rending of the Kingdom in the tyme of this heavy Oppression by a common Enemy and exposing the Kingdom to all misery and ruine 2. It may be remembred that in the first Modell of the Aggreement which was made at Bredah that clause which doth concern the determining of Civil matters in the Intervall of Parliament by such as are Authorized by Parliament for that effect and the Kings Majesty hearkening to their Advice was wholly left out And any who are aquainted with expressions and Inclinations of sundry Great Ones in the Land are not ignorant of their dislyke of a Committee of Estates and their desire to have the Administration of Matters in the Intervall of Parliament wholly devolved upon the Kings Councell And the same spirit that would draw businesse from the Committee to a Cabinet Councell would at last draw them from the Parliament it self Because that is also if not more crossing to private Interests and designes than a Committee of Estates 3 Instance There is a Party in the Land who as in their hearts they do envy and in their tongues doe Traduce men that have been stedfast and faithfull in the Covenant and Cause of God so do they Endeavour to the utmost of their power to bring them into Disgrace and Contempt and to get them removed from Power and Trust And upon the other side study with no lesse diligence to get places of Power and Trust in the Army and elswhere filled with such as either have been open enemies or secret underminers 4 Instance Be there not many who oppose the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and Work of Reformation not only by holding up that old Calumny of Malignants concerning the seditious and factious humor of Ministers and their stretching of themselves beyond their lyne and by mocking all faithfull and free preaching of the Word and by bearing down the power of Godlinesse deriding and hating all the lovers and followers thereof by being impatient of the discipline and Censures of the Church But also looking upon the Government of the Church with ane evil eye And strongly enclyning some of them that Church Government be put in the hands of a few Prelates most of them that it may be wholly devolved upon the Civil Government 5. Instance There is still a party in the Land that endeavour to have the state of the Question altered and to have Religion left out of the same That it being stated upon Civil Interest they may take to themselves a greater Latitude in their way of carrying on business This was holden forth to be the designe of the Malignant Party in the year 1648. as appears in the Declaration of the Commission that year in March and there was a Necessary and Seasonable Warning given against it by the Commission in their Declaration of the date July 1650. 3. Reason Besides these who are Excommunicated there be yet in the Land a Considerable number of persons of Chief note who do still ly under Censures of the Church some because of their Accession to the late Unlaufull Engadgment others because of their Accession to the late Course of Rebellion about the time of the Kings escape from Perth beside many others of less Note 4. We suppose that it is most certain and unquestionable that there was lately a Malignant Party and faction in the Land very numerous and powerfull How many men of blood Murderers of their brethren as unnaturall and barbarous as the Irishes they once joyned with against their Countrey How many have watched all opportunities for troubling the peace of the Kingdom and rejoyced in the day of its Calamity How many were the Oppressors of these who Called on the Lords Name in the time of the Engadgment What multitudes of profane and Ungodly mockers of all Godlinesse and Haters and Persecuters of the Godly suarming every where If this be of truth as it is indeed We may say who hath heard such a thing Who hath seen such a thing Shall a Nation be born at once And have they so soon Learned to doe well who have been so accustomed to doe evil When did this Catholick Conversion fall out and by what means Hath the act of Indemnity and Pardon such Influence to Justify these men from all their Butcheries and Barbarous Cruelties The adding of three Thousand to the Church in one day was miraculous in the days of miracles But Behold a greater miracle than that in the days when miracles are ceased many Thousands added to the Church of the friends of the Cause of God in one day and that not by preaching which is the power of God unto Savation Not by spirituall weapons which are mighty through God But by the Carnall weapon of ane Act of Indemnity and the example of one Man the Kings Conjunction in the Cause which at the best hath not such evidence of reality as to convince any and change their mind Sad experience and the Constant Testimony of the Church of Scotland proves that Malignancy is a weed that hath deeper and stronger roots than to be plucked up so easily and that though there be some yet they be but few in the Land who have been once engadged in that way that have really and indeed abandoned and come off the same The point shall more appear by taking off objections that are made to the Contrary It is objected 1. That these who were formerly esteemed Malignants did oppose the work of God because they could not be perswaded in Conscience That the Covenant and Cause were Contrived and Carryed on in a Warrantable way those who were most instrumentall in it seeming to them not only to act without Authority but against Authority But so it is that the King hath now joined in the Covenant and added his Authority to it and therfore it needs not be feared that these men will any more oppose it Nay it may be expected they will no lesse Zealously promove the ends thereof than they did formerly oppose the same Answer This Argument supposeth some things that are false some things at best doubtfull and some things dangerous It supposeth Tuo falsities 1. That it was a ground and principle of Conscience and respect to the Kings Authority that made these men to oppose the Covenant and 〈◊〉 of Reformation If it was the Conscience and Conviction of the Unwarrantablness of it for the want of Authority that stirred them up to oppose the Covenant and Cause Then why did they subscrive it and joyn in the defence of the same against the King 2. It supposeth that the only ground why they did oppose and undermine the same was because the King was of a Contrary mind and refused to joyn in the Covenant and Ratify the same by his Authority which also is false for there were severall other Grounds and Causes of so doing besides this We shall name a few leaving the rest to a further scrutinie 1. The Naturall enmity that is in the hearts of all men against
the Lord and his Anointed his work and his people and the power of Godlinesse which doth effectually work in the Children of disobedience 2. An Enmity against the Power of Parliament and Laws 3. An Enmity against the Union of the Kingdoms 4. An Enmity against the Power of Presbyteries and the Discipline of the Church To which are opposed A sinfull desire of breaking the bonds and casting away the Cords of the Lord and his Anoynte A desire to establish an Arbitrary Power and unlimited Monarchy A desire to Establish a Lordly Prelaticall power in the Persons of a few or to have the Government of the Church wholly dependent on the Civil Power A desire to dissolve the Union of the Kingdoms that they may be thereby weakned and less able to resist Malignant Designs against Religion and Liberties A desire to live loosly without bands in regard of personall Reformation 2. It supposeth somthing that is at best doubtfull to wit That the King hath really joyned unto the Cause of God there being small Evidences of it and many presumptions to the Contrary Especially 1. His bringing home with him into the Kingdom a number of eminent wicked and known Malignants His countenancing of and familiar conversing with such in this Nation since his coming and Correspondence with others of them abroad His deserting of the Publick Counsells of the Kingdome to joyn to a Partie of bloody and wicked men raised in Arms with his Knowledge and by his warrand 2. His not being convinced of any guilt in his Father because of his opposition to the Cause and Covenant notwithstanding of all the blood of the Lords people shed by him in that opposition For verifying wherof we appeal to the Knowledge of some Noblemen and Ministers who have occasion to know his mind and to be serious with him in this thing 3. It supposeth somthing that is of very dangerous Consequence 1. That these mens Zeal to the Cause or against it doth ebb and flow according to the Kings being against it or for it Since they follow the Cause not for it self but for the King will they not desert it when the King forsakes it Can they be accounted reall friends of the Cause who are knoun to favour it only ad nutum Principis As the Comaedian ait aio negat nego Is it not all one to follow the Cause for the King and for a mans oun Interest and advantage both are alike Extrinsick and Adventitious to the Cause both are alike Changable Eccebulus under Constantius was a precise Christian under Iulian a persecuting Apostate and then again under the next Christian Emperor became a Christian And it is like if he had outlived that Emperour till a Heathen succeeded he should have Paganized the second time 2. That very principle that is pretended to unite them to the Cause is in the self most dangerous both to the Priviledges of Parliament and Liberties of people and to our Religion beside Their principle of opposition was They conceived the way followed could not be warrantable without the Kings Consent and warrant That people might not vindicate their oun just Rights and Liberties and their Religion without the Kings Concurrence or against Him Now then the principle of their conjunction to the cause must be this Because it is now cloathed with Authoritie which it had not before and which now makes it warrantable This principle therefore includes in the bosome of it the establishing of Illimited and Absolute Power in Kings the Unlawfulness of defensive wars against Tyrannie and Oppression the Kings Negative voyce and the dependent Power of Parliaments upon his Pleasure All which are principles destructive of the Cause and our Liberties and the very characters of our Enemies from the beginning Thus they have changed their way but not their principles and are now the more dangerous that they may not be looked upon as Enemies but as friends Seing it is manifest that it is not the love of the cause that constrains them and they know it was not that principle that persuaded the King but meer Necessity contrare to his oun inclination May we not certainly expect that according to their principles they will labour to set at freedom the King whom they conceive Imprisoned and captivated by the power of necessity within the limits and bounds of a regulated Monarchie and to loose from him all these chains of Involuntary Treaties and Agreements and rigid Laws and Parliaments that he may then act in freedom and Honour according to his oun inclination and theirs both And then farewell Religion and Liberties Objection 2. The most part of these who were formerlie Malignant have now repented of that sin and make profession of their resolution to adhere to the Covenant and Cause of God and to bestow their lives and Estates in defence thereof Therefore they are not now to be esteemed Malignants Answer We would wish from our hearts that we had no answer to this Argument then should we yeeld the point in hand and yeeld it cheerfully that there is no Malignant party now in Scotland But alas that we have so much evidence convincing our consciences and persuading them to deny what is objected We acknowledge some have indeed repented and such we desire to embrace and receive with all tenderness love as Godly Christians worthy to be entrusted But yet the most part of them do still bring forth the same Malignant fruits Their ungodly and wicked practises testify to their face that they have nothing to do to take his Covenant in their mouth seing they hate to be Reformed The late rising in Arms contrare to their solemne and particular engadgments Their bearing down and reproaching the Godly and such as are of known Integrity Their studying to fill places of Trust with men formerly Enemies or Underminers Their continuing in their profane and loose walking All these are more convincing evidences of their retaining their Old principles than any extorted confessions or professions for sinister respects and ends can be probable signs of their repentance and change We desire these things to be remembred That the Engadgment was Carryed on not by Open and professed Enemies but such as had made publick profession of their repentance and were therupon admitted to trust 2. That upon consideration of the hypocrisy and instability of these men appearing in that and other particulars the Kirk and Kingdom of Scotland did take upon themselves strait Bonds and Engadgments to exclude such from Trust untill such time as they had given reall evidences of the reality of their Repentance and of abandoning their former Principles and wayes of which this Kirk was to judge Impartialie as in Gods sight 3. That it hath been confessed and preached by manie Godly Ministers and was given in by sundry in the time of the search of the Lords Controversy against the Land in Novr. last at Perth and hath been bemoaned and regrated by many of the people
there are known Rules particular and distinct without Ambiguity and seing there is such a Propension in Rulers to employ all without Difference which would undoubtedly take Advantage of any thing that seemed to look that way It is likewise manifest that the second part of the Answer relating to the Capacity of Acting is loadned with the same Inconvenience 1. There is no positive determination of the Qualifications of Persons to be intrusted as in former times it was agreed on by the Assembly and their Commissioners but that is now referred to the discretion of the Parliament Together with such Diminutive termes as gives them great Latitude to go upon Before No trust was given to such persons Now it is allowed they shal have some trust and how much is not determined nor what degree of it is prejudiciall to the Cause Which it appears the Parliaments proceedings in Nomination of Officers unquestioned by the Commission is a good Commentarie to expone that they may have any trust except to be Generall Officers 2. Our former Estalished Rule was that no persons should be Entrusted but such as are of known Integritie and have been constant friends of the Cause But how far is this diminished They who are such only recommended to be espcially taken notice of Less could not be said by any more ought to have been said by the Commission And though no such notice be taken of such by the Parliament But on the Contrare those who have been most faithfull and suffered in the late defeat at Hamiltoun They are used as Enemies worse than Malignants in former times yet there is no Testimony given against such things Quantum mutatus ab illo Coetu qui quondam fuit Before we enter upon the Chief Question We offer these manifest and known Truths to Consideration 1. The Occasion of Contriving and subscribing first the Nationall Covenant and then the Solemne League and Covenant was The designes and Practises of the Popish Prelaticall and Malignant Partie against Religion and the Work of Reformation in these Kingdoms 2. Since the Contriving and subscriving of the same it hath been the continual endeavour of that Party somtimes by Undermining and sometimes by open Opposition to undo the same and to bear down all those that clave honestly thereto and faithfully prosecute all the ends thereof 3. That there hath been these many years past and still is such a Party in all the three Kingdoms Considerable for Number Power and Policy 4. That that party hath always prosecuted their designe under a Colour of gzeal and respect to the Kings Authority and Interest 5. That that party hath always been the Authors and Abettors of much bloodshed many Miseries and sad Calamities to these Nations 6. That the People of God in these Kingdoms have taken upon themselves a most Solemne and Sacred bond of ane Oath and Covenant to Discover them and bring them to Condigne punishment 7. That it hath been one of the predominant sins of Scotland under the bond of the Covenant to Comply with them 8. That Indignation and wrath from the Lord hath been following that Party and their Designes these years past 9. That Complyances with them hath alwayes been Cursed to us of God 10. That few of that Party doe really Abandon forsake their corrupt Principles and way and joyn Cordially in the Cause and Covenant 11. That many of them doe after the Profession of their Repentance for their opposition to the Cause and Covenant of God relapse frequently into the same sin 12. That sudden receiving of many of them to Fellowship and Trust and too great Credulity in beleiving their professions hath often cost this Land very dear 13. That upon Consideration of the deep Treachery and Hypocrisie of these men and the sad Consequents following upon sudden receiving of them without Evidence of a Change after long and renewed Experience this Land renewed their obligations more strictly in the Solemne Engadgment 14. That there hath been a Designe driven these two years past to get that Partie again in Power and Trust. 15. That this designe hath been testified against by the Publick Resolutions of the Judicatories unto this time 16. That as it hath been driven at very cunningly and Actively by many Instruments and Arguments of severall sorts so hath it gained ground peece and peece untill at Length many of them are brought into the Court and to the Armie and Judicatories in the Countrey And now by the Publick Resolutions they are generally to be employed and Intrusted Thus the Designe is Accomplished But 17. These men do not satisfie themselves with some Degree of Power But endeavour to Ingross the whole power of the Kingdome into their oun hands and study to bring into Contempt and Cull out these who have been and do continue Constant in the Cause of God 18. That having power into their hands They must act according to their oun Principles and for estalishing their oun Ends. And Lastly That these Principles and Ends are destructive to the Covenant and Work of Reformation That the Employing of and Associating with the Malignant Party according as is contained in the Publick Resolutions is Sinfull and Unlawfull IF there be in the Land a Malignant Party of Power and Policy and the Exceptions Contained in the Act of Leviae doth Comprehend but few of that Party Then there needs be no more difficulty to prove that the Present Publick Resolutions and Proceedings do import ane Association and Conjunction with a Malignant Party than to gather a Conclusion from clear Premisses But that such a Conjunction is in it self sinfull and unlawfull and besides A violation of our solemne Oaths and Engadgments A backslyding from our Principles and Professions And a walking Contrare to the whole tenure and current of our former Resolutions and practises is now to be made manifest First We reason from that Constant standing and perpetuall Rule which the Lord gives concerning the modelling and Carriage of the Armies of his people in all their Wars Deut. 23. 9. When the Host goes forth against their enemies then Keep thee from everie wicked thing And after If there be among yow any man that is unclean by reason of uncleanness that Chanceth him in the night then shall he go abroad out of the Camp he shall not come within the Camp If for Ceremoniall uncleanness he was to be excluded much more for Morall as our Divines Reason from the Old Testament in the point of Excommunication and if for uncleanness not Voluntary much more for Voluntary wickednesse The Reason of all is given verse 14. for the Lord thy God walks in the midst of the Camp to deliver thee and to give up thine Enemies before thee Therfore shall thy Camp be holy that he see no unclean thing in thee and turn away from thee Even as they would expect a blessing of the Lord so ought they to keep their Camp holy as he is holy He gives
there be no unclean thing in the Camp and put away every wicked thing from us even the appearance of evil Lest we add oyl to the flame of his Indignation and he seeing such ane unclean thing in us turn yet further from us Except we say that we need not take a care to have God in the camp with us when we are upon Just and necessary defence seing our Cause is so good 3. There is more hazard and danger to our Religion and Liberties to have a wicked Malignant Army at home among us than abroad in another Nation While they are here they have the power of the Sword and can command all But there might be some hope and endeavour for vindicating our oun Liberties and Religion while they are abroad as it fell out in the time of the Engadgment 2. It is answered that there is a difference between this Case and the Engadgment Because there was then no necessity of choosing such Instruments a competency of power might be had But now it is not so And therfore the Scriptures mentioned do not militate against the present case Answer 1. The Scriptures cited will obviate this What made Israel and Iudah run to Egypt and Assyria for help but their weakness and necessitie Their wound was incurable and their bruise grievous as Ieremiah often Laments and particularly Cap. 8. 20 21 22. and 10. 19. c. and yet this did not excuse them for going to Egypt or Assyria to heal their wound Hos. 5. 13. and 7. 8 11. The Scripture holds out Infidelity and Distrust in God as the ground of such Associations 2. Chron. 16. 7 8 9. Isay. 8. 12 13. Which proceeds from the incompetency of Means as the occasion of it 2. Suppose there were a necessitie for the calling forth the bodie of the Common people yet certainly there is no necessity of Employing any such persons of whom the Question is and putting them in places of Trust There is none can deny but there are besides all secluded persons many that might fill the places of Trust and Power Therfore the plea of necessity is but a Pretence to cover some Designe that under its specious and Plausible Covering the power of the Land may be Ingrossed into the hands of Malignants And so by this means all Power and Trust may return as the rivers to the sea or fountain as they Judge the King that so in his Person there may be established ane Unlimited and Arbitrary Power 3. Necessity is a very plausible Argument and strong plea to Carnall reason for any thing But it cannot be a good ground in point of Conscience for that which is sinfull in it self Now that this is sinfull in it self appears from the Word of God simply condemning such Associations upon moral and so Generall and perpetuall grounds Now in such a case of necessity we are called either to trust in God in the use of competent means seing in such Cases we have so many promises or if all help be gone which God allows us to make use of we must wait on him till He bring Salvation with his oun Arm. But because the plea of necessity is the strongest that is made use of for the Present Publick Resolutions we must consider it a litle more It is aleadged that the best part of the Land is under the feet of the Enemie and so no help can be had from it and for other parts of the Land which are yet free there is not much Choise of Persons and the testimony of faithfull men in the State Declares that when all that are called forth of these places are gathered it cannot amount to a power Competent enough And therefore in such a Question of the Existence of second means the knowledge whereof immediately depends on sense and experience these who are not aquainted should give Credit to the testimony of faithfull Witnesses And that a Competency of power must be had according to the ordinary way of Providence in relation to which we must act except we would tempt God by requiring of him wonders Answer Suppose the Enemies Armie to Consist of 20000 or above Are there not moe sensible persons in the Shyres on the North side of Forth Believe it who please we cannot stop our oun Consciences and put out our oun eyes Let the rolls of severall shyres be Looked to and it shall confute that Testimony Nay are there not moe persons not formerly secluded in all these Shyres What meant the Levie appointed immediately after Dumbar was not 10000 Foot and 1400 Horse put upon these Shyres which are not under the power of the Enemy and yet the Rules of exclusion was not abandoned Now all these or most part of these are yet in the Countrey not Levied Money was taken in stead of men the Levies obstructed So that there was litle Addition to the strength of the Forces that remained the Forces diverted by the insurrection of the Malignants in the North at the Kings command or warrand All which hath such pregnant presumptions of a designe carryed on to Necessitate the Kingdom to Employ that Party by the cunning Polititians of the time by obstructing the Levies raising the Malignants and then pacifying them by an act of Indemnity and at last openly and avowedly Associating with them Thus the designe is accomplished which was long since on foot 2. If satisfying Courses had been studyed by the publick Judicatories to carry on all the Godly in the Land with their Resolutions there had accrued strength from the parts of the Land be-south Forth which would have compensed all that competency of Power that the Conjunction of the Malignants makes up and it may be would have been more blessed of God 3. If there be no help required nor expected from these parts of the Kingdom be-south Forth wherefore did the Commission write to the Presbyteries in these bounds that they might Concur actively in their stations for the furtherance of the Levies and choose Ministers to go out with them 3. It is Answered That the Confederacies reproved were Unlawful because they were either with Heathens or with Idolaters strangers and Forraigners This is answered to the Case of Amaziah c. and so it seems not to make against the present Case the employing all Subjects in the just and necessary defence of the Kingdom Answer 1. This answer at one blow cuts off all the strength of the Generall Assemblies reason against the Association with Malignants in that year There might be some few persons Idolaters but there was no party and faction such and yet they can deny Association with the English Malignants from these Scriptures Yea not only with them but with our oun Countreymen that was in Rebellion with Iames Grahame who were neither Idolaters nor Forraigners We need no other answer than the Commission at that time gave to the Committee of Estates using that same evasion pag. 10. 11. 2. The ground and reason whereupon
condemn and falsifie the Declarations at that time in the supposing of the Paucitie of Instruments and in the application of that Doctrine and divine truth to that time but it doth not speak any thing against the application of that truth therein contained to our time it being more manifest that we have greater necessity and less Choise of Instruments and so in greater hazard of unbelief and overlooking what is behind us 3. It is of all Considerations the most Confounding to reflect upon our former Humiliations and Fasts How often hath it been Confessed to God as the predominant Publick sin of Scotland Countenancing and Employing the Malignant Partie But when we call particalarlie to mind the first Solemne Fast after the defeat at Dumbar Astonishment takes hold on us to think that it is now defended as a Duty which but some moneths ago was Solemnly confessed as a sin the not purging of the Army the obstructing of that work and great inclinations to keep in and fetch in such Persons and the repining at and crying out against all that was done in the contrarie was then reckoned as the great Cause of Gods Wrath and his sad stroak upon us What distraction may this breed in the hearts of the people of the Land to hear that same thing Complained of as great sin to day and Commended as a necessary Duty to morrow Is not all the Land presently called to mourn for the Kings sins of which this is one the designing a Conjunction with the Malignant Party and giving them warrand to rise in Arms for the defence of the Kingdome Now how shall they be able to reconcile these in their oun minds at the same time to mourn for that as a sin in the King which they hear commended as the Duty of the Parliament To fast a day for that as the Kings sin which they must go about to morrow as their oun Duty Tell it not in Gath Publish it not in Ashkelon lest the Daughters of the Philistines rejoyce Heathens may rise in Judgment against this Generation Semperidem â—elle atque idem nolle haec demum sapientiae est If any wise man be ubique semper sibi pay idem what ought a Godly man to be 3. Reason That which is an Uncertain mean of preservation of the Kingdom and a more Certain mean of destruction of Religion is utterly unlawfull But the employing and entrusting of all men promiscuously according as is holden out in the publick Resolutions is at best an uncertain mean of the preservation of the Kingdom and is a more certain mean of the destruction of Religion Ergo It is utterly unlawfull The First Proposition cannot be denyed When any less good comes in opposition with a greater good the Pesser good in that respect becomes evil We may not endanger certainly a greater good for the probable and incertain attainment of the lesser The Second Proposition I know will be Denyed as it was denyed in the time of the Engadgment by the Committee of Estates They said the Danger of Religion was not infallibile that it might eventually fall out so but not by any Causality And thus it is pleaded now That the danger of Religion is not inevitable That the danger of the Kingdom is certain and so these being laid in the ballance together we ought to eschew a certain danger of the Kingdoms Destruction rather hazard on a probable danger of Religion But we shall clear this and confirm the reason 1. The danger of the Kingdom is indeed great but it is not so certain and inevitable in case of not employing the Malignant party because there may be some competency of Power beside Now the Delivery and preservation of the Kingdom from this danger by conjunction with that party is either improbable because we have sentenced our selves to Destruction if ever we should do such a thing again We are standing under a curse whereto we have bound over ourselves And beside God is in a speciall manner parsuing that generation and hath raised up this Enemy for their destruction so that we may with greater probability expect to partake of their plagues and to fall under our oun Curse than to be Delivered or be instruments of Deliverance to the Kingdom Or at the best it is uncertain for what is more uncertain than the event of War The battel in this sense may be said peculiarly to belong to the Lord. Now on the other hand the danger of Religion is Certain and inevitable though not simply in it self and absolutely because the Lord doth in Heaven and earth what he pleases yet with a Morall Certainty and infallibility which is often as great as Physicall certainty Suppose these men having the power of the Sword prevail will they not employ it according to their principles and for attaining their oun ends which both are destructive to Religion What is more certain than that men act and speak from the Abundance of the heart when there is no outward restraint It should be a great wonder if they who are so accustomed to doe evil should cease to doe evil when they have power and Convenience to do it Power and greatness hath Corrupted many good men shall it Convert them Can men expect other fruits from a tree than the nature of it yeelds Will one seek figs on thorns or grapes on thistles 2. We do not see what Defence it can be for the present to the Kingdom at least the godly and well affected in the Kingdom who will be as much troubled in their persons and Estates by that Party as by the Common Enemy It is known what threatnings the Countrey is filled with which vents that inveterate Malice and hatred of all the well affected in the Kingdom which they have kept within their breast of a long time and now they find opportunity of outing it It is as clear as day light that the most part of all the secluded persons looks upon these that opposed them in the Engadgment and shut them out of places of Trust and Capacity of Employment as enemies and as great Enemies as the Sectaries And that we may know what to expect when they have full power in their hand they have already so lift up their head that no Godly man can promise himself security in many places And especially the faithfull Gentlmen and people of the West who have given more proof of their Faithfullnesse to the Cause and Kingdom against the Common Enemie than any others in the Land Yet are daily suffering violence from these preservators of the Kingdom while they are sufferers under the feet of the Enemy When they have no common Enemy whom I beseech yow will they prey upon seing they do it already while they have an Enemy But it is replyed That none of the least Suspition are allowed to be in such trust and power as may be prejudiciall to Religion And that ane oath is to be taken of all which is
and hatred of his people and sheding of their blood And therefore if any man would not meet with Wrath and sore Displeasure he would stand at a distance with such as God hath appointed for destruction we mean as long as they carry in their foreheads the mark of the beast When God hath such a remarkable Controversie against a people then be that helpeth and he that is helped shall both fall together Isay. 31 3 All that is in league with them shall fall with them by the sword Ezech. 30. 5. and 32 21. 2. Since it is known that the Malignant party have not changed their Principles and so they cannot but in prosecuting this War establish their old Quarrell and follow it to wit the Kings Arbitrary power the Interest of man above Gods or the Kingdoms Interest We leave it to be judged impartially whether or not these that Associate with them do espouse that Quarrell and Interest at least expose themselves to all that Wrath and Indignation which hath hitherto followed that Quarrell seing they must have Common blessings and Curses Will not that Quarrell holden up by most part of the Army be a wicked thing an Achan in the Camp that will make God turn away from it and put Israel to shame Having thus established the truth In the next place we come to take off what objections are made to the Contrarie First it is argued from Humane Authority The uncontroverted and Universall practise of all Nations in all Generations is to employ all subjects in the Case of necessary Just defence It was the practise of our Reformers who took into the Congregation and received all that upon acknowledgement of their error was willing to joyn though they had been on the Contrary faction Such an universall practise of Christian Nations though it be not the Ground of our Faith Yet it is apparent that it cannot want Reason for it Answer I. This will plead as much against the exceptions added in the answer to the Query and act of Levy for seing other Nations except none in the Case of necessary Defence why should we except any And if once we except any upon good and Convincing Grounds upon the same ground we ought to except farr more 2. Mr. Gillespy in his Treatise of Miscellany Questions makes mention that the City of Strasburg 1626. made a Defensive League with Zurick Berne and Basil because they were not only Neighbours but men of the same Religion And the Elector of Saxonie refused to take into Confederacy these who differed from him in the Point of the Lords supper lest such sad things should befall him as befell these in Scripture who used any means of their oun Defence This Rule was good in Thesi though in that case misapplyed Now then if they made Conscience of Choosing means of their oun defence A Confederacy with forraigners May not the same Ground lead us to a Distance with our oun Countreymen as unqualified who have nothing to commend them but that they are of the same nation which is nothing in point of Conscience 3. The Practise of other Nations that are not tender in many greater points cannot be very Convincing Especially when we Consider that the Lord hath made light to Arise in this Particular more bright than in former times God hath taken occasion of Illustrating and commending many truths unto us in this Generaration from the darkness of error and of making straight many Rules from the Crookedness of mens Practise and Walking Is not the Lord now performing the promise of purging out the Rebels from among us and them that transgresse God hath winked at former times of Ignorance but now the Lord having Cleared his mind so to us how great madness were it to forsake our oun mercy and despise the Counsel of God against our oun souls As for that Instance of our Reformers There could not have been any thing brought more prejudiciall to that Cause and more advantageous for us After they were twice beaten by the French in Leith and their Forces scattered and the leaders and Chief men of the Congregation forced to retire to Sterling JOHN KNOX preaching upon the eightieth Psalm and searching the Causes of Gods wrath against them he condescends upon this as the Chief Cause that they had received into their Counsels and forces such men as had formerly opposed the Congregation and sayes God never blest them since the DUKE had come among them See Knox Chron. 2. It cannot be shewed that ever they took in a party and faction of such men but only some few persons which though it was not altogether Justifiable yet more excusable But now the publick Resolutions hold forth a Conjunction with all the bloody murderers in the Kingdom excepting very few and these without profession of Repentance in many and without evidence of the reality of it almost in any 3. These persons were not such as had once joyned with the Congregation and relapsed and became Enemies to it but they turned to the Protestant Religion from Popery But ours is a different Case 2. It s Argued from Scripturec Three Scripture Instances are brought to Justify the present proceedings First Instance is from the practise of Gods people in the book of Judges who when for Defection from Religion they were brought under oppression yet when any Governour was raised by God for their Defence they gathered and come all out promiscuously notwithstanding a great part of them had been in the defection and yet it is not found that their Governors are reproved for this but rather sad Curses on them that came not out to the work Iudg. 5. 15 16 17 23. The second instance is from the story of the Kings very like the first when after Defection gracious Reforming Kings arose and had to do against forraigne Invasion we find them not debarring any subjects but calling them out promiscuously Neither is this laid to their Charge that they called out such and such Subjects though we may perceive by the story of the Prophets that the greater part of the body of the people were wicked c. We answer to these two Instances joyntly 1. We may by the like reason prove that which is as yet uncontroverted we know not how long That we ought at no time to make Choise of Instruments neither in case of Prosecution of the Cause and the Invasion of others Nor yet in the time when choise is to be had and so that all our former Engadgments Resolutions and proceedings in the point of purging Judicatories and Armies was superfluous and supererogatory Because we read not that the reforming Kings or Judges when ever they had an Invasive war and in the times that they had greatest plenty and multitudes of people did ever debarr any of their Subjects from that service but called them out promiscuosly Neither is this laid to their Charge though we may perceive that the greater part of the people were wicked
and will not Question any thing makes for advantage falls into mischief Vers 15 17 Shews the Lamentable Condition of a people under wicked Rulers they are beasts and not men towards the people especially towards the best Dam. 7 4 5. Zep. 3 3. vers 17. How doth that aggree with our sparing of bloody men of our solliciting for their Impunity of our pardoning them Are they not by the appointment of Gods Law ordained for destruction and hast to it Should any then stay them should they not then far less employ them And vers 24. If it be so heinous to take our Fathers goods upon this pretence because they are our oun how much more sacriledge is it to rob God of his Interests and give over his money to bankrupts and say it s no transgression to rob the Land of its Defence and make them naked as Ahaz his confederacy did Certainly it is murther vers 28. and Chap. 29 2. and 11 12. and 28 28 are to one purpose We have forsaken our oun mercy and wronged our oun souls and destroyed our selves in choosing our oun Judgment and making our oun Red to beat us withall Chap. 29 1. We being so often reproved by his word and providence for the sin of Association with the wicked and being so lately punished for it and having so lately reproved our selves for it in our Declarations and Fasts yet to harden our necks What can we expect but utter destruction and that without Remedie as we sentenced our selves Ezra 9 13. and 14 13. Isay. 30 13 14. Shall not this Iniquity be to us abreach ready to fall even this Iniquity of going down to Egypt for help c. Then vers 6. There is a snare to entrap thy feet in the sins of the wicked if thow be joyned with them thow cannot well escape Vers 8. Wicked Prophane contemners of God and his people bring ruine on a City or Commonalitie they set it on fire and blows it up But Godly men pacify wrath turn away Judgments and purge all from provocations which is the only means to turn it away Vers 16 Shews when wicked men gather together and grow in State and power they grow worse and sin with greater boldness And transgression then overflows the Land tanquam ruptis repagulis There is no obstacle see Psal. 12. And vers 24 shews He that is partner and fellow-receiver with a thief or conceals such offenders endangers his oun destruction and he that stays with and Associates with wicked men must hear cursing aed cannot bewray it he will see many Abominations that though he would he cannot remedie Vers 25. Fear of man and of the Lands danger hath brought many into a snare to run from the Lord to an Arm of flesh but he that trusts in the Lord shall be safe Vers 27. Here is the deadly enmitie between the two feeds they cannot reconcile well see vers 10. and Chap. 21 3. It s no wonder the Godly Abominate such men who are Gods enemies and the Lands plague Chap. 30 11 14. Descrives the Malignant party who make nothing of the Godly Magistrates or their mother Church and Land but Curse Maligne Oppose as much as they could and are Oppressours monstrous Tyrants Mankind-beasts or beastly men the Subject of their Crueltie is the Godly afflicted man they eat up all and will not leave the bones As the Propher complains I ly among men whose teeth are as spears and arrows and their tongue as a sharp sword And then vers 12 13 20. Descrives our Enemies the Invaders They think themselves Godly and Righteous yet are not purged from their filthinesse They are given up to strong delusions to believe lies and there is no lie greater than this that they are a Godly Party in a Godly Cause and way They wipe their mouth after all their bloodshed and sayes I have done no evil They wash their hands as Pilate as if they were free of the blood of these Just men whose fouls cry under the Altar Vers 21 22 23. It is a burthen to the world and a plague to mankind when servants unworthy men and persons unfit for high places are set in Authority and when wicked men have their desire of plenty and honour Chap. 19 10. And when an odious woman or men of hatefull Vitious dispositions comes to preferment and are espoused by a State Nought they were while alone but worse now when they have crept into the bed and bosome of the State Her Roots was nought before but now she is planted in rank mould and will shoot forth her unsavoury branches and blossoms And when Handmaids kept in a servile estate because of their disposition and quality get their Masters ushered out and they become Heirs at least possessors of the Inheritance or Trust. Vers 33 Shews how necessarly war and Contention follow upon unnecessary provocations by word or deed such as we have given many to England though indeed they have given moe And lastly Chap. 31 20 26 31. Shews how word and work should go together and men should be esteemed and praised according to their works and fruit of their hands FINIS