of Morton sundry Gentlemen of good quality most innocent were hanged many of the prime Noblemen Gentlemen and Ministers were forced to flee for their lives out of the Kingdome till all of them joyning together did ride in Armes to Stirling and by violence though without hurt to any mans person did the second time remove those Courtiers and for ever after kept them from the King to the full quieting both of Church and State This Rode of Stirling was much more cried out upon by the wicked Prelates and Courtiers then the former of Ruthven yet was it approved for good service to the King and State not only as the former by the privie Counseâ—l and convention of States but also by the ensuing Parliament and so it remaines unquarrelled unto this day Your third complaint is P. 45. The Assembly repeales no lawes but supplicates the Parliament to recall their ratifications of Ecclesiasticall corruptions that the generall Assemblies doe alter what the Law has established all your examples hereof are The Votes of the late generall Assembly at Glasgow condemning the civill places of Church-men pronouncing the very office it selfe of Bishops to be unlawfull in the Church and crying downe the high Commission Court Here you fall upon the Parliament of England as fooles and Traitours for letting themselves bee perswaded by the Scots to swallow downe their wicked Covenant To all this our Apologie is briefe what ever power our generall Assembly possesses is all well allowed by the King and Parliament The acts of that Assembly you complaine of are all ratified by the State the order of our proceeding is appointed by Law all matters Spirituall and Ecclesiastick are first determined by the generall Assembly if the nature of the things require a civill Sanction the Votes of the Assembly are transmitted to the Parliament if a Generall Assembly have voted an Errour or any thing that 's wrong and that corruption hath been ratified by an Act of Parliament a Posterior generall Assembly recognosces the matter and finding an errour in Religion notwithstanding of the prior votes both of the Assembly and Parliament does condemne it and appoints Commissioners to represent the reasons of their vote to the next Parliament with an humble supplication to annull these Acts and Laws which did confirme the condemned corruption This has been the method of proceeding in Scotland since the first erection of a generall Assembly in this way were all the Errours of Popery first condemned in the Assembly before the Parliament did recall their old Lawes whiâ—â—â—â—nfirmed them The forme of this proceeding established by the Parliament it selfe does not import any subordination either of the lawes or the Parliament to the Assembly P. 46. It meddles with no civill Courts At this place p. 46. you bring us another story whereupon you make tragick out-cryes of the Assemblies insolent usurpations it seems you thought that this your book should never have come from Oxford into the hands of any Scottish man who knew the Custome of the Judicatories of Scotland I doe marvell much at your impudence that you should speake of the Assemblies incroaching upon the Lords of Session or medling with any Civill cause which the Law commits to any temporall Judicatory there is no better harmony in the world then alwayes has been in Scotland between the civill and Ecclesiasticall Judicatories no interfeiring was ever among them but what the Bishops made You indeed in your high Commission did take causes both civill and Ecclesiasticall to your Cognisance from all the Courts of the Kingdome and did at your pleasure without and contrary to all known Lawes finally determine them without any appeale but to the King by whom you were sure ever to be best beâ—eeved For the story in hand The case of Mr. John Graham I am content Spotswood be Judge as he relates it the matter was thus Mr. Iohn Graham one of the Lords of Session or Judges of the Common Pleas a very false and dishonest man intended an action against some poore men to put them from their Lands for to effectuate his purpose he seduced a publique Notary dwelling at Stirling and perswaded him to subscribe a false Writte upon the which the poore men by a decree of the Lords of Session were removed from their possessions The oppressed soules cryd out of their injurie and intended action against the Notary for his false Writ they got him arrested and imprisoned The Minister of the bounds Mr. Patrick Simpson whom King James and all Scotland knew to be a most learned zealous and pious Pastor as was in the whole Isle dealt with the Prisoner to confesse the truth after some conference he confessed all and declared how Mr. John Graham had sent his Brother to him with a false Writte which hee did subscribe an assize was called the poore Notary upon his own cousession was condemned and hanged Mr. John Graham as covetous and false so a most proud man would not rest satisfied but presently summoned Master Patrick Simpson to appeare before the Lords of Session as a seducer of the honest Notary to lye against his owne life Mr. Patrick was ready to cleare his own innocencie whereof all were well perswaded but shamefully wronged by an impudent man in his good name he caused cite him before the Assembly as a slanderer of a Minister in the work of his calling the Lords of Session not content that any of their number should be called before the Assembly for any action depending in their Court did send som of their number to the Assembly for to debate the whole matter The Assembly told them that they would not meddle with any thing that was civill nor which belonged to their Court that they intended to take no notice of their decrees at Mr. John Grahams instance to cast the poore 〈◊〉 out of their Land whether it was right or wrong nor the notaries Instrument wherefore he was hanged whether it was true or false They told them also that whatsoever they had to say to Mr. Patrick Simpson hee was to answer them as they should thinke fit in due time and place the Assemblies question was alone about the slander of one of their Members whom Mr. Iohn Graham did openly challenge as a Seducer of a Notary to beare false witnesse They had cited Mr. John Graham before them to make this good that so they might censure Mr. Patrick Simpson as a man unworthy of the Ministry or if Mr. John Graham's challenge was found a meere calumny that he might bee brought to repentance for it in acknowledging of his wrong Let any equitable man judge how insolent the Assemblies proceeding in this action was for a time there was some controversie about this matter betwixt the Assembly and the Session but at last all was amicably composed and God decided the question with the violent death and publick disgrace of Mr. Iohn Graham What ye subjoyne of King Iames trouble to the
unlawfull correction follow after according to the Word of God no man in Scotland did ever assert such things but the Question was as Spotswood himselfe states it Whether the Counsell was a competent Judge to Malter Melvils doctrine in prima instantia these were the expresse tearmes e Spotswoods Story fol. 175. yeer 1583. l. 6. he affirmed that what was spoken in Pulpit ought first to be tryed by the Presbytery and that neither the King nor Counsell might in prima instantia meddle therewith Master Melvill did protest for the liberties of the Church ratified by law avowing that as civil actiōs could not be called from before the ordinary Judicato ies to the Counsell Table though the King by his Letters should command it so causes meerly Ecclesiasticall should not be brought from the Presbyteries and Synods at least in the first instance He did also protest that the liberties of the Vniversity should not be violate for it was a priviledge of old conferred and very lately confirmed both by King and Parliament that no member of the University should be called before any Judicatory to the time their cause was heard and discussed within the University it selfe f Second Book of Discipline p. 25. Although Kings and Princes that be godly sometimes by their owne authority when the Kirk is corrupted and all things out of order place Ministers and restore the true service of the Lord after the example of some godly Kings of Juda and divers godly Emperours and Kings also in the light of the new Testament yet where the Ministry c. whether these Protestations were treasonable and dissonant from the Lawes and constant practice of Scotland will appeare more anon so much of the narrative The Ordinance pretended to be made upon occasion of Master Melvils misbehaviour What Supremacy is Irwfull was the Act of the Kings Supremacy over all persons That none should decline his Highnesse Authority Where it is to be observed that the contrivers of this Declaration while they endeavour to shew the occasion and rise of that second Act from Master Meloil and other Ministers their stirring up of people to Rebellion against their native King and their refuling to acknowledge the Soveraigne judgement for a godly quietnesse and order in the Common-wealth to appertaine to his Highnesse care and solicitude And it being professed in the same Declaration concerning that Act that his Majesties intention was onely to represse that immunity priviledge and exemption invented by the Pope to exempt himselfe and his Clergie from all judgement of Princes Yea the Declaration expressy waveth th Question of the Kings Supremacy in judging of cause Ecclesiasticall as not belonging to that present condition of affaires the Question being neither concerning heresies interpretation of Scripture the lawfull and ordinary Ecclesiasticall Judgement for preserving and maintaining Church Discipline nor concerning the power of Synods but concerning some of the Ministry joyning themselves as is there pretended to Rebels and disquieting the State These things considered it will appeare that as this Declaration infinitely wrongeth these learned and godly Ministers who were far from any disloyall doctrines or popish tenents concerning the immunity of Ministers from all judgement of Princes in matters belonging to quietnesse and order in the Common-wealth so it doth not cleerly hold forth that which peradventure was intended and is endeavoured in point of the Magistrate his supremacy in Ecclesiasticis by some who were very solicitous to have this Declaration reprinted whose principles suffer them not to rest satisfied with that measure of power which in a reformed and well constructed Church doth by the Word of God and by the Doctrine of the ancient and reformed Churches belong to the civill Magistrate in reference to Religion and causes Ecclesiasticall wherein also their power is further enlarged in extraordinary cases when the ordinary wayes and meanes of reformation cannot be had Some hopes it seemes there were to find in this Declaration another kind of Supremacy which is now the idol of many mifinformed minds which is also hightned farre above the moderate interpretations which were given by Doctor Bilson and Doctor Vsher I meane such a supremacy The Erastian Supremacy is more then a Turkish tyranny as makes the Magistrate the head and fountaine of all Jurisdiction Civill and Ecclesiastick which makes all powers within His Dominions to be but rivolets and streames derived from his Ocean making all the members of all Courts Spirituall and Civill to be but Commissioners at pleasure of the Prince putting all Lawes under his arbitrement and the Legislative power in his brest alone changing Parliaments into his arbitrary Counsels for matters of State as generall Assemblies for matters of the Church putting it in his free will to lay aside for ever both Parliaments and Assemblies and to set up in their places what Courts they thinke expedient for all causes of all persons that they may if so it be their pleasure commit the finall decision of all Ecclesiastick causes to some few Church and Statesmen of their owne nomination under the title of a High Commission or to two or three either of the Church or State under the name of Delegats or to any one Gentleman alone under the name of a Vicar generall also they may devolve the last determination of all civill causes upon a few favourites whether of the long or short Robe under the stile of a Star Chamber or Counsell Table or Cabinet counsell or private Juncto If this be the supremacy which the reprinters of the Declaration aime at we grant that many Prelats and Courtiers have alwayes been of their mind but I assure them the Scots Divines did ever abhorre such slavish maximes such a supremacy has alwayes been the fundamentall Law in the grand Segniors Port at Constantinople it has been for many yeers the possessed Prerogative of the French and Spanish Monarchs also from their example it has been the aime and endeavour not onely of other Kings but almost of all Princes and Soveraigne States how pettie soever so much is a sovereigne despotick and uncontroleable Domination naturally beloved by all who are in any neernesse or hope to attaine it But it is a morsell that has stuck with so many in the swallowing and poysoned so many in the digestion though swallowed downe that few who are wise will adventure any more to taste of it notwithstanding if the appetite of the publishers of this Writ will not be satisfied with any thing lesse then such a Supremacy let them be pleased to consider First If either King or Parliament admit of it it wil overthrow both and the whole Nation with them that this kind of supremacy will fall upon a subject where their harts wil be loath it should lodg it wil be found rather a part of the royall Prerogative then any Priviledge of Parliament and although according to their good friends last warning to the City the Crowne were broken
in pieces and the whole royall Prerogative devolved upon the head of the Parliament yet the aforementioned supremacy is so high an injustice that no gracious member of either House would ever be perswaded to touch it though it were put in their fingers for beside the everting of all the Lawes whereupon Monarchy since the first foundation has stood it would so shake the groundstones of all the Lawes of the Kingdome as would hazard the overthrow no lesse of the Parliament then of the King and with them all the Judicatories and rights of the Land our unhappy Brovilons fit for nothing so much as to confound all things would be in a faire way to bring the whole Church and State to such a Chaos and hodge podge as no creature without Gods extraordinary assistance should ever againe be able to bring their confusions to any tolerable order Secondly The Supremacy here mentioned favours Episcopacy but not Erastianisme they should doe well to consider that whatever supremacy is aimed at in the Writ yet the Erastian designe will not be much helped thereby for it is expresly provided therein that the ordinary Ecclesiastick Judicatories shall cognosce all Ecclesiasticke causes g Printed Declaration p. 3. Neiis it his Majesties intention to take away the lawfull and ordinary judgment of the Church but rather to preserve encrease and maintaine the same and as there is in the Realme Justices Constables Sheriffes Provosts Bailiffes and other Judges in temporall matters so his Majesty alloweth that all things may be done in order and a godly order may be preserved in the whole Estate the Synodall Assemblies by the Bishops or Commissioners for the places vacand to be convened twice in the yeere to have the Ordering of matters belonging to the Ministry and their estate no word at all to import that any civil Commissioners may determine upon any affaires meerly Ecclesiasticall it is true that the ordinary Judicatories here named are put under the foule feet of the Prelats and this seems to have been the maine aime both of the Act and of its interpretation yet hereby the Erastian principles are nothing furthered for as by the Covenant and Laws of both Kingdomes the roots of Episcopacy are now pluked up so it s well knowne that neither Presbiterians nor Independents were ever more zealous for the establishing of Ecclesiastick jurisdiction by a divine right in the hand of Church Officers then the Episcopall party at least those of them who understood and minded their owne principles Thirdly King James against the Erastians if all this will not satisfie we desire those who hold out this passage as advantageous for the Ecclesiastick power of the Magistrate in prejudice of the Presbytery to know that when the Ministers did complaine to King James of this seeming prejudice he gave them his owne Declaration which he promised should be as authentick as that Act of Parliament hh Kings Declaration Now I say and declare which Declaration shall be as authentick as the Act it selfe that I for my part shall never neither my Posterity ought ever cite summon or apprehend any Pastor or Preacher for matters of Doctrine in Religion salvation beresies or true interpretation of the Scriptures but according to my first Act which confirmeth the liberty of Preaching the Word Ministration of the Sacraments I avow the same to be a matter meere Ecclesiasticall and altogether impertinent to my calling therefore never shall I nor never ought they I meane my Posterity to acclaime any power of jurisdiction of the foresaid which caused their griefe and much more authentick then Adamsons Interpretation of that Act assuring them that neither himselfe nor any of his successors should ever claime the Cognizance nor the power to determine in any cause meerly Ecclesiasticall ii Vide sapra hh avowing that Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction did belong onely to the Church officers which neither himselfe nor any of his heires should ever crave nor ever ought to crave as belonging to them King James revoked what here is published Finally we desire them to know if Princes promises and Declarations under their hands seeme not to them sufficient security that whatever in the present passage does appeare to spoile the Church Assemblies of a full and plenary Jurisdiction was all recalled and past from by King James the very next yeer for he did consent unto that transaction of Archbishop Adamsons whereby the Arch-prelate devests himselfe of all jurisdiction and submits himselfe to the authority of the Assembly renouncing all liberty of appeale to any other person or Judicatory in the earth kk Spotswoods History lib. 6. p. 184. yeer 1586. A transaction was made in this sort That the Bishop by his hand writing should labour to carry himselfe as a moderate Pastor ought labouring to be the Bishop described by Saint Paul submitting his life and Doctrine to the Judgement and censure of the generall Assembly without any reclamation provocation or appellation from the same in any time comming what should have moved the King to hearken to a mediation so prejudiciall both to his owne authority and the Episcopall jurisdiction cannot well be conjectured whatsoever the reason was the Bishop did set his hand to the things proposed by the Assembly But to stop all mouths which from Scotland would bring any colour of warrant King Charles also for an Erastian Supremacy in the last Parliament of Scotland which was ratified by King Charles with the hearty consent of his good Subjects of England the finall determination of all Ecclesiasticke Causes whatsoever is referred to the Nationall Assembly as to the onely proper and competent Judge ll Second Parliament of K. Charles Act 4. p. 6. 8. The Kings Majesty having graciously declared that it is his royall will and pleasure that all questions about Religion and matters Ecclesiasticall be determined by the Assemblies of the Church and that for preservation of Religion generall Assemblies rightly constitute as the proper and competent judge of all matters Ecclesiasticall hereafter be kept yeerly and oftner pro renata as also that Kirk Sessions Presbyteries and Synodall Assemblies be constitute and observed according to the order of this Kirk which Act the estates now convened by his Majesties indiction raâ—ifies approves and confirmes in all points and gives thereunto the strength of a Law and Act of Parliament whoever will call this Act of Parliament into question must be content to have the King and his Parliaments of both Kingdoms for their first and chiefe opposites The explanation of the next Act is also large and confused The sum of the next Paragraph it contains a discharge of all Church Assemblies and meetings not authorized by Law particularly it discharges the Nationall Assemblie and Classicall Presbytery upon the allegeance of some enormous practises of these two meetings Consider first the discharge and then its reasons Church-assemblies established in Scotland on a
parts of Spotswoods Story Ibid. The Church of Scotland gives no more power to Congregationall Elderships then the Independents and Erastians doe allow p. 15. the Prelats give much more ecclesiasticall power to Lay-men then we to ruling Elders p. 16 We give to Deacons no power of jurisdiction we wish there were Doctors in all populous Congregations Elders in some few Congregations for a time have a Dispensation p. 17. No Eldership inflicts any civill punishment Ibid. the Prelats confound miserably the spirituall and civill Offices p. 18. Princes plead not for exemption from Ecclesiastick jurisdiction p. 19. No Presbytery did ever enter in any processe with the supreame Magistrate p. 20. the Moderators of our Assembly are Preachers p. 21. Our expectants are not Lay-Preachers p. 22. the Presbytery of Edinborough usurps no power over any other Ibid. King James aversion from Presbytery and affection to Episcopacy makes not this the better nor that the worse Ibid. No Presbytery did ever keep any State with the King p. 23 The Presbytery doth not enquire in secret faults but knowne crimes it does not passe by p. 24. The Presbytery meddles not with matter of trade or debt or any thing civill p. 25. they never did dilapidat any Benefice p. 26. nor favour Gentlemen in their wickednesse they never did countenance any feud all these were the Prelats crimes p. 26 27. Ministers generally were ever and still are honoured more in Scotland then anywhere else p. 29. Master Robert Bruce vindicated p. 30 31. The reason of the Authors malice against the generall Assembly p. 32. His false and railing slanders against it p. 33. The generall Assembly exercises no power but what the King and the Lawes have authorized Ibid. the Commissioners of Burroughs and Vniversities are Elders Ibid. we a cribe to the King so much power in the Assembly as the Laws allow p. 34. the Assembly alters no Law onely it supplicates the King and Parliament to alter such Lawes as confirme evident errors p. 35. the Prelats quarrelling against ruling Elders is absurd Ibid. The Assembly and Parliament in Scotland use not to differ p. 36. The vindication of J. Knox the first reformers from base calumnies p. 37 The suspention of the Queen Regents authority was an Act meerly of the State which did nothing prejudge the Soveraignty p. 38. The Presbyterians have often supported but never hurt royalty p. 39. John Knox did never preach for the pulling downe of any Church p. 40. The armes of Scotland against the tyranny of the French were necessary and just p. 41. the Author very wicked and popish Ibid. Cardinall Beton by all Law and reason deserved death p. 42. An account of the tumult at Edinborough for the Service-book p. 43 44. Our Assemblies did ever defer all loyall subjection to the King p. 45. Master Henderson was ever free from all disloyall and Papall humours Ibid. Our first reformation was authorized by Parliament p. 46. Episcopacy was never approved by any lawfull Assembly in Scotland p. 47. the short confession of faith was subscribed by King James in the yeer 1580 the Presbyterial Government was fully agreed unto before that time ibid. the King and his Counsell did set up the Presbyteries over all the Land at the same time p. 48. The generall Assembly did never approve of Abbots and Pryors ibid. The Ministers of Scotland were wont to preach to the King and State free and seasonable Doctrine but in all wisdome and humility p. 49. Preachers of treason are censurable both by the Church and State p 50. The Erastian and Prelaticall principles brought great trouble on the Ministers of Scotland p. 51. The case of James Gibson p. 52. Mr. David Black his case ibid. A cleer vindication of the Assembly at Aberdeen in the yeer 1605. p. 53 54 55. Mr. Welsh and Mr. Forbes pittifully oppressed p. 56. Bancroft a persecutor of the Scottish Presbyterians ibid. Mr. Andrew and Mr. James Melvils oppressed p. 57. The Scottish Discipline is far from all rigour and tyranny p. 58. A Narration of the Roads of Ruthen and Stirling p. 60. The Assembly meddles not with Lawes nor with any civill Courts p. 61. Mr. John Graham his case p. 62 63. The great controversie betwixt the Church and the King was the infinite extent of the Prerogative p. 64. the Presbytery is a great bar to keep out Democracy and tyranny both from Church and State it is a singular help both to Kings and Parliaments p. 65. Mr. Catherwoods vindication p. 66. The Commissioners of the generall assembly unjustly slandered p. 67. A full account of the 17. day of December p. 68 69 70 71. Mr. James Melvile vindicated from assisting of Bothwell against the King p. 72. A Declaration upon all the twelve Articles imputed to us p. 73 74 75 76. No shadow of Episcopacy remaines in any well reformed Church p. 77 78. The Dutch Superintendents are very far from the English Bishps p. 79. The Contents of the second Treatise THe Opposites of Presbytery blinded with malice have hurt themselves and no other by the reprinting of this false Declaration p. 1. Adamson confesseth himself to be the Author thereof but King James did disclaime it p. 2. whatever in it is contrary to Presbytery is condemned by the Parliament of Scotland p. 3. It is hazardous for a Prince to take upon himselfe the faults of his Officers p. 4. the indignation of the people in Scotland was never against King James but oft against his Court and that upon just grounds p. 5. King James was far from Erastianisme p. 7. Cleer grounds for Mr. Melvils justification p. 9. his flight no argument of guiltinesse p. 11. A great cause of the rooting out of Episcopacy ibid. Mr. Melvils Declinator and Protestation cleered p. 12. What supremacy is lawfull p. 13. the Erastian supremacy is more then a Turkish tyranny p. 14. if either King or Parliament admit of it it will overthrow both and the whole Nation with them p. 15. King James revoked what here is published and King Charles also p. 17. The Presbyteriall Government was established in Scotland on a divine right with the allowance of K. James and K. Charles in divers Parliaments p. 18 The reprinters of this Declaration seem to be contemners of Oaths Lawes and all rights divine and bumane p. 20. A full account of the French Banquet p. 21. The Prelats and Erastians extreamly unjust against the Presbytery p. 24. The general Assemblies approbation of the Road of Ruthven very innocent p. 25 The Road of Stirling cleered p. 27. Episcopacy was not established at the Conference of Leeth 1572. p. 16. It was lawfull for the Assemblies to call to fasting p. 28. The reprinters of this Declaration make no conscience of their Covenant p. 29. King James his full and honest Declaration against Erastianisme p. 31. The pretended intentions were not the Kings but the Prelats p. 32. The reprinters of this Writ are either hypocrits or
make poor people die Traytors to both ibid. p. 68. fancying to themselves that they fight the Lords battels for Religion Liberties they dream they die Martyrs when they die Traytors to God and his Anoynted ibid. p. 132. They set the simple people upon Rebellion against God and his Anoynted to the destruction of State soul and body temporally and eternally That the defensive war of the Parliaments of both Kingdomes is a most reall Rebellion and Treason that all who have dyed in that quared are certainly damned that the Covenant is a damnable Conspiracy that all Covenanters are Traytors and Rebels both to God and the King that their Covenant puts them upon the principles of Ravtitack and Faux to kill Kings and blow up Parliaments (b) Vide supra a. also ibid. 63. This Covenant maketh every man to be armed with power and the way left to himselfe for ought wee know it may be Raviliacks way or Guido Faux his way ibid p. 7. For as bad as the Iesuite is in my conceiving the Puritan is worse That the Armes of the Irish Rebels were no more unjust then these of the British who opposed them that the Irish Cessation was lawfull and commendable (c) Ibid. Preface to Ormond you were assaulted with two of the worst extreames of opinions enraged both of them with the same degrees of madnesse That the Marquesse of Ormond for piety and prudence has not his match upon earth (d) Ibid. You whose piety is admirable whose wisdom and prudence is above the ordinary and all your equals so experienced in matters of State that it is a wonder to them who know you and incredible to them who have not been eye witnesses That for military vertue he is equall to Scipio Hannibal and Caesar (e) Ibid. Your heroicall Acts are worthy of the greatest Caesar you gained so much as their valiant Hannibâ—s and Scipios That the Legislative power is in the King alone That his Monarchy makes him above all Lawes and lets him be tyed to none but gives him power to alter and abolish them at his pleasure (f) Sacro Sanct. p. 180. One of the Sectaries principles wherby they intoxicate the Vulgar is that in a Monarchy the Legislative power is communicable to the subject ibid. p. 94. At the admittance of Saul God giveth to the subject Legem parendi Soveraignity is an undivided entity how can you share it among more To diminish any thing of this Pretogative is to destroy Monarchy to dethrone the King and to take his Crowne from him (g) Ibid p. 141. You totally destroy Monarchy and must say down right our gracious Soveragne is no Monarch p. 142. An impotent King is the same with no King For Parliamâ—nâ—s to meddle with any part of this power is a sacriledge which God will revenge (h) Ibid. p. 144. The worst bargaine ever subject made was at any rate to purchase a possession of the sacred Rights of Kings till these Kingdomes be purged of sacriledge so highly committed against God by wronging his Anointed and he be restored to his sacred Rights we need look for no effectuall blessings of God When through weaknesse or imprudence a Prince is cheated or enforced to give away to his Parliament any part of his power himselfe or any of his posterity when ever occasion offereth may lawfully take it back notwithstanding of any promise oath or law made to the contrary (i) Ibid p. 142. I doubt not to affirme but if any good Prince or his Royall Ancestors have been or are cheated out of their sacred Right by fraud or force he may at the first opportunity when God in his wise providence offereth occasion resume it You see with what a Statesman we have to doe A favorer of â—rosse Popery â—nd Arminiaâ—isme for his Religion heare a part of it Episcopacy is a necessary and fundamentall truth of Divine Institution and Commandement (k) Issachar p. 1. In the Edition of Oxford Episcopacy is the true necessary and perpetuall Government of the Church institute by Christ wee deceive our selves to expect deliverance from our troubles if wee subordinate fundamentals in Religion necessary truths to our civill good All Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction belongs to the Bishops alone by Divine Right no Presbyter ought to bee a member so much as of a Provinciall Assembly (l) Ibid p. 31. Now is forgotten that of the councel of Chalcedon concilium est Episcoporum and that old barbarous but Christian enough verse Ite foras laici non est vobis locus ici That the Kings consent to the abolition of Episcopacy in Scotland is the true and great cause of all the troubles which since that time hath befallen him and his subjects (m) Ibid p. 2. What peace hath King or Kingdome enjoyed here or in Ireland since Episcopacy by Law in Scotland was damned That Abots Priors and their Religious Houses of Monks and Fryers are lawfull in the Church (n) Ibid. p. 49. Abbots and Priors to Melvils time were nominate and admitted to Abbeys and Priories as Church men but this great Doctor found out another Divinity that for Abbots and Priors there was none such in the Word of God That Patriarcks and Cardina's are Church Dignities highly to be reverenced (o) Ibid p. 43. Cardinall Beton a Priest and Archbishop of so high Dignity That the Pope by Divine Right is as true a Bishop as any other Bishop in the world but by humane Ecclesiastick Right he is greater then any other (p) Sacro Sanct. p. 58. The Pope the Bishop of Rome hath no more by Divine Right except it bee in extent then the meanest Bishop in his Diocesse what hee may have by positive Ecclesiasticall right it s not pertinent for us now to examine Hierome compareth three of the meanest Bishops with three of the greatest Patriarcks Priviledged at that time by Ecclesiasticall Canons That Presbytery is worie then Popery and Iesuitisme that it were much better for any King to put his Dominions under the yoak of the Pope and Iesuites then of Presbyteries and Synods (q) Issachar Edition Oxford p. 30. The â—ing is in a worse condition under this soveraignty then under the Pope ibid p. 45. The Presbytery it or may be in time a mother of as much rebellion and treason as any Iesuitisme of the highest die if not more certainly Rome although a whore is not so bad nor so abominable That the first Reformation in Scotland France Holland Germany and where ever the supream Magistrate was not the Author and Actor of the worke was unorderly and sin ull an action seditious and treasonable a great cause of all the mischiefes that from that time to this have come upon the Churches (r) Ibid. p. 36. This gave life to that tumultuary Reformation we will never wrong Reformed Religion so much as to count of that as an orderly Reformation We
are not void of Errours the greatest mistake of this wise Prince was in his too great affection towards Episcopacy the Presbyterian Nobles and Divines in Scotland set him in his Infancy upon his Throne when his life and Crown without their cordiall assistance was given by all men for gone in all his great feares from Spaine or any where else at home or abroad so long as he remained in Scotland his recourse was only to them and notwithstanding of the very hard measure which oft they had received and still feared from him yet did they never faile to support him in his need neither ever had they any difference with him but that which flowed from the unhappy fountaine in hand Had it been the will of God that this otherwise very wise Prince at his first comming into England had cast over the hedge of that Church the evill weed of Bishops and their Ceremonies he had certainly procured much greater peace to his own minde and in all probability prevented the huge mischiefes which from this neglect above all other causes doe this day overwhelme his house and all his Kingdomes What here you subjoyn to prove the pride of the Presbytery and the state it kept with King Iames is an ill conceived bob Page 7 8. No Presbytery did ever keep any state with the King when the Prince was pleased to honour them with a Message was it not better manners and greater civility for them to returne an answer by some of their owne number then by his Majesties owne Messengers had they sent their mindes otherwise how much more would the Prelatick Courtiers have cryed out upon their saucinesse and pedantick Rusticity The next Tale you tell us is The Presbytery is very tender of the fame of all persons though the Magistrate punish strumpets of the Presbyteries severity and unjustice in bringing shame upon many yong women on groundlesse suspicions of putting them in prison till they confesse their secret sins in forcing them to clear themselves by oathes in the Congregation of needlesse jealousies This tale is delated with many odious circumstances but consider first that you shoot your Arrowes at the wrong Butt You may remember the Classicall Presbytery uses not to meddle with any such matters its true the Congregationall Eldership by clear Divine Right and consent of all differing parties take notice of the manners of the whole flocke if pregnant presumptions of fornication be delated to the Eldership by any Officer they will send to admonish the parties deferred but first in private with all discretion and tendernesse if secret admonitions be contemned and persons willfully will continue in a scandalous behaviour then will they call them before the Eldership and after earnest request if nothing else can do it will at last ordaine them to eschew conversing together in private and suspect places but for calling of any before the Eldership upon light presumptions for prisons for feeding with bread and water for troubling of families it s but a Prelatical calumny This indeed is true some known whores and strumpets when they have brought forth children in fornication and refuse absolutely to name the Father or when they give up such men as all know to be innocent the Magistrate will put them in prison for some time and if a flagrant scandall of fornication arise upon persons who desire themselves to be cleered they will be admitted to purge themselves by their oath in the Eldership or in the Congregation as the flagrancy of the Scandal or the parties themselves do require but what is all this to these odious fables here related it seems you were angry at another matter which I will here speak out for you Scotland however subject to many sins It does not curiously inquire in secret faults but knowne crimes it doth not passe by yet I dare say is much more free of fornications and adulteries among people of any fashion then any Nation I know or have heard of this makes the conversation of persons there to be free and without all suâ—picion except on very good ground but if such crimes be clear there is no sparing of any person of what ever quality all are called to an account that is the matter which seems to burn you Your bosome companion Mr. Menteth having deboshed a prime Lady in his flock when no secret advertisement could break off that wickednesse though a child or two were brought forth the honourable friends of the Knight who was wronged could keep no longer patience but did openly crave justice whereby Menteth was cast out of the Church and Kingdome and the Adulteresse diâ—â—â—ced from her Husband at this and the like procedure you are grieved your meeknesse would have all such abominations covered and remedied only by Auricular confession That this Epiâ—copa l indulgence flowes from no merciful disposition it app ars well by their ordinary rigour pressing the most gracious Minister and others for the smalâ—est opposition to any of their Traditions with their Oaths ex Officio and casting them upon their meere pleasure into the closest prisons and greatest afflictions well may the malevolence of Enemies declame against the severity of Presbyteries and paint them out as most cruell and intollerable inquisitions but beleeve it they that know and have seen them either in France Holland or Scotland can assure that the fault if any be fals upon the other hand of too great indulgence no man is called before them but for a notorious fault persons of any tollerable civility or circumspection use not to be called all their life time to any account of their behaviour if the Presbytery were able to give so satisfactory an answer for its to great meeknesse unto the Sectaries challenge as it can to the Prelates for its too great strictnesse I should be very glad What is subjoynd of the Presbyteries medling with Trade and commerce of dischargeing men to persue for their debts Page 9 10. The Presbyteries meddle not with matters of trade or debt and Landlords to sue for their Rents are stories so true as the father of lies is wont to dite to his obedient children Possibly in the eighty eight yeare of God when the Spaniards were comming to destroy the Land some godly persons had disswaded their Neighbours to carry victuals to Spaine at that time and some men may have had scruple of conscience for sending of waxe and furnishing of immediate materials for Idolatry I beleeve also that gracious Ministers have given private counsel to rigorous exacters of their Rents and unmercifull persuers of their debts But that ever any Presbytery in Scotland did take cognizance of any such matters to the uttermost of my best knowledge is an Episcopall that is a manifest and malicious untruth The same I say of your next story They never took upon them to change a Market day the Munday markets in some chiefe Towns were an evident occasion of prophaning the Lords holy
best Governour that any King of Scotland did ever injoy this man did Huntly kill without any cause at all but his owne meere envy and malice for these crimes he was againe excommunicate the Earle of Argile at the Kings intreaty and direction persued him with an Army of ten thousand men many hundreds of these good subjects were killed by that Rebell when after Argiles deseat the King himselfe with his prime Nobles went out against him he with displayed banner went to the fields against the King all this Spotswood reports at length Let any conscientious man here be judge King Iames for his owne respects requires a conscientious Minister to consent and concurre with him to obtain from the next ensuing Assembly the absolution of such a man from the censure of Excommunication for this was the main question the honest Minister could not be perswaded to consent unto the relaxation of such a bloody obstinate Apostate confessed by all to be still imponitent from the censures either of Church or State As for the inconveniences his Majesty did alledge the dangers from the Papists of England if Huntly and the Popish party in Scotland were too much irritate was it any great crime for Mr. Bruce to differ in this from his Majesty and to tell him plainly that which was the opinion of all the good Ministers of Scotland though the ground of the Kings quarrell with them That it would prove his best policy to make fast with the Protestant party of England and over-sea renouncing all correspondency either with Papists or Prelates that if he walked upon this ground God and his right would carry him through all both seen and imagined difficulties The world long agoe is satisfied with the wisedome of this advice for it was quickly found that too much connivence and compliance with Papists did bring that Prince upon the very brinke of ruine for the Popish party of England finding themselves disappointed of their great hopes did run to the desperate attempts of the Powder-plot and other Treasons Also the keeping up of the Bishops was a great cause of all the mischiefes which since that time to this day have fallen either upon our Church or State It is true the words you ascribe to Mr. Bruce are very unmannerly but who will beleeve that ever any such phrases proceeded from the mouth of so grave and wise a man your only Author is Spotswood His testimony in this case ought not to be trusted but if you will looke to the matter of Mr. Bruce his counsell I subject it to the touchstone of the severest censurers Upon the fourth head of Generall Assemblies Page 18 19 20 21. The reason of the Authors malice against the generall Assembly you spew out the whole remnant of your gall the wrath of a child does kindle against the whip that scourges him I will not remember you of the dogs snarling at the stone that hath hit him The Generall Assembly for just causes did chastise you with their sharpest rod of Excommunication they did deliver you into the hands of the Father of lyes and Blasphemies if there were no more then what here you write it is a demonstration that the sentence of that Reverend Assembly against you is ratified in heaven and that God in his justice according to the word of his faithfull servant hath delivered your obstinate soule to be acted by that evill spirit who else could move you to blaspheme the crowne of Christ and the holy One of Israel by name and to make the holy Scriptures the ordinary channell through which your profane girds at the Generall Assembly must run What you bring the most of it is so impertinent and so remote from all relation to any Assembly and set downe in such confusion that the very effects though the cause were not knowne may evidence the distraction of your Spirit I shall handle the fieryest of your darts as they come from your furious hands You make us to ascribe to our General Assembly False and rayling slanders against the generall Assembly a jurisdiction universall and infallible you will have it to meddle with all affaires both Spirituall and Temporall you would make the world beleeve that all disobedience thereto is censured with excommunication and that it commands the King to punish iâ— estate body and life all who disobey otherwise that it causes the King himselfe to be dethroned and killed this often you repeat moreover you call this Assembly an untamed furious Beast you advise the King much rather to submit himself to the Pope then to be in the reverence therof what spirit makes you break out into such discourses your selfe will see if ever God give you repentance however it is evident that lyes and malice do here strive which shall predominate The Generall Assembly in Scotland hath no more power then what the Parliaments since the first Reformation have heartily allowed unto them they meddle with no temporall case at all It exercises no power but what the King and the Laws authorize and all the spirituall cases which to this day they have touched may be reduced to a few heads That every disobedience brings with it Excommunication is a wide slander we doe not excommunicate but for a grievous transgression joyned with extraordinary obstinacy This censure is so rare with us that a man may live long and before his death never be witnesse to it What civil punishment the State in their wisedome findes meet to impose on a person who contemnes the Ordinances of God let themselves be answerable But that the Assembly medles with any mans life or goods is like the rest of your Assertions and yet no more false then the other lye you have here That ever any Assembly of the reformed Churches upon the highest provocations did take it so much as in debate to excommunicate much lesse to dethrone any King its most false but the Spirit that leads you must be permitted to breath out his naturall aire and to lye according to his very ancient custome You object it once and againe that the Commissioners of Burroughs and Universities are received as Members in our generall Assemblies behold the greatnesse of this crime The Commissioners of Burroughs and Vniversities are all Elders out of every Classicall Presbytery we allow one ruling Elder to goe as Commissioner to that Nationall meeting and if there be a royall Burgh within the bounds we allow two and three if there be an University What would you say to the Parliament of England who appoints foure ruling Elders out of every Classis to accompany two Ministers to the Assembly though there be neither Burrough not University in the bounds of this we are carefull that whoever comes either from Cities or Universities be not only ruling Elders but also have an expresse approbation from the Eldership What you speak of the Kings presence in our Assemblies We ascribe to the King so much power
in the Assemblies as the Lawes allow albeit not such a Tyranny as Prelats would flatter him into it is true it was ever our wish and oft our happinesse to have the King or his Commissioner amongst us at these meetings we never did dispute their capacity no more was craved then the place of a civil President and this no man did ever deny either to him or them nor a power to propound what ever they thought expedient but some of your flattering Prelates doe ascribe to the Prince a power which neither we nor our Laws may owne You give him a power to call so many as he will without all Commission from any Church to voice in all Assemblies and by the multitude of their voices to carry all You give him also a power to hinder the Assembly to debate any matter which he mislikes were it never so necessary for the very being of the Church You give him a Negative Vote to stop any conclusion were it never so consonant to the Word of God yea an affirmative Vote to carry all things in the Assembly absolutely according to his owne minde The Assembly being but his Arbitrary Court in things spirituall by whose advice the Prince who is the supream judge in all causes does determine as he findes it expedient sometimes according sometimes contrary to their judgement Such a power no ordinary either Erastian or Prelate will willingly grant to any Prince upon earth but this was one of the late Canterburian extravagancies wherein your singular zeale did much help you to your Bishoprick What you adde of our pressing the King to execute all our Acts under the paine of Excommunication we have oft told you it is a great untruth for all Scotland knowes that the furthest we went ever with any Prince in our Assembly Acts was humbly to supplicate for their civill Sanction iâ— we obtain it we blesse God and them if we cannot by any prayers perswade we sit down in grief and wait patiently upon their good pleasure Our taking in of all things temporall upon some spirituall relation The Assembly alters no Laws but only supplicates the King and Parliament to alter such â—aws as confirm evident errors and forcing the King to change his Laws though never so prejudiciall to the State your report in this will be beleeved when you have gotten grace to forsake in some measure the Spirit that now leads you The matter here you aime at but keeps it in the clouds is the proceeding of the Assembly at Glasgow against your offices and persons According to the Lawes of Popiâ—â— times The Bishops were Lords of Parliament of Councell of Exchequer of Session The Assembly did finde all this contrary to the Word of God and therefore did discharge under the paine of the censures of the Church any Minister of the Word to take upon him these civill imployments I hope the hindering of persons meerly Ecclesiastick to drowne themselves in a sea of temporall affaires is not to take cognisance of all things temporall in ordine ad spiritualia The Assembly did supplicate the King and Parliament for the abolition of the Popish and corrupt Lawes which did countenance the ambition of the Clergy the Parliament finding the Assemblies supplication just joyned with them to deale with the King to passe it his Majesty for a time misled by the flattery of Prelates refused but at last seeing the earnestnesse and cleer equity of the Assembly and Parliament their desires he was perswaded to consent to these Acts wherein all Churchmen are forbidden to take upon them civill places This is it that you call the forcing of the King and Parliament to change the Laws for the great trouble of the State this is all the Assemblies tyranizing over the King and Parliament a meer supplication to alter Popish and corrupt Lawes which both the King and the State after a little debate did finde necessary to be done To the absurdities which you call monstrously grosse Your oftrepeated quarrell against ruling Eâ—ders is absurd p. 21.22 we have spoken already you are impatient that any ruling Elder that any Commissioner from Burroughs or Vniversities should voice in Church Assemblies your expresse reason is because concilium est Episcoporum see the mans absurdity no Minister more then a ruling Elder must voice at any Assembly the decisive voice there belongs only to Bishops yet any Lay men vested with the Bishops commission may very lawfully exercise all Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction over the whole Clergy of the Diocesse neither is there any Gentleman of the Shire not any Burgesse of the City nor any Student in the Vniversity to whom a Prelate can purchase a Letter from the King but he may sit and voice decisively in all spirituall causes as a constituent Member of the Generall Assembly as well as the Bishop himself this is the doctrine and was the practise of our Prelates in Scotland You are angry p. 22. Page 22 23 24 25 26. The Assembly and Parliament with us use not to differ that the acts of our Assemblies should get so ready obedience but the matters themselves are so clear that none uses to refuse them and it is the Law of the kingdome that the Assemblies determination in matters proper to its cognisance should be obeyed if any thing new be acted which requires a civill sanction the Commissioners of the Assembly supplicate the next ensuing Parliament for their ratification which for common is easily obtained the cleer equity of the matter purchases a ready grant If there happen to be cause why the Parliament should not be satisfied the Aslembly by their reasons is perswaded to be of the Parliaments minde no such unanimous Courts in the Universe as the Parliament and Generall Assembly of Scotland they never had any difference but what bad Courtiers and Prelates procured for their owne interests put these pests of the Church and State to a corner the King Parliament and Assembly shall never differ but alwayes concurre for the strengthening and comforting one another From your 22. page to 31. Your invectives against our first Reformation are wicked you heap together what ever extream malice can invent to bring disgrace upon the first and cheife resormers of Religion from Popery you openly avow your dislike of the first Reformation in Scotland you are not ashamed to proclaim all the Reformation both of Scotland France Holland and Germany and wheresoever the work was not done by the hand of the Soveraign Prince to have been Sedition and Rebellion The first thing you undertake to prove is That we give our Assemblies power to depose and kill Kings The Vindication of Iohn Knoâ— and the first Reformers of Scotland from base calumnies for this you alledge Martin mar Prelate whoyet says no such thing and though hedid what is that to us then you cite a number of passages out of Iohn Knox his writings but is it just that John Knox Assertions long
complaint of the Scottish Ambassadour were able easily to get an affront put upon a Presbiterian fugitive but if ye will beleeve Spotswood Mr. Lawson was a man so eminent both for piety and prudence that it can hardly be supposed any thing could escape him in preaching which might deserve the Queenes displeasure how ever that excellent man did dye at that time in London as it seemes martyred by the injuries of the Scottish and English Prelates which doubtles did helpe to bring downe that vengeance upon the Prelaticall State in England which our eyes now doe behold For the further evincing of the intollerable miscarriages of the General Assemby P. 39. The case of Iames Gibson you bring three other stories p. 39.40 all are faults alleadged against single Mininisters which were they never so great and true ought not to be laid upon the Assembly but see how all are misreported the first concernes Iames Gibson a zealous Country Minister who Preaching in a very troublesome time spoke more rashly of the King then became him the words that you ascribe to him we may not take them at your hand for in the same matter by Spotswoods owne Testimony you are guiâ—ty of a great untruth you avow that the King caused complaint to be made to the Assembly of this man But by no intreaty could obtaine any punishment to be inflicted upon him Spotswood says the contrary that the Assembly did proâ—ounce the mans words to be slanderous and therefore suspended him from his Ministry and while they were in further agitation of his cause that he fled into England doubtles for feare of his life what became of him thereafter I know not only I have read in a good Author that what here you insinuate of his favouring Hacket and Copinger is a very false calumny The next you speak of is Mr. Master David Black his case David Blacke Minister of St. Andrews a man of great piety and prudence his name is yet very savoury in that Towne though there be in it some three or foure thousand people yet so great was the zeale wisdome and diligence of Mr. Blacke that during all the time of his Ministry there no person was seen either to beg or prophane the Sabbath day in all that Congregation This man being delated to the secret counsell by a very naughty person that in a Sermon he had spoken disgracefully of the King was willing to have appeared and cleered himselfe of that calumny but finding that it was not his person which was aimed at but a quarrell with the whole Church in him sought for by the misleaders of the Court he thought meet to appeale not simply from the King but from the King and secret counsell to the King and Generall Assembly as to the proper and competent Judge appointed by the Law for matters of Doctrine While this question is in agitation a great storme did fall upon the Church from the seventeenth day of December which made Mr. Blacks cause be laid aside yet a little thereafter for to please the King the Commissioners of the generall Assembly did passe upon that gracious man a sentence severe enough removing him from St. Andrews to some obscure corner where he passed the rest of his dayes P. 40. A cleaâ—e vindication of the assembly at Aberdeen in the yeare 1605. Your third story is of the Ministers who went to Aberdeen the year 1605. upon them you make a tragick Narration a guâ—â—ty of the most treasonable rebellion Your rashnes is great at these times to bring up to the sight these things which for the honour of many did lye long buried but since it is your wisdom to make the world know whereof with your friends advantage they might have been ignorant the matter was this It was the custom of Scotland ever from the Reformation to keep generall Assemblies twice or at least once every yeare After some debates in the yeare 1592. it became a Law and an Act of Parliament agreed to unanimously by the King and States and accordingly it was practised without any interruption that the Generall Assembly should meet at least once a yeare and appoint when all other actions were ended the day and place for the next yeares meeting In the yeare 1602. the Assembly in the Kings presence and with his advice did appoint the day and place of their next meeting in the yeare 1603. His Majestie at that time going to England tooke upon him to prorogat the Assembly till the same day and place of the yeare following 1604. of this prorogation there could be no necessity but his Majesties meere pleasure When the Dyet of the yeare 1604. did come the affaires of the Church did greatly call for an Assembly yet it was his Majesties will to make a second prorogation 〈◊〉 the fifth of July 1605. This was much to the hurt griefe and feare of all the godly yet they indured it but when the Dyet of the yeare 1605. was come His Majestie did not only prorogate the third time but also made the day of the next meeting â—â—tertaine and inderinite This gave an allarme to the whole Kingdome all the world did see the Kings designe to bring the English Eâ—iscopacie and all their Ceremonies upon the Church of Scotland also the mistery of popery was then working vehemently a mighty faction of popish Lords were still countenanced among us immediate correspondence with the Pope by the chiefe States-men was much surmised and afterward was found to be too true Scotland had no considerable Bâ— warke either against English or Romish corruptions but their generall Assemblies if these were removed the poore Church lay open to the inundation of what ever Antichristianisme the Court was pleased to send in The generall Assembly besides its divine right was grounded upon so good Lawes as Scotlanâ couâ—d afford but â—o that at the end of the present Assembly the Dyet of the next should alwayes be appointed however his Majesties designe to put downe the generall Assembly was evidently seen by aâ— intelligent men yet so long as he prorogate it to a certaine day men were quiet but so soon as he commanded the third dyet to be deserted and that to an uncertaine and infinite time they to whom the welfare of the Church was deare did awaken and found it necessary to keepe the Dyet appointed in the second prorogation at Aberdeen Iuly 2. or 5. 1605. The Commissioners of the Presbiteries in their way to Aberdeen advised with Chancellor Seaton the prime Magistrate of the Kingdome in the Kings absence and were incouraged by him to goe on yet so soon as any of them came to the place A Gentleman the Lord of Lauristone came to them with a warrant from the King and privy Counsell and discharged them to keepe any Assembly there yet the will of the King and Counsell was not intimated to them in convenient time for when the King and Counsells Letter was presented they shew
ratifies and approves the Presbyteries and particular Sessions appointed by the said Kirke with the whole Jurisdiction and discipline of the same Kirke agreed upon by his Majesty in conference had by his Highnesse with certaine of the Ministers conveened to that effect also determines and declares the said Assemblies Presbiteries and Sessions their jurisdiction and discipline to be in all times comming most just and good notwithstanding of whatsomever Statutes Acts Canons civill or municipall Lawes made in the contrary Item the Kings Majestie and Estates declares that the 129. Act of the Parliament holden at Edinbrough the 22. of May 1584. shall no wayes be prejudiciall nor derogate any thing to the priviledge that God has given to the Spirituall Officers in the Kirke concerning heads of Religion matters of Heresie Ezcommunication collation deprivation of Ministers or any such like essentiall Censures specially grounded and having warrant of the Word of God Also abrogates Cassis and Annuls the Act of the same Parliament 1584. yeere granting Commission to Bishops and other Judges constitute in Ecclesiasticall causes to receive his Highnesse Presentations to Benefices to give collation hereupon and to put order in all Ecclesiasticall causes his Majestie and Estates declares this Act to be expired and in time comming to be null and therefore ordains all Presentations to be directed to the particular Presbiteries More needs not be said for the confounding and filling with shame the faces of them No more is needfull for a satisfactory Answer who in the reprinting of this Pamphlet could have no other intention but to grieve and disgrace them whom by word they call Brethren but in heart and workes they evidently maligne as enemies without any cause Adamson the true Father confesseth it to be a Bastard and supposititious birth wholly composed of lyes and slanders King James disclaimes it and puts a new Declaration in its place the States of Parliament in King James his presence and with his open allowance abolished the Acts whereupon it was founded rooting out Episcopacy which it dothplant and building up Presbyteries and Synods which it professeth to demolish Yet for more abundant satisfaction The points of the wryt let us consider its particular parts It containes first a Preface Secondly an explanation of foure Acts of the Parliament at Edinbrough Pag. 1. It is hazardous for a 〈◊〉 Prince to take â—pon himself â—the faults of â—his Officers 1584. Thirdly an enumeration of some foureteene intentions ascribed to the King In the Preface there is a narrative of the causes of the subsequent Declaration all resolves upon the alledged Lyes of some evill affected persons labouring to impaire his Majesties honour and fame Upon this we remark that the late unhappy tricke of Courtiers and Prelâ—tes is no lesse ancient then this Declaration it was the ordinary custome of these ungrate and imprudent men to charge the backe of the King with their owne faults the bones of Kings are supposed by Sycophants to be so strong that no burden is able to bow much lesse to breake them As King Charles has ever been â—â—o ready and willing to take upon himselfe the guilt of his servants upon what ever hazard the same was his Fathers condition yet with this difference King James was willing to beare his Servants burdens till he found they pinched but so soone as they began to presse him any thing sore he was so wise and just to himselfe and others that he laid them alwayes over upon the neck of those whom in reason it concerned to beare them The people had an high esteeme of Ki. Iames his vertues About that time the fame of Kings James his Learning Piety and personall vertues did florish at home and abroad the wel-affected who chiefly are aymed at were so far from impairing his personall reputation that in their very censure of this Declaration they give unto him an excellent testimony g Vide An Answer to the Declaration Their indignation was onely against the Court and upon just grounds But at that same time his Court was so exceedingly corrupted that the good men in the whole Isle both English and Scots did lament it Captain James Stuart by his cunning crept up to be Chancellour became so insolent a Tyrant that neither the greatest nor the most innocent had security either of their life or Estate h Spotswoods History lib. 6 p. 179. â—eere 1584. this severity was universally disliked but that which shortly ensued was much more hatefull Ibid. Maines and Drumwhassill were hanged the same day in the publick street of Edenborough the Gentlemens case was much pittied Maines his case especially all that were present in their hearts did pronounce him innocent these cruell and rigorous proceedings caused such a feare as all famiâ—iar society was in a manner left no man knowing to whom be might safely speake Arran in the meane time went on drawing into his owne hand the managing of affairs for he would be sole and supream over all Ibid. p. 177. Master Andrew Pullert Master Patrick Galloway Master James Carmichal Ministers were denounced Rebels and fled into England Master Andrew Hay compeered and nothing being qualified against him was upon suspition confined to the North the Ministers sent Master David Lindsay to the King with their supplication but Arran sent him prisoner to Blacknesse where he was detained forty seven weeks The Ministers of Edenborough hearing of this for sook their charge and fled into England so as Edenbrugh was left without any Preachers Master Robert Pont likewise flying was denounced Rebell The best Ministers were forced to leave the Kingdome The Duke of Lennox whose power with the King was greatest had lately come over from the Guisians in France though the man himself was of a very good and meeke nature yet he had his instructions and dependance from the Authors and instruments of the French Massacres he made it his worke to further the interest of France to the prejudice of England he corresponded with the French and Scots Traffiquers for Queene Maries deliverance out of prison yea for her returne to the throne of Scotland in an association with her Son k The Collection Sir Esme Stuart was sent by Queen Mother of France and the Guisians to seduce the young King to subvert Religion violate the amity between England and Scotland to procure an invasion for the delivery of the Queen of Scots then in captivity to make the King content to be associate with her in the government to alienate his heart from the Ministry he had his continuall intelligence and instructions from France These things which all the Writers of that time do record did so fill the hearts of all good people with feares for changes both of Religion and Lawes that neither English nor Scots did spare to expresse them in their ordinary discourses l Vide supra h. Unto this frightment of the people the Acts of Parliament procured by the
forenamed Masters of the Court did much adde for the allaying whereof this Declaration was penned but to no purpose as Spotswood himself tels us m Spotswoods Story lib. 6. p. 177. This Declaration gave not much satisfaction so great was the discontent For no satisfaction was ever taken till both the Duke Chancellour Secretary and Archbishop Adamson were banished the Court and the acts of Parliament of their invention abolished as noxious and evill There was never any Warrant for Printing of this Writ What is here said of King James his command to publish this Declaration I do not find it verified in any Register either of the Church or Kingdome of Scotland that hath fallen in my hand but if any such command did come from him at that time of his minority and great tentation through the continuall evill offices of them that then managed his Counsels it were a case no more strange then these which often since we have seen in both Kingdomes many Proclamations and Declarations by false and wicked informations have been drawne from King James and King Charles and many other Princes which upon better advisement have been called in and buried the Proclamation concerning sports and playes upon the Sabbath the Service-Book and Book of Canons the Declarations of the Rebellion of the Parliaments of both Kingdomes we all know For my part I love not to rake out â—f the grave the carcases of these buried Writs for the infamy of the Prince or the prejudice of the Subject We shall sâ—y no more to the preface Pag 2. come to the interpretation of these offensive Acts of that Parliament at Edenburgh 1584. As for the first Act the explanation here made upon it did no way remove its offence for both the Act and its explanation attribute to the Ministers only the administation of the Word and Sacraments without any mention at all of any discipline this seems to have been one chiefe cause why the worshipfull Licenser was pressed with so much importunity to give his Imprimatur to this Writ as if this passage had been a demonstration of King James his Erastianisme but let the world take notice of the grossenesse of this mistake by this short information The Commissioners of the generall Assembly King James was far from Erastianisme were required by his Majesty at the Parliament of Lithgou 1585. to give him in the grounds of their grievances against the Acts of the Parliament at Edenbrugh 1584. here explained n Collection Master Andrew Melvill had been plaine with the King divers dayes at length the King desired the Ministers to exhibit in writ what exceptions they had against the Parliament held in Anno 1584. whereupon they exhibit to the King these animadversions following In their Animadversion upon the Act now in hand they did shew his Majesty that the power of Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction and Church-Censures did belong to them by divine right no lesse then the power of preaching the Word and Celebrating the Sacraments o Animadversions The power of the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven consisteth not onely in preaching and administration of the Sacraments but also in jurisdiction and removing of offences out of the Kirk of God and excommunication of the disobedient to be pronounced by these that are officers of the Church our warrants out of the Word of God for this part of the liberty of the Church we are to bring forth when your Majesty pleaseth Also that the Lawes of the Kingdome ever fince the Reformation did ratifie that their right p Ibid. This Act restricted the liberty granted byother Acts of Parliament of before concerning discipline and correction of manners which were established by a Law in the first yeer of your Majesties Reigne and that hitherto they had bin in peaceable possessioÌ„ thereof q Ibid. There is a spirituall jurisdiction where of the Office-bearers within the Kirk in this Realm have been in peaceable possession and use these twenty four yeer by past whereof followed no trouble but great quietnesse in the Kirke and Common-wealth The King in his Reply to this animadversion does not deny any of these Alleageances yea he declares under his hand that he did not intend to take from Church Officers any part of the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction but onely so to regulate the execution of Discipline that some part thereof might be put in the hand of Prelates this was the onely point in controversie r The Kings Declaration the first Act maketh onely mention of the preaching of the Word Sacraments not thereby to abrogate any good further policy and jurisdiction in the Kirke but allanerly to remit a part thereof to the Acts ensuing and the most which as yet are not agreed upon nor concluded I intend God willing to cause to be perfected by a godly generall Assembly Whence it appeares how far his Majesty was from all Erastianisme though his affection to prelacy at that time was too great which yet he changed quickly thereafter as we shall see anon The explanation of the second Act The sum of the next Paragraph consists of a Narrative and Ordinance builded thereupon the Narrative has the alledged misbehaviours of some Ministers Master Andrew Melvile alone is named as joyning in conspiracies with Rebels against the King as Preaching seditious Doctrine and disclaining the King and Counsell of State for his Judges The Ordinance is concerning the Kings Supremacy divers things are here jumbled together confusedly and odiously to these two purposes by the Abbot of Dunfermeling Secretary for the time the Penner of this passage as Adamson the writer of the rest confesseth Å¿ Adamsons recantation The Secretary himselfe penned the second Act of Parliament concerning the power of Judicatories to be absolutely in the King and that it should not be lawfull for any Subject to reclame from the same under the penalty of the Act which I suppose was treason Concerning the first Master Melvill his worth Master Andrew Melvils case the Narrative is most untrue as I shall make good by undeniable evidence Master Melvil was an excellent Divine the principall professour of Divinity in the University first of Glasgow and then of S. Andrewes full of piety eloquence and learning of all sorts so eminent in zeale for the truth that his remembrance is yet very precious not in Scotland alone but in other reformed Churches his heroicke courage made him an eye-sore to the Masters of the Court whose wickednesse he and his Schollars according to their place and duty did masculously oppose From this it was and nothing else that an Accusation was invented against him as for seditious and treasonable words against the Kings Mother Queen Mary then prisoner in England When he came to his Answer upon his solemne Oath Cleer grounds for his justification he denied his Charge t The Collection I Master Andrew Melvill protest before God and his elect
Angels that I spoke nothing in that Sermon or any other Sermon made by me tending to the slander or dishonour of the Kings Majesty my Sovereigne any wayes but in the contrary exhorted always all his highnesse Subjects to obedience and reverence of his Majesty whom God in his mercy hath placed lawfull King and supream Magistrate in the Civill government of the Country and most earnestly have prayed at all times and specially in the foresaid Sermon for the preservation and prosperous estate of his Majesty also I protest before God that neither in that Sermon nor any other I spoke these words the King is unlawfully promoted to the Crown or any words sounding thereunto for I put never in question his Majesties lawfull Authority and for his cleering he produced three famous testificats the first under the hand of all the Masters and Regents of the University the second under the hand of all the Magistrates and Common counsell of Saint Andrewes the third under the hands of the whole Classicall Presbytery of the bounds who all were his frequent hearers and the most of them had been present at the challenged Sermon all of them did testifie the Charge to be a vile calumny and that he had spoken no such words as were alleaged w The Collection Whatsoever is laid to our Brothers charge as it is false and fained of it selfe so it is forged of the Devill and his instruments to bring the faithfull servants of God in contempt for as we were continuall and diligent Auditors of his Doctrine so we beare him faithfull record in God and in conscience that we heard nothing out of his mouth neither in Doctrine nor Application which tended not directly to the glory of God and to the establishment of your Majesties Crowne and whensoever the occasion offered it selfe in speciall to speake of your Majesty we heard him never but in great zeale and earnest prayer recommend your Majesty unto his protection exhorting alwayes all manner of Subjects to acknowledge their obedience even to the meanest Magistrate also that both in his Pulpit and Chaire and ordinary discouse it was his custome to presse so much loyalty and obedience as any duty did require x Vide supraw. The witnesse brought in against him did depose nothing to his prejudice though the Chancellour Captaine James his spightfull enemy did sit in the Counsell as his Judge Yea if Spotswood may be trusted he was not found guilty of any the least part of his challeng but the sentence against him proceeded alone upon some alleaged rash words to the King in the heat of his defence y Spotswoods History yeer 1583. fol. 175. be burst forth in undutifull speeches which unreverend words did greatly offend the Counsell thereupon was he charged to enter his person in Blacknesse As for his conscience of any conspiracy he denied it upon Oath neither was any witnesse brought in to say any thing upon that alleageance if any more were needfull for the cleering of his innocence Adamsous Oath and Subscription is extant wherein he condemnes this part of the Narative of falshood and justifies Master Melvill as a most just and honest man z Adamsons Recantation in the second Act there is mention made of Master Andrew Melvill and his Sermon wrongfully condemned as factious and seditious albeit his Majesty hath had a lively tryall of that mans fidelity from time to time true it is he is earnest and zealous and can abide no corruption which most unadvisedly I attribute to a fiery and salt humour which his Majesty findeth by experience to be true for he alloweth well of him and knoweth the things that were alleaged upon him to have been false and contrived treacheries His flight no Argument of guiltinesse yea King James himself when the Commisssioners of the Church did complaine to him of these slanderous imputations did promise them under his hand that they should be rescinded a Kings Declaration always how soone the whole Ministers of Scotland shal amend their manners the foresaid Act shall be rescinded It is true that Master Melvill when he was sentenced did flee to England for his life the time being so evill that according to Spotswoods Relation the King by the practises of the Courtiers in his minority was forced b Spotswoods Story lib. 6. fol. 244. yeer 1600. Your Father said the King I was not the cause of his death it was done in my minority and by a forme of justice to permit and oversee too often the execution of divers good innocent men yet how little displeasing Master Melvils flight was to the King a short time did declare for within a few moneths he returned and was restored both to his Charge and the Kings favour c Vide supra the Collection and Recantation z wherein he did constantly continue till the death of Queen Elizabeth did call his Majesty to the Throne of England A maine cause of the extirpation of Prelacyin England a day very joyfull to both Kingdomes but most sorrowfull to the Church of Scotland for so soon as the English Prelates got King James amongst them they did not rest till Master Melvill and the prime of the Scots Divines were called up to London and onely for their necessary and just defence of the truth of God and liberties of the Church of Scotland against Episcopall usurpations were either banished or confined or so sore oppressed that griefe did break their heart and brought the most of them to their graves with sorrow the whole Discipline of the Church of Scotland was overthrowne to the very great trouble and disquieting of the Church and Kingdome This violence did lye silent under the Prelates Chaires for many yeers but at last blessed be God it has spoken to purpose it has moved the Heavens and shaken the earth to the tumbling of all these Antichristian Tyrants in the three Kingdomes with their seats of pride into the gulph of ruine whence we hope there shall be no more emersion Master Melvils Declinator and Protestation cleeâ—ed The last thing objected to Master Mervill is his declinator of the King when the state of the Question is knowne this will appeare no great crime for the Question was not Whether Ministers be exempt from the Magistrates jurisdiction nor Whether the Pulpit puts men in a liberty to teach treason without any civill cognizance and punishment since the Reformation of Religion d Second Book of Discipline cap. 1. The Ministers should assist their Princes in all things agreeable to the Word Ministers are subject to the judgement and punishment of the Magistrate in externall things if they offend The Answer to the Declaration whereas it is said it is his Majesties intention to correct and punish such as seditiously abuse the Chaire of truth and factiously apply the Scripture to the disturbing of the Common-wealth surely his Majesties intention is good providing true tryall goe before
generall Assembly after that conference at the name of Episcopacy kkk The Acts of the Assembly third Session of the Assembly at Perth 1572. In the heads agreed upon at Leeth are found certaine names as Archbishop c. which were thought scandalous and offensive to the ears of many of the Brethren appearing to sound towards Popery therefore the whole Assembly with one voice protests that they intend not by the using of any such names to consent to any kind of Popery or Superstition and wishes rather the said names to be changed into others that are not slanderous nor offensive And likewise protests That the said heads agreed upon be onely received as an interim till further and more perfect Order may be obtained at the hands of the Kings Majesty Regent and Nobility for the which they will presse as occasion shall serve and ever after at any shadow of the thing that the following Assemblies did not rest till both â—â—e name and thing till both the shadow and all the parts of the substaÌ„ce were disavowed They had indeed for a time some wrastling with the Court about this matter yet at last as I have said in the yeer 1592. they got the King and Parliament perswaded to passe such Acts as did cast out of our Church and State Episcopacy both root and branch substance and shadow As these Acts of Parliament were first made by King James and the States of Scotland and now also ratified by King Charles so both the Houses of the Parliament of England cannot but approve thereof having joyned themselves by Oath and Covenant with Scotland to extirpate the unhappy root of Episcopacy which has been the great cause of the most mischiefes which in this last Age hath befallen Brittaine The third crime for which the general Assembly behoved to be put down It was no fault in the Assemblies that they called to Fasting was their indicting of soleme Fasts in which seditions tumults against the King were promoved consider that the quarrell is not simply for the Fasts but their evill use to raise seditions and tumults certainly that custome of our Church wherby from the beginning of the Reformation to this day every Church meeting from the general Assembly to the smallest Congregationall Eldership had power as they found cause to indict a publick Fast within their owne bounds is very innocent and necessary for the well being of the Church As for the alleaged abuse of these Fasts to sedition and tumults Guilty Consciences hate Fasts without cause it is a meer calumny the matter I beleeve was this About the time of the penning of this Writ the â—â—alous Ministers in all their exercises especially in the dayâ—â— of publick Fasting did make mention in their Sermons and Prayers of the wickednesse of the Land for which the wrath of God was much feared by the godly the Leaders of the Court conscious of their owne guiltinesse took themselves to be particularly pointed at and for this did hate extreamly every zealous Preacher as if all their Sermons and Prayers had been invectives for stirring up of the people against them while in truth these gracious men did nothing but their duty containing themselves within the lines of all needfull moderation but to wicked men in their pride and impatience the least touch of the Word of God is an intolerable wound The explanation of the last Act The sum of the next Paragraph containes the maintainance of Episcopacy in the highest degree it puts in the hand of the Bishop the whole spirituall Jurisdiction of his Diocesse to be exercised by him alone although with the advice of some few whom he shall please to choose for his Counsellours it imports that all his Jurisdiction flowes from the King and in the exercise thereof it makes the Bishop answerable onely to the King and them whom his Majesty shall appoint in an Assembly of his owne framing it makes the Bishops also Lords of Counsell and Parliament Upon this passage I marke first The Reprinters of this De claration make no conscience of their Covenant the conscience and honour of these men who with so great importunity required the reprinting of this Declaration and to make its operation the more effectual in the hearts of simple people would be at the cost to change the language thereof to set it downe first in Scotch and then in English a piece of paines so farre as I know never taken with any other Writ this diligence demonstrates the mens humour I can hardly say whether more scornfull of the Scots and their language or passionately desirous to disgrace that Church though it were with the exalting of Episcopacy and if as I suppose they have taken the Covenant this encreaseth my wonder how any who have solemnly sworne to defend the reformation of the Church of Scotland and to endeavour the extirpation of Prelacy can in a sudden become so zealous and put themselves to so great pains in disgrace of the Scottish reformation to advance Presacy If either Independency or Erastianisme have power to let loose the Reines of conscience so far we confesse the Scots have been too simple in beleeving that Oathes and Covenants in plaine matters which admit no ambiguity nor plurality of senses had beene farre straiter bonds among all who had the estimation of honest men and in whom there could be found the least sparkle of any ingenuity or truth Consider secondly that King James as I have said did give it under his hand to the Commissioners of the Church the yeer following that this Declaration was none of his but the work of Adamson of Saint Andrewes lll Vide supra and that this man at last was convinced of his errour confessing upon Oath and subscription Episcopacy to be a grosse corruption a stirrop for the Pope to ascend to his Antichristian saddle an errour which he had learned and wherein from time to time he was entertained by the English Prelates mmm Adamsons Recantation The last Article contained the establishing of a Bishop which hath no warrant in the Word of God but is grounded upon the policy and invention of man whereupon the primacy of the Pope or Antichrist is risen which is worthy to be disallowed and and forbidden Thirdly whatever here is said of Bishops is not now controverted in the Parliaments of both Kingdomes and in the solemne League of both Nations it is expresly condemned as all doe confesse if any anti-covenanting Malignant require a further debate when they will they may have a hearing and an answer Fourthly when the Commissioners of the church did declare to King James King James his ful and honest Declaration against Erastianisme that the government of the Church was not a Matter civill which did belong to the Magistrate to exercise and that it was unlawfull for his Majesty to appoint any of his Commissioners to governe the House of God that this were with the
Pope to take in his hand both the Swords nnn Animadversions To confound the Jurisdiction Civill and Ecclesiasticall is that thing wherein all men of good judgement have justly found fault with the Pope of Rome who claimeth to himselfe the power of both the swords which is as great a fault to a Civill Magistrate to claime or usurpe and especially to judge upon doctrine errours and heresies he not being placed in Ecclesiasticall function to interpret the Scriptures the warrant hereof out of the Word of God we are ready to bring forth his Majesty did put it under his own hand that these things were far from his thoughts that he was no Judge either of doctrine or heresie or of the interpretation of Scripture that neither he nor his Parliament did meddle w th Excommunication that they had pronoūced the excommunication of Mountgomery to be null not as Judges of the cause but as witnesses of the informality of the processe he confessed that Jesus Christ was the onely head and Law-giver of his Church and that if he should claime to himself or his heirs any thing meerly Ecclefiastick which the Word of God has put in the hands of Church officers that if he or any man should suspend or alter any thing which the Word of God did remit onely to them he avowed that these attempts in himselfe or any other would be nothing else but as he speaks the sinne of Idolatry and a transgression against all the three Persons of the Trinity against the Father in not trusting the words of his Son against the Son in not obeying him but taking his place over his head ooo Kings Declaration Never shall I nor ever ought my Posterity acclaime any power or Jurisdiction in a matter meerly Ecclesiasticall as to the Commissioners not Ecclesiasticall they are joyned to give their advices and not to interpose their authority while Christ sayes Dic Ecclefias and one onely man did steale that dint against the Bishop of Glasgow in a quiet holl the Act of Parliament reduceth the sentence for informality and nullity of processe not as Judges whether the excommunication was grounded on good and just causes or not but as witnesses that it was unformally proceeded and to end shortly this my Declaration I mind not to cut away any liberty granted by God to his Church I acclaime not to my selfe to be judge of doctrine or true interpretation of Scripture my intention is not to discharge any Jurisdiction in the Kirke that is conforme to Gods Word nor to discharge any Assembly but onely that these shall be holden by my License and Counsellours my intention is not to meddle with excommunication neither acclaime I to my selfe or my heirs power in any thing that is meere Ecclesiasticall and not adiaphoron nor with any thing that Gods Word hath simply devolved in the hands of his Ecclesiasticall Kirk and to conclude I confesse and acknowledge Christ Jesus to be head of his Church and Lawgiver to the same and whatsoever persons doe attribute to themselves as head of the Church and not as members to suspend or alter any thing that the Word of God hath onely remitted to them That man I say committeth manifest Idolatry and sinneth against the Father in not trusting the words of his Son against the Son in not obeying him and taking his place against the holy Ghost the said holy spirit bearing the contrary record to his conscience against the holy Ghost because against the Spirits Testimony in his own conscience I hope they who are so earnest to have King James heard in this cause though in a false and suppositious Writ will be content to hear him in his true Declaration under his own hand The third part of the Writ containes an enumeration of his Majesties intentions The pretended intentions were not the Kings but the Prelats concerning them we need adde little to what is said onely consider first that Adamson the Author of the Writ assures us that there is nothing or little here of the Kings intentions ppp Recantation I have enterprized of meere remorse of conscience to write against a Book called The Declaration of the Kings Majesties intentions albeit it containeth little or nothing of the Kings intentions but of my own in the time of the writing thereof and the corrupt intentions of such as for the time were about the King and abused his minority in the whole Book is nothing contained but assertions of lyes ascribing to the Kings Majesty that whereof he was not culpable I grant I was more busie with some Bishops in England in prejudice of the discipline of our Kirke partly when I was there and partly since by mutuall intelligence then became a good Christian much lesse a faithfull Pastor being that he did here set downe onely his owne intentions and these of the Courtiers and Prelates at that time of their highest pride and greatest oppression of the religious party Secondly The Reprinters of this Writ seeme to bee perjured men and either hypocrits or Apostates the errours and faults that appeare in these intentiōs are of two kinds Prelaticall and Erastian For the first not onely the Author did recant them but also as we have now often said King James with the States Assembled in Parliament did expresly condemne them and at this time they stand condemned in the whole Isle by King Charles in his Parliament of Scotland and by both the Houses of the Parliament of England who ever now wil tak the patrociny of the Prelaticall war doth set his face against the King and Parliaments of both Nations and if he be a member of Parlia in either Nation whoaccording to his place must needs have sworn the National Covenant for his endeavor to establish what by his Covenāt he was boūd to his power to have extirpated Let him be cast with ignominy out of these honourable Senates as a false and perjured hypocrite planting by deed what by Oath and Covenant he promised to eradicat or else an Apostate repenting and retracting while now he is set in Parliament what at his entry upon oath he promised that he might be permitted to sit downe such perjured whether hypocrisie or apostacy cannot but be abominable both to God and all ingenuous men As for the Erastianisme of these intentions Cesaro-Papisme is Antichristianisme worse then that of the Pope whereby the Bishops are made pleni-potentiaries in the Church by vertue of a Commission from the Magistrate we have shewed at length how farre King James disclaimed this errour as a grievous sinne against the Father Son and holy Ghost for the thing it selfe makes the Magistrate head of the Church and fountaine of all Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction This Cesaro-papisme is an Antichristianisme so much worse then that of the Pope as more uncontrolable and remedilesse the servants of God in their wrastlings against the Antichistianisme of the Pope and Prelats had often times great
appeare and she shall quickly appeare with him in the glory and happinesse of a consummate Marriage But I must remember my selfe I know I have been greatly strengthned and sustained by your prayers honourable Lady and dearly beloved in our Lord Jesus continue I pray you as ye have begun in wrestling with the Lord for me that Christ may be magnified in my mortall body whether living or dead that my soule may be lifted up to those third heavens that I may taste of those joyes that are at the right hand of my heavenly Father and that with gladnesse I may let my spirit goe thither where my body shall shortly follow Who am I that he should first have called me and then constitute me a Minister of glad tidings of the Gospell of salvation these sixteen yeers already and now last of all to be a sufferer for his cause and Kingdome To witnesse that good confession The matter of this gracious mans suffering was the very controverfie now in hand betwixt us and the Erastian Statesmen that Jesus Christ is the King of Saints and that his Church is a most free Kingdome yea as free as any Kingdome under heaven not onely to convocate hold and keep her meetings Conventions and Assemblies but also to judge of all her affaires in all her meetings and conventions amongst her members and Subjectsd. These two points first that Christ is the head of his Church secondly that she is free in her government from all other jurisdiction except Christs These two points I say are the speciall cause of our imprisonmeÌ„t being now convict as traitors for their maintainance we have been waiting with joyfulnesse to give the last testimony of our blood in confirmation thereof if it would please our God to be so favourable as to honour us with that dignity yea I doe affirme that these two points above written and all other things which belong to Christs Crowne Scepter and Kingdome are not subject nor cannot be to any other authority but to his owne altogether so that I would be most glad to be offered up upon the sacrifice of so glorious a truth But alas I feare that my sinnes and the abuse of so glorious things as I have found deprive me of so faire a Crowne yet my Lord doth know if he would call me to and strengthen me in it it would be the most glorious day and gladdest houre I ever saw in this life but I am in his hand to doe with me whatsoever shall please his Majesty It may suffice me that I have had so long a time in the knowledge of the Gospell and that I have seen the things I have seen and heard the things I have heard and that through Gods grace I have been so long a witnesse of those glorious and good newes in my weak ministery and that my witnessing hath not been altogether without fruit and blessing so that I hope at that great day I shall have him to be my Crown my glory my joy and my reward and therefore boldly I say with Simeon Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace not in a peaceable dying but by rendring up to him my spirit in stamping of this his verity and in sealing the same with my blood I have fought a good fight and have finished my course 2 Tim. 9.7 I have kept the faith henceforth is laid up for me a Crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day and not to me onely but to all them also that love his comming Now is the prophesie at hand to be fulfilled which these two worthy servants of the Lord Master George Wishart and Master John Knox my Father in Law spake which was That Christ should be crucified in this Kingdome againe but glorious should his resurrection be e This strange Prophesie of Knox and Wishart is here explicat and mervailously enlarged by this divine man the first part thereof whereupon alone be here infists has been performed lately in every tittle before our eyes the second part of Christs glorious resurrection and our glorious deliverance we expect shall be as punctually performed in the Lords good time as Master Knox with his owne hand upon the Margin of Calvins Harmony upon the Passion did write which is yet extant But alas for the Kingdome my testimony now doth not differ from that of many before this time who said That the Judgement of Scotland should be blood this Kingdome shall be drowned in blood a furbished and glittering sword is already drawne out of the scabbard which shall not returne untill it be made drunke with the blood of the men within this Land f More blood shed by the sword in Scotland the other yeere then for many Generations before first the heavy intestine sword and then the sword of the stranger g This indeed was the Lords method with us the blood shed in our first troubles at the Bridge of Die and divers parts of the North from the Castles of Edinborough and Dunbartan and in the South was onely by the intestine sword but the great bloodshed in our present troubles was for the most part by the sword of strangers the barbarous Irish Rebels having their Commission from Ireland O dolefull Scotland well were he that were removed far from thee that his eyes might not see nor his eares heare all these evils that are to come upon thee h Never so great a flight in Scotland as the other yeer the mâ—st considerable persons fled away to England or Ireland or some corners and strong holds of the Land for the safety of their lives neither the strong man by his strength nor the rich man by his riches nor the Noble man by his blood shall be delivered from the judgements there is a great sacrifice to be made in Bosrah in thee O Scotland of the blood of all sorts in the Land Videf. Ephraim shall consume Manasseh and Manasseh Ephraim Jsaiah 9.21 Brother against brother and every man in the judgement of the Lord shall be armed to thrust his sword in the fide of his neighbour k Thus indeed it was among us under the standard of the enemy many of our Brethren Kinsmen and Neighbours did fight and by their hands much of our blood was spilt and all for the contempt of the most glorious Gospell and that blood which was offered to thee O Scotland in so plentifull a manner that the like thereof hath not been offered to any Nation Therefore thy judgement shall be the greater but the Sanctuary must be begun at and the measure is not yet fulfilled till the blood of the Saints be shed then the cryes will be great and will not stay tili they bring the Lord downe from Heaven his Throne to see if the sinnes of Scotland be according to the cry thereof neither shall there be any Subject in the Land from the greatest to the