former Prelacy answered above Peri. 4. Pag. 54. 3. In a Constitute and settled case of the Church enjoying her Priviledges Judicatories corruptions may be â—oreborn and the offended are not to withdraw before recourse to the Judicatories for an orderly redress But in a broken disturbed State when there is no access to these Courts of Christ then people thô they must not usurp a power of Judicial Censuring these corruptions yet they may claim exercise a discretive power over their oun practice and by their withdrawing from such Ministers as are guilty of them signify their sense of the moral equity of these censures that have been legally enacted against these the equivalent corruptions and when they should be legally inflicted As we do upon this Ground withdraw from the Prelatick Curats and likewise from some of our Covenanted Brethren upon the account of their being chargable with such corruptions defections from our Reformation as we cannot but shew our dislike of This the Reverend Author of Rectius instruendum justifies Confut. 3. Dial. Chap. 1. Pag. 8. where he is shewing what separation is not sinful and gives this for one if we separate in that which a National Church hath commanded us as her Members to disoune by her standing Acts Authority while those from whom we separate oune that Corruption Which holds true of the Curats Indulged and Addressers and all that we withdraw from However it be certainly those are to be withdrawn from with whom we cannot communicate without submitting to the Lawes establishing them and taking on that Test badge of our incorporation with them and partaking of their sin in hazard of their judgment IV. Thô in some cases as we are warranted so are necessitated to withdraw yet neither do we allow it upon slight or slender grounds nor can any tender soul be forced to discountenance the Ministers of Christ I do not speak here of the Prelatick Curats without great reluctancy and grief of heart even when the grounds of it are solid valid and the necessity unavoidable Therefore we reject these as insufficient Grounds besides what are given already 1. We cannot withdraw from a Minister for his Infirmities or weaknesses Natural spiritual or Moral 2. Neither for Persâ—nal faults escapes We expect a faithful but not a sinless Ministrie 3. Nor for every defect in faithfulness through Ignorance want of courage Misinformation or being byassed with affection for particular persons We do not hold that faults in Members or defects in Ministers do pollute the Oordinances and so necessitate a Separation but aggree with what Mr Durham sayes on Revel chap. 2. Lect. 6. Pag. 147. in 4 to Sincerity discovered will cover many faults 4. Nor for every discoverie of Hypocrisie thô we may have groâ—nd to suspect a Mans principle Motive be not right yet if he be following duty unblameably and have a Lawfull Call What then notwithstanding every way whether in Pretence or in Truth Christ is Preached therein me may rejoyce Philip. 1. 18. 5. Nor yet for real Scandals not attended with obstinacy if Ministers will take reproof admonition and at least by Doctrinal Confessing and practicall for saking them satisfie the offended 6. Yea thô his Scandals be so gross that we must discountenance him when he persisâ—s in them yet that is not a disouning of his Ministrie `or a rejecting his Commission but a discountenancing for his disorders until they be removed But the Apologet. Relaâ— Sect. 14. Pag. 290 291. sayes 1 there may be Ministerial corruptions that cut the very throat of the Office and make one no Officer and it is past questioning such may be shunned without all hazard of Separation 2 when personal faults are very gross palpable open avowed such may be shuned without any hazard of Separation because the mans being an Officer coram Deo is much to be questioned and there is great probability that ipso facto he had forefaulted the same thô such should be the corruption in a Church that notwithstanding of all this he may be maintained 3 Separation is 〈◊〉 thing and not hearing such or such a man is a far other thing there may be many just grounds of exception against a particular person why people may refuse to countenance him without any hazard of separation or joining with separatists in their principles Separation is one thing and refusing to attend the Ministrie of such a man is another thing for a man may joine with Ordinances in another congregation and so testify that he hath no prejudice at the Ministrie but only against such a man in particular Whence it is an ignorant as wel as malicious calumnie to say that our withdrawing from the Curats and also from some Ministers whom otherwise we respect reverence as Godly Ministers for their offensive defections is a disouning al the Ministrie of Scotland Whereas we do profess indeed a disouning of the Curats Ministrie but for our Reverend Presbyterian Ministers thô we do discountenance many of them with sad hearts for their not keeping the Word of the Lords patience in this hour of tentation nor adhering to the principles constitutions of the Church of Scotland Yet this is not a disouning of their Ministrie but a Refusing to countenance them in their present administrations in this disturbed State till these offences be removed V. As to disoune the Ministrie were hateful Sectarianisme so to dissolve or break off Communion with a true Church whereof we are Members were an unnatural Schisme which is horrid sin But because among all the various Sufferings wherewith the poor tossed racked Remnant now Persecuted have been exercised this hath not been the lightest that they have been on all hands stigmatized as Schismaticks Separatists not only because they have maintained a resolved withdrawing from the Curats but also have discountenanced many Presbyterian Ministers with whom they have been offended for their declining Courses and Complyances with the Times Corruptions and forsaking in a great measure the duty of this day I shall distinguish some cases of Separation out of the Writings of our approven Authors which will jâ—â—tify all their withdrawings 1. Mr Durham distinguishes these three Schisme separating from the Unity Communion of a true Church consisting not alway in diversity of Doctrine but in divided Practices according to that of Augustine Schismaticos facit not diversa fides sed disrupta communionis Societas Then separation either in whole from a Church as no Church or in part in some things wherein they cannot communicate with that corrupt Church which is Lawful if it exceed not its ground Then lastly Secession a local removing to a better Church The first of these cannot be imputed to the Persecuted Wanderers for they separate from no true Church whereof they were Members but these from whom they separate will be found to be the Schismaticks 2. The second of these to wit separation
all Power given to him in Heaven in Earth and all Authority even because He is the Son of man An Institute right by the Fathers Inauguration which hath set Him as King in Zion An Acquisite right by His oun Purchase by which He hath merited obtained not only Subjects to Govern but the Glory of the Sole Soveraignty over them in that relation a Name above every Name A Bellical right by Conquest making the People fall under Him and be willing in the day of His Power and overcoming those that make war with Him An Hereditary right by Proximity of blood Primogeniture being the first born higher then the Kings of the Earth and the first born from the dead that in all things He might have the Preeminence An Elective right by His Peoples choise surrender a Croun wherewith His Mother Crouned Him in the Day of His espousals In a humble recognizance of all which Rights we oune avouch that He hath that Incommunicable Prerogative of Sole Soveraignty over his Visible Kingdom as well as Invisible without a Copartner or Competitor either Coordinate or subordinate in Prescribing Lawes by no humane Authority to be reversed in appointing Ordinances immutable without addition or diminution for matter or manner instituting a Government which no man or Angel can without Blasphemy arrogate a Power either to invert or evert change or overturn And Constituting Officers which must depend only on His Authority and His alone and must be cloathed only with His Commission and His alone guided by His Instructions His alone Acting according to His Lawes Prescribed Platforme and His alone without any dependence on subordination to Licence warrand or Indulgence from any Mortal And therefore We disoune detest every thing that hath not the stamp of His Authority either in Doctrine Worship Discipline or Government And will discountenance Prelacy Supremacy Popery and all Corruption contrarie to His Institution who is Sole Supreme Lawgiver to the Conscience and will submit to or comply with nothing that may directly or indirectly signify our respect unto them Hence we will take none of their Oaths subscribe none of their bonds yeeld to none of their Impositions pay none of their Exactions Neither will we hear or receive Ordinances from any Minister but the faithful Authorized Ambassadours of Christ our King whatever either rage or reproach we suffer for it We assert affirm also that our Exalted Prince is King of the whole world by whom Kings reign Princes Decree Justice as His Ministers of Justice in subordination to Him whom He hath appointed to rule over us with just boundaries that they may not exceed and true Characters by which we should know them pay them deference And therefore who soever shall arrogate to themselves and extend their power beyond above His prescripts being neither called to nor qualified for nor improving the Office for the ends He hath appointed We will acknowledge them no otherwise than Usurping Tyrants not Magistrats nor Ministers of Justice to whom He hath given the Sword by His preceptive Will only as Lyons Bears Wolves to whom he hath given a rod by His providential Will In that case we may be passively subject when we cannot do better but will never oune Consciencious Allegiance to them nor oune them as our Lawful Magistrars And therefore we will not bow to their Idols they have set up nor prostitute either Conscience or Liberty to their Lust But will endeavour under our Masters Banner Conduct to preserve whatever he hath intrusted to us Religion Life Liberty Estate And whatsoever the Lord our God hath given us to possess As they unjustly possess what their God gives them And will maintain a war of constant opposition to them against whom our Lord hath declared a war for ever without parly Treaty of peace Capitulation Composition Truce or any Transaction we will neither Medle nor make with them less or more nor seek their favour nor embrace it when it is offered on any termes that may imply any obligation to surcease from our duty to our King and irreconcileable opposition to them c. Now I shall come more Distinctly to the purpose in offering a short vindication of the Heads Grounds of our great sufferings Dividing them into their principal parts which I reduce to two viz Negatives Positives The Negative Grounds I reckon three principally 1. For Refusing to acknowledge a Corrupt Ministrie 2. For Refusing to oune a Tyrannical Magistracy 3. For Refusing to Swear subscribe their unlawful imposed Oaths Chiefly that of Abjuration which was the occasion of suffering unto death The positive Grounds are also three 1. For frequenting field-meetings to receive Gospel-Ordinancs from faithful Ministers 2. For maintaining the principle practice of Defensive Resistence of Superior powers 3. For maintaining the priviledge Duty of offensive revenge in executing Justice upon Murdering Enemies of Mankind in cases of extreme necessity In prosecuting which I shall intertexe some subordinate questions relating to their respective Heads and endeavour to discuss them briefly HEAD I. Where The Sufferings of many for Refusing to acknowledge a Corrupt Ministrie are Vindicated and the Question of Hearing Curats is cleared THis Question though it may seem nice and of no great Moment to Persons of Gallio's or Laodiceds temper indifferent Lukwarm dispositions consulting their oun more them the things of Christ which maks it pass without any enquiry with the most part of the world Yet to all who are truly tender in keeping a good Conscience free of the times Contagion to all who have the true Impression of the fear of God who is Iealous especially in the matters of his worship to all who have the true zeal of God eating them up in a just indignation at the indignities done to him in usurping the office corrupting the Administration of the Ministrie to all who truly Love the Gospel and put a due value on the Ordinances of Christ the Corruptions whereof this Question touches it will be accounted of great importance There are three Questions about the Duty of hearing the Word Concerning which the Lord Jesus gives us very weighty Cautions viz what we should hear Mark. 4. 24. how we should hear Luk. 8. 18. and whom we should hear The last of which though it be not so expressly Stated as the other two yet the Searcher of the Scriptures will find it as clearly Determined and as many Cautions to guard from erring in it as in any other Case And that the Concern of Conscience in it is very weighty And certain it is if there had been more advertency in this Point there would not have been such inconsideration and Licenciousness in the matter manner of hearing Nor would that itching humor Luxuriancy of lust in heaping up teachers to please the fancy have been so much encouraged to the great detriment of the Church disgrace of the
station is obliged to endeavour to bring these Achans to condign punishment 9. As it must be taken for granted that these wicked Oppressions by Law are Perjurie avouched in the sight of God yea in a peculiar manner our Covenanted subjection unto Him is turned into an open War against Him So we cannot but beleeve that for this hight of wickedness the Curse of God to which in the Covenant the Nation in case of breach is liable by their oun consent and the Mediators Malediction shall follow pursue overtake and fall upon the head of these who have made the Decrees and upon all who concur in the execution and carry on this Course Oh! its impossible to keep them company and not fall with them into the hands of the living God. Well then seeing every one from whom these Exactions are required is under an anterior obligation to God and the Brethren to preserve these precious Interests which the Imposers have been long essaying to root out ruine and His people whom they have been destroying with the loss of all he hath life not excepted For I suppose none who acknowledgeth his Soul is still under the bond of the Covenant and it s like to cost him his soul who denies it but he will oune this to be duty Nay none who hath any sense of Religion but abstracting from the subjective obligation of a sworn Covenant he will oune an objective obligation from the Law of the great superior that doth immediately bind the Conscience to witness against this course and to lay doun if it should come to that his life for his Brethren Then for a man to give his goods to destroy these things persons which he is obliged to defend preserve with the loss of all is so clear a making himself a Tyransgressor in paying his proportion and being at the expense of destroying what he built and building what he destroyed that it seems inexplicable how he can dream to be innocent especially when more lies upon it than the souls of the Complyers are worth even the Interest of Christ in the Land. And to close this I would put home the question and pose the Conscience of any that took that Covenant If in that day the question had been asked at him whether he would have judged the paying of a Cess for the ends narrated to suppress a Testimony for that Covenanted Reformation the paying of fines fees for ouning it to the overturners Breakers Burners of it to be a plain Perjurie palpable counteracting of the ends thereof And let him speak his soul and it s beyond debate with me he will not dare to say he took it in a sense which can subsist with these Complyances Nay I doubt not if to any Morally serious it had been then said yow will pay money c. for destroying this Covenant and its ends and deleting the Remnant that shall be found to adhere to it he would have given Hazaels answer It concerns every man that would be free of the Curse of it to consider how he is brought to make enquirie after vowes or to dream of Consistencies betwixt the performing those Engagements and the plainest concurring in a Counteracting thereof 10. If then these Impositions be so wicked and for such wicked Ends Causes Then in order to my being free of this heinous guilt there is a necessity of my giving a Testimony and such an one which when brought to the Touchstone will get Gods approbation and be my Acquittance from a Concurrence Now it is not imaginable that my Testimony can be the exact obedience to the Law against the wickedness whereof it is witnessed But on the Contrary it must be at least a plain positive Refusing to yeeld obedience to that Law when I am in no other case to counteract these Commands for I must either obey and be guilty or refuse and be innocent I shall not here plunge into the Labyrinth of these debates difficulties wherewith this matter of Testimonies hath been perplexed and mostly by those who have had no great mind to the thing I shall only propound these few Queries 1 Wether any thing less than a Testimony can free me of this guilt whereby the Nation involved in it is made a Curse 2 Wether we beleeve that the Testimony of every one shall be called for in the day when God shall seek out this wickedness 3 Whether if ever it be necessary it be not then when Christ is openly opposed and every one is called either to concur or to testifie 4 Whether a Testimony against a wicked Law must not be notour for my Testimony must make it evident that the Law is not obeyed by me else it is no Testimony 5 Whether it be not necessary also that it be with that plainness boldness as it may keep some proportion with the prodigiousness of that wickedness testified against 6 Whether to the making it a Testimony indeed it is not only required that an opposition be made at first out that this be so persisted in as by no subsequent deed it be weakened 7 Whether we do not take it for granted that according as a man hath Testified the sentence of the righteous Judge shall pass For he who hath not purged himself thereby from the guilt of this Conspiracy shall be led forth punished with these Workers of iniquity It s a saying which should sink in the soul of every one who would be saved especially in such a day Whosoever therefore shall Confess me before men him will I Confess also before my Father which is in Heaven but whosoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny c. Oh that men would now judge of things Courses as in that hour they desire to be judged and then there would be litle difficulty what to determine in the Case 11. From what is said it appears that there is no other way of Testifying against it or shunning the sin of this wickedness imposing enjoyning these Complyances but by Refusing them Which as it is clear duty so it hath many Advantages to countervail all the supposed loss that can be sustained thereby It is a shameful subterfuge to say I strengthen them more by doing thus which will make them take all and so put themselves in better case to do the Mischief decreed For as it is then my suffering not my sin so it is simply false that I do hereby strengthen their hands for hereby I do more certainly weaken their hands and wound their Cause by my Counteracting Testifying Suffering For. 1. I do really to the uttermost of the sphere of my activity Counteract their design And hence besides my oun upmaking Peace of Conscience which is my hundredfold in this Life I glorify God in the day of visitation behaving as the Subject Souldier of the Prince Michael And thô I losse my life in the Conflict yet the victory over the
of Scotland did now suffer a violent villanous rape from a vermine of vile Schismatical Apostates obtruded imposed upon her instead of her able painful faithful succeseful Pastors that the Lord had set over her and now by their faintness the Enemies force robbed from her And none now allowed by Law to administer the Ordinances but either Apostate Curats who by their Perjurie Apostacy forfaulted their Ministry or other Hirelings Prelatâ— Journey-men who run without a Mission except from them who had none to give according to Christs Institution the seal of whose Ministry could never yet be shown in the Conversion of any sinner to Christ but if the tree may be known by its fruitâ— we may know whose Ministers they are ut ex ungue Leonem by their Conversions of Reformation into Deformation of the Work Cause of God into the similitude of the Roman beast of Ministers into Hirelings of their Proselytes into ten times worse children of the Devil then they were before of the power of Godlyness into formality of Preaching Christ into Orations of Morality of the purity of Christs Ordinances into the vanity of mens Inventions of the beautiful Government of the House of God for Edification to a Lordly preheminence Domination over consciences in a word of Church State Constitutions for Religion Liberty all up side doun into wickedness slavery These are the Conversions of Prelacy But now this astonishing blow to the Gospel of the Kingdom introducing such a Swarm of Locusts into the Church And in forcing a Complyance of the people with this defection and that so violently rigorously as even simple withdrawing was so severely punished by severe Edicts of fyning other arbitrary punishments at first what did it produce did it awaken all Christs Ambassadours now to appear for Christ in this clear clamant case of Confessing Him and the freedom Purity of His Ordinances Alas the backwardness bentness to backsliding in a Superseding from the duties of that day did make it evident that now the Lord had in a great measure forsaken them because they had forsaken Him. The standart of the Gospel was then fallen and few to take it up The Generality of Ministers Professors both went Conformed so far as to hear the Curats contrary to many points of the Reformation formerly attained contrare to their Covenant Engagments and contrare to their oun principles practice at that same time scrupling and refusing to keep the Bishops visitations and to Countenance their Discipline power of Iurisdiction because it was required as a Testification of their acknowledgment of Complyance with the present Government And yet not scrupling to Countenance their Doctrine usurped power of Order required also by the same Law as the same Test of the same Compliance submission It s strange that some yet doe plead for persisting in that same Complyance after all the bitter Consequents of it Other Ministers Lay altogether by in their retired recesses waiting to see what things would turn to Others were hopeless turned Farmers Doctors others more wyllie staid at home Preached quietly in Ladies Chambeâ—â— But the faithful thought that this Tyrannical ejection did 〈◊〉 or could not unminister them so as they might not Preaâ—â—â— Gospel where ever they were as Ambassadours of 〈◊〉 but rather found themselves under an indispensible necessity to Preach the Gospel and witness for the freedom of their Ministry and make full proof of it in preaching in season 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 attrapped were constrained at last to keep their Meetings in the fields without shelter from cold wind snow or rain Where testifieing both practically particularly against these Usurpations on their Masters Prerogatives and witnessing for their Ministerial freedom contrary to all Law-Interdictions without any Licences or Indulgences from the Usurper but holding their Ministry from Jesus Christ alone both as to the Office exercise thereof they had so much of their Masters Countenance success in their labours that they valued neither hazards nor 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 as they called them Now having thus overturned the Church Government by introducing Prelacy to advance an absolute Supremacy the effects whereof were either the Corruption or Persecution of all the Ministrie Encouragment of profanity wickedness the enerease advancment of Popery Superstition Error cruel impositions on the Conscience and oppressions for Conscience sake by the practices of cruel Supra-Spanish Inquisitions and all manner of outcryes of outragious violence villany The King proceeds in his design to pervert evert the wel modelled moderated Constitution of the State Government also by introducing advancing an Arbitrary Tyranny the effects whereof were an absolute Mancipation of Lives Liberties and estates unto his lust pleasure the utter subversion of Lawes and absolute impoverishinâ—â— the people For effectuating which he first procâ—â— lasting Imposition of intollerable Subsidies Taxatiâ—â— to impoverish that he might the more easily enslave the Nation Next a further recognizance of his Prerogative in a subjection of persons fortunes whole strength of the Kingdom to his absolute arbitrement in a Levy of Militia of 20000 footmen 2000 horsemen sufficiently armed with 40 dayes provision to be ready upon the Kings call to march to any part of his Dominions for opposing whatsoever invasion or insurrection or for any other service The first sproutings of Tyrannie were cherished by the cheerfull stupid submission generally yeelded to these exorbitances under which they who suffered most were inwardly Malecontents but there was no opposition to them by word or Action but on the contrary generally people did not so much as scruple sending out or going out as Militia-men never adverting unto what this Concurrence was designed demanded and given for Nor what an accession it was in the nature influence of the mean it self and in the sense intention of the Requirers unto a Confederacy for a Complyance with and a Confirmation strengthening of Arbitrary Tyrannie After the fundamental constitutions of both Church State are thus razed rooted up to confirm this Absolute Power he contrived to frame all inferior Magistrats according to his mould And for this end appointed that all persons in any publick Trust or Office whatsoever should subscribe a Declaration renouncing abjuring the Covenants whereby Perjurie was made the chief indispensible qualification and Conditio sine qua non of all that were
like lightning or like the Sun in its Meridian beauty discovering so the Wonders of Gods Law the Mysteries of His Gospel and the Secrets of His Covenant and the Sins Duties of that day that a numerous issue was begotten to Christ and His Conquest was Glorious Captivating poor slaves of Satan and bringing them from his power unto God and from darkness to Light. O! who can remember the Glory of that Day without a melting heart in reflecting upon what we have lost and let go and sinned away by our Misimprovements O that in that our day we had hearkened to His voice and had known the things that belonged to our peace A day of such power that it made the People even the bulk body of the People willing to come out and venture upon the greatest of hardships and the greatest of hazards in pursuing after the Gospel through Mosses Moors inaccessible Mountains Summer Winter through excess of heat extremity of cold many dayes night-journeyes even when they could not have a probable expectation of escaping the Sword of the wilderness and the barbarous fury of bloody Burrio's raging for their prey sent out with orders to take kill them it being now made Criminal by Law especially to the preachers Convocaters of those Meetings But this was a day of such power that nothing could daunt them from their duty that had tasted once the sweetness of the Lords presence at these persecuted Meetings Then had we such Humiliation-dayes for personal publick Defections such Communion-dayes even in the open fields and such Sabbath-Solemnities that the places where they were kept might have been called Bethel or Peniel or Bochim and all of them Iehovah-Shammah wherein many were truly Converted more Convinced and generally all Reformed from their former immoralities That even Robbers Thieves and Profane Men were some of them brought to a saving subjection to Christ and generally under such restraint that all the severities of heading hanging c. in a great many years could not make such a Civil Reformation as a few dayes of the Gospel in these formerly the Devils Teritories now Christs Quarters where His Kingly Standart was displayed I have not Language to lay out the inexpressible Glory of that day But I will make bold to say two things of it first I doubt if ever there was Greater dayes of the Son of Man upon the Earth since the Apostolick times than we enjoyed for the space of Seven years at that time And next I doubt if upon the back of such a lightsome day there was ever a blacker night of darkness defection division confusion and a more universal impudent Apostasie than we have seen since The world is at a great loss that a more exact complete account demonstrating both these is not published which I am sure would be a fertile Theme to any faithful pen. But this not being my scope at present but only to deduce the steps of the Contendings of Christs Friends His Enemies I must follow the threed of my Narration Now when Christ is gaining Ground by the preached Gospel in plenty in purity power the Usurpers Supremacy was like to stagger and Prelacy came under universal Contempt in so much that several Country Curats would have had but scarce half a dozen of hearers and some none at all And this was a General Observe that never failed that no sooner did any poor Soul come to get a serious sense of Religion and was brought under any real Exercise of Spirit about their Souls Concerns but as soon they did fall out with Prelacy and left the Curats Hence to secure what he had possessed himself of by Law and to prevent a dangerous Paraxisme which he thought would ensue upon these Commotions the King returned to exerce his innate Tyranny and to emit terrible Orders and more terrible Executioners bloody Emissaries against all Field Meetings which after long patience the people at length could not endure but being first chased to the Fields where they would have been content to have the Gospel with all the inconveniences of it and also expelled from the Fields being resolute to maintain the Gospel they resolved to defend it themselves by Armes To which unavoidable necessity in unsupportable extremity did constrain them as the only remaining remedy It is known for several years they met without any Armes where frequently they were disturbed dispersed with Souldiers some killed others wounded which they patiently endured without Resistence At length the Ministers that were most in hazard having a Price set upon their heads to be brought in dead or alive with some attending them in their wanderings understanding they were thus appointed for death judged it their duty to provide for the necessary defence of their lives from the violence of their Armed Assaulters And as Meetings increased diverse others came under the same hazard which enforced them to endeavour the same remedy without the least intention of prejudice to any Thus the number of Sufferers increasing as they joyned in the Ordinances at these persecuted Meetings found themselves in some probable Capacity to defend themselves and these much endeared precious Gospel Priviledges to preserve the Memory of the Lords great Work in the Land which to transmit to posterity was their great design And they had no small encouragment to endeavour it by the satisfying sweetness comfort they found in these Ordinances being perswaded of the justness of their Cause and of the groundlessness of their Adversaries quarrel against them And hereunto also they were incited prompted by the palpableness of the Enemies purposes to destroy the Remainder of the Gospel by extirpating the Remnant that professed it Wherefore in these circumstances being redacted to that strait either to be deprived of the Gospel or to defend themselves in their Meetings for it And thinking their turning their backs upon it for hazard was a cowardly deserting duty and palpable breach of Covenant-Engagments abandoning their greatest Interest They thought it expedient yea necessary to carry defensive Armes with them And as for that discouragment from the difficulty danger of it because of their fewness meanness it did not deter or daunt them from the endeavour of their duty when they considered the Lord in former times was wont to oune a very small party of their Ancestors who in extremity jeoparded their lives in defence of Reformation against very potent powerful Enemies These now ouning the same Cause judged themselves obliged to run the same hazard in the same circumstances and to follow the same method durst not leave it unessayed leaving the event to God considering also that not only the Law of Nature Nations doth allow self defence from unjust violence but also the indissoluble obligation of their Covenants to maintain defend the true Religion one another in promoving the same made it indispensible to use
Christ come in as Partners in the same bargain with Antichrists Vassals And the Lords Ark hath a place with Dagon and its Priests Followers consent to it And the builders of Babel of Ierusalem ar made to build together under the same Protection and a sluce is opened to let the enemy come in like a flood which to oppose the Accepters cannot stand in the Gap nor lift up a Standart against them Liberty indeed should be Universally extended to all the Lords People as Cyrus his Proclamation was General who is there among yow of all His People his God be with him But a Toleration of Idolaters Blasphemers Hereticks as Papists c. is odious to God because it is contrary to Scripture expressly Commanding Idolaters to die the death and all Seducers Entycers to Apostasie from God to be put to death without pity and Commending all righteous Magistrats that executed Judgement accordingly as Asa Hezekiah c. yea even Heathen Magistrats that added their Sanction to the Lawes of God as Artaxerxes is approven for that Statute that whosoever will not do the Law of God and of the King judgement should be executed speedily upon him And in the New Testament this was never repealed but confirmed in that the sword is given to Magistrats not in vain but to be a terror to and revengers to execute wrath upon all that do evil among whom Seducers that are evil workers Idolaters are chiefly to be ranked being such as do the worst of evil to mankind Ephesus is commended because they could not bear them which are evil and Thyatira reproved for suffering Iezebel by which it appeareth that our Lord Jesus is no friend to Toleration It is true this is spoken against Church-men but will any think that will be approven in Civil Powers which is so hateful in Church Officers Surely it will be the duty honour of these horns spoken of Revel 17. to eat the whores flesh burn her with fire And shall that be restricted only to be done against the great Antichrist not be duty against the lesser Antichrists the limbs of the Great one It is recorded of Iulian the Apostate that among other devices he used to root out Christianity this was one that he gave Toleration openly to all the different Professions that were among Christians whereof there were many heretical in those dayes which is exactly aped by Iames the Apostate now for the same end It is also contrare to the Confession of faith Chap. 20. § 4. asserting that for their publishing such opinions or maintaining of such practices 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 Godliness or such erroneous opinions or practices as either in their oun nature or in the manner of publishing or maintaining them are destructive to the external Peace Order which Christ hath established in the Church they may lawfully be called to account and proceeded against by the Censures of the Church and by the power of the Civil Magistrate And therefore to accept of this Toleration is inconsistent with the Principles of the Church of Scotland with the National Solemn League Covenants Solemn Acknowledgment of sins Engagement to duties in all which we are bound to extirpate Poperie Prelacie c. With the whole tract of Contendings in the fifth Period above related and particularly by the Testimony of the Synod of Fife and other Brethren in the Ministry against Cromuels vast Toleration Liberty of Conscience mentioned above Pag. 76. for it is plain if it be not to be suffered then it is not to be accepted 10. Considering the Termes wherein it is offered they cannot make such a shameful bargain In the former Proclamation it is granted expressly under several Conditions Restrictions Limitations whereof indeed some are retracted in the Latter as the restriction of it to Moderate Presbyterians which would seem to be taken off by extending to all without reserve to serve God in their oun may but being evidently exclusive of all that would serve God in Christs way and not after the mode prescribed it is so modified and restricted that all that will accept of it must be Moderate Presbyterians indeed which as it is taken in the Court sense must be an ignominy to all that have zeal against Antichrist The Limitation also to private houses and not to out-houses is further enlarged to Chappels or places purposely hired but still it is stinted to these which they must bargain for with Councellors Shiriffs c. So that none of these Restrictions Limitations are altogether removed but the Condition of taking the Oath only yet it is very near to an equivalency homologated by the Accepters acknowledging in the Granter a Prerogative Absolute Power over all Lawes which is confirmed maintained by their Acceptance As for the rest that are not so much as said to be removed they must be interpreted to remain as the termes conditions restrictions limitations upon which they are to enjoy the benefite of this Toleration And what he sayes that he thought fit by this Proclamation further to declare does confirme it that there are further explications but no taking off of former restrictions Hence it is yet clogged with such provisions restrictions as must make it very nauseous to all truly tender 1 The restriction as to the Persons still remains that only Moderate Presbyterians and such as are willing to accept of this Indulgence allanerly and none other and such only whose names must be signified to these Sheriffs Stewards Bailifs c. are to have the benefit of this Indulgence wherey all the zealous faithful Presbyterians are excluded for these they will not call them Moderate and all that would improve it without a formal Acceptance and all who for their former diligence in duty are under the lash of their wicked Law and dare not give up their names to those who are seeking their lives must be deprived of it 2 It is restricted to certain Places still which must be made known to some one or more of the next privie Councellors whereby they are tied to a dependence on their warrand and must have their lease licence for Preaching the Word in any place and Field-Meetings are severely interdicted though signally countenanced of the Lord whereby the Word of the Lord is bound bounded and by this Acceptance their bloody Lawes against Preaching in the open fields where People can have freest access with conveniency safety are justified 3 The manner of Meeting is restricted which must be in such a way as the peace security of the Government in the practice thereof may not be endangered and again that their Meetings be peaceably held which is all one upon the matter with the bond of peace and binding to the good behaviour so much formerly
contended against by Professors and is really the same with the Condition of the Cautionary Bond in the Indulgence after Bothuel of which see Pag. 129. And further they must be openly publickly held and all persons freely admitted to them which is for the informing trade exposing to all the inconveniences of Iesuites and other Spies Flies their delations in case any thing be spoken reflecting on the Government a great tentation to Ministers 4 The worst of all is upon ther matter of Preaching which is so restricted limited that nothing must be said or done contrare to the well peace of his reign seditious or treasonable And in case any treasonable speeches be uttered the Law is to take place against the guilty and none other present providing they reveal to any of the Council the guilt so committed as in the former Proclamation And in the last it is further declared that nothing must be Preached or taught which may any way tend to alienate the hearts of the People from him or his Government Here is the price at which they are to purchase their freedom a sad bargain to buy Liberty sell Truth which yet hardly can be so exactly paid but he may find a pretence for retrenching it when he pleases for if a Minister shall Pray for the overturning of a throne of iniquity or for confounding all that serve graven Images and for destruction to the Pope and all that give their power to that beast there will be something said against the well of his Government Or if any shall hear this and not delate it then the same pretence is relevant Or if he shall Preach against the Kings Religion as Idolatry and the Church of Rome as Babylon and discharge his Conscience Duty in speaking against the Tyrannie of the times Or let him Preach against any publick sin faithfully a Popish Critick or Romish Bigot shall interpret it to be an alienation of the Peoples hearts from the King his Government But who can be faithful and Preach in season out of season now but he must think it his duty to endeavour to alienate the hearts of the People from such an Enemy to Christ and his absolute Tyranny so declaredly stated against God What Watchman must not see it his indispensable Duty to warn all People of his Devilish designs to destroy the Church Nation and Preach so that People may hate the whore and this Pimp of hers Sure if he Preach the whole Counsel of God he must Preach against Poperie Tyrannie And if he think this Indulgence from Absolute Prerogative granted accepted on these termes can supercede him from this faithfulness then he is no more the Servant of Christ but a pleaser of men Therefore since it is so clogged with so many restrictions so inconsistent with duty so contrary to Scripture so clearly violatory of Covenant-Engagements so cross to the constant Contendings Constitutions of this Church and Acts of Ass. See Pag. 80. c. it were a great defection to Accept of it 11. Considering the Scandal of it they dare not so offend the generation of the Righteous by the Acceptance and dishonour God disgrace the Protestant Profession wrong the Interest thereof and betray their native Country as thus to comply with the Design of Antichrist and partake of this cruel tender mercy of the beast who hath alwayes mischief in his heart and intends this as a Preparative for inducing or inforcing all that are hereby lulled asleep either to take on his Mark or bear the Marks of his fiery fury afterwards For hereby forreign Churches may think we are in a fair way of reconciliation with Antichrist when we so kindly accept his Harbingers favours And it cannot but be very stumbling to see the Ministers of Scotland whose Testimony used to be terrible to the Popish and renouned through all the Protestant Churches purchasing a Liberty to themselves at the rate of burying betraying the Cause into bondage restraint and thus to be laid by from all active open opposition to Antichrists Designs in such a season The world will be tempted to think they are not governed by Principles but their oun Interest in this juncture seeking their oun things more than the things of Christ And that it was not the late Usurpation upon overturning of Religion Liberty that offended them so much as the Persecution they sustained thereby but if that Arbitrary Power had been exerted in their favours tho with the same prejudice of the Cause of Christ they would have complyed with it as they do now Alas sad dolorous have been the Scandals given taken by from the Declining Ministers of Scotland heretofore which have rent racked the poor Remnant and offended many both at home abroad but none so stumbling as this And therefore the tender will be shie to medle with it 12. Considering the Addresses made thereupon with such a stain of foulsome blasphemous flatteries to the dishonour of God the reproach of the Cause the betraying of the Church and detriment of the Nation and exposing themselves to the contempt of all the poor Persecuted Partie dare not so much as seem to incorporate with them I shall set doun the first of their Addresses given forth in the name of all the Presbyterian Ministers And let the Reader judge whether there be not Cause of standing aloof from every appearance of being of their number It is dated at Edinburgh Iulj 21. 1687. of this tenor To the Kings most excellent Majestie The humble Address of the Presbyterian Ministers of his Majesties Kingdom of Scotland We your Maj. most loyal subjects the Ministers of the Presbyterian persuasion in your Ancient Kingdom of Scotland from the due sense we have of your Maj. gracious surprising favour in not only puting a stop to our long sad sufferings for Non-conformity but granting us the Liberty of the Publick Peaceable exercise of our Ministerial function without any hazard As we bless the Great God who hath put this in your Royal heart do with all find our selves bound in duty to offer our most humble hearty thanks to your Sacred Majestie the favour bestowed being to us and all the People of our Persuasion valuable above all our earthly comforts especially since we have ground from your Maj. to beleeve that our Loyaltie is not to be questioned upon the account of our being Presbyterians who as we have amidst all former tentations endeavoured so we are firmly resolved still to preserve an intire Loyaltie in our Doctrine Practice consonant to our known Principles which according to the Holy Scriptures are contained in the Confession of faith generally ouned by Presbyterians in all your Maj. Dominions and by the help of God so to demean our selves as your Maj. may find cause rather to enlarge than to diminish your favours towards us throughly perswading our selves from your Maj. justice
Loyaltie to his excellent to his Gracious and to his Sacred Majestie of Loyaltie not to be questioned an Entire Loyaltie in Doctrine a resolved Loyaltie in Practice and a servent Loyaltie in Prayers And all that they are solicitous about is not lest the Prerogatives of their Master be encroached upon and the Liberties of the Church be supplanted and Religion wronged but lest their Loyaltie be questioned and they be otherwise represented And all that they beseech for is not that the Cause of Christ be not wronged nor Antichristian Idolatrie introduced by this Liberty but that these who promove any disloyal Principles Practices may be looked upon as none of theirs wherein all their encouragment is that they persuade themselves from his Maj. justice goodness that he will not give credite to any other information until he take due cognition thereof Here is a Lawless unrestricted Loyaltie to a Tyrant claiming an absolute power to be obeyed without reserve not only professed but solicitously sought to be the Principle of Presbyterians whereas it is rather the Principle of Athiestical Hobbes exploded with indignation by all rational men This is not a Christian Loyaltie o◠profession of Consciencious Subjection to a Minister of God for good who is a terror to evil doers but a stupid subjection absolute Allegiance to a Minister of Antichrist who gives Liberty to all evil men seducers This is not the Presbyterian Loyaltie to the King in the defence of Christ His Evangel Liberties of the Country Ministration of Iustice punishment of iniquity according to the National Covenant And in the preservation defence of the true Religion Liberties of the Kingdoms according to the Solemn League Covenant but an Erastian Loyaltie to a Tyrant in his overturning Religion Lawes Liberties protecting encouraging all iniquity This Loyaltie in Doctrine will be found Disloyaltie to Christ in a sinful shameful silence at the wrongs done to Him and not declaring against the Invasions of His open Enemies This Loyaltie in Practice is a plain betraying of Religion Liberty in lying by from all opposition to the open Destroyer of both And this Loyaltie in Prayers for all blessings ever to attend his person Government will be found neither consonant to Presbyterian Prayers in reference to Popish Tyrants nor consistent with the Zeal of Christians and the Cries of all the Elect unto God to whom vengeance belongs against Antichrist and all his Supporters nor any way conforme to the Saints Prayers in Scripture nor founded upon any Scripture promises to pray for a blessing to a Papists Tyrannie which cannot be of Faith and therefore must be sin It were much more suitable to pray that the God which hath caused His Name to dwell in His Church may destroy all Kings that shall put to their hand to alter destroy the House of God Ezrah 6. 12. 3. This Address is so stuffed with sneaking flatteries that it would become more Sycophants Court-Parasites than Ministers of the Gospel and were more suitable to the Popish Prelatical Malignant faction to congratulate rejoice in their professed Patroh Head and fill the Gazetts with their Adulatory Addresses which heretofore used to be deservedly inveighed against by all Dissenters than for Presbyterians to take a Copy from them and espouse the practice which they had condemned before and which was never commended in any good Government nor never known in these British Nations before Oliver's Usurpation Charles his Tyranny flatterie being alwayes counted base among ingenuous men But here is a Rhapsodie of flatteries from the deep sense they have of his Maj. gracious surprising favour finding themselves bound in duty to offer their most humble hearty thanks to his Sacred Maj. the favour bestowed being to them valuable above all earthly comforts One would think this behoved to be a very great favour from a very great friend for very gracious ends But what is it In not only puting 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 the stoping all penal Lawes against Papists in such a Forme as a Toleration for such Ends as overturning the Reformation introducing Poperie This is the favour for which they offer most humble hearty thanks more valuable to them than all earthly comforts thô it be manifestly intended to deprive the Lords People at the long run of the Heavenly Comforts of the Preached Gospel Sure if they thank him for the Liberty they must thank him for the Proclamation whereby he grants it and justify 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 abett oune 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 Liberty at least in suffering him to do what he will without control O what an indeleble reproach is this for Ministers who pretend to be set for the defence of the Gospel thus to be found betraying Religion through justifying magnifying a Tyrant for his suspension of so many Lawes whereby is was established supported 4. It were more tolerable if they went no further than flatteries but I fear they come near the border of Blasphemie 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 absolute power whereby he stops suspends all Penal Lawes against Idolaters and gives a Toleration for all Errors Or 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 aggree aud give their Kingdom unto the Beast But to bless God and thank the Tyrant for this wicked Project as deliberate 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 Maj. 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 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
persons twice once to have their ears cut and be banished and after the lopping of their ears some have been re-examined and Sentenced to death and execute 23. They have Sentenced some and hanged them both in one day Others early in the morning both to surprize the persons that were to die and to prevent Spectators of the sight of their Cruelty Others have been kept in suspense till the very day hour of their execution 24. Not only have they murdered serious zealous Followers of Christ in taking away their Lives but endeavoured to murder their Names and to murder the Cause for which they suffered loading it with all Reproaches as Sedition Rebellion c. which was their peculiar Policy to bring the Heads of Sufferings to Points that are most obnoxious to mens Censure and accounted most extrinsick to Religion whereby they levelled their-designs against Religion not directly under that notion but obliquely in the destruction of its Professors under the odium reproach of enemies to Government 25. But chiefly they labour to murder the Soul defile the Conscience and only consult to cast a man doun from his excellency which is his integrity that is a Christians Croun and that they would rather rob him of as any thing either by hectoring or flattering him from the Testimony which they endeavour by proposing many offers with many threatenings in subtile termes And pretend a great deal of tenderness protesting they will be as tender of their blood as of their oun Soul which in some sense is true for they have none at all of their oun Souls and purging themselves as Pilate did and charging it upon their oun head 26. They will be very easie in their Accommodations where they find the poor man begining to faint and hearken to their overtures wherein they will grant him his life yeelding to him as cunning Anglers do with Fishes And to persuade him to some length in complying they will offer Conference sometimes or reasoning upon the Point to satisfie informe his Conscience as they pretend but really to catch him with their busked hook 27. If they have any hope of prevailing they will change a mans Prison and take him out from among the more strict fervent in the Cause that might sharpen strenghen his zeal and put him in among the more cool remiss 28. Sometimes they used to stage several together whereof they knew some would Comply to Tantalize the rest with the sight of the others Liberty and make them byte the more eagerly at their bait to catch the Conscience But when they had done all they could Christ had many Witnesses who did retain the Croun of their Testimony in the smallest Points till they obtained the Croun of Martyrdom and attained to the Croun of Glory Speaking boldly to them without fear or shame and disdaining their flattering Proposals but looking on them under a right notion as stated there in opposition to Christ whereby they found this Advantage that hence they were restrained from all sinful tampering with them or intertaining any discourse with them but what was suitable to speak to Christs enemies or doing any thing to save their life but what became Christs Witnesses who loved not their lives unto the death Of whom universally this was observed that to the Admiration of all the Conviction of many enemies the Confirmation of many friends the Establishment of the Cause and the Glory of their Redeemeâ— they went off the stage with so much of the Lords Counâ—enance so much Assurance of Pardon Eternal Peace so much hope of the Lords returning to Revive His Work and Plead His Cause again in these Lands that never any suffered with more meekness humility composure of Spirit and with more faithfulness stedfastness resolution than these Worthies did for these despised reproached Truths for which their surviving Brethren are now Contending Suffering while others are at ease PART III. THE PRESENT TESTIMONY Stated and Vindicated in its Principal Heads BY what is above premitted the Reader may see the Series Succession of the Testimony of Christs Witnesses in Scotland from time to time in all the Periods of that Church how it hath been transmitted from one generation to another Doun to our hands how far it hath been extended and what Increments it hath received in every Period how it hath been opposed by a Continued Prosecution of an hereditary War against Christ by an Atheistical Papistical Prelatical and Tyrannical faction and how it hath been concerted contended for maintained sealed actively passively by an Anti-pagan Anti-Popish Anti-Prelatical Anti-Erastian Anti-Sectarian and Anti-Tyrannical Remnant of the Followers Professors Confessors Martyrs of Christ in all Ages Now it remains in the third last Place to consider the Merit of the Cause as it is now Stated to see whether it will bear the weight of those great Sufferings wherewith it hath been sealed I hope all the Lovers of Christ who have an esteeâ— â—ven of His reproaches above all the Treasures of Egypt will grant that if these sufferings be Stated on the least or lowest of the Truths of Christs then they are not Misstated noâ— built upon a bottom that will not bear them or is not of that worth to sustain them For Certainly every Truth the least of Truths is of greater value than any thing that we can suffer the loss of for it yea of infinitely greater value than the whole world So that if I prove these Heads of Suffering to be Truths wherein Conscience is concerned the Cause will be sufficiently vindicated from the loadings lashings of such as prefer Peace to Truth ease to dutie who to Justify their oun backwardness detastable lukwarmness call some of them only State questions about things Civil and not Gospel-Truths and Heads to State suffering upon And if they be Truths Duties the Cause will some way be rendered more Illustrious that it is Stated upon the smallest hoofs hair-breadths of the Concerns of Christs Declarative Glory as being a greater witness of its Ouners Love Loyalty to Christ and of their pure tender zeal for His honour than if for more substantial fundamental Truths which a Natural Conscience may reclaim to Decline when for the meanest Circumstantials of Christs Truths they dare are ambitious to bestow their dearest blood But if the Complexe of them be impartially Considered no unprejudiced Arbiter will suffer himself to have such extenuating Impressions of the present Word of Patience Testimony of the suffering Remant in Scotland this day But it will appear to be a very weighty worthy Concern as any that either Men or Christians can be called to Witness for being the Priviledge of all mankind the Duty of all Christians and the Dignity of all Churches to assert It is for the Glory Croun Prerogatives and Imperial Regalia of the King of Kings with reference to His
tending to seduce the hearers when in their preaching they cry up the Lawfullnesse of Prelacy and vent bitter invectives against Presbyterian Government condemn the work of Reformation and enveigh against the Covenant and so teach encourage people to follow them in open perjurie and condemning all our Testimony as nothing but Treason Sedition which we are perswaded is Truth and that therefore they are Blasphemers And in their prayers stuffed with error larded with Blasphemy they reproach the work of Reformation the power of Godlyness and pray for a blessing on the Prelats and on their courses which are cursed besides their parasitick prayers for the King to be blessed in his Government when stated in opposition to Christ and severall other things that tender consciences cannot go along with them therein And yet if they hear them they must go along and actively concur with them as their mouth to God. If it be objâ—cted here That this doth not strike against all nor against any at all times because some Preaches always sound Doctrine and all preach sometime sound Doctrine and the like may be said of their prayers Therefore sometimes at least they may be heard I ans 1. This may be alledged for all Hereticks who do all at sometimes preach sound Doctrine and yet these Scriptures are stringent against them at all times which I have adduced for by these frâ—its which they bring forth at sometimes they shew themselves to be such as we must beware of at all times 2. We cannot know when they will Preach sound Doctrine seeing by their subjection to that Government they are obliged to maintain Prelacy and impugne our Covenanted constitution VI. They must not only be such as we can Joine with in the Ordinances as to the Matter of them but in the manner also they must be such Administrators as we are obliged in charity to think the Lord will approve of them their Administrations of us in our Communion with them Or at least that in their manner of Dispensing ordinances they be not such as we find are under a recorded sentance of dreadful punishment both against them their partakers for if it be so it is as sufficient a ground to withdraw from them as for men to withdraw from a Company staying in a house that they see will fall smother them in its ruin yea it is as warrantable to separate from them as for Israel to separate themselves from the Congregation of the Rebells who were to be consumed in a moment Numb 16. 21. or for the Lords people to come out of Babylon that they receive not of her plagues Rev. 18. 4. Now we find that not only the Prophets of Baal and Inticers to Idolatrie and Leaders to error upon the matter are threatened and the people for adhering to them but we find also as is observed by Rect. Instruend confut dial chap. 1. pag. 21. many terrible charges Adjurations laid upon Ministers in reference to a faithful Diligence in their Ministerial function and a suitable Testimony concerning the sin duty of the time that they are commanded to cry aloud and shew the people their sin Isa. 58. 1. and as they would not have the blood of souls upon them to give faithful warning touching the peoples case hazard sin duty especially in times of great sin judgment when God is terribly pleading His Controversie with them Ezek. 3. 17. therefore they must be instant in season out of season 2 Tim. 4. 2. And for their negligence unfaithfulness herein we find many Scripture woes threatenings thundered against them When in the deceit of their oun heart they promise assured Peace when the Lord is pleading against a Generation they are threatened to be consumed with sword famine and the people to whom they Prophecie shall be cast out in the Streets Ier. 14. 13. 15. 16. therefore we dare not admit them to Prophecie to us When they strengthen the hands harden the hearts of evil-doers that none doeth return from his wickedness the Lord threatens to feed them with wormwood commands not to hearken to them Ier. 23. 14-16 their blood shall be required at their hands Ezek. 3. 18. one builds a wall and another daubs it with untempered morter then ye o great hailstones shall fall and they shall be consumed in the midst thereof Ezek. 13. 10 11 14 18 22. we dare not joine with either builders or daubers of such a work as is carried on to the dishonour of Christ ruining of Reformation nor by our countenance concurrence strengthen either builders or daubers lest we also be consumed in the midst thereof When there is a Conspiracy of the Prophets and the Priests violate the Law and profane holy things and shew no difference between the unclean the clean then the Lord will pour out His Indignation upon all Ezek. 22. 25 adâ—fin We would endeavour to keep our selves free of having any hand in that Conspiracy These Scriptures do give the perfect pourtracture of our Curats in the conviction of all that know them Hence we draw a complexe Argument Such Ministers as can do no good by their Ministrie but a great deal of hurt to their hearers and expose themselves them both to the Indignation of a jealous God are not to be heard But the Curats are such as can do no good by their Ministrie but a great deal of hurt to their hearers and expose themselves and them both to the Indignation of the jealous Lord Therefore they are not to be heard The connexion of the Major is clear from what is said above The Minor is also evident from the application of these Scriptures thus They that in the deceit of their oun heart promise Peace to and strengthen the hands of evil doers and give them not warning but seduce them by daubing their wickedness and shew no difference between the unclean the clean c. are such as can do no good by their Ministrie but a great deal of hurt to hearers and expose themselves and them both to the Indignation of God But the Curats are such and all others who are so unfaithful as give no warning against but Justifie the sins of the times To be short the Minor of both these foregoing Arguments is evident from the experience of all that go to the Curats who wrong thereby their oun souls mar their edification run to Cisterns without water What blessing can be expected upon the labours of such who having perjured themselves in taking on with the Prelats are prosecuting that Course of defection and making themselves Captains to lead the people back to Egypt encouraging profanity wickedness being themselves Patterns Patrons of the times corruptions And seeing a blessing cannot be expected upon their labours but rather a curse as daylie experience maketh good when instead of any work of conversion or conviction among people there
confirming of him and so a partaking of his sin in reference to others either strengthens them by that example to cast themselves in that snare which possibly may be their ruine or it grieves them and makes them sad who are tender of such things or gives occation to make all difference of that kind to be thought light of Hence If Hearing of the Curats be an offence or Scandal both in reference to Malignants and in reference to the Godly and in reference to the Posterity Then it must be avoided But the former is true which is evidenced by parts First in reference to Malignants it hardens encourages them in their opposition to the work of God and all backsliders Complyers with them in their Apostasie This strengthens their hands in their wicked courses when they see how they are countenanced by all and that there is no disrespect put upon them nor dissatisfaction evinced against their courses then they conclude that they are approven of all And this hardeneth them so that they never once think of the evil of their wayes Next in reference to the Godly it stumbles the truly tender by encouraging them to do contrare to their light conscience even when they are not clear to hear them then they are emboldened thereunto when they see others doing so and so it tends to the wounding of their Peace and makes them halt in the wayes of the Lord. Lastly with a reâ—erence to Posterity it would prejudge them very much Though now the honest party be not in a capacity to transmit the work of Reformation unto their Posterity in such a manner as were to be wished Yet they should do something for keeping fresh the memory of the good old cause by keeping up some footsteps of a standing Controversy for Zions Interest against the common enemy But now let all Joine with oune the Curats what appearance of this shall the Posterity see shall not they conclude that the day is lost the cause is gone when they see that this generation hath fled the fields or rather sold betrayed the cause by ouning countenancing complying with the enemy and no standing Testimony against these corruptions whereas if there were but this much of a standing difference betwixt the People of God the common Enemies of God to be seen Posterity shall in some measure be kept from being deceived and shall see the Interest of Christ not killed nor buried quick but living though in a bleeding condition and this will occasion their engaging for Christ and interesting themselves in the quarrel and it is far better to see the cause of Christ ouned though by suffering blood then sold betrayed by base flenching complying with Persecuters This Argument may also found iâ—ter a withdrawing from the Addressing Ministers who to the Great Scandal of Presbyterians give forth their Addresses in the name of all of that perswasion X. Our duty to themselves yea our greatest office of Love we owe to them in order to their conviction does oblige us to withdraw from them This may seem a Paradox yet it will be apparent if we search the Scriptures to see what we owe to Scandalous Brethren There we find it is a duty to endeavour by all Lawful means to shame them out of their sin And it is an argument of hatred when we do not rebuke our Neighbour or when we suffer sin upon him Lev. 19. 17. If we consider them then as neighbours friends we must use endeavours to take away their sin from them if we consider them not as such but as enemies then we must avoid them and not be mingled with them as I could adduce many Scriptures for that But I suppose all that will oppose my Thesis would have them considered as friends Well then if they be scandalous Brethren this is the way prescribed by the Apostle to deal with them in order not to suffer sin upon them that we should withdraw from them our Company and if we must withdraw our Company then also a fortiore we must deny them our Religious Communion for that must either be included there or necessarly inferred He writes not to keep Company if any man that is called a Brother mark that speciality be a fornicator or covetous or an Idolater or a railer or an extortioner with such an one no not to eat 1 Cor. 5. 11. And I presume they that know them best will grant that it would not be hard to prove that all the Curats in Scotland were chargable with some of these or at least Partakers with them And that if they were all impartially impannelled they would be rare ones whom an honest Jury would not bring in guilty of this lybel Then we are expressly Commanded in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to withdraw our selves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the received Tradiction and if any man obey not the word to note him and have no Company with him that he may be ashamed 2 Thess. 3. 6. 14. Sure neither their office nor their innocency can exempt them from these rules For either they must be considered as our brethren or not If not then we oune no Church Communion with them for that is only among brethren that are so in Sympathie affection affinity having one father and one mother If they be brethren Then all Scandalous brethren are to be withdrawn from But they are Scandalous brethren Therefore they are to be withdrawn from The Minor will not be doubted by any but such as are strangers to them who both in their Ministerial Personal Capacity are so scandalous to the Conviction of all that Profanness hath gone forth from them unto all the Land and they as much as ever the Profane Sons of Eli have made men to abhor the offering of the Lord 1 Sam. 2. 17. But even strangers that are unacquaint with their Personal Profligatness ignorance c. cannot be altogither ignorant of the Scandal of Prelacy Eâ—astianisme in which they are all involved of the Scandal of Apostasie Perjurie breach of Covenant which is their brand and the Nations bane that hath countenanced them And none can doubt but if our Church were dwely constitute and invested with the orderly power of Christ and in capacity to exerce improve it they would soon be censured every Soul of them as Scandalous as they have been also Previously sentanced as such by the Acts of our General Abssemblies This Argument levells also against all Complying Indulged Addressing Ministers who by these Courses have incurred the Character of disorderly Brethren XI Our faithfulness to God and to one another ingaged in our Covenants doth oblige us to turn away from them who have broken it and so classed themselves among these Truce-breaking Traitors who make our times Perillous from whom we must turn away 2 Tim. 3. 1-5 It appears from the foregoing deduction how
for it but reality of conscience and Government founded upon a bottom of conscience that will Unite the Governed to the Governours by inclination as well as duty And if that be then there is needful a rule of Gods revealed preceptive will the only Cynosure Empress of conscience touching the founding erecting of Government that it have the stamp of Gods Authority It must needs then follow that conscience hath a very great concernment in this question in the General and that before it be forced to an abandoning of its light in a matter of such moments it will rather oblige people that are conscientious to suffer the worst that Tyrants can do especially when it is imposed obtruded upon conscince to give its suffrage express acknowledment that the present Tyranny is the Authority of God which is so visible in the view of all that have their eyes open that the meanest capacity that was never conversant in Lawes Politicks can give this verdict that the Constitution administration of the Government of the tuo Royal Brothers under whose burthen the earth and we have been groaning these 27 years past hath been a compleat Habitual Tyranny and can no more be ouned to be Magistracy theâ— Robbery can be acknowledged to be a rightful possession It is so plain that I need not the help of Lawyers Politicians to demonstrate it nor lanch into the Ocean of their endless debates in handling the head of Magistracy Tyrannie yet I shall improve what help I find in our most approved Authors who have enlarged upon this Question though not as I must state it to dilucidate the matter in Thesi and refer to the foregoing Deduction of the succession of Testimonies against Tyranny to clear it in Hypothesi Whence we may see the occasion and clearly gather the solution of the Question which is this Whether a people long oppressed with the encroachments of Tyrants Usurpers may disoune their pretended Authority when imposed upon to acknowledge it may rather chiefe to suffer than to oune it To clear this question I shall first premit some concessions and then come more formally to resolve it I. It must be granted the Question is extraordinary and never so stated by any writer on this head which makes it the more difficult and odious because odd singular in the esteem of those who take up opinions rather from the number of votes than from the weight of the reasons of the asserters of them It will also be yeelded that this was never a case of confession for Christians to suffer upon And the reason of both is because before these seven years past this was never imposed upon private common subjects to give an account of their thoughts conscience about the Lawfulness of the Government they lived under Conquerers Usurpers sometimes have demanded an acknowledgment of their Authority from men of greatest note stroke in the Countries they have seised but they never since the Creation urged it upon common people as a Test of Loyalty but thought alwayes their Lawes power to execute them on offenders did secure their subjection Or otherwise to what purpose are Lawes made and the execution of them committed to men in power if they be not thought a sufficient fence for the Authority that makes them except it also have the actual acknowledgment of the subjects to ratify it Men that are really invested with Authority would think it both a disparagment to their Authority and would disdain such a suspicion of the questionableness of it as to put it as a queston to the subjects whether they ouned it or not But the Gentlemen that rule us have fallen upon a piece of unprecedented Policy wherein they think both to involve the Nation in the guilt of their unparalelled Rebellion against the Lord by ouning that Authority that promotes it and so secure their Usurpations either by the suffrage of all that oune them or by the exstirpation of the Consciencious that dare not with the odium obliâ—uie of being enemies to Authority by which Trick they think to bury the honour of their Testimony Yet in sobriety without Prophecying it may be presumed at the long run this project will prove very prejudicial to their Interest and herein they may verify that Scots Proverb ov'r fast ov'r loose and accomplish these Divine sayings He disappointeth the devices of the Crafty He taketh the wise in their oun Craftiness and the Counsel of the froward is carried head long For as they have put people upon this question who would not otherwise have made such inquiries into it and now finding they must be resolved in conscience to answer it when ever they shall be brought before them upon a very overly search they see terrible Tyranny witten in legible bloody Characters almost on all administrations of the Government and so come to be fixed in the verdict that their conscience the word of God gives of it So it may be thought this question now started for as despicable beginings it hath yet ere it come to a ful final Decision will be more inquired into through the world and at length prove as fatal to Tyranny as ever any thing could be and then they may know whom to thank But however though the question be extraordinary and the sufferings thereupon be unprecedented And therefore among other contradictions that may be objected that neither in History nor Scripture we can find instances of private people their refusing to oune the Authority they were under nor of their suffering for that refusal yet nevertheless it may be duty without example Many things may be done though not against the Law of God yet without a precedent of the practice of the people of God. Though we could not adduce an example for it yet we can gather it from the Law of God that Tyranny must not be ouned this will be equivalent to a thousand examples Every age in somethings must be a precedent to the following and I think never did any age produce a more honourable precedent than this begining to decline a yoke under which all ages have groaned 2. It will be also granted It is not always indispensablie necessarie at all times for a people to declare their disclaim of the Tyranny they are under when they cannot shake it off nor when they are staged for their duty before wicked Tyrannical Judges is it always necessarie to disoune their pretended Authority positively when either they are not urged with questions about it then they may be silent in reference to that or when they are imposed upon to give their judgment of it they are not alwayes obliged as in a case of confession to declare all their mind especially when such Questions are put to them with a manifest design to entrap their lives or intangle their Conscience All Truth is not to be told at all times neither are all
which case the people may make their Publick servant sensible he is at his highest elevation but a Servant Hence now when this species named in the Covenant viz Monarchy is by Law so vitiate as it is become the mean instrument of the destruction of all the ends of that Covenant and now by Law transmitted to all successors as a hereditary pure perfect perpetual opposition to the coming of Christs kingdom So that as long as there is one to wear that Croun but Iehavah will in righteousness execute Coniahs doom upon the race Ier. 22. ult write this man childless and enter heir to the Government as now established he must be an enemy to Christ there is no other way left but to think on a new Modell moulded according the true Pattern As to the Second we are far less obliged to oune acknowledge the interest of any of the two Monarchs that we have been Mourning under these many years from these Sacred Covenants For as to the first of them Charles the 2. Those Considerations did cassate his Interest as to any Covenant obligation to oune him 1. In these Covenants we are not sworn absolutely to maintain the Kings Person Authority but only Conditionally in the Preservation defence of Religion Liberties Now when this Condition was not performed but on the contrare professedly resolved never to be fulfilled And when he laid out himself to the full of his power Authority for the destuction of that Reformed Religion Liberties of the Kingdom which he solemnly swore to defend when he received the Croun only in the termes that he should be a Loyal subject to Christ and a true faithful Servant to the people in order to which a Magistrate is chosen and all his worth excellency valuableness consists in his answering that purpose for the excellency of a mean as such is to be measured from the end and its answerableness thereunto We were not then obliged to maintain such an enemy to these precious Interests 2. Because as the people were bound to him so he was bound to them by the same Covenant being only on these termes entrusted with the Government All which Conditions he perfidiously broke whereupon only his Authority our Allegiance were founded And thereby we were loosed from all reciprocal obligation to him by virtue of that Covenant 3. Though he and we stood equally engaged to the duties of that Covenant only with this difference that the Kings Capacity being greater he was the more obliged to have laid out that power in causing all to stand to their Covenant Engagments as Iosiah did 2 Chron. 34. 31 32 33. But alas there was never a Iosiah in the race yet he rose up to the hight of rebellion against God and the people in heaven-daring insolency and not only brake but burnt that Covenant and made Lawes to case rescind it and made a not-concurring in this Conspiracy a note of incapacity for any Trust in Church or State. Therefore to plead for an ouning of him in this case were only concludent of this that the Generation had dreamed themselves into such a distraction as may be feared will be pursued with destruction and make such dreamers the detestation of posterity and cause all men Proclaim the righteousness of God in bringing ruine upon them by that very power Authority they ouned in such circumstances 4. It is a known maxime Qui non implet conditionem a se promissam cadit beneficio qui remittit obligationem non potest exigere He that does not fulfill the conditions falls from the benefit of it and whoso remitts the obligation of the party obliged upon condition cannot exact it afterwards So then it is evident that the subjects of Scotland were by King Charles the 2 de his consent yea express command disengaged from so much of that Covenant as could be alledged in favors of himself So that all that he did by burning rescinding these Covenants and pursuing all who endeavoured to adâ—ere to them was a most explicite Liberating his subjects from remission of their Allegiance to him and in this we had been fools if we had not taken him at his word yea he rescinded his very Coronation by an act of his first Parliament after his return which did declare null void all Acts Constitutions establishments from the year 1633 to that present session not excepting those for his oun Coronation after which he was never recrouned And therefore we could not oune that right which himself did annul But as for his Royal Brother Iames the 7 2 we cannot indeed make use of the same reasons arguments to disoune him as we have now adduced yet as we shall prove afterwards this Covenant does oblige to renounce him So it is so clear that it needs no Illustration that there lies no obligation from the Covenant to oune him And also that for this cause we are obliged not to oune him 1. Because as he is an enemy to the whole of our Covenant and especially to these terms upon which Authority is to be ouned therein So he will not come under the bond of this Covenant nor any other compact with the people but intrude himself upon the Throne â—n such a way as overturns the Basis of our Government and destroyes all the Liberties of a free people which by Covenant we are bound to preserve and consequently as inconsistent therewith to renounce his Usurpation For a Prince that will set himself up without any transactions with the people or conditions giving Security for Religion Liberty is an Usurping Tyrant not bounded by any Law but his oun lusts And to say to such an one Reign thow over us is all one as to say come thow and play the Tyrant over us and let thy lust will be a Law to us which is both against Scripture Natural-sense If he be not a King upon Covenant termes either expressly or tacitely or general stipulations according to the word of God Lawes of the Land he cannot be ouned as a father Protector or Tutor having any fiduciary power entrusted to him over the Commonwealth but as a Lawless absolute Dominator assuming to himself a power to rule or rage as he lists whom to oune were against our Covenants for there we are sworn to Maintain his Maj. just Lawful Authority and by consequence not to oune Usurpation Tyranny stated in opposition to Religion Liberty which there also we are engaged to maintain Sure this cannot be Lawful Authority which is of God for God giveth no power against Himself Nor can it be of the people who had never power granted them of God to create one over them with a Liberty to destroy them their Religion Liberty at his pleasure 2. As he is not nor will not be our Covenanted sworn King and therefore we cannot be his Covenanted sworn subjects So
half Civil half Ecclesiastick which have no Warrand in the Word 3 By this many palpable intollerable encroachments made upon the Liberties priviledges of the Church of Christ are yeelded unto as that there must be no Church Judicatories or Assemblies without the Magistrates consent but that the power of convocating indicting Assemblies do belong only to him and the power of delegating constituting the members thereof that he may dissolve them when he pleases that his presence or his Commissioners is necessary unto each Nationall Assembly that Ministers have no proper decisive suffrage in Synods but only of advice that the Church Judicatories be prelimited and nothing musâ— be treated there which may be interpreted grating upon the prerogative nor any thing whatsoever but what he shall allow approve without which it can have no force nor validity yea by this a door should be opened unto the utter destruction overthrow of all Church Judicatories seeing he is made the fountain of all Church power 4 By this the Magistrate is made a Church member as he is a Magistrate and so all Magistrats as such are Church members even heathens And yet 5 By this he is exempted from subjection to the Ministry because they are made accountable to him in their administrations and in the discharge of their function are under him as Supreme Yea 6 By this the Magistrate is made a Church Officer having the disposal of the Churches Government And not only so but 7 By this he is made a Church Officer of the highest degree being supreme in all Causes to whom Ministers in the discharge of their Ministrie are subordinate And so 8 By this the Church of the new Testament is made imperfect so long as she wanted a Christian Magistrate wanting hereby a Chief Officer yea and the Apostles did amiss in robbing the Magistrate of his power 9 By this the Magistrate might exerce all Acts of jurisdiction immediately by himself seeing he can do it as supreme by his Commissioners in Ecclesiastick affairs 10 Finally By this Oath the King is made the head of the Church being supreme over all persons in all Causes unto whom all Appeals references must ultimately be reduced even from Church Judicatories Those things are only here touched they are more apodeictically confirmed above and may be seen made out at large in Apol. Relat. Sect. 12. But I proceed 6. It is contrary unto the Solemn League Covenant into whose place after it was broken burnt buryed rescinded since they have remitted the subjects allegiance by annulling the Bond of it they substitute surrogate this in its place And therefore none can comply with the surrogation of the second except he consent to the abrogation of the first Oath All the Allegiance we can oune according to the Covenant stands perpetually expressly thus qualified viz. in defence of Religon Liberty according to our first second Covenants and in its oun nature must be indispensably thus restricted Therefore to renew the same or take an Oath of Allegiance simply purposely omitting the former restriction when the powers are in manifest Rebellion against the Lord is in effect a disouning of that limitation and of the Soveraign prerogative of the Great God which is thereby reserved and as much as to say whatever Authority command us to do we shall not only stupidly endure it but actively concur with assist in all this Tyranny See Naph Prior edit Pag. 177. 178. Vindicated at length by Ius Populi chap. 11. By all this the iniquity of the Scots Oath of Allegiance Supremacy may appear and also that of the English Oath of Allegiance even abstract from the Supremacy is in some measure discovered though it is not my purpose particularly to speak to that yet this I will say that they that plead for its precision from the Supremacy annexed seem not to consider the full import of its terms for under the dignities superiorities Authorities there engaged to be upheld the Ecclesiastical Supremacy must be included for that is declared to be one of the dignities of the Crown there as well as here and hither it was brought from thence And therefore those Scots men that took that Oath there and plead that though the Oath of Allegiance in Scotland be a sin yet it is duty to take the Oath in England seem to me to be in a great deceit for the object is the same the subject is the same the duty expected required engaged into is the same and every thing equal in both Yet all this iniquity here Couched is some way Comprehended in implyed by the Oath of Abjuration for the Civil part is imported in abjuring a Declaration for its declaring war against the King Where it is clear he is ouned as King and all part with them that declare war against him being renounced it is evident the Abjurers must take part with him in that war and so assist defend him for being subjects they must not be neutral therefore if they be not against him they must be for him and so under the bond of allegiance to him The Ecclesiastical Supremacy is inferred from that expression of it where some are said to serve him in Church as well as in State which implies an Ecclesiastical subordination to him as Supreme over the Church III. The Tenor of some other Bonds was more smooth subtil as that of the Bond of Peace several times renewed imposed and under several forms but alwayes after one strain engaging to Live Peaceably Whereby many were caught cheated with the seeming saiâ—ness of these general terms but others discerning their faâ—laciousness refused and suffered for it This in the General is capable of a good sense for no Christian will refuse â—o Live Peaceably but will endeavour if it be possible as much as lieth in them to Live Peaceably with all men Rom. 12. 18. that is so far to follow Peace with all men as may consist with the pursuit of holiness 〈◊〉 12. 14. But if we more narrowly consider such Bonds we shall find them Bonds of iniquity for 1. They are Covenants of Peace or Confederacies with Gods enemies whom we should count our enemies and hate them because they hate Him Psal. 139. 21. It is more suitable to answer as Iehu did to Ioram 2 King. 9. 22. What Peace so long as the whoredomes of thy Mother Iezebel and her witchcrafts are so many than to engage to be at Peace with those who are carrying on Babylons Interest the Mother of harlots witchcrafts 2. This cannot be taken in Truth Iudgement Righteousness because of the fallacy ambiguity of the terms for there are diverse sorts of Peace Peaceableness some kind is duty some never It must then be rightly qualified for we can profess pursue no Peace of Confederacy with the enemies of God not consistent with the fear of the Lord otherwise
7. 2 6. I shew before that there is reason to fear that the sins of a few especially of Magistrats Ministers will bring wrath upon the whole body of the people as is plain from these Scriptures Levit. 10. 6. Isai. 43. 27 28. Lam. 4 13. Mic. 3. 11 21. shewing the sins of Ministers may procure universal Destruction And 2 Sam. 24. 25. 2 King. 21. 11. Ier. 15 4. proving the sins of Magistrats may procure it And Num. 3. 14 15. Iosh. 22. 17 18. Demonstrating that the sins of a party of the people may draw wrath upon the whole Now the only way the Scripture points out to evite avert such publick judgments is to make our resentment of these indignities done to our God our Mourning over them and our witness against them as publick as the sins are at least as publick as we can get them by a publick pleading for Truth Isai. 59. 4. for the defect whereof He hides His face and wonders that there is no man no Intercessor vers 16. that is none to plead with God in behalf of His born doun Truths There must be in order to this a publick seeking of Truth which if there be any found making conscience of the Lord makes a gracious overture to pardon the City Ier. 5. 1. we cannot think there were no mourners in secret there but there was no publick Meeting for it and publick ouning the duty of that day There must be valour for the Truth upon the earth Ier. 9. 3. a publick resolute ouning of Truth There must be a making up the hedge standing in the Gap for the Land that the Lord should not destroy it Ezek. 22. 30. a publick Testimony in opposition to defection There must be a pleading with our Mother Hos. 2. 2. which is spoken to private persons in the plural number Commanding all that would consult their oun safety publickly to condemn the sins of the whole Nation that they may escape the publick punishment thereof as it is expounded in Pool Synops. Critic in locum By this means we must endeavour to avert the wrath anger of God which must certainly be expected to go out against the Land which hath all the procuring causes all the Symptoms Prognosticks Evidences of a Land devoted to destruction that ever a Land had If then there must be such Publick Mourning and such Solemn Gathering for it such public pleading for Truth Seeking of Truth valour for Truth making up the hedge and pleading with our Mother there must of Necessity be publick Meetings for it for these things cannot be done in private but must be done by way of Testimony Which I make a 2. Reason The Nature End of Meeting for Gospel Ordinances is for a publick Testimony for Christ and His Truths Interest against Sin and all dishonours done to the Son of God. So that the only end is not only to bring to Christ build up Souls in Christ but it is to Testify also for the Glory of Christ whether Souls be brought in built up or not The Preached Gospel is not only the Testimony of Christ 1 Cor 1. 6. but a Testimony for Christ in which sense The Testimony of Iesus is said to be the Spirit of Prophesie Revel 19. 10. so called Durham expounds it for its bearing Witness to Christ in which respect Ministers are often called Witnesses It is also the Testimony of Israel not only given to Israel but given by Israel unto which the tribes go up the tribes of the Lord Ps. 122. 4. Whensoever therefore or howsoever the Testimony of the Church is contradicted that 's not a Lawful Meeting of the tribes of the Lord. It is also the Testimony of the Preachers for Christ against them that will not receive them Mark. 6. 11. And a Witness unto all Nations to whom they preach Math. 24. 14. And of all the Witnesses that hold it suffer for it Rev. 6. 9. And the same which is the Word of Christs Testimony is the Word of theirs Rev 12. 11. by which they overcome for which they love not their lives Wherever then the Gospel is preached it must be a Testimony But it cannot be a Testimony except it be Publick at least as publick as it can be as we find all Christs Witnesses were in the Old New Testaments 3. The Motive or principle prompting the Lords people to a frequenting of Gospel Ordinances is a publick Spirit stirring up to a publick Generation Work whereof this is the Scope to promote the Kingdom of Christ and not only to obey the Lords Command enjoining the duty to enjoy the Lord the end thereof or to edify their oun Souls But to partake in promote this Great Work of the Day for the Glory of God and the Churches good For the Gospel is not only a Banner of Love over His Friends but Christs Standart of war against His Enemies Isai. 59. 19. under which all that countenance it are called to list themselves as His Souldiers called chosen faithful And it is required of His Souldiers that they be valiant for the Truth upon the earth Discovering a Gallant greatness generosity of a Publick Spirit having their designs desires not limited to their oun interests even Spiritual but aiming at no less than Christs Publick Glory the Churches publick good the Saints publick Comfort having a publick Concern for all Christs Interests Publik Sympathie for all Christs Friends and a publick declared Opposition to all Christs Enemies This is a Publick Spirit the true Spirit of all Christs zealous Lovers Votaries Which when He is a missing will prompt them to go about the City in the streets and in the broad wayes to seek Him whom their Soul loveth Cant. 3. 2. and not only in their beds or secret corners but they must go to the streets and to the fields and avow their seeking of Christ even though the Watchmen should smite them the keepers of the walls take their vails from them Cant. 5. Which obliges them not only to take Him in to their oun Cottages and intertain Him in their hearts and give Him a Throne there but also to endeavour to enlarge His dwelling and propagate His Courtly residence through the World that the Kingdoms of the earth may becom the Kingdoms of the Lord and if they cannot get that done yet that He may have the Throne in â—her Mothers house and take up His abode in the Church or Nation they belong to that there His Ordinances be established in purity peace plenty power according to His oun Order And if that cannot be but that their Mother play the harlot and He be provoked to give up house with her and by her Childrens treacherie the Usurping Enemy be invited in to His place Habitation and take violent possession of it and enact His extrusion expulsion by Law yet they will endeavour to secure a place for Him among
oblivion of this that God is righteous to whom the reckoning must be made 2. Let it be supposed under Sauls Tyranny when the Ziphims informed him of Davids hiding himself with them Or when Doeg informed him of Abimelechs resetting him That an order had been given forth to all Israel with this Narrative Whereas that Rebel David had now openly despised Authority had been intertained by the Priest received Goliabs sword from him and gathered a Company of armed men together therefore to the end he and his Complices may be brought to Justice We ordain all from Dan to Beersheba to concur either personally in this Expedition against him or to pay Cess to our standing forces to maintain them in this expedition or so much to gratify the Ziphims for their kindness or to furnish Doeg with a sword to murder the Priests of the Lord. Would any that favoured Davids righteous Cause have dared to do any of these Would these that durst not concur themselves contribute any encouragment to the Concurers Would Sauls Servants that would not fall upon the Priests of the Lord themselves have given Doeg one of their swords to do it or money to buy one if it had been demanded To the same purpose suppose a party comes to a Dissenter with an express order and this Narrative Whereas there is such a Minister meet with some people at an execrable Conventicle as they call it but in it self the pure Worship of God therefore to the end the Minister may be taken murdered and the Servants of the Lord for the Countenance they gave him may be brought to the same punishment they ordain him for the accomplishing of their design to furnish that partie with all necessares or to pay such a summ of money for not concuring with them Now should he in this case not only forbear to lay doun his life for his brethren and forbear to deliver them that are thus drawn unto death on such an account into which forbearance the Great God will make so accurate an inquirie Prov. 24. 11 12. as may make us tremble whether we look backward or forward but also furnish according to the tenor of this Order that partie of the Dragons Legions in their War against the Prince Michael His Angels with supplies and think to put off the matter and plead innocent with this that he was under the Moral force of a Law accompanied with such military force as if he had refused they would have taken away all he had c. For this Plea in its full strength is to do evil that some good may come of it no true good which brings just damnation Rom. 3. 8. or to chuse sin rather than affliction 3. What if Manasseh or other Idolatrous Princes that sacrificed to Devils and made Children pass through the fire to Molech had enacted a Cess or under severe Impositions of Fynes had commanded all to concur to a solemn Sacrifice of that nature charging every man against a certain day to bring in his proportion in order to celebrate the Sacrifice with all its statute solemnities Or should have taken a child from every father and then made a Law that each of these should contribute such a summ for furnishing with all necessaries and maintaining these Murderers whom they had conduced to shed the blood of their innocent Children or sacrifice them to Molech Could it be expected that any of the Godly would have payed such Exactions and then have wyped his mouth with the notion of a moral force This comes home enough to our Case For no sacrifice they can offer to the Devil can be more real or so acceptable as what they declare they intend to do being so direct not only an opposition to the coming of the Kingdom of Christ but the deletion of His precious Interests and exstirpation of His faithful Remnant and the giving Satan such an absolute Dominion in the Nation as that they who have made the decree and all who put it in execution practically declare thereby they have mancipate themselves to his slavery and sold themselves to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord So likewise that all the rest of the Nation may with themselves become his vassals and in evidence of their opposition to Christ and in recognition of Satans Soveraignity their subjection they are appointed to pay these black Meales 4. Let it be supposed that after Nebuchadnezzar had made the decree for all to fall doun worship his Image and the three Children were apprehended for refusing it he had made another that all the Jewes especially should contribute every one a Faggot or money to buy it to heat the furnace or a rope to lead them to it Can any man suppose that Daniel or the rest of the faithful would have payed it Even so let it be supposed that any one of these faithful Ambassadours of Christ or all these zealous Workers together with God who have laboured among the people in the Preached Gospel should fall into the hands of these Hunters And then they should make a Law and appoint every man in the Nation to send but one threed to make a Towe to hang that Minister or to hang the whole Company of Christs Ambassadours and a farthing to pay the Executioner Can any man without horrour think of complying so far as to contribute what is commanded Or would not a Gracious man frighted into an abhorrence at the attrociousness of the wickedness or fired into a flame of zeal for God say without demur as not daunted with fear of what flesh could do unto him I will rather venture my All to keep them alive or be hanged with them than by doing what is demanded be brought forth classed in the cursed cruel Company of those who shall be dragged before the Tribunal of Christ with their fingers dyed dropping with the blood of those who are peculiarly dear to Him I know it will be said that in all these cases it would be a clear case of Confession Well that 's all I would have granted For that which doth over ballance to a Testimony in all the cases mentioned is so far from being wanting in the cases now under consideration that they have all to enforce the duty that all of them put together do include As will be clear to any who consider 1 The preciousness of the things Interests to be destroyed 2 The Concurrence called for from every one that this desperate design may be accomplished 3 The great manifold indispensible obligations all are under not only to abstain from the required Concurrence but to preserve also maintain these things in opposition to all whom Satan sets on work to serve him in this Expedition against the Son of God and to do it or endeavour it with the loss of life and all things dearest to men to the end that these things which are Satans eyesore as only obstructive of His Kingdom may