power over the spirituall and temporall And where the Evangelist sayeth Doe this in rememberance of mee the Romish Church expoundeth thus sacrifice my body in a sacrifice propitiatorie for the quick and the dead And another falshood I remember is where our Saviour speaking of the Cuppe in the Sacrament sayeth This Cuppe is the new Covenant in my blood which is shed for you But the Bible of the Romish Church hath into it This Cuppe is the new Covenant in my blood which shall bee shed for you least a man should perceaue that IESVS CHRIST spake of a sacramentall shedding of his bloode For as yet hee had not then really shed his bloode which hee had begunne to shed in his passion These and many other falshoods did I many tymes remarke as they were objected vnto me yet did I ever misregard them being ever discontented that any should speake to mee of such hereticall opinions as I called them because my ghostly fathers assured mee continually that it was a deadly sinne any wayes to doubt or to let it so much as once enter into my thought that ever the Church might or could erre continually dinging in my eares a warrant out of the Prophet Malachie cap. 2 verse 8. that the Preists cannot erre where it is thus read The Preists lips shall keepe knowledge and they shall seeke the law at his mouth This many yeeres contented mee till at last in my old dayes GOD so happily moved my heart to heare the trueth of better and sounder instructers and their warrand I praise GOD for it who sheweth to me that the words of the Prophet are and ought to bee translated thus yet men that are ledde with an opinion that the Kirk can not erre will never consider this The Preists lippes should keepe knowledge For they that translate thus the words and that they shall seeke the law at his mouth they did never intend to shew thereby that GOD did make heere a promise that so it shall bee for ever but onely to shew that this it the law and commaadement of GOD teaching what the Preists and people should doe and ought to doe even as in the Commandement Thou shall haue no other GODS but mee Now I find that the words doe not promise that the Israelites should alwayes acknowledge and worshippe IEHOVA the true GOD alone for as may bee seene in the text within fourtie dayes the event shewed the contrarie but shew what they ought to doe but the wordes are a Commandement recited not a promise made For the words of the fourth verse did show it Therefore men not partially led may easily perceaue that the translation of the reformed Kirk is most perfect of all showing not onely the sense and meaning of the law but also how it did bind the people and Priest and how they ought to obey it By this I thinke it no heresie and I beleiue with the reformed Kirk that it is GODS holy trueth that Preists succeeding in the place and office of Aaron and Moses may erre and haue erred yea I thinke it the greatest error of all errors to thinke that a man can not erre were hee never so holie I perceaue now Moses Chayre in the which the Scribes and Pharisees did sit was the seate wherein they were wont to read the law of Moses and the expositions thereof to the people for what they there did teach was true and therefore CHRIST commanded them to obey it To sitte in Moses Chaire I vnderstand is to teach Moses doctrine but as the Iewes made GODS law voyd by their owne glosses traditions they erred most damnablie and were no more in Moses Chaire and so the people were no more bound to obey it For at that tyme CHRIST himselfe called their doctrine sowre leaven and warned his Disciples to beware of it I know also and fimelie now belieue that it was never the purpose of GODS Spirit in that place or by these wordes to teach that the Law should alwayes bee taught truelie and infallablie by the Priests and Pastors who succeede Moses or the Apostles in the Church by a continued succession For that is a falshoode contrare to experience in all ages That this is most certaine I desire but any of a contrare opinion to read but the same verie place with an indifferent and vnprejudged minde which confutes it most evidently For in reading the same attentiuelie I find the Priests vnto whom the Prophet there speaketh in these places were Levits and directly succeded Aaron in the Preisthood And yet yee see by the plaine text they were departed out of the way they caused many fall in the law by their corrupt glosse and their abuse of the Covenant of Levi as it appeareth most clearely into the next words following immediatly Yea some of them yee see had sacrificed to Idolles which I haue read my selfe in Iosephus historie of these tymes and therefore the LORD threatneth to corrupt their seede by cutting off the male progenie and to cast the dung of their sacrifices in their faces Finally I hope now in the mercie of GOD yet before I die to heare a hundreth sermons in GODS true Kirk for now my onely joy is my new birth that by the mercie of my GOD I am regenerate and of a daughter of darknesse and death that haue beene from my naturall birth am now made a daughter of light and lyfe in my old age and my setled peace and comfort is my spirituall marriage with my head and husband the LORD IESUS CHRIST who hath marryed mee to himselfe in trueth and everlasting compassion and will take from mee my old corrupt garment and clothe mee with the white robe of his righteousnesse so that my nakednesse shall never appeare any more Now O LORD my GOD and gracious Father in thy CHRIST my sweete SAVIOUR let thy Spirit quicken mee more and more thy wisdome guide mee thy grace sanctifie mee and thy Word instruct me Let the holy Ghost of whom thy Sonne my SAVIOUR was conceived beget in mee and mee in thee by the immortall seede of thy Word Let my faith conceaue my repentance honour thee my loue embrace thee my zeale continuallie keepe thee with mee till the comming againe of thy Sonne for my ever hoped glorification So come vnto mee LORD IESUS come quicklie Amen Blessed be the LORD for he hath shewed me his mercifull kindnesse Psal 31.21 Why art thou cast downe my soule and why art thou disquyeted within mee hope in GOD for I shall yet praise him who is the hope of my Salvation and my GOD. Psal 42.11 PSALME XLI.I. I Waited patiently vpon the LORD and hee inclyned vnto mee and heard my cry Hee brought mee also out of the horrible pit out of the myrie clay and set my feete vpon the Rocke and ordered my goings And hee hath put into my mouth a new song of Praise vnto our God Many shall see it and feare and shall trust into the LORD Blessed
THE CONFESSION AND CONVERSION OF THE RIGHT HONORABLE MOST ILLVSTRIOVS AND ELECT LADY MY LADY C. OF L. MATH 22. Yee erre not knowing the Scriptures 1. IOHN 4. Dearly beloved belieue not everie Spirit but try the Spirits whither they be of GOD for many false Prophets are gone out into this World EDINBVRGH Printed by Iohn Wreittoun 1629. A CONFESSION AS it was rare vnexspected and long wished for of all that honored and loved her so is it to be as seriously to be read and conscienciouslie to bee considered of all or ignorant and wilfull Papists of this land Not so much in regard of her rank person and place but rather in so farre as that in that faith much beyond her sexe she exceeded in knowledge more than many others who yet wilfullie and most ignorantlie still continue in their error PSAL. 77. MY voice came to GOD when I cryed my voice came to GOD he heard me In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord c. my soule refused comfort I did think vpon GOD and was troubled I prayed and my spirit was full of anguish Thou keept mine eyes waking I was astonied and could not speake Psal 119.81 My soule fainted for thy salvation Yet will I waite for thy word 82. Mine eyes faile for thy promise saying when wilt thou comfort me 92. Except thy law had beene my delite I should now haue perished in my affliction I will never forget thy precepts for by them thou hast quickned me I am thine saue me for I haue sought thy precepts 15. I will meditate therein and consider thy wayes 59. I haue considered my owne wayes and turned 〈◊〉 feate to thy testimonies 67. Before I was afflicted I went astray but now I keepe thy Word 71. It is good for me that I haue beene afflicted that I may learne thy statuts 58. By thy Commandement thou hast made me wiser than mine enemies I haue had more vnderstanding than all my teachers for thy testimonies are my meditations I vnderstood more than the ancient because I delighted in thy precepts 104. By thy precepts haue I gotten vnderstanding therefore I hate all the wayes of falshood 29 Now take from me the way of lying and grant me graciously thy law 30. I haue chosen the way of trueth and thy iudgement haue I layde before me 173. O Lord let thine hand helpe me for I haue chosen thy precepts 176. I haue gone astray lyke a lost sheepe seeke thy servant c. 103. The entrance to thy words sheweth light and giveth vnderstanding to the simple 124. Deale with thy servant according to thy mercie and teach me thy statuts 74. So they that feare thee seeing me shall rejoyce because I haue trusted in thy Word AMEN THE CONVERSION AND CONFESSION OF THE RIGHT NOBLE C. OF L. O send out thy light and thy trueth let them lead mee let them bring me vnto thine holy hill and to thy Tabernacles PSAL. 43. I will heare what GOD the LORD will speake for hee will speake peace vnto his people and to his Saints but let them not turne againe vnto follie PSAL. 85.8 I Perfitlie knowing and fullelie assuring my soule that there is no possibilitie of salvation to me but allanerly in the free mercie of GOD and precious satisfaction of his Sonne my only Saviour who is able to saue them to the vttermost that come vnto GOD by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercâ—ssion for them Heb. 7.25 neither is there salvation in any other Act. 4.12 2. I renounce and condemne all worshipping or praying to Angels hee or she Saints not now excepting the blessed Virgin Marie and conforme to the expresse direction of the Angell to Iohn Revel I take me to worship GOD and as CHRIST Math. 4.10 commandeth him only to serue and to pray to my father Math. 8.9 who is in Heaven to whom only belongeth religious worship both of prayer and praise 3. I renounce and condemne all prayers in Latin or any vnknowne tongue to mee taking mee heereafter by the grace of GOD to pray with the Spirit and with vnderstanding also 1. Cor. 14.15 and not to mumble and number my prayers according to the order and distinction of beads which I haue caused breake and destroy with present and perpetuall thankâ—-giving to GOD therefore 4. I acknowledge with Ieremie 10.14 that a molten image is falshood they are vanitie and the workes of errors and therefore casting away all those abominations of images pictures medalles and pretended reliques I take me whollie to the pure and plaine Gospell of IESUS CHRIST and his holie Sacraments wherein the lyuelie picture of CHRIST is and the most hallowed Crucifixe that I can set before mine eyes handle with mine hands or carrie vpon my breast wherein I rejoice and ever shall doe by GODS helpe and assistance and finds great comfort in the conference and prayers of GODS Ministers who now resort vnto me frequently resolving by the grace of GOD never thereafter to craue nor admit the company and conference of Priests and other teachers of lyes guides of idolatrie which all now I haue forsaken by the light and force of GODS Spirit and woes mee that I hearkned so long to these seducers 5. I acknowldge that the bowing downe before images is forbidden by GODS Law Exod. 20.5 as well as worshipping of them That images are altogether bruttish and foolish Ierem. 10.3 I feare them not for they can doe no evill neither is it in them to doe good but forasmuch as there is none like to thee O LORD thou art great thy Name is great in might Who would not feare thee O KING of Nations Ierem. 10.5.6.7 6. I embrace the holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament wherein is the perfite rule of faith and maners acknowledging that the writs and judgements of all men should be tryed thereby and reduced therevnto or else altogether rejected And therefore I will curse reject and cast from me all blasphemous bookes in write or print whereof alace I had so many too long contrare to GODS trueth in these holy Scriptures 7. I confesse and professe that the Scriptures are plaine and pure being a lampe vnto my feete and a light vnto my path Psal 119.105 in all things necessare for me to know my salvation And seing CHRISS commandeth vs Ioh. 5.39 to search the Scriptures and the Bereans are commended for searching the Scriptures dayly Act. 17.11 I condemne the forbidding of their translations in vulgare languages and the reading of them by the people And from my heart I detest that saying that ignorance is the mother of devotion bewailing my former ignorance and stryving more and more to incresse in all spirituall vnderstanding 8. With Paul 1 Tim. 4.3 I acknowledge the commanding to absteine from meates for conscience sake to be from seducing spirits and doctrines of devils for the Kingdome of GOD is not meate and drink but righteousnesse peace and joy in the
is the man that maketh the LORD his trust and regardeth not the proud nor such as turne asyde to lyes 7. Then said I loe I come for in the roll of thy booke it is written of mee I desire to doe thy good will O my GOD. Yea thy law is within my heart I haue declared thy righteousnesse in the great congregation Loe I will not refraine my lips O LORD thou knowest PSALME 86.11 Teach mee thy way O LORD and I will walke in thy trueth knit my heart vnto thee that I may feare thy Name 17. Shew a token of thy goodnesse toward mee that they which hate mee may see it and bee ashamed because thou LORD hath helped me and conforted me PSALME 116.6 The LORD preserveth the simple I was in miserie and hee saved mee Returne vnto thy rest O my soule for the LORD hath beene beneficiall vnto thee PSALME 109.26 Helpe mee O LORD my GOD saue mee according to thy mercie and they shall know that this is thy hand and that thou LORD hast done it If the LORD had not helped mee my soule had almost dwelt in silence PSALME 101. Mine eyes shall bee vnto the faithfull of the Land that they may dwell with mee Hee that walketh in a perfite way shall serue mee there shall no deceatfull person dwell in mine house neither shall hee that telleth lyes remaine in my sight PSALME 56.12 I will now render praise vnto thee 13 For thou hast delyvered my soule from death and my feete frm falling that I may walke before GOD in the light of the living PSALME 103. Blessed bee the Name of the LORD from hencefoorth and for ever AMEN A PRAYER PSAL. 45. 10 Hearken O daughter and consider encline thine eare forget also thine owne people and fathers house AS thou O LORD art great and wonderfull in all thy workes yet thy mercie shineth aboue all thinges Albeit I forsooke thee O LORD yet thou hast not forsaken mee I haue turned my back to thee yet thou callest mee thy Childe All that thou requirest at mine hands is that I would hearken vnto thee And why should I not hearken vnto thee sith that all our destruction came from thence that our fathers turned their eares from thee to listen vnto the voice of the slie and subtile Serpent Grant me grace that I may haue a willing and obedient heart that by the meanes of good foode that I shall receaue in thy Word which alace too long I haue forsaken I may forget my wicked nature originall sin and all the vices which I did bring with mee from my mothers wombe that I forget the world to giue my selfe wholly vnto thee and thy service that I forget mine owne workes and mine owne opinions to depend wholly on thy grace And if the Bride and new married woman forsake and leaue her fathers house to follow her husband if she leaue the sport and pastime of her youth to goe about her houswifrie and to conforme her selfe vnto her husband why should not I alas forsake that which displeaseth thee to be agreeable vnto thy Son IESUS CHRIST which in so great mercie hath wedded me And albeit I was a straunger from his league promises of everlasting lyfe notwithstanding he hath joyned himselfe vnto me in hearty loue ratified his league with his precious blood Let me therefore O Lord be as his chast and faithfull spouse and let me be obedient vnto the will of our good LORD which doth me this honour to place me by his side and to take mee not only for his servant but also for his child his friend his deare and welbeloved Spouse Ioh. 15. Grant me O LORD that I follow no more strange Gods to delight in them but that my loue and affection be wholly set on him I will therefore endevour my selfe to please him I will loue him and loue that which he loveth I will honour him sith he hath so much honoured mee I will forsake all things to follow him seeing he forsooke the Heavens to saue mee on earth O happie marriage Of the marriage of Adam and Eue came so many vnthrifts so many wretches and miserable catiues bond-slaues to Sathan and of their owne nature detestable and abhominable before the face of GOD. But of this holy marriage are new borne the elect the vessels of glorie the children of GOD the heires of everlasting lyfe whom GOD so loveth and esteemeth taking pleasure in their beautie wherewith he doth adorne and deck them through his Son CHRIST IESUS which gifts LORD make me partaker thereof and let the praise be ascribed vnto thee for that great and glorious light of thy Word showne vnto me from henceforth and for ever AMEN THis profession of faith meditations prayers and prayses as they were most joyfullie and constantlie vttered and declared before many honorable men and women So were they most heartilie sealed and subscryved by the right religious most noble and truely wise Lady the 25. of Maij. FINIS