drunk with hellish fury and are runing in a rage to destroy the people of God whom they can meet with But all the Nations where the best Policy was established have been of this mind In Greece publick rewards were enacted to be given and honours appointed by several Cities to those that should kill Tyrants from the mightiest of them to the meanest with whom they thought there was no bond of humanity to be kept Hence Thebe is usually commended for killing her husband Timoleon for killing his Brother because they were pernicious destructive to the Common-wealth which thô it seem not justifyable because of the breach of relation of natural subjection yet it shewes what sentiments the most politick Nations have had of this practice As also among the Romans Cassius is commended for killing his son and Fulvius for killing his oun son going to Catiline and Brutus for killing his kinsmen having understood they had conspired to introduce Tyranny again Servilius Ahalas is commended for killing even in the Court Sp. Melius turning his back and refusing to compear in judgement and for this was never judged guilty of bloodshed but thought nobilitate by the slaughter of a Tyrant and all posterity did affirme the same Cicero speaking of the slaughter of Cesar stiles it a famous divine fact positum ad imitandum Sulpitius Asper being asked why he had combined with others against Nero and thought to have killed him made this bold reply that he knew not any other way to put a stop to his villanies and redeem the world from the infection of his example and the evils which it groaned under by reason of his crimes On the contrary Domitius Corbulo is reprehended by all for neglecting the safety of mankind in not puting an end to Nero's Cruelty when he might very easily have done it And not only was he by the Romans reprehended but by Tyridates the Persian King being not at all afrayed lest it should afterward befall an example unto himself When the Ministers of Cajus Caligula a most cruel Tyrant were with the like crueltie tumultuating for the slaughter of their Master requiring them that killed him to be punished Valerius Asiaticus the Senator cried out aloud I wish I had killed him and thereby both composed their clamour stopt their rage For there is so great force in an honest deed saith Buchannan de jure Regni relating this passage that the very lightest shew thereof being presented to the minds of men the most furious assaults are allyed and fury will languish and madness it self muâ—t acknowledge the soveraignity of reason The Senate of Rome did often approve the fact thô done without their order oftentimes by private hands As upon the slaughter of Commodus in stead of revenging it they decreed that his Carcass should be exposed and torn in pieces Sometimes they ordered before hand to have it done As when they condemned Didimus Iulianus they sent a Tribune to slay him in the Palace Nay they have gone so far as in some cases to appoint reward for such as should kill those Tyrants that trampled upon their Laws and murdered virtuous innocent people As that sentence of the Senate against the two Maximim doth witness qui cos occiderit proeâ—ium merebitur Buchannan ubi supra rehearsing many instances of this nature gives reasons of their approvableness And these I find here and there scattered in his book de jure Regni 1. They that make a prey of the Common-wealth are not joined to us by any civil bond or tye of humanity but should be accounted the most Capital enemies of God and of all men 2. They are not to be counted as within humane societie but transgressors of the limits thereof Which who so will not enter into and contain himself within should be taken treated as wolveâ— or other kinds of noysome beasts which whosoever spares he preserves them to his oun destruction and of others and whosoever killeth doth not only good to himself but to all others and therefore doth merit rather reward than to be condemned for it For if any man divested of humanity should degenerate into such Crueltie as he would not meet with other men but for their destruction as the Monsters I am speaking of could meet with none of the party here treated on but to this effect he is not to be called a man no more than Satyres Apes or Bears 3. It is expressly Commanded to cut off wickedness wicked men without any exception of rank or degree And if Kings would abandon the Counsells of wicked men and measure their greatness rather by duties of virtue than by the impunity of evil deeds they would not be grived for the punishment of Tyrants nor think that Royal Majestie is lessened by their destruction but rather be glad that it is purged from such a stain of wickedness 4. What is here to be reprehended is it the cause of their punishment that is palpable Is it the Law which adjudges them to punishment All Laws were desired as necessary for repressing Tyrants whosoever doth condemn this must likewise condemn all the Laws of Nations Is it the person executing the Laws where will any other be found to doe it in such circumstances 5. A Lawful war being once undertaken with an enemy for a just cause it is Lawful not only for the whole people to kill that enemy But for every one of them every one therefore may kill a Tyrant who is a publick enemy with whom all good men have a perpetual war-fare Meaning if he be habitually Tyrannical and destructive to the people so that there is no living for good people for him Otherwise thô a man by force or fraud acquire Soveraignity no such violence is to be done to him providing he use a moderate way in his Government such as Vespasian among the Romans Hiero in Syracuse 6. Treason cannot be committed against one who destroyes all Laws and Liberties of the people and is a pernicious plague to the Common-wealth 2. Such is the force of this Truth in the case circumstantiate that it extorts the acknowledgment of the Greatest Authors Ancient Modern Domestick Forreign and even of all rational Royalists as Mr Mitchel sayes in his Post-script to the forecited letter that it is Lawful for any private person to kill a Tyrant sine titulo and to kill Tories or open Murderers as devouring beasts because the good of his Action doth not only redound to the person himself but to the whole Common-wealth and the person acting incurs the danger himself alone Tertulltan though a man loyal to excess sayes Every man is a souldier enrolled to bear Armes against all Traitors publick Enemies The Ancient Ecclesiastical Historian Sozomene relating the death of Iulian and intimating that he was supposed to have been slain by a Christian souldier addes Let none be so rash as to condemn the person that did it considering he was â—us
of the God of Truth and Scorn of all our holy Engagments Which defection did not only cause for a long time an incurable Division the first of that kind and most permanent of any that ever was in the Church of Scotland by reason of the surcease of General Assemblâ—es stoped hindered by the yoke of the Sectarian Usurpation but also was the spring source of all our defections since all flowing from fomented by that same spirit that fostered that And for that since that time the Lord hath been contending with this Church Nation bringing us under the bondage of these Malignant Enemies whom we suffered them then to encourage introduce And both at that time since that time the Lord never countenanced an Expedition where that Malignant Interest was taken in unto the state of the quarrel Upon this our Land was invaded by Oliver Cromwel who defeat our Army at Dumbar where the Anger of the Lord was evidently seen to smoke against us for espousing that Interest And remarkable it is how in that very day where in the Publick Resolutions were concluded in the Assembly at St Andrews the Lord then shed the blood of His people at Ennerkeithing so as that the Assembly having in great hast hurried through this Approbation were all made to run for it and Adjourn themselves to Dundie where they met and compleated that step of defection And afterwards it s known what a peculiar vengeance fell upon that City where this deed was done beyond all the Cities of the Nation Next an Army being raised according to these unhallowed Resolutions and the Lord puting remarkable Discountinance upon them in their attemptings at home as was manifest in their attemptings at Torewood c. They march into England and there did the Lord continue by His leaving our Army to the Sword to preach that Doctrine to the world Iosh. 7. 10 11 12. Israel hath sinned and transgressed the Covenant have taken the accursed thing and dissembled also and have put it even amongst their oun stuff therefore the Children of Israel could not stand before their enemies but turned their backs before their Enemies because they were accursed Neither will I be with yow any more except ye destroy the accersed thing from among yow An army of near 30000 was totally routed at Worcester and the Achan the Cause of the overthrow was forced to hide himself in the Oak and thence to transport himself beyond sea where he continued a wandering fugitive in Exile till the year 1660. In the mean time the Sectarian Army here prevailed till after the usurper Cromwel his death the false Monk then General with a Combination of Malignants and Publick Resolutioners did machinate our misery and effectuated it by bringing home the King to England from his banishment Wherein he was habituate into an implacable hatred against the Work of God. Yet though since the Kings first reception into Scotland our declensions were still growing untill they produced this fearful Revolt from God wherein the Nation is now involved there was still a faithful Remnant of Ministers Professors zealous for the Cause keeping their Integrity who in their Remonstrances Testimonies witnessed against both their Malignant Enemies and their backsliding Brethren the Resolutioners and also against the Sectarians their Invaders whose vast Toleration Liberty of Conscience which they brought in to invade our Religion as they had invaded our Land and infect it with their multifarious Errors was particularly by the Synod of Fife and other Brethren in the Ministery that joined themselves to them Testified against and demonstrated to be wicked intollerable Now to see how far the present Testimony is Conâ—irmed by the witnesses of this Period we may resume some Reflections on it I. They impartially carried on the Testimony against Prelacy and the Popish Prelatical Malignant faction on the one hand and the Sectarians on the other without ever waving the Testimony against either or at the least winking at the one to weaken the other both which Testimonies they though of so great importance that they could not dispense with but faithfully maintain both in their witnessings warnings In that seasonable necessary Warning Declaration concerning present imminent dangers given at Edinb Iuly 27. sess 27. They say first of the Sâ—ctaries That prevailing Party of Sectaries in England who have broken the Covenant and despised the Oath of God corrupted the Truth subverted the fundamental Government Look upon us with an evil eye as upon these who stand in the way of their Monstrous new fangled devices in Religion Government and though there were no Cause to fear any thing from that party but the Gangren infection of those many damnable abominable errors which have taken hold on them yet our vicinity unto and dayly Commerce with that Nation may justly make us afrayed that the Lord may give up many in this Land into a spirit of delusion to beleeve Lies because they have not received the Love of the Truth In that same warning they say we are not so to have the one of our eyes upon the Sectaries as not to have the other upon Malignants they being an Enemie more numerous more dangerous than the other not only because experience hath proven that there is a greater aptitude inclination in these of our Land to comply with Malignants than Sectaries in that they carry on their wicked designe under a pretext of being for the King but also because there be many of them in our oun bovvells By vvhich vve may see hovv impartially they opposed both and that this cannot be condemned in the Testimonies of the present Sufferers except the Assembly be condemned And because many novv a dayes have extenuating notions of those debates against Prelacy Sectarianisme about the Government of the Church c. and condemn these that vvould adhere to suffer for the Punctilio's of it as rigid nicetie I shall for seeing vvhat account the Assembly had of them cite their vvords in a Letter to the Assembly of divines at Westminster Dated Edin Iune 18. 1646. The smallest say they of Christs Truths if it be Lavvfull to call any of them small is of greater moment than all the other businesses that ever have been debated since the begining of the vvorld to this day but the highest of honours and heaviest of burdens is put upon yovv to declare out of the Sacred Records of Divine Truth vvhat is the Prerogative of the Croun extent of the Scepter of Jesus Christ vvhat bounds are to be set betvveen Him Ruling in His House and povvers established by God on Earth hovv by vvhom His House is to be Governed and by vvhat vvayes a restraint is to be put on these vvho vvould pervert His Truth and subvert the faith of many II. In the manner of maintaining this Testimony these famous Fathers while faithful for God gave us a perfect
former Principles and betray the Cause Fifthly That he being admitted before satisfaction vvould soon endeavour an overturning of the things vvhich God hath wrought and labour to dravv publick administrations concerning Religion Liberty into that course Channel in vvhich they did run under Prelacy and before the work of Reformation Whence they warn that every one take heed of such a snare that they be not accessery to any such design as they would not bring upon themselves their families the guilt of all the detriment that will undoubtedly follow thereupon of all the miseries it will bring upon the Kingdoms And therefore who soever attempt the same oppose themselves to the cause of God and will at last dash against the Rock of the Lords power which hath broken in pieces many high lofty ones since the begining of the work in the Kingdoms 2 I shall here insert the Act of the West-Kirk declaring their mind very manifestly West Kirk August 13. 1650. The Commission of the General Assembly considering that there may be just ground of stumbling from the K. Maj. refusing to subscribe emitt the Declaration offered to him by the Committee of Estates and the Commission of the General Assembly concerning his former carriage resolutions for the future in reference to the Cause of God and the enemies friends thereof Doth therefore declare That this Kirk Kingdom doth not oune or espouse any Malignant Party or Quarrel or Interest but that they fight meerly upon their former Grounds Principles and in the defence of the Cause of God and of the Kingdom as they have done these twelve years past And therefore as they disclaim all the sin guilt of the King and of his house so they will not oune him nor his interest otherwise than with a subordination to God and so far as he ounes prosecutes the Cause of God and disclaims his his fathers opposition to the Work of God and to the Covenant and likewise all the enemies thereof And that they will with convenient speed take unto Consideration the Papers lately sent unto them by Oliver Cromwel and vindicate themselves from all the falshoods contained therein especially in these things wherein the quarrel betwixt us that party is Mistated as if we ouned the late Kings proceedings and were resolved to prosecute maintain his present Maj. Interest before without acknowledgment of the sin of his house and former wayes satisfaction to Gods people in both Kingdoms A. KER Aug. 13. 1650. The Committe of Estates having seen considered a Declaration of the Commission of the General Assembly anent the stating of the quarrel wherein the Army is to fight do approve the same and heartily concur therein Tho Henderson In the 3 place It is specified in the Causes of wrath as one of the steps of defection Art. 9. Step. 5. That a Treaty should have been closed with him upon his subscribing demands after he had given many clear evidences of his disaffection enmity to the work people of God That these demands which he was required to subscribe did not contain a real security a real abandoning of former Malignant courses principles and cleaving to the Work of God It was not a paper or verbal security which we were bound to demand of him but a real one and to intrust him without this was but to mock God and deceive the world and to betray destroy our selves by giving up all precious Interests of Religion Liberty unto the hands of one who was in a course of enmity to them That both before and in the mean time of the treaty he had given evidence of his enmity in many instances there condiscended upon particularly that he authorized Iames Graham to invade this Kingdom and incouraged him by Letters to go on in that Invasion even whilest he was in termes of a Treaty with us as appeared by bringing into our hands the Authentick Commission it self and sundry Letters under his own hand Next in the same Causes of wrath among the sins of the Ministrie in relation to the publick § 10 11 12 13. That they agreed to receive the King to the Covenant barely upon writing without any apparent evidences of a real change of principle That they did not use freedom in showing what was sinful in reference to that Treaty but went on therein when they were not satisfied in their consciences for fear of reproach of being mistaken That they were silent in publick and did not give Testimony after a discovery of the Kings Commission to Iames Graham for invading the Kingdom That they pressed the King to make a Declaration to the world whilst they knew by clear evidences that he had no real conviction of the things contained therein PERIOD VI. Containing the Testimony through the continued Tract of the present Deformation from the year 1660. to this day NOw comes the last Catastrophe of the Deformation of the Church of Scotland which now renders her to all Nations as infamously despicable as her Reformation formerly made her admired envied which in a Retrograde motion hath gradually been growing these 27 years going back through all the steps by which the Reformation ascended till now she is returned to the very border of that Babylon from whence she took her departure and reduced through defection division and persecutions to a confused Chaos of almost irreparable dissolution and unavoidable desolation Through all which steps notwithstang to this day Scotland hath never wanted a witness for Christ against all the various steps of the Enemies advancings and of professed friends declinings Though the Testimony hath had some singularities some way discriminating it from that of former Periods in that it hath been more difficult by reason of more desperate dreadful assaults of more enraged enemies more expert experienced in the accursed art of overturning than any formerly In that it hath been attended with more disadvantages by reason of the Enemies greater prevalency and Friends deficiency and greater want of significant Assertors than any formerly In that it hath been intangled in more multifarious intricacies of questions and debates and divisions among the Assertors themselves making it more dark and yet in the end contributing to clear it more than any formerly In that it hath been intended extended to a greater measure both as to matter manner of contendings against the Adversaries and stated upon nicer points more enixely prosecuted tenaciously maintained sealed with more sufferings than any formeriy In that it hath had more opposition contradiction and less countenance from professed friends to the Reformation either at home or abroad than any formerly And yet it hath had all these several specialities together which were peculiar to the former Testimonies in their respective Periods being both Active Passive both against Enemies Friends And in cumulo stated against Atheisme Popery Prelacy Errastian
solemnly these Nations were engaged both to keep out put out this Generation of Prelatists now prevailing The obligation of which yet lyes upon all the Inhabitants of the Land with a binding force both in regard of their forme and object and end Hence if the Curats be Covenant breakers and we also in ouning them then we cannot oune them without sin But the Curats are Covenant breakers and we also in ouning them Ergo The Minor may be manifest by an indiction of all the Articles of the Solomn League Covenant broken by them and all that oune them 1. That Doctrine worship discipline Government in the 1. Ar sworn to be preserved propagated was the Presbyterian then established which our Church was in possession of which they have opposed their ouners resiled from and have not maintained 2. We are engaged in 2. Art. to endeavour the extirpation of Prelacy and its dependents which is diametrically opposite to ouning of Curats can we oune them whom we are bound to abhor and submit to them whom we are bound to extirpate Surely this were to rebuild what we have destroyed see Napht. p. 104. And since in relation to Poperie Heresie Schisme this Article obliges us to disoune not to hear Papists Schismaticks why not also in relation to Prelatists who are the greatest Schismaticks 3. They have established homologated an Erastian Supremacy to the Prejudice of true Religion and the Liberties of the Church Kingdom and their ouners have abetted contenanced the same and not preserved either the Liberties of Church or Kingdom contrary to the 3. Art. 4. They have not only concealed Countenanced Malignant Enemies to this Church Kingdom but have themselves been reall Incendiaries hindering the Reformation of Religion making factions Parties amongst the People contrary to this League Covenant And their hearers are so far from bringing them to Condign Punishment that they have strengthened their hands in their avowed opposition to the Covenants contrary to the 4 Art. 5. They have broken our Conjunction in firme peace union and yet their hearers have not marked avoided these Causers of Divisions contrary to Scripture and the 5 Art. 6. Instead of assisting defending all these that entered into this League Covenant c. they have been the greatest Persecuters of all them that adhered to it And their ouners have suffered themselves by combination or perswasion or terror to be divided withdrawn from their suffering Brethren and have made defection to the contrary part and given themselves to a detestable indifferency in this cause contrary to the 6. Art. 7. Instead of humbling themselves for their sins and going before others in the example of a real Reformation they have obstinately defended their breach of Covenant and have been Patrons Patterns of all deformations And their ouners hearers have not repented of that neither when they countenance such Covenant-breakers profane persons nor of their not labouring for the purity power of the Gospel when they seek it from such impure hands Neither do they go before others in Reformation when they are such bad examples of defection contrary to the conclusion of the Covenant This Argument will also strike against hearing of such Ministers that have made themselves guiltie of the same or equivalent breaches of Covenant XII Finally for Unions sake and to avoid Schisme in the body we must withdraw from them This may seem another Paradox but it is apparent if we consider that there should be no Schisme in the body but that the members should have the same care one for another 1 Cor. 12. 25. And that for to prevent remede this the Apostle beseeches us to mark them which Cause Divisions offences contrary to the Doctrine which we have learned avoid them Rom. 16. 17. Now then if the Prelats and their Curats be Schismaticks Separatists and dividers then we must avoid withdraw from them But so it is that the Prelats their Curats are Schismaticks Separatists and dividers Therefore we must avoid withdraw from them The Minor I prove from all the Constituents of a formed Schisme Separation sinful division 1. They that start out from under due relations to a Church and from her Ministry are Schismaticks Separatists dividers But the Prelats and their Curats have started out from under due relations to the Covenanted Church of Scotland from her Ministry in being so unnatural rebellious Children as have broken their Mothers beauty bands order Union razed her Covenanted Reformation in doctrine worship Discipline Government 2. These who withdraw from the Communion of a true Church and therefore are Censureable by all her standing acts are Schismatical Separatists But the Prelats and their Curats have withdrawn from the Communion of the true Church of Scotland and therefore are censureable by all her standing acts in that they have made a faction Combination repugnant to the Communion of this Church and all her established order 3. Those who Separate from a Church whose Principles Practices are subservient to that Churches true Union Communion and right establishment are properly Schismaticks But the Prelats and their Curats have Separated from this Church whose Principles practices are subservient to its true Union Communion and right establishment for they could never yet impeach or challenge any Principle or practice contrary to the word of God or not subservient to true Union order but their Principles practices are stated in opposition to her purity Reformation 4 Those who innovate the worship Government ouned established in a true Church are Schismaticks But the Prelats and their Curats have innovated the worship Government of the true Church of Scotland in bringing a Doctrine new odd and not the voice of this Church and their worship over and above the corruption adhering to it is the worshiping of an innovating party contrary to our Churches established order 5. They that make a rent in the bowels of the true genuine Church are the Schismaticks But the Prelats and their Curats have made a rent in the bowels of this Church and have caused all the divisions in this Church 6. Those that divide themselves from the fellowship of a pure Church either in her Ministry Lawful Courts Ordinances are the Schismaticks But the Prelats and their Curats have divided themselves from the fellowship of this pure Church in her Ministry Lawful Courts Ordinances in that they have caused the ejection of her Ministry dissipation of her Assemblies and subversion of her pure Ordinances 7. Those that break union with such to whom they were under obligations to adhere are Schismatical dividers But the Prelats and their Curats have broken Union with such to whom they were under obligations to adhere both from the antecedent morally obliging duty and from the superadded obligation of the
Covenants neither could they ever pretend any thing that might loose the obligation 8. That party in a Reformed Church which having overturned her Reformation hath shut out laid aside persecute away sound adherers thereunto both Ministers Professors will not admit Ministers to officiate but upon the sinful termes of complyance with their way are Schismaticks But the Prelats and their Curats are that party in this Reformed Church which having overturned her Reformation hath shut out laid aside and Persecute away sound adherers thereunto c. Therefore they are the Schismaticks to be withdrawn from and their way is the Schisme which we are bound to extirpate in the Covenant HEAD II. The Sufferings of many for Refusing to oune the Tyrants Authority vindicated THe other Grand Ordinance of God Magistracy which He hath in His Soveraign Wisdom Justice Goodness appointed ordained consecrated for the demonstration illustration vindication of His oun Glory and the Communication Conservation and Reparation of the Peace safety order Liberty and universal good of mankind is next to that of the Ministry of Greatest Concern wherein not only the Prudence Policie Propertie Libertie of men but also the conscience Duty Religion of Christians have a special Interest And therefore it is no less important pertinent profitable necessary for every one that hath any of these to care contend for keep or recover to inquire into and understand somthing of the institution constitution nature boundaries of the Sacred ordinance of Magistracy than into the holy ordinance of the Ministry So far at least as may consist with the sphere of every ones Capacity Station and may conduce to the satisfaction of every ones conscience in the discharge of the duties of their relations Every private man indeed hath neither capacity concern nor necessity to study the Politicks or search into the secrets or Intrigues of Government no more then he is to be versed in all the Administrations of Ecclesiastical Policy and Interests of the Ministry yet every mans Conscience is no less concerned in distinguishing the Character of Gods Ministers of Justice the Magistrats to whom he owes ounes allegiance that they be not usurping Tyrants everting the Ordinance of the Magistracy than in acknowledging the Character of Christs Ministers of the Gospel to whom he owes ounes obedience that they be not usurping Prelats or Impostors perverting the Ordinance of the Ministry The Glory of God is much concerned in our ouning keeping pure intire according to His will word both these Ordinances And our Conscience as well as Interest is concerned in the advantage or hurt profit or prejudice of the right or wrong observation or prevarication of both these ordinances being interested in the advantage of Magistracy and hurt of Tyrannie in the State as well as in the advantage of the Ministry and hurt of Diocesan or Erastian Supremacy in the Church in the advantage of Ltberty and hurt of slavery in the State as well as in the advantage of Religion and hurt of Profaneness in the Church in the profit of Lawes and prejudice of Prerogative in the State as well as in the profit of Truth and prejudice of Error in the Church in the profit of Peace and true Loyalty and prejudice of oppression and Rebellion in the State as well as in the profit of Purity Unity and prejudice of Defection Division or Schisme in the Church So that in Conscience we are no more free to Prostitute our Loyalty Liberty absolutely in ouning every Possessor of the Magistracy than we are free to Prostitute our Religion faith implicitely in ouning every Pretender to the Ministry This may seem very Paradoxical to some because so dissonant dissentient from the vulgar yea almost Universal and invetrate opinion Practice of the world that hitherto hath not been so precise in the matter of Magistracy And it may seem yet more strange that not only some should be found to assert this but that any should be found so strict and strait-laced as to adventure upon suffering and even to Death for that which hath hitherto been seldom scrupled by any that were forced to subjection under a yoke which they had no force to shake off and wherein Religion seems litle or nothing concerned for not ouning the authority of the present Possessors of the place of Government which seems to be a Question not only excentrick extrinsick to Religion but such a State question as for its thorny Intricacies difficulties is more proper for Politicians Lawyers to dispute about as indeed their debates about this head of Authority have been as manifold multiplied as about any one thing than for Private Christians to search into and suffer for as a Part of their Testimony But if we will cast off Prejudices and the Tyrannie of Custom and the bondage of being bound to the worlds Mind in our inquiries about Tyrannie and suffer our selves to Ponder impartially the importance of this matter And then to state the question right We shall find Religion Conscience hath no small interest in this business They must have no snall Interest in it if we consider the importance of this matter either extensively or objectively or Subjectively Extensively considered it is the Interest of all mankind to know and be resolved in Conscience whether the Government they are under be of Gods Ordination or of the Devils administration whether it be Magistracy or Tyrannie whether it gives security for Religion Liberty to themselves and their posterity or whether it induces upon themselves and entails upon the posterity slavery as to both these invaluable Interests whether they have matter of praise to God for the blessings mercies of Magistracy or matter of Mourning for the plagues miseries of Tyrannie to the end they may know both the sins snares Duties dangers Case Crisis of the times they â—ive in All men that ever enjoyed the mercy of a right Constitute Magistracy have experienced and were bound to bless God for the blessed fruits of it And on the other hand the world is full of the Tragical Monuments of Tyrannie for which men were bound bath to search into the Causes and see the effects of such plagues from the Lord to the end they might mourn over both And from the begining it hath been observed that as Peoples sins have alwayes procured the Scourge of Tyrannie So all their miseries might be refounded upon Tyrants encroachments Usurping upon or betraying their Trust and overturning Religion Lawes Liberties Certainly Mankind is concerned in point of Interest Conscience to inquire into the cause Cure of this Epidemick distemper that hath so long held the world in miserie and so habitually that now it is become as it were Natural to lye stupidly under it that is that old Ingrained Gangrene of the Kings Evil or Complyance with Tyrannie that hath long
further threatens that they should be removed into all Kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh for that which he did in Ierusalem Ier. 15. 4. Certainly these passages were recorded for our Learning Rom. 15. 4. and for our examples to the intent we should not do as they did 1 Cor. 10. 6. and for our admonition vers 11. Whence we may be admonished that it is not enough to keep our selves free of publick sins of Rulers Many of those then punished were free of all actual accession to them but they became accessory to and involved in the guilt of them when they did not endeavour to hinder them and bring them to condign punishment for them according to the Law of God which respecteth not persons or at least because they did not revolt from them as Libnah did There might be other provocations on the peoples part no doubt which the Lord did also punish by these Judgments â—ut when the Lord specifies the sin of Rulers as the particular procuring Cause of the Judgment it were presumption to make it the Occasion only of the Lords punishing them for plain it is if these sins of Rulers had not been committed which was the ground of the threatening execution the Judgment would have been prevented And if people had bestirred themselves as became them in repressing restraining such wickedness they had not so smarted And when that sin so threatened punished was removed then the Judgment it self was removed or deferred It is just necessary that the subjects being Jointly included with their Rulers in the same bond of fidelity to God be lyable to be punished for their Rebellion Apostasie when they continue under the bond of subjection to them But how deplorable were our Condition if we shold stand obnoxions to divine Judgments for the Atheisme Idolatry Murders Adulteries of our Rulers and yet be neither Authorized nor Capacitated to hinder it nor permitted to withdraw our selves from subjection to them But it is not so for the Lords making us responsable for their debt is an impowering us either to repress their wickedness when He gives us Capacity or at least to save our selves harmless from their Crimes by disouning them that being the only way of standing no longer accountable for their faults 12. It remains to Consider the Ends for which Government was institute by God and constitute by men from whence I Argue That Government that destroyes the Ends of Government is not to be ouned But Tyranny and especially this under which we houl destroyes all the Ends of Government Ergo it is not to be ouned The Minor I prove thus That Government that destroyes Religion Safety destroyes all the Ends of Government But this Popish arbitrary Absolute power destroyes Religion Safety Ergo It is evident both from the Laws of Nature Revelation that the Ends of Government are the Glory of God the good of Mankind The first is the Glory of God the ultimate end of all Ordinances to which whatever is opposite is not to be ouned by them that fear Him whatever power then is destructive to Religion and is applyed imployed against the Glory of the Uuniversal King and for withdrawing us from our fealtie obedience to Him is nothing but Rebellion against the Supreme Lord Lawgiver and a Traiterous Conspiracy against the Almighty and therefore not to be ouned And they are enemies to Religion or strangers to it who are not sensible this hath been the design of the present Government at least these 27 years to overturn the Reformed Covenanted Religion and to introduce Popery Hence seeing a King at his best highest elevation is only a mean for preserving Religion and for this end only chosen of the people to be Custos utriusque tabulae keeper of both Tables of the Law he is not to be regarded but wholly laid aside when he not only moves without his sphere but his motion infers the ruine of the ends of his erection and when he imployes all his power for the destruction of the Cause of Christ and advancement of Antichrists giving his power to the beast he is so far from deserving the deference of the power ordained of God that he is to be looked upon treated as a Traitor to God and Stated enemy to Religion all Righteousness The Second End of Government is the good of the people which is the Supreme Cardinal Law Salus Populi est Suprema Lex Which cannot be denied if it be considered 1. For this only the Magistrate is appointed of God to be His Minister for the peoples good Rom. 13. 4. and they have no goodness but as they conduce to this end for all the power they have of God is with this Proviso to promote His peoples prosperity It were blasphemy to say they are His Authorized Ministers for their destruction to which if their Conduct degenerate they degrade themselves and so must be disouned He is therefore in his institution no more than a mean for this end and himself cannot be either the whole or half of the end for then he should be both the end the mean of Government and it is contrary to Gods mould to have this for his end to multiply to himself silver gold or lift up himself above his brethren Deut. 17. 17 20. if therefore he hath any other end than the good of the people he cannot be ouned as one of Gods moulding 2. This only is the highest pitch of good Princes ambition to postpone their oun safety to the peoples safety Moses desired rather than the people should be destroyed that his name should be razed out of the Book of life And David would rather the Lords hand be on him his fathers house than on the people that they should be plagued 1 Chron. 21. 17. but he that would seek his oun ambitious ends with the destruction of the people hath the spirit of the Devil and is to be carried towards as one possessed with that malignant spirit 3. Originally their power is from the people from whom all their dignity is derived with reserve of their safety which is not the donative of Kings nor held by concession from them nor can it be resigned or surrendered to the disposal of Kings since God hath provided in His universal Laws that no Authority make any disposal but for the good of the people This cannot be forfeited by the usurpation of Monarchs but being alwise fixed in the essential Laws of Government they may reclaim recover it when they please Since then we cannot alienate our safety we cannot oune that Authority which is inconsistent with it 4. The attaining this end was the main ground motive of peoples deliberating to constitute a Goverment and to choose such a forme because they thought it most conducible for their good and to admit such persons as fittest Instruments for compassing this end and to establish such
the chief of our fundamental Land-rights and the Cardinal Condition of the established Policy upon which we can only oune men for Magistrats by the Law of the Land And this Testimony by defence of the Gospel and of our oun lives cannot be given expediently any where but in the Fields It is also a Testimony for the freedom Authority of the Gospel-Ministrie and for their holding their unremovable Relation to the Church of Scotland which is infringed by these Tyrannical Acts and maintained by these exercises which is a priviledge to be contended for above beyond all other that can be contended for or defended especially to be maintained against those that have no power or Authority to take it away There will no man quite any of his goods upon a sentence coming from an incompetent Judge And shall Ministers or people be hectored or fooled from such a priviledge by them that have no such power 6. The keeping of Field-Meetings now is a Testimony for our Covenants the ouning whereof is declared Criminal by that same Law that discharges these Meetings in which we are sworn to preserve the Reformation in Doctrine Worship Discipline Government and to defend all the Churches Liberties and to oppose all their Opposites and endeavour their exstirpation And in the Solemn Acknowledgment of sins Engagment to duties we are sworn because many have of late laboured to supplant the Liberties of the Kirk to maintain defend the Kirk of Scotland in all her Liberties Priviledges against all who shall oppose undermine the same or encroach thereupon under any pretext whatsoever Since then the ouning of these Meetings and the Covenants are both discharged together and the ouning of the Covenant does oblige to a publick opposition against the dischargers and an avowed Maintinance of the Churches priviledges whereof this is in a manner the only chief Liberty now left to be maintained to keep Meetings where we may testify against them without dependence on their Toleration it must follow that these Meetings are to be maintained which only can be in the fields with conveniency 7. To give over these Field-Meetings now would be an hardening encouraging of these Enemies in their wicked design of banishing all these Meetings out of the Land which manifestly would be defeat by a resolute refusal of all to submit to their discharging of them and they that do submit and give them over do evidently contribute to the effectuating that wicked design which is certain does not nor will not terminate upon a simple suppression of that sort but further is intended to exstirpate all Meetings for Gospel Ordinances in which there is any Testimony against them To Comply therefore with such a forbearance of them at this time would lay a stone of stumbling before them to encourage them in these their designs when they should see their Contrivance so universally complyed with wherein they might boast that at length they had prevailed to put quite away that eye-sore of theirs Field-Meetings 8. To give over these Field-Meetings now were a stumbling to the poor ignorant people who might think that now it appears that Work was but of men and so hath come to naught and would look upon it as an evidence of fainting succumbing at last in the matter of the Testimony as being quite overcome and that indeed all have embraced accepted this present Toleration and were all alike sleeping under the shade and eating the fruits of such a bramble 9. Finally To give over these Field-Meetings now would be very scandalous to the posterity and to Strangers who shall read the History of our Church to find that as Prelacy came in without a joint Witness and the monstrous Blasphemous Sacrilegious Supremacy was erected without a Testimony in its season So black Poperie it self and Tyranny was introduced by a Toleration which laid them all by from a Testimony against these who formerly had valiantly resolutely faithfully contended against all lesser Corruptions but at last when that came and stricter prohibitions of all publick Meetings but under the Covert thereof were emitted then all were perswaded to comply with that Course How astonishing would it be to read that all these Contendings sealed with so much precious blood should come to such a pitiful Period But I hasten to the Next which is the Second Positive Ground of Suffering HEAD V. The Principle of Testimony for Defensive Armes Vindicated THis Truth is of that sort that can hardly be illustrated by demonstration not for the darkness thereof but for its self evidencing clearness being scarcely capable of any further elucidation than what is offered to the rational understanding by its simple proposition As first Principles can hardly be proven because they need no probation and cannot be made clearer than they are and such as cannot consent to them are incapable of conceiving any probation of them So this Truth of Self-preservation being Lawful because it is congenite with and irradicated in every nature that hath a Self which it can preserve can scarcely be more illustrated that it may do so than that it can do so And therefore to all who have a true respect to their oun as well as a due concern in the Interest of Mankind and zeal for the Interest of Christ it might seem superfluous to make a doubt or debate of this Were it not that a Generation of men is now prevailing that are as great Monsters in Nature as they are Malignant in Religion and as great perverters of the Law of Nature as they are Subverters of Municipal Laws and Everters of the Laws of God Who for ouning this principle as well as using the practice of Defensive Resistence for self preservation against Tyrannical violence have set up such Monuments of rage cruelty in the Murder of many innocent people as was never read nor heard of before It hath been indeed the practice of all Nations in the World and the greatest of men have maintained this principle in all ages But the bare Asserting the principle when extorted by severe Inquisitions was never a Cause of taking the lives of any before this was imposed on the poor Sufâ—erers in Scotland to give their judgement Whether or not such Appearances for Defence as the Tyranny of Rulers had forced people to were Rebâ—llion and a Sin against God Which they could not in Conscience assert and therefore thô many that have suffered upon this head have been as free of the practice of such Resâ—stence as any yet because they would not condemn the principle they have been Criminally processed Arraigned Condemned to the death And against this Truth they have been observed to have a special kind of indignation either because the light of it which cannot be â—id hath some heat with it to seâ—rch them or because they fear the impression of this in the hearts of people more than others knowing that they deserve the
him to give him the one half or more to save the rest and his life commonly made use of to justify the paying of these Impositions while under the power and at the reverence of such publick Robbers cannot satisfie in this Case It is thus far satisfying that there is a manifest Concession in it that instead of righteous Rulers we are under the power and fallen into the hand of Robbers from whom we are not able to rise up But there is no paritie For to bring it home without halting and make it speak sense we must suppose that the Robber not only requires a part for himself and a part for his underling Shavers horse-rubbers c. but a part upon this declared Account that he may by that supplie be enabled furnished with all things necessary for murdering my Father Mother Wife Children Kinsmen Friends all whom he hath now in his power yea and for doing that besides which is worse than all these put together Whether then shall I by giving the Robber that part which he seeks enable him to do all these mischiefs Or by refusing expose my self to the hazard of being robbed or slain Let the Conscience of any man answer this for nothing can be here alledged against the paritie as now propounded and then I fear not but the Objection shall be found a blaze of empty words blown away by any breath But Alas will this Tattle of a Robber be found relevant in that day when the publick Robbers shall be proceeded against by the just Judge Let them who think so think also they see the Court fenced and the Judge set and hear these words sounding in their ears ye are cursed with a Curse for ye have robbed Me. even this whole Nation And then they are like to lay as litle weight on the Objection for fear of falling under the weight of the Curse as I do 5. It is Lawful Passively by forcible constraint to submit to the execution of such wicked Sentences as impose these burdens if it be not by way of Obedience to them This is suffering and not sinning Hence it is easie to refell that Objection If it be Lawful which hitherto was never questioned for a man who is sentenced to die to go to the place of execution then a man being under the Moral force of a Law which is equivalent may pay Cesses Localities Fines c. Ans. 1. Might it not be doubted whether a mans going upon his oun feet to be execute had as manifest and ex natura rei a tendency yea proper Causuality to advance the design of the enemy and his refusing to go had as clear a Testimony against the Clamant wickedness of their Course as his refusing to pay their Impositions Whether I say in this case a man might noâ— yea ought not to refuse to go to the place of execution But 2. Whosoever would conclude any thing from it to give it either life or legs must make it run thus Let the order run in this forme else there is no paralel and so no inference we appoint all the Opposers of our Course that is all the lovers of our Lord Jesus whom we have for their Rebellious Randevouzing at Conventicles sentenced as Enemies Traitors to die to come and be hanged by virtue of our sentence Otherwâ—se besides the Moral force of the Law adjudging them to die we shall use force and drag them like Dogs to the place of execution And in puting us to this Trouble they shall fall under the reproach that being sentenced to die they scrupled forsooth yea refused to go on their oun legs to the Gibbet Let this I say be made the Case which to me is the exact paralel and their every Child will know what to Answer or to hiss the Objection as pure ridicule 3. I suppose the Objection speaks of a righteous innocent person who for Righteousness is brought as a Sheep to the slaughter for a Malefactor who hath lost all right to his life is not to be understood Then to make the Case paralel it must be taken for granted 1 There is a publick Law with the penaltie of death statute for the violation thereof 2 That the person to be executed hath not only transgressed that Law but his disobedience to the Law is notour 3 That he is processed and convict of the transgression thereof Whereupon followes 4 The Sentence and then the Execution Now the Law being wicked and the man from the fear of God being constrained to disobey the Law he can in nothing be justly construed Active but in that disobedience or renitence But in the whole of what befalls him for this he being a captive Prisoner is to be looked upon as passive Yea the very Act of going to the place of execution in the present Case howbeit as to its Physical entitie it is of the same kind with the Executioners Motion that goes along with him yet in its Moral Religious being whence it hath its specification it s wholly the Suffering of a Captive Well then ere any thing can be pleaded from the pretended paritie seeing there are Laws made for paying such Exactions Cesses Salaries Fynes for the declared ends of ruining the people Interests of Christ. It s necessary in order to a just paralel that the Law must be â—irst disobeyed 2 The disobedience must be notour 3 The delinquent must be processed pursued as guilty of the transgression and convicted thereof whereupon Sentence passeth against him for the breach of the Law. Here I grant all with advantage to the Cause As in the first Case so in this he who is judged guilty of the breach of this wicked Law and who is sentenced for that violation ought to suffer patiently the spoiling of his goods and not to decline suffering if it were unto blood striving against this sin 6. It s Lawful of two evils of Sufferings to chuse the least where both come in the election as in the Cases forementioned and in a mans throwing of his goods over board in a storm These and the like are deeds in the present exigent voluntary rational being upon deliberation choise where the least evil is chosen under the notion of good yea of the best that can be in the present case and accordingly the will is determined and meets closes with its proper object Or one of them only be proposed to be submitted to but another lesser evil of suffering is in a mans power to chuse propose for purchasing his immunity from a greater which is not imposed nor exacted of him either by a wicked Law or for wicked ends declared but voluntarely offered As in the Case of parting with some money to a Robber or Murderer to save the life when he is seeking only the life As the ten men that were going to the House of the Lord said unto Ishmael slay us not for we have treasures in the
Dragon and his Lievtennant Trustees and their Lictors is thereby gained and they are foiled while I fight overcome by my not loving my life in the present case unto the death 2. I do by my example encourage my Brethren to stand fast and withstand in this evil day 3. I hereby transmitt to Posterity a Pattern for imitation and so propogate an opposition to this Course to succeeding generations 4. I hereby so to speak engage God to arise appear to plead His oun Cause and His Peoples For when we out of love to Him and zeal for His Interests take our lives in our hands or expose our substance as a prey in witnessing for Him then He is engaged to oune us and to plead His Cause taking the quarrel then to be against Himself Hence it is that when He puts on the Garments of vengeance for cloathing and goes forth to meet them who in their risings up against His People run upon the bosses of His Buckler His Arm is said to bring salvation to Himself Isai. 59. 16 17. and Isai. 63. 5. This keeps a man in case to Pray against such a Partie Whereas a Complyance with them in the least degree will wound a mans faith and weaken His Confidence so that he cannot wrestle with God to prevail For that wherein his strength lay a good Conscience being sinned away in vain doeth he essay when he hath cut his oun hair to shake himself as at other times Alas If by keeping a due distance from his enemies we were in case to play the Samsons or Iacobs on our knees this Enemy who think it their stability to stand upon the ruines of Christs Interest should not stand long upon their feet He who would have his prayer heard Thy Kingdom come should make his Practice in a conformity thereto speak this plain language If I perish I perish but Comply I will not For it s not necessary that I live or have an estate but its necessary I should witness a good Confession against the wrongs done to Christ. 6. This keeps a man in case either to Act for God with advantage if an opportunity be put in his hand or to Suffer as under His supportings and the shinings of His face whereby even while dieing he becomes an Ornament to his Profession gives a dash to the Enemy and so becomes more than a Conquerer 12. Let us consider the matter of Scandal in the present case and remember whose words these are Wo to the World because of offences and Wo to him by whom offences â—ome And it will appear the payers of these Exactions become highly guilty before God. 1. In stumbling hardening this Partie of Enemies For thô there was never a Partie before them in the Nation and I much doubt if ever a Partie can come after them to outdo them who had so many evidences of Plagues poured upon their hearts that He may pour furth His wrath cause His fury to rest upon them And that in His spotless Justice He will rain snares upon them that thereafter He may rain fire brimstone a horrible tempest as the portion of their Cup when He shall come to plead His oun Cause yet we would beware lest we do any thing that may embolden them or make them bless themselves in this their stated opposition to Christs And because we know not but some of the Elect may for a time be carried doun with the Current of this impetuous opposition to Him and may concur actively for a season in promoving this Course we ought even upon this supposition so to witness and so to keep a distance from all apparent or interpretative Complyance with what they contrive carry on as they may by beholding our stedfastness be provoked to consider their oun Course that considering at last how their feet go doun to death and their steps take hold on hell they may hasten their escape from the Company of His Enemies lest they be consumed with the fire of His Indignation if found congregate with the men of these God-provoking practices 2. By paying what is required I stumble also offend my weak Brethren while by my example they are encouraged to rush into the same Complyance O let every man whose Practice may be pleaded as a Pattern remember that Word and who spoke it It were better that a Mistone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the midst of the sea than offend any of these litle ones 3. Sufferers for refusing this payment are offended when the payer doth not only encourage the Persecuters to proceed with rigor rage against him as a peevish froward Malecontent but does what in him lies to wound the heart weaken the hands of such a faithful Witness Whereas if the poor Sufferer saw himself by a Joynt Testimony ouned by his Brethren he would be comforted strengthened become more confident in the Conflict 4. In paying these things the Complyers either by their Example lay a snare for the posterity to whose knowledge their Carriage may come and so in stead of leaving them a Pattern of contending earnestly for the faith they spread a net for their feet yea pave them a way to defection Apostasie Or else they engage the Great God out of zeal to His oun Glory and tenderness to His People who shall succeed for preventing of their following of such Progenitors wherein they have not been followers of Him fully to give such a Testimony against their untenderness and set such marks of displeasure upon their Course that the thoughts of turning aside with them and following their steps shall be terrible to all that hear of it leâ—t for such a Complyance they fall as they did for falling from their oun stedfastness into the hands of the living God. But Alas for the Posterity under whose Curse we are like to go off the stage because of our not having done what we ought yea what we might both for transmitting pure Ordinances unto them and for not transcribing in our Pactice the noble Example of our zealous Heroick Ancestors who valiantly resisted vvhen violently attacqued and by their valour wrestled us into a State of Liberty Well if we leave those that shall succeed us such an Example as this He is like to make us such an Example as will fright the following Generations and force them to serve themselves heirs to them who have gone before us who did acquit themselves as the good Souldiers of Jesus Christ and not to us the debt of whose declensions defections cannot be payed without the destruction of those who shall serve themselves heirs to us But Alas who does think on what he owes to the poor Posterity Or who doth make Conscience to preserve for them that precious Treasure put in our Custodie and judges it more necessary than to live to leave the Tract of a way of Contending zealously for God and the Preservation of His Interests and the Propogation of His oun pure Ordinances to the Posteritie shining so clearly by suffering blood as the way-faring man and they who shall come after though fools need not erre therein Our only Comfort is that the Lord who shall see His seed and must prolong His dayes will make His pleasure prosper and preserve some to be Witnesses of it to His Praise FINIS