Selected quad for the lemma: church_n
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A33093
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A declaration of the commissioners of the Generall Assembly to the whole kirk and kingdome of Scotland concerning present dangers and duties relating to the Covenant and religion.
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Church of Scotland. General Assembly. Commission.; Ker, A.
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1648
(1648)
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Wing C4219; ESTC R26458
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8,465
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16
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Majesty and his posterity according to the Covenant not being ignorant what confusions and calamities use to attend the change either of the government it self or of the Royall line Neverthelesse the Country being so generally possessed with so dangerous a mistake and misunderstanding of so great a businesse and his Majesty himself professing in his Letter to us dated at Carisbrook Castle Decemb. 27. last that he hath resolved so far to agree to the desires of this Kirk Kingdom concerning the Covenant and setling Religion as he is confident shall give us satisfaction If now we should be silent we might be understood as tacitely consenting acquiescing We are therfore necessitated for undeceiving the Nation for acquitting our selves to declare that a narrative of the state or publick affairs having bin made to us by those who were entrusted for that effect since delivered to us in writing we have more especially taken to our serious thoughts so much of that narrative as was from his Majesty made known unto us his resolutions for satisfaction in point of Religion The first Article whereof is as followeth 1. For the Covenant his Majesty giving belief to the professions of these who have entred into the League and Covenant and that their intentions are reall for preservation of his Majesties person according to their allegiance and no waies to diminish his just power and greatnesse is content so soon as he can with freedom honour and safety be present in a free Parliament to confirm the said League and Covenant by Act of Parliament in both Kingdoms for security of all those who have taken or shall take the said Covenant provided that none who is unwilling shal be constrained to take it Which Article hath nothing in it of his Majesties affection to or liking and approbation of the Covenant but only what he is content to yeild in order to His own interest Yea an Act of Parliament for security of those who have taken or shal take the Covenant doth or may suppose some fault or somewhat justly challengable in the taking of the Covenant which needeth ane Act of indemnity Next the offer is but conditionall and hath in the bosome of it ane complication of such so many conditions as might open a door to some evasion or other by multiplying exceptions difficulties and various notions either concerning the professions of those who have entred into the League and Covenant or concerning his Majesties just power greatnesse or concerning his freedom honour safety or concerning a free Parliament And although the concession were certain absolute it amounts to no more but to a leaving of the Covenant arbitrary which is contrary to the Acts of the Generall Assembly Parliament in this Kingdom to the Declaration of both Kingdoms before cited to one of the chief Propositions of Religion once agreed upon by both Kingdoms for a safe wel-grounded peace viz. The Proposition concerning his Majesties swearing signing of the League Covenant and enjoyning by Act of Parl in both Kingdoms the taking thereof by all the Subjects in the three Kingdoms with such penalties as shal be agreed upon by both Kingdoms so that the first Article of his Majesties offer is a most manifest altering of the state of this cause It is also a strengthning of the hearts hands both of the Sectaries and of the Malignant party a partaking and conniving at the sin of all those in the three Kingdoms who have refused or shall refuse to enter into the League and Covenant an introducing of a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the Kingdom and the honour of the King And therefore we have judged this Article not only unsatisfactory but destructive to the Covenant Neither are we moved with that objection which is hinted concerning the constraining or inforting of mens consciences They refuse a necessary duty who refuse to take the Covenant and the penalty or punishment of such refusall is no constraining of the conscience more then the penalty or punishment of a Subject who refuseth to take the Oath of Allegiance is a constraining of the conscience to Loyalty or more then the punishment of Idolaters Blasphemers and Seducers mentioned so often in Scripture can be called a constraining of the conscience to the fear of of God The words of the second Article are these His Majesty wil likewise confirm by Act of Parliament in England Presbyteriall Government the Directory for Worship and Assembly of Divines at Westminster for three years so that his Majesty and his houshold be not hindered from using that form of Divine Service he hath formerly practised and that a free debate and consultation be had with the Divines at Westminster twenty of his Majesties nomination being added unto them and with such as shall be sent from the Church of Scotland whereby it may be determined by his Majesty and the two Houses how the Church Government after the three years shall be fully established according to the word of God For ought we know the conditions couched in the first Article are also to be understood in this and the following Articles However this second Article as it is but the same in substance with some of his Majesties concessions in former Messages so that which is proposed in it is but a Toleration of Presbyteriall Government in England and that but for three years and is a direct allowance at least of the Book of Common Prayer in his Majesties Houshold and moreover by the second Article not only a door is left open for re-establishing Prelacy and the Service Book But the happy progresse already made in the Reformation and uniformity of Religion according to the Covenant in a confession of Faith Directory of Worship Form of Church Government Catechisme is set aside as so much lost labour in order to a future setlement Free debate with any of the Prelaticall party nominated by his Majesty when there was any such occasion hath not bin declined But we have great cause to be tender of unsetling and razing agood foundation already laid in the work of Reformation And whereas his Majesty will have it determined by himself and the two Houses how the Church Government after the said three years shall be established according to the Word of God This doth at once cut off three of the most materiall Propositions concerning Religion formerly agreed upon by both Kingdoms and from both tendred to his Majesty though some of them be now laid aside by the two Houses of the Parliament of England namely The third Proposition for abolishing Arch-bishops Bishops c. The fifth Proposition That Reformation of Religion according to the Covenant be setled by Act of Parliament in such manner as both Houses have agreed or shall agree upon after consultation had with the Assembly of Divines And the sixth Proposition That such unity and
uniformity in Religion according to the Covenant as after consultation had with the Divines of both Kingdomes assembled at Westminster is or shall be joyntly agreed by both Houses of the Parliament of England and by the Church and Kingdom of Scotland be confirmed by Acts of Parliament of both Kingdoms respectively Of which three Propositions there can be no hopes as to his Majesties consent or concurrance if the offer now made concerning a determination by his Majesty and the two Houses be compared with his Majesties claiming of a negative voice and with his Message of Novemb. 16. in which He declared that both in relation as he is a Christian and as a King he cannot give His consent to the abolishing Arch-bishops Bishops c. Believing that this Order was placed in the Church by the Apostles themselves and that his Majesty is also bound by his Coronation Oath to maintain it And this Message of November 16. His Majesty adhereth unto in his Answer to the Bills and Proposition presented to him at Carisbrook Castle which Answer is dated Decemb. 28. and so after his Majesties Letter to us Upon these and the like considerations we have found the said second Article of his Majesties offers in point of Religion to be destructive to Presbyteriall Government the Directory of Worship and the uniformity intended according to the Covenant For the third Article delivered to us in these words And for suppressing of Schisme and Heresies his Majesty is content and most willing that an effectuall course be taken by Act of Parliament and all other ways needfull and expedient for suppressing the opinions and practises of Antinomians Arians Socinians Antiscripturists Anabaptists Arminians Familists Brownists Separatists Independent Libertines and Seekers and generally for suppressing all Blasphemy Heresie Schism and all such scandalous doctrine or practises as are contrary to the light of nature or to the known principles of Christianity whether concerning faith worship or conversation or to the power of Godlinesse or which may be destructive to order or government or to the peace of Church or Kingdom As we do Approve of the Suppression of the particular Heresies and Schismes ennumerate in his Majesties offer So we see not how it can be reconciled with his Majesties Message of Novemb. 16. in which there was a concession to all such as differ from Presbyteriall Government And do further find the Article dangerous and defective in omitting Erastianism and other dangerous errors especially Popery and Prelacy which may prove destructive to the Covenant in ministring the occasion to Papists and Prelats to plead for a toleration although the Covenant bind us to endevour the extirpation both of Popery and Prelacy Having now discovered the snares and dangers We shall in the next place most humbly and seriously propose and recommend some wholsome seasonable and pious counsels to all the members of this Church and Kingdom especially to the Honourable and High Court of Parliament and to the Brethren of the Ministry which may also serve to expresse our sense concerning the whole matter contained in that narrative delivered to us in writing so far as is competent and fit for us to give any Judgment thereupon First to all we exhort all and every one to make more conscience of endevouring a reall Reformation of themselves and their Families and of the places in which they live then ever yet they have done to be more serious in searching their hearts considering their waies and purging themselves from all filthinesse of the flesh and spirit to perfect holines in the fear of God to oppose wickednes and profanesse promote the power and practice of Godlines and to be deeply humbled before the Lord for neglecting these things so much and so long with all employing and improving Christs all-sufficiency and striving to exercise faith in him for the grace of mortification and sanctification as well as for remission of sins and peace with God that being implanted and rooted in him we may grow up as trees of Righteousnes the planting of the Lord that he may be glorified for without amendment of life and bringing forth of better fruit the fierce wrath of the Lord cannot turn away from us Secondly as men desire they may not be led into temptation but may be guided in safe and right paths in the midst of so great difficulties Let them avoid the company and councell of the ungodly whereby even good men have been oft times most dangerously ensnared Let all that fear God choose the Testimonies of the Lord for their counsellours be much in prayer and searching the minde of God in his word without leaning to their owne understanding or consulting with flesh and bloud in casess of conscience Thirdly seeing 't is no act of wisdom but of folly so to shun one danger as to run upon another as bad or worse Let us therefore avoid enemies and beware of dangers on all hands We cannot see but the cause of God the true Religion the Covenant Presbyteriall Government this Church and Kingdom and whatsoever is dearest to us will be in as great danger if the Prelaticall party prevail as now they are into by the power prevalency of Sectaries in England who have made the Covenant and begun reformation to be laid aside and hindered the promoting thereof So that there is a necessity to be apprehensive of dangers and attentive to remedies on both sides and to beware of compliance with and connivance at Sectaries on the one hand and Malignants on the other Fourthly when we speak of Malignants we desire that the distinction may be remembred which was mad in the solemn Warning to the Kingdom from the Generall Assembly in Feb. 1645. viz. That the cause is in very great danger from two sorts of Malignant Enemies First from such as have openly displayed a Banner or joyned in Armes and professed Hostility against the cause and such as adheared thereunto Secondly from secret Malignants Dis-covenanters and bosome Enemies This second sort may by still known by some Characters given both at that time and before that time As by their slandering or censuring the Covenant of the three Kingdomes and expedition into England in the year 1643. as not necessary for the good of Religion or safety of this Kingdom or as tending to the diminution of the Kings just Power and greatnesse By their confounding of the Kings Power and just Authority with the pretence and abuse thereof by Commissions Warrants or Letters procured from his Majesty by the Enemies of this cause and Covenant As if none were Faithfull and Loyall to the King who oppose such men and their wayes By their Spleen Malice and callumnies against such as God hath made eminently instrumentall in this cause and now resolve to be constant to the end in their first Principles as if such men were the Kings Enemies who are most zealous for the good and safety of Religion By their commending justifying or excusing other known