertained with disdain reproach and contempt and albeit the invasion was unjust yet certainly it was our duty to have followed and endeavoured peace so far as was possible Rom. 12. 18. If it be possible as much as lieth in you live peaceably with all men Heb. 12. 14. Follow peace with all men and holinesse without which no man shall see God Psalm 120. 7. I am for peace but when I speak they are for war 7. Step. The seventh is the Publick Resolutions of Kirk and State for bringing in the Malignant Party first to the Army and then to the Judicatories and the actuall intrusting of them with the power of the Kingdom both Military and Civill We conceive that these Publick Resolutions in the complex of them do besides other sins which may be mentioned include those First a conjunction with the Enemies of God and his Cause which is condemned by many clear Scriptures 2 Chron. 19. 1 2. And Iehoshaphat the King of Iudah returned to his house in peace to Ierusalem and Iehu the son of Hananâ— the seer went out to meet him and said to King Iehoshaphat Shouldst thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the LORD therefore is wrath on thee from before the Lord. Isa. 30. 1 2 3. Wo to the rebellious children saith the LORD that take councel but not of me and that cover with a covering but not of my spirit that they made adde sin to sin That walk to go down to Egypt and have not asked at my mouth to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh and to trust in the shadow of Egypt Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion Isa. 31. 1 2 3. Wo to them that go down to Egypt for help and stay on horses and trust in chariots because they are many and in horsmen because they are very strong but they look not to the holy one of Israel neither seek the LORD Yet he also is wise and will bring evill and will not call back his words But will arise against the house of the evill doers and against the help of them that work iniquity Now the Egyptians are men and not GOD and their horses flesh and not spirit when the LORD snall stretch out his hand both he that helpeth shall fall and he that is holpen shall fall down and they all shall fall together Jer. 2. 18. And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt to drink the waters of Sihor or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria to drink the waters of the river Jer. 13. 21. What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee for thou hast taught them to be captains and as chief over thee shall not sorrows take thee as a woman in travail 2. The laying of a foundation of or the establishing of a rule for imploying and intrusting men with the interest of the Cause of GOD and of the Kingdom who ought not to be imployed nor instrusted if respect be had to the qualifications required in the Word viz. That they be men fearing GOD hating covetousnesse and dealing truly who are appointed to be rulers over thousands hundreds fifties and tens Exod. 18. 21. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men such as fear GOD men of truth hating covetousnesse and place such over them to be rulers of thousands and rulers of hundreds rulers of fifties and rulers of tens and that they be just ruling in the fear of God who rules over men 2 Sam. 23. 3. The GOD of Israel said the Rock of Israel spake to me He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God 3. That there was therein a breach and violation of the fourth Article of the Covenant which obligeth that we be so far from giving trust to Malignants that they should endeavor to bring them to condign punishment 4. That there was therein a manifest receding from the solemn publick confession of sins and engagement to duties and from the constant tenor of our Declarations Warnings and Remonstrances and causes of humiliation these years past Ier. 2. 35 36 37. Yet thou sajest Because I am innocent surely his anger shal turn from me Behold I will plead with thee because thou sayest I have not sinned Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt as thou wast ashamed of Assyria yea thou shalt go forth from him and thine hands upon thine head for the Lord hath rejected thy confidences and thou shalt not prosper in them 5. That there was a great deal of diffidence and distrust in the Arm of the LORD and a seeking of help from and a resting on the arm of flesh Ier. 17. 5 6. Thus saith the Lord Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the LORD for he shall be like the heatâ— in the desert and shall not see when good commeth but shall inhabite the parched places in the wildernesse in a salt land and not inhabited 6. That there was therein a great deal of prevarication and deceitfull dealing by many Ier. 5. 2. 3. And though they say The Lord liveth surely they swear falsely O Lord are not thine eyes upon the truth thou hast stricken them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder then a rock they have refused to return Because albeit the arguments that were used were taken from necessity and other things of that kind yet the great wheel that moved in that businesse was a design to bring in that party into places of power and trust into the Army who had been formerly put out for their malignant and disaffected carriage and thereafter albeit in the beginning of this businesse so great haste was pretended that they could not wait for a very few dayes till the Commission might conveen but made use of a unfrequent and occasionall meeting when not onely many of the Members were absent but also not advertised yet when that which was aimed at concerning the Modelling of the Army was obtained they did move but very slowly and Acted nothing at all for many months thereafter nay not till long after the Army was compleatly Leavied and until they had gotten the Act of Classis also resemded and that Party brought to the Parliament aswell as to the Army and untill the Generall Assembly did sit down that they might have their approbation of these proceeding so far as was fit for them to meddle with 7. There was in it a reall stumbling and offence to the most part of the godly in the Land whose hearts were much grieved and their hands exceedingly weakened thereby together with the making glad and strengthening the ungodly and
of the earth by clear shining after ram 2 Chr. 19. 6 7 8. And he said to the Iudges Take heed what ye do for ye judge not for man but for the Lord who is with you in the judgment wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you take heed and do it for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God nor respect of persons nor taking of gifts v. 9. And he charged them saying Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart and Deut. 23. 9. When the host goeth forth against thyn enemies then keep thee from every wicked thing Therfore were they unclean by Leprosie by an Issue and by the Dead to be put out of the Camp Num. 5. 2. Command the children of Israel that they put out of the Camp every Leper and every one that hath an Issue and whosoever is defiled by the dead Deut. 22. 10. Thou shalt not plow with an Oxe and an Asse together v. 11. Thou shalt not wear a garment of diver sorts as of woollen and linnen together because the Lord their God did walk in the midest of the Camp of his People to deliver them and to give up his enemies before them therefore was the Camp to be holy that he might see no unclean thing in them turn away from them Deut. 23. 14. For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy Camp to deliver thee and give up thine enemies before thee therefore shall thy Camp be holy that be may see no unclean thing in thee and turn away from thee And because this Nation had exceedingly neglected the purging of Judicatories and Armies and constituting the same of persons rightly qualified which was the cause of many evils of sin and punishment therefore was this neglect publickly and solemnly confessed to GOD and the contrary duty engaged unto at the renewing of the Covenant toward the end of the year 1648. as is to be seen in the solemn Publick Confession of sins and engagement to duties For rendering of the which effectual the Commission of the Generall Assembly did present many Petitions Remonstrances and Warnings from time to time to the Committee of Estates and to the Parliament who did make sundry Lawes both for the purging of the Judicatories and Armies which then were and for keeping them pure for the time to come as is to be seen in their Registers and Acts Anno 1649. and 1650. And accordingly somewhat was done in that great and necessary duty by themselves and others to whom they did commit the trust but not withstanding of all these things it did appear very soon after the Confessing of that sin and engaging to that duty that many did neither mind repentance of the one or performance of the other Therefore as the Commission of the Generall Assembly were necessitated to renew their desires in that particular very often and from moneth to moneth so were not these Lawes and Committees having power to execute the same established without some wrestling and difficultie not a few labouring to obstruct and retard the same and when it came to the execution with what neglect and slowness and partiality did they proceed therein And what impediments did they who were not diligent cast in the way of others who were more diligent and faithful and zealous in following of the duty By which it came to passe that little could be gotten done in that matter and what was done was not onely loadned with imputations and reproaches but also was for most part made ineffectuall The persons appointed to be removed being either keeped still or shortly thereafter being brought again to their own or some other place or else as evill being put in their place Nay after the defeat at Dumbar these duties came not only to be neglected but what formerly had been gotten done therein was looked and cryed out upon as the cause of the ruine of the Army and therefore not only these who had been formerly purged but all others how malignant and loose soever were brought to the Judicatories and Army and what had formerly been confessed a sin was then followed and commended as a duty 5. Step. The fifth is The authorizing of Commissioners to close a Treaty with the King for the investing him with the Government upon his subscribing such demands as were sent to him after he had given many clear evidences of his dis-affection and enmity to the Work and people of GOD and was continuing in the same and the admitting of him to the full exercise of his power and Crowning him notwithstanding of new discoveries of his adhering to his former Principles and way and of many warnings to the contrary For the better understanding and more full and clear discovery of this sin we would consider these things which are set down by the Generall Assembly of this Kirk in their Declaration of the date Iuly 27 1649. to wit that as Magistrats and their power are ordained of GOD so are they in the exercise thereof not to walk according to their own will but according to the Law of equity and righteousnesse as being the Ministers of GOD for the safety of his people c. Secondly That there is a continuall obligation and stipulation betwixt the King and the People as both of them are tyed to GOD so each of them are tyed each to other for the performance of mutuall and reciprocall duties according to which it is statute and ordained in the 8. Act of the Parliament of King Iames the Sixt That all Kings Princes and Magistrats whatsomever holding their place which hereafter shall happen at any time to reign and bear rule over this Realm at the time of their Coronation the receipt of their Princely Authority make their faithfull Promise by Oath in the presence of the Eternall GOD That during the whole course of their lives they shall serve the same Eternall GOD to the utmost of their power according as he hath required in his Holy Word contained in the Old and New Testament and according to the same Word shall maintain the true Religion of JESUS CHRIST the Preaching of his most holy Word and due and right Administration of the Sacraments now received and preachd within this Realm and shall abolish and gainstand all false Religion contrary to the same and shall rule the People of GOD committed to their charge according to the will and command of GOD revealed in his Word and according to the laudable Lawes and Constitutions received within this Realm c. Thirdly That in the League and Covenant that had been so solemnly and publickly sworn and renewed by this Kingdom the duty of defending and preserving the Kings Majesties Person and Authority is joyned with and subordinate to the duty of preserving and desending the true Religion and Liberty of the Kingdoms Fourthly That an arbitrary Government and an illimited Power was the fountain of most if not of all
Leith and offered to the Committe of Estates by whom they were rejected the story whereof as to the matter of fact was thus The next day after the English forces came in view of our Army which was then intrenched betwixt Leith and Edinburgh Some generall persons in our Army whether from any desire to approve themselves to the King who the night before was come to Leith from Sterlin or from any other principle we know not did draw forth a great many of the Horse to skirmish with the Enhlish by whom they were with some losse and much shame beaten back again to the trenches which bred such a disheartning and astonishment in the whole body of the Army that had the English then stormed the Trenches they had belike gained them and routed our Army Upon this occasion the Commission of the Generall Assembly gave themselves to search after the causes of this stroake and spirit of confusion and astonishment from the LORD and after some pains taken therein found that there had been a malignant design for bringing in again the malignant party of a long time hatching and carrying on by sundry in the Judicatories and in the Army and that it was far promoted and advanced And for the more conviction herein they did condescend on severall Instances and Particulars of moment and consequence This they offered to the Committee of Estates as grounds of humiliation to be keeped by them and the Army but the Committee as they did refuse to take with any such guiltiness so did they refuse to joyn in any humiliation to be keeped for the same Upon the which the Commission did leave it before them with a Declaration That they had exonered themselves and with a desire to the Committee of Estates to do therein as they would be answerable to GOD who was contending for these things The second is the causes of humiliation condescended on at Sterlin immediatly after the defeat at Dumbar these causes which were first condescended on by the Presbytery with the Army and afterwards approven by the Commission of the Generall Assembly did specifie somewhat of the crooked courses which had been taken in carrying on the Treaty with the King and of the obstructing the purging of the Army and of the Judicatories and of the Kings Family and of the not differencing of Instruments imployed in Publick trust and severall other things relating to the carriage of these in Publick trust in Judicatories and Armies which though reall truths in themselves and just matter of humiliation before GOD yet were rejected and not so much as read or intimated by many Ministers in their Congregations and were refused to be taken with or acknowledged by sundry Statesmen and Officers of the Army and others who were guilty of them The third Instance is the Remonstrance of the Gentlemen Ministers and Forces in the West which though it was a testimony given in reference to sin and Duty by a company of men who had been straight from the beginning in the Work of GOD in the simplicity of their hearts and did contain in it many sad truthes yet was not onely rejected but condemned by the plurality of the Committee of Estates and Commission of the General Assembly notwithstanding that many of the Members of both these Judicatories did dissent from and protest against these voices and as if it had not been enough was again resumed by the Parliament and a most harsh censure put upon it and all such as did not disclame it before such a day appointed to be proceeded against with Censures of an high nature other testimonies of Presbyteries and Synods beside these are also mentioned for diverse such there was as the Letters from the Presbyteries of Sterlin Aberdeen Glasgow Pasley and severall other Presbyteries and Synods which were writen to the Commission as testimonies of their dis-satisfaction with the Publick Resolutions concerning the Leavy and were rejected and sundry of the authors thereof sharply rebuked nay some of them discharged to speak their Consciences and confined in places far distant from their charge for doing thereof In the close of this Article there is mention of the neglecting of means tending to peace and the preventing the effusion of more bloud from pride and biternesse of spirit against these who had invaded us We know that before this Kingdom was invaded by these who hath now brought it low there was a Letter writen by the Parliament to the present power in England and duplicates thereof to the Generall Liutenant Generall and Generall Major of their Army upon the 22. of Iune 1650. wherein they did shew that as in their Letter of the 6. of March 1649. they did acknowledge their obligation and declare their resolution to observe the rule of Remonstrating first the breaches of Peace for craving just reparation of using all fair means of giving a preceding warning of three moneths before any Engagement of these Kingdoms in war so they do again renew the same and accordingly renewed the Acts of Posture and Leavy for putting this Kingdâ—m in readinesse in case of invasion which were made the former year when they wrote the foresaid Letter of the 6. of March all which they do professe solemnly to be done by them in the sincerity of their hearts not out of any policy to catch advantages nor for any other end or design whatsoever but meerly for their own defence which they do account abundantly sufficient to remove all grounds of jealousies and misreports of their intentions and to take away all pretence of necessity of the marching of forces for defence of the borders of England and on the other part being informed of a resolution in England to send an Army to Invade this Kingdom they desired to know whether these who have the present power in England do acknowledge themselves oblieged or by their answer will obliege themselves and declare their Resolutios to observe the foresaid way and order upon their part to us and plainly and clearly to declare whether their Forces do march for offence or defence whether with intention for keeping onely within the borders of England or comming within ours which way of procedour for clearing each others and dealing plainly is not onely agreable to particular Treaties and to the many Tyes Bonds and Declarations past betwixt these Kingdomes but also to the Law of God and practise of his People in his Word and to the common law and practice even of heathen Nations much more of Christian Covenanted Kingdoms and may prevent many evils dangerous consequences which may fall out even beyond and contrary to the intentions of the Nations by their Armies lying near others upon their borders although meerly upon intended defence This did indeed savour of a spirit of peace but since the comming of these men into the Land there hath been such pride and bitternesse of spirit that not onely were all essayes of peace neglected but every motion tending thereto whether made
disaffected and prophane in the Land Ier. 23. 14. I have seen also in the Prophets of Ierusalem an horrible thing they commit adultery and walk in lies they strengthen also the hands of evill doers that none doth return from his wickednesse they are all to me as Sodom and the inhabitants thereof as Gommorrah Ezek. 13. 22. Because with lies ye have made the hearts of the righteous sad whom have not made sad and strengthened the hands of the wicked that he should not return from his wicked works by promising him life Lastly the state of our Cause was thereby upon the matter turned upside-down by intrusting the Work and people of God to the enemies thereof it being known and made manifest that these men did retain the same principles and did drive on the same designs which could not but prove destructive to Religion the People of God 8. Step. The next Step is The joyning of many of the People who are engaged with God by Covenant to the contrary no lesse then the Rulers with the Forces of the Kingdom after that by the Resolutions there was a prevailing party of malignants brought to the Army who had the strength of Counsels and Actings therein and were carrying on a malignant interest what ever question there may be of the associating of subjects in war with the wicked enemies of God on the command of the Magistrate in a lawful cause which seems to us to be condemned in the People of God Isa. 8. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18. For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people saying Say ye not a Confederacy to all these to whom this People shall say a Confederacy neither fear ye their fear nor be afraid Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts Himself and let Him be your fear and let him be your dread And he shall be for a sanctuary but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Ierusalem and many among them shal stumble and fall and be broken and be snared and be taken Bind up the Testimony seal the Law among my Disciples And I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Iacob and I will look for him Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts which dwelleth in Mount Sion Aswel as in the Magistrates the ground of the prohibition to wit learning of their works and the ensnaring of the People having a more immediate connexion with the Peoples joyning then with the Magistrates commanding them to joyn yet as the thing is laid down in the Paper we think there will be no question about it because it includes these Particulars 1. The joyning of a People who with the consent and approbation nay by the commandement and authority of their Magistrates had covenanted with the LORD not to joyn with his Enemies 2. That it was when the rule of constituting the Army was corrupt to wit the Publick Resolutions which made the case desperat and left no place or remedy for purging of the Army 3. That it was when a party of Malignants who had the sway of Counsels and Actings were brought to the Army which being added to the former not only made the purging of the Army in an ordinary way impossible but also carried the stream and current of all their Resolutions and Actings into a malignant Channell that they were the prevailing Party is more manifest then that time needs to be spent in verifying thereof 4. That they were carrying on a Malignant Interest to wit the establishing the King in the exercise of his Power in Scotland and the re-investing him with the Government in England when he had not yet abandoned his former enmity to the Work and people of God and the securing of Power in their own hands under him And though none of these four had concurred all which we believe will be acknowledged by un-byassed men yet there was a sin in the Peoples joyning because few or none of these who did joyn did give any testimony against the Magistrats employing of the Malignant Party but went willingly after the commandment Hosea 5. 11. Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment because he willingly obeyed and want after the commandment It is acknowledged to have been the Peoples duty even by these who justifie their joyning with them upon the command of the Magistrate to have bemoaned it before the Lord and in their stations to have testified against it before men 9. Step. The ninth Step is the prelimiting and corrupting of the Generall Assembly in regard of the free and right constitution thereof Generall Assemblies rightly constitute in their liberties and freedom as they are one of the most precious Ordinances of JESUS CHRIST so have they been most wholsome and profitable means in this Kirk for the purging and preserving all the Ordinances of CHRIST in the Land and therefore as it hath been the care of all the faithfull servants of God in the Land to vindicat and preserve their right constitution and due liberty and freedom so in the promoting of any course of defection hath Satan alwayes studied to intrench thereupon and to corrupt the same That the Generall Assembly was prelimited this year is evident by the Letter written by the Commission of the Generall Assembly to the Presbyteries with an Act sent therewith appointing that all these who remain unsatisfied in the Publick Resolutions after Conference and did continue to oppose the same should be cited to the Generall Assembly Which Letter and Act had such influence on many Presbyteries that though there were in them many able and faithfull men who were unsatisfied with the Publick Resolutions yet very few of these were chosen to be Commissioners and where any such persons were elected there was for the most part either Protestations against it or else another election of other persons by which it came to pass that almost all these were incapacitated to sit in the Assembly and the Meeting was almost wholly made uponly of these who had been instrumentall in carrying on the former defection or were consenting thereto and were approving thereof A more grosse prelimitation then this could not readily be that men intrusted by the Generall Assembly with the Publick Affairs and to preserve the liberty thereof should first contrary to their trust open a door for bringing in the Malignant Party and then shut the door against the sitting of all these in the Assembly where their proceedings were to be tryed who did not before their comming there approve of their opening the door to the Malignants which was not onely to make defection themselves but to involve others therein and to take away the remedy thereof Beside this grosse prelimitation there was