A SOLEMN WARNING To all the Members of this Kirk FROM The Commission of the Generall Assemblie WITH An Act for censuring such as act or comply with the Sectarian Armie Now infesting this Kingdom ABERDENE Imprinted by James Brown ANNO 1651. PERTH 7. Januar. 1651. THE COMMISSION of the GENERALL ASSEMBLIE Seriously considering the present Distress and Danger of the LORDS PEOPLE in this KIRK and KINGDOM through the Unjust Violence and Oppression and the Pernicious Errours of the Sectarian Armie of ENGLAND continuing now a long tyme in this LAND Haue found it necessarie to emit this SOLEMN WARNING for Information of all the Members of this KIRK and stirring them up to their duetie at this tyme AND Do Ordayn the same To bee Publictlie read in all the CONGREGATIONS of this KIRK Whereof PRESBYTERIES are to take especiall care And to make report A. Ker. Perth 7. Januar. 1651. A Solemn Warning to all the Members of this Kirk From the Commission of the General Assembly AS it hath pleased the LORD who is wonderfull in counsell and excellent in working in the carrying on of His Work since the tyme of the firâ—t receaving of our Nationall Covenant for the Mayntenance of that Work in this Kirk and Kingdom and entring into the Solemn League and Covenant with our neygâ—bour Kingdoms of England and Ireland for propagating and advancing the same amongst them to exercise His people with many tryalls So it hath been His great Mercie not only to pâ—â—serue the publick judicatories of this Kirk faythfull and steadfaâ—t with him in his Covenant and Cause But also to furnish them with Wisdom and Cowrage to discern and giue seasonable Warnings agaynst diverse Tentations and Snares of the tymes and to hold foorth to the people of GOD their dueties in every tryall whereby it hath come to pass through the LORDS Blessing vpon their labours that such as feared GOD have been much helped to stand fast in the Cause of GOD in the saddest hours and greatest Tentations vntill the LORD did make a way to escâ—pe And now the LORD in His Wyse and Most Holy Dispensation having brought His People of this Land unto as sad a tryall as any that ever wee haue been in since the beginning of the Work by the Invasion Prevalencie and Oppression of the Sectarian Partie of England Although at the tyme of their first Invading of this Kingdom the Injustice and Perfidiousness of their Cause was aboundantly discovered by the Committee of Estates and the Generall Assemblie and Seasonable Warning was given agaynst complyance with them which wee hope all who truely loue GOD Religion and Governement have not yet forgotten and casten behind their back But will make conscience to follow Yet considering that the LORD for our tryall hath suffered the Tentation to grow and perceaving that some alreadie perfidiouslie and unnaturallie haue gone in to them Wee desâ—ring to bee faythfull to GOD in our Station fynd it a duetie iâ—cumbent to vs to renew the Word of Exhortation to all the people of GOD in this Land hoping that the LORD according to His wonted way of Blessing the Word of His Servants wâ—â—l not let it be ineffectuall upon the heartes of such as feare HIM In the first place therefore Wee exhort and as the Servants and Messengers of IESUS CHRIST Do in His Name charge the People of GOD in this Kirk and Kingdom To avoyd all sors of Complying with these foresayd Enemies Whether by speaking favourablie of them and their wayes or speaking disrespectfullie of the publick just and necessarie Resolutions and Proceedings of Kirk and State for opposing their wicked Designs agaynst this Kingdom and delyvering the Land from their Unjust and Cruell Oppression or reproaching such in Kirk and state as have been constant in the COVENANT and CAUSE of GOD and adhered to our first Principles with Imputations and Aspersions of Malignancie and Back-slyding because of their Zeale against that Enemie and care to haue the Liberties Government of this Kingdom mayntayned agaynst their Violence or by Conversing with them familiarlie or by Contributing any thing in an actiue way for their mayntenance and help But especiallie by keeping correspondence with them mediatelie or immediatelie to giue them intelligence of the Counsells Resolutions and Proceedings of Kirk or State by going in vnto or joyning with them in Counsell or Armes or anie other way of acting for their Cause or seducing others to anie of these And to the effect that all may bee the more stirred vp to guard themselves agaynst their fayr and entysing words and agaynst the suggestions and insinuations of anie that are Agents for them Wee desyre and warn all People of the Land to take notice of and consider besyde such things as haue been represented in former Papers First That as they did most Unjustly and Perfidiously Invade this KINGDOM contrary to Covenant and Treaties as was cleared before the world by the Papers emitted both by Kirk and State at their first incomming the intentions of this kingdom as then so now being no other but the mayntenance of Religion their own just Rights Liberties and Government not owning any Malignant interest nor owning any interest what-so-ever of mans But according to the COVENANT in subordination to Religion and the saferie of these Kingdoms So that as their Invasion was most Unjust and Perfidious So is their guiltiness now exceeding much increassed and heightned by much innocent Blood-shed of the People Saincts of GOD in this LAND the more than Barbarous usage of our Prisoners by sterving many hundreths of them with Hunger and Cold and sending away many others as Slaves vnto remote parts of the world by laying many Congregations of the Land waste chasing Ministers from their Charges Spoyling Plundering and Oppressing the People of GOD in the Land Now For any of this Kirk and Kingdom to comply and joyn with this Enemie and to act any wayes for them were it not besydes the unnaturall Treacherie of it agaynst their Native Countrey a Villanie which hath been abhominable and execrable even amongst all Heathen Nations much more amongst Christian People Were it not a most manifest personall and formall Violating of our Solemn Covenant where in wee are bound to mayntayn Religion the Liberties and Governement of the Kingdom the Kings Majesties Person and Government in the defence of Religion and everie one another in this Common Cause And also To bee accessorie vnto and bring vpon themselves the guiltiness of all these mens opposition to the Work of GOD usurpation persecution of faythfull and stedfast COVENANTERS in the other two Kingdoms and of their Unjust Invading of this Kingdom all the Blood-shed Despyte agaynst the Ordinances of GOD Violence Oppression and Villanies which they have done since they came into it And would it not not only render vs vyle and reproachfull to all Nations round about vs But also draw on the Wrath of GOD Who is a Severe Avenger of the breach of
COVENANTS made in His Name though they bee but with men Verilie our hearts do tremble to think and all People in this Land haue cause to mourn before the LORD that any haue been found amongâ—t vs who haue alreadie fallen into such abhominable and fearfull defection contrarie to so Solemn Vowes Especially having so clear and wel grounded Testimonies and Warnings tymously given them both by State and Kirk to avoyd such Courses These that hitherto haue been preserved from such falling would be the more watchfull over their hearts and take heed lest they fall and be not high mynded but fear Wee do not think it necessary to insiâ—t in guarding the mynds of People agaynst the Snare of that Argument Which the Enemies take from the great success and series of providences wherewith their undertakings and course have been followed whereby they would dazle the eyes of the Ignorant and Simple this being aboundantlie dashed in former Papers and even of it self evidently absurd the Word of GOD being so clear for this and experiences in all Generations yeelding so manyfold examples thereof That often tymes in the LORDS Holy Providence wicked men in most wicked courses even agaynst GODS own People may haue much prosperitie for a tyme for the tryall and humbling of his own and the greater judgement vpon their Enemies when they haue filled vp the measure of their iniquitie Providences are not our Rules whereby to judge of the justice or injustice of a course But the Law and the Testimonie if they speak not according to this Word there is no light in them what-so-ever bee the successes of men But wee shall exhort every one and it will bee their wisdom to watch agaynst and to hee aware of the Snares of such as by subtile suggestions and whisperings labour to alienate the hearts and affections of People from these that are in publick trust in State and Kirk and to render all their Resolutions for the publick safetie suspitious and odious the hearkening where unto is indeed a step vnto Defection and may readily leade on to down right complyance with the Enemie In the next place Wee earnestly desyre all People to consider That it is not enough for them in these tymes Not to joyne or act with or for these Enemies But that they ought also according to the utter most of their power to act and improve them selves agaynst them And therefore wee do exhort every one in the Fear of GOD to giue all loyall and heartie obedience unto such necessary and lawfull Orders and Commands as are or shall be emitted by the Civill Authoritie in reference to acting agaynst the sayd Enemie If ever there was People in the world who had cause to bee a willing People to this and to bestir them selves with all their power to oppose and defend them selves agaynst an Enemie Wee certaynlie the People of this Land at this day haue cause to do so agaynst this present Enemie Whether wee consider the Enemies what they are and what is the cause of their Invading and Persecuting vs Or whether wee consider our Concernments that are in hazard of their Designs and Crueltie Or whether wee consider the Bands and Obligations whereby wee are tyed before GOD and the World to mayntayn and defend the same For the first Wee shall not need to adde any new thing to that which was holden foorth by the COMMITTIE of ESSTATES in their answer to the declaration of the pretended Parliament of England and the declaration of that armie when they first entred into this Land we shall only desire that what was said there may be now called to minde and reviewed Pag. 17.18 For the second we shall desire all ingenuous honest and godlie hearts to consider these things 1 How many of our deare brethren flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone are slain with the sword innocentlie and without cause and how manie carried into Captivitie and therein sterved with hunger or cold sent away as slaves 2. A great part of our Land subdued and lying under their feete and the LORDS people our brethren there oppressed spoyled inslaved in their bodies endangered in their soules which lye open to the poyson of their pernicious errours being destitute of the ordinances of GOD and their Ministers who might informe comfort and strengthen their hearts in the LORD whose distressed condition and sadd afflictions crye to us for help and relieff and crye to Heaven agaynst us if we shall lye by for that woe which is pronounced agaynst these that are at case in SION and remember not the affliction of Ioseph 3. What these are alreadie suffering that the same is threatned agaynst the rest of the Land and cannot be avoyded if we shall not tymouslie ryse up and seeking the LORDS help and assistance faythfullie and actively make use of that power which GOD hath mercifully in His providence left yet in our hand agaynst their violence 4. Is anie thing lesse intended and persued by these men then the destruction of our King now in Covenant with GOD and his people the utter overturning of our governement under which we have lived subsisted for so many generations and the enthralling us and this ancient Kingdom in bondage and slaverie unto them as without all which they conceive they cannot promise securitie to them selves in their violent and wicked unparallelled usurpations at home in their native countrey 5. Is not Religion also and the cause of IESUS CHRIST which ought to be deare and more precious unto us nor any thing or interest worldlie under heaven and for defence of which our lyves ought not to be deare to us in danger of utter subversion and ruine by these mens crueltie and impietie What they have done in their owne countrey in the matters of Religion by continuall obstructing the work of reformation by crafetie under myninges whill it was carrying on and then at last breaking it in peices when they had gotten power in their hands by avowing all sorts of impious and blasphemous errours and setting up ane abhominable toleration thereof and now at last of poperie by oppressing persecuteing and casting out honest and faithfull Ministers of CHRIST for preaching and speaking against their errours injustice and usurpation refusing to approve their usurped power Is now so manifest befor the world that none can be ignorant thereof And albeit in their invadeing of us they pretend only to be acting civill matters as they say their libertie safetie yet certainely because they cannot promise themselfs securitie in their errours confusions and impieties in England so long as Religion stands inteer in this kingdome especiallie so long as presbyteriall governement which is the hedge of trueth and a terrour to heresies and Hereticks is keiped up and our religious League and Covenant which binds to the maintainance of Religion is avowed by any of these nations their crueltie and violence will have no rest if they gett way untill they have
provocation to put trust and confidence in multitudes or in the strength of meanes so also it is a great sinne to be misbelieving when GOD in His Providence redacteth us to scarcetie of secundarie meanes yet this is no ground for us to neglect the use of lawfull necessarie and competent meanes when GOD doeth afford them such as He hath left blessed be His Name to us in this Land yet in some measure But how a competent meanes can be had no man of understanding can see without such a calling foorth of the people in these parts of the Land that are yet free from the oppression of the enemie as is held foorth in the publick resolution which course being not sinfull in it selfe and being necessarie in the present case and condition of the kingdome if anie shall stumble thereat the scandal is not GIVEN but taken And if they doe refuse to concurre therein according to the duetie whereunto they are bound by the law of nature and the Covenant they cannot but highlie sinne agaynst GOD Yea suppose the civill Magistrate should imploy some instruments for defence of the Land whom they ought not to employ which we hope they will not doe and if they should we would not fayle to testifie agaynst them yet this will be no just ground nor give warrand to any godly in the Land to desert or lye back from performance of that necessarie duetie which they owe to their native countrey in a just cause but their part were to goe about this with all diligence mourning for the sinne of the Magistrate Therefore we doe againe in the Name of the LORD informe and exhort all the people of GOD in this Kirk and kingdome that in obedience to the lawfull command of Civill Authoritie they shall readilie honestlie and chearfullie goe about all the dueties that relate to our owne just defence That none in such an exigent either through base mynding their owne ease and personall safetie more than the publick safetie of the Land and Cause of GOD lye aback or by the suggestions or whisperings of any slandering the publick resolution of Kirk and State obstruct or retarde the present necessarie Levies for the Defence of the kingdome and Cause or suffer them selves to be hindered from their duetie But that everie one in his station lay out him selfe to the outmost and neither spare his person nor paines nor meanes for the acquyting of him selfe and encowraging of others Our cause is righteous what-so-ever it hath pleased the LORD in His Holie Iust and Wyse Providence to bring upon us for our sinnes agaynst His MAJESTIE especiallie our great misprysing and contempt of the glorious Gospell and of His Sonne IESUS CHRIST We stand for the Defence of our Religion Lyves Liberties Families Estates Countrey Governement our lawfull King and his just Authority in the Defence of Religion and everie thing that is or can be deare vnto anie people all which are in hazard to be destroyed and ruined by our wicked and perfidious enemies if so be we shall not in the LORDS Strength activelie bestirre our selves for our just Defence And now also the sadd and desolate condition of the Citie of our solemnities and the oppressions of all our deare Brethren under the feete of the enemie cry alowd to us who are bound by nature and Covenant to account the injuries done to them as if they were done to our selves who knoweth but the LORD who heretofore hath not gone out with our Armies agaynst this enemie will now returne and haue mercie on His people and show foorth His displeasure agaynst these who are helping forward the affliction Certaynlie the measure of their iniquitie is filling up and their feete shall slyde in due tyme for the day of vengeance is in the LORDS heart and the yeare of recompense for Zions contraversie He will not alwayes contend nor be angrie for ever with His people nor suffer the rod of the wicked to rest upon their lot lest they put foorth their hands to wickednesse Let us aryse and doe our duetie trusting IN HIS NAME and believing the words of His Prophets And that our sinnes may not stand up to separate betwixt us and our GOD let all of us King Nobles Pastours and people of all rankes labour more seriouslie and sincerelie to search out our provocations agaynst GOD and to be more deeplie humbled for the same to apply the LORD IESUS by fayth for our peace and reconciliation with GOD and to powre out our soules before Him that He may haue mercie vpon us through IESUS CHRIST and save us for His owne Names sake AMEN Perth 14 December 1650. Act for censuring such as act or comply with the Sectarian Armie now infesting this Kingdome THE Commission of the Generall Assemblie considering how greevous sinne agaynst GOD and scandall to Religion it were for anie of this Kirk and kingdome to joyne or comply with the Sectarian enemie who having most injustlie and perfidiouslie invaded this kingdome have shed so much of the blood of GODS people are destroying the Land and are so wicked enemies to the Trueth of GOD and work of Reformation And having heard that some alreadie have fallen into these sinnes Therefore the Commission for removing so greevous scandall Ordayne that all such as have or shall joyne in Armes or counsell with the foresayd enemie upon the cleare notice and evidence thereof shall be excommunicate and all such as shall be found to have procured protections from the sayd enemie execute anie orders from them or given them intelligence or have spoken favourablie of them and to the advantage of their cause And all such as shall be found in anie other way to comply with them shall be censured according to the degrees of their compliance as others have been censured who have complyed with other enemies of the Covenant and Cause of GOD and the Peace of this Kirk and kingdome And to the effect all persones may be warned to guard and keepe themselves from being misled or carried away by anie inducement or tentation into such course It is appoynted that this Act be read publicklie in all the Congregations of this Kirk A. Ker.