the Remnant that He may get a lodging among the afflicted poor people that trust in the Name of the Lord that they may feed Lie doun none make them afraid Zeph. 3. 12 13. that the poor of the flock that wait on Him may know that it is the Word of the Lord Zech. 11. 11. they will lay out themselves to strengthen their hands This is the Work of the publick spirited Lovers of the Gospel which hath been and yet is the great work of this our day to carry the Gospel and follow it and keep it up through the Land as the Standart of Christ against all opposition from mountain to hill when now Zion hath been Labouring to bring forth as a woman in travel and made to go forth out of the City and to dwell in the field Mic. 4. 10. Therefore seeing it is the publick Work of the day and all its followers must have such a publick spirit it followes that the Meetings to promote it must be as publick as is possible 4. The Interest priviledge of the Gospel to have it in freedom purty power plenty is the publick Concern of all the Lords people preferable to all other Interests and therefore more publickly peremptorly and zealously to be contended for than any other Interest whatsoever It is the Glory of the Land 1 Sam. 4. 21. without which Ichabod may be the name of every thing and every Land though never so pleasant will be but a dry parched Land where no water is in the esteem of them that have seen the Lords Glory power in the Sanctuary Psal. 63. 1. Where as its name is Hephzibah Beulah Isai. 62. 4. and Iehovah-Shammah Ezek. 48. ult where God is enjoyed in His Gospel Ordinances And the want reproach of the Solemn Assemblies is a matter of the saddest mourning to the Lords people Zeph. 3. 18. Therefore while the Ark abode in Kerjath-jearim the time was thought very Long and all the house of Israel Lamented after the Lord 1 Sam. 7. 2. then they heard of it at Ephratah and found it in the fields of the Wood Psal. 132. 6. But it hath been longer than twenty years in our fields of the Woods and therefore we should be Lamenting after it with greater concernedness especially remembering how we were priviledged with the Gospel which was somtimes publickly embraced countenanced by Authority and ensured to us by Laws Statutes Declarations Proclamations Oaths Vowes Covenant-engagments whereby the Land was dedicated devoted unto the Son of God whose Conquest it was And now are not all the people of God obliged to do what they can to hinder the recalling of this dedication and the giving up of the Land as an offering unto Satan Antichrist And how shall this be but by a publick Contending for this priviledge and a resolving they shall sooner bereave us of our hearts blood than of the Gospel in its freedom purity But this we cannot contend for publickly if our Meetings be not publick 5. The nature business of the Gospel Ministrie is such that it obliges them that exercise it to endeavour all publickness without which they cannot discharge the extent of their Instructions their very names titles do insinuate so much They are Witnesses for Christ and therefore their Testimony should be publick though their Lot oftentimes be to Witness in Sackcloth They are Heraulds and therefore they should Proclaim their Masters Will though their Lot be often to be a voice crying in the Wilderness as Iohn the Baptist was in his field Preachings They are Ambassadours and therefore they should maintain their Masters Majestie in the Publick port of His Ambassadours and be wholly taken up about their Soveraigns business They are Watchmen and therefore they should keep maintain their post their Masters hath placed them at Nay they are Lights Candles and therefore cannot be hid Math. 5. 14 15. The Commands Instructions given them infer the necâ—ssity of this They must cry aloud and not spare and left up their voice like a Trumpet and shew the Lords People their transgressions sins Isai. 58. 1. They are Watchmen upon Ierusalems walls which must not hold their peace day nor night nor keep silence nor give the Lord rest till He establish and till He make Ierusalem a praise in the earth Isai. 62. 6 7. They are Watchmen that must command all to hearken to the sound of the Trumpet Ier. 6. 17. They must be valiant for the Truth upon the earth Ier. 9. 3. They must say thus saith the Lord even to a rebellious Nation whether they will hear or forbear and not be afraid of them Ezek. 2. 5 6. They must cause the people to know their abominations Ezek. 16. 2. and the abominations of their Fathers Ezek. 20. 4. And what their Master tells them in darkness that they must speak in the Light and what they hear in the ear that they must Preach upon the house tops Math 10. 27. These things cannot be done in a Clandestine way And therefore now when there is so much necessity it is the duty of all faithful Ministers to be laying out themselves to the utmost in their Pastoral function for the suppreffing of all the evils of the time not withstanding of any prohibition to the contrary in the most publick manner according to the examples of all the faithful servants of the Lord both in the Old New Testaments Though it be most impiously Tyrannically interdicted yet the Laws of God stand unrepealed and therefore all who have a Trumpet a Mouth should set the Trumpet to their Mouth and sound a certain sound not in secret for that will not alarme the people but in in the most publick manner they can have access to And it is the duty of all to come hear obey their Warnings Witnessings command who will the contrary It was for mocking despising His Words misusing His Prophets that the wrath of the Lord arose against His people the Iewes until there was no remedy 2 Chron. 36 16. Therefore from all that is said it must be Concluded that Meetings for Gospel Ordinances must be as publick as can be And if so then that they should be in houses safety will not permit to us to go to the streets or Mercat places neither safety nor prudence will admit Therefore we must go to the fields with it cost what it will. 4. Seeing then there must be Meettngs publick Meetings And seeing we cannot and dare not in Conscience countenance the Curats Meetings we must hear oune embrace follow such faithful Ministers as are cloathed with Christ Commission Righteousness salvation and do keep the Words of the Lords patience and the Testimony of the Church of Scotland in particular This I think will not or dare not be denyed by any that oune the Authority of Christ which none can deny or instruct the contrary
it shall be then the Watchmen must not hold their peace and they that make mention of the Name of the Lord must not keep silence Isai. 62. 6 7. especially when His Name Glory is blasphemed baffled and afronted as at this day with a Witness 8. When Ministers generally are involved in a course of defection and do not give faithful warning but daub over the peoples and their oun defections then the Prophets must Prophesie against the Prophets Ezek. 13. 2 10. c. As alas this day there is a necessity for it 9. When publick Worship is interdicted by Law as it was by that Edict prohibiting publick Prayer for thirty dayes in Daniels time They could not interdict all Prayer to God for they could forbid nothing by that Law but that which they might hinder punish for contraveening but mental Prayer at least could not be so restrained And certain it is they intended only such Prayer should be discharged as might discover Daniel But might not the wisdom of Daniel have eluded this interdiction by praying only secretly or mentally No whatever Carnal wisdom might Meeâ—te his honesty did oblige him in that case of Confâ—â—re parâ—hen he knew the writing was signed to go into hie clossly â—d to open his windowes and to kneel upon his knâ— to cleatimes a day as he did aforetime Dan. 6. 10. Nowny agaireason can be given for his opening his windowes Was it only to let in the air or was it to see Ierusalem out at these windowes The Temple he could look toward as well when they were shut No other reason can be assigned but that it was necessary then to avouch the Testimony for that indispensable Duty then interdicted And is not publick preaching indispensable Duty too which is declared Criminal except it be confined to the mode their wicked Law tolerates which we can no more homologate than omitt the duty 10. When it is an evil time the evil of sin is incumbent and the evil of wrath is impendent over a Land then the Lyon hath roared who will not fear the Lord God hath spoken who can but Prophesie Amos. 3. 8. There is no contradiction here to that word whiâ—e hath been miserably perverted in our day to palliâ—use or â—il silence of time-servers Amos. 5. 13. The prudent shall keepâ— silence in that time for it is an evil time Whereby we cannot understand a wylie withdrawing our witness against the times evils for there they are commanded to bestir themselves actively in seeking good hating the evil loving the goâ—d and establishing Iudgement in the gate vers 14 15. but we understand by it a submissive silence to God without fretting according to that Word Ier. 8. 14. for the Lord our God hath put us to silence and Mic. 7. 9. Calvin upon the place expounds it The prudent shall be affirighted at the terrible vengeance of God Or they shall be compelled to silence not willingly for that were unworthy of men of courage to be silent at such wickedness but by the force of Tyrants giving them no leave to speak Sure then this is such a time wherein it is prudence to be silent to God but not to be silent for God but to gâ—ve publick witness against the evils of sin abounding and publick warning of the evils of punishment imminent 11. Then is the 〈◊〉 of it when worldly wisdom thinks it unseasonable 〈◊〉 men cannot endure â—ound Doctrine but after 〈…〉 lusts they heap to themselves teachers haâ—in◠〈…〉 and turn away their eaâ—s from the Truth◠〈…〉 â—each the Word and be instant is indeed in it 〈…〉 because profitable necessary but it is out of season as to the Preachers or Hearers external interest and in the esteem of Worldly Wiselings 2 Tim. 4. 2 3 4. See Pool Synops. Critic in Locum So in our day men cannot endure free faithful dealing against the sins of the times but would have smooth things deceits spoken unto them like those Isai. 30. 10. And nothing can be more 〈…〉 to speak plainly so as to give every thing its 〈…〉 either of the sins of the times or of the snares of the times or of the miseries evils of the times or of the duties of the times or of the dangers and the present Crisis of the times Which no faithful Minister can forbear Therefore so much the more is it seasonable that it is generally thought unseasonable 12. In a word whenever 〈…〉 Testimony of the Church or any part of it is 〈…〉 then is the season to keep it and contend for it and to hold it fast as our Crown Revel 3. 10 11. It must be then a word spoken in due season and good necessary Prov. 15. 23. at this time to give a publick Testimony against all wrongs done to our blessed Lord Jesus all the encroachments upon His prerogatives all the invasions of the Churches priviledges all the overturnings of our Covenanted Reformation and this openly designed introduction of Poperie Slaverie But now how shall this Testimony be given by us conveniently or how can it be given at all at this time in our Circumstances so as both â—he matter and manner of it may be a most significant Witness-bearing to the merit of it except we go to the fields Who can witness significantly against Poperie Tyrannie and all the evils to be spoken against this day under the protection of a Papist Tyrant as house-Meetings under the Covert oâ— this Tolâ—eration are stated for if these Meetings be private secret then the Testimony is not known if they be publick then they are exposed to a Prey Now by all these general Hypothâ—sâ—s it is already in some measure evident that Field-Meetings are very expedient But I shall adde some more particular Considerations to inculcate the same more clossly In the Third Place besides what is said to clear the Lawfulness necessity of a publick Testimony against the evils of the present time Some Considerations may be added to prove the Expediency of this way manner of giving a Testimony by maintaining Field-Meetings in our present Circumstances 1. The keeping of Field-Meetings now is not only most convenient for Testifying but a very significant Testimony in it self against this Popish Toleration the wickedness of whose Spring Original and of its Nature and Terms Channel Conveyance End design is shewed in the Historical Narrative thereof and cannot be denyed by any Presbyterian whose constant principle is that there should be no Toleration of Poperie Idolatrie or Heresie in this Reformed Covenanted Church Reason Religion both will conclude that this is to be witnessed against by all that will adhere to the Cause or Reformation overturned hereby and resolve to stand in the Gap against Poperie to be introduced hereby and that will approve themselves as honest Patriots in defending the Laws Libertys of the Country subverted hereby And besides if it be considered with respect to
when they should be in a Capacity to improve them against their Murdering Persecuters against whom He gives His Royal Grant of Resistence that the world may know His Subjects thô they have more Priviledges Spiritual yet they have no less humane Priviledges than other men Albeit at that Period of His determined Suffering He would not allow the present use of them Hence If the Lords people should provide themselves with Armes of defence thô they should be reputed Transgressors for so doing Then may they use these Armes of Defence against them that Persecute them under that Notion But the Antecedent is clear Therefore c. Fifthly We may infer the same Truth from some of the Prayers of the Saints wherein they glory in the confident expectation of the Lords strengthening them favouring approving their helpers in the experience of the Lord Assisting them while in the mean time constitute in a formed Appearance of Resistence I shall only hint these 1. In that prayer Psal. 44. 5. They glory in hope that through the Lord they will push doun their enemies c. yet now they were under the power of Tyrannizing Dominators which they were Resisting for vers 9. they complain they were put to shame because the Lord went not forth with their Armies they which hated them spoyled them And for His Sake were killed all day long Hence they plead that the Lord would awake and not forget their affliction oppression Whereby it is evident they were under the yoke of Tyrannizing powers and Resisting according to their might Which by whomsoever or upon what occasion soever the Psalm was compiled shewes that no want of Success in Resisting Tyrants can mar the Saints faith in pleading for the Lords Assistence Approbation of the Duty Hence they that in faith may pray for boast of their treading doun their Tyrannizing powers that rise up against them may also in faith attempt the Resisting of them in their oun defence But here the Lords people did the former 2. We find David under Sauls persecution while he had a party of 600. men to defend himself against his rage in the Psalmes which he composed upon that occasion not only complaining of Oppressors but encouraging himself in the faith that God would be with them that assisted him in his essay of defending himself and imprecating destruction to Saul his Complices that the Lord would cut them off in His Truth and let him see his desire upon them Psal. 54. 4 5. ult And Psal. 57. 4. And Psal 57. throughout And Psal. 140. 7 9. He imprecates against the head of them that compassed him about and consequently against Saul Whence I argue 1. If the Lords people conflicting with encompassed with Oppressing Rulers as so many Lyons Dogs may pray praise for the help of those that assist them in their endeavours of Self-preservation from them then may they make use of their help for their Defence for which they pray praise But here we see the Lords people did the former Therefore they may do the latter 2. If we may pray against Kings and for preservation from them Then may we Defend our selves against them and endeavour the means of that preservation for which we pray The Connexion is before cleared yet here I adde That which will give a Dispensation from our duty of praying for them will also dispense from the duty of being passively subject to their will And consequently will allow defending our selves from their violence But here we see Tyrannie Treacherie and designed Mischief will give a Dispensation from our duty of praying for them thô that be duty as indispensable as subjection Again if any thing demur us from Resisting of Princes it must be respect to their Majestie and the Character of the Lords anointing upon them But we see no respect to that will demur a Believer from praying in faith against them Therefore no such respect will hinder but that he may defend himself against his violence And indeed if we consider it right if the impression of any Majestie God hath put upon Princes should bind up our hands from any Resistence it will restrain from prayer-resistence for if that impression have any force at any time it must be when a man is most solemnly stated before God and speaking to God as a Christian rather than when he is acting as a man with a man like himself And as prayer-resistence is the more formidable forcible Resistence than any other as this Saul and many other Kings have found by their woful experience so it is more restricted than other Resistence for we may defend our selves against many whom we must not pray against to wit our private enemies for whom we are commanded to pray yet no body will deny but we may resist their violence And likewise we are commanded to pray for Kings when invested with Gods Authority But when their degeneration looses us from that obligation to pray for them and allowes us to pray against them when they turn Enemies to God as we see in the prayers of the Psalmist Then also we may more warrantably resist them by Defensive Armes 3. Among the Halle-luyahs in the end of Psalmes there is one Calculaâ—e for the prevailing time of the Church when the Lord shall take pleasure in His people In that time of the Saints being joyful in Glory when they may glory in the rest security the Lord will vouchafe upon them they are Prophetically very Pathetically excited to praise prayer-wise Psal. 149. 6. to the end Let the high praises of God be in their mouth and a two edged sword in their hand to bind their Kings with chains to execute upon them the Iudgement written this hâ—nour have all the Saints Halle-lujah This was their praise honour when they were brought in to execute vengeance upon the Kings Nobles of 〈◊〉 This also in Davids time was the ambition and also the attainment of the Saints in their Triumphant victories over many of their Oppressors round about them But it looks to a further more famous execution of vengeance upon the Tyrants of the earth when they shall have long kept under the Church of God at length the Lord shall give His people a Capacity to break their yoke which when ever it shall be shall be their honour Hence If it be the honour of the Saints when the Lord puts them in Capacity to execute vengeance upon their Enemies thô they be Kings that Oppress them Then it may be their ambition to seek it at least they may resist them Thus from several Scripture Practices Reproofs Promises Precepts prayers this Truth may be proven from which Scriptures though other precious Truths are more Natively deduced yet this Truth by unstrained unconstrained Consequence may be also clearly inferred HEAD VI. The Sufferings of Some upon the account of Extraordinary executing of Iudgement upon Notorious Incendiaries
vvasted vvounded rent almost ruined but still vvrestling vvitnessing Remnant of Professors Confessors of Christ there vvho though they have not only had their soulls exceedingly filled vvith the scorning of those that are at ease vvith the contempt of the proud but their bodies also killed all day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter have yet through grace endeavoured to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the vvord of their Testimony have not loved their lives dear unto the death have continued to this day contending both against Professed Enemies also declining friends sustaining from both the utmost of rage reproach And since that litle book gives an account vvhat their Contenâ—ings have been against their backdravving brethren on the right left hand I shall spare labour to offer a discussion of them only endeavour to make it not difficult to decide determine on vvhose side Truth lies by vvhat is here hinted I shall conclude vvith advertising the Reader of one thing further that as this Reproached people for vvhose Testimony I am pleading is novv the only party that is persecuted in Scotland some fevv excepted vvho are exempted from the pretended favour of the current Indemnities their persecution still continues notvvithstanding of the impudent as wel as insnaring Declarations of Universal Liberty to all Dissenters vvhich they look upon as their honour happiness to be thought incapable of Tyrannical Antichristian favours So their past present oppressions sufferings are only here in general agregated described as to their kinds vindicated as to their causes the particular deduction of their number vveight measure of their names that have been martyred murdered both by formality of Lavv vvithout all formality of Lavv by Sea Land City Countrey on Scaffolds in the fields of the manner of their sufferings of the forme of their Trialls Testimonies being intended shortly if the Lord vvill to be emitted published in a book by it self vvhich vvil discover to the vvorld as rare instances of the injustice illegality inhumanity of the Scotish Inquisition of the innocency zeal ingenuity patience of the vvitnesses of Christ as readily can be instanced in these latter ages Only here is a taste till more come vvhich if the Lord shall bless for its designed end the Glory of God the vindication of Truth the information satisfaction of all Serious Sympathisers vvith Zions sorrovves the Conviction or Confutation of Reproachers so far at least as to make them surcease from their invidious charges of things vvhereof the innocency is here vindicated I have obtained all my design shall desire to give the Lord the praise To fill up the vacancy of this page it will not be unprofitable for the Reader to cast his eye upon these Sentences of Great Authors which relate to some heads of the following discourse Erasm. Ut Atagen aliás vocalis captus obiuutescit ita quibusdam servitus adimit vocem qui liberi loquuntur libere Nazianzen Melius est pro pietate dissidium quam concordia fucata Bernard Si autem de veritate sumitur scandalum utilius est ut scandalum oriatur quam veritas relinquatur Bracton Rex est qui bene regit Tyramius qui populum opprimit Cicero Amittit is omne imperii jus qui eâ— imperio Rempublicam oppugnat Aristot. Qui legi paret is Deo legi paret qui Regi homini belluae Sweton Sub paena perjurii non tenentur fidem fervare Regi degeneri Ambros. Qui non repellit a socio injuriam si potest tam est in vitio quam ille qui facit Chamier At Cives omnes jus habent insurgendi contra Tyrannos qui vi aperta regna occupant Barclai Contra Monarchom Tyrannos ut hostes publicos non solum ab universo populo sed à singulis etiam impeti caedique jure optimo posse tota Antiquitas censuit AN Historical Representation OF THE TESTIMONIES OF THE Church of Scotland With the true state of the same in all the Periods thereof WITH A Vindication of the present Testimonie THe Church of Christ in the impression of all that have the least spark of the dayes Spirit is now brought to such a doleful dreadful Case Crisis that if it may not be reckoned The killing of the Witnesses yet all that have or desire the knowledge of the times will judge it no impeachment to the Prophecie to say it is either very like or near unto it When now the Devil is come down in great wrath as knowing his time is but short and therefore exerting all the energy of the venom violence Craft Cruelty of the Dragon And Antichrist alias Pope his Captain General is now universally prevailing and plying all his hellish Engines to batter down bury under the rubbish of Everlasting Darkness what is left to be destroyed of the work of Reformation And the Crowned heads or horns of the Beast the Tyrants alias Kings of Europe his Council of War are advancing their Prerogatives upon the ruines of the Nations Churches Priviledges to such a pitch of Absoluteness improving imploying their power for promoving their Masters the Devil Antichrists Interests to whom they have gifted the Churches mancipated their own and sacrificed the Nations Interest and that with such combination of Counsels Countenance of providential success that all the Powers of Hell the Principalities of Earth the Providence of Heaven overruling all things for the accomplishment or the Divine purpose purchase prediction seem to conspire to produce that prodigious Period and ultimus Conatus of the Churches Enemie And the commencement is so far advanced that now in all the Churches of Europe either the Witnesses of Christ are a killing or the witness for Christ is in a great measure killed either the followers of the Lamb who are calâ—ed chosen faithful are killed for their Testimony or fainting in their Zeal and falling from their first Love they are cooled or cajoled from their Testimony Some are indulging themselves in their ease settleing on their Lees sleeping in a stupid security And while the Lord is roaring from above His their Enemies raging about them designing to raze them after they have ruined their Neighbours they are rotting away under the destructive Distempers of detestable Neutrality loathsom lulâ—warmness declining decaying in Corruptions defections divisions distractions confusions so judicially infatuated with darkness delusions that they forget forgo the necessary Testimony of the day Others again outwearied with the length weight of the Tryal under the tentation of Antichrists formidable strength on the one hand a deceitful prospect of an insnaring Liberty on the other are overcome either to be hectored or flattered from their Testimony And so in these Churches comprehending all that are free from Persecution at this
the King of Kings and all his instructions set doun limited in the book of God that cannot be extended abridged or altered by any mortal wight King or Emperour And seeing he was sent to all sorts his Commission discharge of it should not nor cannot be Lawfuly judged by them to whom he was sent they being sheep not Pastors to be judged by the Word and â—â—t to be judges thereof in a judicial way The Interloquutor being past against him for this the Brethren thought it duty that the Doctrine of the Preachers should be directed against the said Interloquutor as against a strong mighty hold set up against the Lord Jesus and the freedom of the Gospel and praised God for the force unity of the Spirit that was among themselves And being charged to depart out of Toun they leave a faithful Declaration at Large shewing how the Liberties of the Church were invaded robbed But all this was nothing in comparison of their wrestlings for the Royalties of their Princely Master and Priviledges of His Kingdom against that Tyrants Insolencies after he obtained he Croun of England For then he would not suffer the Church to indict her oun Assemblies And when the faithful thought themselves obliged to counteract his Encroachments and therefore conveened in an Assembly at Aberdeen anno 1605. they were forced to dissolve and thereafter the most eminent of the Ministers there assembled were transported Prisoners to Black-ness Whence being cited befor the Council they decline their Judicatory And one of their Brethren Mr Robert Youngson who had formerly succumbed being moved in Conscience returned and when the rest were standing before the Council desired to be heard and acknowledged his fault and therefore howbeit not summoned by the Lords was charged by the Living God and compelled to compear that day to justifie that Assembly to the great astonishment of the Lords and comfort of His brethren He subscribed the Declinature with the rest And for this they were arraigned and condemned as guilty of Treason and banished Before the execution of which sentence Mr Welsh wrote to the Lady Fleming to this effect What am I that He should first have called me and then constituted me a Minister of glad things of the Gospel of Salvation these fifteen years already and now last of all to be a sufferer for His Cause Kingdom To witness that good Confession that Jesus Christ is the King of Saints and that His Church is a most free Kingdom yea as free as any Kingdom under Heaven not only to convocate hold keep her Meetings Conventions Assemblies But also to judge of all her affairs in all her Meetings Conventions among His members and Subjects These two points 1 That Christ is the Head of His Church 2 That she is free in her Government from all other jurisdiction except Christs are the special Cause of our imprisonment being now convict as Traitors for maintaining thereof We have now been waiting with joyfulness to give the last Testimonie of our blood in confirmation thereof If it would please our God to be so favourable as to honour us with that dignity After this the King resolving by Parliament to advance the estate of Bishops again as in the time of Popery without Cautions as before and further to establish not only that Antichristian Hierarchie but an Erastian Supremacy The faithful Ministers of Christ thought themselves bound in Conscience to protest And accordingly they offered a faithful Protestation to the Parliament Iulij 1606. obtesting that they would reserve into the Lords own hands that Glory which He will communicate neither with man nor Angel to wit to prescribe from His holy Mountain a Lively pattern according to which His oun Tabernacle should be formed Remembring alwise that there is no absolute undoubted Anthority in this world except the soveraigne Authority of Christ the King to vvhom it belongeth as properly to rule the Church according to the good pleasure of His oun vvill as it belongeth to Him to save His Church by the Merit of His oun Sufferings All other anthority is so intrenched vvithin the marches of Divine Command that the least overpassing of the bounds set by God Himself bring men under the fearful expectation of Temporal Eternal judgements If ye should authorize Bishops ye should bring into the Church the ordinance of man vvhich experience hath found to have been the ground of that Antichristian Hierarchie vvhich mounted up on the steps of Bishops preeminence until that man of sin came forth as the ripe fruit of mans vvisedome vvhom God shall consume vvith the breath of His oun mouth Let the svvord of God pierce that belly vvhich brought forth such a monster And let the staff of God crush that egg vvhich hath hatched such a Cockatrice And let not only that Roman Antichrist be thrown down from the high bench of his usurped authority but also let all the steps whereby he mounted up to that unlawful preeminence be cut down utterly abolished in this Land And beware to strive against God with an open displayed banner by building up again the walls of Iericho which the Lord hath not only cast down but also hath laid them under an horrible Interdiction execration so that the building of them again must needs stand to greater charges to the builders then the reedifying of Iericho to Hiel the Bethelite in the days of Ahab Yet notwithstanding of all opposition Prelacy was again restored in Parliament And to bring all to a Complyance with the same Presbytries Synods universally charged under highest pains to admit a constant Moderator without change which many refused resolutely as being the first step of Prelacy Upon this followed a great Persecution of the faithful for their Nonconformity managed by that Mongrel Monstrous kind of Court made up of Clergy-men Statesmen called the High Commission Court erected anno 1610. whereby many honest men were put violently from their charges habitations the Generality were involved in a great fearful Defection But the Copestone of the wickedness of that Period was the Ratification of the five Articles of Perth kneeling at the Communion private Communion to be given to the sick private Baptisme and Confirmation of Children by the Bishop and observation of festival dayes Which were much opposed testified against by the faithful from their first hatching anno 1618. to the year 1621. when they were ratified in Parliament at what time they were also witnessed against from Heaven by extraordinary Lightenings Tempest And against this the Testimony of the faithful continued till the Revolution anno 1638. Here we see how the Cause was stated in this Period and may gather also wherein it aggress and how far it differs from the present Testimony now suffered for under all rage reproach I. The matter of the Testimony was one with that that we are suffering for against Popery Prelacy Supremacy
imposing the Service-book and book of Canons c. the Lord in Mercy remembered His people and surprised them with a sudden unexpected Deliverance by very despicable means even the opposition of a few weak women at the beginning of that Contest which ere it was quashed made the Tyrant tumble headless off his throne The zeal against the English popish Ceremonies obtruded on Edinburgh did first inflame some feminine hearts to witness their detestation of them but afterwards was followed out with more Masculine fervor accosting King Council with Petitions Remonstrances Protestations Testimonies against the Innovations and resolving upon a mutual Conjunction to defend Religion Lives Liberties against all that would innovate or invade them To fortifie which and conciliate the favour both of God man in the Resolution All the Lovers of God and friends to the Liberty of the Nation did solemnly Renew the National Covenant wherein they were signally countenanced of the Lord vvhich though in it self obliging to the Condemnation of Prelatical Hierarchie and clearly enough confirming Presbyterial Government yet they ingaged into it vvith an inlargment to suspend the practice of Novations already introduced and the approbation of the Corruptions of the present Government vvith the late places povver of Church men till they be tried in a free General Assembly Which vvas obtaineâ— that same year and indicted at Glasgow and there not vvith standing all the opposition that the Kings Commissioner could make by Protestations Proclamations to dissolve it the six preceeding Assemblies establishing Prelacy vvere annulled The Service-Book and high Commission vvere condemned All the Bishops vvere deposed and their Government declared to be abjured in that National Covenant though many had through the Commissioners persvvasions subscribed it in another sense vvithout that application As also the five Articles of Perth vvere there discovered to have been inconsistent vvith that Covenant Confession and the Civil places povver of Church men vvere disproved rejected on the other hand Presbyterial Government vvas Justified Approved and an Act vvas passed for their keeping yearly General Assemblies This was a bold begining into which they were animated with more than humane resolution against more than humane opposition Hell as well as the powers of the earth being set against them But when the Lord gave the Call they considered not their oun deadness nor were daunted with Discouragments nor staggered at the promise through unbelief but gave Glory to God out braving all difficulties Which in the following year were much increased by the Prelats and their Popish Partakers rendevouzing their forces under the Kings Personal Standart and menacing nothing but misery to the zealous Covenanters yet when they found them prepared to resist were forced to yeeld to a Pacification concluding that an Assembly Parliament should be held for healing all grievances of Church and State. In which Assembly at Edinburgh the Covenant is ratified subscribed by the Earle of Traquair Commissioner and enjoined to be subscribed by the body of the whole Land with an explication expressly condemning the five Articles of Perth the Government of Bishops the Civil places power of Church men But the sons of Belial cannot be taken with hands nor bound with bonds of faith humanity or honour For in the year following King Prelats with their Popish Abettors go to arms again but were fain to accommodate the matter by a new Pacification whereby all Civil Religious Liberties were ratified And in the folowing year 1641 by Lawes Oaths Promises subscriptions of King Parliament fully confirmed The King Charles the I. being present and consenting to all though in the mean time he was treacherously encouraging the Irish murderers who by his Authority made a Massacre of many thousand Innocent Protestants in Ireland But in Scotland things vvent vvell the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus vvas greatly advanced the Gospel flourished and the Glory of the Lord did shine upon us vvith such a splendor that it avvaked England and animated the Lords People there then groaning under those Grievances from vvhich Scotland vvas delivered to aspire to the like Reformation For advice in vvhich because though all aggreed to cast off the yoke of Prelacy yet sundry forms of Church Government vvere projected to be set up in the room thereof chiefly the Independent order determining all Acts of Church Government as Election ordination and deposition of officers vvith Admission Excommunication Absolution of members to be done decided by the voices of every Particular Congregation vvithout any Authoritative Concurrence or interposition of any other condemning all imperative decisive povver of Classes c. as a meer usurpation Therefore the Brethren in England vvrote to the Assembly then fitting at Edinburgh vvho gave them ansvver That they vvere grieved that any of the Godly should be found not aggreeing vvith other Reformed Churches in point of Government as well as Doctrine and that it was to be feared where the edge of Discipline Government is different the Doctrine Worship shall not long continue the same without change That the Government of the Church by Compound Presbytries Synods is a help strength and not a hinderance to particular Congregations Elderships in all the parts of Government and are not an extrinsecal Power set over Particular Churches but the intrinsecal power where with Christ hath invested His Officers who may not exercise it Independently but with subordination unto Presbytries c. Which as they are Representative of particular Churches conjoined together in one under their Government so their determination when they proceed orderly whether in Causes common to all or brought before them by reference in case of aberration is to the several Congregations Authoritative not Consultatory only And this subordination is not only warranted by the light of nature but grounded upon the Word of God and conforme to the Pattern of the Primitive Apostolick Church for the Preservation of verity unity against Schisme Heresie Tyrannie which is the fruit of this Government where soever it hath place So from henceforth the Assembly did incessantly urge uniformity in Reformation with their Brethren in England as the chiefest of their Desires Prayers Cares And in the year 1643. prevailed so far that the English Parliament did first desire that the two Nations might be strictly united for their mutual defence against the Papists Prelatical faction and their Adherents in both Kingdoms and not to lay down Armes till these implacable Enemies should be brought in subjection and did instantly urge for the help assistance from Scotland Which being sent did return with an Olive branch of Peace and not without some beginings of a Reformation in England And afterwards a bloody War begining between the King Parliament with great success on the Kings side whence the Papists at the time got great advantage witness the cessation of Armes concluded in Ireland
Clergy as he shall nominate in the external Government of the Church the same consisting with the standing Lawes of the Kingdom shall be valide effectual And in the same Act all Lawes are rescinded by which the sole power Jurisdiction within the Church doth stand in the Church Assemblies And all which may be interpreted to have given any Church power Jurisdiction or Government to the Office bearers of the Church other than that which acknowledgeth a dependence upon subordination to the Soveraign power of the King as Supreme By which Prelats are redintegrated to all their priviledges preheminencies that they possessed anno 1637. And all their Church power robbed from the Officers of Christ is made to be derived from to depend upon and to be subordinate to the Croun prerogative of the King whereby the King is made the only fountain of Church power and that exclusive even of Christ of whom there is no mentioned exception And his vassals the Bishops as his Clerks in Ecclesiastiks are accountable to him for all their administrations A greater usurpation upon the Kingdom of Christ than ever the Papacy it self aspired unto Yet albeit here was another display of a banner of defyance against Christ in altering the Church Government of Christs Institution into the humane Invention of Lordly Prelacy in assuming a power by prerogative to dispose of the external Government of the Church and in giving his Creatures patents for this effect to be his Administrators in that usurped Government There was no publick Ministerial at least united Testimony against this neither Therefore the Lord punished this sinful shamful silence of Ministers in His holy Justice though by mens horrid wickedness when by another wicked Act of the Council at Glasgow above 300 Ministers were put from their Charges and afterwards for their Non-conformity in not Countenancing their Diocesan Meeting and not keeping the Anniversary day May 29. The rest were violently thrust from their labours in the Lords vineyard and banished from their Parishes and adjudged unto a nice strange Confinement twenty miles from their oun parishes six miles from a Cathedral Church as they called it and three miles from a Burgh whereby they were reduced in to many inconveniencies Yet in this fatal Convulsion of the Church generally all were struck with blindness baseness that a Paper-Proclamation made them all run from their posts and obey the Kings Orders for their ejection Thus were they given up because of their forbearing to sound an alarm charging the people of God in point of Loyaltie to Christ and under the pain of the Curse of the Covenant to a wake and acquit themselves like men and not to suffer the enemie to rob them of that Treasure of Reformation which they were put in possession of by the tears prayers blood of such as went before them instead of those prudential fumblings fisflings then since so much followed Wherefore the Lord in His holy righteousness left that enemie against whom they should have cried contended and to whose eye they should have held the Curse of the Covenant as having held it first to their oun in case of unfaithful silence in not holding it to his to cast them out of the House of the Lord and dissolve their Assemblies and deprive them of their priviledges because of their not being so valiant for the Truth as that a ful faithful Testimony against that Encroachment might be found upon record Nevertheless somewere found faithful in that hour pour of darkness who kept the Word of the Lords patience and who were therefore kept in from that tentation which carried many away into sad shamful defections though not from suffering hard things from the hands of men only these who felt most of their violence found grace helping them to acquit themselves suitably to that dayes Testimony being thereby prevented from an Active yeelding to their impositions when they were made passively to suffer force However that season of a publick Testimony was lost and as to the most part never recovered to this day The Prelats being settled readmitted to voice in Parliament they procure an Act Dogmatically condemning several Material parts points of our Covenanted Reformation to wit these positions That it was lawful for Subjects for Reformation or necessary self defence to enter into leagues or take up Armes against the King And particularly declaring that the national Covenant as explained in the year 1638. and the Solemn league Covenant were are iâ— themselves unlawful Oaths and were taken by imposed upon the subjects of this Kingdom against the fundamental Lawes Liberties thereof That all such gatherings petitions that were used in the begining of the late troubles were unlawful seditious And whereas then People were led unto these things by having disseminated among them such principles as these That it was lawful to come with petitions Representations of grievances to the King That it was lawful for people to restrict their Allegiance under such such limitations and suspend it untill he should give security for Religion c. It was therefore enacted that all such positions practices founded thereupon were treasonable And furder did enact that no person by writing praying preaching or malicious or advised speaking express or publish any words or sentences to stir up the people to the dislike of the Kings prerogative Supremacy or of the Government of the Church by Bishops or justifie any of the deeds actings or things declared against by that Act. Yet not withstanding of all this subversion of Religion Liberty and restraint of asserting these Truths here trampled upon either before men by Testimony or before God in mourning over these Indignities done unto Him in everting these all the parts of Reformation even when it came to Daniels case of confession preaching praying Truths interdicted by Lavv fevv had their eyes open let be their vvindovvs in an open avouching them to see the duty of the day calling for a Testimony Though aftervvards the Lord Spirited some to assert demonstrate the Glory of these Truths duties to the vvorld As that Judicious Author of the Apologetical Relation vvhose Labours need no Elagium to commend them But this is not all for these men having novv as they thought subverted the Work of God they provided also against the fears of its revival making Acts declaring that if the outed Ministers dare to continue to preach and presume to exercise their Ministrie they should be punished as seditious persons requiring of all a due acknowledgment of hearty complyance with the Kings Government Ecclesiastical Civil And that who soever shall ordinarly wilfully withdraw absent from the ordinary Meetings for Divine Worship in their ouâ— Churches on the Lords day shall incur the Penalties there insert Thus the sometimes Chast Virgin whose name was Beulah to the Lord the Reformed Church
that endeavour the defect of which through their former supineness gave no small encouragment to the Enemies They considered also what would be the consequence of that War declared against all the Faithful of tâ—e Land with a displayed banner prosecuted with fire â—word and all acts of horrid hostility published in printed Proclamations written in Characters of blood by barbarous souldiers so that none could enjoy Gospel Ordinances dispensed in Purity but upon the hazard of their lives And therefore to prevent frustrate these effects they endeavoured to put themselves in a posture And hereunto they were encouraged by the constant experience of the Lords countenancing their endeavours in that posture which alwayes proved successful for several years their enemies either turning their backs without disturbance when they observed them resolve defence or in their assaultings repulsed So that there was never a Meeting which stood to their defence got any considerable harme thereby Thus the Lord was with us while we were with Him but when we forsook Him then He forsook us and left us in the hands of our enemies However while Meetings for Gospel Ordinances did continue the wicked Rulers did not cease from time to time to encrease their numerous â—ands of Barbarous Souldiers for suppressing the Gospel in these field-Meetings And for their Maintinance they imposed new wicked arbitrary Cesses Taxations professedly required for suppressing Religion Liberty banishing the Gospel out of the Land and preserving promoting his Absoluteness over all Matters Persons Sacred Civil Which under that tentation of great suffering threatened to Refusers and under the disadvantage of the silence unfaithfulness of many Ministers who either did not condemn it or pleaded for the peaceable payment of it many did comply with it then and far more since Yet at that time there were far more Recusants in some places especially in the Western Shires than Complyers And there were many of the Ministers that did faithfully declare to the people the sin of it Not only from the illegality of its imposition by a convention of overawed and prelimited States but from the nature of that imposed Complyance that it was a sinful transaction with Christs declared Enemies a strengthening the hands of the wicked an Obedience to a wicked Law a Consenting to Christs Expulsion out of the Land and not only that but far worse than the sin of the Gadarens a formal Concurrence to assist His Expellers by maintaining their force a hiring our Oppressours to destroy Religion Liberty And from the fountain of it an Arbitrary power domineering over us and oppressing overpressing the Kingdoms with intollerable exactions That to pay it it was to entail slaverie on the posterity And from the declared end of it expressed in the very Narrative of the Act viz to levy maintain forces for suppressing dispersing Meetings of the Lords people and to shew unanimous affection for maintaining the Kings Supremacy as now established by Law which designs he resolved and would be capacitate by the Granters to effectuate by such a Grant which in effect to all tender Consciences had an evident tendency to the exauctorating the Lord Christ to maintain Souldiers to suppress His Work murder His Followers yet all this time Ministers Professors were unite and with one soul shoulder followed the Work of the Lord till the Indulged being dissatisfied with the Meetings in the fields whose Glory was like to overcloud obscure their beds of ease and especially being offended at the freedom faithfulness of some who set the Trumpet to their mouth and shewed Iacob his sins Israel his transgressions impartially without a clock or cover they began to make a faction among the Ministers and to devise how to quench the fervour of their zeal who were faithful for God. But the more they sought to extinguish it the more it brake out and blazed into a flame For Several of Christs Ambassadours touched affected with the affronts done to their Princely Master by the Supremacy and the Indulgence its Bastard brood brat began after long silence to discover its iniquity and to acquaint the people how the Usurper had invaded the Mediators Chair in taking upon him to depose suspend silence plant transplant His Ministers where when how he pleased and to give forth warrants Licences for admitting them with Canons Instructions for regulating them in the exercise of their Ministrie and to arraign censure them at his Courts for delinquencies in their Ministry pursuing all to the death who are faithful to Christ and maintain their Loyaltie to His Lawes and will not prostitute their Consciences to his lusts and bow doun to the Idol of his Supremacy but will oune the Kingly Authority of Christ. Yet others and the greater number of dissenting Ministers were not only deficient herein but defended them joyned with them and pretending prudence prevention of Schisme in effect homologated that deed and the practice of these Priests Ezek. 22. 26. teaching advising the people to hear them both by precept and going along with them in that Erastian Course And not only so but condemned censured such who preached against the sinfulness thereof especially in the first place Worthy Mr Walwood who was among the first Witnesses against that defection and Mr Kid Mr King Mr Cameron Mr Donald Cargil c. who sealed their Testimony afterwards with their blood yet then even by their Brethren were loaden with the reproachful Nicknames of Schismaticks blind Zeaâ—ots Iâ—suits c. But it was alwayes observed as long as Ministers were faithful in following the Lord in the way of their duty Professors were fervent And un-under all their Conflicts with Persecuters the courage zeal of the lovers of Christ was blazing and never out-braved by all the enemies boastings to undertake brisk Exploits which from time to time they were now and then essaying till defection destroyed and division diverted their zeal against the Enemis of God who before were alwayes the object against which they whetted the edge of their just Indignation Especially the insulting insolency insolent villanie of that publick Incendiarie the Arch-Prelate Sharp was judged intollerable by ingenuous Spirits because he had treacherously betrayed the Church Nation and being imployed as their delegate to oppose the threatened introduction of Prelacy he had like a perjured Apostate and perfidious Traitor advanced himself into the place of Primate of Scotland and being a member of Council he became a chief Instrument of all the Persecution and main Instigator to all the bloody violence cruelty that was exerced against the people of God by whose means the letter sent doun to stop the shedding of more blood after Pentland was keptâ— up until several of these Martyrs were Murdered Therefore in Iulij 1668. Mr Iames Mitchel thought in his duty to save himself deliver his Brethren and free the
1680. at the Torwood he excommunicated some of the most scandalous and Principal Promoters Abettors of this Conspiracy against Christ as formally as the present Case could admit After Sermon upon Ezek. 21. 25 26 27. And thou profane wicked Prince of Israel whose day is come c. He had a short and pertinent discourse on the nature the subject the causes and the ends of Excommunication in general And then declared that he was not led out of any private Spirit or passion to this Action but constrained by Conscience of duty and zeal to God to stigmatize with this brand and wound with the Sword of the Lord these Enemies of God that had so Apostatized rebelled against mocked despised defied Our Lord and to declare them as they are none of His to be none of ours The persons excommunicated and the Sentence against them was given forth as followes I being a Minister of Iesus Christ and having Authority and Power from Him do in His Name by His Spirit excommunicatâ— cast out of the true Church and deliver up to Satan Charles the Second King c. The Sentence was founded upon these grounds declared in the pronunciation thereof 1 for his high mocking of God in that after he had acknowledged his own sins his fathers sins his mothers Idolatrie yet had gone on more avowedly in the same than all before him 2 for his great Perjurie in breaking burning the Covenant 3 for his rescinding all Lawes for establishing the Reformation and enacting Lawes contrarie thereunto 4 for commanding of Armies to destroy the Lords people 5 for his being an Enemy to true Protestants helper of the Papists and hindering the execution of just Lawes against them 6 for his granting Remissions Pardons for Murderers which is in the power of no King to do being expressly contrare to the Law of God. 7 for his Adulteries and dissembling with God man Next by the same Authority and in the same name he excommunicated Iames Duke of York for his Idolatrie and setting it up in Scotland to defile the Land and entycing encouraging others to do so Not mentioning any other sins but what he scandalously persisted in in Scotland c. With several other rotten Malignant Enemies on whom the Lord hath ratiâ—â—ed that Sentence since very remarkably whose sins punishments both may be read more visiblie in the Providences of the time than I can record them But about this time when amidst all the abounding defections divisions of that dark dismal hour of tentation some in zeal for the Cause were endeavouring to keep up the Testimony of the day in an abstraction from Complying Ministers Others were left in holy judgment to be a stumbling block to the Generation hardening them in their defections and to be a beacon to the most zealous to keep off from all unwarrantable excesses to fall into fearâ—ul extravagances and delirious damnable delusions being overdriven with ignorant blind zeal into untroden paths which led them into a labyrinth of darkness when as they were stumbled at many Ministers their unfaithfulness so through the deceit of Sathan and the hypocrisie of his Instruments they came to be offended at Mr Cargil his faithfulness who spared neither left hand declensions nor right hand extremes and left him and all the Ministers not only disouning all Communion with those that were not of their way but execrating Cursing them and kept themselves in desert places from all Company where they persisted prodigiously in fastings and singing Psalms pretending to wonderful raptures Enthusiasmes and in fine I. Gib with 4 more of them came to that hight of Blasphemy that they burnt the Bible Confession of Faith. These were the sweet singers as they were called led away into these delusions by that Impostor Sorcerer Iohn Gib who never encreased to such a number as was then feared reported being within thirty most part women all which for the most part have been through Mercy reclaimed from that destructive way which through Grace the Reproached Remnant adhering to the foresaid Testimony had alwayes an abhorrence of Wherefore that ignorant impudent Calumnie of their Consortship with Gibs followers is only the vent of viperous Envy For they were the first that discovered them and whose pains the Lord blessed in reclaiming them and were alwayes so far from partaking with them that to this day these that have come off from that way and have offered the Confession of their scandal do still complain of their over-rigid severity in not admitting them to their select fellowships To which may be added this undenyable Demonstration that whereas the persecuâ—ing Courts of Inquisition did alwayes extend the utmost severity against the Ouners of this Testimony yet they spared them And the Duke of York then in Scotland was so weâ— pleased with Gib's Blasphemies that he favoured him extraordinarly and freely dismissed him This was a cloudy dark day but not without a burning shining light as long as that faithful Minister of Christ Mr Donald Cargil was following the Work of the Lord who shortly after this finished his Testimony being apprehended with other two faithful zealous Witnesses of Christ Mr Walter Smith and Mr Iames Boog who with 2 more were altogether at Edinburgh 27. Iulij 1681. Crouned with the Glory of Martyrdom Then came the day of the Remnants vexation trouble darkness dimness of anguish wherein who so looked unto the Land could see nothing but darkness sorrow the light darkened in the Heavens thereof wherein neither Star nor Sun appeared for many dayes and poor People were made to grope for the wall like the blind and to stumble in noon day as in the night While the Persecution advanced on the one hand a violent spait of defection carried doun the most part of Ministers Professors before it driving them to Courses of sinful scandalous Conformings with the times Corruptions Compearings before their Courts Complyings with their Commands paying of theis Cesses and other Exactions Taking of their Oaths Bonds and countenancing their Prelatical Church-Services which they were ashamed to do before And thereupon on the other hand the Divisions and Confusions were augmented and poor people that desired to cleave to the Testimony were more more offended and stumbled at the Ministers who either left the Land in that clamant Call of the peoples necessity or lurked in their own retirements and declined the duty of that day leaving people to determine themselves in all their perplexities as a prey to all tentations But the tender Pastor and Shepherd of Israel who leads the blind in the way they know not did not forsake a Remnant in that hour of tentation who kept the Word of His Patience and as He helped those that fell into the hands of Enemies to Witness a good Confession so He strengthened the zeal of the remaining Contenders against all the
Church but in a way of Dependence upon subordination to Christ as King who ascending far above Principalities Powers appointed gave the Gifts of the Ministry Eph. 4. 8. 11. and set them in the Church 1. Cor. 12. 28. and gave them commission to go teach the Nations by virtue of that all Power that was given to Him in Heaven Earth Math. 28. 18 19. If then they take a new holding close with a new Conveyance of the Ministrie and of the Power to exercise the same from a new Architectonick usurped Power in the Church encroaching on Christs Royal prerogative we dare not Homologat such an affront to Christ as to give them the respect of His Ambassadours when they become the servants of men and subject even in Ministerial functions to another Head then Christ for then they are the Ministers of men by men and not by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead because they do not hold the Head Col. 2. 19. Hence those that receive derive their Church-Power from and are subordinate in its exercise to another Head then Christ Jesus should not be received and subjected to as the Ministers of Christ in His Church But the Prelats their curats do receive derive their Church Power from are subordinate in its exercise to another Head then Christ Therefore they should not be received c. The first Proposition cannot be denyed The Second is proved thus Those officers in the Church Professing themselves such that derive their Church-Power from are subordinate in its exercise to a Power truly Architectonick Supreme in the Church to wit the Magistrate beside Christ Do derive their Power from are subordinate in its exercise to another Head than Christ Jesus But so it is that Prelats their Curats do derive c. Ergo The Major is evident for whosoever hath a Supreme Architectonick Power in over the Church must be a Head to the same and the fountain of all Church Power The Minor is also clear from the foregoing Historical Deduction manifesting the Present Prelacy to be Gross Erastianisme for the disposal of the Government of the Church is declared by Law to be the Croun right and an inherent perpetual Prerogative and thereupon the Bishops are restored to the Episcopal function And it is expressly Declared that there is no Church Power in the Church-office bearers but what depends upon is subordinate unto the Supremacy and authorized by the Bishops who are declared accountable to the King for the Administration By virtue of which Ecclesiastick Supremacy He put excomunication spiritual Censures consequently the Power of the Keyes into the hands of Persons meerly Civil in the Act for the High Commission Hence it is clear that as the fountain of all Church Government he imparts his Authority to such as he pleases and the Bishops are nothing else but his Commissioners in the exercise of that Ecclesiastick power which is originally in Himself and that the Curats are only His under Clerks All the stress will lie in proving that this Monster of a Supremacy from which the Prelats their Curats have all their Authority is a Great Encroachment on the Glory of Christ as King which will appear if we briefly consider these Particulars 1. It usurps upon Christs Prerogative who only hath all undoubted right to this Architectonick Magisterial Dominion over the Church His oun Mediatory Kingdom not only an Essential right by His Eternal Godhead being the Everlasting Father whose goings forth hath been of old from Everlasting Isa. 9. 6. Mic. 5. 2. in recognizance of which we oune but one God the Father and one Lord by whom are all things we by Him 1. Cor. 8. 6. But also a Covenant-right by Compact with the Father to bear the Glory rule upon His Throne by virtue of the Counsel of Peace between them both Zech. 6. 13. A Donative right by the Fathers Delegation by which He hath all power given in Heaven in Earth Math. 28. 18. and all things given unto His hand Iohn 3. 35. and all judgment Authority to execute it even because He is the Son of man Iohn 5. 22 27. and to be Head over all things to the Church Eph. 1. 22. An Institute right by the Fathers inaugaration who hath set Him as King in Zion Psal. 2. 6. and appointed Him Governour that shall rule His people Israel Math. 2. 6. 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 Phil. 2. 9. which is that He is the Head of the Church which is as much His Peculiar Prerogative as to be Saviour of the body Eph. 5. 23. A Bellical right by Conquest making the people fall under Him Psal. 45. 4. and be willing in the Day of His power Psal. 110. 3. and overcoming those that make war with Him Rev. 17. 14. An Hereditary right by Proximity of blood Primogeniture being the first born higher then the Kings of the Earth Psal. 89. 27. and the first born from the dead that in all things He might have the preeminence Col. 1. 18. An Elective right by His peoples choise surrender having a Croun wherewith His Mother Crouned Him in the day of His Espousals Cant 3. ult By all which undoubted Titles It is His Sole incommunicable Prerogative without a Copartner or Competitor Coordinate or subordinate to be Iudge only Lawgiver King in Spirituals Isa. 33. 22. to be that one Lawgiver Iam. 4. 12. who only can give the power of the keyes to His officers which Comprehends all the power they have Math. 16. 19. to be that one Master over all Church officers who are but brethren Math. 23. 8 10. in whose Name only they must perform all Church Acts and all Parts of their Ministry and not in the Name of any Mortal Math. 28. 18. 19. Math. 18. 20. from whom only they receive what ever they have to deliver to the Church 1. Cor. 11. 23. To be the only Instituter of His Officers who hath set them in the Church 1. Cor. 12. 28. and gave them to the Church Eph. 4. 11. whose Ambassadours only they are 2. Cor. 5. 20. from whom they have authority for edification of the Church 2 Cor. 10. 8. 2 Cor. 13. 10. in whose Name only they are to assemble and keep fence their Courts both the least Math. 18. 20. and the Greatest Act. 15. But now all this is usurped by one who is not so much as a Church member let be a Church Officer as such for the Magistrate is neither as he is a Magistrate otherwise all Magistrats would be Church members Hence they that have all their power from a meer usurper on Christs Prerogative who is neither member nor officer of the Church have none
therefore established in Davids family for Typical reasons that cannot be now alledged 12. We find in the disposal of Government among brethren this birth-order was not seldom inverted as when Iacoh was preferred before Esaw Iudah before all the elder sons of Iacob Ephraim before Manasseh Solomon before Adonijah Hence if this Gentleman now regnant have no better pretences than these now confuted we cannot recognosce his right to reign yea though this last were valid yet he cannot plead it it being expressly provided in our Laws against the succession of a Papist But there is one Grand Objection against all this The Jewes and other Nations are commanded to bring their necks under the yoke of the King of Babilon and to serve him and yet he had no other right to these Kingdom then the Lords Providential disposal because the Lord had given all these Lands into his hand Ier. 27. 6 7 12. Ans. 1. He was indeed an unjust Usurper and had no right but the Lord providential gifâ— which sometimes makes the tabernacles of Robbers prosper into whose hand God bringeth abundantly Iob. 12. 6. and gives Iacoh sometimes for a spoil and Israel to the Robbers Isai. 42. 24. and giveth power to the Beast to continue forty two Moneths and to have power over all kindreds tongues Nations Revel 13. 5 7. His Tyranny also was very great extensively in respect of his oppressions usurpations by Conquest but it was not so great intensively as our Robbers Spoilers may be charged with he was never such a Perverter of all the ends of Government nor a treachrous overturner of all Conditions he was never a Persecuter of the Iewish Religion he never oppressed them upon that account nor endeavoured its extirpation he never enacted such mischiefs by Law. The Lord only made use of him to bring about the holy ends of the Glory of His Justice Wisdom in which respect alone he is called His Servant as else where His â—od hammer having given him a charge against an Hypocritical Nation to trample them doun in His holy Providence and accordingly there was no resistence could prevail they must be trampled upon no help for it but no subjection was required acknowledging his Magistratical right by divine Ordinance but only a submissive stooping to the holy disposal of divine Providence no ouning was exacted either of the equity of that power or of fealtie to the administrator 2. This behoved to be a particular Command by Positive Revelation given at that time not binding to others in the like Condition which I refer to the judgment of the objectors put the case and make it run paralel If the King of England were in league with the King of France and breaking that league should provoke that aspiring Prince growing potent by many Conquests to discover his designs make preparations and give out threatenings for the Conquest of England all Brittain were the people of England bound to surrender themselves as Servants tributaries to him for 70 years or for ever under pain of destruction if they should not This were one of the most ridiculous inferences that ever was pleaded nay it would make all refusal of subjection to invaders unlawful 3. I will draw an Argument from this to confirm my Plea for these Commands of subjection to Babilon were not delivered until after the King of Iudah had surrendered to Nebuchadnezzar and entered into Covenant with him to be subject to him 2. King. 24. chap. in keeping which Covenant the Kingdom might have stood and after he had Rebelled against him and broken that Covenant when lo he had given his hand after which he could not prosper or escape or be delivered Ezek. 17. 14 15 18 2 Chron. 36. 13. Then the Commandment came that they should disoune their oune King Zedekiah now forefeiting his right by breach of Covenant and be subject to Nebuchadnezzar Whence I argue If people are commanded to disoune their Covenant-breaking Rulers and subject themselves to Conquerours then I have all I plead for But the former is true by the truth of this objection Ergo also the Latter There is a 2 Obj. from Rom. 13. 1. let every soul be subject to the higher powers the powers that be are ordained of God yet the Roman Emperour to which they were to be subject was an usurper Ans. 1. It cannot be proven that the Apostle intendeth here the Roman Emperour as the higher power There were at this time several Competitions for the Empire about which Christians might have their oun scruples whom to oune the Apostle does not determine their litigations nor interest himself in parties but gives the General Standart of Gods Ordinance they had to go by And the best Expositors of the place do alleâ—ge the question doubt of Christians then was not so much in whom the Supremacy was as whether Christians were at all bound to obey Civil power especially Pagan which the Apostle resolves in giving general directions to Christians to obey the ordinance of Magistracy conforme to its original and as it respects the end for which he had would set it up but no respect is there had to Tyrants 2. It cannot be proven that the Supreme power then in being was usurpative there being then a Supreme Senate which was a Lawful power nor that Nero was then an usurper who came in by choise consent and with the good liking of the people 3. The Text means of Lawful powers not unlawful force that are ordained of God by His Preceptive will not meerly by His Providential disposal and of consciencious subjection to Magistracy not to Tyranny describing characterizing the powers there by such qualifications as Tyrants Usurpers are not capable of But I mind to improve this Text more fully hereafter to prove the quite contrary to what is here objected 8. From the Right of Magistracy flowes the Magistratical Relation which is necessary to have a bottom before we can build the relative duties thereof This brings it under the fifth Commandment which is the Rule of all relative duties between Inferiours Superiours requiring honour to be given to Fathers Masters Husbands c. and to rightful Magistrates who are under such political relations as do infer the same duties and prohibiting not only the omission of these duties but also the committing of contrary sins which may be done not only by contrary acts as dishonouring rebelling against Fathers Magistrats c. but also by performing them to contrary objects as by giving the Fathers due to the Fathers opposite and the Magistrats due to Tyrants who are their opposites Certainly this Command prescribing honour doth regulate to whom it should be given And must be understood in a consistency with that duty and Character of one that hath a mind to be an inhabitant of the Lords holy Hill Psal. 15. 4. in whose eyes a vile person is contemned but he honoureth them that fear
It is necessary for nurissing Union to communicate together in order to their being of one mind of one mouth and that they receive one another Rom. 15. 5 6 7. 1 Cor. 1. 10. standing fast in one Spirit striving together for the faith of the Gospel Phil. 1. 27. It is necessary for serving one another in Love Gal. 5. 13. bearing one anothers burdens so fulfilling the Law of Christ Gal. 6. 2. submitting to one another Ehphs. 5. 21. 1 Pet 5. 5. teaching admonishing one another Col. 3. 16. comforting one another 1 Thess. 4. ult edifying one another 1 Thess. 5. 11. exhorting one another Heb. 3. 13. It is necessary for considering one another provoking unto love to good works And for this end they must not forsake the assembling of themselves together as the manner of some is for that were to sin wilfully Heb. 10. 24 25 26. Must these things depend on the Magistrats Allowance or can they be done without meeting together in private or publick The same reasons do alike conclude for the necessity of both If then there must be Meetings for these ends necessary at all times then when they cannot do it within door they must do it without 2. There is a necessity for Meeting for preaching hâ—aring the Gospel the enjoyment whereof hath alwayes been the greatest design desire of Saints who could not live without it therefore they loved the place where the Lords Honour dwelt Psal. 26. 8. This was the one thing they desired of the Lord and that they would seek after to behold the beauty of the Lord Psal. 27. 4. for this they panted and their Soul thirsted Psal. 42. 1 2. without which every Land is but a thirsty Land where there is no water where they cannot see the power the Glory of God as they have seen it in the Sanctuary Psal. 63. 1 2. O how amiable are His Tabernacles one day in His Courts is better than a thousand else where Psal. 84. 1 10. No gladness to them like that of going to the House of the Lord Psal. 122. 1. A Christian can not possibly live without Gospel Ordinances no more than Children can want the breasts or the poor needy want water when their tongue faileth for thirst they are promised it in high places and in the wilderness when they can get it no where else Isai. 41. 17 18. There is an innate desire in the Saints after it as new born habes they desire the sincere milk of the Word 1 Pet. 2. 2. So that any that is offended with them for this must be offended with them for being Christians for as such they must have the Gospel cost what is will. It is the greatest desire of the Spouse of Christ to know where He feeds and where to find the Shepherds tents where they may rest at noon Cant. 1. 7 8. And not only in their esteem is it necessary but in it self the Church cannot bear the want of it for where there is no vision the people perish Prov. 29. 18. and when there is no open vision the Word of the Lord is then very precious 1 Sam. 3. 1. No wonder then that the Lords people make such adoe for it in a famine of it that they go from sea to sea to seek it Amos 8. 11 12. and that they are content to have it at any rate though with the peril of their lives because of the sword of the Wilderness Lam. 5. 9. Seeing they cannot live without it Would men be hindered by Law from seeking their natural food nay they would fight for it before they wanted it against any that opposed them If then they cannot get it with peace they must have it with trouble And if they cannot get it in houses they must have it wherever it is to be found with freedom the favour of God. 3. It is necessary that the Meetings be as publik as they can be with Conveniencie Prudence yea simple hazard should no more hinder their Publickness Solemnity than their being at all Especially in an evil time when wickedness is encouraged established and conformity thereto pressed Truth banished and a Witness for Christ suppressed Corruption in Doctrine Worship Discipline Government connived at countenanced and advanced the Word of God is become a reproach and men have no delight in it Apostacy is become universal and both Magistrats Ministers generally turned promoters of it which is the true Discription of our times Then the Meetings of the Lords people that endeavour to keep clean Garments should be more frequent publick avowed The reasons are 1. Then the Call of God by His Word Works is more clamant for publick solemn humiliation in order to avert publick imminent judgments and impendent stroks from God. It is not enough to reforme our selvs privately personally and to keep our selves pure from such Courses by an abstraction withdrawing from them as is proved Head. 1. where this is improved as an argument against hearing the Curats Nor is it enough to admonish exhort reprove testify against such as are involved in these Courses But it is necessary for them that would be approven to adhere to the Truth and serve God after the right manner and to mourn sigh and cry for all the abominations of the time so as to get the Mark of Mourners on their foreheads Ezek. 9. 4. and they that do so wil be found on the Mountains like doves in the valleyes all of them mourning every one for his iniquity Ezek. 7. 16. and not only to by humbled every family apart but there must be a great Mourning as the Mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon Zech. 12. 11. to the end That is a Solemn publick Mourning there promised There must be a gathering themselves together though a Nation not desired before the decree bring forth before the day pass as the chaff and the fierce anger of the Lord come upon them if they would have any possibility of their hiding Zeph. 2. 1 2 3. The Trumpet then must be blown in Zion to sanctify a fast to call a solemn Assembly Gather the people Sanctify the Congregation Assemble the Elders Gather the Children Ioel. 2. 15 16. As was exemplified in Ezra's time when there were great Congregations of people assembled publickly weeping very sore then there was hope in Israel Ezra 10. 1 2. and when that Messenger of the Lord came up from Gilgal to the people of Israel and reproved them for their Defections Compliance with the Canaanites they had such a solemn day of humilation that the place of their Meeting got a name from it they called the name of that place Bochim that is Weepers Iudg. 2. 4 5. And when the Ark was at Kirjath-jearim all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord and they gathered together to Mizpeh and drew water poured it out before the Lord 2 Sam.
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
private houses or in the fields because of the opposition of His Doctrine by the Iewish Teachers who had appointed that any who ouned Him should be excommunicate And therefore in the like case at it is now His Servants may imitate their Master for though all Christs Actions are not imitable such as these of His Divine Power and the Actions of His Divine Prerogative as His taking of the ass without the ouners liberty and the Actings oâ— His Mediatory Prerogative which He did as Mediator but all His Gracious Actions and Moral upon Moral grounds and Relative upon the grounds of Relative Duties are not only imitable but the perfect Pattern of imitation Therefore that superstitious ridiculous Cavil that such Meetings in fields or houses are Conventickles gathering separate Congregations is not worth the taking notice of for this would reflect upon Christs and His Apostles wâ—y of preaching and the constant method of propogating the Gospel in times of persecution in all ages â—ince which hath alwayes been by that way which they call keeping of Conventickles It s absurd to say it is a gathering of separate Congregations it is only a searching or seeking after the Lords sheep that are made to wander through all the Mountains and upon every 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 which is scattered by corrupt Sheephâ—â—â— and the cruelty of the beasts of the field Ezek. 34. 5 6. and preaching to all who will come hear the Word of Truth in such places where they may get it done most safely and may be most free from distraction trouble of their enemies who are waiting to find them out that they may hail them to Prisons or kill them 8. As for the Circumstance of the Time that is specially alledged to be unseasonable especially when there is a litle breathing and some relaxation from the heat of Persecution to break the peace and awaken sleeping Dogs by such irritating Courses is thought not consistent with Christian prudence This is the old pretence of them that were at ease and preferred that to duty But as we know no peace at this time but a peace of Confederacy with the enemies of God which we desire not to partake of and know of no relaxation of Persecution against such as continue to witness against them So let what hath been said above in the 3. Hypothesis of the necessâ—ty of publickness in our Meetings at such a time as this is be considered And let the Scripture be consulted and it will appear not only that in preaching the Gospel there must be a Witness Testimony kept up as is proved above and not only that Ministers must preach the Word and be instant in season out of season 2 Tim. 4. 2. But that such a time as this is the very Season of a Testimony For in the Scripture we find that Testimonies are to be given in these Seasons especially 1. When the enemies of God beginning to relent from their stiffness severity would compound with His Witnesses and give them some Liberty but not total as Pharaoh would let the Children of Israel go but stay their flocks And now our Pharaoh will give some Liberty to serve God but with a Reservation of that part of the matter of it that nothing be said to alienate the hearts of the Subjects from his arbitrary Government But Moses thought it then a season to testifie though the bondage of the people should be thereby continued that there should not a hoof be left behind for sayes he we know not with what we must serve the Lord until we câ—me 〈◊〉 Exod. 10. 24 25 26. So must we Testify for eveâ—â— closly the Interest of Christ this day 2. When there to â—lâ—ration of Idolatry and Confederacy with Idolaters and suspending the execution of penal Lawes against them or pardoning of those that should be punished In such a season as this that Messenger that came from Gilgal gave his Testimony at Bochim against their toleration of Idolatrous Altars and Confederacy with the Canaanites Iudg. 2. 1 2. He is called an Angel indeed but he was only such an one as Ministers are who are called so Rev. 2. 1. for Heavenly Spirits have brought a Heavenly Message to particular persons but never to the whole people the Lord hath committed such a treasure to earthen Vessels 2 Cor. 4. 7. and this came from Gilgal not from Heaven So the Man of God testified against Eâ—i for his toleration of wicked Priests thô they were his oun Sons 1 Sam. 2. 2â— c. So Samuel witnessed against Saul for his toleration indemnity granted to Agag 1 Sam. 15. 23. So the Prophet against Ahab for sparing Benhadad 1 King. 20. 42. The Angel of Ephesus is commended for this and he of pergamus and he of Thyatira is condemned for omitting this Testimony and allowing a toleration of the Nicolaitans Iezebel Revel 2. 2 14 20. In such a Case of universal Complyance with these things and the peoples indulging themselves under the shadow of the protection of such a Confederacy the Servants of the Lord that fear Him must not say a Confederacy tho they should be accounted for signs wonders in Israel Isai. 8. 12 13 18. But now Idolatrous Mass-Altars are set up none thrown doun penal Statutes against Papists are stopt disabled and the Generality of Ministers are Congratulating saying a Confederacy in their Addresses for the same 3. When the Universal Apostacy is come to such a hight that error is prevailing and few syding themselves in an avowed opposition against it as Elijah chose that time when the people were halting between two opinions 1 King. 18. 21. And generally all the Prophets Servants of Christ consulted alwayes the peoples necessity for the timing of their Testimonies And was there ever greater necessity than now when Poperie is coming in like a flood 4. 〈…〉 men are chief in power as when Haman was 〈◊〉 Mordecai would not give him one bowe though all 〈◊〉 people of God should be endangered by such a provocation Esther 3. 2. And when Tyrants Usurpers are set up without the Lords approbation then they that have the Lords Trumpet should set it to their mouth Hos. 8. 1 4. Is not this the case now 5. When upon the account of this their Testimony the Lords people are in greatest danger and enemies design to Massacre them then if they altogither hold their peace at such a time there shall enlargment deliverance arise another way but they and their fathers house shall be destroyed who are silent then as Mordecai said to Esther Est 4. 14. And who knowes not the cruel designs of the Papists now 6. When iniquity is Universally abounding and hypocrisie among Professors then the Servants of the Lord must cry aloud not spare Isai. 58. 1. as the â—ase is this day 7. When the Concern of Truth a 〈…〉 Glory of God is not so illustriously vindicated as He gives us to expect
might have to their extraordinary executions of Judgement as Samuel Elijah had to kill Agag and Baals Prophets but either the allowance of man then there is no question about it Or if that cannot be had as in the case circumstantiate it cannot Then the Providential Morall Call of extream necessity for preservation of our lives and preventing the murder of our Brethren may warrant an extraordinary executing of righteous Judgement upon the Murderers Men may have a Call to a necessary duty neither every way mediate nor immediate as the Call of runing together to quench a fire in a City when Magistrats through wickedness or negligence will not or do not call people forth unto that work they have not mans call nor an immediate call from Heaven yet they have a Lawful Call from God So they do not intrud upon the Magistrats Office nor want they a call to this execution of Judgement who do materially that work for that exigent which Magistrats by Office were bound to do being called thereto by God by Nature and the call of inevitable Necessity which knoweth no hâ—mane Law and to which some Divine positive Laws will cede Ius populi cap. 20. pag. 423. 12. Thô this be a principle of reason natural Justice when all the forementioned circumstances are clear that it is Lawful for private persons to execute righteous Judgement upon notorious Incendiaries and Murdering publick Enemies in cases of necessity yet it might be a sinful breach of the Sixth Command to draw extraordinary examples of it to an ordinary practice in killing all who might be found Criminal and would deserve death by the Law as all that have served under a banner of Tyrannie violence displayed against God His people to the ruine of the Reformation wasting of the Country oppression of many honest families and destruction of many innocent people are and would be found guilty of Murder as the Chief Captain would have truly alledged Paul to have been a Murderer if he had been the Egyptian which made an uproar and led out four thousand men that were Murderers Act. 21. 38. As for the vulgar ordinary sort of those Vermine of Varlets it is of no advantage for oppressed people to foul their fingers upon them when their slaughter would not put a stop to but rather encrease the destruction of the people of God and were unlawful to prevent anticipate the due Legal execution of Justice where there is any prospect or expectation of its runing in its right channel But for the chief principal Ring-leaders and common publick habitual Incendiaries and Masters of the â—rade of Murdering the Lords people when there is no other way of being rid of their rage and preserving our selves and preventing the destruction of our Brethren we may in that case of necessity make publick examples of them in an extraordinary Procedure against them that may be most answerable to the Rules of the ordinary Procedure of Justice and in imitation of the Heroick Actions recorded and justified in the Word of God in the like extraordinary cases which are imitable when the matter of their Actions is ordinary that is neither preternatural nor Supernatural thô the occasion was singular just and necessary both by Divine precept and as a mean to good necessary ends and when there is no other to do the work nor any prospect of access to Justice in its ordinary orderly course nor possibility of suspending it till that can be obtained We need not then any other call than a Spirit of holy zeal for God and for our oun our Brethrens preservation in that pinch of extremity We do not hold these extraordinary Actions for regular ordinary Precedents for all times persons universally which if people should fancy and heed more the glory fame of the Action than the sound solid Rule of the Scriptures they may be tempted carried to fearful extravagances But they may be Warrants for private persons in their doing of these things in an extreame necessity to which at other times they are not called And when the Lord with Whom is the residue of the Spirit doth breath upon His people moe or fewer to the exciting of more than ordinary zeal for the execution of Justice upon such Adversaries we should rather ascribe Glory Praise to Him Whose hand is not shortened but many times chooseth the weak foolish things of the world to confound the mighty the wise than condemn His Instruments for doing such things Naph pag. 24 25. Prior Edit All these cases which are all I can think on at present comprehending all that may any way infer the guilt of murder I have collected to the end I may conclude this one Argument and leave it to be considered If this extraordinary executing of Judgement upon Notorious Incendiaries and Murdering publick Enemies by private persons in the circumstances above declared cannot be reduced to any case that can infer the guilt of murder Then it cannot be condemned but justified But this extraordinary executing of Judgement c. cannot be reduced to any case that can infer the guilt of murder as will appear by the induction of all of them Ergo this extraordinary executing of Judgement c. cannot be condemned but justified II. In the Next place What we oune may be done warrantably in taking away the life of men without breach of the Sixth Command will appear by these propositions Assertions which will bring the matter to the present Circumstantiate Case 1. It is certain thô the Command be indefinitely expressed it doth not prohibite all killing but only that which is condemned in other explicatorie Commands Our Lord Jesus repeating this Command explains it by expressing it thus Math. 19. 18. Thow shalt not Murder And if any be Lawful it is granted by all that is which is unavoidable by the invincible necessity of Providence when a man following his duty doth that which beside contrary his intention and without any previous neglect or oversight in him proveth the hurt death of another in which case he was allowed to flee to the City of refuge by the Law of God. Whence if that Physical necessity did justify that kind of killing shall not a Moral necessity every way invincibly unavoidable except we suffer our selves and our Brethren to be destroyed by beasts of prey vindicate this kind in an extraordinary extremity when the Murderers are protected under the sconce of pretended Authority In which case the Law of God would allow deliberate Murderers should be pursued by the Avenger of blood and not to have Liberty to flee to these subterfuges and pretexts of Authority meer Tyranny but to be taken from the horns of such altars and be put to death as Mr Mitchel sayes in vindicating his oun Action in a Letter dated Feb. 1674. 2. It is Lawful to take the life of known convicted Murderers
for Him among His Children though now yow be reputed for signs wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts Which dwelleth in Mount Zion Who knowes but therefore will the Lord wait that He may be Gracious unto yow and therefore will He be exalted that He may have Mercy upon yow for the Lord is a God of Judgement Blessed are all they that wait for Him. To Whom be all the Glory AMEN FINIS ERRATA Pag Lin 26 6 for way read may 34 14 f. bloodh r. blood ibid. ult r. Governours 36 35 f. he r. the. 52 5 r. hinted 70 38 f. at r. a. 75 32 r. accursed 76 27 r. thought 94 33 next Christians r. this being 103 30 r. Elogium 147 29 r. ruines 169 31 f. may r. way 174 17 r. humble ibid. 25 f. mast r. most ibid. ult f. tune r. time 203 8 r. Tyranny 209 27 r. Christ. 220 7 f. them r. then 267 18 f. them r. then 284 23 f. servas r. servos 286 3 f. upon d. up an ibid. 20 r. subjects ibid. 35 f. amittitis r. amittit is 343 27 f. at r. as 345 4 f. as r. us 374 15 r. Israel 381 36 f. he r. the. 385 7 f. 27. r. 25. 389 23 f. way r. may 390 16 f. 137. r. 136. 397 19 f. r. an ibid. 31. f. ehe r. the. 432 1 f. ar r. or 433 ult f. ars r. are 435 17 f. trust r. thrust 451 36 r. Jehojachin 456 28 f. not odiously r. notoriously 467 25 f. stealing his r. his stealing 494 43 f. divine r. divines 542 24 r. if there be any thing here 551 8 f. by r. be 563 28 r. afterwards 598 6 dele in 612 35 r. Kingdoms 641 4. wo r. who 662 35 f. proceeding r. preceeding Besyds these in some places for Incendaries read Incendiaries also there are some other escapes as an s for an f an e for an c an u for an n or the like and some others in the pointing which will not mar the sense and it s hoped the discreet Reader will readiely excuse Having come to a conclusion of the six heads proposed to be treated of I Judged it conduceing by way of postscript to subjoin a Seventh in vindication of these consciencious and truely tender sufferers who in the dread and aw of the holy Soveraigne Supreme Law-giver who commandeth his subjects and followers to abstain from all appearance of evill did in obedience to him and his Royall Law choose rather to suffer the rage robberies violence of Crwel and bloody enemies togither with Censurs reproaches obloquies contempt of appostatiseing professors than to give any aid or encowragement to the avowed and declared enemies of Christ that might contribute to the promoveing their Sacrilegious Tyrannicall and hellish projects practices calculat prosecut against the Gospel and Kingdome of Christ the Covenanted reformed Religion of the Church the Rights Laws and Liberties of the people and to the Introduceing of Antichristian Idolatrie Tyrannie Slaverie by paying any of their wicked wickedly imposed exactions raised for furthering their hellish designes of which none who payes them can be Innocent HEAD VII The Sufferings of many for Refusing to pay the wicked Exactions of the Cess Locality Fynes c. Vindicated IT will possibly seem impertinent or at least preposterous at such a time when the pressure of these â—urdens is not more pinching to the Generality of professing people and in such a retrograde order as after the discussion of the foregoing Heads to subjoyne any disquisition of these Questions which are now out of date and doors with many But considering that the Impositions of these Burdens are still pressing to some and the difficulties of doubts disputes about them still pusling the sin scandal of complying with them still lying upon the Land not confessed nor forsaken the leaven of such Doctrine as daubs defends the like complyance still intertained the Sufferings of the Faithful for refusing them still contemned condemned and the fears expectations of more snares of that nature after this fair weather is over still encreasing if I may be so happy as to escape impertinencies in the manner of managing this disquisition I fear not the Censure of the impertinency or needlessness of this Essay As to the order of it it was intended to have been put in its proper place among the Negative Heads of Sufferings But knowing of how litle worth or weight any thing that I can say is with the prejudged and having a Paper writ by two famous Witnesses of Christ against the Defections of their day Mr. McWard Mr. Broun more fully largely detecting the iniquity of the Cess from which the wickedness of other exactions also may be clearly deduced thô at such distance at the writing of the foregoing Heads that it could not be had in readiness to take its due place and time would not allow the suspending other things until this should come to hand I thought it needful rather than to omit it altogether to insert it here However thô neither the form of it being by way of Letter nor the method adapted to the design of a moving disswasion nor the length prolixitie thereof will suffer it to be here transcribed as it is yet to discover what were their sentiments of these things and what was the Doctrine Preached and Homologated by the most faithful both Ministers and Professors of Scotland eight or nine years since how closely continued in by the Contendings of this Reproached Remnant still persecuted for these things and how clearly abandoned resiled from by their Complying Brethren now at Ease I shall give a short Transumpt Compend of their Reasonings in a method subservient to my Scope and with Additions necessary for applying their Arguments against the other Exactions here adduced in this Head and bringing them also under the dint of them thô not touched by them expressly I must put altogether because it would dilate the Treatise already excressed into a bigness far beyond the boundaries I designed for it to handle them distinctly and their affinity both as to their fountain nature ends is such that what will condemn one of them will condemn all What and how many manifold have been the exorbitant Exactions as the fruits soments of this crwel Tyranny that the Godly in our Land have been groaning under these 27 years and upon what occasions they have been at diverse times and in diverse manners measurs imposed I need not here relate the first part of the Treatise doth represent it The first of these Tyrannical Exactions were the Fynes for not hearing the Curats and other parts of Non-conformity which together with paying the Curats stipends were too universally at first complyed with But afterwards upon more mature consideration and after clearer discoveries of the Imposers projects practices they were scrupled refused by the more tender And