plead for re-entrie That no Act passe in derogation or prejudice of the Actes alreadie granted in favour of reformation libertie of Assemblies convenient execution of Discipline c. or for corroboration of new opinions against the same whether Episcopacie or ceremonies the shadow thereof which for the peace of the Kirk by heavenly wisedome should be rejected rather then ratified That all Ministers that are removed from their Charges be restored to their places functions and stipends The happines to liue under his Majestie and his Heires ordinary Iudges and Rulers appointed by lawes and custome and established by the Actes of Parliament that our cause be lawfully cognosced according to order and justice before any sentence passe against our persons places and estates and not to be judged by any judicatorie forraigne and not established by the Lawes of our Country We trust that as Abraham composed the variance betwixt his own and Lots servants Moses interceded betwixt the Hebrews and Constantine betwixt the Ministers of the Kirk So the Lord shall giue you courage to intercede with his Majestie and his Highnesse fatherly disposition to set the pillars of the earth that were shaken and to take off the heavie burthens the burthensome ceremonies the burthensome censures and the hurthenous abuses which many haue groaned under And with a readie and royall hand to quench the beginning fire of deprivation of Ministers by Ministers of hindring Gods substantiall worship by him commanded and withdrawing from the people the appointed food of their soules and necessarie meanes of their faith and salvation of smiting of many a true shepheard and committing the flocke to many Wolues and blind guides of leaving the Papists cause and suppressing the best Ministers whereby they get rest to mischeife the Kirk and build up their own Synag gue and that for the sake of Ceremonies no more necessarie for the sâ—â— use of Christ then faiâ—ding for a chast maâ—â—on more readie to crosse the commandement of Christ wherby we are charged to pray to the Lord of the Harvest that he would thrust forth labâ—rer into his Harvest then for the edification of the body of Christ Thus â—â—mbly coÌ„manding the innocencie of our selues petitioners and our just right and possession of that reformation which we earnestly craue to be continued to your Honourable charitable judgement We pray God for Christs sake to enable you to doe that which may be acceptable to himself profitable to his Kirk and comfortable to your own soules at that day when we must all appeare before the â—â—dgement seat of Christ that man may receiue the thing which are done to his bodie according to that hee hath done whether it be good or ill and to blesse his Maâ— and Royall issue with peace and truth for ever And your Honours with sound Religion and loyaltie in this life and endlessâ— glorie with Christ for ever Archipp The supplication seemeth so reasonable and religious that no man needed to be ashamed to present it no man could refuse to accept it Epaph. It was indeed presented by a faithfull Minister in name of the Kirk and of his fellow Ministers in all humility and after the prescribed order to the hand appointed by Authority and obliged by office to receiue petitions of that kind from any corporation oâ—â—â—â—e leâ—ge of this Kingdom But after some refusals and sundry significations of unwillingnes it was received at last but subscribed by the Presenter and with su h misregard of the messengers of God and matters of his Kirk that he pla nly profâ—ssed his doubting whether he vvould exhibit it in Parliament or not Relegentem oportet esse religiosum nefas Archipp Notwithstanding all this diligence in proclamations conventions devising and presenting of petitions and supplications the Parliament was not holden then but in August what could be in doing in the two monthâ—s interjected For the estate of Bohome and the Palaâ—nate abroad cryed to hasten the subsidie for their present succour and safety And the Parents of Perth Articles at home longed to see the day when that birth of their braines should be perfected in a Parliament Epaph Parliament continuâ—e From the first of Iune vvhich vvas the appointed day the Parliament was continued to the twenty three of Iuly upon what causes in so urgent a necessity upon the one part and so earnest desire on the other it belongeth to the search of stately wits It is well known that the length of secret deliberation and shortnes of open determination is meetest for some matters And as well known amongst us that there vvas al 's great unwillingnesse to the one cause as affection to the other Nihil magâ—â— discriminis coÌ„sihis tam inimicum quam celeritas Qu câ—uid est incoctum non expromunt benecoctum duunt But the pretext behoved to attend the intended purpose And therefore during this delay great was the negotiation betwixt the rich Merchants of faire vvords and fine promises and the hungry servants of lingring hope who thought it now a fit time to draw up their particulars and the principall cause in one bargaine What will yâ—e giue me c. All these things c. Everie wit that had a venalâ— vote thought at this Market to repaire his losses to re-edifie his estate upon the ruines of the Kirk and faire words made fooles faine Our vigilant Bishops set themselues and send forth their explorators and Brokers to try the inclinations of Noblemen Commissioners of Shires Barones and Burgesses And as they were found affected cold hot or lukewarme they vvere vvrought upon to bee present absent or to resolue vvisely against the day appointed vvhereby many honest simple soules vvere put to a hard choice either to perill Religion or to vvant promotion NoÌ„ minus ego te spe quam tu me voâ—e tua delectasti and so made many to vvrong themselues in forsaking the truth vvhich vvas in their heart for hopes vvhich are never likely to fill their hand Where the feare of the Leaders of the course vvas greatest there albeit vvith a dissembled secrecie greatest confidence vvas professed by making it come to mens cares privily that Perth Articles vvould certainly bee ratified and therefore it vvas needlesse to oppone vvhich vvent through the Countrie as a Proclamation of victorie to dash some and as terrours of desperation to make others to crie Our opposition will doe us evill and the cause no good And servile spirits to determine where the mightie and multitude are there will wee bee By this crooked policie the sillie simpliâ—itie of many professours rawly resolved to stand in the day of tryall vvas deluded And Noblemen tempted to lurke in a diffiâ—ill time easily obtained licence vvithout great triall of a just cause as vvhose absence then presence vvas accounted better service Archipp When these two moneths of Preparation vvas thus past and the purpose matured vvhether vvas the appointed day observed Epaph. As there vvere preparatorie years betwixt
pursued vvill delight any true Scots heart to heare and vvill giue eye to me borne out of time to see as that I had lived then that vvhich I both feare and loue to knovv first then vvhat vvas that incomparable loue vouchsafed on us Epaph. Our Saviour Christ did plant a vineyard in this land as in a verie fruitfull hill he hedged it The first consideration and gathered out the stones of it and planted it vvith the best plants he built a tovver in the midst of it and also made a vvine-presse therein and after manie yeares and divers troubles and travells according to the truth uttered by a deere servant of God vvhen the gospell first began to shine among us the realme vvas illuminated vvith the light of Christs Evangell as clearely as ever vvas any realme since the daies of the Apostles The house of God was builded in it yea it did not lacke whatsoever the enemie imagine in the contrarie the verie coapstone the jurisdiction and libertie of the true Kirk Generall and Provinciall Assemblies Presbyteries Sessions and Discipline were brought to their perfection all lawes of idolatrie abrogate all presentations of Benefices directed to the particular Presbyteries with power to put order to all matters Ecclesiasticall within their bounds Hic fuit vnitâ—s sine schismate ventas sine haeresi bonitas absque hypocrisi according to the discipline of the Kirk But all this faire and flourishing estate is tyed to it own condition of contrary change if the people shall be after unthankfull then fearefull and terrible shall the plagues be Archipp That truth of the man of God I must confesse meeteth us this day in our face for as the loue hath been great the people haue proved unthankfull and the plagues are alreadie begun The Lord looked for grapes and behold nothing but wilde grapes why should he not then lay his vineyard wast and command the clouds that they raine no more raine upon it But what secret would you haue me to consider upon the Antichrist his side Epaph. Antichrist inflamed with the furious zeale of his cursed Kingdome and enraged by his inveterate malice against our profession Secondly what Antichrist did as a burning light to discover his damnable darkenesse never ceased to resist the grace of God among us to his uttermost possibilitie sending forth as he might command the armies of crueltie his wilde Boares and roaring Lyons with open mouth and readie pawes to threaten and proclaime their enmitie as in that bloudie enterprise of the 88 when God shewing his might no lesse against these mortall enimies then for the Kirks Kingdomes of this Iland redeemed his own people mightily from the teeth of the Dog and ruined these Vnicornes as mightily in his wrath But that marvellous overthrow from the heaven aboue and the waters beneath conspiring to represse the pride of that tyrant did no wise moue him to forsake his bloudie purpose but within few daies thereafter assaying to practise by craft which hee could not performe by open crueltie like a sworne enemie to the oath of Alleageance he treacherously inchanted and miserably perverted diverse of this Kingdome to negotiate with him and his Emissaries Iesuites and seminarie Priests for subversion of this whole state You may reade and remember the execution of â—entrie the Bridge of Dee and the unnaturall and treacherous attempt of the 93 c. Archipp You seeme to me if you would follow forth that discourse in speaking of the times past to point at the present and to taxe the treacherie of living men in their persons who are long since dead But I rest content for the present with your pointing at that Spanish spring from whence the streames haue been comming northward this time by past which now overflow this Kirk and Iland and desires to know what was done at that time for resisting of Antichrist Epaph. The watchmen of the Lords house and sincere professors as they were directed and assisted by grace Thirdly how Antichrist was resisted resisted the violence of open enemies and diligently searched the hid wickednes of lurking vipers intending to sting to the death and after tryall taken of the venomous heads of those Romish monsters who spared not to adventure themselues their friends and whole estate in that foule and unnaturall trick they proceeded against them and put them under the highest censure Ecclesiasticall and therupon procured their deserved forefalture Archip. Those Satanicall supposts of that Italian Priest and Indian Pluto deserved no lesse And now it seemeth that the Kirk and the Country are well purged of such Antichristian and disnatured spirit Epaph. Had the successe been answerable to the censure the fire had been quenched and we quit of them and their adulterous generation multiplying in midst of us to this day But the general Assembly holden at Edinburgh 1594 declareth the contrarie in these words of Inscription The dangers which through the impunitie of the excoÌ„municate Papists trafiquers with the Spaniards and other enemies of the Religion estate are imminent to the true Religion professed within this Kingdom his Majesties person crown libertie of this our natiue Countrie And at more length in Eleven Articles of which number the first is It is certaine that the Spaniard who with so great preparations in the 88 did interprise the conquest of this I le remaines as yet of that same intention and waites onely upon a meet occasion to accomplish that his devilish purpose as cleerely appeares in his continuing in this intertainment of intelligence and traffiquing with the foresaid excommunicates ever since the dissipation of his Navie And the last whereas his Majestie and Estates at the first discoverie of their conspiracies apprehended a verie great danger to true Religion the Kings estate and crown and libertie of the Countrie and notwithstanding that the same cause of danger as yet remaines whole unremoved their is no apprehension of any danger nor earnest care to withstand it it is evident that their is an inclination and purpose to cover extentiate bear forth the evil cause wherthrough they will not see or else the Lord in judgement hath blinded and hardned the hearts of all estates to grop in the mid day at that which they caÌ„not see which is the greatest danger of al a most certain argument of the wrath of God and his heavie judgement hanging over the land so much the more to be feared because there is no cause of fear apprehended Archip. But what could either the civill or spirituall sword doe more for the good of the kirk and countrey against their vnnaturall malice Epaph. When you tempt me after that sort ye forget my protestation in the beginning I will onely shew what the kirk now holding the wolfe by the eares resolved to doe out of the apprehension of so great danger for preventing of ensuing evils and for purging the realme from open offences ready to draw on
and blasphemed and for a forlorne tradition or worm-eaten ceremonie shamefully shot forth yea a setled forme of godlinesse by long and happy experience universally approved to be displaced for far-fetched devices of needlesse novelties and the best subiects walking in knowledge of their dutie conscientious conversation without any just cause openly traduced that they are not Caesars friends in a false policie to make the righteous cause odious to authoritie If there be any children of Moses to esteeme the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of the world or of zealous Elihu to haue his wrath kindled against violence done to a just cause wrongs to harmlesse men otherwise deserving with what eares shall he heare the terrour of that trumpet Jf we deny him he will also deny us and the spirit of grace with courage raising his blast by a sweeter inforcement If we suffer with him we shall also reigne together especially now in thâ—se back-sliding dayes when men who not onely seemed most forward to root out Papists but zealous that reformation then professed by themselues and praised as the work of God might stand and grow haue now by some secret but strange inspiration of inchanting Mutation not onely sharpned their tongues that their words might be as the pricking of a sword but also dippped their pens in gall to write and speak against their brethren and for a muddy and mysticall conformitie who can tell to what but abhorâ—ed in Scotland ever since reformation as the rest of the Roman trash howsoever of late without shame of contrarie practises in mens owne persons hurled in againe to be the wall and tower of new Episcopacie cunningly brought in by her Intrant the constant Moderator and solemnly set up to remain the Atlas of their kingdome with full power of Lordly domination to be exercised over the kirk for the fiue Articles the fundamentall lawes of that usurped authoritie and to put forth and hold forth the lawfull and necessarie assemblies of the kirk as enemies to the power of Princes But contrarily both reason and experience making plaine that the kings of the earth were never pressed downe with any lawfull assembly Ecclesiasticall or any way disseysed of kirk Iurisdiction with which the Lord originally had possessed them but Episcopacie as time hath favoured her insatiable desires by dispossessing and bringing downe both kings and kirks hath set up and holdeth up Papistrie ever evill masters like fire and water but never better servants then treacherous slaues lying in wait to oppresse their masters It may be that the Patrones and urgers of this course wittingly aime not at the reducing of Papistrie and for any thing yet known charitie would they should not bee misdeemed in that grosse sinne Neverthelesse as a certaine learned man sayth of some of the Ancients that unwittingly and against their wills they made a way for Antichrist so it may be feared of some so diligent to catch occasions by envy to exclude and degrade them that are good and painfull and so ready to defend their own fault that rather then they wil leaue them they paine themselues to devise how to raise up troubles in the kirk and driue men from it into conventicles and corners very farre different from the wise Pilot vvhen the tempest inforceth emptieth the ship of some things to saue the rest but they cast out the Pilots of the ships themselues to saue these Romish wares trifles and customes as they tearme them and againe so negligent to censure great corruptions in such as are praised for their readinesse to admit by implicit faith whatsoever is offered and to stand in contention about mens traditions likely to say the kirk waste Although they do not intentiuely seek to bring in Papistry yet whiles in a desire thus to uphold their owne Lordships over Gods heritage they presse their own traditions more then the weightier matters of the law the practise of the ceremonie more then the observation of the Lords day kneeling at the receiving of the sacrament out of the Ministers hand more then the catechising of the people and true meaning of the Lords institution praising the conforme hypocrite ignorant or sencelesse aboue the wise Christian rooted and grounded in the Gospell they giue a great hope to the limbs of Antichrist to settle their tottering kingdome and a more easie entrance for the whole body of abhominations then they are aware of England feeleth and feareth already and Scotland hath cause to fast and pray that the opinion practise of these ceremonies may be removed as farre from them as busking and balling should be from chast women It is a prodigious presage that statutes such as they are and procured as they were in favours of dangerous novelties should be more vehemently urged and with greater rigor put in execution against the true servants of God for modest adherence to a truth never condemned and for refusall of needlesse rites never proved to be lawful by Gods word nor by any good appearance like to proue profitable then all the good statutes standing in force against idolatry and Idolaters blasphemers and murtherers open contemners of the Lords word and his service as if the whole obedience of a Christian subiect were inclosed in the practise of certain rites justly cast forth of this kirk in the ignominious dust of other errours or Christian charity were confined to the divided brotherhoood of indifferent things .. State Divines think better of government once received then that it should be tossed and interrupted with all the contrarie tides of rituall controversies Wisedome say they will rather tolerate some evill in a tried forme of government then in a government vntried Yea though a thing bee well done yet it looseth the credit if it savour of noveltie If a man might say with an upright heart that which I maintaine is the doctrine of the holy fathers I haue their witnesses at large taken out their owne bookes if for such a cause he be casten out he may say in the joy of a good conscience I am cast out with the Fathers This is the case of the Ministers of Scotland standing against the Hierarchie and the props therof And for this cause with many vehâ—ment out-criâ—s are they shamefully charged with the blind accusations of disobedience to King and Kirk of ignorance in matters of God worship of Puritanisme of popularitie of foolishnesse striving for trifles indifferent things dâ—terminable and determinate by the Prince of schisme tending to heresie of trouble and sâ—dition of scrupulositie of conscience after all possible coursâ—s taken for resolving of doubts of zealous but ignorantly so called of hypocrisie of nicenâ—â—â—â— and obstinacie wishing to haue entred in the nâ—w way at first and blushing now to change after standâ—ng so long and â—oâ— th se and many moe foule imputations vnworthy to b â—amâ—d among Christians peremptorily judgâ—d by such as hauâ— thâ—ir insilogismes in their hâ—â—les lesse
tolerable in the kirk and countrey Let them be charged with contempt or disobâ—diâ—nce that can giue no good reason of thâ—ir doing the world hath seâ—n the reasons of their doings thâ—sâ— 60 yearâ—s and aboue and the mattâ—r it sâ—lfâ— speaketh The least bâ—ook of Papistry must bee avoydâ—d by such as would not perish in the great rivers thâ—reof small dropps make great flouds through smal rifts the water soaketh in the pumpe is fillâ—d and â—hâ— ship is drownâ—d Though the câ—remonies bâ— small yet the evills that rise of thâ—m are not small If they be small there is the lesse hurtin leaving of them and the more wilfulnesse in disgracing the service the servants of God for them It is to be remembrâ—d what Iulian once sayd Jf it be enough to accuse who shall bee innocent not Moses not Ezra not Nehemiah not the prophets not Christ himselfe nor his Apostlâ—s upon whom all these and many moe slanders lay But God forbid that the servants of God should doe such things with whomsoever those things are found let him die and let the rest of his brethren following or favouring his course be bond-men But if the servants of the Lord thus slandered be sakelesse and yet men haue risen 〈◊〉 to persecute them to strange from them yâ—â— to inflame 〈◊〉 Majesties heart the hearts of his nobles Iudges Barons and people against them let the soules of his servants be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord their God and the soule of their enemies shall God cast out as out of the middle of a sling It is a dangerous case to be carried with a bent resolution to defame and to rake together foule untruths not considering what may be spoken most truely nor what may be ratled out most disgracefully like a swelling brook that soone gathereth much filth These slanderous calumnies are like a thorn standing in the hand of a drunkard it is hard to judge whom they shall hurt They are but a pretended quarrell against honest men by prejudice to condemn their cause before it be heard according to the proverbe He that would haue his dogge killed giveth forth first that he is madd If these be reall crimes they are farre aboue the omission of a ceremonie let them be truely libelled carefully cognosced wisely discerned and condignely punished If undeserved calumnies let the Lord impute them to none and let no man impute them to the Lords people their owne consciences witnessing before God that such things they never thought but rather let them be rejected as senceles scoffings of Sarcasticall bitternes crossing Christianity and contrarie to gentlenes and loue To burie them in silence had been their best condition but when all meanes are sought to make the faithfull even to stink among the inhabitants of the land it can no wise beseeme the ministeriall calling to secret the truth and by a cowardly kind of modestie to betray a good cause malitiously wounded through the sides of honest men craftily burdened with scandalls for bearing down their cause in a dangerous time When so many not onely commons in the profession and novices in the ministerie but some great Pastors fall away no lesse from their wonted faithfulnesse then from the ancient order whereby they were kept in the course of their ministerie are now by the force of time become otherwise minded undertaking by their publick teaching and example by their private conference and all other meanes not onely to perswade this new conformitie so farre contrarie to the forme whereunto they were delivered but also with great hate and unkindly carriage to their brethren and old acquaintance to carpe and quarrell what can bee most truely and modestly sayd or writtâ—n in favours of the truth which they best know as if they were become their enemies because they hold on the good way which they haue left most unjustly confining faith loue and all Christianitie within the dark region of conformitie wherein dwelleth the divided brotherhood of that vntried stranger Againe when good people of tender hearts are boasted allured and every way tempted to blot their consciences with things they never knew to be profitable nor comely in their profession are heavily disquieted for lack of clâ—are information to strengthen their resolution for standing in the truth against errours Moreover when after better sight and more sound advisement they who haue been stollen off their feet may risâ— and repâ—nt and by the mercie of God returne againe to the right way Or when a publick testimonie may be given the Pentriers like Antipater writing against Carneades and the Champions of this time who haue sweat so much to cast downe the holy Discipline and to set up the Hierarchie with her ceremoniall traine Or when at the pleasure of God they that now liue such as shall come after may be helped to see the harvest and taste the fruitâ—s of necessarie labours now to bee takâ—n against the shadowâ—s of Papistry which we must detest as the body and substance of that ugly heresie If in such a nâ—cessarie time all the men of God should onely lay their hand upon the hurt place and secretly mourne it were childish and ridiculous the good cause being in danger and the faithfull in hazard of vntimous silence There is here from a ready minde and a good will the wise mans aneugh a word of peace and puritie lossed Indifferencie found and Conformitie urged to hold out old Vnitie to inlarge affected indifferencie and to set up the children of absolute Conformitie in the stately chaires of both kirk and kingdome The full historie and ample treatise of the birth education and high promotion of this respected couple Indifferencie and Conformitie with the controversies brought in Scotland and increased thereby requireth larger volumnes then any Aurelius of this time will bee nicknamed Pupillus for necessarie charges to such a work while better occasion This Scotized conformitie for the present must stand at the paines of Archippus and Epaphras two honest Epitomists and venturing themselues upon the stage to bee glowred upon by every evill eye or rather casting themselues upon thornes to be gored by every sharpe tongue They are both good Patrons where ever they be Archippus must take heed to the ministerie which he hath received of the Lord that hee fulfill it and Epaphras a servant of Christ laboureth fervently for you in prayers and by all meanes that you may stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God Archippus desirous to strengthen himselfe by learning and Epaphras ready to lay out his Talent to exchange haue diligently survayed the historie of the Kirk of Scotland concerning the forenamed particulars painfully searched the doctrine of indifferent things shooting up in a short abridgement their best observations for present use and clearly shewing how conformitie came in by little and little without feeling like Poperie comming to perfection by Ceremoniousnesse and Ambition the ceremonies furnishing her with a seeming
suffer You haue here to remember that old caution propounded by a Father to the Emperour Take away the perill of the statute c. It is permitted to the maintainers of novelties to use a continued plentifull and running speech which here is not to be found For if the entising speeches of mans wisedome were true tokens of wisedome indeed the swallowes as they are swifter may justly bee sayd to bee aboue man in wisedom Paul for the truth is rude in speaking his presence weak his speech contemptible But Tertullus pleading against him in a mask of eloquence is admired for his pompous stile The matters in question every where are so backed with all meanes of credit in the hands of the one partie and so borne down by vehement cries in the weaknes of the other Mutation having now turned up-side-down that where before the truth had favour to be spoken heard without fear In companies now a man must needs lay his hand upon his care for hearing the partie absent or fall in folly and shame to answer a matter before he hath heard it The truth is not to be measured by the means of them that speak for it and all calumnies are but swines flesh though they be dressed after a divers fashion The cause in controversie wronged by the violence of the time may justly complaine of impar congressus in respect of worldly helpes in the particulars following and many moe The new course hath the countenance of the world But it fareth with the ancient profession as with the Gospell it selfe Haue any of the rulers beleeved in him Excepting alwayes the honorable Peeres of the land whose loue is more large then their credit 2. The most part of the ancient ministers professors are removed either out of this life or out of their former mind and many out of their places and such as arise up and are admitted to the ministerie must sweare subscribe to maintaine and defend privatly and publickly the alterations inforced 3. There is very few to be found having courage for the truth to honor God with their credit riches such receiue the Gospell with a provision of safetie to their own estate the poore who receive the Gospell are willing but not able both to doe and suffer for the truth 4. The pations and proctours of this new plea are richly rewarded with a fat b nefice or great sume of the taxation and benefic s promised but the defenders are ready to be respected with Depriue and Confine 5. They haue a strong assistance but the other are few weak and if they be permitted to remain in their places they are tied to the daily pains of their callings and caâ—e of their families and if they be thrust forth they are forced to provide for their owne necessities having no time for these matters but stolne houres 6. The one partie hath libertie to meet with full help of all requisite meanes few or many where and when at their owne pleasure The other if two or three of them meet upon their lawfull affaires it is a scandall of Conventicle a matter of challenge 7 They are judges of their own cause and haue at their right hand the power of Kirk and policie but the cause of the other is like the widow the fatherlesse no man will heare it 8 To them all the Presses are open and expenses furnished Printers beyond sea are troubled upon suspicion of having the copies of the other 9 Their assertions are probations the contrary cause acknowledged for a found truth in secret is in publick respected as an errour 10 Threatned dangers maketh men afrayed to reade write or print in favours of the one all may be done to the advancement of the other with great commendation 11 For loue of peace and lack of meanes necessary purposes as the answer to a rabble of untruthes known to a many yet living hatched by Joan Fani Andrea Arch ep and favoured with a latine complexion of some despised Doctor and idle for lack of patients and presented to the world under the triumphing title Refutatio libelli de regimine Ecclesiae Scoticanae The answer to the Doctors Lyndesay David Brechin Michelson their bragging and begging pamphlets The answer to Mercenary Tilen his pragmaticall paraenesis c. are hid from the light while necessitie call for them Finally were there a change made of the prosperous case of the one cause with the adversity of the other or would the world but smile or frowne equally on both they would not busie the Printer and Reader so much But the aequivalent of that old truth poore Luther made many rich is in some sort verified in this cause and that which preaching substance against Papists could not procure pleading for ceremonies against Protestants hath procured The Defenders haue no other comfort but that they deliver their soules discharge their consciences and serue for witnesses 〈◊〉 the truth and least they be witnesses also against thee Take hâ—ed to thy selfe be not one of those who either for loue of the world wil not like a known truth or who fear to read know the truth lest they find themselues obliged to follow it and so either be moved to change their present course which may seem unprofitable or else be vâ—â—ed with a crying conscience for keeping it and that will proue unpleasant Think not their labours like the circlings made by Archimedes when Marcelius was on the sea and nigh unto the ports of Syracuse except thou remember also that by his weake meanes the Citie was a long time defended against the Roman enemie albeit at albeit last with the losse of his life Neither be thou over vvise to say they might haue been like the good Geographers who seldome trouble themselues with the description of smal Brooks but waite on till by confluence they make great rivers and are disburdened into sea For had the riverets either been dryed up in time or yet were drained in severall chanels the maine streame would not swell so big nor the great Whore that sitteth upon many waters proue so stately amongst us Onely first for stirring up thy own soule think with thy selfe how like the times of our Kirk may prooue unto the darkenesse of the ninth Centurie after Christ which the Centuriatours obserue to haue proceeded of foure pregnant causes 1 the excessiue loue of mâ—ns writtes with the neglect of Scripture 2 the praeeminence of some persons aboue others 3 the multiplication of ceremonies and humane inventions 4 persecution and oppression of the most sound in heart and judgement Secondly for judging of the Defenders part consider that howsoever they be commanded to loue such as hate them and pray for such as persecute them yet how small reason they haue to beleeue that they who persecute them thinke that in so doing they doe God good service And thirdly for thy own resolution remember that the sentence of Christs throne
of his own will as it belongeth to him to saue his Kirk by the merit of his own sufferings All other authoritie is so intrenched within the marches of divine commandement Heb 12 25 28.29 that the least overpassing of the bounds set by God himselfe bringeth men under the fearefull expectation of temporall and eternall judgements For this cause my Lords let that authoritie of your meeting in this present Parliament be like the Ocean sea which as it is greatest of all other waters so it conteyneth it selfe better within the coasts and limits appointed by God then any river of fresh running waters haue done Next remember that God hath set you to be Nourish Fathers of his Kirk 〈◊〉 49.23 craving at your binds that yee should maintaine and advance by your authoritie that Kirk which the Lord hath fashioned by the uncounterfaited work of his own new creation as the Prophet speak th he hath made us Psa 100.1 and not we our our selues but not that she should presume to fashion and shape a new portrature of a Kirke and a new forme of divine service which God in his world hath not before allowed because that were to extend your authoritie farther then the calling yee haue of God doth permit As namely if ye should as God forbid authorise the authoritie of the Bishops and their prehâ—minence aboue their brethren yee should bring into the Kirk of God the ordinance of man and that thing which the experience of preceding ages hath testifyed to haue been the ground of great idlenes palpable ignorance unsufferable pride pittilesse tyrannie and shamelesse ambition in the Kirk of God and finally to haue been the ground of that Antichristian Hierarchie which mounted up on the steps of preheminence of Bishops untill that man of sin came forth as the ripe fruit of man his wisedome whom God shall consume with the breath of his own mouth 1 Thess 2. â— Let the sword of God pearce that belly which brought forth such a monster and let the staffe of God crush that Egge which hath hatched such a Cocatrice And let not onely that Romane Antichrist be thrown down from the high bench of his usurped authoritie but also let all the steps whereby he mounted up to that unlawfull preheminence be cut down and utterly abolished in this land Aboue all things my Lords beware to striue against God with an open and displayed banner by building up againe the walles of Iericho which the Lord hath not onely cast down but also hath layd them under a terrible interdiction and execration so that the building of them againe must needs stand to greater charges to the builders then the reedifying of Iericho to Hâ—el the Be the lit in the dayes of Achab. For he had nothing but the interdiction of Ioshua and the curse pronounced by him to stay him from building again of Iericho But the Noblemen and States of this Realme haue the reverence of the oath of God made by themselves subscribed with their own hands in the confession of faith called The Kings Maiâ—â—tes published more then once or twice and sworn by his most excellent Maiestie and by his Hignesse Nobiâ—â—tie Estates and whole subiects of the Realme to hold them back from setting up the dominion of Bishops Because it is of veritie that they subscribed and swore the sayd commission containing not onely the maintenance of the true doctrine but also of the discipline professed within the Realme of Scotland Consider also that the worke cannot be set forward without the great slander of the Gospell defamation of many preachers and evident losse and hurt of the peoples soules committed to our charge For the people are brought almost to the like case as they were in Syria Arabia and Aegypt about the 600 yeare of our Lord when the people were so brangled shaken with contrary doctrines some denying and others allowing the opinion of Eutiches that in the end thâ—y lost all assured persuasion of true religion and within short time thereafter did cast the gates of their hearts open to the divell to receive that vile and blasphemous Doctrine of Mahomet Even so the people of the Lord are cast in such admiration to bâ—â—ne the preachers who so openly damned this stately preheminence of B sh ps then within a few years after accept the same dignitie â—ompe and superioritie in their own persons whi h they before had damned in others that the people know not which way to incline and in end will become so doubtfull in matters of religion and doctrine that their hearts will be like an open taverne dâ—re patent to every guest that likes to come in We beseech your honours to ponder this in the ballance of a godly and prudent minde and suffer not the Gospel to be slandered by the behaviour of a few number of preachers of whom we are bold to affirme that if they goe forward in this defection not onely abusing and appropriating that name Bishop to themselves onely Act 20.17 28. Phil. 1.1 1. Tim. 3.1.2 Pâ—t 1.5.7 1. Pet. 5.1.2 which is common to all the Pastors of God his Kirk but also taking upon themselves such offices that carry with them the ordinarie charge of governing the civill affairs of the countrey neglecting their flockes and sâ—â—king to subordinate their brethren to their iurisdiction If any of them We say be found to step forward in this course of defection they are more worthy as rotten members to be cut off from the body of Christ then to haue superioritie and dominion over their brethren within the kirk of God The preheminence of Bishops is that Dagon which once alreadie fell before the Ark of God in this land and no band of yron shall be able to hold him up againe This is that paterne of that Altar brought from Damascus but not shewed to Moses in the mountaine and therefore it shall fare with it as it did with that Altar of Damascus It came last in the Temple and went first out Likewise the institution of Christ was anterior to this preheminence of Bishops and shall consist and stand within the house of God when this new fashion of Altar shâ—ll goe to the dore Remember my Lords that in time past your authoritie was for Christ and not against him yee followed the light of God and strived not against it and like a child in the mothers hand ye said to Christ Draw us after thee God forbid that yee should now leaue off and fall away from your former reverence borne to Christ in presuming to lead him whom the Father hath appointed to be a leader of you and farre lesse to traile the holy Ordinances of Christ by the cords of your authoritie at the heeles of the ordinances of men And albeit your Honours haue no such intention to doe any thing which may impaire the honour of Christs Kingdome yet remember that spirituall darkenesse flowing from a verie smal
Ecclesiastical within the bounds according to the discipline of the Kirk And finally the act of annexation of the temporalitie of the benefices to the crown of necessitie demolishes and beares down all the Bishops Iam. 6 Parl. 1◠cap. 29. CHAP. VIII That they are against the honour of God and his Christ THe standing for the maintenance of the kingdome of God and whom hee hath anointed his King upon his holy mountaine the Lord Iesus Christ is to their honour like as to slide from it and leaue it to follow after the world is against the honour of God and Christ To hear the word of God and to do it is the special honouring of God of that great Pastor of the sheep the Lord Iesus Christ As by the cōtrary the rejecting of his word and casting it off behind their back is his dishonour And finally to build plant with God is to honour him so to cast down root out that which by the Ministerie of his notable servants he hath builded and planted is to his high dishonor But so it is as I haue verified shown that Bishopricks makes men to slide away from the Kingdome of Christ to leaue it and follow the world to reject his word and cast it behind their back And finally to cast down and root out that which Christs faithfull servants hath bigged and planted even that sincerity of the Gospell freedom of the Kirk of Christ brought to such perfection and so well established left unto us by them and so with the Scribes and Pharises to seek the glory of men rather then of God to seek honor one of another and not to honour Christ nor to seek to be acceptable unto him And is it not alas a horrible dishonouring of God and the preaching of his blessed veritie vvord to flatter men annoint their filthie flesh with earthly honor wealth sensualitie to make Christs holy Ministers to be loathed sclandered and evil spoken of And as the Lord rebuked Eli the Priest his sons vvhose sinnes vvere great before the Lord in making men to abhorre the Lords Ministers and offerings Therfore the Lord threatned them by Samuel saying Wherfore haue ye kicked against my sacrifice my offrings which I commanded in my tabernacle and honors thy children aboue me to make your selfe fit of the first fruits of all the offerings of my people Israel wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith I said thy house and the house of thy fathers should walke before me for ever But now the Lord saith it shall not be so for they that honour me I will honour and they that despise me shall be despised And now O yee Priests cryed Malachie this commandement is for you if ye will not heare it not consider it in your heart to giue glorie unto my name J will even send a curse upon you and will cursse your blessings yea I haue cursed them alreadie because ye doe not consider it in your hearts Behold I will corrupt your seed and cast dong upon your faces even the dong of your solemne feasts and ye shall be like unto it and yee shall know that I haue sent this commandement unto you that my covenant which I haue made with Levi might stand saith the Lord of hosts My covenant was with him of life and peace and equitie and he did turne many away from iniquitie For the Priests lips should preserue knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts But ye are gone out of the way ye haue caused many to fall by the Law ye haue broken the covenant of Levi saith the Lord of hosts Therefore I haue also made you to be despised and vile before all the people because yee keep not my wayes CHAP. IX That this Bishoprie is against the honour and weale of the Kings Majestie IS it not the Kings vveale honour to honour God to loue fear obey him to be wise and learned to serue God in fear and rejoice in trembling to kisse the Son lest he be angry to be a nurs-father to the Kirk to be an avenger of all breakers of Gods holy law and misorders against his manifest word and truth And in a vvord to raign in Christ by Christ and vvith Christ against the sinne that drawes him to the contrarie Is it not the weale and honour of his Maj. to hold himselfe in the favour of God that reverent loue good estimation of all that feares God unfeignedly loues the Lord Iesus Christ by holding fast that profession of the sincerity of the Gospell in doctrine discipline wherof his H. Kingdome in this Iland namely hath found comfort and profit that all the godly this day triumphes in all the vvicked envie Europe is astonished with admiration at that union of these Kingdomes under one God and Christ one King one Faith one Law and under his Majestie advanced and highly lifted up throne far aboue all Kings Throns in Christendom in this respect for this cause namely that his Highnes was borne entred to reign at the light and sinceritie of the Gospel hath reigned so long so happily so peaceable with the same and he and his posterity in hope and good appearance holding fast the same to reigne most blessedly even to that appearance of Christ the King of Kings from the heavens Is it not his Majesties weale and honour to stand fast to that confession of faith sworne and subscrived by his Highnesse for good example to his houshold estates and all his subjects extant in all languages affixed as it were on the most high pillar in the great Theater of Europe testifying and proclaiming to all his Majesties pietie sinceritie and zeale to the Gospell of Christ and his Kingdome against all corruption and thraldome of the Antichrist of Rome And against his weale and honour that leades him to the contrarie Is it not the weale and honour of his Royall Majestie to haue all the hearts of the most sincere Protestants and professors of the holy Evangell not onely throughout great Brittaine but also France Germanie Switzerland and Sweden to be as it were the heart of one man to ware all their bloud for his Majesties safetie in person encrease in honour and stabilitie in estate by holding fast unaltered or mixed the sincere simplicitie of the Gospell and doctrine sacraments and discipline which they haue so long professed with his Majestie and against the which what cursed force or businesse was ever able to prevaile unto this houre And finally is it not his Majesties weale and honour to be safe and free from the falshood flatterie and crueltie of ambitious avarice which hath brought so many notable Emperours Kings and Princes to tragicall ends corrupted sincere Kirkes and overthrowne flourishing Common-wealthes And verily this venome and poyson of humane Bishops degenerating into Satanicall hath filled the Ecclesiastical
as best expressing the causes of that honorable meeting Epaph. Left you or I either should be mistaken behold the true copie thereof Proclamation of the Parliament IAMES by the grace of God King of great Britaine France and Ireland defender of the faith Forasmuch as we know â—â—â—ll that the happinesse strength and glory of a Monarchy free from tyranny and confusion is builded upon the mutuall loue betwixt the king and his subiects expressed by the one in a fatherly care to maintaine his countries in a secure peace flourishing with religion and iustice and by the others in a loyall and submissâ—e obedience to their Princes will and commandement accompanied with a heartie and affectioned offering of all supply and ayd to the vpholding and increase of his estate and honour with their goods and bodies Which reciprocall bonds as layd in by nature and birth upon king and people albeit no new contract can tie or shike off yet are they with solemnitie in a sort renewed at the Assemblies of Parliaments wherein the subiects according to the occurrent necessities of the Princes affaires offer to him their best supply and helpe and hee returneth to them satisfaction and ease of their just grievances pardons for transgression of the lawes ratifications and acts in favours of particular persons estates and corporations with the establishment of such new lawes as the time doth require And wee having now appointed a Parliament in our kingdome of Scotland to be holden and begin vpon the first day of Iune next wherein as the importance and necessitie of our adoâ—s givâ—th â—s just hope for to looke for a supply to bee granted to us by our suâ—jects in our sayd kingdome in a greater measure then hath been at any time heretofore So are we most willing that they should haue all contentment in having either generall lawes or particular acts authorized by our royall consent which being ripely advised shall bee found expedient to passe But because our long experience hath taught us how that divers persons partly by ignorance and partly by fraud are accustomed presuming upon the short time of the sitting of our Parliament to giue in many â—illes and articles to those who are appointed to sit upon the same conteining matter preiudiciall to our crowne or other our good subiects which shortnes of time and multitude of businesse permitteth not to be so narrowly examined as need were And for this cause we haue appointed a certaine number of our counsell to meet some dayes before the sayd parliament and to consider of all billes petitions and articles which shall be exhibit to them by our Clerk of Register Therefore our will and pleasure is that all such at intend to giue in any articles to be past in this approching Parliament deliver the same to our Clerk of Register before the twentie day of May next Otherwise the same shall not bee receiued read nor voted in our sayd parliament except the same be past under our own hand And that yee make publication hereof at the market crosse of our Burgh of Edinburgh to the end that none of our subiects pretend ignorance Given at our palace at Westminster the 21 of Aprill 1621. Archip Was there no further done for convocation Epaph. Missiue letters and precepts were directed according to the ordinary custome from his Maiesties Counsell to all Noblemen of the land Marquises Earles Vicounts Lords Barons Commissioners of Shires Bishops and Burrowes Archip. I see not a word in the proclamation of the fiue Articles and I see a faâ—re occasion offered to the kirk or any of her members to give in their petitions according to their feares or desires Epaph. The cover of the subsidie will not let you see them grope rather Videndi ficultas omnes attingit attrectandi vero pâ—â—â—â—s duntaxat Machiavel What was done in the petition yee shall see The corporations of the kingdome in privat persons as they had their publick or privat affaires to be done in Parliament as they were wakened and warned by this occasion according to their customable priviledges appointed and kept their ordinary meetings for preparing their petitions and articles to be timously presented according to the wil of the proclamation But a necessarie corporation divers ministers and members thereof under great necessities and need of support from the compassion at hands of that high and honourable meeting being deprived not onely of the ancient vigorous generall assembly but of the weak image thereof and in that respect of wonted order and Councell for preparing their desires and authorizing commissioners to present the same vvas left unrespected and desolate Archip. Yet his Maiesties proclamation not onely permitting but inviting and the concurrence of so many weightie causes inforcing as the great growth of corruptions boldnesse of Papists and increase of Paâ—â—stry rather plaistered then punished and the distractions of the Kirke now turned into persecution of the Ministers and grievous offenâ—e of the faithfull professors like a fire devouring and wasting all vnitie order and brotherly kindnesse with no small danger to the state of religion the ministers of dutie ought and without wrong or offence to any might haue presented their humble â—etion Epaph. Chien oâ— chaudè â—aâ—t lâ— causroide Ye may guesse at the difficultie of that dutie by your owne disposition and retirednes at that time yet it pleased the Lord to move the ministers in most quiet and peaceable maner to joyne their hearts and hands in this forme of supplication Supplication presented to the Parliament in name of the Kirk May it please your Honours in this present Parliament assembled under the high and excellent Maiestie of our deare and dread Soveraigne to accept and consider the humble petition of your wearied and broken hearted Brethren Ministers and people obsieged under higher paines then â—â—sse of life libertie goods and fame for Sions sake not to hold their tongue but to call and cry to the God of Heaven and the gods of the earth that peace may be within her walles and prosperitie within her palaces ALthough it were more expedient to weepe then to say ought when we see the Lords armie disordered his companie broken and in the chock betwixt Christian and Turke Protestant and Papist some of his worthies put from their places and others turned if not to the enemies campe yet labouring for his cause Neverthelesse having this happy occasion of his Highnesse fatherly care providence and inclination to distribute iustice and mercie among his Maiesties people to whom by right pertâ—ines the worthy comforts and advantages which the King of Kings hath inclosed in hiâ— Royall scepter to bee delivered forth and disposed according to the occasions presented and the reciprocall consideration in his Highnesse lâ—t proclamation expressed as also of this high Court and of your Honours compassionate intercession for our quietnesse and deliverance from injuries alreadie felt and further feared wee are even forced to speake though not
as Tertullus or they who care not for the losse of much inward peace of their sâ—â—leâ— and consciences so that they may gaine their supposed victorie Yet holding our selves within the bounds of that Christian moderation which followes God without iniurie done to any man â—t is not beseeming our ministeriall calling to secret the truth whereof wee are persuaded and by a cowardly kinde of silence and truthlesse modestie to betray a good cause As touching our owne grievances and others concerning our selues wee haue locked up our hearts with patience and our lippes with taciturnitie rather then wee should impeshe your Honours at this time with our just complaints of wronged innocencie by so many great reproâ—hes shamelesse calumnies of sedition disobedience hypocrites sectaries c. Deprivations and rigorous practises inflicted upon some as if wee alone had troubled Israel by holding for saith these principles and maintaining these opinions whereupon Scâ—â—smatickes and Puritanes build their heresies and despise better then themselves and for no other causes knowne to us but for our constant care as God hath dealt to every man his measure of faith to build the house of God according to the liuely paterne prescribed fâ—om his holy mountaine our conformitie with the Kirk of Scotland and the best reformed kirkes of other Couatries and our loyall obedience to hiâ— Maiâ—sties lawes declaring and approving the true Kirke the true members and Ministers thereof and the doctrine sacrament and disâ—ipline to bee ministred and professed within the same As for the vehement outcries against our cause and the sundry foule matters layd to our charge in word and writ wee passe them all as swines flesh dressed after a divers fâ—shâ—on and wee looke for equall hearing at your Honours hands and for Pauls libertie from King Agrippa Thou art permitted to speake for thy selfe In this confidence of our good cause and persuasion of your Honours loue to the truth knowne â—y your selves wee prâ—esse not to offend any but being provoked to dâ—pend our selveâ— leaving to the Lord. Who shall iudge the quiâ—k and the dead to persuade them that haue their eyes upon us unpaâ—tially to iudge our labours in the ministerie for the true religion and against the enemies and adversaries therof our harmlesse conversation and blamelesse aâ— it pleases the Lord to assiâ—t us under our infirmities The reasons whereby wee are upholâ—en in our course and protestations and iust defence against the oppositions intended are all made patent to the eyes of the world â—to wayes to lay open the nakednesse of our mother to the scandall of the enemie or justly to offend any otherwayes minded but that the multitude of our professors bee not tainted with the venome of malitiousnesse contrary to the sincere milke which they haue receiued by a swift running speaâ— of humane eloquence more fitting to deceiue the eare then to worke gâ—â—eâ— in the heart If a câ—sing â—â—â—e sorâ—orne wee should desâ—â—t from speaking If the sword of pursuite were put up wee could bee soone discharged of our baâ—kler But being pursued if wee defend not wee die with shame and are guiltie of our owne ouerthrow The praise of all paines wisely taken the steppe of all callings and crowne of commendiâ—d sâ—fferings is to doe and suffer in the causes of Christs spouse and for the maintenance of the salvation of our own soules That one thing we cannot suppresse our hearts desire to haue and hold religion in libertie and puritie And for that effect better like of the single forme of policie in the Kirk of Scotland and the reformed kirkes in other Countries then the many Ceremonies retained by some Yea loue and feare compelleth vs to put your Honours in minde that as it hath been in all ages the holy disposition and happy practise of all Gods people to set continually before their eyes his inestimable goodnesse towards his Kirke her case and condition in her militarie troubles and in consideration of the one and the other dutie required and eâ—sâ—â—cted at your 〈◊〉 Where through in the riches of Gods mercie they haue been safe from that dreadfull ruine that hath iustly overtaken the carelesse and the wicked So now in time of dangerous distâ—â—ction it would please your Honours to set before your eyes how wonderfully the Lords loue and with grace hath been powred upon his Kirk in this nation and by the meanes of religion vpon our gracious Soveraigne your Honours auncestors of blessed memorie your selves your friends and upon this estate the present estate of such a loving mother crying in her bloody distresses for helpe at your hands And in regard of blessings abundantly received in the dayes of her libertie and health what is due from your son-like affections places of credit and honourable callings in your high conventions where God stands in the assembly of Gods high iudges among the Gods to your well deserving mother in whose wombe wee were conceived and brought up on her knees to the condition wherein we now stand at ease and peace in the dayes of her distresse Our hurable petition to your Honours is that as yee respect the glorie of Christs kingdome to be continued in this land the adorning of his Maiesties crowne and the quietnesse of his loving and loyall subiects the endlesse prayse of your selves and the flourishing of your Honourable estates with the particular comfort of so many ministers and congregations within this Realme This poore Kirk in the day of her teares griefe and feare by your timous intercession at his Maiesties hands and the Lord give you favour in the presence of the King and your uttermost indeavours debtfull to Gods honour and Christs kirk in this happy occasion now presented may obtaine in this parliament her most reasonable desires A sufficient and ready execution of former acts of Parliament made against the fearfull blasphemy of Gods name profaning of the Lords day and contempt of his Sanctuarie and service so vniversally over-flowing in this land not onely in the persons of poore ignorants in a manner tyed to these horrible crimes by a cursed custome and beggarly necessitie but even in the more honourable sort whose damnable example encourages their followers to sinne without fear with such additions as may represse and restraine these crying abominations in all without respect of persons A safe libertie to enjoy the profession of our Religion as it is reformed in doctrine Sacraments and discipline and hath been openly professed sworne and practised by Prince Pastors and people of all rankes your predecessors of worthy memorie your selues and wee all yet living these threesâ—ore yeares bygone and aboue A full deliverance from and a sufficient defence against all novations and novelties in doctrine Sacraments and Discipline and specially such as by constitutions of the Kirk confessions of faith liberall Lawes of the Countrie Oathes and Subscriptions and long continued practise hath been condemned and cast out as idle rites and Romish formalties under whatsoever pretence they
harme Therfore the Lords of secret Counsell ordaining letters to be direct to command and charge the whole Ministers presently being in this Burrow except the ordinarie Ministers of the Burrow and such others vvho upon the notorietie of their lawfull adoes heer shall procuâ—â— warrant from their Ordinarie and failing of him from one of the Archâ— to remaine and abide still heer by open Proclamation at the Market crosse of Edinb to remoue depart out of the said Borrow within 29 houres next after the said Charge that they onnâ— wise presume to repair again thereunto during the time of this Parliament under pain of rebellion And if they or any of them fâ—ile the said space being bypast to denounce c. vvhich denunciation to be used at the Market crosse of Edinburgh shal be as sufficient as if it were used at the market crosse of the head Burroâ— of the shire where they dwell certifying them also that their denunciation they shall be taken apprehended warded and punished accordingly Archip. That is more then ever I looked could haue proceeded from Christian authoritie professing the same reformed religion with us It was a strong prognostick of great rigor against the persons of the Ministers and of great preiudice to the cause of religion What was the resolution of the Ministers Epaph. They could not stay against the proclamation they could not altogether desert the cause in so desperate a time And therefore finding that the commissioners of Shires were sent for and earnestly desired to make knowne their grievances with faire promises of satisfaction a strong preparation to purge the great matter of all opposition and that after assayes there was no hope of recalling of the rigor denounced against them for obedience first to God and next to God unto his Maiestie they resolved as followeth VVEE the Ministers of Iesus Christ in his Highnes kingdom of Scotland being convened from the quarters of the Countrey to concurre for the weale of the Kirke and according to the ancient custome thereof observed before in Parliaments to consult upon weightie affaires as the present case requireth consideration and being charged at the market crosse of Edinburgh to remoue forth of the sayd Borrow within 29 houres immediatly following the sayd charge as also justly fearing harder sequells to follow upon such beginnings haue concluded according to the necessitie layd upon us to haue our informations and admonitions to the honorable Lords of Parliament attesting them in the name of our Lord Iesus to remember the labours and sufferings of their honorable predecessors and to doe in the matters in hand as they would be accepted at his glorious appearance and praying to the Father of lights to open their eyes and to incline their hearts to try things that differ and approue things expedient Archip. Informations and admonitions good for them cannot be evill for me and others and who knoweth if being represented to them after so many sensible confirmations from heaven and earth they consider of them more advisedly and unpartially and so many as haue lost their first loue remember from whence they are fallen and doe their first workes Epaph. Some preposterously iudge of all reasons by the conclusion and not of the conclusion by the reasons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others are so obstinatly set against al persuasion that Ne si persuaseris persuadebis And a third sort close their eyes and ears against all information they fear that the light of their minde prejudge their affection and they be made to beleeve that for true which they wish were false yet both for their sakes whose repentance wee are seeking and for your owne and others whom we would confirme behold some of the many then left behind us Reasons left by the ministerie to the members of parliament YOur Honors assembled in this present Parliament ought to abstaâ—â— sâ—â— ratification and all corroboration whatsoever of Perâ—h Assembly and Actes thereof for the reasons following and many moe alleaged and to be produced if your great adoes could permit 1 It is but an assembly single and in it selfe diuided 2. in forme of proceeding not onâ—ly different from others but directly against the order establishâ—d by the kirk 3. In effect contrarious to all generall and provinâ—iall Assemblie Pâ—â—sbyterâ—es and Sessions as they are institute and have been hâ—lâ—â— in Scotland since reformation of religion within the same 4. The carried s ntence and actes thereof are repugnant to the forme of religion retrived beloved professed established and defended by this kirke and whole body of this Realme by your Honorable predecessors of worthy memorie and your selues and practised vniversally and in the severall paroches of this kingdome these sixtie yeares and aboue Non est a consuetudine recedendum sacise nisi rationi adversetur much lesse from a known truth directed and blessed by God in such abundance of benefits as the lend hath enioyed with religion No kirk Protestant nor Lutherane nor of other profession Papist or whosoever wil go in a change without some evident at least apparant reason of the word The change but of the old Calendar for the Popes new one and that is but a small thing made a great hurly burly both at Rigâ—m Livonia and at Augusta 2 Such ratification should crosse and directly preiudice the acts of Parliament 1592 and the provision expressed in the end of the act of Parliament 1â—97 And all other acts set downe in favour of the iurisdiction of the kirk libertie thereof assemblies and discipline Item his Maiesties proclamation published and printed at command of his Counsel 1605. Item the protestation made at Perth 1606 and all others made before and since Item the covenant made by the ministers and professors of this kingdome 1596 and 1597 and all other bands whereby Pastors and flockes haue oblâ—shed themselves in persons and continuall practise to stand to the forme of religion received and practised Tales legum mutationes would proue legum vulnera Quae in suo statu eademque manent etsi deteriora sunt tamen vtiliora sunt Reipub. quam quae per renovationem vel meliora inducuntur And with what credit and constancie could your Honors confirm separation from your fathers and the break of ancient vnitie conformitie with your own kirk when it may be truely sayd Melius atque rectius olim provisum quae convertuntur in deterius murantur 3 The reformers of this kirk and such as by a long continuance follow them said a sure foundation and builded upon the same without errour notwithâ—tanding of diffiâ—ile times It were our wisdome to go forward not haâ—kâ—â—rd to strengthen and not to weaken David left not the 〈◊〉 where Saul left it nor Salomon where David If our fathers were in the way our change is errour and out of the way And shall we say now thâ—â— our sound ancient profession is priscus rigor cui jam pares non sunt homines
preparatiue in the hearts of the commonlie who mâ—â—sâ—â—e religion more by the externall maske of ceremonies then by substanâ—iall poynts of doctrine to the receiving againe of whole Poperie a terrible renting of this kirke inducing Atheisme in place of Religion the people noâ— knowing what to beleeue and seeing the observation of Yuile obtained which before discharged by Act of Parliament in all pulpits of Scotland was sufficiently declared to bee the invention and tradition of man to bee will worship superstition entertaining the people in an errour anent the the birth of Christ leading them to all sort of excesse and profanation and Geniâ—ulation the first of the 15 ceremonies of the Masse teste Bâ—llarmino a gesture invented and ordained onely by Antichrist more than 1300 yeares after Christ aâ— the principall externall worship of their â—â—â—den god now inforced in the 〈◊〉 of the Lords supper under pretence of indifferencie more reverence and humilitie As though we were not forbidden praecepto negativo to presume to giue or receiâ—e the communion more reverently then Christ and his Disciples did or that we were not commanded praecepto affirmativo to imitate Christ in all his religious actions neither miraculous nor admirable nor having a particular reason restricting them to that time 〈◊〉 though we were not warranted praecepto comparativo rather to imitate Christ with a table gesture in that holy banquet then Antichrist with a gesture of adoration inductiue to Idolatry or as though a man were able to give a reason why the surplice the crosse and the elevation of the bread may not as well be received being of more antiquitâ—â— and if the Minister having a surplice with crossing elevat the â—read and the people how their knee what want we of a Masse Voâ— semelde erratum est in praeceps devenitur Fourthly because if the high commission bee imboldened by ratification of this Parliament to depriue Ministers that will stand out against these ceremonies being the greatest number of the best qualified most painfull and fruitfull of their calling within the land what a lamentable desolation shall it draw upon this Church what a wound shall it be to every godly heart to see their faithfull Pastors deprived warded and â—â—n sâ—â—â—l forgiving the communion as Christ gave it and refusing to giâ—â—â—â— fâ—â—r the forme of antichrist Is this a time to obtrude Antichâ—â—stiâ—â—â—â—remonies in the kirk when the blooâ—y sword of Antichrist is 〈◊〉 in the bloud of so many thousand protestants in France and Germanie Lastly 〈◊〉 it was never seen that this Parliament confirmed the acts of â—â—y assembly which they know was called in question not onely by a great number of the speciall of the ministerie but also by the greatest part of the most zealous profâ—â—â—â—our of the whole boâ—y of the kingdome as is mâ—nifâ—st by the practise of Edinburgh seeking the Lords supper in thousâ—â—â— without the citie An admonition to the well affected Nobilitie Barone and burgesses Commissioners in this present Parliament Admonitions to the same effect DOE not your Honours now at last perceiue how mightily the Mysterie of iniquitie the spirit of Antichrist the power of darknesse and delusion prevâ—iles amongst us in the judgement of God presuppose not in the intention of man which we presume not to search but leaue to the Lord the searcher of hearts If Papists goe free who used to be fined if professors be counted Puritanes and religion disgraced if patrons of Poperie be set at libertie and the faithfull committed if Seminarie Priests goe abroad and true Pastors be confined and imprisoned if sea ports be patent to forraine Papists and banished Ministers lye vnrecalled if sundry statesmen be small friends to true profession and not unfriends to Papistry if time servers and men pleasers usurpe commission for Christâ— kirk being her greatest enemies if Papists do incroach and professors grow â—old If it be discharged that search be made for mass-priests or that these foxes being discovered should be apprehended as your honours may try whose intelligence is better is not there the sound of the sound of the fâ—â—t of Popery at the doores whereunto the Lord hath long threatned to câ—â—t us The discipline of Christs kirk is already welneere destroyed and turned Antichristian by the usurpation and tyranny of our Prelats The worship of God is next and now among your hands which if ye suffer to be polluted by the Romish leaven of their unhallowed rites as sundry of the ministery unwisely haue done we may iustly feare the corruption of doctrine and so all is gone Consider then that the touchstone to try your loue to the truth is at this time the act concerning these cursed ceremonies counted indifferent by many but in effect pernicious the bringing back again wherof by the confession of all even of the vrgers is at least unnecessary and untimous and so in religion abhominable and impious But if we will say the truth it is 1. a returning with the dogg to the vomit 2. to Papists and professours scandalous 3. contrary to the word as is largely proven by sundry and so presumptuous 4. in regard of the present use whersoever they are received proving superstitious 5. by reason of the oath of God which hereby is despised blâ—sphemous 6. in regard of the consequences damnable and divelish and for the manner of their establishing by violence and craftines to all them who haue eyes odious Which as your honours in Gods mercie haue marked so haue you done well that being privily tried yee have not dissembled your dislike both of the cause and the croâ—ked convoy of it For well might ye know when supplicants were sent to prison and truth was misconstrued and counted treason when Ministers were discharged off the towâ—â— for feare of requesting your Honours to stand for the Lord little good was to be looked after so godlesse a beginning It rests now that ye be constant and setled in the loue of the truth By threatnings by allurements by hopes by feares touching your selues and your faithful pastors and other endlesse wayes of darknesse they studie to draw away and divert you either to make you vote against Christ or to be Newtrallâ— and Nonliquâ—ts or to slide away and denie your presence by one meanes or other to draw you under the curse of Meroz for not helping the Lord against the mightie But the busier they are the lesse freedome in this Parliament the lesse worth in their causes the greater is your triall who stand to give testimonie to Christ your faith the more pretious and your reward the more glorious For God hath sayd Hee that overcommeth shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my sonne Rev. 21.8 But the fearfull that is such who for feare of man dare not giue testimony to the truth of God and the unbeleeving c shall haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstome which is the second
and through the spirit of slumber excusing himselfe from the common warning Giue an account of thy stewardship command a yong man in a place of service to doe vvhat pleaseth him whether of the two shall make the commentary upon that clause And must not such a tender flexible creature be more readie to please his Maker then to stand upon points to the vvhat becommeth his place Archip. So great alteration against so many strait bonds the omitting of the ratification of the reformed Christian Râ—ligion at such a time and the re-establishing of superstitious Antichristian ceremonies might haue made the hearts of the agents to quake the mindes of the multitude vvho vvere suffered to bee present to bee miscontent and the heavens and earth to bee astonished Epaph. Ye bring me now to the third point that I proponed wherein I may say Many witnessâ—â— oâ— aâ—â— sorts against the â—â—â—â—eding concluâ—â—on of Parliament that beside the Supplication Informations Admiâ—â—â—tions and Protestation of the Messengers of God put out of the town the mindes of the Actors the voyces of the people declaring their feare and griefe and the Heavens aboue vvere witnesses of the truth against that Act. Aâ—â—â—ip How can yee judge of the mindes of the Actors The Lord knoweth the hearts and tryeth the reines Epaph. And will also reward every man openly according to his vvorks done in 〈◊〉 Yet none of the Actors could say that in that action heaveÌ„ 〈◊〉 to honour God or to do good to his worship The most part of theâ— had professed freely in private many times before their dislike of the cause and crooked convoy thereof And the Lord in his vvise providence discovered the feare of their hearts that last day of the Parliament very early For about foure houres in the morning there went a pittifull cry through the high street of Edinburgh Eye fâ—â—â—ly Fire Fire The terrible sound of the common bell which is seldome heard but upon great motions filleth the cares of men raiseth many out of their beds and bringeth them in armes bare footed to the street thinking that the people had made some insurrection Through this confused confluence of people and trouble of the vvhole town albeit it was hard to discern whether Master or servant was readiest to doe homage to servile feare yet it vvas manifest that men in highest places and known to haue strongest hand in the present course were in greatest perturbation and perplexitie till they were assured that there was no other intention but to quench a fire wherby a lodging at the New will of the Cowgate was destroyed vvithout recoverie vvhich had been interpreted prodigious in any other place at such a time and at this time and place if the hearts of men had not been possessed vvith a greater fear at the first Archip. How vvere the people vvitnesses and by what meanes did they declare their judgement Epaph. It vvere a thing impossible to relate all their Observations As when the newes vvere first brought to Scotland that the Marquesse of Hammilton had undertaken that Commission it vvas â—â—grated by the best sort of all rankes that the sonne of so vvoâ—â—hie Parentâ—â— a nobleman of so great expectation and good affection to Kirk and Commonwealth should be tempted to giue proofe of his fortaine learning upon employment so directly crossing the will of the onâ— and weale of the other So the common-people partly out of their respect to him and partly out of their feare of his Commission had frequently in their mouthes â—hese old verses of Knight Keggow O wretched Scot when Keggow turnes thy King Then may thou doole and dolour daily sing For from the South great sorrow shall be bring Therefore o'r Scot right short shall be his ring And The time will come I trow as Thomas sayes Heardmen shall hunt you up through gartings gill Casting the padle and letting the plough stand still Again the last day of the Parliament great multitudes being conveened in the utter Court of Hâ—lyâ—oode-house to bâ—hold the solemnity order and honours as they were borne did obserue at the verie instant vvhen the Lords vvent to their horses and vvere now mounted a Swan flying over their heads from the North towards the South flaffings with her vvings muttering her ominous song whereat shaking their heads in their manner and whispering amongst themselues they declared vvhat opinion they had of the proceeding and vvhat feare of a bad conclusion Ar hip These two instances vvhatsoever forâ—e they haue in themselues are sufficient testimonies of the disposition and feares of the people But how was it that the heavens were witnesses at that time for I can not thinke that yee can like superstitious observation more then superstitious adoration Epaph. I loue not the snares of superstition which is the very reproach of the Godhead I know that faith in things divine and right reason in things civill is better directer then the observation of rare and prodigious events made by man who are guided by their senses Signes must follow and not lead the truth Lucretius ait Epiâ—urum magno metâ—â— liberasse humâ—nas mentes quod superstitiones â—ustulent fortuito geâ—â— omnia confirmaâ—t But I dare not deny the power of particular providence in all the works under the Sun lest vvith sensuall Epicures or vvith the secure world I be forced to distribute her heavenly praises betwixt her enemie fortune in secret and her handmaid nature in seen second causes The incomprehensible course of that highest providence in Gods admirable vvisedom to the foot of vvhose chair the highest link of the chaine of second causes is fast tied hath made the great changes of states whether of Kirkes or Commonwealthes to be sensible by concurring signes as it hath been ordinarie in all time by observation and record of these vvorks of God to giue warning to the vveak agents of great actions touching the great God in his honour and men in their happinesse to try themselues vvhether in their proceedings they haue vvalked dutifully with the convoy of truth going before with wisdome at the one hand charity at the other that so they may either rejoyce or repent or at least be coÌ„vinced against that day of the rightous judgmeÌ„t of God When the controversiâ— vvas betwixt Cyrillus and Nâ—storius vvhich by many Kâ—â—k men in the cast favouring Nestorius part vvas counted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a â—â—aâ—lâ— about vvords especially by Acacius vvho called Cyâ—â—llus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 precise in termes And vvhen that Controversie vvas to be decreed by the Councell of Ephesus upon certaine signes and presages of hard successe this verse vvas ordinarie in the mouthes of men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For when mischiefe hangs over the Kirk Then signes like these begin to work And Machiavel him selfe agreeth to the generall de Repub l. 1. c. â—6 through force of experience in the mutations of States but
he neither can finde out the cause nor make any good use of the particulars Archip. Ye know both the truth of the generall and the true cause thereof and therefore let me know the particular Epaph. Vpon that last day of the Parliament before foure houres after noone vvhen all the Actes vvere now concluded and mens hearts vvere insulting upon the Defenders glorying in their own vvittie counsels rejoycing in their great successâ— gaping for great thankes and reward and wishing every one he vvere the first reporter that he might be carver of his own praise as if he had recovered the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Palatinat The Lord Commissioner rising from his throne for ratifying all that vvas done by touch of the Scepter vvas trysted by the God of heaven For at the verie moment of that ratification the heavens send in through the vvhole vvindowes of the house an extraordinarie great lightning after the first a second more glancing and then a third most terrible of all Immediately after the lightnings an unâ—outh and extraordinarie darkenes for the suddennesse and greatnesse therof astonishing all and couching the insolent joyes of some The lightning vvere seconded vvith three louâ— blasts of thunder in sound and short continuance of every blast like the shot of some Cannon extraordinary great and were taken by many vvithin the house of Parliament to be shotts from the Castle It appeared to all that dwelt within ten or twelue miles that the clowdes stood right aboue the town and that the darkenesse overshadowed that part onely By one of the blasts the Beacon standing in the entry of Leith haven vvas beaten down After the lightnings darknes and thundering their fell down a shoure of haile stones extraordinary great and last of all a strange raine making the streetes to runne like rivers imprisoning the Lords about the space of an houre and a halfe and straitly forbidding to honour these fiue Articles vvith ordinarie pompe and solemnity So that the servants rode home on the footmantles and the Masters vvith drew themselues some by coach and some on foot through the neerest privie wayes Next as if the heavens had resolved never to countenance these ill-gotten creatures upon Munday the 20 of August vvhen the Actâ—s vvere proclaimed the same mâ—â—gâ—ation vvas renewed by thunder si◠〈◊〉 and great raine coâ—â—â—â—ing all the time of the riding at the Crosse And thirdly vvhat hath followed since yee can vvitnesse your selfe The tempests of vvind and raine bâ—gâ—n at that time haue so continued through the uâ—â—outh unseasonaâ—â—â—nesse of the â—â—e harvest in many places S Luke gat not a stâ—wâ—k and the â—â—â—ne universally are shaken and rotten in such measure that never was there in this Country such it equality of â—riâ—es in 〈◊〉 short time never greater feare of famine vvant of â—â—ed to sâ—â— the ground for the next crop It is pittifull to remember if it could be forgotten so long as there is a Kirk in Scotland the impetuous inundations of vvater carrying away vvith their violenâ—e not onely cornes cattle and bridges but houses plenishing people and all Perth hath good reason to call to mind the month of May the yeare 1591 vvherein by certaine commissioners they confessed to the Generall Assembly their rash and suddain receiving of the apostat Lords troublers of Kirk and Kingdome and promised never to giue suâ—h occasion in time comming but to assist and maintaine the Kirk of God and the true Religion presently professed vvithin thâ—â— Realme as at more length is contained iâ— theâ—â— own confesâ—ion From the months of March 1â—â—6 and August 1618 vvherein râ—sâ—eâ—â—â— vvas both begun and câ—ncluded that unhappie chaâ—ge whâ— iâ— hath been and is a cursed mother of many miseries to this Kirk and Kingdome unto vvhich howsoever they were disposed it vvas openly spoken in the publiâ—k meeting that they were inclinable And if it were so they 〈…〉 as farre from their first promâ—sâ— as thâ—y inclined to that altâ—â—ation Item Item the moneth of Octob. 1621 vvherein the 〈◊〉 and rumbling of vvaters and fear and danger vvithin their 〈◊〉 sends them to seek their safety by the losse of their faâ—â— â—â—â—ly bridge vvith such affection as the merchant casts his goods in the sea or the owner runnes his ship on ground for safety of mens lâ—ues The Lord had an eye to the teares of their sorrow and hâ—ard their cryes from the depths he releeved and saved them and they stand his debters of themsâ—lues for their great redemption and that wonderfull deliverance And likewise the town of Berwick did see the unresistable rage of Tweed by whose violence was hurled away not onely their ancient vvodden bridge but that new and strong one sinely builded of stone no lesse destinate to beare that honourable remembrance Hoc uno ponte duo regna conjunxi Deus diu conjuncta consâ—rvet then to be a common servant to the North and South parts of this Iland It is moreover pittifull to heare the lamentation of vvidowes children and friends at home for the lâ—sse of their deere husbands loving fathers and trustie and tender friends by sea and specially in those townes that are most zâ—alous to follow novelties in religion and also pittiful to remember the great regrat of Borgh and Land for vvant of fewel to prepare their meat and drinke and refresh their persons against the injuries of the vehement cold And yet few strikes upon the thigh and askes why are all these things come upon us But for further humiliation the Lords hands is yet stretched out to see if any vvill repent and returne For before the vvearisome end of this unseasonable harvest and the vvheat seed which farre by the ordinarie custome of this Country vvas not begun in December there is come on a heavie Winter vvith great hunger and cold striking all that haue fore sight vvith feare and care to ease themselues of such persons as they may spare and to liue as retired as possible they can and daily increasing pittifull cryes not onely of vagabond beggars but of many honest persons who if they had employment as before were able to succour themselues by the fruit of their labours What the spring and summer following may bring forth of such beginnings it is hard for us to inquire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Read Euseb l. 9. cap. 7. after him Niceph. l. 7 cap. 28. Rules for reducing the iudgements of God to their own proper causes and best for all To watch and pray to be zealous and amend and to resolue to exercise their patience and charitie as the Lord hath measured unto them Archip. I know that the providence of God ruleth and the fin of man procureth all judgements and afflictions And I thank my God I haue learned against the Atheisme of the times some rules to direct me how to reduce particular judgements to particular causes and to father them right upon their owne deserving sinnes As 1 by denunciation in the word
continentuâ— proinde nullius esse pretii D. Morio But lest ye be miscarryed any longer in this point I aske first if the Romane Kirk vvould enjoyne Chrisme extreme unction holy Water vvhich D. Morton alledgeth for examples against the Papists onely as Traditionall or in their nature indifferent and not as things necessary to salvation vvhether vvould his vvords make against her See ye not because these things are not contained in holy Scripture therefore to be of no vvorth for the observation of such ceremonies are not in Scripture more then the superstition of them I aske next whether the Crosse in Baptisme Surplice Holy-daies kneeling at the Communion c. may not bee ranked vvith Chrisme holy water c. that opinion of necessity being removed Thirdly I aske vvhether a simple affirmation that the ceremonies questioned are indifferent vvith a subtill and vehement urging of them more then of matters of greatest necessity vvithout any demonstration of their indifferencie be either sufficient proofes that they are intended for things indifferent by the Vrgers or sufficient information to Pastors and people to judge of them as of things indifferent Doe not the Lutherans after this manner remoue sacramentall fraction defend their images Auricular Confession And vvhat ceremony is there in all Paganisme Iudaisme vvhat amongst the Papists or Lutherans vvhat of the vvhole Altar of Damascus that may not be brought in under the vale of Indifferency If it be sufficient to say that it is not urged as necessary to salvatioÌ„ He that enforceth theÌ„ as necessarie affirmeth they are indifferent he that practiseth vvith theÌ„ preacheth against them is like him Prou. 26. As a man who casteth fire-brands arrowes and death so is the man that deceiveth his neighbour and saith Am not I in sport Practise command compulsion are better copies of the mind then profession in men who pretend they doe nothing against conscience And people vvho are more moved vvith vvhat they see then vvhat they heare Quid verbâ— audiam cum facta videam Vos nunime fugiunt concâ—atus quibus angebatur conscientiae mea propter illam quam sequebar vitae vationem innumeris quotidie superstitionibus connivendum erat Superstitiosâ—ritus non solum mihi peragendi virumetiam ab aliis impâ—rtuâ—â— exigendi multa faciebam aliter quam sentiebam docebam p. 1073. may say vvhat doe vve heare vvords vvhile wee see deeds Were there hearts as free of the vvorld as P. Martyrs vvas they vvould perhaps deplore their case vvith him and confesse the vexation of their conscience in practising and urging rites of that sort as he did Archip. I see now that albeit the multitude of precepts be not so great yet the divine direction is as plaine and perfect under the Gospell as ever it was before Come to the second part of the comparison betwixt Ecclesiastick constitutions under the Law and under the Gospell vvherin I foresee the greatest difficulties Epaph. Second sort compared Heere indeed properly commeth in the consideration of things indifferent by Ecclesiasticall authority determinable a subject in Divinity most like that of time place motion in naturall Philosophy If yee aske not vvhat they are every man knoweth But if aske vvhat they are no man can tell you A subject disputed mightily but determined weakly as most neerely touching the outward face of every Kirk in the eyes of the world and the crownes and bellies of Kirkmen in their own feeling And hence on all sides so full of prejudice and heat of contention that it hath almost ruined the Kingdome of Christ set up the kingdome of Antichrist divided Pastors offended people dismembred the Kirk and onely not put out the very life of true piety Oh that it would please the Lord at last to pitie the Kirke redeemed with his bloud and that vine vvhich his right hand hath planted O Lord our God who hast in former times gotten renowme to thy name amongst us and seest how this day we are become a reproach to all that are about us cause yet thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate for the Lords sake O Lord heare O Lord forgiue O Lord hearken and doe deferre not for thy owne sake ô our God for thy people are called by thy name Open our eyes ô father of Lights for if we be so blind in things lying before our feet what know we in the high mysteries of the Gospell if we swimme in these shallow foords of practise how shall we wade the bottomlesse seas of thy vvisedome Giue us the simplicitie of the Lamb banish from us procacitie and disdainfull sharpnesse of vvit subdue our distempered affections that vve presume not to frame rules for thy worship cut them off vvho seek to please themselues by displeasing thee vvho build up their worldly estates upon the ruines of thy Kirk Saue us all from perfidiousnesse against thee and that deere mother Kirk in vvhose bowels we haue our first and second birth and in vvhose skirts we are nursed to this day Behold hee commeth in the clouds and every eye shall see him and they also who pearced him and all kinreds of the earth shall waile because of him even so Amen Archip. Thrice happy were that man vvhom the Lord would honour to be an instrument of Pacification by manifesting the truth to every mans conscience in this so long-lasting controversie I see that the most part agree in the generall both about the nature and about the use of things indifferent As enuntiations of things contingent are necessary and not contingent So the generall Aâ—iomes of things indifferent and variable are not indifferent but invariable in all ages and nations Sicut singularium coÌ„tingentiuÌ„ ita indifferentium dâ—tarenta scientia in actu signato The true doctrine of indifferencie is the same in Scotland England Germany c. The same in the times of the old and new Testament The Apostolick rules of respect to Gods glory to order and decency to scandall and edification are no new precepts but the exposition of the law Morall requiring loue to God our neighbour and transgressed as well by the Pharisees of old as by their successors since Wherein then standeth the greatest diversity and difficulty Epaph. Ye will finde it to be in the Application of these generall rules to the particulars controverted in diverse Kirkes The Roman Kirk hath an unwritten Word for all that they vvill haue embraced beside that vvhich they finde in Scripture The Lutherane Kirks hold somethings for indifferent vvhich the Kirk of England findeth to be condemned in the Word and England defends a multitude of Ordinances about Discipline and ceremonies for indifferent vvhich vve take to be unlawfull and besides the warrant of the Word the matter going vvith severall Kirks every one judging according to her own measure of Reformation as vvith severall Christians every one judging according to his owne degree of grace and regeneration And
man pleasing humour determine in doctrine against the word or in ceremony against the generall rules their dutie is to obey God rather then man He was a Pope and not a Protestant that concluded If a beast touch the mountaine he shall die therfore the Laicke shall not meddle with Scripture and matters of the Kirk We know that even poor folk haue soules and should haue knowledge and faith to saue them Archip. Knowledge in the Professours is most necessary but the smaller measure may serue if their Leaders be full of light Albeit ye and others who stand against ceremonies haue more affection then knowledge and more zeale then learning as I haue often heard you called ignorant wilfull men and that there is scarcely a mouth full of learning amongst you all yet there be many great Clerkâ—s and a faire procession of learned Doctors of Divinity in the Kirk of Scotland to whose fatherly care the people may safely commit the matters of the worship of God and of their own salvation let them onely obey their superiours and attend their secular affaires Epaph. I like not jesting in a serious purpose Ierome was moved to write a booke de vtris illustribus by the like objection of the Heathen against Christians The Papists plead their cause at some times by objecting of ignorance to the Reformed Kirkes But I never heard it of any of our adversaries against us except of some vaine glasterers vvho thinke themselus learned because their dwelling hath marched a long time with bookes and learning and know not their own ignorance because they paine not themselues to reade and consider difficulties Some men care not for the losse of the truth so they may appeare learned We stand not for our learning so we may retaine the truth we haue learned Christ in comparison of whose excellencie we thinke all things losse and are ready to defend the least and lowest hâ—mme of his garment against all such Bragadochies Albeit our Clergie hath gotten the names of the greatest Clarkes yet never had the people more need of knowledge then now When great titles began among the Iewish Doctors as Orgnolam Rabboni hakkodesh the light of the vvorld the holy Doctor Vrim and Thummim both light and holinesse was wearing away And so was it in the Christian Kirk when the titles of Comestor Magister sententiarum Doctor irrefragabilis Doctor Seraphicus Doctor Fundatissimus Doctor Illuminatus Doctor Solennis Doctor Resolutus Doctor Subtilis Doctor Angelicus c. made men so famous Albeit we could point at the men and the gifts amongst our selues and say this is Doctor Resolutus and that is Doctor Solemnis c. Albeit our Doctors for their subtilizing distinctions might with Antonius Pius be called Cumini sectores so long as they stand upon their learning they would proue to the people like the Starres which giue but small light they are so high The Lord vvill confound the wise and learned that he may haue the glory to himselfe When vaine imaginations vaine altercations vaine affectations the three peccant humours of learning doe abound in some and idlenesse covetousnesse and ambition the threefold consumption of the Kirk appeares in others then is the Clergie sick and hath need of Physicke then haue poore people need of knowledge and to beware of contagion To vvhat serue the Priests roddes except they bud The high Priest in the time of the second Temple was called Vir multarum vestium the man with the many clothes but he wanted the oile We haue the man with the many cloathes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with great pompe but the oile is dryed up The golden girdle that had wont to be about the pappes soon after the reformation is now slacked and sliding down towards the loines where it was before Reu. 15 6 The sea of glasse and chrystall is beginning to be muddy to be turned into bloud because of this mountaine of Episcopacie and preferment that is cast into it Revel 8 8. And therfore if ever at any time since the reformation our people haue need at this time of the judgment of discretion Institutio Iussio Observatio And now to close this point of Ecclesiastick coÌ„stitutions I wish you and all others by holy judgement to discerne of the first institution of these ceremonies that therby ye may judge of the following ratification and of your own observation I haue shewed you that they are not in nature indifferent and giving them to be indifferent that the Apostolick rules are not kept And therefore albeit the conclusion of that Assembly were Ecclesiasticall and publick in respect of the persons assembling seeing it is not Ecclesiasticall and publick ratione modi medii in respect of the manner and meane used to bring on the conclusion but in that respect civill and private how can it be counted Ecclesiasticall No man at that time durst so much as pretend piety decency or charity The Kings pleasure the averting or preventing of the kings wrath what shall become of your Kirk if the King countenance it not such a Theologicall and inartificiall arguments as his Majestie never did use in any Assembly and could not haue heard with patience caryed the conclusion As the interpretation of Scripture which is onely private ratione personae in respect of the person interpreting and not in respect of the manner and meanes of interpretation is not to be judged the interpretation of a private spirit so upon the contrary the conclusion of persons Ecclesiasticall proceeding from a private or civill cause cannot be esteemed Ecclesiasticall Lex humana quâ—â—â— eâ—â—uadiâ—â—â— viâ—tuâ—â— obligandiâ—nâ—â— habâ—t cuâ—â—a coâ—muni bâ—nâ— deficit The conclusion can haue no greater force nor no other quality but that which it receiveth from the reason whereupon it depends He that striveth to demonstrate a supernaturall conclusion by a naturall reason bringeth forth nothing but a naturall conclusion If the first institution be not sound the following ratification can giue no new right and therefore the observation must be unlawfull Archip. In this third Evangelicall and Christian determination ye haue spoken of Divine institutions and of Ecclesiasticall constitutions Humane inuentions in the Christian Kirk I would heare now what ye are to say of Humane inventions succeeding in the Christian Kirk to Pharifaicall conceits in the Iewish Kirk Epaph They would all suddenly evanish if the word of Christ were obeyed in his own house The lines and cords of mens wit that creep in and rap out may serue for civill and secular mets and merches But as the Temple was met with a reed so hath the Lord ordained a golden reed for the measure of the Sanctuary In all Planets coniunction is most amiable except the Sun which is good by aspect but evill by coniunction When man presumeth to equall his ceremonies with divine Institutions and to set down a positiue worship with the worship of God that marreth all Archip. That is the
voluntate legislatoris Yet the distinction of the bounds belonging to everie synagogue vvas left to the power of the kirk of the Iewes no lesse then the distinction of Parishes now to the Christian kirke and all the distinct office-bearers are prescribed now as well as then As unlawfull now to bring in a new kinde of ministerie into the kirke as it vvas at that time and will prove in the end to be no better then strange fire 2. For places there cannot be a common place now for solemne vvorship for either there behoved to be one for the vvhole Christian vvorld vvhich no man vvill affirme except a Roman Catholick or else one in every nation vvhich vvere the erecting of a proper religion in everie kingdome and a making of everie countrey a Canaan by it selfe and not a part of the kirk vniversall having communion with all the Saints But as the Kirk now hath a place of meeting for every congregation so had the Iewish kirk the like power and libertie in building their synagogues and no greater holines in the one place then in the other 3. For times in vindicating his festivall dayes from the blame of Iudaisme he denieth that the kirk hath power to make dayes like the Iewish dayes in appropriating a vvorship to them vvhich is not lawfull to performe another day but seemeth to slip in two things 1. that hee giveth power to the kirke to make dayes as holy as that day vvhich is more holy then the Iewish dayes putting no difference of holinesse betwixt the Sabboth and the dayes appointed by the kirk but maketh all the difference to be divine institution As D. Downame precept 4. addeth to the vveekly Sabboths all other Sabboths lawfully ordained by the kirk All which are to bee consecrated sayth hee as Sabboths to the Lord. And for example of Sabboths lawfully ordained he bringeth the feasts of Christs Nativitie Resurrection c. giving power to the kirk to make Sabboths like Gods Sabboths 2. He slippeth in his appropriations of the two sorts of it he striveth to remoue the one that is the appropriation of the worship to the day albeit he knoweth that it would not be counted lawfull to solemnize the feast of the Nativitie Resurrection c. upon other dayes the solemne remembrance of these benefites being the proper vvorship of the dayes and not the instruction of the people in the grounds of the Catechisme The solemne vvorship of the Passouer Pentecost and Tabernacles was appropriated to the owne times yet it vvas lawfull to instruct the people in the knowledge of the benefites at other times The other appropriation of the day to the vvorship he passeth vvith silence as that it made not a Iudaicall difference of dayes When I say it is not lawfull to exercise that vvorship another day and to exercise another vvorship that day I make difference of dayes both wayes As I doe of meates vvhen I say out of a religious distinction of meats I will eat any meat except that and no other meat but that Had it beene the Lords will that his people should haue kept anniversarie and ordinarie feasts seeing they were no lesse positiue might haue been as easily determined as the weekly Sabboths he had not passed them vvithout determination Finally all that he hath set down concerning order is no more determined in the kirk of the Iewes then in the Christian kirk as vvherat and how the Priest or Levit should begin proceed close Psalmes praying reading preaching what petition to bee proponed circumcision in stead of baptisme the passover in place of the communion marriage and all things in doctrine discipline and divine service What hath the Doctor meaned when he tooke upon him the demonstration of Christian libertie in this poynt except he could haue brought better instances There were many poynts of service as sacrifices vvashings anniversarie dayes c. vvhich we haue not but the determination of such as we haue is as particular as theirs except vvherein the nationall circumstances make impediment They had multitude of observations with direction wee haue the benifit of distinct direction without the burthen of multitude of observations Archip. If he had vvell paralelled the Iewish and Christian kirk in the particulars he had not set down that for a priviledge and libertie of the Christian kirk vvhich is so manifestly common to the kirk of the old testament What think ye of the extent of the power of the kirk as he hath considered it Epaph. Some things are essentiall some things vniversall in time and place both are determined The individuall circumstances of particular times places and personall conditions pro re nata are left to the kirk even as in policie oeconomie c. some poynts must be left because they either cannot or need not be determined In his discourse upon this poynt he proveth vvorthy of his wages because in the enumeration of ceremonies he forgets the Surplice Crosse left he should crosse his paterne in any thing and to giue proofe of his purpose of more conformitie Albeit he cannot deny but the crosse surplice c. vvhich he dare not remember are new rites sensible and as dangerous additions and no lesse positiue in the vvorship of God then salt oyle spittle holy warter lights God giue you and all the ministers of the Kirk of Scotland the spirit of discretion vvhen ye set your selues down at the feet of your generall Preceptor and preceptorie Dictator to learn rules of obedience in matters indifferent If obedience be due to the kirke because therby confusion scandall and schisme is eschued then vvhere all these evills through obedience do daily encrease obedience to the kirk is disobedience to God And vvhether it be lawfull to enquire and to haue respect to scandall after that the Canon is concluded I referre you to that vvhich I sayd before of scandall Arch. All that you can say against his preface the book it self wil seem as smal in his phantasie as the Rhapsodie of Perth assembly against which he his fellow-labourers framed this answer Epaph. Not the phantasie of man but the veritie of God is to be respected of us He calleth that treatise a Rhapsodie for what cause I know not except that the author delighteth not after his fashion to Mercurialize and borroweth help of the Ancients of the Scholastickes and modern Divines Who loveth not the exquisite Bee-work gathered out of so great diversitie of flowers more then the spiders webb twisted out of her own bowells vvhich striveth for nothing but to catch the blind and vveak flies when she hath eviscerate herselfe all the yeare long Archip. Will ye speak nothing of the particulars contained in the book it selfe Epaph. Ye haue driven me further already then I intended at the first Particular polemicks are to be referred to their own lists yet I could shew you by a claw or two that ye need not fear the Lyon In the
Wee vvill rather giue our liues lands libertie and all then commit Idolatry for the pleasure of any Prince and doe abhorre the abuse of Images vvhich is to bow down and serue them albeit we be not of that mind but we may haue them and worship God by them because we know no place of Scripture to the contrary The place of worship is but a circumstance and to tie Gods presence to any place who is neere in all times and places to them that call upon him is superstition The Arke was not ever in one place but often removed In Salomons own time there was two publick places of Gods worship and Salomon sacrificed in them both Is not the whole land holy The promise made to Salomon of a speciall presence at Ierusalem was tyed to the condition of keeping his Statutes and Iudgements wherein he hath failed And therefore as his Throne is thrown down which the Lord at the same time promised to establish so hath the place lossed the priviledge of holinesse We may plead from Antiquity for heere is Bethel so famous for that glorious testimony of his presence given to Iacob from whom we this day haue the name of Israel Rehoboam is no wiser then his father he may fall into his Idolatry and so Israel by resorting to Ierusalem may be snared All danger of Idolatry would be prevented the poore people eased of their tedious journies and both Prince and people saved from Rhehoboams conspiracy All this dinne and division proceedeth of the humours of some contentious and avaritious Levits seducing the simple people making them to thinke that God cannot be served but in Ierusalem after their fashion in every circumstance and particular ceremony and of the doting of some persons of the weakest wit and sex delighting to goe abroad to be talked of for zeale and more pleased with any worship then that which they haue at home The observation of the Feast of Tabernacles upon the 15 day of the 8 month is but the change of a circumstance of time The day was made for man and not man for the day It was lawfull by Gods own warrant to keep the Passeover on the 14 day of the second month he careth not for the month so the day be kept It is presumption to alter things substantiall in matters of faith or doctrine but superstition to stand upon circumstances and variable ceremonies What can be done the Lords worship cannot be neglected If the Priests of Levi make it nice will still proue contentious and lead a faction with them for strengthning the Kingdome of Iudah upon warrant of Antiquity before the distinction of Levi was made for orders sake others of other Tribes as vvell qualified as themselues must be put in their places and they put away as Abiathar was by Salomon because he had his hand with Adoniiah It may be vvhen they see their places well filled and the charity of profuse people which cannot last long to decay that their giddiness goe away and they returne to their right wits The Prophet that came to the King when his hand dryed up might haue beene a Witch comming vvith lying vvonders for he vvas slaine by a Lyon and howsoever he threatned destruction he condescended upon no time left he should haue been convinced of a lye Abijah dealt not with the King in meeknesse and sincerity as became a Prophet but by his bitternesse and passion declared that that he vvas partially inclyned to Iudah Abijah dyed not before his day All things come alike to the godly and to the vvicked to him that sacrificeth and him that sacrificeth not Or if his death vvas untimous it was rather for his secret intentions crossing his fathers courses then for any good that was in him towards the God of Israel as the Prophet would haue it Archip. You need to goe no further I haue often thought upon the Idolatrie of Ieroboam but never could know what pretexts he could devise to make all Israel to sinne And upon the contrary we are blinded and consider never the pretexts of the idolaters of our times but are miscarryed with their Idolatrie albeit it equall if it exceed not that of Jeroboam All men are more equall Iudges of other times then of their own They can admire the vertues and condemne the sinnes of old or in other places at this time but can neither discerne the one nor the other in the present time amongst themselues It is easie to finde out a Since or a Forasmuch c. to begin an Article with when so much may be said for the greatest abominations Shall I never by Gods grace suffer my eyes to be dazeled with the beauty of colours as I haue done For all pretences vvil proue but fig tree leaues when the Lord vvho vvill not be mocked cryeth to the fugitiue conscience where art thou And I thinke as little now of my third difficulty of promise that no more shall be urged upon the Kirk heereafter Epaph. It were good to examine the particular pretences expressed in the actes concluding the fiue Articles but that is done already And ye may guesse by the first and greatest what stuffe is to be found in the rest 1 The place of the 95 Psalm which is alledged commandeth not when we come to worship God that we fall c. for so kneeling vvere commanded in every exercise of Gods vvorship and it vvere against Gods commandement to vvorship him vvithout falling down and kneeling 2 Our Kirk used not sitting since the Reformation of Religion because kneeling vvas abused but because it vvas most convenient to the Institution of Christ as is declared before 3 Whither the memory of by past or the sense and multiplication of present superstition may not be a better pretence for the contrary conclusion I feare the times shall giue reply to your third Argument and I vvish that the answer of the third difficultie vvere more difficill than 〈◊〉 The third difficultie answered It is the prerogatiue of the promises of God to be beleeved aboue experience sense and reason vve ought to judge of their verity by the judgment of infallibility of mens persons by the judgment of charity and of mens speeches and promises by the judgement of prudence Iudicium Veritatis Chaâ—â—atis Prudentiae Christian prudence looketh back upon this course to the very beginning considereth how it is still working and seeth the future effects alreadie present in the causes As there is great difference bewixt one broken linck and the whole golden chaine of Gods providence so one ceremony is but a small part of the mysterie of iniquity I would know vvhat it is to resist the beginning of evill and vvhether the posterity may justly blame the predecessors for giving vvay to mischievous practises Prastate ero nos ut ea que pueri suscepimus senes posteris reliuquamus ne quid futura aetas inveniat corrigendum It was well said by Symmachus
though in a bad cause Doe so I pray you that the things wee haue received when wee were children we may transmit to the posterity when we become old that the following age may finde nothing to be amended Men may promise little for themselues albeit their intention vvere answerable to their profession lesse for their superiours whom they dare not challenge least of all for Satan who hath the warp of defection rolled up in secret upon the beame of his hellish project and employeth one malignant wit after another to make out the web by Gods just judgement ever plaguing former defections with following Apostasie Never man made count of such promises but he who first laid his count to keep the vvorld in all cases of the Kirk that he might haue something to say for his honestie before the world rather then for the peace of his conscience before God in vvhose dreadfull sight who dare appeare vvith the vveak promises of sinfull men against his infallible verities Fourth difficulty of hard success removed Frater frater ubi in Cellam dic miseâ—ere meus Deus Res propter resistentiam laborem inclinationeÌ„ sunt Physice ethice sed non Theologice â—â—possibiâ—es Archip. When all my forces vvere mustered together in the beginning they made some shew but now vvhen they are severally provoked to the conflict they bewray their weakenesse my last souldier called hard successe dare not set out his head Epaph. His name should not be heard in a cause of this quality Care of duety belongeth to us care of successe to God and not to us Luther had not been the right man if he had been ruled by feare of events vvhen it was said to him in sad earnest Brother brother take you to your Cloister and pray to God to help you Policie hath so farre prevailed vvith M. Sprint that he hath found a false key to open a gate for many to enter vvithin the threshold of ceremonies in case of deprivation and a back dore to escape by in case of reformation that his man shall ever fall on his feet But piety is no temporizer and in all times of heresie profanity impiety looks to the will of God to doe it for a good successe and 〈…〉 first or last All difficulties are not impossible â—tâ—er and many naturall and morall impossibilities proue demonstrations of his power with whom nothing is impossible All hearts are in Gods hand either converting or changing vvhom he converteth not or restraining vvhom he changeth not or at least ruling and governing to good ends whom he restraineth not Ecclesiasticall history points at sixe notable changes of the Christian Kirk every one of the first fiue including three hundred yeares In the first three centuries Piety simplicity martyrdomes abounded under persecution In the next three by occasion of heresies learning increased After that for three hundred yeares supremacie and primacie prevailed in the Kirk The fourth three yeeres was a time of soveraignty and domination over saecular Princes and Emperours The last period of the same extent was a time of Mammon and heaping up of riches At last in the sixteenth hundreth yeare when Kirkmen had no further to aime at vvhen the unkindly daughter had devoured the mother and every one vvas saying in his own bosome my soule take the ease then it pleased the Lord from heaven to pitie his own Kirk in working that blessed reformation never at any time before so much desired and so little expected Our Nationall Kirk so like is she unto her mother during these sixtie yeeres past hath experienced the like diversitie We had in the beginning a time of martyrdom vvith great power and simplicity of the Gospell a second time of learning abounding with a greater number of Doctors indeed then this time doth with titles soone after succeeded a time of primacie vvhen Pastors sought after preferment aboue their brethren When that vvas obtained they rested not till in the fourth time they were preferred to the Nobles and Seculars of the land And now in the fift time sitting in the highest chaires of honor they leaue no meane unassayed by taxes and taxations by plots and pluralities Pauper Episcopus Pauperioâ— Cardinalis Pauperimus Papa by simonie and legacie of the quick and of the dead to multiply vvealth howbeit some of them find the successe of Alexander the fift Why then may we not hope whatsoever be the present course of second causes for a reformation except the feare of worldly shame and skaith in the particulars remembred in the end of your third demand make us all to fall away and there be few or none to stand in the gap Archip. The danger is great for the aspersions are very contumelious and the incommodities greevous that I feare few shall be able to beare them with courage Epaph. He that seemeth to be a ceremoniall Confessour hath the lesse evidence that he shall proue a substantiall Martyr We haue not so much to regard what is said as how true it is nor what we shall suffer as vvhat vve haue deserved Against them 〈◊〉 vve might make reply in the vvords of the vvorthiest instruments that haue lived in the Kirk of God after the Apostles vvho haue been burthened vvith the same and other like imputations And vvhat is true may be better known then by the slanders of our enemies 1 By our doctrine of obedience to all our lawfull Superiours 2 By our practise vvherein vve haue altered nothing since the time vve vvere esteemed obedient to our superiours Peace-keepers and peace-makers in the Kirk and enemies to Papists 3 By our abhorring the name of Puritanes vvhich that sect of Heretickes affected and vvhich the Papists first brought upon us as the name of Calvina-papistae upon our Opposites to make our Religion the more odious And 4 by our unwillingnesse to be shut out of our particular residencies so long as we are suffered to be faithfull in them by such as are resident in place but non-residents in office leaving their flockes following after the vvorld fostering others like unto themselues requiring of Intrants subscription for qualification and sending the best qualified spirits because they haue not learned to subscribe to hang up their harpes on the vvillow trees and their silver trumpets prepared for the Temples about the unworthy walles of other professions Archip. I know it vvas given forth of the holy Apostle that he turned Christian for a vvorldly respect That Wickliffe finding himselfe disappointed of a Bishoprick became a Schismatick That Iohn Husse Ierome of Prage and Luther all three fell into apostasie because they wanted preferment yet so mighty was the Lords assisting grace that they through good and evill report kept the truth pressed hardly towards the marke But alas what are vve whether Pastors or Professours able to beare Epaph. If we suffer not greater things for Christ we are not vvorthy of him If all make defection our desolation shall be exemplarie