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but_o for_o their_o contumacious_a contempt_n of_o a_o law_n this_o be_v no_o violence_n do_v to_o their_o conscience_n for_o as_o they_o have_v
none_o and_o can_v not_o pretend_v to_o any_o so_o they_o be_v never_o trouble_v for_o that_o but_o for_o their_o opposition_n and_o conspiracy_n against_o the_o common_a cause_n however_o it_o go_v through_o at_o that_o time_n and_o that_o the_o covenant_v reformation_n in_o a_o near_a conjunction_n betwixt_o the_o unite_a church_n may_v be_v promote_v the_o parliament_n of_o england_n call_v a_o assembly_n of_o divine_n at_o westminster_n and_o desire_v the_o assembly_n of_o scotland_n to_o send_v thither_o their_o commissioner_n and_o they_o according_o nominate_v and_o elect_v mr._n alexander_n henderson_n mr._n robert_n douglas_n mr._n samuel_n rutherford_n mr._n robert_n bailler_fw-fr mr._n george_n gillespie_n minister_n and_o john_n earl_n of_o capil_n john_n lord_n maitland_n and_o sir_n archbald_n johnstone_n of_o warristown_n ruling_n elderâ—_n to_o propone_n consult_v treat_n and_o conclude_v in_o all_o such_o thing_n as_o may_v conduce_v to_o the_o extirpation_n of_o prelacy_n etc._n etc._n and_o for_o the_o settle_n of_o the_o so_o much_o desire_v union_n of_o the_o whole_a island_n in_o one_o form_n of_o church_n government_n one_o confession_n of_o faith_n one_o common_a catechism_n and_o one_o directory_n for_o the_o worship_n of_o god_n forces_n be_v also_o send_v to_o assist_v the_o parliament_n of_o england_n which_o be_v favour_v with_o great_a success_n in_o their_o erterprise_n till_o that_o war_n be_v end_v by_o the_o total_a overthrow_n of_o the_o king_n and_o all_o his_o upholder_n but_o that_o prelatical_a and_o malignant_a faction_n be_v bring_v much_o under_o in_o england_n attempt_v to_o try_v the_o fortune_n of_o war_n in_o scotland_n under_o the_o conduct_n of_o montrose_n who_o though_o he_o prevail_v for_o a_o time_n yet_o at_o length_n be_v defeat_v at_o philliphaugh_n in_o the_o year_n 1645._o yet_o certain_a it_o be_v that_o they_o have_v commission_n and_o warrant_n from_o the_o king_n as_o the_o assembly_n that_o year_n feb._n 13._o remonstrate_v it_o to_o himself_o warn_v he_o in_o the_o name_n of_o their_o master_n the_o lord_n jesus_n christ_n that_o the_o gild_n which_o cleave_v to_o his_o throne_n be_v such_o as_o if_o not_o timely_o repent_v can_v not_o but_o involve_v himself_o and_o his_o posterity_n under_o the_o wrath_n of_o the_o everliving_a god_n for_o his_o be_v guilty_a of_o the_o shed_n of_o the_o blood_n of_o many_o thousand_o of_o his_o best_a subject_n etc._n etc._n at_o the_o same_o time_n also_o the_o assembly_n do_v zealous_o incite_v the_o parliament_n to_o a_o speedy_a course_n of_o justice_n against_o these_o incendiary_n and_o murderer_n as_o the_o only_a mean_a of_o cleanse_v the_o land_n from_o that_o deluge_n of_o blood_n then_o current_n and_o of_o appease_v the_o wrath_n of_o god_n and_o solemn_o and_o seasonable_o warn_v all_o rank_n to_o search_v to_o understand_v the_o language_n of_o that_o dispensation_n wherein_o many_o public_a sin_n and_o breach_n of_o covenant_n be_v point_v at_o and_o the_o covenant_n itself_o be_v there_o very_o encomiastical_o vindicate_v we_o be_v so_o far_o from_o repent_v of_o it_o say_v they_o that_o we_o can_v mention_v it_o without_o great_a joy_n for_o no_o soon_o be_v the_o covenant_n begin_v to_o be_v take_v in_o england_n but_o sensible_o the_o condition_n of_o affair_n there_o be_v change_v to_o the_o better_a and_o our_o force_n send_v into_o that_o kingdom_n in_o pursuance_n of_o that_o covenant_n have_v be_v so_o manifest_o and_o merciful_o assist_v from_o heaven_n that_o we_o have_v what_o to_o answer_v the_o enemy_n that_o reproach_v we_o concern_v that_o business_n these_o follow_a act_n be_v make_v thus_o feb._n 14._o 1645._o sess._n 18._o unless_o man_n will_v blot_v out_o of_o their_o heart_n the_o fear_n of_o religion_n and_o cause_n of_o god_n they_o must_v now_o or_o never_o appear_v active_o each_o one_o stretch_v himself_o to_o yea_o beyond_o his_o power_n it_o be_v no_o time_n to_o dally_v or_o to_o go_v about_o the_o business_n by_o half_n nor_o be_v almost_o but_o altogether_o zealous_a curse_v be_v he_o that_o do_v the_o work_n of_o the_o lord_n negligent_o if_o we_o have_v be_v forward_o to_o assist_v our_o neighbour_n kingdom_n shall_v we_o neglect_v to_o defend_v our_o own_o or_o shall_v the_o enemy_n of_o god_n be_v more_o active_a against_o his_o cause_n than_o his_o people_n for_o it_o god_n forbid_v and_o among_o the_o enormity_n and_o corruption_n of_o the_o ministry_n in_o their_o calling_n this_o be_v one_o §_o 4._o 5._o silence_n in_o the_o public_a cause_n some_o account_v it_o a_o point_n of_o wisdom_n to_o speak_v ambiguous_o whereof_o the_o remedy_n be_v §_o 15._o that_o beside_o all_o other_o scandal_n silence_n and_o ambiguous_a speak_n in_o the_o public_a cause_n be_v seasonable_o censure_v gen._n ass._n edin_n june_n 13._o 1646._o act_n for_o censure_v the_o complyer_n with_o the_o public_a enemy_n of_o this_o church_n and_o kingdom_n gen._n ass._n edin_n jun._n 17._o 1646._o sess._n 4._o where_o they_o judge_v it_o a_o great_a and_o scandalous_a provocation_n and_o grievous_a defection_n from_o the_o public_a cause_n to_o comply_v with_o these_o malignant_n in_o any_o degree_n even_o to_o procure_v protection_n from_o they_o or_o to_o have_v invite_v they_o to_o their_o house_n or_o to_o be_v guilty_a of_o any_o such_o gross_a degree_n of_o compliance_n censure_v to_o be_v suspend_v from_o the_o communion_n and_o while_o they_o acknowledge_v their_o offence_n and_o gen._n ass._n aug._n 24._o 1647._o sess._n 19_o minister_n be_v charge_v we_o they_o have_v occasion_n from_o the_o text_n of_o scripture_n to_o reprove_v the_o sin_n and_o error_n and_o press_v the_o duty_n of_o the_o time_n and_o in_o all_o these_o to_o observe_v the_o rule_v prescribe_v by_o the_o act_n of_o assembly_n wherein_o if_o they_o be_v negligent_a they_o be_v to_o be_v censure_v and_o july_n ult_n 1648._o sess._n 2._o in_o their_o declaration_n concern_v the_o unlawful_a engagement_n they_o say_v suppose_v the_o end_n of_o that_o engagement_n be_v good_a as_o they_o be_v not_o yet_o the_o mean_n and_o way_n of_o prosecution_n be_v unlawful_a because_o there_o be_v not_o a_o equal_a avoid_n of_o rock_n on_o both_o hand_n but_o a_o join_n with_o malignant_n to_o suppress_v sectary_n a_o join_a hand_n with_o a_o black_a devil_n to_o beat_v a_o white_a devil_n and_o aug._n 3._o 1648._o all_o minister_n that_o do_v not_o apply_v their_o doctrine_n to_o the_o corruption_n of_o the_o time_n which_o be_v the_o pastoral_a gift_n and_o that_o be_v cold_a or_o want_v of_o spiritual_a zeal_n dissemble_v of_o public_a sin_n be_v appoint_v to_o be_v censure_v even_o to_o deprivation_n for_o forbear_v or_o pass_v in_o silence_n the_o error_n and_o exorbitance_n of_o sectary_n in_o england_n or_o the_o defection_n current_n at_o home_n the_o plot_n and_o practice_n of_o malignant_n the_o principle_n and_o tenet_n of_o erastianism_n and_o if_o they_o be_v find_v too_o spare_v general_n or_o ambiguous_a in_o their_o application_n or_o reproof_n they_o be_v to_o be_v depose_v for_o be_v pleaser_n of_o man_n rather_o than_o server_n of_o christ_n for_o give_v themselves_o to_o a_o detestable_a indifferency_n or_o neutrality_n in_o the_o cause_n of_o god_n for_o defraud_v the_o south_n of_o people_n yea_o for_o be_v guilty_a of_o the_o blood_n of_o soul_n in_o not_o give_v they_o warning_n see_v also_o their_o seasonable_a and_o necessary_a warn_v july_n 27._o 1649._o thus_o do_v these_o famous_a father_n give_v we_o a_o perfect_a pattern_n of_o purity_n and_o strictness_n in_o opposition_n to_o all_o degree_n of_o conformity_n and_o compliance_n with_o the_o corruption_n of_o the_o time_n in_o the_o mean_a while_n the_o malignant_n in_o england_n be_v crush_v in_o all_o their_o project_n the_o king_n render_v himself_o to_o the_o scot_n in_o newcastle_n by_o who_o because_o by_o covenant_n they_o be_v not_o oblige_v to_o defend_v he_o but_o only_o in_o defence_n of_o religion_n and_o liberty_n which_o he_o have_v be_v destroy_v and_o they_o defend_v because_o in_o this_o war_n he_o do_v direct_o oppose_v and_o oppugn_v these_o condition_n under_o which_o they_o be_v only_o to_o defend_v he_o and_o therefore_o they_o have_v all_o along_o carry_v towards_o he_o as_o a_o enemy_n as_o he_o to_o they_o and_o because_o by_o the_o same_o covenant_n they_o be_v oblige_v to_o discover_v and_o render_v to_o condign_a punishment_n all_o malignant_n of_o who_o he_o be_v the_o chief_a and_o to_o assist_v mutual_o all_o enter_v into_o that_o covenant_n he_o be_v deliver_v up_o unto_o the_o english_a and_o keep_v under_o restraint_n in_o the_o isle_n of_o wight_n until_o he_o be_v condemn_v and_o execute_v jan_n 30_o 164â—â—_n which_o fact_n though_o it_o be_v protest_v against_o both_o before_o and_o after_o by_o the_o assembly_n of_o the_o church_n of_o scotland_n
so_o and_o mr_n james_n melvil_n write_v against_o the_o subscriber_n at_o that_o time_n prove_v that_o they_o have_v not_o only_o set_v up_o a_o new_a pope_n and_o so_o become_v traitor_n to_o christ_n and_o condescend_v to_o that_o chief_a error_n of_o papistry_n whereupon_o all_o the_o rest_n depend_v but_o further_o in_o so_o do_v they_o have_v grant_v more_o to_o the_o king_n than_o ever_o the_o pope_n of_o rome_n peaceable_o obtain_v etc._n etc._n after_o this_o it_o be_v know_v what_o bicker_n the_o faithful_a witness_n of_o christ_n have_v in_o their_o conflict_n with_o this_o supremacy_n upon_o the_o account_n of_o mr._n david_n blacks_n declinature_n which_o they_o both_o advise_v he_o to_o and_o approve_v when_o he_o give_v it_o in_o against_o the_o king_n and_o council_n as_o judges_z of_o his_o doctrine_n and_o the_o commissioner_n of_o the_o general_n assembly_n ordain_v all_o to_o deal_v mighty_o with_o the_o power_n of_o the_o word_n against_o the_o council_n excroachment_n for_o which_o they_o be_v charge_v to_o depart_v forth_o of_o edinburgh_n after_o which_o he_o add_v a_o second_o declinature_n declare_v there_o be_v two_o jurisdiction_n in_o this_o realm_n the_o one_o spiritual_a the_o other_o civil_a the_o one_o respect_v the_o conscience_n the_o other_o external_o therefore_o in_o so_o far_o as_o he_o be_v one_o of_o the_o spiritual_a office-bearer_n and_o have_v discharge_v his_o spiritual_a call_n in_o some_o measure_n of_o grace_n and_o sincerity_n shall_v not_o nor_o can_v not_o be_v lawful_o judge_v for_o preach_v and_o apply_v the_o word_n by_o any_o civil_a power_n he_o be_v a_o ambassador_n and_o messenger_n of_o the_o lord_n jesus_n have_v his_o commission_n from_o the_o king_n of_o king_n and_o all_o his_o instruction_n set_v down_o and_o limit_v in_o the_o book_n of_o god_n that_o can_v be_v extend_v abridge_v or_o alter_v by_o any_o mortal_a wight_n king_n or_o emperor_n and_o see_v he_o be_v send_v to_o all_o sort_n his_o commission_n and_o discharge_v of_o it_o shall_v not_o nor_o can_v be_v lawful_o judge_v by_o they_o to_o who_o he_o be_v send_v they_o be_v sheep_n and_o not_o pastor_n to_o be_v judge_v by_o the_o word_n and_o not_o to_o be_v judge_n thereof_o in_o a_o judicial_a way_n the_o interlocutor_fw-la be_v pass_v against_o he_o for_o this_o the_o brethren_n think_v it_o duty_n that_o the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o preacher_n shall_v be_v direct_v against_o the_o say_a interlocutor_fw-la as_o against_o a_o strong_a hold_v set_v up_o against_o the_o lord_n jesus_n and_o the_o freedom_n of_o the_o gospel_n and_o praise_v god_n for_o the_o force_n and_o unity_n of_o the_o spirit_n that_o be_v among_o themselves_o and_o be_v charge_v to_o depart_v out_o of_o town_n they_o leave_v a_o faithful_a declaration_n at_o large_a show_v how_o the_o liberty_n of_o the_o church_n be_v invade_v and_o rob_v and_o when_o the_o minister_n be_v trouble_v upon_o mr._n blacks_n business_n and_o there_o be_v a_o intention_n to_o pull_v they_o out_o of_o their_o pulpit_n the_o general_n assembly_n advise_v they_o to_o stand_v to_o the_o discharge_v of_o their_o call_v if_o their_o flock_n will_v save_v they_o from_o violence_n and_o yet_o this_o violence_n be_v expect_v from_o the_o king_n and_o his_o emissary_n and_o when_o mr._n black_a have_v a_o remission_n offer_v to_o he_o refuse_v it_o altogether_o lest_o so_o do_v he_o shall_v condemn_v himself_o and_o approve_v the_o court_n proceed_n and_o the_o brethren_n confer_v with_o the_o counsellor_n crave_v that_o some_o penalty_n shall_v be_v condescend_v unto_o for_o satisfy_v his_o majesty_n in_o his_o honour_n will_v not_o condescend_v to_o any_o how_o light_n soever_o lest_o thereby_o they_o shall_v seem_v to_o approve_v the_o judicatory_a and_o their_o proceed_n the_o imprison_a minister_n for_o decline_v the_o council_n have_v it_o in_o their_o offer_n that_o if_o they_o will_v without_o any_o confession_n of_o offence_n only_o submit_v themselves_o to_o his_o majesty_n pro_fw-la scandalo_fw-la accepto_fw-la non_fw-la dato_fw-la they_o shall_v be_v restore_v to_o their_o place_n but_o they_o can_v not_o do_v it_o without_o betray_v the_o cause_n of_o christ._n the_o minister_n of_o edinburgh_n be_v commit_v to_o ward_n for_o refuse_v to_o pray_v for_o the_o queen_n before_o her_o execution_n in_o fothringam_n castle_n 1586._o they_o refuse_v not_o simple_o to_o pray_v for_o she_o but_o for_o the_o preservation_n of_o her_o life_n as_o if_o she_o have_v be_v innocent_a of_o the_o crime_n lay_v to_o her_o charge_n which_o have_v import_v a_o condemnation_n of_o the_o proceed_n against_o she_o afterward_o in_o the_o year_n 1600._o the_o minister_n of_o edinburgh_n will_v not_o praise_n god_n for_o the_o delivery_n of_o the_o king_n from_o a_o conspiracy_n of_o the_o earl_n of_o gowrie_n at_o that_o time_n of_o which_o they_o have_v no_o credit_n nor_o assurance_n and_o will_v not_o crave_v pardon_n for_o it_o neither_o for_o this_o mr._n robert_n bruce_n be_v deprive_v of_o the_o exercise_n of_o his_o ministry_n and_o never_o obtain_v it_o again_o at_o edinburgh_n but_o all_o this_o be_v nothing_o in_o comparison_n of_o their_o wrestle_n for_o the_o royalty_n of_o their_o princely_a master_n and_o privilege_n of_o his_o kingdom_n against_o that_o tyrant_n insolence_n after_o he_o obtain_v the_o crown_n of_o england_n for_o than_o he_o will_v not_o suffer_v the_o church_n to_o indict_v she_o own_o assembly_n and_o when_o the_o faithful_a thought_n themselves_o oblige_v to_o counteract_v his_o encroachment_n and_o therefore_o convene_v in_o a_o assembly_n at_o aberdeen_n anno_fw-la 1605._o they_o be_v force_v to_o dissolve_v and_o thereafter_o the_o most_o eminent_a of_o the_o minister_n there_o assemble_v be_v transport_v prisoner_n to_o blackness_n whence_o be_v cite_v before_o the_o council_n they_o decline_v their_o judicatory_a and_o one_o of_o their_o brethren_n mr._n robert_n youngson_n who_o have_v former_o succumb_v be_v move_v in_o conscience_n return_v and_o when_o the_o rest_n be_v stand_v before_o the_o council_n desire_v to_o be_v hear_v and_o acknowledge_v his_o fault_n and_o subscribe_v the_o declinature_n with_o the_o rest_n and_o for_o this_o they_o be_v arraign_v and_o condemn_v as_o guilty_a of_o treason_n and_o banish_v before_o the_o execution_n of_o which_o sentence_n mr._n welsh_n write_v to_o the_o lady_n fleeming_n to_o this_o effect_n what_o be_o i_o that_o he_o shall_v first_o have_v call_v i_o and_o then_o constitute_v i_o a_o minister_n of_o glad_a thing_n of_o the_o gospel_n of_o salvation_n these_o fifteen_o year_n already_o and_o now_o last_o of_o all_o to_o be_v a_o sufferer_n for_o his_o cause_n and_o kingdom_n to_o witness_v that_o good_a confession_n that_o jesus_n christ_n be_v the_o king_n of_o saint_n and_o that_o his_o church_n be_v a_o most_o free_a kingdom_n yea_o as_o free_a as_o any_o kingdom_n under_o heaven_n not_o only_o to_o convocate_v hold_v and_o keep_v her_o meeting_n convention_n and_o assembly_n but_o also_o to_o judge_v of_o all_o her_o affair_n in_o all_o her_o meeting_n and_o convention_n among_o his_o member_n and_o subject_n these_o two_o point_n 1_o that_o christ_n be_v the_o head_n of_o his_o church_n 2_o that_o she_o be_v free_a in_o her_o government_n from_o all_o other_o jurisdiction_n except_o christ_n be_v the_o special_a cause_n of_o our_o imprisonment_n be_v now_o convict_v as_o traitor_n for_o maintain_v thereof_o we_o have_v now_o be_v wait_v with_o joyfulness_n to_o give_v the_o last_o testimony_n of_o our_o blood_n in_o confirmation_n thereof_o if_o it_o will_v please_v our_o god_n to_o be_v so_o favourable_a as_o to_o honour_v we_o with_o that_o dignity_n after_o this_o the_o king_n resolve_v by_o parliament_n to_o advance_v the_o estate_n of_o bishop_n again_o as_o in_o the_o time_n of_o popery_n without_o caution_n as_o before_o and_o further_o to_o establish_v not_o only_o that_o antichristian_a hierarchy_n but_o a_o erastian_n supremacy_n the_o faithful_a minister_n of_o christ_n think_v themselves_o bind_v in_o conscience_n to_o protest_v and_o according_o they_o offer_v a_o faithful_a protestation_n to_o the_o parliament_n july_n 1606._o obte_v that_o they_o will_v reserve_v into_o the_o lord_n own_o hand_n that_o glory_n which_o he_o will_v communicate_v neither_o with_o man_n nor_o angel_n to_o wit_n to_o prescribe_v from_o his_o holy_a mountain_n a_o lively_a pattern_n according_a to_o which_o his_o own_o tabernacle_n shall_v be_v form_v remember_v always_o that_o there_o be_v no_o absolute_a and_o undoubted_a authority_n in_o this_o world_n except_o the_o sovereign_a authority_n of_o christ_n the_o king_n to_o who_o it_o belong_v as_o proper_o to_o rule_v the_o church_n according_a to_o the_o good_a pleasure_n of_o his_o own_o will_n as_o it_o belong_v to_o save_v his_o church_n by_o the_o merit_n of_o his_o own_o suffering_n