Lord to pour out his wrath on a People Ier. 10. 25. Pour out thy fury on the Heathen that know thee not and on the families that call not on thy Name Yet there be many Masters of Families amongst all ranks of persons Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Commons and even some Ministers who lie under the guilt nay there be but few in which the plurality will not be found to neglect or never to have practised the Duty Instance is given in the Article of Great men Nobles Barons Gentlemen and Burgesses of special note because very few are to be found amongst these who make conscience to call on the Lords Name in their Families some of them turning over the Duty wholly on a Chaplain or some other person in the Family and others of them having no such Duty in their Families performed at all either by themselves or by any other they being either unable or ashamed and unwilling to do it whereas great and eminent persons have accounted it their duty and glory and have followed it with much conscience and care as may be instanced in Abraham Gen. 18. 19. For I know him that he will command his children and his houshold after him and they shal keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that the Lord may bring on Abraham that which he hath spoken of And in Ioshua 24. 15. And if it seem evill unto you to serve the LORD choose you this day whom ye will serve whether the gods that your fathers served who were on the other side of the floud or the gods of the Amorites in whose Land ye dwel but as for me and my house we will serve the LORD And in David 2 Sam. 6. 20. Then David returned to bless his houshold This woful neglect of so necessary and profitable a duty especially in the Families of great Ones usually attended with the neglect of catechising and instructing of Children and Servants in the way of the Lord and pressing and exercising them unto Prayer and other religious Duties as it is a great sin before God the height where of is encreased by their continuing therein after solemn publick confession thereof and engaging to the contrary in the year 1648. and is expresly to be seen in the solemn publick confession of sins and engagement to duties so it is the cause of much ignorance of God Atheism and loosness prophanity disorder and discontent that is in Families and not only proves a binderance to the spreading of piety amongst others who walks after their example but also stops the course of the Lords blessings on themselves and on their Families and brings down upon them many judgments and curses from the Lord. The other part of the Article relates to the loathing and hating of godliness and the reproaching reviling oppressing and persecuting the godly A sin as it is great in it self Gen. 21. 9. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egytian which she had born unto Abraham mocking Gal. 4. 28. Now we brethren as Isaac was are the children of promise But as then he who was born after the flesh persecuted him who was born after the Spirit even so it is now Ps. 14. 6. Ye have sâ—amed the counsel of the poor because the Lord is his refuge Isa. 8. 18. Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of Hosts who dwelleth in Mount Sion Act. 9. 4 And he fell to the earth and heard a voice saying to him Saul Saul why persecutest thou me And drawes down a recompense of tribulation from the Lord. 2 Thess. 1 6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with the Lord to recompense tribulation to them which trouble you so it seems to be a monstruous sin amongst a People making profession of Reformation and who are so often covenanted to God in so solemn a way and yet hath it prevailed and abounded exceedingly this year by gone in Court in Country in Cities in Judicatories in the Army and every where throughout the Land A man was made an offender for a word and he that departed from iniquity made himself a prey It was quarrel enough not to have run with others to the same excess of riot They who would not be disaffected and disolute behooved to be esteemed enemies to their Country they who studied to make conscience of holy Duties and keep their integrity were slandered as Sectaries and complyers with Sectaries and were not only exposed to the scourge of tongues but also to the violence and oppression of malignant graceless and prophane men Neither were Magistrates and Ministers free of this sin but even sundry of these who ought to have protected encouraged and countenanced the godly were as pricks in their eyes and thorns in their sides not only by withdrawing their countenance from them giving way to others to revile oppress and persecute them but by imploying their own gifts and power in Judicatories and Pulpits and otherwaies for keeping them down and making them hateful and odious to others amongst whom they liue And whilest we are speaking of these things We cannot but mention the great prejudice and enmity which many Ministers had against the exercises of godliness and duties of mutual edification together with the great blot brought upon piety and the great blow given to the exercise of godliness by the Act of the Assembly at Aberdeen not repented of by the Kirk of Scotland nor repealed to this day and the great neglect of the duties of mutual edification amongst the Lords Ministers and People after there was allowance given for the same by the following Assemblies and the suffering of many giftless and unprofitable Ministers not gifted of God to edifie his People to continue in the Ministry whereby it comes to pass that many gracious People were necessitated either to want edification in the Publick Ordinances or to fall under the censure of such Acts made against such as did usually withdrawe from the Ordinances and Ministry of their own Parish Churches This sin of hating and bearing down the power of godliness and persecuting the godly was accompanied with another which is mentioned also in the Article to wit The countenancing and employing the ungodly and prophane a thing that the godly mans soul abhorred Psa. 26. 1 2. 3 4. Iudge me O Lord for I have walked in mine integrity I have trusted also in the Lord therefore I shall not slide Examin me O Lord and prove me try my heart and my veins For thy loving kindnesse is before mine eyes and I have walked in thy truth I have not sit with vain persons neither will I go with dissemblers c. And so throughout the Psalm Psalm 101. 4 5. A froward hear shall depart from me I will not know a wicked person Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour him will I cut off Him that hath a proud heart and an high look will I not suffer
in one oven and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight and ye shall eat and not be satisfied v. 27. And if you will not for all this hearken unto me but walk contrary unto me v. 28. Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury and I even I will chastise you seven times for your sins v. 29. And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat v. 30. And I will destroy your high places and cut down your Images and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your Idols and my soul shall abbor you v. 31. And I will make your Cities wast and bring your Sanctuaries unto desolation and I will not smell the savour of your sweet Odours v. 32. And I will bring the Land into desolation and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it v. 33. And I will scatter you among the Heathen and will draw out a sword after you and your Land shall be desolate and your Cities waste v. 34. Then shall the Land enjoy her Sabbaths as long as it lieth desolate and ye be in your enemies Land even then shall the Land rest and enjoy her Sabbaths v. 35. As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest because it did not rest in your Sabbaths when ye dwelt upon it v. 36. And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintnesse into their hearts in the Lands of their enemies and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them and they shall flee as fleeing from a sword and they shall fall when none pursueth them v. 37. And they shall fall one upon another as it were before a sword when none pursueth and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies v. 38. And ye shall perish among the Heathen and the Land of your enemies shall eat you up v. 39. And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquitie in your enemies Lands and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them FINIS A Humble ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE SINS OF THE MINISTERY OF SCOTLAND Printed in the year 1653. THE PREFACE ALthough we are not ignorant that mockers of all sorts may take occasion by this Acknowledgment of the Sins of Ministers to strengthen themselves in their prejudices at our persons and Callings and turn this unto our reproach and that some may misconstrue our meaning therein as if we did thereby intend to render the Ministery of this Church base and contemptible which is far from our thoughts We knowing and being perswaded in our selves that there are many able godly and faithful Ministers in the Land yet being convinced that we are called to humble our selves and to justifie the Lord in all the contempt that he hath poured upon us That they who shall know our sins may not stumble at our judgments We have thought it our duty to publish this following Discovery and Acknowledgment of the corruptions and sins of Ministers That it may appear how deep our hand is in the Transgression and that the Ministers of Scotland have no small accession to the drawing on of these judgments that are upon the Land Only in this following Acknowledgment we desire it may be considered That there are here enumerated some sins whereof there be but some few Ministers guilty and others whereof mâ—â— are guilty and not a few which are the sins of these whom the Lord hath keeped from the more grosse corruptions herein mentioned And that it is not to be wondered at if the Ministery of Scotland be yet in a great measure unpurged Considering that there was so wide a door opened for the entering of corrupt persons into the Ministery for the space of above thirty years under the tyranny of Prelatâ— and that also there hath been so many diversions from and interruptions of endeavours to have a purged Ministery in this Land THE SINS OF THE MINISTERY First such as are before their entry to the Ministery 1. LIghteness and prophanity in conversation unsuitable to that holy Calling which they did intend not throughly repented of 2. Corrupt education of some in the Prelaticall and Arminian way whereby their corruptions and errors were drunken in and abilities improven for strengthening and promoving the same not repented of 3. Not studying to be in CHRIST before they be in the Ministery nor to have the practicall knowledge and experience of the Mystery of the Gospel in themselves before they preach it to others 4. Neglecting to sit themselves for the Work of the Ministerie in not improving prayer and fellowship with God education at Schools and opportunities of a lively Ministery and other means and not mourning for these neglects 5. Not studying self-denyall nor resolving to take up the Crosse of CHRIST 6. Negligence to entertain sight and sense of sin and misery not wrestling against corruption nor studying of mortification and subduednesse of spirit Secondly in entering 1. CArnall corrupt and crooked wayes for entering to the Ministery such as bribing in the time of Prelacie soliciation of friends and the like whereby many have not entered by the door but did climb up another way 2. Entering to the Ministery by an implicite execrable Canonicall Oath and subscription given to the Prelats for acknowledging them and advancing their corruptions introduced and to be introduced 3. Entering to the Ministery without tryals and receiving ordination either from the Prelat or by a recommendation from him to the Presbyterie and sometimes without or against the minde of the Presbyterie 4. Entering either only by Presentations or by purchased Supplications from the plurality of the Parochiners without or against the consent of the godly in the Parioch 5. Entering to the Ministery without respect to a Commission from Jesus Christ by which it hath come to passe that many have run unsent 6. Entering to the Ministery not from the love of Christ nor from a desire to honour God in gaining of souls but for by-ends for a name and for livelyhood in the World notwithstanding solemne declaration to the contrary at admission 7. Some offering themselves to tryall without abilities and studying to conceal and hide their weaknesse by making use of the help and pains of some friend and acquaintance or other mens Papers in severall parts of the tryall and some authorized to preach and others admitted to the Ministery who have little or no ability for performing the duties thereof 8. Too much weighed with inclination to be called to the Ministery in a place where we have carnall relation Thirdly After entering which is first in their private condition and conversation 1. IGnorance of God want of nearnesse with him and taking up little of God in reading meditating and speaking of him 2. Exceeding great selfishnesse in all that we do acting from our selves for our selves 3. Not caring how unfaithfull and negligent others were so being it might contribute a
amongst many especially the ignorance and not observing but forgetting the works of mercy and judgment which GOD hath wrought amongst our selves which sin as it proved an In-let to many other provocations from the 7 verse of that Psalm throughout so hath it great threatnings pronounced against it and sore judgments inflicted on it Psal. 28. 5. Because they regard not the works of the Lord nor the operation of his hands he shal destroy them and not build them up Isa. 5. 11 12. Wo to them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink and continue till night till wine inflame them and the wine and the pipe the viol the tabret and the harp are in their feasts but they regard not the work of the Lord nor consider the operation of his hands Psal. 106. 7. 13. 21 22. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies but provoked him at the sea they soon forgot his works they waited not for his counsell Thy forgâ—t God their Saviour who had done great things in Egypt wondrous works in the land of Ham and terrible things by the redsea In this Article also Atheisme is joyned with Ignorance which as it is the root and fountain of all other sin Psal. 14. 1. The fool hath said in his heart there is no God they are corrupt they have done abominable works there is none that doth good So it is also the root and fountain of all misery Eph. 2. 12. At that time ye were without Christ being strangers from the Commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenant of promise having no hope and being without God in the world And yet this doth possesse many there being multitudes of that wicked sort Psal. 10. 4. Who through the pride of their heart will not seek God God is not in all their thoughts These are far from acknowledging him in all their wayes and aiming at his glory in all their actions according to these divine rules Proverb 3. 6. In all thy wayes acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths 1 Cor. 10. 31. Whether therefore ye eat or ye drink or what soever ye do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ giving thanks to the Father through him But they do live as if there were no God or as if he had forsaken the earth and did not see Ezek. 9. 9. Then said he unto me The iniquity of the house of Israel and Iuda is exceeding great and the Land is full of blood and the City full of perversnesse for they say The Lord hath forsaken the earth and the Lord seeth not Or as if the Lord would not do good or evill like these who are threatned Zeph. 1. 12. I will search Ierusalem with candles and punish the men that are setled on their lees that say in their heart the Lord will not do good neither will be do evill The Second Article THe second Article concerning loosnesse and prophanity is no lesse true and evident then the first it being undenyable that a floud of prophanity hath overflowed the whole Land and that the most part of the Inhabitants thereof have corrupted theirway before him unto the dishonouring of his Name reproach of our profession and provoking the eyes of his Glory Isa. 1. 2 3 4. 5. Hear O heavens and give ear O earth for the Lord hath spoken I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me the ox hath known his owner and the asse his masters crib but Israel doth not know my people doth not consider Ah sinfull Nation a people loaden with iniquity a seed of evill doers children that are corrupters they have forsaken the Lord they have provoked the holy one of Israel to Anger they have gone away backward why should ye be stricken any more ye will revolt more and more the whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint Ezek. 36. 21 22 23. But I had pity for my holy names sake which the house of Israel hath prophaned amongst the Heathen whether they went Therefore say to the house of Israel thus saith the Lord God I do not this for your sake O house of Israel but for my holy Names sake which ye have prophaned amongst the Heathen whither ye went and I will sanctifie my great name which was prophaned among the Heathen which ye have prophaned in the midst of them and the Heathen shall know that I am the Lord saith the Lord God when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes Malach. 2. 11 12 13. Iudah hath dealt treaâ—herously and an abomination is committed in Israel and Ierusalem for Iudah hath prophaned the holinesse of the Lord which he loved and hath married the daughter of a strange god the Lord will cut off the man that doth this the master and the schollar out of the Tabernacles of Iacob and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hosts and this have ye done again covering the Altar of the Lord with tears with weeping and with crying out in so much that he regardeth not the offering any more or receiveth it with good will at your hands Isa. 3. 8. For Ierusalem is ruined and Iudah is fallen because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord to provoke the eyes of his glory The guilt of this abounding loosnesse and prophanity is so much the more heightned by these circumstances that do attend it First that it is under the clear light of the Gospel of the Word preached now for many years throughout the Land in purity and plenty Secondly that it is contrary to many solemn Vows Engagements Oaths and Covenants taken on us before God Angels and men to the contrary Thirdly that it is under many blessings mercies and deliverances from the Lord. Fourthly that it is under many chastisements rods and judgements especially the sword and pestilence by which two many thousands in the Land have been taken away within these few years Fifthly that it is common and universall and hath reached over all sorts of persons Noblemen Gentlemen Barons Burgesses Ministers and Commons Sixthly from the greatnesse of it shamelesnes of it avowedness and grossness of it which is such that many declare their sin as Sodome and commit all sorts of wickednesse with greedlnesse Seventhly from the kinds of it some of the chief and most common of which especially these who are not named in some other Article of the former Paper we shal here touch 1. Impatiencie murmuring and freting against God and his works which-hath made many to weary of the charges and expence they have been put to for the Gospel and to wish there had been no such thing as the entering into the Nationall Covenant and the renewing and entering into the solemn League and Covenant not to an few to curse and blaspheme the Covenants and to look on them as the rise and originall of all
therein who not only contrary to the practice of good Nehemiah who would not eat the bread of the Governour took large allowance for their attendance on Publick Affairs and notwithstanding that they had sufficient estates of their own but also abused their power and moyen for exacting and imploying summes of Money for themselves and for their friends and followers while in the mean time small regard was had to the condition of these from whom these summes were exacted or to the equall supplying of the condition of others to whom as much and possibly more in desert and justice was due as to these to whom those Moneyes were given We shall not insist on the bribery that hath been amongst Judges the cunning cozenage and exorbitant pilferings and taking that hath been amongst Advocats Procurators Commissars Clerks and Collectors many of them have made haste to be rich and have by the Bench by the Purse by the tongue and by the Pen heaped up much treasure and made conquest of Lands and Estates but with an evill conscience because it hath been the gain of bribery and injustice and lying and deceit violence and oppression but amongst no sort of persons hath these sins of covetousnesse and oppression more appeared and prevailed then amongst many of the chief Officers and Souldiers in our Armies insomuch that many of these who were raised for the Lands protection and defence have been their intollerable burden and plague and have by their most exorbitantâ— violent tyrannicall and insatiable exactions made the lives of the Inhabitants bitter and a burden to them What interverting of Levies what false Musters what exorbitant exactions above the Law for men and horse and Arms what Quarterings and covetous subtile oppressing devices of many sorts for getting of Money have been amongst Officers and what plundering of Goods destroying of Corns taking and robbing of Moneyes railing upon and beating and wounding the poor people what excessive eating and drinking and unplacablenesse in their diet not satisfying themselves with such fare as people could afford to them but killing their Kine and Sheep and what ever came in their way and how many other things of that kind hath been amongst Souldiers and what exorbitancies and oppressions whereof the negligence and over-sight of some great ones and officers in our Armies was not the least cause for they not being able to shake their hands of dishonest gain themselves did oftentimes wink at nay sometimes obstruct the purging out and punishing of others Amongst other effects of Covetousnesse instance is given in the close of the Article of the great Insolencies and oppression of many in our Armies in England and Ireland and the fearfull perjuries of the Land in the matter of Valuation and Excise both of which were dreadfull and horrible provocations The first of them as it was a grievous burden to our Brethren in England and Ireland and did exceedingly stumble them at this Nation and the Work of GOD in their hands so we make no question but it is one of the sins that GOD is pointing at now in a speciall manner in the rods wherewith he now chastiseth us The other of them though little adverted to or laid to heart or acknowledged to this day yet is a fearfull guilt which many in the Land ly under How many in the matter of Valuations that Lands might be valued at a low rate did swear falsely And how many were there who were Instrumentall to cause others to swear falsely And some Judges for their own advantage and interest did connive thereat And many likewise did swear falsely in exciseable goods Before we close what relates to this Article we desire that these Scriptures may be considered in reference to the sins mentioned there as the fruits of the love of the World and Covetousnesse Job 35. 9. By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry they cry out because of the arm of the mighty but none saito where is God c. Psal. 62. 10. Trust not in oppression become not vain in robbery If riches encrease set not your hearts on them Psal 82. 2. How long will ye judge unjustly and accept the person of the wicked Proverb 14. 31. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his maker but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor Proverb 15. 27. He that is greedy of gain he troubleth his own house but he who hateth gifts shall hve Prov. 22. 16. He that oppresseth the poor to encrease his riches and he that giveth to the rich shal surely come to want Prov. 28. 3. A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain that leaveth no food Verse 8. He who by usury and unjust gain encreaseth his substance he shall gather it for him that shal pity the poor 20. Verse A faithfull man shal abound with blessings but he who maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent Eccles. 7. 7. Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad and a gift destroyeth the heart Isai. 1. 21 22 23 24. How is the faithful city become an harlot It was full of judgement and righteousnesse lodged in it but now murderers Thy siluer is become drosse thy wine mixt with water Thy princes are rebellions and companions of theeves every one loveth gifts and followeth after rewards they judge not the fatherlesse neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them Therefore saith the Lord the Lord of hosts the mighty one of Israel Ab I will ease me of mine adversaries and avenge me of mine enemies Isai. 3. 12 13 14 15. As for my people children are their oppressors and women rule over them O my people they which lead thee cause thee to erre and destroy the way of thy paths The Lord standeth up to plead and standeth to judge the people The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people and the Princes thereof For ye have eaten up the vineyard the spoil of the poor is in your houses What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces and grind the faces of the poor saith the Lord God of hosts Isai. 5. 7. And he looked for judgment but behold oppression and for righteousnesse but behold a cry 9. Verse Of a truth saith the Lord of Hosts many houses shall be desolate even great avd fair without Inhabitant v. 23. Which justifie the wicked for reward take away the righteousnes of the righteous from him Isa. 10. 1 3. Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees and that write grievousness which they have prescribed To turn aside the needy from judgment and to take away the right from the poor of my People that widows may be their prey and that they may rob the fatherless And what wil ye do in the day of visitation and in the desolation which shal come from far To whom wil ye flee for help and where wil you leave your glory Without me they shal bow down under the
prisoners and they shal fall under the stain for all this his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still Isa. 33. 15. He that despiseth the gain of oppression that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes that stoppeth his ears from hearing of bloud and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil He shal dwell on high his place of defence shal be the munitions of rocks Jer. 6. 6 7. For thus hath the Lord of Hosts said Hew ye down trees and cast a mount against Jerusalem this is the City to be visited she is wholly oppression in the midst of her As a fountain casteth out her waters so she casteth out her wickedness Violence and spoil is heard in her before me continually is grief and wounds Jer. 5. 26. For amongst my People are found wicked men they lay wait as he that setteth snares they set a trap they catch men Versâ— 27. As a cage is full of birds so are their houses ful of deceit therefore are they become great and waxen rich Vers. 28. They are waxen fat they shine yea they overpass the deeds of the wicked they judge not the cause of the fatherless yet they prosper and the right of the needy do they not judge Verl 29. Shall I not visie for these things saith the Lord shal not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this Jer. 22. 13. Wo to him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by wrong that useth his neighbours service without wages and gives him not for his work Vers. 14. That saith I will build me a wide house and large chambers and cutteth him out windows and it is cieled with cedar and painted with vermilion Vers. 15. Shalt thou reign because thou closest thy self in cedar did not thy father eat and drink and do judgment and justice and then it was well with him Vers 16. He judged the cause of the poor and needy then it was well with him was not this to know me saith the Lord V. 17. But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousnes and for to shed innocent bloud and for oppression and for violence to do it Ezek. 22. 13. Behold therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made and at the bloud which hath been in the midst of thee Vers. 29. The People of the Land have used oppression and exercised robbery and have vexed the poor and needy yea they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully Hos. 7. 1. When I would have healed Israel then the iniquity of Ephralm was discovered and the wickedness of Samaria for they commit falshood and the thief cometh in and the troups of robbers spoil without Amos 3. 10. For they know not to do right saith the Lord who store up robbery and violence in their palaces ver 11. Therefore thus saith the Lord God An adversary there shal be even round about the Land and he shal bring down thy strength from thee and thy palaces shal be spoiled ver 15. And I will smite the winter house with the summer house and the houses of I very shall perish and the great houses shall have an end saith the Lord. Mic. 3. 11. The Heads thereof judge for reward and the Priests thereof teach for hire and the Prophets thereof divine for money yet will they lean on the Lord and say Is not the Lord amongst us none evil can come upon us ver 12. Therefore shall Sion for their sakes be plowed like a field and Jerusalem shal become heaps and the Mountain of the House as the high places of the Forrest Zeph. 3. 1 Wo to her that is filthy and polluted to the oppressing City ver 3. Her Princes within her are roaring Lions her Iudges are ravenous Wolves they gnaw not the bones til the morrow vers 8. Therefore wait ye upon nie saith the Lord til I rise up to for the prey my determination is to gather the Nations that I may assemble the Kingdoms that I may pour out on them mine indignation even al my fierce anger for all the Earth shal be devoured with the fire of my jealousie Zeph. 1. 9. In the same day will I punish all them who leap on the threshold who fill their masters houses with violence and deceit Exod. 2 2. 21 22 23 24. Ye shal neither vex a stranger nor oppress him for ye were strangers in the Land of Egypt Thou shalt not afflict any widow or fatherless child if thou afflict them in any wayes and they cry â—t al unto me I will surely hear their cry and my wrath shall wax hot I will kill you with the sword and your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless The Sixth Article The sixth Article relates to the abusing and prostituting the Publick Faith of the Kingdom in the way of borrowing of Monies and otherwise which no question is not one of the least provoking Publick sins in the Land As private men ought so far to have their faith and credit in estimation for the love of righteousness and truth as not to engage the same but when they do sincerely intend and really endeavor to perform what they promise so much more ought publick persons and the Judicatories of a Land have such regard to the Publick Faith of a Nation as not to engage the same but when there be some real purposes and honest endeavors to fulfil it Because the prostituting and breach of Publick-Faith as it is an high provocation before God so it is a great deal more pernitious reproachful slanderous and injurious and of a worse example amongst men especially when it becomes common and is used as a state engine to draw in mens propriety from them under a vail and shadow of righteousness and is attended with a kind of conslraint upon men to take the Publick Faith for security as it was in this Land Job 15. 4. Yea thou castest off fear and restrainest prayer before God Psalm 37. 21. The wicked borroweth and payeth not again but the righteous sheweth mercy and giveth Isa. 59. 12 13 14. For our transgressions are multiplied before thee and our sins testifie against us for our transgressiont are with us and as for our iniquities we know them In transgressing and lying against the Lord and in departing away from our God speaking oppression and revolt conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falshood And judgment is turned away backward and justice standeth a faa off for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter Yea truth faileth and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey Aud the Lord saw it and it displeased him that there was no judgment The Seventh Article The seventh Article mentions two sins that many of this Land are guilty of in their first taking of the National Covenant and solemn League and Covenant and renewing thereof The first whereof is The ignorance that was in many or the want of the necessary
knowledge of the things contained in the Covenants The Lord requires of al those that take an oath That they do it in judgment Jer. 4. 2. And thâ—u shalt swear The Lord liveth in truth in righteousness and in judgment and the Nations shall bless themselves in him That is That they take it with such a measure of discretion judgment and understanding as is needful for men in their station in order to the Duty which by their Oath they tie themselves to But it is beyond question that many in the Land do swear these Covenants without the knowledge and understanding of the heads thereof so far as was needful for them in their station who when they were catechised on the particulars do know little or nothing thereof Which no doubt is one cause why they have so little minded and followed and do so little mind and follow the duties contained therein Jer. 5. 4. And I said Surely these are poor they are foolish for they know not the way of the Lord nor the judgment of their God The other is The taking of these Covenants without reality and sincerity in order to the performance thereof Which was to swear not in truth as the Lord requireth Jer. 4. 2. And thou shalt swear The Lord liveth c. not falsly Hos. 10. 4. They have spoken words swearing falsly making a Covenant thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field And with an heart that was not right therfore have they not been stedfast in the Covenant Psal 78. 36 37. Nevertheless thâ—y did flutter him with their mouth and did lye to him with their tongues for their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant The judgments therefore mentioned to have been in some example in others fear and in not a few principles of policy for attaining their own ends Other bad principles certainly there were in sundry persons be side these but these are mentioned as the most common and which haâ—â—â—way with most of these who were guilty either of ignorance or of hypocrisie in the entering into these Covenants Many did take the National Covenant in example of others it being counted praise-worthy and commendable after such a defection as was then in the Land to engage in such a duty and to be reckoned amongst the repairers of the breach Many did take the solemn League and Covenant for fear because the refusing to take it was attended both with Ecclesiastical and Civil Censures and therefore did they rather choose to hazard on the OATH of GOD then to run these hazards amongst Men which doth not yet condemn the injoyning the taking of these Covenants upon a good and warrantable principle It is lawfull for the Judicatories of a Kirk and State to injoyn to men cohabitation with their wives and to children obedience to their Parents to subjects obedience to their Magistrates and suchlike under such respective relations Yet as these persons sin against God if they give obedience only from a principle of carnal fear neither doth the influence that these relations have on them make the commanding of these things under those relations to be a sin because they are in themselves duties which are commanded of God the neglect whereof may in regard of scandall be censured by the Kirk and in regard of the prejudice that redounds to the honour of God and good of our neighbour be punished by the civil Magistrate In taking of both Covenants though there were many whom a principle of the fear and love of God did move yet there were not a few whom after-discoveries have made manifest who were acted thereto by carnall wisedome and policie for attaining their own base and corrupt ends such as riches places of preferment and lively hood and ease and hence mainly hath issued that sin which followes in the next Article The eighth Article The following of the Work of God pursuing the ends of the Covenant not in a holy and spirituall way setting the Lord alwayes before our eyes and acknowledging him in all our paths according to the direction given us of God which hath the promise of the Blessing Psalm 37. 5. Commit thy way to the Lord trust also in him and he shall bring it to passe Prov. 3. 5 6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thy own understanding in all thy wayes acknowledge him and he shal direct thy paths But in a carnall politick way abusing Gods Interest for our own interest and ends is a fearfull transgression howsoever it is often palliated with specious pretences as Iehu his zeal against the house of Ahab 2 Kings 10. 16. Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD so they made him ride in his chariot Yet the Lord doth not suffer it to go unpunished Hos. 1. 4. And the LORD said unto him Call his Name Iesreel for yet a little while and I will avenge the bloud of Jesreel on the house of Jehu and will cause to cease the Kingdom of the hous of Israel v. 5. And it shall come to passe in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jesreel 1. Consequent Two Consequents of this carnal way are mentioned the one is the walking in the way of our own hearts more then in the Counsel of God For when mens hearts are not single and streight in reference to the glory of God they love not to walk according to the simplicity of the Word of God but turns aside to their crooked ways to chuse such carnal midses as seem most plausible to their carnal hearts for compassing their corrupt ends a siu that was confessed in the publick solemn Confession of sins in the year 1648. And yet never have these crooked paths been more troden in and these counsels of flesh and blood been more hearkened to then since that time which is one of the causes why the sword doth abide in our cities and consume our branches and devours For this the Prophet threatens against Israel because of their own counsels The other Trusting more in the arm of flesh then in the arm of the Lord which hath been a constant and continued sin in this Nation these years past in doting on multitudes skill and abilities of men and numbers and strength of horses whence have issued the corrupt mixtures in our Armies and the imploying of all ranks of persons how malignant and prophane soever what wonder then though our Armies have not prospered but have oftentimes met with a curse in stead of a blessing Jer. 17. 5 6. Thus saith the Lord Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord for he shall be like the heath in the desart and shall not see when good cometh but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness in a salt Land and not inhabited From this same fountain hath proceeded needless alienation of
mind and estrangedness of heart on the least difference in judgment amongst Brethren often attended with passion and spleen Which makes our affection rather to favour our own image then the Image of Christ in others and our zeal against malignancie and error did divers times break forth into bitterness and reproach against the persons that did turn aside whereas it ought to have been accompanied with Christian meekness and compassion The Ninth Article The Ninth Article specifies one of the greatest and most comprehensive and provoking sins in this Land viz. Backsliding and defection from the Covenants and our solemn Vows and Engagements For attaining a right impression thereof We desire that these and other seruples of that kind may be seriously and impartially thought on and applied Prou. 14. 14v The back sider in â—eare shâ—ll be filled with his own wayes and a good man shall be satisfied from himself Ier. 3. 20. Surely â—as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband 〈…〉 you 〈◊〉 treacherously with me O house of Israel saith the Lord. Ier. â— â— Moreover thou shalt say 〈◊〉 them thus saith the Lord Shal they fall and not arise shal be turn away and not return v. 5. Why then is this People of 〈◊〉 aloâ—â— slidenback by a perpetual back sliding they hold fâ—st deceit they refuse to return v. 6. I hearkened and heard but they spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying What haue I done everyone turneth to his course as the 〈…〉 with into the battel v. 7. Yea the stork in the Heavens knoweth her appointd times and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the times of their coming but my People know not the Iudgment of the Lord. v. 8 How do ye say We are wise and the Law of the Lord is with us 〈◊〉 certainly in vain made he it the pen of the Scribe is in vain v. 9. The wise men are ashamed they are dismaied and taken lo they have rejected the Word of the Lord and what wisdom is in them Hos. 11. 7. My People are bent to backsliding from me though they called them to the most high none at all would exalâ— him Ier. 5. 6. Wherefore a Lion out of the forrest shall slay them and a Wolf of the evening shall spoil them a Leopard shall watch over their Cities every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces because their transgressions are many and their back slidings are encreased Levit. 26. 15. And if ye shall despise my Statutes or if your soul abhor my judgements so that ye will not do all my Commandements but that ye break my Covenant v. 16. I also will do this unto you I will even appoint over you terrour consumption and the burning-ague that shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart and ye shall sow your seed in vain for your enemies shall eat it v. 17. And I will set my face against you and ye shall be slain before your enemies and they that hate you shall reign over you and ye shall flee when none pursueth you v. 35. As long as it lieth desolate it shal rest because it did not rest in your sabbaths when ye dwelt upon it Deut. 29. 23 24 25. And that the whol Land thereof is briniston and salt and burning that it is not sowen nor beareth nor any grass groweth thereon like the overthrow of Sodom Gomorrah Admah Zeâ—oim which the Lord overthrew in his anger in his wrath Even all Nations shall say Wherefore hath the Lord done this to this Land what meaneth the heat of this great anger Then men shall say Because they have for saken the Covenant of the Lord God of their fathers which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the Land of Egypt 1 King 11. 11. Wherefore the Lord said to Solomon Forasmuch as this is done of thee and thou hast not kept my Covenant and my Statutes which I have commanded thee I will surely rent the Kingdom from thee and will give it to thy servant 2 King 17. 15. And they rejected his Statutes and his Covenant which he made with their fathers and his Testimonies which he testified against them and they followed vanity and became vain and went after the heathen that were round about them concerning whom the Lord had charged them that they should not do like them Psal. 78 9. The children of Ephraim being armed and carrying Bows turned back in the day of battel v. 10. They kept not the Covenant of God and refused to walk in his Law v. 11. and forgat his works and his wonders that he had shewed them v. 36. Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouthes and lyed to him with their tongues for their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his Covenant Isa. 24. 5. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof because they have transgressed the Laws changed the Ordinances and broken the everlasting Covenant v. 6. Therefore hath the câ—â—se devoured the earth and they that da el therein are desolate therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few men left Psalm 44. 17. All this is come upon us yet have we not forgotten thee neither have we dealt falsly in thy Covenant v. 18. Our heart is not turned back from thee neither have our steps declined from thy way v. 19. Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the soadow of death v. 20. If we haven forgotten the Name of our God or stretched our hands to a strange god Shall not God seaâ—â—â— this out for he knoweth the secrets of our hearts Psalm 50. 16. But to the wicked saith God What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy mouth Seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee Jer. 11. 9. And the Lord said to me A conspiracy is found among the men of Iudah and amongst the inhabitants of Ierusalem v. 10. They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers which refused to hear my words and thy went after other gods to serve them the house of Israel and the house of Iudah have broken my Covenant which I made with their fathers Ier. 22. 8. And many Nations shall pass by this City and they shall say every man to his neighbor Wherefore hath the Lord done this to this great City v. 9. Then they shall answer Because they have forsaken the Covenant of the Lord their God and worshiped other gods and served them For thus faith the Lord God I will even deal with thee as thou hast done which hast despised the Oath in breaking the Covenant Hos. 6. 7. But they like men have transgressed the Covenant they have dealt treacherously against me Hos. 8. 1. Set the Trumpet to thy mouth he shal come as an Eagle against the house of the Lord because they have transgressed
of the earth by clear shining after ram 2 Chr. 19. 6 7 8. And he said to the Iudges Take heed what ye do for ye judge not for man but for the Lord who is with you in the judgment wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you take heed and do it for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God nor respect of persons nor taking of gifts v. 9. And he charged them saying Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord faithfully and with a perfect heart and Deut. 23. 9. When the host goeth forth against thyn enemies then keep thee from every wicked thing Therfore were they unclean by Leprosie by an Issue and by the Dead to be put out of the Camp Num. 5. 2. Command the children of Israel that they put out of the Camp every Leper and every one that hath an Issue and whosoever is defiled by the dead Deut. 22. 10. Thou shalt not plow with an Oxe and an Asse together v. 11. Thou shalt not wear a garment of diver sorts as of woollen and linnen together because the Lord their God did walk in the midest of the Camp of his People to deliver them and to give up his enemies before them therefore was the Camp to be holy that he might see no unclean thing in them turn away from them Deut. 23. 14. For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy Camp to deliver thee and give up thine enemies before thee therefore shall thy Camp be holy that be may see no unclean thing in thee and turn away from thee And because this Nation had exceedingly neglected the purging of Judicatories and Armies and constituting the same of persons rightly qualified which was the cause of many evils of sin and punishment therefore was this neglect publickly and solemnly confessed to GOD and the contrary duty engaged unto at the renewing of the Covenant toward the end of the year 1648. as is to be seen in the solemn Publick Confession of sins and engagement to duties For rendering of the which effectual the Commission of the Generall Assembly did present many Petitions Remonstrances and Warnings from time to time to the Committee of Estates and to the Parliament who did make sundry Lawes both for the purging of the Judicatories and Armies which then were and for keeping them pure for the time to come as is to be seen in their Registers and Acts Anno 1649. and 1650. And accordingly somewhat was done in that great and necessary duty by themselves and others to whom they did commit the trust but not withstanding of all these things it did appear very soon after the Confessing of that sin and engaging to that duty that many did neither mind repentance of the one or performance of the other Therefore as the Commission of the Generall Assembly were necessitated to renew their desires in that particular very often and from moneth to moneth so were not these Lawes and Committees having power to execute the same established without some wrestling and difficultie not a few labouring to obstruct and retard the same and when it came to the execution with what neglect and slowness and partiality did they proceed therein And what impediments did they who were not diligent cast in the way of others who were more diligent and faithful and zealous in following of the duty By which it came to passe that little could be gotten done in that matter and what was done was not onely loadned with imputations and reproaches but also was for most part made ineffectuall The persons appointed to be removed being either keeped still or shortly thereafter being brought again to their own or some other place or else as evill being put in their place Nay after the defeat at Dumbar these duties came not only to be neglected but what formerly had been gotten done therein was looked and cryed out upon as the cause of the ruine of the Army and therefore not only these who had been formerly purged but all others how malignant and loose soever were brought to the Judicatories and Army and what had formerly been confessed a sin was then followed and commended as a duty 5. Step. The fifth is The authorizing of Commissioners to close a Treaty with the King for the investing him with the Government upon his subscribing such demands as were sent to him after he had given many clear evidences of his dis-affection and enmity to the Work and people of GOD and was continuing in the same and the admitting of him to the full exercise of his power and Crowning him notwithstanding of new discoveries of his adhering to his former Principles and way and of many warnings to the contrary For the better understanding and more full and clear discovery of this sin we would consider these things which are set down by the Generall Assembly of this Kirk in their Declaration of the date Iuly 27 1649. to wit that as Magistrats and their power are ordained of GOD so are they in the exercise thereof not to walk according to their own will but according to the Law of equity and righteousnesse as being the Ministers of GOD for the safety of his people c. Secondly That there is a continuall obligation and stipulation betwixt the King and the People as both of them are tyed to GOD so each of them are tyed each to other for the performance of mutuall and reciprocall duties according to which it is statute and ordained in the 8. Act of the Parliament of King Iames the Sixt That all Kings Princes and Magistrats whatsomever holding their place which hereafter shall happen at any time to reign and bear rule over this Realm at the time of their Coronation the receipt of their Princely Authority make their faithfull Promise by Oath in the presence of the Eternall GOD That during the whole course of their lives they shall serve the same Eternall GOD to the utmost of their power according as he hath required in his Holy Word contained in the Old and New Testament and according to the same Word shall maintain the true Religion of JESUS CHRIST the Preaching of his most holy Word and due and right Administration of the Sacraments now received and preachd within this Realm and shall abolish and gainstand all false Religion contrary to the same and shall rule the People of GOD committed to their charge according to the will and command of GOD revealed in his Word and according to the laudable Lawes and Constitutions received within this Realm c. Thirdly That in the League and Covenant that had been so solemnly and publickly sworn and renewed by this Kingdom the duty of defending and preserving the Kings Majesties Person and Authority is joyned with and subordinate to the duty of preserving and desending the true Religion and Liberty of the Kingdoms Fourthly That an arbitrary Government and an illimited Power was the fountain of most if not of all
disaffected and prophane in the Land Ier. 23. 14. I have seen also in the Prophets of Ierusalem an horrible thing they commit adultery and walk in lies they strengthen also the hands of evill doers that none doth return from his wickednesse they are all to me as Sodom and the inhabitants thereof as Gommorrah Ezek. 13. 22. Because with lies ye have made the hearts of the righteous sad whom have not made sad and strengthened the hands of the wicked that he should not return from his wicked works by promising him life Lastly the state of our Cause was thereby upon the matter turned upside-down by intrusting the Work and people of God to the enemies thereof it being known and made manifest that these men did retain the same principles and did drive on the same designs which could not but prove destructive to Religion the People of God 8. Step. The next Step is The joyning of many of the People who are engaged with God by Covenant to the contrary no lesse then the Rulers with the Forces of the Kingdom after that by the Resolutions there was a prevailing party of malignants brought to the Army who had the strength of Counsels and Actings therein and were carrying on a malignant interest what ever question there may be of the associating of subjects in war with the wicked enemies of God on the command of the Magistrate in a lawful cause which seems to us to be condemned in the People of God Isa. 8. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18. For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people saying Say ye not a Confederacy to all these to whom this People shall say a Confederacy neither fear ye their fear nor be afraid Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts Himself and let Him be your fear and let him be your dread And he shall be for a sanctuary but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Ierusalem and many among them shal stumble and fall and be broken and be snared and be taken Bind up the Testimony seal the Law among my Disciples And I will wait upon the Lord that hideth his face from the house of Iacob and I will look for him Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts which dwelleth in Mount Sion Aswel as in the Magistrates the ground of the prohibition to wit learning of their works and the ensnaring of the People having a more immediate connexion with the Peoples joyning then with the Magistrates commanding them to joyn yet as the thing is laid down in the Paper we think there will be no question about it because it includes these Particulars 1. The joyning of a People who with the consent and approbation nay by the commandement and authority of their Magistrates had covenanted with the LORD not to joyn with his Enemies 2. That it was when the rule of constituting the Army was corrupt to wit the Publick Resolutions which made the case desperat and left no place or remedy for purging of the Army 3. That it was when a party of Malignants who had the sway of Counsels and Actings were brought to the Army which being added to the former not only made the purging of the Army in an ordinary way impossible but also carried the stream and current of all their Resolutions and Actings into a malignant Channell that they were the prevailing Party is more manifest then that time needs to be spent in verifying thereof 4. That they were carrying on a Malignant Interest to wit the establishing the King in the exercise of his Power in Scotland and the re-investing him with the Government in England when he had not yet abandoned his former enmity to the Work and people of God and the securing of Power in their own hands under him And though none of these four had concurred all which we believe will be acknowledged by un-byassed men yet there was a sin in the Peoples joyning because few or none of these who did joyn did give any testimony against the Magistrats employing of the Malignant Party but went willingly after the commandment Hosea 5. 11. Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment because he willingly obeyed and want after the commandment It is acknowledged to have been the Peoples duty even by these who justifie their joyning with them upon the command of the Magistrate to have bemoaned it before the Lord and in their stations to have testified against it before men 9. Step. The ninth Step is the prelimiting and corrupting of the Generall Assembly in regard of the free and right constitution thereof Generall Assemblies rightly constitute in their liberties and freedom as they are one of the most precious Ordinances of JESUS CHRIST so have they been most wholsome and profitable means in this Kirk for the purging and preserving all the Ordinances of CHRIST in the Land and therefore as it hath been the care of all the faithfull servants of God in the Land to vindicat and preserve their right constitution and due liberty and freedom so in the promoting of any course of defection hath Satan alwayes studied to intrench thereupon and to corrupt the same That the Generall Assembly was prelimited this year is evident by the Letter written by the Commission of the Generall Assembly to the Presbyteries with an Act sent therewith appointing that all these who remain unsatisfied in the Publick Resolutions after Conference and did continue to oppose the same should be cited to the Generall Assembly Which Letter and Act had such influence on many Presbyteries that though there were in them many able and faithfull men who were unsatisfied with the Publick Resolutions yet very few of these were chosen to be Commissioners and where any such persons were elected there was for the most part either Protestations against it or else another election of other persons by which it came to pass that almost all these were incapacitated to sit in the Assembly and the Meeting was almost wholly made uponly of these who had been instrumentall in carrying on the former defection or were consenting thereto and were approving thereof A more grosse prelimitation then this could not readily be that men intrusted by the Generall Assembly with the Publick Affairs and to preserve the liberty thereof should first contrary to their trust open a door for bringing in the Malignant Party and then shut the door against the sitting of all these in the Assembly where their proceedings were to be tryed who did not before their comming there approve of their opening the door to the Malignants which was not onely to make defection themselves but to involve others therein and to take away the remedy thereof Beside this grosse prelimitation there was
also diverse other particulars of importance that fell out in the Meeting it self in the constituent Members in the liberty freedom of voicing which were set down at length in the Protestation made at St. Andrews against that Meeting and the Reasons afterwards penned for strengthening thereof and therefore we shall not need in this place to repeat these things but recommends the reading of them to such as desire more fully to be informed in these particulars It were tedious to fall on the Acts of that Assembly and Warnings issued by them These things we now leave as a subject requiring a more large and distinct consideration desiring onely this one thing to be pondered and considered That besides their ratifying and approving the Proceedings of the former Commission which were in many things the great grief of all the godly in the Land in such ample manner as even in way of expression is not free of some flattery and vanity and besides the censuring of some honest men for no other thing but only protesting against them and besides the emitting of Warnings reflecting exceedingly on former pious and warrantable proceedings they have laid a foundation for censuring all Ministers and Professors and for keeping such out of the Ministery who do not approve of all these proceedings which have this last year so much vexed and grieved the godly and so much rejoyced and made glad the Malignant Party and wicked of the Land And if these things shall be accordingly executed and take effect what persecution shall there be of many godly Ministers Elders Expectants and Professors and what a Ministery and what a Church shall we have in a few years 10. Article The last Head of the Lords controversie that is mentioned is deep security and obstinacie im enitencie and incorrigiblnesse under all these and under all the dreadfull stroaks of God and tokens of his indignation against us because of the same so that whilst he continues to smite we are so far from humbling our selves that we grow worse and worse and sin more and more that it is so with us will not we suppose be denied by any godly man amongst us who knowes and observes the Lands condition and the present temper and carriage of the Inhabitants every man crying out almost for his affliction but none almost mourning for his sin We think it may be truly said That sin and iniquity of all kinds and amongst all ranks of persons hath been more multiplied and encreased in Scotland since the defeat at Dumbar then in many years before and that this Nation was not so dull hard hearted and impenitent under any of the former rods wherewith the Lord did smite us these years past as under these rods wherewith he now smites us and that this doth much highten our iniquity and speak sad things to come if not repented of is evident from Isay. 1 5. Why should ye be stricken any more ye will revolt more and more the whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint Isa. 9. 13. For the People turneth not unto him that smitteth them neither do they seek the Lord of hosts v. 14. Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail root branch in one day v. 15. The Ancient and Honorable he is the head and the Prophet that teacheth lyes he is the tail v. 16. For the Leaders of this People cause them to erre and they that are led of them are destroyed Ier. 5. 3. O Lord are not thine eyes upon the truth thou hast stricken them but they have not grieved thou hast consumed them but they have refused to receive correction they have made their faces harder then a rock they have refused to return Ier. 8. 4. Moreover thou shalt say unto them Thus saith the Lord Shall they fall and not arise shall he turn away and not return v. 5. Why then is this People of Ierusalem sliden back by a perpetual back sliding they hold fast deceit they refuse to return v. 6. I hearkened and heard but they spake not aright no man repented him of his wickedness saying What have I done every one turneth to his course as the horse rusheth into the battel v. 7. Yea the Stork in the Heaven knoweth her appointed times and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow observe the time of their coming but my People know not the judgement of the Lord. Isa. 42. 23. Who among you wil give ear to this who wil hearken and hear for the time to come v. 24. Who gave Iacob for a spoil and Israel to the robbers did not the Lord He against whom we have sinned for they would not walk in his ways neither were they obedient to his Law v. 25. Therfore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger and the strength of battel and it hath set him on fire round about yet he knew not and it burned him yet he laid it not to heart Lev. 26. 14. But if you wil not hearken to me and wil not do all these Commandements v. 15. And if ye shal despise my Statutes or if your soul abhor my Iudgments so that ye will not do all my Commandements but that ye break my Covenant v. 16. I also wil do this unto you I will even appoint over you terror consumption and the burning-ague that shall consume the eyes cause sorrow of heart and ye shall sow your seed in vain for your enemies shal eat it v. 17. And I will set my face against you and ye shall be slain before your enemies they that hate you shall reign over you and ye shall flee when none pursueth you v. 18. And if you will not yet for all this hearken unto me then I wil punish you seven times more for your sins v. 19. And I wil break the pride of your power and I will make your Heaven as Iron and your Earth as Brasse v. 20. And your strength shall be spent in vain for your Land shall not yeeld her increase neither shall the Trees of the Land yeeld their fruits v. 21. And if ye walk contrary unto me and will not hearken unto me I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins v. 22. I will also send wilde beasts among you which shall rob you of your children and destroy your cattel and make you few in number and your high waies shall be desolate v. 23. And if you will not be reformed by these things but will walk contrary unto me v. 24. Then will I also walk contrary unto you and will punish you yet seven times for your sins v. 25. And I will bring a sword upon you that shall avenge the quarrel of my Covenant and when you are gathered together within your Cities I will send the pestilence among you and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy v. 26. And when I have broken the staff of your bread ten women shall bake your bread