them And if not we shall put all who will not bow before the Dagon of our new erected Supremacy once for all and for ever out of case to appeare afterward For this end have we gathered our host For this end do we march Fall on red shankes Feare not have not we bid you You are pitched upon as the most qualified Souldiers for this expedition against the Mediator whom we have denied to be a Monarch and proper instruments for our purpose for we know you well to be such as these must be who will do our businâ—ssâ— even men who feare not God nor reguard not men March therefore right trustie and well beloved Saraâ—ens ye who call not upon the Lord and so are onely sit to be at our call and bidding and eat up his People in the West who call upon him as bread Make these the Mediators subjects smart for it and either bring them to binde themselves no more to own Him nor his Ambassadours or leave such monuments of your savage crueltie behinde you as will answer the keenness against Christ of those who send you in this expedition we have secured you against all hazard hell excepted and we know you no more feare that then we doe of future danger or pursuite for what destruction you bring upon these against whom we send you onely destroy Most deare Brethren what miseries you have endured by the barbaritie of these Monsters let loose upon you are the matter of amazement mourning and lamentation to all who in every place call upon the Name of Jesus Christ ouâ— Lord both theirs and yours to whose eares the report of your sufferings is come But amidst all these calamities and cruelties you are not without comfort O what a cordial may this be to remember and consider both who suffers with you and for whose sake you suffer these thinâ—s You cannot consider this but it will comfort you over your loss when this is laid to heart yeu will not so much be moan the loss of what is robbed from you as you will blesse that ever you had any thing to lose for his sake who savâ—d you when ye were lost You will then wonder at the honour and reâ—oice that you are counted worthy to sufâ—er these things for his sake who for your sake suffered far other things You will take joyfully the spoiling of your goods for him who for your sakes became poor that you through his poverâ—ie might be made rich O what will not be â—asie and sweet to suffer for that sweet names sake which is as an ointment poured forth by the savour vvhereof your dead souls have been quickened and your drouping and desponding spirits revived cheered and comforted Consider then since Christ your King your Captain and Saviour neither did nor does escape the vvorlds malice and persecution and since he vvas hated and handled as the vvorst of men novv again in the vvorst of times is so dealt vvith if it be not reasonable that vve should provide for the like and resolve to go through the many tribulations vvhich may be fall us in his company and for his sake If we intend to follow him to the place of fruition we must go that way which he hath paved before us it cannot be avoided yea how incongruous were it if we could How unsuteable were it That the Lord and Master should meet with so much suffering for the servants sake and rejoyce amidst it all as knowing he should see a seed and have this recompence and satisfaction for all the travel of his soul that the souls of his servants â—hould reap the advantage of what he underwent for them That he shonld be beaten for the servants sake that through his stripes the servants might be healed and the servants to be alwayes favoured and applauded in that world which had put the Master to shame and suffering while he was negociating his servants businesse And as he hid not his face from shame and spiting for their sake so he laid down his life upon their interest Were it seemly that he who bore their burdens should wade and swime thorow â—eas of sorrows and they sail in streames of pleasure That he should be crowned with thornes to purchase them an immortal Crown they crowned with roses That he should be hunâ—ed and had not whereupon to lay his head that he might by being handled so purchase a Kingdome to his followers that he should go thorow death aud such a death and be laid in the grave that he might have accesse to go and prepare a place for them and take possession of the undefiled inheritance as their common Head and Trustee in whom and with whom they now sit in heavenly places and they dwell at ease in their own house Truely to say nothing of the after glory for who can say what it is since it is above apprehensions Onely this is sure that they who suffer with him shall also reigne with him if there were no more then the present sharâ—ing and partaking in his sufferings it were honour enongh O how much above all regal dignite is it And how in comparably beyond the fancied honour of a diademe to be crowned with thornes for Christ's sake There is an inherent glory for suffering in Christ beyond all the ambition of the worldâ— after that painted and putrid glistering bubble with the glanceing whereof vain men are so much taken up If this were keept in the view of the soul what strength would it furnish What support would it supply the spirit of a sufferer for Christ with but deare friends the word of your Testimony and Patience hath somewhat of a precious peculiaritie in it not onely in reguard that it is the presently opposed Truth you are persecuted for and so must be sweet because seasonable but the Word of your Testimony and that Truth for owneing of which yon are put to suâ—â—er the loss of all things is that very Truth for which Christ himself suffered as a Martyr Viz. That Hâ— was a King â— This Question is put to day unto his followers with greater contempt than Pilat put it What and is Iesus a King then O noble cause O who would not rejoyce to enter the lists of Contradiction with these his enemies have once an opportunity to say Yea he is a King and will be a King when you â—re gone and will prove himselâ— higher then the Kings of the earth by rescinding your Supremacy â—hat Idol of his indignation and object of his revenge O what ambition should this raise in the soul of every saint what patience in tribulation should this produce what holy courage what humble boasting what triumphing and rejoyceing to be offerred up a sacrifice upon the Interest of this Kings Crown Can you consider that your present sufferings losses are a seal to that great Truth which Christ sealed with his blood and not blush at the honour and blesse him for ever that now
consideration of what the Holy Ghost hath there said if any of his words have weight with you must powerfully perswade to this dutie remember what is said of the believers Acts 2. from ver 41. c. and consider what the paritie of the case pleads But I may not insist yea and dare I say I hope it is needlesse onely let me aske you what you would do for Christ himself if he were so dealt with Then consider the place Math. 25 v. 35. and see how he reckons and reckon that he will recken witâ— you in thaâ— day according to that reckoning and your carriage in this I hope this one place for allâ— if â—ver you look to have a place with him and suffer me to leave you with a desire to consider that place also Heb. 13. and if you will compare what is said of that great dutie of suffering for Christ v. 13 and of that high dutie of praising God v. 15. and compare what is said of both with what is said of the dutie now perswaded to v. 16 and you will both know what is to be done and carry as believing he is not unrighteous to forget the work and labour of love of such who minister to the necessitie of those who for his names sake have been spoiled of all Onely perswade your selves God is taking particular notice of the carriage of every man and woman in Scotland this day and accordinglâ— as he observes he will repay he that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully I shall shut up all in answering two Questions briefly First what now should be our carriage in reference to enemies Secondly what may be our hope of a delivery from them To the first I say shortly let us be moved out of compassion to their precious souls First to pray much for them While they stretch forth their hands against you studie ye this blessed revenge of good will Liâ—t up your heart with your hands unto God in the heavens on their behalfe that the spirit of repentance may be given them Do this and fulfil his law whose injunction it is pray for them that despite fully use you and persecute you It may be there are some of the elect so far left at presentâ— as to run alongst with this course pray that these may be reclaimed and however it will afford you much sweet peace to have this Testimony that while they in rage and malitious rancour were pursuing you to heavens gates you in love and compassion to their souls endeavoured to cry to him to catch themâ— and carry them in with you to the fruition of himself and to share with you in the glory to be revealed And though as to them you shouâ—d not prevail yet besides that your prayer shall be set forth before him as incense it shall returne into your own bosome Secondly henceforth stand aloof from all listenings to proposals coming from them or making any to them For what ever fredom and clearnesse Godly and wise men might formerly or hitherto have had without scruple in this matter before they had made such a cleare discovery of their perfect and stated opposition to Christ as King and of the puritie of their enmitie at and implacabilitie against all who desire to be faithful and loyal to Him yet now I conceive us called of God to take this course as that way wherein alone we can expect his approbation and countenance First as the most propter mean to convince them of their wickednesse This now seems to be the most proper Testimony against their way to stand at such distance from them Secondly as the alone expedient how to preserve our selves free from all compliances with them and in good termes with Jesus Christ for seing it is his presence we now need it is sure best policy to beware of sining him out of soul or sight by touching with that which is soul hates and for which his soul will be avenged Thirdly this is the way to preserve unitie amongst the remnant do we not know that their dainties are deceiâ—ful meat do we not know that their most seemingly tender mercies are really keen crueltie do they offer us any thing that looks like a favour but upon designe that they may more cerâ—ainly ruine the work of God by our divisions about it I shall give but two instances to evidence what their purposes are in their treatings with us The first I had from a great man now in glory who had it from the mouth of that Noble Man who then was active above all others in bringing the Indulgence first upon the stage I abstract wholly from the thing it self for that is not my businesse now to say either good or ill of it I onely intend here to discover what they designe by their favours when he said to him what my Lord intend you by this Indulgence and what do you think to gaine by it if said that Noble Man we gaâ—ne no more we shall certainly gaine this It shall separate between the made cape and the moderat fanaticks I give it in the very words wherein I had it this was plain dealing indeed and a palpable discoverie of the desperatnesse of the designe A second Instance is this when that work of darknesse our Suprâ—macy was brought to light to the end we should not according to the merit of the cause be allarmed and give the allâ—rme which its like from the knowledge of our principles their conscience indiâ—ed to be our dutie some were â—et on work to whisper us into the eare and mumble us into a mutnesse that we should not ment nor whimper at the sight of this prodigious monster though for face and feature an opposition to Christ as King beyond what ever had appeared upon the stage But why forsooth must we be silent O! because favour to the fanaticks is hereby intendedâ— for what ever appeaâ—ed at brime there was some special advantage to them at bottome The lessening of the Episcopal power which did so lash the fanaticks and the curbing of their crueltie was intended By which means they weâ—e sure that so many as they could fool into this faâ—sie or please with this nothing or if any thing the most wicked of all things would not onely divide and be divided from their brethren But they knew very well also â—hat the more seeing and serious servants of Christ who adhered to former principles would count themselves called of God to look upon such what ever names they assume to themselves as manifest deserâ—ers of the cause of the Church of Scotland and betrayers of it And for my own part how much so ever I am for union yet I scruple not to let the world know that be who he willâ— that hath beaten his brains to shape a beautiful maske for hiâ—ing the hell blakenesse of thiâ— monsters face which sâ—ould be the abhorrence of all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in
sinceritieâ— and hath strained his wit to put a sufferabâ—e sense upon a â—upremacy whereby our Lord is put again to suffer I say I scruple not to let the world know that this is the Echo of my soul as to him or them O let never my soul enter into the secrets of that man lett him who while he thus seeks to â—ile the eyes of others bewrayeth this secret he is no Seer nay that some finger is put into his eye I â—hall not say whose it is neâ—eâ— be the man of my councel nay let all the â—ervants and all â—he people of God stand aloof fâ—om him and his whispeâ—ings because in stead of being in case to give wholsome advise as one who stands in his masters Couâ—cel he will by his palliatings and perverse mutterings seduce pervert and ensnare his breath will be contagious since his speech must bewray him to have the botâ—h of the Court-Creed running upon him Hence Fourthly I must professe and I desire to say it as in the presence of God and as writing that which I must carry-in in my hand before the Tribunal of Christ what ever prejudice should be taken up against the speaker or the thing spoken that it passâ—th the ken of my poor shallow capacitie after all the discoveries the enemies have made of the desperatnesse of their designe how by all possible means and malicious methods to ruine the work of God and after the Mediators Crown is so formally set upon the head of another and all that is now doneâ— and driven in destroying the remnant is in order to the establishment of that invasion of his Crown and Scepter what addresse is possible to be made to him â—ho is thus set down in the Mediators Chair of State and weares his Crown in our sight without sin except it be to tell we can make none or to beseech to forbeare to persecute the Mediators Ambassadours who must continue to preach the Gospel by vertue of their Commission Yea who dare not think oâ— appearing before Christ withâ—ut having given such a Testiâ—ony of their resentment of the usâ—rpation of thâ—ir Masters â—hroâ—e and Scepter and who dare neâ—er preseâ—t themselves to God without doing the equivalent of spreading that Supremacy before him and praying that he would take unto him his â—reat power and reigneâ— and possesse himself again of his own â—hâ—one and disposseâ—sing these who have usurped it shew his zeal for his Prerogative Royal Andâ— how such a declaration before men and such dealing with Goâ— can consist with addresses tâ—â—â—em in Church matters who have taken to themselves his house in possession and yet be frâ—â— from all compliance with countenancing of and conniveance aâ— that great wickeâ—nessâ— I see not And I hope never to see with his eyes who saithâ— he sees it They have now stated the quâ—rrel clearly for us And as ever we would have Christ to stand be us and stand up to plâ—ad this own cause when we are not able to withstand the power of thâ— enemy let â—s stand by him and stand aloof from them As we have neither hoof nor hâ—â— to part with in this matter so we have nothing to seek from any that siâ—s in our Masters chair of state God forbid that ever we should be seen to bow or beg before tâ—em while they sit there how ever when we are passive we may make use of what libertie is given yet it is our safetie it is our peace it is the interest of the Gospel and for the glory of our exalted Prince to abstaine from seekings anâ— receivings from those who stand in such termes of opposition to him As to the second question What hopes we may entertain of a Delivery from our persecuters First I say there is nothing in my judgement which can deliver me or any who considers the nature of our National revolt in all its God-provoking circumstances and how deeply every one is guiltie from him who sitteth upon the throne to him who grindeth behinde the mill and how this sin is now become the sin of the Nation whereby the whole is made a curse without meditating terrour at tâ—e apprehensions of the â—â—yrcenesâ—e of the wraâ—h of God Almightie against Brittan Lesse thâ—n such a signification of his displeasure that we are the people against whom the Lord will have indignation â—or ever lesse than utter ruine and the perishing of the name of that Nation that Generation and People from under the heavens of the Lord who have so contemned his Covenant and â—aken his name in vain is lesse sure than what our iniquitie gives ground to â—â—are is but hovering over us and ready to fall upon us It is true not a few and blessed be â—e for that â— have found mercy not to go alongs with all these courses But yet let me say even to these it becomes us to be very sober in our expeâ—tations and submissive passeing the example of Ephesus c. let us perswade our own souls into this submission and sobrietie from the example of God's holy procedor wiâ—h Moses Deut. 3.23 24.25 26 oh if but for an unadvised word If but for a little smoak about the fire of his holy and fervent zeal for God he who next to the Mediator wâ— as reckoned faithful in all the house and matâ—ers of God was keept out of Canaan May not that holy peremptorinesse in the just and jealous God whereby he refused to be importuned by such a servant make us in remembrance of what we have unworthily done and left undone very sober in our expectations and silent though he should cause us fall iâ— the wildeâ—nesse and make our death prevent the dawning of that blessed and desirable day O thâ—t we could in the mean time learne at thâ—t holy man to be solicititous how to transmit pure ordinances to the posteritie as we seâ— he was that if we must go off the stage yet we may live and die witnessing how desirous we are that God may be great amongst the posteritie whâ—n we are gone And that an example of witnessing for our wronged Lord and Mâ—stâ—r may be transmited to those who shâ—ll succeed withal warning them that they doe noâ— follow our example wherein we have not contented valiantâ—y for Christ and the interest of his Crown Secondly I cannot forbeare to say that if in the soveraignitie of his Grace he should go out of the common roade of his ordinary providence and make the delivery come in ouâ— dayes Yet I am sure at least I may say it as to my self a sober reflexion upon what we have been and done may make us feare that we shall have no other interests in it but to be Spectators And that if â—e make use of instruments it shall be of such how few soever how base and fecklesse soever before men how weake and witlesse soever as are free of what my self and many are guiltie of And with whom there hath been a fire of