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
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
beautie to allure and Ambition an vnresistable power to afray They intend no way to prejudge or extinguish the worthy volumes of the learned but rather to spurre men of good conscience and meet gifts to search and set forth fully and in perfect order these worthy purposes according to their great zeale to a sound religion so long professed and by the blessing of God upon their labours to gain such as respecting their conscience more then their credit with vertues tincture shall blush after the sight of the evill they haue committed with hearty repentance turning their praise of men to the praise of God to their ioy and comfort as Augustines Retractations are the glorie and crowne of all his writings So much the rather as the causes of their yeelding haue been in some lack of acquaintance sight of the matters in question in others simplicity presuming that nothing would be required but that which they might safely yeeld unto in a third sort a desire to be imployed in the service of the kirk thinking it more easie to beare these corruptions then to abide rigour and a fourth sort deceived by policie thinking that their yeelding with protestation should limitate to them the ordinarie forme whereunto others are tied without altering at least in many inconveniences that may ensue upon the obedience required It were a worke of singular loue to help such and many others under the restraints of feare and other infirmities who undoubtedly if they were permitted to use their own libertie without hazarding themselues upon the pikes of the law would with great joy returne to their best beloved profession and by their happy repentance quickly bring to confusion the reioycing of Papists Atheists braving Ministers and professours to their faces and saying plainly that they hope ere it be long to see them all either come to them or come to nothing But feare them not they are lying Prophets evill men and seducers they are and shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived but continue thou in the things that thou hast learned and been assured of In this case of good Christians falling by infirmitie proud enemies bragging of their hopes let it not be thought strange that the louers of the primitiue beautie of the reformed kirk earnestly wish to haue it restored againe and for that cause modestly shrink at a new statute standing in the contrary First he breaks the band of obedience sayth one who doth it without cause If the refusers haue not alledged causes iustifiable in the consciences of any who will debate the matter between God and their own soules let them be better taught Authority may crush them it cannot perswade them 2. The first act anâ—nt kneeling wherupon the alledged disobedience is grounded is to be better considered at least in the doctrinall part where by the words of the Psalme as it forceth the text it maketh kneeling necessarie and not indifferent contrarie to the judgement of the most inclinable sort who openly professe that if authoritie would be pleased to favour the former order of the kirk they would gladly return thereunto Againe it is granted that the kirk of Scotland hath used since the reformation of religigion to celebrate the holy communion to the people sitting where the true reason moving them so to do viz. The table of the Lord is then most rightly ministred when it approcheth most neer to Christ his own action but plain it is at that supper Christ Jesus sate with his disciples and therfore do we iudge that sitting at a table as most convenient to that holy action is omitted and another convoyed in to wit by reason of the great abuse of kneeling vsed in the Idolatrous worship of the sacraments by the Papists which indeed should be granted to be a reason of very great weight But how weak a removall of this reason is insert in the act to cast out sitting and bring in kneeling let them declare in the presence of God that haue changed upon such a reason and urge others to doe the like if all memorie of by-past superstition be passed out of Scotland or if it be not rather renued and increased But in these matters for good reasons men must sparingly speak 3. It hath never been neither can be proved by Scripture that the Magistrates commandement simply and nakedly considered without some warrant of the word of God can be reputed a true spirituall guide to lead the conscience of a subject in a matter of religion or action of Gods worship in such assurance that he may say in the presence of God my opinion is sound and action acceptable because the magistrate hath commanded it men being assured that Magistrates may erre in their iniunctions and assemblies convened by the kings maiesties authoritie may command and inact things unlawfull and unprofitable Ask the scripture whether ever the good Kings among the Iewes or else where brought in any speciall action or ceremony into the service of God without some speciall warrant from himself or whether they did devise ought or received the devices of ecclesiasticall assemblies in their dominions and impose the one or the other upon the Levits or upon any bearing office in the sanctuarie restraining them from their publick function without obedience to it or whether ever by any of the messengers of God the people were taught that for the outward form and circumstance of Gods worship a civill statute or constitution of the kirk without further searching of the scriptures might be their ground upon which they might build their obedience unto God without further inquirie 4. It is a received rule of Christian libertie at least should be in reformed kirkes that the ordinances of the kirke are presented unto Pastors and people not with necessitie of beleeving but with libertie of trying according to the rule Try the spirits It is the Lords own priviledge that his iniunctions are to be received without questioning It is likewise permitted by royall provision that where the law was otherwise men may not only content themselues soberly quietly with their owne opinions but also presse by patience and well-grounded reasons either to perswade all the rest to like of their judgements or where they see better grounds to incline thereto It is the part of a temporizing hypocrite of the servant of men and not of the servant of God to frame their actions to that which is coÌ„manded without any coÌ„science of a truth whether they know it or not polluting the world with a brutish obedience whiles without any reason in him that obeyeth and whiles against the knowledge whereby God hath inlightned his own mind In this insuing treatise persons are spared and sundry things hieroglyphically and summarily set down which must bring to readers lesse acquainted with these matters some obscuritie but be not offended Soberly and quietly peace is sought without preiudice of any person or purpose so farre as the clearing of the truth may
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
their owne pleasure the rule for their use of a thing indifferent Others are so peremptorie that they affirme there is nothing in use indifferent I know not what to think Epaph. Distinguendum inter fidem et factuÌ„ inter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inter actum nudum circumstantionâ—um Inter actum in specie individuo inter rem consideratam in actu signato actu exercite That indifferencie hath place onely in the generall or in the nature of the action and not in the particular or in the use it almost vniversally confessed vvhile men distinguish with the Apostle betwixt our faith and our fact vvith others betwixt our profession and our use betwixt the naked action and the action clothed vvith circumstances betwixt one action generall and Individuall Indifferencie of action can no more be found in the second sense then it can be denied in the first All the actions of man in his integritie vvere good all the actions of man in glory shall be good all the actions of man under sinne let the matter be most indifferent in nature are evill and all the actions of man under grace are either good or evill not one of them all indifferent Were all our actions ruled by the word as they ought to be all our actions would be good as they ought to be For howsoever the word be not as it ought not to be an Encyclopedia or generall summe of all Arts and Sciences an vniversal directorie for all our actions as they are naturall civill moral oeconomiall yet the particular determination of all our actions falleth under the rules of the word in so farre as they be Christian and spirituall according to the nature of all professions and Sciences coincident for the most part in the matter but distinct in their manner of consideration The lifting up of a straw the Schoolmens example may be an evill action and must be either good or evill especially proceeding of deliberation Rules of health and good manners forbid it in some cases and so doe rulers of divinitie There is no truth more unsavourie to the Libertine a greater paradox to the ignorant and of greater mocking to the worldling and yet never denied by any Philosopher or divine except some few vvho make a distinction betwixt actions proceeding of meere imagination and actions proceeding of deliberation in the one placing indifferencie and not in the other The Idlenesse of which distinction might be easily shewne but that it were not to our purpose vvhich runneth upon matters controverted concluded resisted and so proceeding of deliberation and not from imagination Hee that esteemeth it a matter indifferent for him to kneel or sit at the communion to observe or not to observe a festivall day now after it is called in question hath neither reason nor authoritie of any vvriter for him and therfore carrieth a note of singularie Archip. When I haue heard you I cannot deny the truth yet I am not perswaded For first I may say that it is Theologia in abstructo and not in concreto I know no man but every day doth many things indifferently 2. That ground will breed innumerable scruples of conscience and is the ready vvay to beget superstition 3. I know not vvhat things are requisite for making an action by nature indifferent to be good that all our actions may be good as yee say they ought to be Epaph. Yet all the Divines lay it for a ground and I would haue wished that yee had suppressed your first doubt In many things we sinne all idle vvords idle gestures lookes c. are scored up in the accompts of men For the second beware of profanity in declining of superstition But in the second and third both yee shall say that ye are satisfied if yee consider that as in naturall and artificiall bodies produced according to the course of nature and skill of Art there is a concurrencie of the worker â—onum est ex imegra caâ—sa 〈◊〉 vero ex singulis desecâ—â—us of the matter of the forme and of the end for their full accomplishment and perfection before God and man say that they are good Even so in some correspondence their must concurre the vvhole foure causes for accomplishing of every action morall or spirituall that it may be acceptable to God It is for the first necessary that the person or persons efficient be In Christ by faith vvithout which it is imposible to please God Four causes concurring to make a good action that the action be with the renewing spirit of God and of the working spirit of God 2 the matter or substance of the action be indeed either good or indifferent in respect of the object and that it be throughly known to be such If it be not either good or indifferent the action is done with an erronious conscience If it be not knowne to be such it is done either vvith a doubting Vâ—l errante vel dubitante vel haesitante vel repugnaâ—â—â—e conscientiâ— conscientia 〈◊〉 non minâ—â— Ã licitis quam ab illicitis â—oâ—ibet dubilâ—â—tâ—â— haestiâ—â—tem repugâ—â—â—teâ— vel tandeus audente conscientia or unresolved or contradicting conscience If there be a defect of both the action is done with a bold conscience the first is great the second greater the third the greatest sinne Archip. Nothing of all that can be denyed what say ye of the third and fourth cause the manner of doing and the end Epaph. The forme or manner of doing presupposeth the matter either to be good in respect of the object or to be indifferent and requireth a conformitie with the law of God in the circumstances Circumstantiae interdum constituunt actionem in specia morit aliâs reddunt actionem meliorem malam priorem For a good action may haue a twofold conformitie with the law one is principall and more substantiall in respect of the object vvhich is commanded we say may haue because sometimes the obiect is indifferent The other consisteth in the circumstances which sometimes make the action good or evill sometimes onely make the good action better or the evill worse but haue greatest sway where the obiect is indifferent for then the manner of doing as order decencie sobrietie doe in a manner specificate the action Archip. Ye seeme to confound for the circumstances containe all the foure causes as vvho vvhat c. which ye referre all to the formall cause or manner of doing Epaph. In the enumeration of circumstances vve must not take Quis who for the efficient cause but for his condition or qualitie as a privat or publick person a Pastor or a Professor a king or a subiect Nor quid vvhat for the matter or obiect but the qualitie thereof Mediatè vel immediatè actu vel virtute ut reqiusitus reddere queas rationem à fine cur hoc feceris vel â—miseris as whether it be a matter of salvation or
Tâ—â— Course of Conformitie As it 〈◊〉 proceeded Is concluded Should be refused PSALM 94.20 Shall the throne of iniquitie haue fellowship with me which frameth mischiefe by a law Printed in the yeare 1622. THE PREFACE TO THE READER IN the restlesse revolution of this troublesome 〈◊〉 driving everie person and purpose to their app◠〈…〉 all being under vanitie one generation passe◠〈…〉 other succeedeth with as many grievous novelti◠〈◊〉 â—ge alterations Mutation the inseparable companion of â—â—â—â—on like a Princesse presuming upon the kingdome kirks and families of the earth But by the soveraigne providence of that unchangeable God who directeth the steps of man and â—â—th put in his own power the time to plant and the time to pluck up that which is planted is so oversweyed in the most variable and different humors of men so limited that some as the scoffers of the last dayes laughing at mutation say Where is the promise of his comming Others to wit the wicked man in his prosperitie persecuteth the poore saying he shall never be moved A third sort viz. the slavish time-server like soft waxe flexible to every nâ—w forme boweth to mutation making her variant colours his crowne and contentment And the best sort the wise Christian hating change and loving constancie striveth to walk circumspectly redeeming the time from the dangerous currant All these and others whatsoever whether by sinne irregular or by grace sincere and straight by supreme wisedome are so disposed that they must needs serve the holy proiects of Iustice and Mercie for the honour of God and salvation of his chosen In this continuall course Mutation so prevaileth upon succeeding generations that as they are distant from the first times they decline from primitiue innocencie and as they approach to the later dayes they participate of their evils Yea so forcible is Defection the daughter of this Mutation in the congregations of the faithfull that the vacant places of the righteous departed are seldome or never filled againe their labours followeth them and they are forgotten If the kirk bee in Aegypt Ioseph dieth and there ariseth a new king there who knew not Ioseph When the people enters into the land Iosua and that generation is gathered to their fathers and another generation ariseth up after them which neither knoweth the Lord nor the works which he had done for Israel by Moses and Iosua in Aegypt at the red sea in the wildernesse and at the entrance into the promised land And in the land it selfe after Athaliahs troubles Ioash whose life was saved by Iehoiada and in whose dayes he did that which was righteous in the sight of the Lord after his death hâ—arkneth to the Princes who make obeysance to the King and leaving the house of the Lord God of their fathers serve idols but Ioash remembreth not the kindnesse done by Iehoiada but slayeth his sonne As by these strange alterations fearfull eclipses were brought upon the face of common honesty likely to banish religion out of the earth so under the ends of the world surpassing the preceeding generations in loue decayed and iniquitie multitiplied if it were not the rich mercy and undeserved loue of the Lord not to suffer the rod of the wicked to rest upoÌ„ the lot of the righteous but now and then in the middest of confusions brought on by Mutation to refresh them under the sweet shadowes of peace and prosperitie the very elect could hardly escape If adversitie beare the sway the people of God are in hazard to put out their hands to evill and if prosperitie prevaile then the kingdome of heaven is likened unto a man who sowed good seed in his field but while men slept his enemie came and sowed tares among the wheat which may not be gathered up till the harvest lest the wheat also be rooted up with them When the Lord his field shall be once infected with such venemous mixture of false teachers their foolish disciples renouncing their own libertie slavishly submitting themselues without triall to follow their seducers in lasciviousnes and avarice for atchieving their own vitious hopes if Israel were not poured from vessel to vessel they should freeze upon their dreggs like Moab so loose not only their comely countenance but the health and life of their substantiall estate the deceitful colours of these supervenient weeds so dazling the eyes of the common sort for the most part more naturall then spirituall and either vailed with black ignorance or blind hypocrisie that religioÌ„ in her natiue simplicitie purity seemeth to them an handmaid rather then a mistres if she bee not busked with some new guise of one alteration or other In this change if a Priest or a Levit or any of the ancient shall happen to weep for the first Temple by the meanes of mutation thus dâ—faced or enquire for the old way by ignorance in the reasonlesse multitude by pride in high places and perversitie of reputed learning he maketh himselfe a prey a troubler of Israel and not meet to liue There ariseth no small stirre about that way whole cities are filled with confusion and the cry goeth up for the Diana of the time If Paul himselfe were gotten he would not passe with pestilent fellow but stone him to the death before he be heard yea when the furie of Mutation inflameth the minds of Barbarians if they see a viper of adversity on a mans hand they say surely he is a murtherer and if no inconvenience follow he is a God So madly are the hearts of men set in them privily to blind themselues with the beams of their own particulars and the world with open shew of seeming zeale for justice and religion The toyles tossings of these Circaean changes are ever so unsavourie to a man of a quiet spirit that if the wronged innocencie of a just cause shamelesse violence done to the rights priviledges of religion and the intolerable pride practised against famous kirks vnheard could be closed up in any tolerable silence honest men knowing very well that the railings of reprochers never woundeth a good conscience could rather choose to sustaine a legion of bitter aspersions for peace to preach the Gospell then either to interrupt their owne tranquilitie or giue the least cause of suspition to any that they were brought from the sweet course of their pure peaceable and simple wisedome to contend for their impured fame and reputation and so to hinder the preaching of Christ For what matter is it though men be despised disgraced and scorned so long as the Lord may bee honoured thereby But when the night of securitie shall bee so dark and shamelesse pride ascend to such a height that not onely the lower sort but men of great spirits and places can with a deafe eare passe by the wrongs done to sincere professours faithfull ministers and martyrs of good memorie but by a sort of brutish patience suffer a substantiall truth to be borne down
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
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
terrour to the rest Archip. What accusation meane yee and of which Ministers Epaph. One was of Mr. Andrew Duncan minister at Crail but holden from the function of his Ministerie by the fine craft of a timorous teÌ„porizer his cunning collegue wrestling betwixt the wind of the world 〈◊〉 the waue of his conscience for presenting the Supplication aboue written who vvas sent for by the B. of S. androes detained by him in his lodging till he delivered him to the Captain of the guard to be presented that same day afternoone before the Counsel where compeâ—â—ing he was accused by the Bishop upon his subscription of the supplication albeit the B. had spokeÌ„ nothing of that to him in private when he sent for him having acknowledged his hand writ he declared his readines at the command of the L. of Counsell upon assignation of a competent time to produce his warrant of grâ—at numbers of Preachers and Profâ—ssors in whose name he had subscribed subjoyning for stopping the mouth of his accuser that Cuivis private â—icet â—gere causam publicam whereupon the B giues out this sentence It is thought good ye be committed presently But because the Defender pleaded the poor mans right An non licâ—â—â—uili et â—â—otestaâ—i â—â—mendicare The Lords not seeing how thâ—y â—ould putâ—â—â—h him for such causes liking better the innocency of the defender then the iniquity of the accuser thought â—eet to cal him in again where the B. Vt quae non prosunt singula mulâ—◠〈◊〉 â—ubent first layd to his charge that he had preached in Crail the vveek before which he confessed That hee was his Maâ— rebel lying at the Horn he denyed that he was ever at the Horn That he had broken ward in Dundie he answered that for obedience he had remained at Dundie the space of half a year upon double charges â—â—ing separate from his vvife and six children the approaching Winter made him to draw homeward thinking that either they had forgot him or would pitty him after so long trouble Like as he had received a letter from the B to be at Santand at a meeting of some Brethren of the Ministers In end he besought the L. not to imprisone him upon his own charge to consider that it vvere greater mercie to kill them vvith the bloudie sword then to pine them to death vvith hunger But his doom was dight before his coÌ„peirance Archip. What was the other accusation Epaph. Mr. Alex. Simson minister at Drieburgh not having any such intention was earnestly desired by a brother serving in one of the ordinary places of the Ministers of Edin to preach for him upon the Saboath vvhich was the 22 of Iuly immediately going before the day appointed for holding the Parliament Wherunto he was perswaded upon sufficient reasons alledged by his requester He Preached upon Ezech. 3.16 according to his own custom the present occassion in the good old Scottish fashion CaÌ„dide mâ—â—â— and not after the new Laodicean forme more plainly to all then pleasantly to some in greater simplicie of heart then vvisedome of words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He spake against the manner of the entrie of many yong men into the holy calling of the Ministerie against the negligence of watchmen vvho because of the fear of men of loue to the wages of iniquity and their own guiltines of the same sin are silent in censuring the sinnes of others and especially against the defection of Bish All which much more spoken not in a corner but in the publick audience of so great variety of hearers as were in that town at that time I need not record Vpon the day next following he vvas called before the Counsell and when he had confessed all that he had preached in publick At last the former Minister and he vvere convoyed by the guard to the Cannongate where they were forced to stay that night without libertie to goe to their own lodging plaâ—â— and upon the morne were led by three of the guard to the Castle of Dunbartane vvhere they entered upon Thursday Iuly 26. Archip. I see not how the proclamation could passe with any probabilitie against the whole Ministerie more upon this pretence then the first for by vvhat propagation could their personall actions be derived to the rest Epaph. Ye vvill know that best and will be put out of all your doubts when yee haue seene the Copie of the Proclamation itselfe in these vvords AT Halvroode-house 23 Iulie 1621. Proclamation charging the Ministers to depart one of Ediâ—â— Forasmuch as it is understood by the Lords of secret Counsell that some reâ—tlesse and busie persons of the Ministrie enâ—glecting the care charge of their own Kirkes and flocks over the which they are bound in conscience before God and in duetie before men to be careful diligent watchmen Overseers haue lately made their redresse to this Burrow of Edinburgh where the Estates of the Kingdom in the soveraigne and high Court of Parliament are now assembled and that some of their Ministers haue not onely engyred and in a manner intruded themselues in the Pulpits thereof without any lawfull warrant or calling but in stead of wholesome doctrine for edification of the present Auditors haue fallen out into most injurious and undutifull speeches against the sacred person of the Kings Maj labouring thereby so far as in them lay to possesse the hearts of the Auditors with some bad opinion and construction of his Maj. unspotted life and conversation And not content herewith th y haue their privie Conventicles and Meetings within this Burrow haue obtruded themselues upon some of the Estates of Parliament and in publick audience haue prejudged his Maj. most religious sincere and lawfull proceedings using sollicitations against his Maj. just intentions And haue not onely directly manifestly and avouchedly done vvhat in them lyes to cal the sinceritie of his Maj. disposition towards the true Religion in question but to incultate and fasten the same bad opinion into the hearts of his Maj good subjects and so crosse and hinder all his Maj. proceedings in the Parliament which hath no other ayme but the glorie of God puritie of Religion and weale of this Kingdome In which three points the bypast experience of his Maj. happie governement will cleare the sincerity of his Maj. most religious disposition towards the glorie of God and weale of his people and will vindicate his Majestie from the malignant aspersions of his Majesties undutifull subjects And whereas this forme of doing in a Kingdome where the puritie of Religion hath such a free and uncontrouled libertie and progresse as it hath in this Kingdome under his Majesties most godly wise just and happie governement is not suffred nor allowed and hath no warrant of law custome nor observation elsewhere but may draw with it many dangerous consequences and raise up emulation and distastes betwixt his Majestie and his good people to their danger and
death Another Admonition PLease your Honours take heed what you doe at this peremptor time concerning the establishing of the unlawfull act of the pretended assembly of Perth Christ hath put his cause in your hands be faithfull now or never Beware of bringing back and casting in again of this stumbling block The glory of God the standing of the kirk of this land your own soules and the soules of many thousands for whom Christ Jesus died is now in hazard and depends much if ye look to outward meanes vpon your fidelitie wherof ye shall not want witnes neither in heaven nor earth The eyes of men and Angels are upon you the eyes of those who mourne for the mis ries of Gods kirk are longing for comfort from you And the great iudge of the world the almightie our God whose eyes are all a flaming â—â—re â—â—e behold every mans part in this present Parliament Yoâ—â— voteâ— your actes your nameâ— shall be registrate to all posterity Ponder the â—â—ore the wâ—ght of the cause where with ye meddle and the fearfull inâ—◠〈…〉 wâ—â—â— doe accompany shal follow the ratification of the act of â—hâ—â—â—tended assâ—â—ly that will â—efall the king oâ—n of Christ his ministery the â—est part of sinâ—ere profe 〈◊〉 your fâ—iends familiars your children posterity and it may be also your owne persons both spiritually â—â—lly For if according to your plâ—ce in prudent humble maner yee do not resist the estaâ—â—shing of that act â—y all lawfull meanes yee cannot clâ—â—â—â— yourâ—sâ—lves of â—â—spiâ—ing the 〈◊〉 and covenant of God solemnly sâ—◠〈◊〉 sâ—â—sâ—rived â—y aâ—â—â— stâ—tes anâ— of drawing down the undoubted cuâ—sâ—â— of God which hâ—st 〈◊〉 nâ—w to come upon 〈◊〉 cannot be guiltles of 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 liuing the Papist to 〈…〉 thâ—n wee are wâ—â—e off yeâ— and of the greâ—ving of the hearts of the kings â—est suâ—iects of bringing thâ—iâ— faith and casting them in â—â—plexitie how to serve both God their natiue king Yeâ— cannot be guiltie â—e of the thrusting out of faithfull ministers and bringing in of yong boyes â—iâ—â—lâ—ngs and time serverâ— to the overthrow of the Gospel 〈◊〉 slaughter of souls Ye cannot misse to draw thâ— whâ—le â—and in a snare and in special the weaker Christi ns who by the f râ—e of civil law must either suffer their guides to become a prey to worse subiects thâ—n themselves or at least their meanes and estates to be so pilled and impaired by â—ines and penalties as in a short time they shall neither be able to serve their king their countrey nor their â—â—n necessities or else to controll and enthrall theâ—r conscienâ—es to the dâ—struction of their souls Now is the time wisâ—ly to prevent these things which if ye doe time shall approve you God and good men shall â—cknowledge you in this poynt better Christians better Statesmen better servants of God more 〈◊〉 and wisâ— subiects to the king better friends tâ— kirk commonweal then they who upon whatsoever pretences shall either urge or yeeld to the contrarie Resist theâ—â—ore the establishing of ceremonie as a reenâ—rie of Papistrie Our neighbour countrey grones under thâ— york which now is presented again to their nâ—â—kâ— and would redeeme the libertie which you haue had and y t in some meâ—sure enioy It cost your predessorâ— many a tear with God their utterm st endevoâ— with men to purchase transmit this liberty vnto youâ— and Christ hath bought it with his bloud for you Count not so lightly of it as to loose it for a moment â—ut stand fast in that liberty wherwith Christ hath made you free and be not intangled again with the yoake of â—ondâ—ge Good suâ—iects haue no iust cause to fear the offence of a good king in maintaining God right and their owne so long as their cause is honest and their dâ—fenâ—e lawful Stand therfore for the truth confesse Christ before men aâ— ye would that he shold confess you before the father Archip. If they had taken time to ponder your reasons and exhortations I cannot think that they could haue resisted so great evidence of truth so powerfully expressed But what resolution was taken in case all these meanes should failâ— Epaph. The Ministers resolved upon the last remedie a Protestation vvhich they left behind them in these words MAy it please your Honours in this present Parliament assembled â—nder the right high and excellent May of our deâ—â— dread Sov ProtestatioÌ„ to the Parliament We haue now before our eyes the forâ—seen and foretold bitter fruits of these alterations of the Kirk and â—â—â—t fear of farther evils to ensue upon such dangerous beginnings so much the more as wee are deprived of that ordinarie and general Assembly whereunto properly belongs to propone at Parliament the Kirk affaires And although for supplement of this pittifull defect in â—â—umble â—â—nner we did offer our reasonable supplication conform to his High proclamation we 〈◊〉 haue no place to be heard in our lawfull and religious desires In this hard and heavie case the sensible danger of our untimâ—â—s silenâ—e in thâ—se â—aies of the growth of som decay of grace contempt of thâ— Gospell troubles abroâ—d moved for the most part by the patrons of that bloudy Coâ—cel of Trent the consâ—ience of our inevitable coÌ„pearance before the judgment sâ—at of Christ to giue an account of our stewardship compels us as 〈◊〉 high extremitie to declare to your Hâ—â—our bounden harty affection to hold fast that anâ—ient faith forme of Religion received beleeved and defended by the Kirk â—f Sâ—â—tl the King Maj. and Eâ—tates the whole bodie of this Râ—â—lm your forâ—â—eers of worthy memory and your selues as God eternal truth onely ground of our salvation and of our high peace and prosperity by Gods undeserved mercie so long continued as also our unfaigned detestation of all formes ceremonies many or few that enemies of the truth may cast in our teeth as signes of repentance of our reformation or any part therof and presages to them of our return to their damned superstition either substance or ceremonies therof And likewise in the name of Iesus Christ whâ— shall render to every one that which he hath done in the flâ—sh to require your Honâ—â— to stand stedfastly for the said ancient Religion fâ—rme of doctrine Sacracraments Disâ—ipture as they haue been ministred in this Kirk ever since the Reformation of Religion for the jurisdiction and libertie of the true Kirk generall and provincial Assemblies Presbyteries Sessions as they are established by the Kirk and lawes of this Kingdome and against all usurpation and corruption of spiritual government and unnecessary Ceremonies as the fiue Articles of â—â—th Assembly and whatsoever is as aples of strife and deadâ—y destroyers of the kirk of Iesus Christ Otherwise if it shall happen as God forbid that any matter â—e propounded put in article or concluded in this present Parliament in prejudice of the said Religion
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
of life or of geare Nor Quomodo for this forme but whether it bee done openly or secretly simply or craftily c. all which aggrege tho same The end is first either immediatly or mediatly either actually or virtually the honor of God of all the ingredients of a good action the most common in profession the rarest in intention and yet the worthiest and sweetest And next our own and our neighbours good the principall is the edification both of our owne soules and of the salvation of others contrarie to the great evil of offence Archip. Ye say then in summe that a good man doth that which is good or indifferent in the best manner to a good end All foure may be brought unto two Bonum good and Bene well Because no man but a good man can doe an action well with due regard of the circumstances and the end If it be neither bonum good nor bene well it is neither with the Holy Ghost nor of the Holy Ghost If it be bonum good and not bene well as the good workes of naturall or civill men it is of the Holy ghost but not with the holy Ghost If it be Bene well and not Bonum good it is with the Holy Ghost but not of the Holy Ghost But if it be bonum good and bene well it is both with and of the holy Ghost Epaph. That is right and the common saying Bona opera non nominibus sed adverbijâ— sunt indicanda Pie sobriâ— iuste that Good workes are to be judged by Adverbs is true of all good actions for all must bee done vvith the Apostles adverbiall conditions Soberlie Righteously Godly But it is especially true of good actions vvhere the matter is indifferent because they haue no goodnesse at all but that vvhich is from the Adverbe And therefore vve may call actions that haue Bonum good and vvant Bene vvell as the good actions of the Heathen properly peccata per accidens sinnes by accident as being bona opera per se good actions in themselues The actions that haue for their matter a thing indifferent and vvant Bene vvell as the actions of Christians about things indifferent for they cannot be called bona opera per se good workes in themselues and therefore the more improperly Peccata per accidens sinnes by accident Looking upon an action good in the matter vve may say that it is good simply Necessitate consequentis by necessitie of consequent because all actions commanded of God are good But looking upon the actions even of Christians in matters indifferent vve can onely say that they are good necessitate consequentiae by necessitie of consequence supponing that whatsoever action hath the former conditions is good and that the actions vve judge of haue the conditions Archip. Qui vise loing jamais ne rend son coùp heureux I vvould haue you to make some application of these foure causes to our own matters Epaph. Seeing all our actions even the meanest Applied to the purpose require all the foure causes or conditions much more our actions in the worship of God And yet more the actions which we must not doe once all our life but as frequently as vve are partakers of such a vvorship But most of all the actions and acts of a kirk assembled for direction in the matters of Gods vvorship For if they faile either in the matter taking that for indifferent vvhich is evill or in the manner of their convening and proceeding without regard to the formalizing circumstances or in the end respecting the pleasure of man more then the pleasing of God the profit of the kirk in so far as they faile they are sinfull And according to the qualitie of the defect take upon them the kind of sin under which they may be ranked Let the consciences of professors try whether the acts of Perth Assembly dare undergoe this examination Whether it was a lawfull Synod in it selfe Whether they cleared the indifferencie of their articles before they concluded them vvhether the circumstances may giue it a dash Quis vvho the kirk of Scotland so vvorthily reformed Quid what that which they had formerly spâ—ed out and had sworn and subscrived never to lick up againe Vbi vvhere not in another Kirk or Nation but even vvhere they had sworne Quibus auxilijs by vvhat meanes God and the world now knowes Cur vvherfore for conforming to a glorious kirk but in that vvherein she vvas never reformed Quomodo how God and their owne hearts know Quando at vvhat time vvhen Antichrist is prevailing Papists presuming and Idolatry re-entring And finally vvhether they had either the glorie of God or the salvation of the people in their sight vvhich indeed none during that Assembly vvere so shamelesse as to pretend And let every one try himselfe vvhether hee bee moved by the spirit of God to practise according to the constitutions thereof vvhether he be throughly persuaded that the matter is indifferent vvhether he keepeth all the requisite circumstances and vvhether his practise bee free of offence The superstitious conscience will please it selfe in the shew of humble vvill-worship The sleeping and sencelesse conscience vvill judge all to be alike till the Lord giue a wakening vvith his terrors The bold conscience after it hath carried seven dayes vvill venture the sacrifice vvith Saul 2. Sam. 13.10 And the accusing conscience vvill take leaue vvith Nâ—aman and say In this thing the Lord be mercifull unto mee 2 King 5.19 Archip. Civill and ecclesiastick power in things indifferent Thinke yee that our superiours Civill and Ecclesiasticke may not command in things indifferent at their pleasure Epaph. None of themselues vvill thinke it Albeit I had rather learne my owne lesson of obeying then teach their lesson of commanding I shall in humilitie tell you my minde of both As no power under God can make that good vvhich he forbiddeth nor make that evill vvhich he commandeth not make that good or evill materially vvhich hee hath left indifferent So is there no power civill or Ecclesiasticke that in a matter of it selfe most indifferent may command against pietie decencie sobrietie or charitie * habet homo libertatem arbitrij ad su â—â—ndum quod licet libertatem consilij ad jubendum quod expedit Deus solus haâ—â—â—â—â—bertatem conpâ—aciti ad jubendum quod libet Man hath libertie of vvill to command that vvhich is lawfull libertie of counsell to command vvhat is expedient but the Lord onely hath libertie of pleasure to command vvhat he vvill ⧠Many things also are permitted to the Kirk but nothing without limitation It is a matter indifferent to eat of such a meat yet no power can command to eat of it against Pietie that is except the grace be sayd and it be sanctified by prayer No power can enioyne the doing of an action indifferent against decencie whether in place time or manner of doing Against sobrietie to use our libertie as an occasion to
originall law of nature Archip. But what say ye to the other Epaph. A wonder it is vvhat Doct. Douname can meane in good earnest by marching loyalty in order after piety and before sobriety and charity If the Magistrate haue absolute and unbounded authority in things indifferent which for fashion sake he denyeth in the generall What can be the cause why the matter being indifferent he giveth not the first place to loyalty preferring it to piety or if limited and restrained why shall not sobriety and charity be the limits as well as piety Albeit it bee lawfull to pledge the King his health yet neither sobriety nor piety ought to be banished from the table Neither can he say that drinking beyond the bounds of sobriety for once carryeth a greater guiltinesse then to practise that many times vvhich may destroy a soule for whom Christ dyed May there not be cases of Antinomy or opposition of the lawes of loyaltie and pietie of loyaltie and sobriety as well as of loyaltie and charity And as he alledgeth that there is Scandalum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 equall offence in the one albeit he know that authority judging them to be indifferent may well be displeased but cannot be scandalized at least in aeâ—uilibrio in equality with the other scandall May there not be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peccati equalitie of sinne in the other in times or places where there ruleth an ungodly or intemperate Magistrate Bezaes order making charity the first and generall rule and seconding that with the constitutions of the Kirk and lawes of the Common-wealth is divine Dounames putting mans authority before sobriety and charity is humane Archip. But the scandall ceaseth to be sinne or at least to bee our sinne when our superiours command Epaph. Disobedience were unlawfull it upon commandement of our superiours the scandall either ceased to be or ceased to be sin or ceased to be our sinne But first it ceaseth not to be For the commandement of the Magistrate maketh it the greater as the boldnesse of the Papist the mocking of the profane the griefe of the godly the superstition of the simple in these late daies haue declared and still the more that the ceremonies be urged and received the greater shall the offence be and the greatest vvhen there shall be least contradiction Next the scandall ceaseth not to be sinne because scandall being scandall it must be sinne as idolatry is ever idolatry there is no dispensation of the law of nature Thirdly it ceaseth not to be our sinne vvhen the sin is in modo imperandi in the manner of commanding The superiour may haue guiltinesse in commanding and the inferiour be innocent in obeying but when the sinne is also in re imperata in the thing commanded as the matter commanded being against piety decency or charity the guiltinesse is on both sides Archip. For removing of scandall we ought not to disobey but to render a reason of our obedience Epaph. If rendring a reason of our doing might quit us of sin as some haue pretended the question of things indifferent might be soone put to an end the Apostle his doctrine abridged and all the Christian Kirkes brought to quietnesse But that vvhich the Schoole-men utter more obscurely that the actions of the understanding depend upon our own will or upon the will of others quoad exercitium non quoad specificationem is clear in experience We may make our selues or others to thinke upon the matter but to assent or diassent it depends not upon our will They are little exercised in catechizing of the ignorant who maintaine such grounds Archip. But I am sure the commandement of the superiour at least extenuates the sinne Epaph. Comparing sinne with sinne the fault is not so great upon particular tentation without purpose and intention to fail against the rule of Charity or Sobriety or Piety as to obey a Law injoyning the practise of a thing indifferent against sobriety or charity with purpose of obedience For in the one thou simply neglects the commandement of God but in the other with a soule disparagement of Antinomy thou prefers the commandement of Man Archip. Necessary duties must not be left for offence of any Epaph. D. Dounam his reason taken from the distinction of necessary and arbitrary dueties can haue no place heere For albeit communicating and preaching be necessary duties and must be done albeit all the world should stumble yet kneeling and comforming which man hath made their adherents are no necessary duties Dimittendum est propter scaÌ„dalum omne quod potest pratermittâ— salva triplice veritate scil vita doâ—trina Instititia Hieron gloss ora Tom. 9. but at the most indifferent ever in the opinion of the practisers and therefore in the case of offence to be left Might he not upon the same ground conclude that seeing drinking is a necessary duty therefore rather ere I want drinke at a time I will yeeld to drinke aboue Sobriety The offence commeth not by communicating nor drunkennesse by drinking but the offence commeth by kneeling and drunkennesse by excessiue drinking Archip. The great danger in this purpose is that declyning the one extremity ye fall into the other Epaph. To tell you my mind I acknowledge an essentiall kirk the Congregation of the faithfull a representatiue Kirk the Assembly representing the Kirk essentiall But I know no virtuall Kirk on earth whether the Bishop of Rome or any other man as having in himselfe eminently and virtually for so the Papists professe and others in part practise such certainty of truth and soveraignty of judgement that he may command what he will in any controverted matter Ecclesiasticall whether he command that which is unlawfull or that which is lawfull to be done in an unlawfull manner that is against the generall rules When Alexander the Great came to Ierusalem he desired his image to be erected in the Temple The high Priest was willing to please him in every thing wherein God was not displeased and therfore refusing with all reverence that idolatry what he might and what served more the Kings honour he offered cheerefully First to beginne the accounts of their times from his entry into Ierusalem and secondly to name all their first borne sonnes Alexanders from him What is civill what domestick what is Casars what is ours let them be forbidden water and fire and their Citie sowne with salt who refuse it Let Christs royall prerogatiue who will not giue his glory to another be kept for himselfe May we not in so narrow a strait where we can see no way to turne neither to the right hand nor to the left open our mouthes with the obedient Asse and say Haue we used to serue so in other matters In Ministerio Ecclesia spectandum est â—pâ—um ministerium persona qua eo fungitur Quod ad personam attineâ— civili potestati minister subjicitur nam et civis est quemadmodum alii tributum
sacrilegious boldnesse and presumption of the Romane Kirk all the reformed Kirkes abhor wilworship Epaph. I wish it were so indeed The more learned of the Papists make three sort of ceremonies some to be the efficient causes of grace as the Sacraments some to remoue the impediments of grace as the signe of the crosse holy water c and some to serue for comelynesse and order They confesse that the Kirk hath no power to institute ceremonies of the first sort but of the second and third onely Againe the Defenders of our ceremonies stand onely for the third sort in word but agree indeed with the Papists as appeareth two wayes 1 They take in under the name of rites for order and decency many of the second sort of Popish ceremonies vvhich the Papists make forcible to remoue impediments And whatsoever is pretended it is well enough known of the Crosse Surplice Holydaies c. that they are superstitiously used vvheresoever they haue place and more ascribed to them then to Christs own Ordinances 2 Vnder the name of rites serving for decency and order they take in all such ceremonies as they thinke may adde or lend ornament unto the worship of God as is manifest out of the doctrine and very definitions of things indifferent Traditionum non potest esse certus numerus ut quae actu multa sunt potentia infinitae Quod fuit serinium pectoris Pontificii hoc nunc est locus de traditionibus non scriptis Traditionum humanarum observatio est â—â—teruma religionis pestis vulumsque conscientiarum written by Meisnerus and Puel in diverse Kirks A wide dore for the entry of the whole multitude and theatricall pompe of popish rites the destroyers of the simplicity of the Gospell and like clouds without raine promising that which they giue not and which should be sought and is to be found in the Ordinances of Christ Till this dore of Traditions be shut mens inventions will be ever intruding themselues take the place of divine institutions and more and more be multiplied Archip. I vvil the more confidently lippen to the grounds which I haue learned from you concerning the nature use of things indifferent vvhen I haue knowne that yee haue tried their stabilitie by the opposition of contrarie forces especially of that man to whom all our reverend Fathers and learned Doctors give acclamation of a grand Sophos in the ceremoniall cause Trial of the foresayd grounds by contrarie obiections Epaph. Who is that For all our domestick Writers are soone seene Archip. I meane by him vvho first wrot a resolution for the ministerie under the name of D. Lindesay and now his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and second care of ceremonies vvith a parenetick to the Ministers of the Kirke of Scotland 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnder the name of David Brechin Epaph. Ye may know by the change of his name the effects of his resolution The operation of it hath been greater ad intra then ad extra His exhortation to the ministers concerneth us and our purpose most because we are of that number and it advanceth the power of the kirk in things indifferent As he may vvel vvant opinions to defend by arguments but vvhich vvas the cunning of Chrysippus he never wanted arguments for defence of his opinions His Parenetick had been the more pithie and his whole proceedings the more plain if he had first set down the state of the question in the vvords of his own probleme vvhich he subjoyned to his Thesis disputed at Saintandrowes vvhen he vvas to be graced but could not passe the presse vvith priviledge Whether things indifferent once abused and for their abuse abolished c. Negat He could then giue a defiance to all the English Doctors but the world hath made him vviser since Secondly if he had expressed plainly in his exhortation to the Ministers vvhat vvas the onely argument of his persuasion to enter proceed in that course nothing but a Bishoprick vvhich he vvas vvont to professe as ordinarily in privat as he spake openly in publick that he knew neither Scripture reason nor antiquitie for kneeling albeit now his birse rise vvhen he heareth the one and for cloking the other his pen hath changed for into inforce as nighest in sound and therfore a better excuse then that vvhich he gaue out first Albeit there were neither scripture c. And thirdly if for conclusion he had shewn his brethren some overture for obedience like that vvhich he once proponed to himself talked of to others that he could so dress the matter that his people of Dundie should hold themselues within the close seats about the vvalles of the new Kirke and never be knowen vvhether they sate or kneeled belike hee thought not at that time that sitting fostered profanitie and superstition in all as he sayth pag. 5. Or at least if in dealing vvith his brethren hee had remembred vvhat hee vvas once and almost even now himselfe and pitied his owne vvonted Illi in vos saevient qui nullo tali errore decepti sunt quali vos deceptos vident Ego autem in vos savire omnino non possum quos ficut incipsum illo tempore ita nunc debeo sustinere tanta patientia vobiscum agere quanta mecum egerunt proximi mei cum in vestro dogmate rabiosus â—cus errarem nay his late case in our persons as Augustine did the Manicheans greater heretickes then he thinketh us Let them sayth he be rigorous against you who never were deceived with the like errour as they see you As for me I can vse no bitternesse against you with whom I should beare now as I did at that time with my selfe and deale in as great patience with you as my neighbours vsed towards me when I was in your errour But vvhat hope was there of moderation from his heart and hands afterward vvho at the first putting off his wit of ceremonies in print began vvith the ominous change of Disce pati into Dissipate of patience into persecution vvherein his thankfull Patron willing to do him one good turne for another and himselfe so forward in the cause haue given good proof how vvorthy they are of their New Motto Archip. I perceiue you are acquaint vvith the purpose what say you to his preface concerning the extent of the power of the Kirke thinke ye his grounds sure enough Epaph. Compare them with that vvhich yee haue heard and ye shall know there is nothing left to the kirks power in the circumstances vvhich could conveniently be determined by the word more then vvas left to the kirk of the Iewes albeit the determination be not so particular becauâ—â— the one kirk was Oecumenical throughout the vvhole vvorld the other national in one countrey 1. For persons bearing office in the kirke no nation nor tribe nor family could be designed more then another Quod est à re non Ã
the Assembly at Halyrood house 1602 appointed the next generall Assembly to bee holden at Aberdene in the yeare 1604 by reason 1 of the insolencie of Papists in the North countrey 2 a purpose to plant Noblemens houses and chiefe places with sufficient ministers 3 to prosecute the remedies of defection remembred in the assembly at Bruntyland 4th at the late reconciled Papists might be urged to performe the conditions agreed to by them Lastly to follow out the common affaires of the Kirk Notwithstanding these and other intervenient causes that dyet was not kept but the Assembly continued once to be continued again Wherupon the Provinciall Assemblies and Presbyteries considering that the Parliament was approching for which Articles were to be dressed in the Assemblie according to the order continually obserued since the reformation that the people were begun to delude the censures of inferiour Assemblies by appellation to the generall that all the forenamed evils were daily growing greater and thinking upon the necessitie of that rare benefite so deerly bought and fearing the losse thereof so many waies apparant as 1 by abridgement or deprivation of wonted libertie to convene 2 by division of the members therof begun at Perth and now come to so great height 3 by terrours and strange imputations against their Ministers their meetings and assisters 4 by often changing of appointed dyets and at some times bringing the Assemblie within the pallace 5 by a cunning but woefull commission drawing from the wisest counsell of the Kirk to certaine Ministers the credit and guiding of the greatest affaires 6 by continuations multiplyed as prejudiciall to the Kirk as Papistrie profannesse and other corruâ—â—â—â—ns did seâ—sibly increase conforme to the order and custome of the Kirk ratified by the lawes of the countrie they directed their commissioners to meet at Aberdeen the 2 of Iuly 1605 for holding the Generall Assemblie as was formerly appointed of these commissioners a certaine number kept and the rest were absent and so nothing was done but Call and Continue for safetie of the priviledge by appointing a new Diet a silly Seminarie but of many and grievous troubles the men were first called and for a long time put in prison therafter proceeded against by course of law found guiltie of high treason returned to their severall prisons and therafter banished Since that Assemblie we haue had the name of Generall Assemblies but no more according to the maine maxime of policie that the name bee as little changed as may bee though the thing bee changed Archipp Third degree for order Episcopacie advanced by 6 steps First step of Prelacie vote in Parliament When unitie and authoritie are now gone I marvell not that Hierarchie comes the greater speed But I would know the rest of the waies of that Ambition and therein see the third step of our defection For as yet I see it riseth upon the ruines of the Kirk and proues like the melt in the bodie as it swelleth and waxeth great the strength and beautie of the bodie decayeth Epaph. Neither was this Rome builded the first day The first great step of their blind-winding staires whereupon they are lifted by all the former engines and preparations was their vote in Parliament For upon the former calamities as wishes before the wind of their great prosperitie a Parliament was appointed and kept at Perth the first of Iuly 1606 where they having croppen into Bishoprickes vvithout respect to Calling Commission or Caveat were horsed upon the highest honours of their Episcopall dignitie At that beginning they looked somewhat modestly as new come from the schoole of old ministeriall paritie and as novices in their new world would haue been glad of the countenance of their old acquaintance but since that they haue learned to walk in state and soft rayment as little respecting the greatest seculars as they were regarded of all honest men before but gay clothes and great places will make Monkies to seem Monsicures and forgetfull fooles to say this cannot be I. At that berrie mercat of Kirk livings by that common interchange where havocke beares sway Take thou this and I that for the purchase of thirteen dilapidate Bishoprickes forth of the hands of civill men to the use of civilized Ministers the Kirk did loose the greatest part of her rent destinate for the service of the Gospell and ad pios usus And without all feare to follow such sacriledge Restitutio ad integrum was deerly bought what by erections of Ecclesiasticall rents in temporall Lordships and eversions of Kirk priviledges by Hierarchicall domination Archipp It had been easie to bring them down again from that first step neither at any time before or since could the opportunitie be greater before the working was secret under the ground and denyed now the monsters of ambition and avarice set out their heads aftervvards they became stronger A shame that the watchmen are now all fast asleep that all the friends of the Kirk haue dealt treacherously vvith her A pitie that there be none to speak a word in season for her against her enemies Epaph. Soft I pray you be not so passionate breath a little there was no neglect of dutie for the ministers of the Gospell having commission from their Provinciall Assemblies and Presbyteries to convene there for the vveale of the Kirk apprehending her hurt having neither place nor povver to resist did solemnly and humbly protest in the manner and vvords follovving The earnest desire of our hearts is to be faithfull Protestation against vote in Parliament and in case we could haue been silent and faithfull at this time when the undermined estate of Christs Kirk craues a duetie at our hands wee should haue locked up our hearts with patience and our mouthes with taciturnitie rather then to haue impeached any with our admonition But that which Christ commandeth necessitie urgeth and duetie wringeth out of us to be faithfull Office-bearers in the Kirk of God no man can justly blame us to doe it providing we hold our selfe within the bounds of that Christian moderation which followeth God without injurie done to any man specially those whom God hath lipped up within the skirts of his owne honorable stiles and names calling them Gods upon earth Now therefore my Lords convened in this present Parliament under the most high and excellent Majestie of our dread Soveraigne to your Honours is our exhortation that yee would indevour with all singlenesse of heart loue and zeale to advance the building of the house of God reserving alwayes into the Lord his owne hands that glorie which be will communicate neither with man nor Angell to wit to prescribe from his holy mountaine a liuely patterne according to which his own Tabernacle should be formed remembring alwaies that there is no absolute and unbounded authoritie in this world except the soveraigne authoritie of Christ the King to whom it belongeth as properly to rule the Kirk according to the good pleasure