out of zeal against the Sectarians the Executioners of that extraordinary Act of Justice yet it was more for the Manner than for the matter and more for the Motives and Ends of it than for the Grounds of it that they opposed themselves to it and resented it For they acknowledged and remonstrated to himself the Truth of all these things upon which that Sentence and Execution of Justice was founded And when the unlawful Engagement was on foot to Rescue him they opposed it with all their might Shewing in their Answers to the Estates that Year 1648 and Declarations and Remonstrances the sinfulness and destructiveness of that Engagement that it was a breach of the Commandments of God and of all the Articles of the Covenant Declaring with all Iuly ult they would never consent to the King's Restitution to the exercise of his Power till security should be had By Solemn Oath under his Hand and Seal that he shall for himself and Successors give his assent to all Acts and Bills for enjoyning Presbyterial Government and never make opposition to it nor endeavour any change thereof July ult 1648. Sess. 21. By which it appears they were not so stupidly loyal as some would make them Yet there was too much of this Plague of the Kings-evil even among good Men For after the Death of Charles the First in the Year 1649. they began to think of joyning once more with the Malignants and taking into their Bosoms these Serpents which had formerly stung them to Death There was indeed at that time a Party faithful for God who considering the many Breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant and particularly by the late Engagement against England did so Travel that they procured the Covenant to be renewed with the Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties which was universally Subscribed and sworn through all the Land wherein also they regret this tampering with Malignants Whereupon they subdued their Adversaries at Sterling and in the North they did also give Warning concerning the Young King that notwithstanding of the Lords Hand against his Father yet he hearkens to the Councils of those who were Authors of these Miseries to his Father by which it hath coâ—e to pass that he hath hitherto refused to grant the just and necessary desires of the Church and Kingdom for securing of Religion and Liberty And it is much to be feared that these wicked Counsellors may so far prevail upon him as to engage him in a War for overturning the Work of God and bearing down all those in the three Kingdoms that adhere thereto Which if he shall do cannot but bring great Wrath from the Lord upon himself and Thâ—one and must be the cause of many new and great Miseries and Calamities to these Lands And whereas many would have admitted his Majesty to the Exercise of his Royal Power upon any Terms whatsoever the Assembly declares That in the League and Covenant the duty of defending and preserving the King is subordinate to the duty of preserving Religion and Liberty And therefore he standing in opposition to the publick desires of the People for their security it were a manifest breach of Covenant and a preferring the Kings Interest to the Interest of Iesus Christ to bring him to the Exercise of his Power And therefore if his Majesty or any having or pretending Power and Commission from him shall invade this Kingdom upon pretext of establishing him in the Exercise of his Royal Power as it will be an high Provocation against God to be accessary or assisting thereto so it will be a necessary Duty to resist and oppose the same July 27. 1649. Sess. 27. And when the bringing home of the King came to be voted in the Assembly there was one faithful Witness Mr. Adam Kae Minister in Gallaway protested against it But notwithstanding of these Convictions Warning yea and Discoveries of the Kings Malignancy They sent Commissioners and concluded a Treaty with him at Breda During which Treaty the Commissions which he had sent to Montrose and his Complices were brought to the Committee of Estates discovering what sort of King they were treating with Whereupon the Estates concluded to break off the Treaty and recal their Commissioners To which intent they sent an Express with Letters to Breda which falling into the hands of Libbertone was by him without the knowledge of the other Commissioners delivered unto the King Who then sound it his interest to dissemble And so sending for the Commissioners he made â— flattering Speech to them shewing that now after serious deliberation he was resolved to comply with all their Proposals Whereupon the Commissioners dispatch the Post back with Letters full of praise and joy for the satisfaction they had received The Estates being over-swayed more with respect to their own Credit which they thought should be impeached if they should retract their own Plenipotentiary Instructions to conclude the Treaty upon the Kings assent to their Conditions than to their reclamant Consciences they resolved to bring home the King Yet they thought to mend the matter by binding him with all Cords and putting him to all most explicite Engagements before he should receive the Imperial Crown Well upon these Terms home he comes And before he set his Foot on British Ground he takes the Covenant And the Commission of the General Assembly precluded his Admittance to the Crown if he should refuse the then required satisfaction before his Coronation by their Act at the West-Kirk Aug. 13. 1650. Which is this The Commission of the General Assembly considering that there may be just Ground of stumbling from the Kings Majesties refusing to subscribe and excite the Declaration offered to him by the Committee of Estates and the Commission of the General Assembly concerning his former Carriage and Resolutions for the future in Reference to the Cause of God and the Enemies and Friends thereof doth therefore declare That this Kirk and Kingdom doth not own or espouse any Malignant Party or Quarrel or Interest but that they fight meerly upon their former Grounds and Principles and in the defence of the Cause of God and of the Kingdom as they have done these twelve Years past And therefore as they disclaim all the Sin and Guilt of the King and of his House so they will not own him not his Interest otherwise than with a Subordination to God and so far as he owns and Prosecutes the Cause of God and disclaims his and his Fathers Opposition to the Work of God and to the Covenant and likewise all the Enemies thereofâ— And that they will with convenient speed take into Consideration the Papers lately sent unto them by Oliver Cromwell and vindicate themselves from all the falshoods contained therein especially in these things wherein the quarrel betwixt us and that Party is mis-stated as if we owned the late Kings Proceedings and were resolved to Prosecute and Maintain His Present Majesties Interest before and without
Ministry the Administration of Sacraments and Preaching of the Gospel but they must not meddle with the Discipline of the Church As if the one had not been originally intended to shelter and defend the other However it is easie to observe that the Presbyterians love Government by which they secure the Interest of this World much better than Preaching of the Gospel which more immediately prepares Men for another But if they think Presbyters may be thus restrained from the Exercise of Ecclesiastical Discipline why might not the former Government restrain Presbyterians as well as the present Powers restrain the Episcopal Clergy from that part of their Ministry It is very â—ad that Men are driven to such Shifts as cannot be maintained neither by the Principles of true Reason nor by the peculiar Hypothesis of the Party They have one Answer to all this that the Episcopal Clergy would endeavour the Overthrow of Presbytery But what they might do as to that I know not I believe there are but few of them that are very zealous to contâ—â—nue the present Scheme and perhaps the Contrivances of Presbyterians to exclude them from the Government is as proper a Mean to overturn Presbytery as the Admission of them intâ— the full Exercise of their Function might havâ— been For my part I do not see how such Syncritism betwixt these contending Parties caâ— be obtained after all the political Daublings about it The Clergy should stand their Ground and let the World see that they value their Integrity and Principles at least as much as they do their Conveniencies for nothing less thaâ— the Essentials of Morality and Christianity are aâ—stake The following Treatise cannot but be chearfully received of both Parties because it conâ—tains the distinguishing Doctrines Principles and Practices of the Presbyterians for I assure you it is most faithfully copied by a Friend of mine in the Author 's own Words from the Originaâ— Book 'T is true he did not transcribe thâ— whole Treatise for that is Voluminous and conâ—tains so many Steps of their Rebellion that 〈◊〉 you desire a particular Account of them you must have recourse to the Book it self rather than to this Epitome but he hath in a feâ— Sheets contained the Strength of the Authorâ—Reasonings and all his Flourishes So that yoâ— have a just Notion as well as a true Account of the special Tenets of Scotch Presbyterianâ— with all the natural Consequences that they yield And if Strangers will not believe the Eâ—piscopal Clergy let them read their Opinions 〈◊〉 their own Books If one would know the Doâ—ctrines of Epicurus he must go to Lucretius 〈◊〉 that of Socrates he must read Plato if the Moâ—rals of the Stoicks he must read Marcus Aureâ—lies and Seneca So it were very unjust to say that Mr. Shields did not give a true Account 〈◊〉 the Doctrines of the Scotch Presbyterians beinâ— not only a Leading Man of the Kirk as now eâ—stablished but also a Man of good Parts indeâ—fatigable Zeal and great Industry and this 〈◊〉 the Reason why his Book is compendized because he drove their Principles to their juâ—â— Consequences and though I have no Kindnesâ— for his Opinions yet I cannot but love his Iâ—â—genuity and Skill and if any Man tell me 〈◊〉 mistook the Doctrines of Presbytery I musâ— ask him Pardon to think otherwise and thâ—â— none of them dare tell him so when he is preâ—sent I â—id you heartily fareweâ— An Account of the true Scottish Presbytery from the Year 1570. to the Year 1687. by Mr. Alexander Sheilds a Presbyterian Minister of the Kirk of Scotland as it is now Established by Law FROM the year 1570 and downward the Testimony is stated and gradually prosecuted for the Rights Priviledges and Prerogatives of Christ's Kingly Office which hath been the peculiar Glory of the Church of Scotland above all the Churches in the Earth that this hath been given to her as the word of her Testimony and not only consequentially and reductively as all other Churches may challenge a part of this dignity but formally and explicitely to contend for this very head The Headship and Kingship of Iesus Christ the Prince of the Kings of the Earth and his mediatory Supremacy over his own Kingdom of Grace both visible and invisible This is Christ's Supremacy a special radiant Jewel of his Imperial Crown which as it hath been as explicitely incroached upon in Scotland by his insolent Enemies as ever by any that entered in opposition to him so it hath been more explicitely witnessed and wrestled for by his Suffering Servants in that Land than in any place of the World This was in a particular manner the Testimony of that Period during the Reign of King Iames the Sixth as it hath been in a great measure in our day since the Year 1660. Which as it is the most important Cause of the greatest Consequence that Mortals can contend for so it hath this Peculiar Glory in it that it is not only for a Truth of Christ of greater value than the standing of Heaven and Earth but also it is the very Truth for which Christ himself Dyed considered as a Martyr And which concerns him to vindicate and maintain as a Monarch The Witnesses of that day made such an high account of it that they encouraged one another to suffer for it as the greatest Concern Being a Witness for Christ's Glorious and free Monarchy which as it is the end of the other two Offices so the Testimony is more Glorious to God more Honourable to his Son and more Comfortable to them than the Testimony either for his Prophetical Office or for his Priest-hood because his Kingdom was specially impugned at the time as Mr. Forbess and Mr. Welsh writ in a Letter to the Ministers at Court The Corruptions and Usurpations wronging this Truth that they contended against were Prelacy and the King's Supremacy in Ecclesiastical Matters Which will be useful to hint a little how they prosecuted the Conflict When Sathan by several Instruments and Means both by force and frauds did endeavour to put a stop to the Reformation by re-introducing the Antichristian Hierarchy of Preâ—â—y when he could not reestablish the Antichristian Doctrine of Popery he left no means unessayed to effectuate it And first he began to bring the name of Bishop in request that was now growing obsolete and odious And indeed his first Essay reached little further than the bare Name for they were to be Subject to and tried by Assemblies and hardly had so much power as Superintendents before But it was a fine Court-juggle for Noblemen to get the Church Revenues into their hand by restoring the Ecclesiastical Titles and obtaining from the Titulars either Temporal Lands or Pensions to their Dependers The faithful Servants of Christ did zealously oppose it Mr. Knox denounced Anathema to the Giver and Anathema to the Receiver And the following Assembly condemned the Office it self as having no sure Warrant Authority nor Ground in
the Book of God and ordained all that brooked the Office to demit Simpliciter and to desist and cease from Preaching while they received de novo admission from the General Assembly under the Pain of Excommunication In pursuance whereof the Assemblies from that time until the Year 1681. did with much painfulness and faithfulness attend the work until by perfecting of the second Book of Discipline they compleated their work in the exact Model of Presbyterial Government Which was confirmed and covenanted to be kept inviolate in the National Covenant Subscribed that Year by the King his Court and Council and afterwards by all Ranks of People in the Land Whence it may be doubted whether the Impudence of the succeeding Prelates that denyed this or their Perjury in breaking of it be greater This was but the first brush A brisker Assault follows Wherein for the better establishment of Prelacy and not only Diocesan but also Erastian Prelacy might be set up the Earl of Arran and his wicked Complices move the King contrary both to the Word and Oath of God to usurp the Prerogative of Jesus Christ and assume to himself a Blasphemous Monster of Supremacy over all Persons and in all Causes as well Ecclesiastical as Civil But this also the Faithful Servants of God did worthily and valiantly resist And at the very first appearance of it gave in a Grievance to the King Anno 1582. That he had taken upon him a Spiritual Power which properly belongs to Christ as only King and Head of the Church the Ministry and Execution whereof is only given to such as bear Office in the Ecclesiastical Government in the same So that in the King's Person some Men press to erect a new Popedome as though he would not be full King of this Common-wealth unless as well the Spiritual as Temporal Sword be put in his hand unless Christ be rest of his Authority and the two Iurisdictions confounded which God hath divided which directly tendeth to the Wrack of all true Religion Which being presented by the Commissioners of the General Assembly the Earl of Arran asked with a Frowning Countenance who dare Subscribe these Treasonable Articles Mr. Andrew Melvil answered we dare and will Subscribe and render our Lives in the Cause And afterward that same Assembly presented Articles shewing that seeing the Spiritual Iurisdiction of the Church is granted by Christ and given only to them that by Preaching Teaching and Overseeing bear Office within the same to be exercised not by the Injunctions of Men but by the only Rule of God's Word hereafter no other of whatsoever degree or under whatsoever pretence have any colour to ascribe or to take upon them any part thereof either in placing or displacing of Ministers without the Churches admission or in stopping the Mouths of Preachers or putting them to silence or take upon them the Iudgement of Tryal of Doctrine c. But in contempt and Contradiction to this and to Prosecute and Exert this new usurped Power Mr. Andrew Melvil was sommoned before the Secret Council for a Sermon of his applying his Doctrine to the Times Corruptions Whereupon he gave in his Declinature against them as incompetent Judges and told them They were too bold in a Constitute Christian Church to pass by the Pastors Prophets and Doctors and to take upon them to judge the Doctrine and to controul the Ambassadours of a greater than was there which they neither ought nor can do There are saith he loosing a little Hebrew Bible from his Girdle my Instructions and Warrant see if any of you can controul me that I have past my Injunctions For this he was decerned to be warded in the Castle of Edinburgh But he conveyed himself secretly out of the Countrey When as also a Convention in Faulkand was consulting to call home the Papist Lords Mr. Andrew Melvil went thither uncalled and when found fault with by the King for his Boldness he answered Sir I have a Call to come here from Christ and his Church who have special Interest in this Turn and against whom this Convention is Assembled directly I charge you and your Estates in the Name of Christ and his Church that ye favour not his Enemies whom he hateth nor go about to call home nor make Citizens of these c. And further challenged them of Treason against Christ his Church and Countrey in that purpose they were about About the same time in a private Conference with the King he called the King Gods silly Vassal and taking him by the Sleeve told him Sir I must tell you there are two Kings and two Kingdoms There is Christ and his Kingdom whose Subject King James the 6th is and of whose Kingdom he is not a King nor a Head nor a Lord but a Member And they whom Christ hath called to Watch over and Govern his Church have sufficient Authority and Power from him which no Christian King should controul but assist otherwise they are not Faithful Subjects to Christ. Sir when you were in your Swadling-Clouts Christ Reigned freely in this Land in spight of all his Enemies but now the Wisdom of your Council is Devilish and Pernicious c. To the like effect Mr. Robert Bruce in a Sermon upon Psal. 51. gives faithful warning of the Danger of the Times It is not we sayes he that are Partie in this Cause no the Quarrel is betwixt a greater Prince and them What are we but silly Men Yet it has pleased him to set us in this Office that we should oppone to the manifest Vsurpations that is made upon his Spiritual Kingdom Is there a more forcible means to draw down the Wrath of God than to let Barrabas that nobilitate Malefactour pass free and to begin the War against Christ and his Ministry It putteth on the Copestone that so many of our Brethren should not be so faithful as their calling and this Cause craveth Fie upon false Brethren to see them dumb so faint hearted when it comes to the Chock not only are they as ashamed to speak the thing they think which is a shame in a Pastor but speak directly against their former Doctrine They will speak the Truth a while till they be put at but incontinent they will turn and make their Gifts Weapons to fight against Christ c. Hereafter when the Parliament 1584. had Enacted this Supremacy and Submission to Prelacy to be Subscribed by all Ministers the faithful first directed Mr. David Lindsay to the King desiring that nothing be done in Parliament prejudicial to the Churches Liberty Who got the Prison of Blackness for his pains And then when they could not get access for shut doors to Protest before the Parliament yet when the Acts were Proclaimed at the Cross of Edinburgh they took publick Documents in name of the Church of Scotland tho' they were but two that they protested against the said Acts And fled to England leaving behind them Reasons that moved them to do
none and could not pretend to any so they were never troubled for that but for their opposition and conspiracy against the common Cause However it went through at that time And that the Covenanted Reformation in a nearer Conjunction betwixt the united Churches might be promoted the Parliament of England called an Assembly of Divines at Westminster And desired the Assembly of Scotland to send thither their Commissioners and they accordingly nominated and elected Mr. Alexander Henderson Mr. Robert Douglas Mr. Samuel Rutherford Mr. Robert Baille Mr. George Gillespie Ministers and Iohn Earl of Capils Iohn Lord Maitland and Sir Archbald Iohnstone of Warristown Ruling Elderâ— to Propone Consult Treat and Conclude in all such things as might conduce to the extirpation of Prelacy c. and for the settling of the so much desired Union of the whole Island in one Form of Church Government one Confession of Faith one common Catechism and one Directory for the Worship of God Forces were also sent to assist the Parliament of England Which were favoured with great success in their Enterprizes till that War was ended by the total overthrow of the King and all his upholders But that Prelatical and Malignant Faction being brought much under in England attempted to try the Fortune of War in Scotland under the Conduct of Montrose Who tho' he prevailed for a time yet at length was defeat at Philliphaugh in the Year 1645. yet certain it is that they had Commission and Warrant from the King as the Assembly that Year Feb. 13. remonstrates it to himself Warning him in the Name of their Master the Lord Iesus Christ that the Guilt which cleaved to his Throne was such as if not timely repented could not but involve himself and his Posterity under the Wrath of the Everliving God for his being Guilty of the shedding of the Blood of many Thousands of his best Subjects c. At the same time also the Assembly did zealously incite the Parliament to a speedy Course of Justice against these Incendiaries and Murderers as the only mean of cleansing the Land from that deluge of Blood then Current and of appeasing the Wrath of God And solemnly and seasonably warned all Ranks to search to understand the Language of that Dispensation wherein many publick Sins and Breaches of Covenant are pointed at and the Covenant it self is there very Encomiastically vindicated We are so far from repenting of it say they that we cannot mention it without great joy for no sooner was the Covenant begun to be taken in England but sensibly the condition of affairs there was changed to the better and our Forces sent into that Kingdom in pursuance of that Covenant have been so manifestly and mercifully assisted from Heaven that we have what to answer the Enemy that reproacheth us concerning that business These following Acts were made thus Feb. 14. 1645. Sess. 18. Vnless Men will blot out of their Hearts the fear of Religion and Cause of God they must now or never appear actively each one stretching himself to yea beyond his power It is no time to dally or to go about the business by halves nor be almost but altogether zealous Cursed is he that doth the work of the Lord negligently If we have been forward to assist our Neighbour Kingdoms shall we neglect to defend our own Or shall the Enemies of God be more active against his Cause than his People for it God forbid And among the Enormities and Corruptions of the Ministry in their Callings this is one § 4. 5. Silence in the publick Cause some accounting it a point of Wisdom to speak ambiguously whereof the remedy is § 15. That beside all other scandals silence and ambiguous speaking in the publick Cause be seasonably Censured Gen. Ass. Edin June 13. 1646. Act for Censuring the Complyers with the publick Enemies of this Church and Kingdom Gen. Ass. Edin Jun. 17. 1646. Sess. 4. Where they judge it a great and scandalous Provocation and grievous defection from the publick Cause to comply with these Malignants in any degree even to procure Protections from them or to have invited them to their Houses or to be Guilty of any such Gross degrees of Complyance Censured to be suspended from the Communion and while they acknowledge their Offence And Gen. Ass. Aug. 24. 1647. Sess. 19. Ministers are charged us they have occasion from the Text of Scripture to reprove the Sins and Errors and press the Duties of the Time and in all these to observe the Rules prescribed by the Acts of Assembly wherein if they be negligent they are to be Censured And July ult 1648. Sess. 2. in their Declaration concerning the unlawful Engagement they say Suppose the Ends of that Engagement be good as they are not yet the means and ways of Prosecution are unlawful because there is not an equal avoiding of Rocks on both hands but a joyning with Malignants to suppress Sectaries a joining hands with a black Devil to beat a white Devil And Aug. 3. 1648. All Ministers that do not apply their Doctrine to the Corruptions of the Time which is the Pastoral Gift and that are cold or wanting of Spiritual zeal Dissembling of Publick Sins are appointed to be Censured even to Deprivation for forbearing or passing in silence the Errors and Exorbitances of Sectaries in England or the Defections current at home the Plots and Practices of Malignants the Principles and Tenets of Erastianism And if they be found too sparing General or Ambiguous in their Applications or Reproofs they are to be deposed for being pleasers of Men rather than servers of Christ for giving themselves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in the Cause of God for defrauding the South of People yea for being Guâ—lty of the Blood of Souls in not giving them warning See also their seasonable and necessary Warning Iuly 27. 1649. Thus did these famous Fathers give us a perfect Pattern of purity and strictness in opposition to all degrees of Coâ—formity and Complyance with the Corruptions of the Time In the mean while the Malignants in England being crushed in all their Projects the King renders himself to the Scots in Newcastle By whom because by Covenant they were not obliged to defend him but only in defence of Religion and Liberty which he had been destroying and they defending because in this War he did directly oppose and oppugn these Conditions under which they were only to defend him and therefore they had all along carried towards him as an Enemy as he to them And because by the same Covenant they were obliged to discover and render to condign Punishment all Malignants of whom he was the chief and to assist mutually all entred into that Covenant he was delivered up unto the English and kept under restraint in the Isle of Wight until he was Condemned and Executed Ian 30 164â—â— Which Fact tho' it was protested against both before and after by the Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Rebellion against God that ever could be recorded in any Age or Generation Nay attended with greater and grosser Aggravations than ever any could be capable of before us who have had the greatest Priviledges that ever any Church had since the National Church of the Iews the greatest light the greatest effects of matchless magnified Love the greatest Convictions of Sin the greatest Resolutions and Solemn Engagements against it and the greatest Reformation from it that ever any had to abuse and affront O Heavens Be Astonished at this and Horribly afraid For Scotland hath changed her Glory and the Crown hath faln from off her Head by an unparallelled Apostacy a free and voluntary wilful and deliberate Apostacy an avowed and declared and authorized Apostacy a most universal and every way unprecedented Apostacy These Enemies of God having once got footing again with the favour and fawnings of the Foolish Nation went on fervently to further and promote their foolish Design And meeting with no opposition at first did encourage themselves to begin boldly Wherefore hearing of some Ministers peaceably Assembled to draw up a Monitory Letter to the King minding him of his Covenant Engagements and Promises which was tho' weak yet the first Witness and Warning against that Heaven-daring Wickedness then begun they Cruelly incarcerate them Having hereby much daunted the Ministry from their Duty in that day for fear of the like unusual and outragious usage The Parliament convenes Ian. 1. 1661. without so much as a Protestation for Religion and Liberty given in to them And there in the first place they frame and take the Oath of Supremacy Examtorating Christ and investing his usurping Enemy with the spoils of his robbed Prerogative acknowledging the King only Supreme Governour over all Persons and in all Causes and that his Power and Iurisdiction must not be declined Whereby under all Persons and Causes all Church-concerns of Christ are comprehended And if the King shall take upon him to judge their Doctrine Worship Discipline or Government he must not be declined as an Incompetent Judge Which laid the Foundation for all this Bable they have built since and of all this War that hath been waged against the Son of God and did introduce all this Tyranny and absolute Power which hath been since carried to its Complement and made the Kings Throne the Foundation of all the succeeding Perjury and Apostacy Yet tho' then our Synods and Presbyteries were not discharged but might have had access in some Concurrence to witness against this horrid Invasion upon Christs Prerogative and the Churches Priviledge no joinâ— Testimony was given against it except that some were found Witnessing against it in their Singular Capacity by themselves As faithful Mr. Iames Gushire who had been Honoured of God to be zealous and singularly faithful in carrying on the Work of Reformation and for declining this usurped Authority in prejudice of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus and asserting the Kingly Authority of Christ in opposition to the Erastian Supremacy encroaching thereupon suffered Death and got the Martyrs Crown upon his Head which being placed upon one of the Ports of Edinburgh Preacheth not only against the Enemies Rebellion against God but against the defection of many Ministers since who have Practically denyed that great Truth for which he suffered viz. His Testimony against the Supremacy and for declining the usurped Authority of him who Arrogated it And some others for refusing that Oath Arbiâ—rarily imposed were Banished or Confin'd At the same time there was a Proclamation which they caused to be Read at all the Church-Doors discharging Ministers to speak against them or their Proceedings whereby Prophane and Malicious Persons were encouraged to witness against their Ministers By which means tho' many were in no hazard thinking it commendable Prudence commended indeed by the World but hateful Unfaithfulness before God to be silent at such a time some faithful Ministers giving faithful and free warning and Protesting against the present Defection were condemned of Treason and Banished out of the three Dominions Others were Sentenced with Banishment and furder were compelled to Subscribe a Bond under pain of Death to remove out of all the Dominions betwixt that and such a day This was the Lot and also the Blot of these Famous and Faithful Ministers Mr. Iohn Eivingstoun Mâ— Robert Machward Mr. Iohn Brown c. who spent the rest of their days in Holland When they had gained this Bulwark of Christs Kingdom then they waxed more insolent and set up their Ensigns for Signs and broke down the Carved Work of Reformation with Axes and Hammers In this Parliament 1661. they pass'd an Act Rescissory whereby they annulled and declared void the National Covenant the Solemn League and Covenant Presbyterial Government and all Laws made in favour of the work of Reformation since the Year 1638. O horrid Wickedness To condemn and rescind what God did so signally Seal as his own Work to the Conviction of the World But O Holy and Astonishing Justice thus to Recompence our way upon our own Head to suffer this work and cause to be ruined under our unhappy hands who suffered this Destroyer to come in before it was so effectually secured as it should not have been in the power of his hand whatever had been in his Heart swelled with enmity against Christ to have raised and ruined that work as now he most wickedly did and drew so many in to the Guilt of the same deed that almost the whole Land not only consented unto it but Applauded it by approving and countenancing another wicked Act framed at the same time by that same perâ—idious Parliament for an Anniversary Thanksgiving commemorating every 29 th of May that Blasphemy against the Spirit and Work of God and celebrating thaâ— unhappy Restauration of the Rescinder of the Reformation which had not only the Concurrence of the Universality of the Nation but alas for shame that it should be told in Gath c. even of some Ministers who afterwards accepted the Indulgence one of which a Pillar among them was seen scandalously dancing about the Bonfires And others who should have allarmed the whole Nation Quasi pro Aris Focis to rise for Religion and Liberty to resist such Wickedness did wink at it Yet albeit neither in this day when the Covenant was not only broken but Cassed and declared of no Obligation nor afterward when it was Burnt for which Turks and Pagans would have been ashamed and afraid at such a terrible sight and for which the Lords Anger is burning against these bold Burners and against them who suffered it and did not witness against it was there any publick Testimony by Protestation or Remonstrance or any publick Witness Tho' the Lord had some then and some who came out afterwards with the Trumpet at their Mouth whose Heart then sorrowed at the sight And some suffered for the Sense they shewed of that Anniversary Abomination for not keeping which
acknowledging of the Sin of his House and former ways and satisfaction to Gods People in both Kingdoms A. Ker. And that same day The Committee of Estates having seen and considered a Declaration of the Commission of the General Assembly anent the stating the Quarrel wherein the Army is to fight do approve the same and heartily concur therein Tho. Henderson Whereupon thereafter he encites that Declaration at Drumfermling Wherein Professing and appearing in the full perswasion and Love of the Truth he repenteth as having to do with and in the sight of God his Fathers opposition to the Covenant and Work of God and his own Reluctances against the same hoping for Mercy through the Blood of Iesus Christ and obtesting the Prayers of the Faithful to God for his stedfastness and then Protesting his Truth and Sincerity in entring into the Oath of God resolving to prosecute the Ends of the Covenant to his utmost and to have with it the same common Friends and Enemies exhorting all to lay down their Enmity against the Cause of God and not to prefer Mans Interest to Gods which will prove an Idol of Iealousie to Provoke the Lord and he himself accounteth to be but selfish Flatteries Then at his Coronation the Action commenceth with his most solemn renewing of the National and Solemn League and Covenant Thereafter in the Year 1651. followed the Ratification of all these preceding Treaties Transactions and Engagements concluded and enacted by the King and the Parliament whereby the same did Pass into a Perpetual Law And this Covenant which from the beginning was and is the most sure and indispensible Oath of God became at length the very Fundamental Law of the Kingdom whereon all the Rights or Priviledges either of King or People are principally bottomed and secured After this it came to pass that zeal for the cause rightly stated was suddenly contracted to a few whereby a plain defection was violently carried on by the Publick Resolutioners who relapsing into that most Sinful Conjunction with the Malignants did bring them into places of Power and Trust in Judicatories and Armies in a more Politick than Pious way requiring of them a constrained and dissembled Repentance which Reflection did cause the first Division of that kind and most permanent of any that ever was in the Church of Scotland by reason of the surcease of General Assemblies stopped and hindered by the Yoke of the Sectarian Usurpers And it has been the spring and source of all our Reflections since Upon this our Land was invaded by Oliver Cromwell who defeated our Army at Dunbar Next an Army being raised according to these unhallowed Resolutions was totally routed at Worcester And the King forced to hide himself in the Oak and thence to transport himself beyond Sea where he continued in Exile till the Year 1660. Yet there was still a faithful Remnant of Ministers and Professors zealous for the Cause keeping their Integrity who in their Remonstrances and Testimonies witnessed against both their Malignant Enemies and their backsliding Brethren the Resolutioners And also against the Sectarians their Invaders whose vast Toleration and Liberty of Conscience which they brought in to invade our Religion as they invaded our Land and infect it with their Multifarious Errors was particularly by the Synod of Fife and other Brethren in the Ministry that joyned themselves to them testified against and demonstrated to be wicked and intollerable But in the mean time the Sectarian Army here prevailed till after the Usurper Cromwell his Death Monk then General with a Combination of Malignants and publick Resolutioners did bring home the King to England from his Banishment Now comes the last Catastrophe of the Deformation of the Church of Scotland which in a retrograde motion hath gradually been growing these 27 Years going back through all the steps by which the Reformation ascended till now she is reduced to the very Border of that Babilon from whence she took her departure Through all which steps notwithstanding to this day Scotland hath never wanted a Witness for Christ against all the various steps of the Enemies advancings and of professed Friends declinings Though the Testimony hath had some Singularities in that it hath been attended with more disadvantages by reason of the Enemies greater prevalency and Friends deficiency and greater want of significant Assertors than any formerly in that it hath been intangled in more multifarious Intricacies of questions and debates and Divisions among the Assertors themselves In that it hath been intended and extended to a greater measure both as to matter and manner of contendings against the Adversaries and stated upon nicer points more earnestly Prosecuted and tenaciously maintain'd than any formerly to that it hath had more opposition and contradiction and less Countenance from professed Friends to the Reformation either at home or abroad than any formerly And yet it hath been both Active and Passive both against Enemies and Friends and in Cumulo stated against Atheism Popery Prelacy and Erastian Supremacy and extended in a particular manner against Tyranny And not only against the substance and essence of these in the Abstract but against Substance and Circumstance Abstract and Concrete Root and Branch Head and Tail of them and all complying with them conforming to them or countenancing of them or any thing conductive for them or deduced from them any manner of way directly or indirectly formally or interpretatively This is that extensive and very comprehensive Testimony which in all its parts points and particles is most directly relative and dilucidly reducible to a complex Witness for the Declarative Glory of Christs Kingship and Headship over All as he is God and as he is Mediator The management of this Testimony was thus King Charles the Second upon his Return directed a Letter to the Presbytery of Edinburgh declaring he was resolved to protect and preserve the Government of the Church of Scotland as it is settled by Law without Violation Wherein it was observed he spake never 8 word of the Covenant our Magna Charta of Religion and Righteousness but only of Law by which he meant the Prelatical Church as it was settled by the Law of his Father since which time he reckoned there was no Law but Rebellion This was a piece and prelude of our base Defection that we were so far from withstanding that we did not so much as witness against the Readmission and Restauration of the Head and Tail of Malignants but let them come in peaceably to the Throne without any Security to the Covenanted Cause and by piece-meal at their own ease leisure and pleasure to overturn all the Work of God and reintroduce the Old Antichristian Yoke of abjured Prelacy and Blasphemous Sacrilegious Supremacy and absolute Arbitrary Tyranny with all their abominations Which he and with him the Generality of our Nobility Gentry Clergy and Commonality did promote and propagate untill the Nation was involved in the greatest Revolt from and
Preach and presume to exercise their Ministry they should be punished as Seditious Persons requiring of all a due acknowledgment of and hearty complyance with the King's Government Ecclesiastical and Civil and that whosoever shall ordinarily and wilfully withdraw and absent from the ordinary Meetings for Divine Worship in their own Churches on the Lord's Day shall incur the Penalties there inserted And thus none are allowed by Law to administer the Ordinances but either Apostate Curates who by their Perjury and Apostatize forfaulted their Ministry or other Hirâ—lings and Prelates Journey-men who ran without a Mission except from them who had none to give acâ—ording to Christ's Institution the Seal of whose Ministry could never yet be shewn in the Conversion of any Sinner to Christ but if the Tree may be known by its Fruits we may know whose Ministers they are by their Conversions of Reformation into Deformation of the Work and Cause of God into the similitude of the Roman Beast of Ministers into â—â—iâ—elings of the Power of Godliness into Formality of Preaching Christ into Orations of Morality of the Purity of Christ's Ordinances into the vanity of Men's Inventions of the Beautiful Government of the House of God for Edification to a Lordly Preeminence and Domination over Consciences In a word of Church and State Constitutions for Religion and Liberty all upside down into Wickedness and Slavery But now this astonishing Blow to the Gospel of the Kingdom introducing such a swarm of Locusts into the Church and in forcing a compliance of the People with this defection and that so violently and rigorously as even simple withdrawing was so severely punished by severe Edicts of Fining and other Arbitrary Punishments at first for at first they did not Imprison any for simple absenting themselves from the Curates and only imprisoned those who at any time shewed more than ordinary Zeal against the Curate's Intrusion what did it produce The generality of Ministers and Professors both went and Conformed so far as to hear the Curates contrary to many Points of the Reformation formerly attained contrary to their Covenant-Engagements and contrary to their own Principles and Practices at that same time scrupling and refusing to keep the Bishops Visitations and to countenance their Discipline and Power of Iurisdiction because it was required as a Testification of their acknowledgment of and Compliance with the present Government and yet not scrupling to Countenance their Doctrine and usurped Power of Order required also by the same Law as the same Test of the same compliance and submission Other Ministers lay altogether by in their retired recesses waiting to see what things would turn to others were hopeless turned Farmers and Doctors others wylie staid at home and Preached quietly in Ladies Chambers But the Faithful found themselves under an indispensable necessity to Preach the Gospel and witness for the freedom of their Ministry and make full proof of it in Preaching in Season and out of Season and thereupon as occasion offered Preached to all such as were willing to hear but at first only in private Houses and that for the most part at such times when Sermons in publick surceased a Superplus of Caution But afterwards finding so great Difficulties and Persecutions for their House-Meetings where they were so easily atâ—rapped were constrained at last to keep their Meetings in the Fields Where testifying both practically and particularly against these Usurpations on their Master's Prerogatives and witnessing for their Miâ—isterial freedom contrary to all Law-Interdictions without any Licenses or Indulgence from the Usurper but holding their Ministry from Jesus Christ alone both as to the Office and Exercise thereof they had so much of their Master's Countenance and success in their Labours that they valued neither hazards or hardships neither the contempt of pretended Friends nor the Laws nor threatnings of Enemies adjudging the Penalty of Death it self to Preachers at Field-Conventicles aâ— they called them Now having thus overturned the Church-Government by introducing Pâ—elacy to advance ane absolute Supremacy the King proceeds in his Design to pervert and evert the well modelled and moderated Constitution of the State-Government also by introducing and advancing ane Aâ—bitrary Tyranny For effectuating which he first procures a lasting Imposition of intollerable Subsidies and Taxations next a further recognisance of his Prerogative in a Subjection of Persons Fortunes and whole strength of the Kingdom to his absolute Arbitriment in a Levy of Militia of 20000 Footmen and 2000 Horsemen sufficiently armed with Forty days Provision to be ready upon the King 's call to march to any part of his Dominions for opposing whatsoever Invasion or Insurrection or for any other Service The first sproutings of Tyranny were cherished by the cheerful and stupid Submission generally yeilded to these Exorbitancies so that generally People did not so much as scruple sending out or going out as Militia-men After the fundamental Constitutions of both Church and State are thus razed and rooted up he contrived to frame all Inferior Magistrates according to his Mould And for this end appointed that all Persons in any Publick Trust or Office whatsoever should subscribe a Declaration renouncing and abjuring the Covenant But finding this not yet sufficient security for this unsettled Settlement because he well understood the People stood no ways obliged to acknowledge him but only according to the Solemn Covenants being the fundamental Conditions whereupon their Allegiance was founded and well knowing that he and his Associates by violating these Conditions had loosed the People from all Subjection to him or deriving any Power from him whereby the People might justly plead That since he had kept no Condition they were not now obliged to him he therefore contriv'd a new Oath of Allegiance to be impos'd upon all in publick Trust both in Church and State Strange can Presbyterians swear that Allegiance which is substitute in the place of the broken and burnt Covenant Or could they swear it to such a Person who having buried the Covenant that he might have another Right and another Allegiance than that of the Covenant had then remitted to us all Allegiance founded upon the Covenant However having prepared and furnished himself with Tools so qualified for his purpose in Church and State he prosecutes his Persecution with such fervor and fury that at length in the Year 1666 a small Party were compelled to go to defensive Arms which was occasioned thus Sir Iames Turner pursuing his Cruel Orders in Galloway sent some Souldiers to apprehend a poor old Man whom his Neighbours Compassionating intreated the Souldiers to loose him as he lay bound but were answered with drawn Swords and necessitated to their own defence In which they relieve the Man and disarm the Souldiers and further attacked some others oppressing that Country disarming Ten or Twelve more and killing one that made resistance Whereupon the Country being allarm'd and fearing Sir Iames would certainly avenge this Affront upon the whole
proved successful for several Years their Enemies either turning their backs without disturbance when they observed them resolve Defence or in their Assaultings repulsed so that there was never a Meeting which stood to their Defence got any considerable harm thereby Thus the Lord was with us while we were with him but when we forsook him he forsook us and left us in the hands of our Enemies However while Meetings for Gospel-Ordinances did continue the Wicked Rulers did not cease from time to time to encrease their numerous Bands of Barbarous Souldiers for suppressing the Gospel in these Field-meetings But all this is nothing to what followed when thinking these Blood-Hounds were too favourable they brought down from the wild Highlands a Host of Salvages upon the Western Shires more terrible than Turks or Tartars Men who feared not God nor regarded Man to wast and destroy a plentiful Country which they resolved before they left it to make as bare as their own This Hellish Crew was adduced to work a Reformation like the French Conversions to press a Bond of Conformity wherein every one Subscribed was bound for himself and all under him Wife Children Servants Tenants to frequent their Parish Churches and never to go to these Meetings nor reset nor entertain any that went but to Inform against Pursue and Deliver up all vagrant Preachers as they called them to Tryal and Judgment Then for the maintenance of the Souldiers there were imposed new wicked and arbitrary Cesses and Taxations professedly required for suppressing Religion and Liberty banishing the Gospel out of the Land and preserving and promoting the King's Absoluteness over all Matters and Persons Sacred and Civil which under that tentation of great Sufferings threatned to Refusers and under the disadvantage of the silence and unfaithfulness of many Ministers who either did not condemn it or pleaded for the peaceable payment of it many did comply with it then and far more since Yet at that time there were far more Recusants in some places especially in the Western shires than Complyers And there were many of the Ministers that did faithfully declare to the People the Sin of it not only from the illegality of its Imposition by a Convention of over-awed and prelimited States but from the nature of that imposed Compliance that it was a sinful Transaction with Christ's declared Enemies a strengthning the hands of the wicked an obedience to a wicked Law a consenting to Christ's expulsion out of the Land and not only that but far worse than the Sin of the Gadarens a formal Concurrence to assist his Expellers by maintaining their force a hiring our Oppressors to destroy Religion and Liberty and from the declared end of it expressed in the very Narrative of the Act viz. To Levy and Maintain Forces for suppressing and dispersing Meetings of the Lord's People and to shew unanimous affections for maintaining the King's Supremacy as now Established by Law Yet all this time Ministers and Professors were unite and with one Soul and Shoulder followed the work of the Lord 'till the Indulged being dissatisfied with the Meetings in the Fields whose Glory was like to over-cloud and obscure their Beds of ease and especially being offended at the freedom and faithfulness of some who set the Trumpet to their Mouth and shewed Iacob his Sins and Israel his Transgressions impartially without Cloak or Cover they began to make a Faction among the Ministers and to devise how to quench the fervour of their Zeal who were faithful for God But the more they sought to extinguish it the more it brake out and blazed into a flame For several of Christ's Ambassadours touched and affected with the affronts done to their Princely Master by the Supremacy and the Indulgence of its Bastard-Brood and Brat began after long silence to discover its iniquity and to acquaint the People how the Usurper had invaded the Mediator's Chair in taking upon him to Depose Suspend Silence Plant and Transplant his Ministers where and when and how he pleased c. Yet others and the greater number of Dissenting Ministers were not only deficient herein but defended them joyned with them and pretending Prudence and prevention of Schism in effect homologated that deed and the Practice of these Priests Ezek 22. 26. teaching and advising the People to hear them both by Precept and going along with them in their Erastian Course And not only so but Condemned and Censured such who Preached against the sinfulness thereof especially in the first place worthy Mr. Walwood who was among the first Witnesses against that Defection and Mr. Kid Mr. King Mr. Cameron Mr. Donald Cargil c. who Sealed their Testimony afterwards by their blood yet then even by their Brethren were loaden with the reproachful Nick-names of Schismaticks Blind Zealots Jesuites c. But it was always observed as long as Ministers were faithful in following the Lord in the way of their Duty Professors were fervent and under all their Conflicts with Persecutors the Courage and Zeal of the Lovers of Christ was blazing and never outbraved by all the Enemies boastings to undertake brisk Exploits which from time to time they were now and then essaying 'till defection destroyed and division diverted their Zeal against the Enemies of God who before were always the Object against which they whetted the edge of their jusâ— indignation Especially the Arch-Prelate Sharp was judged intollerable by ingenuous Spirits Therefore in Iuly 1668. Mr Iames Mitchel thought it his duty to save himself deliver his Brethren and attempted to cut him off which failing he then escaped but afterwards was Apprehended Tortured Condemned and Executed But Justice would not suffer the Arch-Prelate to escape Remarkable Punishment the severity whereof did sufficiently compensate sate its delay after Ten Years respite For upon the 3 d of May 167 several worthy Gentlemen with some other Men of Courage and Zeal for the Cause of God executed Righteous Judgment upon him in Magus Moore near St. Andrews And that same Month on the Anniversary Day May 29th the Testimony at Rutherglen was Published against that Abomination Celebrating an Anniversary-Day kept every year for giving thanks for the setting up an Vsurped Power destroying the interest of Christ in the Land and against all sinful and unlawful Acts emitted and executed published and prosecuted against our Covenanted Reformation Where also they burnâ— the Acts of Supremacy the Declaration the Act Recissory c. in way of retalition for the burning of the Covenants On the Sabbath following Iune 1. A Field-Meeting near to Lowden-Hill was assaulted by Claverhouse and with him three Troops of Horse and Dragoons who had that Morning taken an honest Minster and about 14 Countrymen out of their Beds and carried them along with them but they were repulsed at Drumclogg and put to flight the Prisoners relieved about 30 of the Souldiers killed on the place and three of the Meeting and several wounded on both sides Thereafter the People
base among ingenuous Men. But here is a Rhapsodie of Flatteries from the deep Sense they have of his Majesties Gracious and surprizing favour finding themselves bound in Duty to offer their most humble and hearty thanks to his Sacred Majesty the favour bestowed being to them valuable above all Earthly comforts One would think it behoved to be a very great favour from a very great Friend for very gracious ends But what is it In not only putting a stop to their long sad Sufferings which were some ground indeed if the way were Honest But this not only supposes an also what is that But also granting us the Liberty which is either a needless Tautology for if all Sufferings were stopped then Liberty must needs follow or it must respect the Qualifications of the Liberty flowing from such a Fountain Absolute Power through such a conveyance stopping all Penal Laws against Papists in such a Form as a Toleration for such Ends as overturning the Reformation and introducing Popery This is the Favour for which they offer most humble and hearty Thanks more valuable to them than all Earthly Comforts Sure if they thank him for the Liberty they must thank him for the Proclamation whereby he grants it and justifie all his claim there to Absoluteness being that upon which it is superstructed and from which it emergeth and so become a listed Faction to abet and own him in all his attemptings engaged now to demean themselves as that he may find Cause rather to enlarge than to diminish his favours which can be no other way but in assisting him to destroy Religion and Liberty at least in suffering him to do what he will without controll O what an indeliberate reproach is this for Ministers who pretend to be yet for the defence of the Gospel thus to be found betraying Religion through justifying and magnifying a Tyrant for his suspension of so many Laws whereby it was established and supported 4. It were more tolerable if they went no farther than Flatteries but I fear they come near the Border of Blasphemy when they say that the Great God hath put this in his Royal Heart which can bear no other Construction but this that the Holy Lord hath put it in his Heart to assume to himself a Blasphemous and Absolute Power whereby he stops and suspends all Penal Laws against Idolaters and gives a Toleration for all Errors If it be capable of any other Sense it must be like that as the Lord is said to have moved David to number the People or that Rev. 17. 17. God hath put it in their Hearts to fulfill his Will and to agree and give their Kingdom to the Beast But to bless God and thank the Tyrant for this wicked Project as deliberate and purposed by Men I say is near unto Blasphemy And again where they say they are firmly resolved by the help of God so to demean themselves as his Majesty may find Cause rather to enlarge than to diminish his favours this in effect is as great Blasphemy as if they had said They resolved by the help of God to be as unfaithful Time-serving and silent Ministers as ever plagued the Church of God for no otherwise can they demean themselves so as he may find cause to enlarge his Favours towards them it being no way supposable that his enlarging his Favours can consist with their faithfulness but if they discover any measure of Zeal against Antichrist he will quickly diminish them Thus far I have compendiously deduced the Account of the progress and Prosecution of the Testimony of this Church to the present State thereof FINIS A Catalogue of some Books Printed for Io. Hindmarsh at the Golden-Ball over against the Royal-Exchange in Cornhill THE Antiquity of the Royal Line of Scotland farther Cleared and Defended against the Exceptions lately offer'd by Dr. Stillingfleet in his Vindication of the Bishop of St. Asaph â—y Sir George Mackenzie His Majesty's Advocate for the Kingdom of Scotland The Moral History of Frugality with its opposite Vices Covetousness Niggardliness Prodigality and Luxury Written by the Honourable Sir George Mackenzie late Lord Advocate of Scotland A Memorial for His Highness the Prince of Orange in Relation to the Affairs of Scotland Together with the Address of the Presbyterian-Party in that Kingdom to His Highness And some Observations on that Address By two Persons of Quality An Account of the Present Persecutâ—on of the Church in Scotland in several Letters The Case of the Present Afflicted Clergy in Scotland truly represented To which is added for Probation the attestation of many unexceptionable Witnesses to every Particular and all the Publick Acts and Proclamations of the Convention and Parliament relating to the Clergy By a Lover of the Church and his Country An Historical Relation oâ— the late Presbyterian Generaâ— Assembly held at Edinburgh from October 16 to November 13. In the Year 1690. In â— Letter from a Person in Edinburgh to his Friend in London * M. Aâ—rel Aâ—â—tonin â—ull de Octâ—e â— 1. 〈◊〉 si sibi ipse conâ—ntrat non in â—erdum natura boâ—itate vincatur â—t ut neque amiâ—itiam câ—lem posâ—t nee justitian â—es liberalitatem Read the Preface to Dr. Hooker's Polity Pretended Answer to the Irâ—nicum I cannot elâ—e the Page having no Books by me