the coast of Scotland before he would condescend to the subscribing of these Demand which were sent from the Parliament upon the report of the close of the Treaty as it was first closed in Holland and the Commissioners were so far out of hopes of obtaining their desire that even when they were come near the shore they were preparing Papers of exoneration and when in an instant on the suggestion of some Malignants he did condescend to subscribe the Demands and take the Covenant it was with a reserve of a Declaration to be printed therewith which he did not pass from untill the Commissioners of the Church did refuse to admit thereof Sixthly Within a few dayes of his coming to Scotland when removing Malignants from his Family and Court was earnestly pressed by the Commissioners both of Kirk and State at Falkland he shewed himself very averse from the same and did not only at that place but at all places and times afterwards countenance and entertain men of that stamp who were in his Family and Court and came to the same Seventhly He did for a long time refuse to subscribe the Declaration which was tendered to him for the acknowledging of his own and his Parents guiltiness for the time past and according to his duty for the time to come and after that he had with a great deal of reluctancy subscribed the same he did oftentimes express That he did not think his Father guilty of bloud and that not withstanding he had so declared he had his own meaning thereof Eighthly As he did first by Letters authorize sundry of the Malignant party to rise in Arms without the knowledge of the Committee of Estates and contrary to the standing Laws of this Kingdom so did he himself within a short time thereafter desert the Publick Councels of the Kingdom and joyn with the Malignants Ninthly During the whole time of the Treaty and after the close thereof he had correspondence with all the Malignants of the three Nations to sundry of which he gave Commissions These Instances do clearly â—nough prove what was said concerning the Kings continuing in a course of enmity to the Work and People of God which made it a sin in us whilest he was in that condition to entrust him with the Interests of both neither was our carriage here more faulty in the matter then it was rash and precipitant in regard of the manner The news of the late Kings death brought to Edinburgh on the Lords day at night the Parliament did the next day before twelve of the clock proclaim this King with all publick solemnitie without setting any time apart to seek the Lord for Counsel and direction therein which as both Reason and Religion might have taught us to have used more deliberation amongst ourselves and more supplication to God before he whose Father and himself had been engaged so much in opposition to the Work and People of God had been proclaimed King and within a short time thereafter solemn Address was made to him for offering him the Crown and Kingdom upon some verbal and paper security without any previous Address for informing his conscience or taking notice whether he did adhere to his former principles and way and when the Lord was pleased to render these Applications ineffectual and to bring back the Commissioners to this Kingdom and Kirk without any satisfaction to their desires we did again no less precipitantly then before rush on a second Address which was at one and the same day concluded and proponed in Parliament not only without any previous Consultation or Debate had there anent amongst these who had been tender and faithful to the Work of God from the begining but without their knowledge and contrary to their expectation and afterwards in regard of the close and dispatch of Commissioners which was so passionatly and violently driven on that many were impatient even of the most necessary delaies and of the most reasonable contradiction in any thing that related thereto and it is not to be past without observation that whilest we were treading these slippery and sinful steps the Lord suffered not us to want warning We shall not insist on the sad apprehensions that were in the hearts of many of the godly in the Land in reference thereto So albeit they durst not altogether deny duty to be in making Application to the King yet did the sence of the Lords controversie with him and his house together with his walking in his former way lie heavy on their spirits and made them rather fear a curse then expect a blessing thereupon Nor shall we speak of the passionat inclination desires and endeavors of the Malignant party and of their rejoycing herein and of their heightning of their hopes thereby But we desire it may be remembred That whilest the second Address was in preparing not only did the Lord give us warning of presumptions first of the King his authorizing of Iames Graham to invade this Kingdom and of his encouraging him by Letters to go on in that Invasion even whilst he was in terms of a Treaty with Us but also by Iames Graham his actual invasion a little thereafter by the Kings Commission and by bringing to our hands the authentick Commission it self and sundry Letters under the Kings own hand testifying his adherence to his former principles his affection to that great Enemy of this Cause and Kingdom And what were all these instances which we have formerly spoken of in the Kings carriage but warnings from the Lord to have taught us wisdom in this thing We know that some may think it unsutable for us to meddle in these things which seems to have been otherwise determined by the General Assembly of this Kirk 1650. and that others may wonder that that Assembly should have so determined We shall not now stand to debate how far that Assembly did approve of these things which concern the Treaty with the King anent the security of Religion but the Lord having declared so much from Heaven against the whole Land it concerns us and all others impartially to search into and to discover the causes thereof so far as he is pleased to convince and give light therein and we do in charity and not without ground presume That of all the passages of procedor of the Kings carriage in the Treaty and from the beginning in order to this Kingdom and the enemies thereof had been impartially and freely discovered and made known to the Assembly as they have been since they had nor gone the length which they went 6. Step. For understanding of the sixth Step which relateth unto the rejecting the discovery of guiltiness and causes of the LORDS contending with us It will be needfull to speak some what for clearing of the matter of fact in the instances which are given in the Article The first instance is in the causes of humiliation condescended on by the Commission of the Generall Assembly at
Lord to pour out his wrath on a People Ier. 10. 25. Pour out thy fury on the Heathen that know thee not and on the families that call not on thy Name Yet there be many Masters of Families amongst all ranks of persons Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Commons and even some Ministers who lie under the guilt nay there be but few in which the plurality will not be found to neglect or never to have practised the Duty Instance is given in the Article of Great men Nobles Barons Gentlemen and Burgesses of special note because very few are to be found amongst these who make conscience to call on the Lords Name in their Families some of them turning over the Duty wholly on a Chaplain or some other person in the Family and others of them having no such Duty in their Families performed at all either by themselves or by any other they being either unable or ashamed and unwilling to do it whereas great and eminent persons have accounted it their duty and glory and have followed it with much conscience and care as may be instanced in Abraham Gen. 18. 19. For I know him that he will command his children and his houshold after him and they shal keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that the Lord may bring on Abraham that which he hath spoken of And in Ioshua 24. 15. And if it seem evill unto you to serve the LORD choose you this day whom ye will serve whether the gods that your fathers served who were on the other side of the floud or the gods of the Amorites in whose Land ye dwel but as for me and my house we will serve the LORD And in David 2 Sam. 6. 20. Then David returned to bless his houshold This woful neglect of so necessary and profitable a duty especially in the Families of great Ones usually attended with the neglect of catechising and instructing of Children and Servants in the way of the Lord and pressing and exercising them unto Prayer and other religious Duties as it is a great sin before God the height where of is encreased by their continuing therein after solemn publick confession thereof and engaging to the contrary in the year 1648. and is expresly to be seen in the solemn publick confession of sins and engagement to duties so it is the cause of much ignorance of God Atheism and loosness prophanity disorder and discontent that is in Families and not only proves a binderance to the spreading of piety amongst others who walks after their example but also stops the course of the Lords blessings on themselves and on their Families and brings down upon them many judgments and curses from the Lord. The other part of the Article relates to the loathing and hating of godliness and the reproaching reviling oppressing and persecuting the godly A sin as it is great in it self Gen. 21. 9. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egytian which she had born unto Abraham mocking Gal. 4. 28. Now we brethren as Isaac was are the children of promise But as then he who was born after the flesh persecuted him who was born after the Spirit even so it is now Ps. 14. 6. Ye have sâ—amed the counsel of the poor because the Lord is his refuge Isa. 8. 18. Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts who dwelleth in Mount Sion Act. 9. 4 And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying to him Saul Saul why persecutest thou me And drawes down a recompense of tribulation from the Lord. 2 Thess. 1 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with the Lord to recompense tribulation to them which trouble you so it seems to be a monstruous sin amongst a People making profession of Reformation and who are so often covenanted to God in so solemn a way and yet hath it prevailed and abounded exceedingly this year by gone in Court in Country in Cities in Judicatories in the Army and every where throughout the Land A man was made an offender for a word and he that departed from iniquity made himself a prey It was quarrel enough not to have run with others to the same excess of riot They who would not be disaffected and disolute behooved to be esteemed enemies to their Country they who studied to make conscience of holy Duties and keep their integrity were slandered as Sectaries and complyers with Sectaries and were not only exposed to the scourge of tongues but also to the violence and oppression of malignant graceless and prophane men Neither were Magistrates and Ministers free of this sin but even sundry of these who ought to have protected encouraged and countenanced the godly were as pricks in their eyes and thorns in their sides not only by withdrawing their countenance from them giving way to others to revile oppress and persecute them but by imploying their own gifts and power in Judicatories and Pulpits and otherwaies for keeping them down and making them hateful and odious to others amongst whom they liue And whilest we are speaking of these things We cannot but mention the great prejudice and enmity which many Ministers had against the exercises of godliness and duties of mutual edification together with the great blot brought upon piety and the great blow given to the exercise of godliness by the Act of the Assembly at Aberdeen not repented of by the Kirk of Scotland nor repealed to this day and the great neglect of the duties of mutual edification amongst the Lords Ministers and People after there was allowance given for the same by the following Assemblies and the suffering of many giftless and unprofitable Ministers not gifted of God to edifie his People to continue in the Ministry whereby it comes to pass that many gracious People were necessitated either to want edification in the Publick Ordinances or to fall under the censure of such Acts made against such as did usually withdrawe from the Ordinances and Ministry of their own Parish Churches This sin of hating and bearing down the power of godliness and persecuting the godly was accompanied with another which is mentioned also in the Article to wit The countenancing and employing the ungodly and prophane a thing that the godly mans soul abhorred Psa. 26. 1 2. 3 4. Iudge me O Lord for I have walked in mine integrity I have trusted also in the Lord therefore I shall not slide Examin me O Lord and prove me try my heart and my veins For thy loving kindnesse is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth I have not sit with vain persons neither will I go with dissemblers c. And so throughout the Psalm Psalm 101. 4 5. A froward hear shall depart from me I will not know a wicked person Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour him will I cut off Him that hath a proud heart and an high look will I not suffer
therein who not only contrary to the practice of good Nehemiah who would not eat the bread of the Governour took large allowance for their attendance on Publick Affairs and notwithstanding that they had sufficient estates of their own but also abused their power and moyen for exacting and imploying summes of Money for themselves and for their friends and followers while in the mean time small regard was had to the condition of these from whom these summes were exacted or to the equall supplying of the condition of others to whom as much and possibly more in desert and justice was due as to these to whom those Moneyes were given We shall not insist on the bribery that hath been amongst Judges the cunning cozenage and exorbitant pilferings and taking that hath been amongst Advocats Procurators Commissars Clerks and Collectors many of them have made haste to be rich and have by the Bench by the Purse by the tongue and by the Pen heaped up much treasure and made conquest of Lands and Estates but with an evill conscience because it hath been the gain of bribery and injustice and lying and deceit violence and oppression but amongst no sort of persons hath these sins of covetousnesse and oppression more appeared and prevailed then amongst many of the chief Officers and Souldiers in our Armies insomuch that many of these who were raised for the Lands protection and defence have been their intollerable burden and plague and have by their most exorbitantâ— violent tyrannicall and insatiable exactions made the lives of the Inhabitants bitter and a burden to them What interverting of Levies what false Musters what exorbitant exactions above the Law for men and horse and Arms what Quarterings and covetous subtile oppressing devices of many sorts for getting of Money have been amongst Officers and what plundering of Goods destroying of Corns taking and robbing of Moneyes railing upon and beating and wounding the poor people what excessive eating and drinking and unplacablenesse in their diet not satisfying themselves with such fare as people could afford to them but killing their Kine and Sheep and what ever came in their way and how many other things of that kind hath been amongst Souldiers and what exorbitancies and oppressions whereof the negligence and over-sight of some great ones and officers in our Armies was not the least cause for they not being able to shake their hands of dishonest gain themselves did oftentimes wink at nay sometimes obstruct the purging out and punishing of others Amongst other effects of Covetousnesse instance is given in the close of the Article of the great Insolencies and oppression of many in our Armies in England and Ireland and the fearfull perjuries of the Land in the matter of Valuation and Excise both of which were dreadfull and horrible provocations The first of them as it was a grievous burden to our Brethren in England and Ireland and did exceedingly stumble them at this Nation and the Work of GOD in their hands so we make no question but it is one of the sins that GOD is pointing at now in a speciall manner in the rods wherewith he now chastiseth us The other of them though little adverted to or laid to heart or acknowledged to this day yet is a fearfull guilt which many in the Land ly under How many in the matter of Valuations that Lands might be valued at a low rate did swear falsely And how many were there who were Instrumentall to cause others to swear falsely And some Judges for their own advantage and interest did connive thereat And many likewise did swear falsely in exciseable goods Before we close what relates to this Article we desire that these Scriptures may be considered in reference to the sins mentioned there as the fruits of the love of the World and Covetousnesse Job 35. 9. By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry they cry out because of the arm of the mighty but none saito where is God c. Psal. 62. 10. Trust not in oppression become not vain in robbery If riches encrease set not your hearts on them Psal 82. 2. How long will ye judge unjustly and accept the person of the wicked Proverb 14. 31. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his maker but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor Proverb 15. 27. He that is greedy of gain he troubleth his own house but he who hateth gifts shall hve Prov. 22. 16. He that oppresseth the poor to encrease his riches and he that giveth to the rich shal surely come to want Prov. 28. 3. A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain that leaveth no food Verse 8. He who by usury and unjust gain encreaseth his substance he shall gather it for him that shal pity the poor 20. Verse A faithfull man shal abound with blessings but he who maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent Eccles. 7. 7. Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad and a gift destroyeth the heart Isai. 1. 21 22 23 24. How is the faithful city become an harlot It was full of judgement and righteousnesse lodged in it but now murderers Thy siluer is become drosse thy wine mixt with water Thy princes are rebellions and companions of theeves every one loveth gifts and followeth after rewards they judge not the fatherlesse neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them Therefore saith the Lord the Lord of hosts the mighty one of Israel Ab I will ease me of mine adversaries and avenge me of mine enemies Isai. 3. 12 13 14 15. As for my people children are their oppressors and women rule over them O my people they which lead thee cause thee to erre and destroy the way of thy paths The Lord standeth up to plead and standeth to judge the people The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people and the Princes thereof For ye have eaten up the vineyard the spoil of the poor is in your houses What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces and grind the faces of the poor saith the Lord God of hosts Isai. 5. 7. And he looked for judgment but behold oppression and for righteousnesse but behold a cry 9. Verse Of a truth saith the Lord of Hosts many houses shall be desolate even great avd fair without Inhabitant v. 23. Which justifie the wicked for reward take away the righteousnes of the righteous from him Isa. 10. 1 3. Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees and that write grievousness which they have prescribed To turn aside the needy from judgment and to take away the right from the poor of my People that widows may be their prey and that they may rob the fatherless And what wil ye do in the day of visitation and in the desolation which shal come from far To whom wil ye flee for help and where wil you leave your glory Without me they shal bow down under the
prisoners and they shal fall under the stain for all this his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still Isa. 33. 15. He that despiseth the gain of oppression that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes that stoppeth his ears from hearing of bloud and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil He shal dwell on high his place of defence shal be the munitions of rocks Jer. 6. 6 7. For thus hath the Lord of Hosts said Hew ye down trees and cast a mount against Jerusalem this is the City to be visited she is wholly oppression in the midst of her As a fountain casteth out her waters so she casteth out her wickedness Violence and spoil is heard in her before me continually is grief and wounds Jer. 5. 26. For amongst my People are found wicked men they lay wait as he that setteth snares they set a trap they catch men Versâ— 27. As a cage is full of birds so are their houses ful of deceit therefore are they become great and waxen rich Vers. 28. They are waxen fat they shine yea they overpass the deeds of the wicked they judge not the cause of the fatherless yet they prosper and the right of the needy do they not judge Verl 29. Shall I not visie for these things saith the Lord shal not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this Jer. 22. 13. Wo to him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by wrong that useth his neighbours service without wages and gives him not for his work Vers. 14. That saith I will build me a wide house and large chambers and cutteth him out windows and it is cieled with cedar and painted with vermilion Vers. 15. Shalt thou reign because thou closest thy self in cedar did not thy father eat and drink and do judgment and justice and then it was well with him Vers 16. He judged the cause of the poor and needy then it was well with him was not this to know me saith the Lord V. 17. But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousnes and for to shed innocent bloud and for oppression and for violence to do it Ezek. 22. 13. Behold therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made and at the bloud which hath been in the midst of thee Vers. 29. The People of the Land have used oppression and exercised robbery and have vexed the poor and needy yea they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully Hos. 7. 1. When I would have healed Israel then the iniquity of Ephralm was discovered and the wickedness of Samaria for they commit falshood and the thief cometh in and the troups of robbers spoil without Amos 3. 10. For they know not to do right saith the Lord who store up robbery and violence in their palaces ver 11. Therefore thus saith the Lord God An adversary there shal be even round about the Land and he shal bring down thy strength from thee and thy palaces shal be spoiled ver 15. And I will smite the winter house with the summer house and the houses of I very shall perish and the great houses shall have an end saith the Lord. Mic. 3. 11. The Heads thereof judge for reward and the Priests thereof teach for hire and the Prophets thereof divine for money yet will they lean on the Lord and say Is not the Lord amongst us none evil can come upon us ver 12. Therefore shall Sion for their sakes be plowed like a field and Jerusalem shal become heaps and the Mountain of the House as the high places of the Forrest Zeph. 3. 1 Wo to her that is filthy and polluted to the oppressing City ver 3. Her Princes within her are roaring Lions her Iudges are ravenous Wolves they gnaw not the bones til the morrow vers 8. Therefore wait ye upon nie saith the Lord til I rise up to for the prey my determination is to gather the Nations that I may assemble the Kingdoms that I may pour out on them mine indignation even al my fierce anger for all the Earth shal be devoured with the fire of my jealousie Zeph. 1. 9. In the same day will I punish all them who leap on the threshold who fill their masters houses with violence and deceit Exod. 2 2. 21 22 23 24. Ye shal neither vex a stranger nor oppress him for ye were strangers in the Land of Egypt Thou shalt not afflict any widow or fatherless child if thou afflict them in any wayes and they cry â—t al unto me I will surely hear their cry and my wrath shall wax hot I will kill you with the sword and your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless The Sixth Article The sixth Article relates to the abusing and prostituting the Publick Faith of the Kingdom in the way of borrowing of Monies and otherwise which no question is not one of the least provoking Publick sins in the Land As private men ought so far to have their faith and credit in estimation for the love of righteousness and truth as not to engage the same but when they do sincerely intend and really endeavor to perform what they promise so much more ought publick persons and the Judicatories of a Land have such regard to the Publick Faith of a Nation as not to engage the same but when there be some real purposes and honest endeavors to fulfil it Because the prostituting and breach of Publick-Faith as it is an high provocation before God so it is a great deal more pernitious reproachful slanderous and injurious and of a worse example amongst men especially when it becomes common and is used as a state engine to draw in mens propriety from them under a vail and shadow of righteousness and is attended with a kind of conslraint upon men to take the Publick Faith for security as it was in this Land Job 15. 4. Yea thou castest off fear and restrainest prayer before God Psalm 37. 21. The wicked borroweth and payeth not again but the righteous sheweth mercy and giveth Isa. 59. 12 13 14. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee and our sins testifie against us for our transgressiont are with us and as for our iniquities we know them In transgressing and lying against the Lord and in departing away from our God speaking oppression and revolt conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falshood And judgment is turned away backward and justice standeth a faa off for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter Yea truth faileth and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey Aud the Lord saw it and it displeased him that there was no judgment The Seventh Article The seventh Article mentions two sins that many of this Land are guilty of in their first taking of the National Covenant and solemn League and Covenant and renewing thereof The first whereof is The ignorance that was in many or the want of the necessary
the corruptions both of Kirk and State And that it was for restraint of this and for their own just defence against tyranny and unjust violence which ordinarily is the fruit and effect of such a power that the Lords People did joyn in Covenant and have been at the expences of so much blood travels and pains these years past Fifthly That the King being averse from the Work of Reformation and the Instruments thereof and compassed about with Malignant and dis-affected men whom he hearkens to as his most faithfull Counsellours and looks upon as his most loyall and faithfull Subjects being admitted to the exercise of his power before satisfaction given would by these counsels endeavour an over-turning of these things which the Lord hath wrought amongst us and labour to draw Publick Administrations concerning Religion and the Liberty of the Subject into that course and Channel in which they did run under Prelacie before the Work of Reformation Which we had the more cause to fear because his Royall Father did often declare That he conceived himself bound to imploy all the power that God had put in his hands to the utmost for these ends and that he adhered to his Fathers principles and walked in his way and had made a peace with the Irish Rebels by which is granted to them the full liberty of Popery From these Principles the Generall Assembly did then infer That it would be the wisedome of every one who dwells in this Land to take heed to such a temptation and snare that they be not accessory to any such designes and endeavours of bringing or admitting the King to the exercise of his Power without satisfaction given concerning the security of Religion and Liberty of the Subjects as they would not bring upon themselves and on their Families the guilt of all the detriment that would undoubtedly follow thereupon to Religion and the Covenant and of all the miseries and calamities that it would bring on his Majesties Person and Throne and on these Kingdoms Such a thing say they would in all appearance be the under-minding and shaking off if not the over-throwing and destroying the Work of Reformation and that therefore whosoever attempts the same do oppose themselves to the Cause of GOD and will at last dash against the rock of the Lords Power which hath broken in pieces many high and losty ones since the beginning of this Work in these Kingdomes From all which it dotli appear upon good grounds that it was an high provocation to admit the King to the exercise of his Power or to intrust him with the Cause and People of GOD whilst he was continuing in his former disaffection to and eninity against the same with which sin the Lord hath been so displeased that he Hath in a great measure verified the same things on the Land which are holden forth by the Generall Assembly and which would be the consequents thereof We know that it will be objected by many That the King did desist from and abandon that course of enmity against the Work and People of God before the close of the Treaty and that he did give satisfaction concerning the security of Religion and Liberty of the Subjects by condescending to and subscribing these demands which were sent to him from the Parliament of this Kingdom and the Commission of the Generall Assembly To which we reply First that these demands were desicient at least not so plain and positive and expresse in the main and necessary thing to wit a reall abandoning of former malignant courses and principles and a reall and cordiall cleaving to the Work and people of God without which there could not be a reall security it was not a shadow of security for Religion and Liberty or a paper and verball security onely but a reall security which we were bound before the Lord to have evdeavoured and obtained before the close of a Treaty with the King for intrusting him with the Government and to authorize Commissioners to settle with him upon such paper-securities and accordingly to intrust him was but to mock God and to deceive the World and to betray and destroy our selves by giving up all the precious Interests of Religion and Liberty into the hands of one who was in a course of enmity to these Secondly it is certain if men will not deny clear and evident truths that the King had not only before the authorizing of these Commissioners to close a Treaty with him upon his condescending to these Demands given evidence of his emnity to the Work and people of God but also was continuing in the same during the time of the Treaty and that he had not abandoned these Principles and courses at the close of the Treaty And when he did swear and subscribe the Nationall Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant Nay the whole tenour of his carriage did then and afterward convincingly enough to intelligent men demonstrate him to be the same he was before We shall not need bring many instances therefore passing over these things which he did before this Kingdome began to treat with him such as the Declaration emitted by him when he was Prince against the Cause and People of God and his Printed Declaration at Iersey as King against all who had been in opposition to his Father in these troubles We shall mention only a few particulars that fell out thereafter to wit these first he did not only countenance and entertain the most Capital and known Enemies of this Kingdom such as Iames Grahame and others who had shed much of the bloud thereof but also did give Commission to the said Iames Grahame to make war upon and invade the Inhabitants thereof as Traitors and Rebels Secondly in the whole progresâ—e of the Treaty as he did communicate and take counsell with known dis-affected and malignant men in all things relating to the same and not moving a step but according to their advice so did he procrastinat and delay to grant what was desired untill all other means of help had failed and his own estate and condition was now become desperat and what he did grant was not all at once and cheerfully as if it had been a duty but by little and little and by a kind of coaction and merchandise as if it had been a bargain of buying and selling Thirdly after the Treaty was brought to some close he did before his coming to Sea receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper from one of the Prelatical Chaplains and according to the Serviâ—e-Book notwithstanding the Commissioners of the Kirk did represent the evill thereof to him and did earnestly deal with him to the contrary Fourthly he brought to Sea and into Scotland with him almost the whole Train of Malignant and dis-affected men who had followed him in his former evill courses and fled from the Justice of both Kingdoms and these he did more familiarly intirely converse with then with others Fiâ—thly he was neaâ—
testimony to our faithfulnesse and diligence but being rather content if not rejoycing at their fault 4. Least delight in these things wherein lyeth our nearest communion with God great inconstancie in our walk with God and neglect of acknowledging of him in all our wayes 5. In going about duties least carefull of these which are most remote from the eyes of men 6. Seldome in secret prayer with God except to sit for Publick performances and even that much neglected or gone about very superficially 7. Glad to find excuses for the neglect of duties 8. Neglecting the reading of Scriptures in secret for edifying our selves as Christians only reading them in so far as may sit us for our duty as Ministers and oft-times neglecting that 9. Not given to reflect upon our own wayes nor suffering conviction to have a through work upon us deceiving our selves by resting upon abstinence from and abhorrencie of evils from the light of a naturall conscience and looking upon the same as an evidence of a reall change 10. Evill guarding of and watching over the heart and carelesnesse in self-searching which makes much unacquaintednesse with our selves and estrangednesse from God 11. Not guarding nor wrestling against seen and known ills especially our predominants 12. A facilite to be drawn away with the temptations of the time and other particular temptations according to our inclinations and fellowship 13. Instability and wavering in the wayes of God through the fears of persecution hazard or loss of esteem and declining duties because of the fear of jealousies and reproaches 14. Not esteeming the Crosse of Christ and sufferings for his Name honourable but rather shifting sufferings from self-love 15. Deadnesse of spirit after all the sore stroaks of God upon the Land 16. Little conscience made of secret humiliation and fasting by our selves apart and in our Families that we might mourn for our own and the Lands guiltinesse and great back-slidings and little applying the Causes of publick humiliation to our own hearts 17. Finding of our own pleasures when the Lord cals for humiliation 18. Not laying to heart the sad and heavy sufferings of the people of God abroad and the not thriving of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and the power of godliness among them 19. Refined hypocrisie desiring to appear what indeed we are not 20. Studying more to learn the language of Gods people nor their exercise 21. Artificiall confessing of sin without repentance professing to declare iniquity and not resolving to be sory for sin 22. Confession in secret much slighted even of these things whereof we are convinced 23. No Reformation after solemn acknowledgments and private Vows thinking our selves exonered after Confession 24. Readier to search out and censure faults in others then to see or take with them in our selves 25. Accounting of our estate and way according to the estimation that others have of us 26. Estimation of men as they agree with or disagree from us 27. Not fearing to meet with tryals but presuming in our own strength to go through them unshaken 28. Not learning to fear by the falls of gracious men nor mourning and Praying for them 29. Not observing particular deliverances and rods nor improving of them for the honor of God and edification of our selves and others 30. Little or no mourning for the corruption of our nature and less groaning under and longing to be delivered from that body of death the bitter root of all our other evils Secondly in our Conversation and Walk with and before these of our Flocks and others 1. FRuitless conversing ordinarily with others for the worse rather then for the better 2. Foolish jesting away time with impertinent and useles discourse very unseeming the Ministers of the Gospel 3. Spirituall purposes often dying in our hands when they are begun by others 4. Carnal familiarity with naturall wicked and Malignant men whereby they are hardened the People of God stumbled and we our selves blunted 5. Slighting fellowship with these by whom we might profit 6. Desiring more to converse with these that might better us by their parts then such as might edifie us by their graces 7. Not studying opportunities of doing good to others 8. Shifting of prayer and other duties when called thereto choosing rather to omit the same then we should be put to them our selves 9. Abusing of time in frequent recreation and pastimes and loving our pleasures more then God 10. Taking little or no time to Christian Discourse with young men trained up for the Ministery 11. Common and ordinary discourse on the Lords Day 12. Slighting Christian Admonition from any of our Flocks or others as being below us and ashamed to take light and warning from private Christians 13. Dislike of or bitternesse against such as deal freely with us by admonition or reproof and not dealing faithfully with others who would welcome it off our hands 14. Not making conscience to take pains on the ignorant and prophane for their good 15. Our not mourning for the ignorance unbelief and miscarriages of the Flocks committed unto us 16. Impatient bearing of the infirmities of others rashly breaking out against their persons more then studying to gain them from their sins 17. Not using freedom with these of our charge and for most part spending our time with them in common discourses not tending to Edification 18. Neglecting Admonition to friends and others in an evil course 19. Reservednesse in laying out our condition to others 20. Not praying for men of a contrary judgment but using reservednesse and distance from them being more ready to speak of them then to them or to God for them 21. Not weighed with the fallings and miscarriages of others but rather taking advantage thereof for justifying our selves 22. Talking of and sporting at the faults of others rather then compassionating of them 23. No pains taken in religious ordering of our families nor studying to be Paterns to other Families in the governement of ours 24. Hasty anger and passion in our Families and conversation with others 25. Covetousnesse worldly mindednesse and an inordinate desire after the things of this life upon which followeth a neglect of the Duties of our Calling and our being taken up for the most part with the things of the World 26. Want of Hospitality and Charity to the Members of Christ. 27. Not cherishing Godlinesse in the People and some being afraid of it and hating the people of God for Piety and studying to bear down and quench the work of the spirit amongst them Thirdly in the discharge of Ministerial Duties Which is first in regard of labouring in the Word and Doctrine 1. NOt entertaining that edge of spirit in Ministeriall Duties which we found at the first entry to the Ministery 2. Great neglect of reading and other preparation or preparation meerly Literal and bookish making an idoll of a book which hindereth Communion with God or presuming on bygone assistance and praying little 3. Trusting to gifts parts and
a blessing to it because of the ordinariness and apprehended easiness of it whereby the Lords Name is much taken in vain and the People little profited 3. Looking on that Exercise as a work below us and not condescending to study a right and profitabl way of instructing the Lords People 4. Partial in Catechising passing by these that are rich and of better quality though many of such stand ordinarly in great need of instruction 5. Not waiting upon and following the ignorant but passionatly upbraiding of them often 5. In Ruling and Discipline 1. NOt making use of this Ordinance of Church-Censures for gaining of souls but turning it in a meer Civil punishement and in the administration thereof becoming either coldrife or without a spirit of meekness and using a way either merely rational by wordly wisdom or meerly authoritative more then by motives drawn from the love of Christ and by our carriage in Judicatories putting a humane shape upon the Ordinances of Jesus Christ carrying our selves in too stately a way like the men of this world 2. Partiality in administration of Censures with respect of persons not using the like faithfull freedom towards high and low sib and frâ—md 3. Rash taking on us to open and shut Christs door 4. By our practice teaching as it were formality in Repentance to offenders hardening them in their sins by accepting bare forms without any evidence of Repentance and loosing when we were perswaded Christ did not loose and of late turning profession of Repentance into a State engine for men to step unto preferment and publick employments 5. Following scandalous persons with the highest Censures of the Kirk with little or no care to hold them up to God 6. Want of compassion to these on whom Discipline is exercised not laboring to convince them of sin but imperiously and with passion instead of zeal threatning them thinking it sufficient if we be obeyed though they be not gained to Christ. 7. Superficial sinful and slight censuring one another at times appointed for that end in Presbyteries and Synods and neglect of faithful freedom and love in performing that duty 8. Admitting of men to the Ministry who were not qualified with Grace aswel as Gifts not withstanding the Word of God and Constitutions of this Kirk do require the one aswel as the other which hath been the fountain of many evils 9. Great unfaithfulness in bringing in and holding in unworthy persons in the Ministry and keeping Censures off unfaithful men 10. Unfaithfulness in giving Testimonials and Recommendations and receiving persons upon Testimonials meerly negative especially Expectants and Students of Divinity 11. Constituting Elderships of such men as are known to be ignorant prophane and disaffected to the Work of God and being careless to have them consisting of the most able and godly men within the Congregation a great cause of much ignorance prophane and scandalous carriage among the People 12. Neglecting to remove from the Elderships such as are ignorant and scandalous 13. Neglecting to hold out the necessary qualifications and duties of Ruling Elders and to stir them up to their duty 14. Not carrying our selves in Judicatories and other wayes toward Ruling Elders as towards Brethren and joynt Overseers in the work of the Lord. 15. Not making conscience of keeping Kirk Judicatories but wearying of the expences and attendance whereby diverse things hath been hastert and miscaried therein willing deserting of them and shunning to give testimony in them for fear of inconveniences 16. Not stouping to a gaining way in Debates nor making application to God for knowledge of his mind in things debated before they pass in a conclusion 17. Wearying to hear men fully who represent their doubts and to weigh all the Arguments that can be represented for the negative before the affirmative be concluded 18. Too great animosities in Judicatories even about matters of small weight 19. Pride impatience and peremptoriness of spirit not staying on others clearness in our debates and conclusions through which it comes to pass that we judge rashly of precious men and alienatition of affections steals in and is entertained 20. Hasty concluding of Acts pressing obedience thereto without convincing grounds holden forth from Scripture for satisfying the consciences of the Lords People 21. Silence in Assemblies when unsatisfied being carried by the authority of men and too much following other mens light and suppressing their own 22. Making Votes subservient to the humors of men and humane interests 23. Some altogether neglecting wholsome Acts and Constitutions of Assemblies and others receiving their Acts too implicity 24. Too bitter expressions against Adversaries in Publick Papers and Sermons for eshewing reproaches whereof there is no fruit but irritation 25. Abusing transportations by making them too frequent and almost the ordinary way of Planting places of any eminency sometimes enacting them when there is no pressing necessity and without tender endeavouring the satisfaction of the People interested and without care of providing them thereafter In relation to the Publick 1. NOt studying the controversies of the time that we might be enabled to hold forth light and convince gain sayers of the truth 2. Not fearing to meddle in matters too high for us and desiring to be taken notice of more then to be stedable in the Publick 3. Following of Publick bussiness with too much neglect of our Flocks 4. Following of Publick bussiness with much pride and passion and loftiness of spirit upon carnel principles and desire to be esteemed of rather then true zeal to Jesus Christ and his matters and with little or no prayer 5. Superficial admitting of all to the Covenants and solemn Acknowledgment without taking sufficient pains to instruct and inform them in the knowledge of the things contained therein 6. Being too instrumental for bringing disaffect persons to trust 7. Unequal zeal against enemies cooling in our zeal against one enemy as it is increast against another 8. Much repining at the judgments of God upon the Land from carnal respects and transferring the causes of the wrath off our selves upon others 9. Too easie satisfied in such things as might tend to the prejudice of Christs intâ—aest weighing the consequences of great Revolutions more by respect to our selves then to his honor 10. Agreeing to receive the King to the Covenant bracly upon writing without any apparent evidences of a real change of Principles 11. Not using freedom in shewing what we were convinced was sinful in reference to the late Treaty with the King but going on therein when we were nor satisfied in our consciences for fear of reproach and of being mistaken 12. Silence in Publick and not giving Testimony after a discovery of the Kings Commission given to Iames Graham for invading the Kingdom 13. Pressing the King to make a Declaration to the world whilest we knew by clear evidences that he had no real conviction of the things contained therein 14. Too much desiring to lurk upon by ends when called to give a Testimony 15. Not bearing Testimony against Publick Defections in a right and spiritual way 16. Unfaithfulness in bearing burden with them whom the Lord raised up to be his witnesses against the publick backslidings omitting to bear Testimony our selves upon carnal respects and lukewarmness in adhering to publick Testimonies formerly given A Postscript Which could not be gotten printed THe foregoing causes of Gods wrath being on severall dayes of solemne Humiliation laid out confessed before the Lord we thought fit to subjoine here some other causes of our late Humiliation as 1. The late declining of the Land by consenting engaging unto the publick actings of the present Powers so contrary to the Covenants so much prejudicial to Religion liberties 2. The defection of diverse who are accounted religious from their former principles unto Separation other Errours of the time 3. The Usurpation Carriage of the present pretended Assembly 4. The English their great Encroachments upon the Liberties of this Church 5. That the promised Conversion of His Ancient people of the Jewes may be hastened 6. That the Lord may make our present resolutions for reforming our selves our Elderships people effectual and may bless our Endeavours to this purpose FINIS
CAUSES Of the LORDS WRATH against SCOTLAND Manifested in his sad late dispensations Whereunto is added a PAPER particularly holding forth the Sins of the MINISTERY Printed in the year 1653. Some General Heads of the Causes why the LORD contends with the Land agreed upon after seeking of the LORD by the Commission of the GENERALL ASSEMBLY 1650. with the advice of diverse Ministers from severall parts of the Kingdom met at Edinburgh October 1651. so far as for the present they could attain light therein which they offer and advise to be made use of by all the LORDS People in the Land leaving place to adde as the Lord shall make further discoveries hereafter of the guiltinesse of the Land and intending more fully and particularly to enlarge this Paper 1. Article THe grosse Atheisme and ignorance of God and of his Word and Works that is in a great part of the Inhabitants of the Land which is such that neither Law nor Gospel nor the most common and necessary points of truth are understood or known by many thousands 2. Article Horrible loosnesse and prophanity of Conversation in all sorts against the Commandments both of the first and second table which hath so abounded and encreased that scarce hath any of the Nations exceeded us therein 3. Article The despising and slighting of JESUS CHRIST offered in the Gospel which we look on as the chief and mother sin of this Nation and the not valuing and improving the Gospel and precious Ordinances of CHRIST unto the establishing and building up of our selves in the lively faith of CHRIST and power of godlinesse but either neglecting and despising these things altogether or else resting upon and idolizing outward and bare forms without studying to know in our selves or to promove in others the Kingdom of God which is righteousnesse and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost whereby it hath come to passe that persons not rightly qualified have been admitted unto and continued in the Work of the Ministery and Elderships and that publick repentance and Kirk-censures have been grosâ—ely slighted and the Sacrament of the Lords Supper fearfully polluted by the promiscuous admitting of many ignorant and scandalous persons thereto and many wilfully ignorant and openly and continuedly prophane have been keeped in the fellowship of this Kirk contrary to the Word of GOD and Constitutions of this Kirk and that many other sad and fearfull consequences have followed unto the prophaning of all the Ordinances of GOD and rendering them for the most part barren and fruitlesse to us 4 Art Not only the exercise of godlines in families much slighted great men being unwilling and ashamed to call on the name of the LORD in their Family which guilt is exceedingly heightned by the continuing of many of these in the same after solemn Publick confessing thereof and engaging to the contrary duty in the year 1648. and others much neglecting the same But also the loathing and hating of the power and life of Religion and godlinesse and bearing down such as make conscience thereof or aime at any perfection therein which hath come to such an height that the Godly are every-where reproached reviled oppressed and persecuted throughout the Land by sundry of all ranks yea by sundry Magistrates and Ministers and the ungodly and prophane countenanced encouraged and imployed 5. Article The base love of the world and Covetousnesse which hath made not onely the Body of the People but many Ministers more to minde their own things then the things of JESUS CHRIST and many Masters Rulers Magistrates Officers and Souldiers in Armies exceedingly to abuse their power unto the exercising of intollerable oppression of all kindes on the poor to the grinding of their faces and making their lives bitter to them Which fountain of Covetousnesse did also produce the great insolencies and oppressions in our Armies in England and Ireland and the fearfull perjuries in the Land in the matter of valuation and Excise 6. Article The abusing and prostituting the Publick Faith of the Kingdom in the way of borrowing of Money and otherwise unto the dishonouring of GOD mocking of Men and reproach of the Nation 7. Article In pursuing of necessary Duties of renewing the Nationall Covenant and entring into and renewing the solemn League and Covenant the way of many mens taking these Covenants was without the knowledge of the necessary things contained therein and without reality and sincerity of heart in order to the performance thereof some being induced thereto by example some by fear and not a few by principles of policy following their own carnall and corrupt ends 8. Article The Following the work of God and pursuing the ends of the Covenant not in a Spirituall holy way setting the LORD alwayes before our eyes and acknowledging him in all our paths but in a carnall politick way abusing GODS Interest for our own interest and ends as if it had been the Work of men and not the Work of GOD which made us walk more in the counsels of our own hearts then in the Counsel of GOD and to trust more in the arm of flesh then in the Arm of the Lord. 9. Article Backslyding and defection from the Covenant and from our solemn Vows and Engagements the guilt whereof is exceedingly heightned by the aggravating circumstances of our renewed Oaths and of the LORDS Mercies and Engagements and of our frequent relapses into the same sins whereof we once seemed to have repented and which we condemned in others Of this Defection there be these speciall heads and Steps 1. Step. A soul falling from that honesty of heart and purity of conversation and from the singlenesse and integrity of heart and from the fervency zeal for GOD that appeared to be in many at the first entry to the Covenant and declining into loose walking and self interest and neutrality and indifferency from which haue issued many sad consequences especially the great scandall and stumbling of many godly in the Land at us and the Work of God in our hand 2 Step. The sitting up of many Professors in the Land under the Gospel and becoming formall and remisse not entertaining tenderness spirituall life and soberness of minde which as it hath been amongst the provoking Causes of the LORDS wrath and hath rendered some obnoxious to snares on both hands so may it if it be not mourned for and amended draw on more wrath and expose to the hazard of errour and disaffection to the Work of GOD. 3. Step. The secret falling off of some and open falling away of many unto the opposite party after their entering in Covenant especially that defection carried on by Iames Graham his party and that which was afterward carried on by the Authors and Abettors of the unlawfull Engagement 1648. 4. Step. The neglecting obstructing and condemning the purging of the Judicatories and Army 1649. and afterward from scandalous and disaffected men and of the constituting the same of men of known integrity
and affection to the Cause and of a blameless and Christian Câ—nversation notwithstanding of the solemn publick Confession of these sins and Engaging unto these duties a little before that time 5. Step. The Authorizing of Commissioners to close a Treaty with the King for the investing him with the Government upon his subscribing such Demands as were sent to him after he had given many clear evidences of his disaffection and enmity to the work and people of God and was continuing in the same And the admitting of him to the full exercise of his power and Crowning him notwithstanding of new discoveries of his adhering to his former principles and way and of many warnings to the contrary 6. Step. The Rejecting of Discoveries of guiltiness and causes of the Lords contending with us and of our duty in reference therto such as the cause of humiliation offered by the Commission of the General Assembly to the Committee of Estates at Leith before the defeat at Dumbar The causes of humiliation condescended on at Sterlin immediately after the defeat at Dumbar The Remonstrance of the Gentlemen Ministers and Forces in the West and many other testimonies of Presbyteries and Synods together neglecting the means tending to peace and to the preventing the effusion of more blood from pride and bitterness of spirit against those who had invaded us 7. Step. The Publick Resolutions of Kirk and State for bringing in the Malignant party first to the Army and then to the Judicatories and to the actual intrusting of them with the power of the Kingdom both Military and Civil whereby the state of our cause is not only turned up side down by subordinating the interest of God to the interest of men but the work and people of God have been entrusted to the enemies thereof 8. Step. The joyning of many engaged in the Covenant and Cause of God in Arms with the Forces of the Kingdom after that by the Publick Resolutions there was a prevailing party of Malignants brought into the Army who had the sway of Counsels and Actings therein and were carrying on a malignant interest 9. Step. The pre-limiting and corrupting of the Gen. Assembly in regard of the free lawful and right constitution thereof excluding such as were faithful and constant in the Cause and making it up for the most part of those who had been active and instrumental in carrying on a course of Defection or were consenting thereto whereby it came to pass that that Meeting did ratifie and approve the Defection it self and did not only censure sundry for protesting against them but also laid a foundation for censuring all such Ministers and for keeping all such out of the Ministry who did not approve of their Constitution and Acts and did issue Warnings and Declarations reflecting exceedingly upon and contradicting and condemning former pious and warrantable proceedings and the instruments thereof 10. Article Deep security impenitency obstinacy and incorrigibleness under all these and under all the dreadful stroaks of God and tokens of his indignation against us because of the same so that whilest he continues to smite we are so far from humbling our selves and turning to Him that we wax worse and worse and sin more and more Having at our last Meeting intended and promised to enlarge more fully and particularly these Generall Heads of the LORDS Controversie with the Land then condescended on We shall now prosecute and perform the same so far as we conceive is needfull and may be helpfull to others for the better understanding thereof IT were superfluous to speak any thing to the 1. Article which relates to the grosse ignorance of many thousands in the Land the truth of the thing being unquestionably acknowledged and bemoaned by all the faithfull and godly Ministers in the Land and that a great many come to age are grosly ignorant of the first Principles of Christian Religion which sin of ignorance although it be extenuated and slightly looked on by many yet it is holden forth by the Holy Ghost in the Scriptures as the fountain of the estrangement of souls from the life of God Ephes. 4. 18. through the blindnes that is in them having the understanding darkned being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindnes of their heart of all their disobedience and living in their lusts 1. Pet. 1. 14. as obedient children not fashioning your selves according to the former lusts in your ignorance And as that which makes them lyable to the wrath of God in the day of Christs appearance 2. Thess. 1. 8. When the Lord Iesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them who know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord-Iesus Christ. The guilt of this sin is much aggravated by these Circumstances 1. It is willfull under the light of the Gospel and the means of knowledge 2. In regard of long continuing therein many have lived under it for so many years together even till their old age 3. From the grossnesse of it being such in many as they know almost nothing of the very Letter of the Scriptures either of their sin and misery or of the mercy and remedy that is holden forth through Jesus Christ or of the dutie which they owe to God and their Neighbour nothing almost either of Law or Gospel of the Covenant of Grace or of the Covenant of Works of Commandments Threatnings or Promises except in such a generall and confused way as is altogether uselesse unto them and fruitless in them 4. In regard of the multitudes of these who lye under it which is very great in all the corners of the Land especially in the Highlands 5. In regard of the quality of persons who are not onely servants and Commons but Masters of Families and persons of some note in Burghs and in the Countrey yea not a few who have the place of Magistrates and Elders The Article doth also mention ignorance of the Works of God by which is meant not only the Works of Creation wherein the Eternall Power and Godhead are clearly seen Rom. â— 20. For the invisible things of him from the Creation of the World are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternall Power and Godhead but also the ignorance of the Works of Providence which are great and marvellous Rev. 15. 3. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints And albeit these should be sought out of all these that take pleasure therein Psal. 111. 2. and the right understanding and observation of them hath a large promise made thereunto Psal. 107. 43. Who is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindnes off the Lord. Yet doth the ignorance thereof exceedingly abound
the People Exod. 20. 15. Thou shalt not steal Ezek. 22. 12. In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood thou hast taken usury and increase thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbour by extortion Amos. 5. 12. They afflict the just they have taken abribe they turn aside the poor from his right Micah 6. 10 11. Are there yet treasures of wickednesse in the house of the wicked and the scant measure that is abominable Shall I count them pure with the wicked ballances and with the bag of deceitfull weights 1 Thess 4. 6. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter for the Lord is the avenger of all such 11. Lying slandering backbiting detracting riviling tale-bearing rash censuring and defaming and speaking ill one of another with false witnessing and perjury breach of Oaths Covenants promises Exodus 20. 16. Thou shalt not bear false witnesse against thy neighbour Psal. 50. 19 20. Thou givest thy mouth to evil and thy tongue frameth deceit thou sittest and speakest against thy brother thou slanderest thine own mothers son 2 Cor. 12. 20. Left there be debates envyings wrath strife backbiting whisperings swellings and tumults Matth. 7. 1. Iudge not that ye be not judged Rom. 1. 31. without understanding Covenant-breakers without natural affection implacable unmercifull 2 Tim 3. 1 2. This know also that in the last dayes perillous times shal come for men shal be lovers of themselves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents unholy Before we close this Article of prophanity we cannot but in a speciall way take notice of the carriage of many beggars in the Land amongst whom for a long time past abominations of all sorts hath abounded which sin lyes so much heavier on the Land because though it hath been generally known and acknowledged by all yet hath no effectuall course been taken to this day for the helping thereof 3. Article THe third Article which relates to JESUS CHRIST and the Gospel is in a great measure spoken to in the Causes of Humiliation concerning the contempt of the Gospel condescended on by the Commission of the Generall Assembly at Perth Dec. 22. 1650. yet some particulars there be in the Article which we shall now speak unto 1. The resting on out ward and bare forms without studying to known in our selves or to promove in others the Kingdom of GOD which is righteousnesse and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost The Work of Reformation in the outward part of it or externall means that do relate to Worship and Ordinances of GOD and the purity thereof is certainly a thing excellent and desirable which all the lovers of pure Religion and undefiled ought to endeavour to attain to and preserve Ezra 7. 27. Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers who hath put such a thing as this in the Kings heart to beautifie the house of the Lord at Ierusalem Exod. 39. 42. According to all that the Lord commanded Moses so the Children of Israel made all the work 43. v. And Moses did look on all the work and behold they had done it as the Lord commanded even so had they done and Moses blessed them Ezek. 42. 11. And the way before them was like the appearing of the Chambers that were toward the North as long as they and as broad as they and all their goings out were both according to their fashions and according to their doores Heb. 3. 2. Who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house Heb. 8. 5. Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle for see saith he that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed thee in the mount But when these things are rested upon and idolized they do through our corruption become snares to us to keep us from seeking in to more excellent and better things to wit communion and fellowship with GOD and the power and life of godliness which are the kernell whereof these things are but the shell and the scrooff and being rested upon do provoke the Lord either to make them barren and fruitlesse to us or else to loath us in the following of them or to remove them wholly away from us Isai 1. 10 11 12 13 14 15. Hear the word of the Lord ye rulers of Sodom give ear to the Law of our God ye people of Gomorrah To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me saith the Lord I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts I delight not in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or of he-goats When ye come to appear before me who hath required this at your hands to tread my Courts Bring no more vain oblation incense is an abomination to me the new moons and the Sabbaths and the calling of the assembly I cannot away with it is an iniquity even the solemn meeting your new moons and appointed feasts my soul hateth they are a trouble to me I am weary to bear them And when ye spread forth your hands I will hide mine eyes from you yea when ye make many prayers I will not hear your hands are full of blood Isai. 66. 1 2 3 4. Thus saith the Lord The heavens is my throne and the earth is my footstool where is the house ye will build me and where is the place of my rest for all these things hath mine hand made and all these things have been saith the Lord But to this man will I look even to him that is of a poor and contrite spirit and trembleth at my word He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man he that sacrificeth a lamb as if he cut off a dogsneck he that offereth an oblation as he that offereth swines blood he that burneth incense as he that blesseth an idol Yea they have chosen their own wayes and their soul delighteth in their abominations I also will choose their delusions and bring their fears on them because when I called none did answer and when I spake they did not hear but did evill before mine eyes and chose that in which I delighted not Jer. 7. 4 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. Trust ye not in lying words saying The temple of the Lord the temple of the Lord are these Behold ye trust in lying words that cannot profit Will ye steal murder commit adultery and swear falsely and burn incense to Baal and walk after other gods whom ye know not and come and stand before me in this house which is called by my name and say we are delivered to do all these abominations Is this house which is called by my Name become a den of robbers in your eyes Behold even I have seen it saith the Lord but go ye to my place which was in Shiloh where I set my Name at the first and see what I did to it for the wickednesse
7 8. Speak unto the Children of Israel when a man or a woman shall commit any sin that men commit to do a trespass against the Lord and that person be guilty then they shall confess their sin which they have done and he shal recompence his trespass with the principal thereof and add unto it the fifth part thereof and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed But if the man have no kinsman to recompence the trespass unto let the trespass be recompenced unto the Lord. even unto the Priest beside the Ram of atonement whereby an atonement shal be made for him It is appointed that offenders who have wronged others and were to be admitted to the trespass offering should not only make confession of their sins but also make satisfaction to the party to whom the wrong was done which satisfaction is a fruit of righteousnesse to which agrees that of Iesus Christ. Mat. 5. 23. If thou bring thy gift to the Altar and there remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee vers 24. leave there thy gift before the Altar and go thy way and first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift In that publick penitentiall confession that is mentioned Ezra 10 10 11. Ye have transgressed and taken strange wives and increased the trespass of Israel now therefore make confession to the LORD GOD of your fathers and do his pleasure and separate your selves from the people of the land and from the strange wives There it not only a confession of the sin but a doing of the LORDS pleasure and a separating of themselves from the people of the land and from the strange wives Psal. 51. which was penned to be a testimony of Davids Publick Repentance for the scandalous sins of murder and adultery committed by him and was therefore committed to the chief Musician to be Published in the Sanctuary and Temple doth contain many not able Evidences of Repentance and Reformation And we see the Apostle Paul 2 Cor. 2. 7. doth not give charge to the Corinthians for the receiving the Incestuous person until he is in some appearance of hazard to be swallowed up with too much sorrow 7. verse Ye ought to forgive him and comfort him least perhaps such an one be swallowed up with over mâ—ch sorrow which doth argue that the Apostle thought a great measure of reall conviction and sorrow requisite in such an one before he ought to be received According to these Scriptures the first book of Discipline in the 7 head thereof requires that before scandalous persons be admitted to the Publick confession of their Repentance that there appear in them signes of unfeignedrepentance and the form and order of Publick repentance appointed by the Generall Assembly of the Ministers and Elders in the which they ought sharply to be examined what fear and terrour they have of Gods judgements and what hatred for sin and dolor for the same and what sense and feeling they have of Gods mercies in the which if they be ignorant they ought diligently to be instructed For it is but a mocking to present such to Publick Repentance as neither know what sin is what Repentance is what Grace is nor by whom Gods mercy and favour is purchased thereafter the offender shall be instructed in the Assembly so that he have some taste of Gods Judgements but chiefly of Gods Mercies through Jesus Christ he may be presented before the Publick Kirk And the Act of the Generall Assembly at Edinburgh 1596. March 26. That none falling in Publick scandall be received in the fellowship of the Kirk except his Minister have some appearance and warrand in his Conscience that he hath both a feeling of sin and an apprehension of mercy and for this effect that the Minister travail with him in Doctrine and private instruction to bring him thereto especially in the Doctrine of Publick Repentance which being neglected the Publick place of Repentance is turned to a mocking And the Acts of the Generall Assembly at Edinburgh 1649. provids that because many heretofore have made a shew and profession of Repentance who were not convinced of their guiltinesse nor humbled for the same but did therafter return like the dog to the vomite and with the sow to the puddle unto the mocking of God the exceeding great reproach and detriment of his Cause Therefore for the better discerning the truth sincerity of the Repentance of these who desire to be admitted to the Covenant and Communion it is appointed and ordained that none of the persons who are debarred from the Covenant and Communion shall be received and admitted thereunto but such as after tryal shall be found for some competent time either before or after the offer of their Repentance according to the discretion of the respective Judicatories to have in their ordinary conversation given reall testimony of their dislike of the late unlawfull Engagement and of all the courses and ways of Malignants and of their sorrow for their accession to the same and to live godly righteously soberly c. And reason also proves the same point for whether we take Publick Repentance in reference to the removing of scandal and offence given to the Kirk or in reference to the absolution of the party from the guilt of the same intimated to him by the Minister as the servant of Christ and in the Name of Christ on his Repentance it must alwayes be understood of such a profession of Repentance as doth evidence the reality and humility thereof in outward fruits for a real scandal cannot be removed by a bare and verbal profession without fruits neither can a minister with any perswasion of conscience make any intimation of mercy and pardon to him of the reality and sincerity of whose profession he hath no testimony in his carriage and conversation Yet notwithstanding of these things many scandalous persons of all sorts especially these who were prophane Malignants disaffected to the Work of GOD and his people this last year have been admitted to Publick Repentance on bare convictions of Repentance and sorrow without any reall evidence and fruit thereof in their carriage and conversation nay in many of them there was presumptions in the contrary which as it hath proven a snare to their souls so hath it exceedingly provoked God and stumbled the godly and rendered Kirk Censures and Publick Repentance base and contemptible The third consequence is That the Sacrament of the LORDS Supper hath been fearfully polluted and prophaned by the promiseuous admitting of many scandalous and ignorant persons thereto The truth whereof in the matter of fact as it hath been the constant burden and complaint of all the godly Ministers and people in Scotland these many years past so it hath been oft confessed in the Causes of solemn Fasts and publick Humiliation and particularly in that publick Acknowledgement of Sin that was made by the Kirk of Scotland in the year 1648. that it
knowledge of the things contained in the Covenants The Lord requires of al those that take an oath That they do it in judgment Jer. 4. 2. And thâ—u shalt swear The Lord liveth in truth in righteousness and in judgment and the Nations shall bless themselves in him That is That they take it with such a measure of discretion judgment and understanding as is needful for men in their station in order to the Duty which by their Oath they tie themselves to But it is beyond question that many in the Land do swear these Covenants without the knowledge and understanding of the heads thereof so far as was needful for them in their station who when they were catechised on the particulars do know little or nothing thereof Which no doubt is one cause why they have so little minded and followed and do so little mind and follow the duties contained therein Jer. 5. 4. And I said Surely these are poor they are foolish for they know not the way of the Lord nor the judgment of their God The other is The taking of these Covenants without reality and sincerity in order to the performance thereof Which was to swear not in truth as the Lord requireth Jer. 4. 2. And thou shalt swear The Lord liveth c. not falsly Hos. 10. 4. They have spoken words swearing falsly making a Covenant thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field And with an heart that was not right therfore have they not been stedfast in the Covenant Psal 78. 36 37. Nevertheless thâ—y did flutter him with their mouth and did lye to him with their tongues for their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant The judgments therefore mentioned to have been in some example in others fear and in not a few principles of policy for attaining their own ends Other bad principles certainly there were in sundry persons be side these but these are mentioned as the most common and which haâ—â—â—way with most of these who were guilty either of ignorance or of hypocrisie in the entering into these Covenants Many did take the National Covenant in example of others it being counted praise-worthy and commendable after such a defection as was then in the Land to engage in such a duty and to be reckoned amongst the repairers of the breach Many did take the solemn League and Covenant for fear because the refusing to take it was attended both with Ecclesiastical and Civil Censures and therefore did they rather choose to hazard on the OATH of GOD then to run these hazards amongst Men which doth not yet condemn the injoyning the taking of these Covenants upon a good and warrantable principle It is lawfull for the Judicatories of a Kirk and State to injoyn to men cohabitation with their wives and to children obedience to their Parents to subjects obedience to their Magistrates and suchlike under such respective relations Yet as these persons sin against God if they give obedience only from a principle of carnal fear neither doth the influence that these relations have on them make the commanding of these things under those relations to be a sin because they are in themselves duties which are commanded of God the neglect whereof may in regard of scandall be censured by the Kirk and in regard of the prejudice that redounds to the honour of God and good of our neighbour be punished by the civil Magistrate In taking of both Covenants though there were many whom a principle of the fear and love of God did move yet there were not a few whom after-discoveries have made manifest who were acted thereto by carnall wisedome and policie for attaining their own base and corrupt ends such as riches places of preferment and lively hood and ease and hence mainly hath issued that sin which followes in the next Article The eighth Article The following of the Work of God pursuing the ends of the Covenant not in a holy and spirituall way setting the Lord alwayes before our eyes and acknowledging him in all our paths according to the direction given us of God which hath the promise of the Blessing Psalm 37. 5. Commit thy way to the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe Prov. 3. 5 6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thy own understanding in all thy wayes acknowledge him and he shal direct thy paths But in a carnall politick way abusing Gods Interest for our own interest and ends is a fearfull transgression howsoever it is often palliated with specious pretences as Iehu his zeal against the house of Ahab 2 Kings 10. 16. Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD so they made him ride in his chariot Yet the Lord doth not suffer it to go unpunished Hos. 1. 4. And the LORD said unto him Call his Name Iesreel for yet a little while and I will avenge the bloud of Jesreel on the house of Jehu and will cause to cease the Kingdom of the hous of Israel v. 5. And it shall come to passe in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jesreel 1. Consequent Two Consequents of this carnal way are mentioned the one is the walking in the way of our own hearts more then in the Counsel of God For when mens hearts are not single and streight in reference to the glory of God they love not to walk according to the simplicity of the Word of God but turns aside to their crooked ways to chuse such carnal midses as seem most plausible to their carnal hearts for compassing their corrupt ends a siu that was confessed in the publick solemn Confession of sins in the year 1648. And yet never have these crooked paths been more troden in and these counsels of flesh and blood been more hearkened to then since that time which is one of the causes why the sword doth abide in our cities and consume our branches and devours For this the Prophet threatens against Israel because of their own counsels The other Trusting more in the arm of flesh then in the arm of the Lord which hath been a constant and continued sin in this Nation these years past in doting on multitudes skill and abilities of men and numbers and strength of horses whence have issued the corrupt mixtures in our Armies and the imploying of all ranks of persons how malignant and prophane soever what wonder then though our Armies have not prospered but have oftentimes met with a curse in stead of a blessing Jer. 17. 5 6. Thus saith the Lord Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord for he shall be like the heath in the desart and shall not see when good cometh but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness in a salt Land and not inhabited From this same fountain hath proceeded needless alienation of
against my Covenant and trespassed against my Law Hos. 10. 4. They have spoken words swearing falsly in making a Covenant thus Iudgement springeth up as Hemlock in the furrows of the field Rev. 2. 5. Remember therfor from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come to thee quickly and remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent This sin is aggravated by several circumstances mentioned in the Article which are clear in themselves and need not to be insisted on therefore passing these we come to speak of the special Heads and Steps that are condescended on in the Paper 1. Step. The first is declining from that purity of conversation that integrity of heart that zeal of God that seemed to be in many at their first entry to the Covenant and a falling off into loose walking self-interest and indifferency About the time of the first renewing of the Covenant there was an sensible change to the better in mens carriage and conversation most of all these who joyned in opposing the defection not onely reforming themselves from common and grosse sins such as drunkennesse uncleannesse swearing prophaning the LORDS Day flighting of the Ordinances self-seeking covetousnesse and oppression c. but giving themselves to the Duties of Religion and Righteousnesse such as sobriety Edifying Discourse Chaste behaviour hallowing of the LORDS Day diligent seeking of the LORD in secret and in their Families attending on the preaching of the Word as often as opportunity is offered liberality love charity one towards another a Publick spirit and zeal for GOD but all these things are now decayed in many and they are again growen as ill if not worse then before which as it is an evidence of great unsoundnesse of heart so hath it brought many sad reproaches on the Work of GOD in our hands and hath proven a great stumbling block to many in the neighbour Land to make them averse therefrom and hath given them no small advantage to speak both against us and it though these who do reject and speak ill of any part of the precious truth of God be not to be justified in so doing yet certainly they are much to be condemned who by their untender and loose walking minister occasion thereto Wo to these by whom offences come 2. Step. The second Step is the sitting up of many Professors in the Land under the Gospel and becomming formal and remisse not entertaining tendernesse and sobernesse of minde a sin that relates especially to the Godly in the Land not a few of which have much decayed in former tendernesse and zeal and diligent seeking of God and sober and exact walking studying to root themselves in the solid knowledge and love of the truth and invaluing and improving the Gospel the means of grace unto a loathing and denying of themselves and a growing into and loving and imploying of the Lord Jesus Christ. By which deadnesse of spirit hath seized on some and lazinesse of spirit on others whereby it hath come to pass that they have been tempted to step out of the way and some to turn aside to the left hand to imbrace Malignant courses and some to the right hand to imbrace errour whose sin is so much the greater then the sin of others by how much their knowledge and the LORDS loving kindness to them hath been greater then to others and this declining of Professors and falling off from their first love if it be not deeply mourned for and if they do not timeoussy lament after the Lord as it may prove a snare to many more then yet it hath done so it is like to be amongst the chief causes that may provok the Lord to remove his Candlestick from us Rev. 2 4. Neverthelesse I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love v. 5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come to thee quickly and remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent 3. Step. The third is the secret falling off of some and open falling off of many to the opposite party after their entering to the Covenant especially the defection carried on by Iames Graham and his party and that of the year 1648. by the authors and abettors of the unlawfull Engagement which particulars are so well known that we shall not need to stay upon them Onely we desire that it may be remembered that as they were early begun and long in ripning that of Iames Graham having begun in the year 1639. and ripned till the year 1645. and that some of the chief Authors of the unlawfull Engagement having begun in the year 1644. and ripned till the year 1648. and did take hold upon and infect very many of all ranks throughout the Land so have they been really and unfeinedly repented of by very few to this day which we doubt not is one of the reasons why so many of these who had hand in these bloudy and backsliding courses have fallen by the sword and are gone into captivity 4. Step. The fourth Step is The neglecting and condemning the purging of Judicatories and the Army in the year 1649. and afterward from scandalous and disaffected men and of constituting the same of men of known integrity and affection to the Cause and of a blameless and Christian conversation That it was a duty so to have constituted and purged the Judicatories and Armies ought in reason to be questioned by none it being a duty holden forth in the Word of God That the Rulers of thousands Rulers of hundreds Rulers of fifties and Rulers oftens amongst the People of God should not only be able men but such also as fear God men of truth hating covetousness Exod. 18 21. Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the People able men such as fear God men of truth hating Covetousness and place such over them to be Rulers of thousands Rulers of hundreds Rulers of fifties and Rulers of tens And let them judge the People at all seasons Deut. 1. 15. So I took the chief of your Tribes wise men and known and made them heads over you Captains over thousands Captains over hundreds Captains over fifties and Captains over tens and Officers among your Tribes v. 16. And I charged your Iudges at that time saying Hear the causes between your brethren and judge righteously betwixt every man and his brother and the stranger that is with him v. 17. Ye shall not respect persons in Iudgment but you shall hear the smal aswel as the great you shall not be afraid of the face of man for the judgment is Gods 2 Sam. 23. 3. 4. The God of Israel said The Rock of Israel spake to me He that ruleth over men must be just ruling in the fear of God and he shall be as the light in the morning when the Sun riseth even a morning without clouds as the tender grasse springeth out
Leith and offered to the Committe of Estates by whom they were rejected the story whereof as to the matter of fact was thus The next day after the English forces came in view of our Army which was then intrenched betwixt Leith and Edinburgh Some generall persons in our Army whether from any desire to approve themselves to the King who the night before was come to Leith from Sterlin or from any other principle we know not did draw forth a great many of the Horse to skirmish with the Enhlish by whom they were with some losse and much shame beaten back again to the trenches which bred such a disheartning and astonishment in the whole body of the Army that had the English then stormed the Trenches they had belike gained them and routed our Army Upon this occasion the Commission of the Generall Assembly gave themselves to search after the causes of this stroake and spirit of confusion and astonishment from the LORD and after some pains taken therein found that there had been a malignant design for bringing in again the malignant party of a long time hatching and carrying on by sundry in the Judicatories and in the Army and that it was far promoted and advanced And for the more conviction herein they did condescend on severall Instances and Particulars of moment and consequence This they offered to the Committee of Estates as grounds of humiliation to be keeped by them and the Army but the Committee as they did refuse to take with any such guiltiness so did they refuse to joyn in any humiliation to be keeped for the same Upon the which the Commission did leave it before them with a Declaration That they had exonered themselves and with a desire to the Committee of Estates to do therein as they would be answerable to GOD who was contending for these things The second is the causes of humiliation condescended on at Sterlin immediatly after the defeat at Dumbar these causes which were first condescended on by the Presbytery with the Army and afterwards approven by the Commission of the Generall Assembly did specifie somewhat of the crooked courses which had been taken in carrying on the Treaty with the King and of the obstructing the purging of the Army and of the Judicatories and of the Kings Family and of the not differencing of Instruments imployed in Publick trust and severall other things relating to the carriage of these in Publick trust in Judicatories and Armies which though reall truths in themselves and just matter of humiliation before GOD yet were rejected and not so much as read or intimated by many Ministers in their Congregations and were refused to be taken with or acknowledged by sundry Statesmen and Officers of the Army and others who were guilty of them The third Instance is the Remonstrance of the Gentlemen Ministers and Forces in the West which though it was a testimony given in reference to sin and Duty by a company of men who had been straight from the beginning in the Work of GOD in the simplicity of their hearts and did contain in it many sad truthes yet was not onely rejected but condemned by the plurality of the Committee of Estates and Commission of the General Assembly notwithstanding that many of the Members of both these Judicatories did dissent from and protest against these voices and as if it had not been enough was again resumed by the Parliament and a most harsh censure put upon it and all such as did not disclame it before such a day appointed to be proceeded against with Censures of an high nature other testimonies of Presbyteries and Synods beside these are also mentioned for diverse such there was as the Letters from the Presbyteries of Sterlin Aberdeen Glasgow Pasley and severall other Presbyteries and Synods which were writen to the Commission as testimonies of their dis-satisfaction with the Publick Resolutions concerning the Leavy and were rejected and sundry of the authors thereof sharply rebuked nay some of them discharged to speak their Consciences and confined in places far distant from their charge for doing thereof In the close of this Article there is mention of the neglecting of means tending to peace and the preventing the effusion of more bloud from pride and biternesse of spirit against these who had invaded us We know that before this Kingdom was invaded by these who hath now brought it low there was a Letter writen by the Parliament to the present power in England and duplicates thereof to the Generall Liutenant Generall and Generall Major of their Army upon the 22. of Iune 1650. wherein they did shew that as in their Letter of the 6. of March 1649. they did acknowledge their obligation and declare their resolution to observe the rule of Remonstrating first the breaches of Peace for craving just reparation of using all fair means of giving a preceding warning of three moneths before any Engagement of these Kingdoms in war so they do again renew the same and accordingly renewed the Acts of Posture and Leavy for putting this Kingdâ—m in readinesse in case of invasion which were made the former year when they wrote the foresaid Letter of the 6. of March all which they do professe solemnly to be done by them in the sincerity of their hearts not out of any policy to catch advantages nor for any other end or design whatsoever but meerly for their own defence which they do account abundantly sufficient to remove all grounds of jealousies and misreports of their intentions and to take away all pretence of necessity of the marching of forces for defence of the borders of England and on the other part being informed of a resolution in England to send an Army to Invade this Kingdom they desired to know whether these who have the present power in England do acknowledge themselves oblieged or by their answer will obliege themselves and declare their Resolutios to observe the foresaid way and order upon their part to us and plainly and clearly to declare whether their Forces do march for offence or defence whether with intention for keeping onely within the borders of England or comming within ours which way of procedour for clearing each others and dealing plainly is not onely agreable to particular Treaties and to the many Tyes Bonds and Declarations past betwixt these Kingdomes but also to the Law of God and practise of his People in his Word and to the common law and practice even of heathen Nations much more of Christian Covenanted Kingdoms and may prevent many evils dangerous consequences which may fall out even beyond and contrary to the intentions of the Nations by their Armies lying near others upon their borders although meerly upon intended defence This did indeed savour of a spirit of peace but since the comming of these men into the Land there hath been such pride and bitternesse of spirit that not onely were all essayes of peace neglected but every motion tending thereto whether made
disaffected and prophane in the Land Ier. 23. 14. I have seen also in the Prophets of Ierusalem an horrible thing they commit adultery and walk in lies they strengthen also the hands of evill doers that none doth return from his wickednesse they are all to me as Sodom and the inhabitants thereof as Gommorrah Ezek. 13. 22. Because with lies ye have made the hearts of the righteous sad whom have not made sad and strengthened the hands of the wicked that he should not return from his wicked works by promising him life Lastly the state of our Cause was thereby upon the matter turned upside-down by intrusting the Work and people of God to the enemies thereof it being known and made manifest that these men did retain the same principles and did drive on the same designs which could not but prove destructive to Religion the People of God 8. Step. The next Step is The joyning of many of the People who are engaged with God by Covenant to the contrary no lesse then the Rulers with the Forces of the Kingdom after that by the Resolutions there was a prevailing party of malignants brought to the Army who had the strength of Counsels and Actings therein and were carrying on a malignant interest what ever question there may be of the associating of subjects in war with the wicked enemies of God on the command of the Magistrate in a lawful cause which seems to us to be condemned in the People of God Isa. 8. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18. For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people saying Say ye not a Confederacy to all these to whom this People shall say a Confederacy neither fear ye their fear nor be afraid Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts Himself and let Him be your fear and let him be your dread And he shall be for a sanctuary but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Ierusalem and many among them shal stumble and fall and be broken and be snared and be taken Bind up the Testimony seal the Law among my Disciples And I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Iacob and I will look for him Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts which dwelleth in Mount Sion Aswel as in the Magistrates the ground of the prohibition to wit learning of their works and the ensnaring of the People having a more immediate connexion with the Peoples joyning then with the Magistrates commanding them to joyn yet as the thing is laid down in the Paper we think there will be no question about it because it includes these Particulars 1. The joyning of a People who with the consent and approbation nay by the commandement and authority of their Magistrates had covenanted with the LORD not to joyn with his Enemies 2. That it was when the rule of constituting the Army was corrupt to wit the Publick Resolutions which made the case desperat and left no place or remedy for purging of the Army 3. That it was when a party of Malignants who had the sway of Counsels and Actings were brought to the Army which being added to the former not only made the purging of the Army in an ordinary way impossible but also carried the stream and current of all their Resolutions and Actings into a malignant Channell that they were the prevailing Party is more manifest then that time needs to be spent in verifying thereof 4. That they were carrying on a Malignant Interest to wit the establishing the King in the exercise of his Power in Scotland and the re-investing him with the Government in England when he had not yet abandoned his former enmity to the Work and people of God and the securing of Power in their own hands under him And though none of these four had concurred all which we believe will be acknowledged by un-byassed men yet there was a sin in the Peoples joyning because few or none of these who did joyn did give any testimony against the Magistrats employing of the Malignant Party but went willingly after the commandment Hosea 5. 11. Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment because he willingly obeyed and want after the commandment It is acknowledged to have been the Peoples duty even by these who justifie their joyning with them upon the command of the Magistrate to have bemoaned it before the Lord and in their stations to have testified against it before men 9. Step. The ninth Step is the prelimiting and corrupting of the Generall Assembly in regard of the free and right constitution thereof Generall Assemblies rightly constitute in their liberties and freedom as they are one of the most precious Ordinances of JESUS CHRIST so have they been most wholsome and profitable means in this Kirk for the purging and preserving all the Ordinances of CHRIST in the Land and therefore as it hath been the care of all the faithfull servants of God in the Land to vindicat and preserve their right constitution and due liberty and freedom so in the promoting of any course of defection hath Satan alwayes studied to intrench thereupon and to corrupt the same That the Generall Assembly was prelimited this year is evident by the Letter written by the Commission of the Generall Assembly to the Presbyteries with an Act sent therewith appointing that all these who remain unsatisfied in the Publick Resolutions after Conference and did continue to oppose the same should be cited to the Generall Assembly Which Letter and Act had such influence on many Presbyteries that though there were in them many able and faithfull men who were unsatisfied with the Publick Resolutions yet very few of these were chosen to be Commissioners and where any such persons were elected there was for the most part either Protestations against it or else another election of other persons by which it came to pass that almost all these were incapacitated to sit in the Assembly and the Meeting was almost wholly made uponly of these who had been instrumentall in carrying on the former defection or were consenting thereto and were approving thereof A more grosse prelimitation then this could not readily be that men intrusted by the Generall Assembly with the Publick Affairs and to preserve the liberty thereof should first contrary to their trust open a door for bringing in the Malignant Party and then shut the door against the sitting of all these in the Assembly where their proceedings were to be tryed who did not before their comming there approve of their opening the door to the Malignants which was not onely to make defection themselves but to involve others therein and to take away the remedy thereof Beside this grosse prelimitation there was