justifie a bad Action If we should spear at some Ministers wherefore bowed ye to the Supremacy wherefore accepted ye the Indulgence It was â—o get liberty to Preâ—ch the Gospel say they Wherefore did ye accept this Toleration They will Answer it was to Preach the Gospel that we did it and it was the Salvation oâ— Souls that we intended thâ—reby and is not that a very good end Poor Man has thy Preaching no other end but the Salvation of Souls Ay ay ye think ye have a brave Pleâ— of it but remember though it be the indispensible Duty of Ministers to Preach the Gospel yet to accept of a Liberty to preach the Gospel no way which encroaches upon and wrongs the Prerogatives of the great King and head of the Church is a sin though their end be good in accepting the same Where is thy Obedience Man For Obedience is better than Sacrifice Constancy and Faithfulness in the Matters of God is called for at Ministers hands The conversion and edification of Souls is indeed the great end of pâ—eacâ—ing the Gospel but that is not all it is but the one half of the end of it There is also the Glory of Christ He must and will be Gloâ—ified whether Souls get good by iâ— or no For the Preaching of the Gospel is not only the Testimony of Christ but the Testimony for Christ Ministers must obey all Christs Commands For what cares the Lord for thy Sacrifice or thee either that thou has gottâ— from the Aâ—â—â—lekites For the preâ—ching of the Gospel by accepting and improving of the Liberty granted by this Toleration is not a Testimony for Christ seing it so wroâ—gs and 〈◊〉 upon the Prerogatives of Christ And it is no less than presumption for any to expect the Lord's presence at any of the Tolerated Meetings For they have not a promise for i◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 And now â—â—ough we suffer under their Hâ—nds for this we have nothing to say ouâ—â—dore the Righteousness of the LORD therein Thirdly Another Aggravation of Saul's Sin was a disobeying a perâ—mptor Commission which he got to go and destâ—oy the Amalekites beside what the Children of 〈◊〉 goâ— in commandment from the Lord to blot out the remembrance of them from under Heâ—â—â—n Deut. 25 17. â—aul got a particular Commiâ—â—â—on to go and destroy them all and to have nothing â—o do with theâ— The Lord hath told us and we are commâ—nded perempâ—orly not to meddle with his Enemies and to have a 〈◊〉 not to 〈…〉 It is utterly unlawful in matters of Religion to tamper with the Eâ—emies of God and yet for all this we cannot forbear to take and give with them out Fathers 〈◊〉 with them when they fell upon these Resoluâ—â—ons and all alongst 〈◊〉 our â—ampering with them 〈◊〉 destroyed us and we conâ—inue this day to run ouâ— Heads against the Bosses of 〈◊〉 's Backâ—ers and on these Rocks on which the People of God have perished formerly Then in the lâ—â—t pâ—â—ce the Propheâ—â— convincâ—ng him of his sin Wherefore 〈◊〉 thou not Obey the Voice of the LORâ— And here the Proâ—het 〈◊〉 iâ— Rebellion Hence we Note that all Rebellions in the World Rebellion against GOD is the greatest and of all Rebellions in the World the Rebellion of a King against GOD is the greatest For it is called here as the sin of Witchcraft The Brutishness of the Enemies appeared much in using this Argument that Rebellion was is the sin of 〈◊〉 against some of the Prisoners taken at Pentland but some of them â—nswered very pertinently which was to this purpose that the Rebellioâ— there spoken of was not the Rebellion of a People against a King But the Rebellion of a King against GOD and this was Sauls sin It iâ— true to Rebell against Lawfull Mâ—â—istrates that are Ordained of GOD 〈…〉 sin but it is no Rebellion to 〈…〉 But now what is this Rebellion There 〈◊〉 several things in Scripture called Rebellion against GOD. I shall mentâ—on these five or six of them First Murmuring against the LORD is called 〈…〉 Numb 14 9. O there hath been much sed Murmuring in ouâ— days many of us hath murmured in the Wilderness We have 〈◊〉 against him And it is to be feared that many of uâ— shall die in Ordinances appointed by Him 〈◊〉 His word Josh 22 19. But 〈◊〉 not against the Lord nor against us in building you an Altar 〈◊〉 the Altar of the Lord our God. Alas 〈◊〉 hâ—th been much of this Rebellion in Scotland setting up Worship not according to his 〈◊〉 Inveâ—ting preverting and corrupâ—â—ng the Worship of GOD Hence conformity with Prelacy 〈◊〉 Rebellion against God For he never appoint 〈◊〉 Lord his 〈…〉 Word It is none of his Ordinances Hence this Antichristian Toleration is 〈◊〉 against GOD There is no Warrant for it in his Word The 〈…〉 of this Toleration whereby the power which the 〈◊〉 claims in 〈…〉 is Recogâ—osâ—â— the Evils in it in â—ffect justified and not witnessed agâ—inst and the wicked Design of its gâ—â—nting strengthened is Rebellion against GOD and this Toleration is a 〈…〉 against GOD The Clâ—iming an Absolute power which is the prerogative of God O such a dreadful day 〈◊〉 coming upon him and all that take part with him Thirdly 〈◊〉 iâ— called Rebelliâ—n against GOD Isa 1 2 O there hath been much 〈…〉 and Ways in Scotland There is a great Backsliding from Prâ—ctice Princâ—ples 〈…〉 it was always the Pâ—â—â—ciple of the Church oâ— Scotland to oppose Tyranny and 〈…〉 the Doctrine of the Church of Scotland to be against a Toleration It was their conâ—â—ant Principles neither â—o give Toleration to Papists noâ— take 〈◊〉 from Papists But O there is a great Backsliding from former Fâ—ithfulness and from former Love and Zeâ—l Fourthly Obstinary and â—eâ—using to hearken to the Coâ—â—andments of the Lord and to turn again unto Him is 〈◊〉 Rebellion Ezek. 20 â— Dan. 9. 5. O there hath been much Rebellion in Scotlands Fifthly Confederacy and Asâ—ociation with the Enemies of GOD it called Religion agâ—inst Him Hosea 7. 14. And they Rebelled against ME. And one of the ways whereby they Rebelled against 〈…〉 calling to Egâ—â—â— and going to Assyria 〈…〉 11. they were going back to Egypt to geâ— help from them that was in Conâ—edeâ—â—â—â—â— and making 〈◊〉 with them O there is much of this Rebellion in Scotland many â—re saying a Confederâ—cy with enemies and are at Peace with them and this Rebellion is the sin and shame and the Judgment of Backsliding Scotland And wâ— to â—ll them that have any â—ccession to this dreadful Confederacy I shall say no more at this time The LORD Himself give you to consider what is said Amen
of brâ—ach of Covenant for ye strengthen the Handâ— of Papists 〈◊〉 ye cannot endeavour the Exâ—irpâ—tion of Popery when ye are at peace with Papists And then we are to Repeat and turn to the LORD and Acknowledge our Sins and engage to our Duty Well have we performed this what means then our justifieing of our seâ—ves in mainâ—aining of this presenâ— course For that is inconsistent with true Repentance and mourning for sin which is clear from â—7 Cor. 7. 10 11. If we had mourned for the sin of formeâ— Indulgences we could not 〈…〉 on this Tolleration but with Detestation for it has loâ—ded us with many Reproaches 〈…〉 may pretend to what they will it is impossible that they shall be â—ound among the 〈◊〉 of Zion while they continue in that Course which is clear from that forecited place of 〈◊〉 For you give all that that is Required of you and by so doing you make your 〈◊〉 guilty of the breâ—th of Covenant O consider the sin thereof and the Judgement that GOD will assâ—redly pursue for such aâ— Indignity done unto Hiâ— Remember Siâ—s and take Warning And I Charge you to take Warning For if ever there was a Defection in Scotland this is one For this hundred and Twenty Years there hath not a Testimony been wanting to the Truth And this Tolleration Condemns them all O will not the sâ—a of Hearing the Curats make us guilty of the sin of Prelacy And will not the hearing of these Tollerated Meetings make us guilty of the sin of this Tolleration I am noâ— imposing upon you my own Nâ—tions I invite you to nothing but the Scripture 〈◊〉 For if you will search them and the Antient Records of our Câ—urch the Acts and Constitutions of her General Assemblies and the Writings of True and Faithfull Champions you would 〈◊〉 these things not to be my Whimsiâ—s but to be the Truth which I tell you I invite you theâ— to seâ—rch them and I 〈…〉 The Fourth Thing in the Words 〈◊〉 be spoken unto is Souâ—s Excuse and Extenuation of his Sin â— and there is a Fourfold Excuse in iâ— I shall Observe this from it in general whatever Men as Hypocrites pretend to in Excusing their Sin it will not do the Turn but it makes it thâ— moâ—◠〈◊〉 Nâ—w the first Excuse 〈◊〉 Saul makes is â—his theâ— have brought them from the Amalâ—kites and this doth discover his ignorâ—nce For iâ— was 〈◊〉 to spare them they should all have been 〈◊〉 For the Amalekites were Devoted Enemies among oâ—her Nâ—â—ions They might have 〈◊〉 these things 〈◊〉 they had an express Charge Deut. 25. 17 18 19 Verses To blot out the Remembrance of Amalâ—k from under Heaven Foâ— they were accursed Enemies of GOD and they were Idolaters and they ought not to have been spâ—red by tampering with them No no they were all to be cut off Mâ—n Woman and Child and all that belonâ—ed to them nothing was to be spâ—red The Children of Israel was to keep up and to have mantained a War against them without any Cessâ—â—â—on Peace or Tâ—â—â—saction with them And if it was Sâ—ule sin to spâ—re Agag and the best of the Sheep and of Oxen and if it was Israels Interest to have maâ—ntained a Wit agaâ—nst Amalek It is as 〈◊〉 our duty and the duty of all the People of CHRIST to keep up and maintain War without any Cessâ—tion Peace or Transaction against Antichrist â—nd agâ—inst Papists now under the New Testament as it was theirs under the Old For they are great Enemies to Truth and as great Idolaters as they were it was Israels sin to spare Agag But we have not only spared the Papisâ— but we have set up a Papist over us And if it was Sauls sin and thâ— peoples sin to spâ—re Agag So it it would have been greater sin and a shame to have set up Agag on the Throne of Israel So it was cut sin to spare Papists but more to set np a Papist over us so 〈◊〉 is our sin surpassing theirs Well remember Sirâ— you have many Oxen and many Sheep bleeting but will you Examine how you got them there are many of you that hâ—s pâ—ace uoâ— you have Houses and Lâ—nds well got you them and your Consciences keeped both was you Wiser than other Folk or was you Honester nor others or was you more False an others have been some will say I got mine keeped by hearing the Curats others will say I got mine keeped by countenancing this Tolleration Well you got it from the Amalekites the Enemies of GOD and you may have little Peace by reflecting on the Way that you have them and them you have it from O consider 〈◊〉 sinfulnâ—ss of making Peâ—ce with Papists these Enemies of God against whom we are to maintain a War wiâ—hout any Cessâ—tion For CHRIST has proclaimed a War agâ—inst all such Look and ye will see the Declaration of War in the 14 of the Revelation 9 verse And any of you that have got any thing that you have this way O strive to get a better â—â—ck of them The second Excuse which Saul makes is this That it was the People did it and not he just like many in out day but he lied like a Traitor for it was by his Command Whence we Observe that Hypocrites will ay lay the Blame on others For if he asked at the People they would haue laid the Blame on Saul So in our day speâ—r at the Ministers who is to Blame for all â—his Defection and they will say the Blame lyes upon the people and if we spear at the people they will the say Flame upon the Ministers and say they left them and would not preach to them in the 〈◊〉 of Temptations and Trials and Ministers will say that they would hâ—ve preached if the people would have heard them But where these Excuâ—es are there is little Sense of sin and Humiliation for siâ— and little fear of the Judgements of GOD that will pursue such sits where every one is laying the Charge off themselves For Ministers say they would have keeped their Kirks and preacheâ— but the people would not bide with us and what could we do For we wanted our Judgâ—â—g 〈◊〉 and what could we do It is not the Ministers it is the people Come to the people and they will say the Ministers went to the Kirks and heard the Curats and we went too and the 〈◊〉 counselled us to take the Bond and what could we do But God will lay the blame upon the whole Ware both Ministers and people A Third excuse that Saul makes is that he spared the Sheep and Oxen for a Sacrifice to the Lord thy God. Whence we Observe that it is the Mark and Psea of Hypocrites to justifie all their Detections from the good end that they have in going about them We are ready to justifie our Actions tho they be bad because of the good end we think we have in going about them A good end will not
utterly Destroyed the Amalekites but the People toâ—k of the Spotâ— Sheep and Oxen to Sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gisgall He would not give over the Plea what they had done they had done it for a good End. And then in the Seventh place We have the Prophets convincing him of his Rebellions in the 22 23 Verses as if he had said a Sacrifice what cares the Lord for your Sacrifice or you either He loves Obedience better than Sâ—crifice Will ye serve God in your own way No he will be served in his own way But now ye are not his Servant seing ye have Disobeyed his Commâ—nd ye are but a Rebel Then in the last place We have the Sentence that the Prophet pronounces against this Rebel As if he had said seing ye have Disâ—beyed his Command He hath taken away and invalidate your Authority ye may have the Title and the Name for a while but ye are no more King over Israel He will have no more of your Service So these are the particulars of the words which we have read and we shall go over them again and speak a little to each of them as time will allow applying them to our times The First thing then is the Meeting of the Prophet and this Hypocritical King The Lord had told Samuel in the Night befâ—re how He was Displeased with Sâ—ul and that he had Rejâ—cted him and would not have him to be King any longer And the Prophet Weeps all the Nâ—ght over for poor Saul This was his Exercise for if he could have gotten the Wâ—ath and Anger of the Lord turned away from Saul he would 〈◊〉 have had it done as we should all of us do We should not desire the Evil day on any but should 〈◊〉 for the sins of Enemies and for the Judgements of Enemies So likeways we should them And he went from one place to another till he gets Saul to witness against 〈◊〉 12 Verse And when Samuel â—rose early to meet Saul in the morning it was told Samuâ— saying Saul came to Carmel and behold he set him upon a place and is gone about at passed on and gone down to Giâ—gall Whence we Observe when judges or any in Eminent Note Rebell against God all the Servants of God should not only mourn over them in secret but witness against them publickly as Samuel did Ministers should be free and Faithful in preaching against the sins of every one who ever be offended this is a clear Duty it Ye will consider these two or three things First Why this should be done 2dly Who is the Object against whom they should witness 3dly When is the time that this should be done First then Why Rebellion should be witnessed against be in whom it will which is a duty very much slighted in our Dâ—y We should not suffer sin upon our Bâ—other when we see him sin we suffer sin upon him when we do not reprove him and the not reproving of him is a â—ating of him We hate our Brother when we do not tell him of his Sin and they are guilty of their blood 33 Ezek They that do not dâ—clare the whole Counâ—el of God cannot say that they are free of the blood of all Men They should tell what are their sins and that they should repent of their sins Secondly It is clear If ye will consider the Names that Ministers get in Scripture as Watchmen and those must â—et the Trumpet to their Mouth and give Warning when the see danger coming otherways they are guilty of their Blâ—od And also it is clear from what they have in Commission 58 of â—a They must cry aloud and nâ—t spare and lift up their Voice like a Trumpet and shew the Lords Peopâ—e their Transgressiâ—ns and the House of Jacâ—b their Sins Zek. 16 2. Cause Jerusalem know her abominatiâ—ns Zek. 20. 4 Cause them to know their Fathers Sins And when Ministers does not this they cannot say with Paul That they are free from the blood of all Men. Acts 28. Seing if they do not tell the People of their Sins they have shuâ—ned to declare unto them all the Counsel of God Fâ—r how can People Repent of and mourn for those sins that they do not know nor told of There is many a Direction to the Servants of God to declare against the Sins of his People and they shâ—uld make their Witness against publick sins as publick as they can Thirdly It is clear if ye will consider that there is no way left to avert the Wrath of God from the whole Land but a publick plâ—ading against those sins For we find that for Sauls Sin there was Three Years Famine on the whole Land. For David's sin of Numbering the People there fell of the People Ten Thousand And for Man 〈◊〉 sin the Ears of all Judah was made to â—in let So as upon the one hand the sins of â—ulers bâ—ings on the Wrath of God on a Land So upon the other hand the unfaithfulness of Ministers in not giving faithful Warning and telling the People their sin and Duâ—y brings Wrath upon the whole Land Lev 10. 6. And Moses said unto Aaron and unto Eleazar and unto â—â—hamar his Son uncover not your Heads neither rent your Cloaths least you die and least Wrath come upon all the People Isa 44. 43. Jer. 14 13. Micha 3 â—ad 5. Where it is clearly insinuated that the sins and unfaitâ—fulness of Ministers brings Wrath upon aâ—l the People Nâ—w I say there is no other way lest to avert the Wrath of God from a Land but publick pleading for Truth and against Sin and Defection which is clear Isa 59 15 16 Verses Yea truth falleth and he that departeth from Evil maketh himself a prey And the Lord saw it and it displeassed Him that there was no Judgment and He saw that there was no Man and wondered that there was no Intercessor And Jer. 5 1. Run ye to and froâ— through the Streets of Jerusalem and see now and know and seek in the broad places thereof if ye can find a Man if there be any that executeth Judgment and seeketh the Truth and I will pardon it As if the Lord would say Now I am going to bring Judgment on the Land and if ye can get any that executeth Judgment and seeketh the Truth I will turn away my Wrath And in the 9 of Jer. 3 verse They are not Valâ—ant for the Truth And Ezek. 22. 30. And I fought for a Man among them that should make up the Hedge and stand in the Gap before ME for the Land that I should not destroy it but I found none Therefâ—re have I poured cut my Indignatiâ—n upon them I have consumed them with the Fire of my Wrath. Where we may see if there had been any to make up the Hedge and stand in the Gap Before ME the Land would not have been destroyed We may see likewise from this that Ministers shouâ—d nâ—t only be free and