late Supremacy and sense it and consider if its lowest amount be not this we have no King but Caesar. And to make it emphatickly expressive of this vvhereas other Acts of Supremacy vvherby yet our Lord Iesus Chrest vvas vvronged and his royal prerogative encroached upon did still for shame leave him the title and a supremacy vvas pretended unto under God and his Son Christ and a derivation and conveyance from that fountain vvas in words acknovvledged that the iniquitie of our Supremacy might be supremeâ— an absolute independent arbitraâ—y dominion is attributed to our Kings setled upon them by Law And for the more security this povver is declared to be the iâ—trinsick right and the inherent prerogative of the imperial Crown of the Nation vvhereby al-Church-matâ—ers are subjected to their imperial vvisdom to do in all these as they think fit and the managment of these are so solely in his Majesties povver that vvhereas the Council acts in Civils in a subordination to his Maj. according to the Law of the Land His Maj may make use of what kinde of persons so ever he will passing by Parliament or Council to put all the incontrolable dictats and decrees of his Maj. wisdom and good pleasure concerning Church matters in execution And therefore that we may be no longer in suspense nor soliciâ—ous about the sense of our Supremacy that the Church may henâ—ceforth know acknowledge who is her Lord and undoubted Superior whose it is to give Laws and appoint Officers to put them in execution and that there may be none in heaven or earth to pretend to any part of this power or paritie in this Supremacy the name of God and of his Son Christ is omitted in it and because mentioned in other Supremacies must be conceived to be delet out of ours O! the patience of God that their namesâ— yea that the name of the Nation where such a wickeâ—nesse was decreed is not before this perished from under the heavens It is trueâ— this pleased me best in all that Supremacy because it was plain dealing without all cloak or complement for now Iesus Christ hath neither thing nor name of Kingly power left him but is most explicitly put from the exercise of his royal Government And Church Lawes are no more to passe in the old stile nor are things as formerly to be done there by vertue of the Authoritie of this one Iesus who calleth himself a King But according to the new stile And so hence forth Church Lawes must beare the datum of the Iulian account Now our Rulers having framed this Law for hainousnesse of hatred hâ—ight of opposition to the Lords anointed whom he hath made King in Zion beyond the most supream Supremacies that ever werâ— framed or moulded into lawes since God made man upon the earth or Satan that he might destroy the Church prompted men to compet with the Mediator strive with him for state yâ—a even in its prodigious shape and feature beyond what was arrogat by the Man of sin the Anti-Christ that Son of Perdition â— Our blessed Lord Jesus who hath all his enemies in deâ—ision stirred up the spirit of some of his zealous Ambassadours to goe forth and give a Testimony against the hainousnesse of this usurpation of their Masters Crown and Scâ—pter which will be their crown and which should be now our main question upon which we act and suffer as we expect his pâ—esence and supportings either in doing or suffering and in pursuance of that Commission which they had received from him to preach in â—eason and out of season and to negociat a peace betwixt this great and glorious King and poor guilty sinners whereupon our blessed Lord Jesus Christ though slighted and set at naught by our Rulers boâ—h to signifie his complacency in the zeal of his faithfull servants â—ired into an holy fervoâ— foâ— the Prerogative of their exalted Prince from the observation of the fury whereby they saw he was opposed and to refute till more come O! that is coming which may and certainly would make their souls tremble if thought upon the apprehensions of the righteous revenges he will â—ake for this contempt cast upon him and when he will returne their reproach upon them by speaking unto them in his wrath and vexing them in his sore displeasure the folly and infatuation of that new Pretence to his incommunicable Prerogativeâ— royal framed into a Law and that by an argument easy to be understood by the poorest Lasse and Lad in the Nation he goeth forth conquering and to conquer by the Ministry of these his despised servants and thus he reigns as King in the mâ—dst of his rageing enemies and acts wonderously so that to the conviction of all he holds the hands of his servants upholds them at his work and doth from thaâ— day greater things by them then ever in regaird of many circumstances were done in the Nation he makes such noble and notable in roads upon Satans territories and these darke places of the land where the Prince of darkenesse had an indisturbed dominion as multitudes are made in this day of his power to follow after and fall in love with Ordinances dispensed by his own Oâ—ficers and flock unto the standart of this exalted Prince a proof as great as ever was given of his reigneing and that his people shall be willing in the day of his power though all the powers of the earth were on a conspiracy against him and abused that power to the fainting of his followers and the frâ—ghting of them into a disâ—oyal relinquishing of Iesus Christ which the Adversary perceiving and finding that to no purpose they had cruâ—ified Christ agaâ—ne and put him to open shame by taking his Crown and Scepter from him and buâ—ying his Supremacy in the grave which they had made for it uâ—der the fabrick of their newly erected one and that in vaine they had set a watch to keep the grave fearing withal that this reviving of his work and resurrection of his cause might prove to them a second errour worse by far then the first Theâ—efore that rovers may not be ruers and to fortifie themselves in the posâ—ession of what they had taken by their Law from our Lord Iesus Châ—ist and to prevent his returning to his throne and his reassuming the exercise of his royal Government o let their feare come upon them who feare left Christ should reigne an Host must be gathered on purpose to march into the West as that part of the Nation o happy and honourable cognizance where Iesus Christ had most remarkably rung and which still was looked upon by them as the Kings head-quarters whereupon it is resolved that that poor Countrey shall be invaded the people in the mean time having behaved themselves as peacably as any part of the nation being amazed at the rumour of this rage against them and the resolution taken to pourâ—in upon them such a company of Barbar's as
zeal for God witnessed by their faithful forwardnesse while with my self and others there was scarce the smoaking of a flaxe Though yet he may graciously condescend even to make our hair grow againe so make use of oâ—r hâ—nds aboâ—t his work and put us in case to shake ourselves as his Servants have done at other times Yet Thirdly to the end the poor People of the Lord may not be frighted nor fainted into a despondency let me adde this That deliverance to the people of God in his own time way and manner which I leave vvholly to Himself and that a great and glorious one shall come And this is no lesse cerâ—ain than that Iâ—hoâ—ah cannot fail to establish the Throne of his Anointed Nay if all the Kings of â—he Earth should agree amongst themselves to set up one Monarch invest him with the power of our Supremacy yet all the povver they could make managed vvith all the Policy in hell or out of â—ell shâ—uld not be able to setle that Crovvn upon the Head of that Mortal But tâ—e Immorâ—al God should with the omnipotent Power of his right arme shake that Usurper out of his seat and setle the Throne of his Anointed upon the ruine of his Adversaries Hath he said it hath he sworne it and shâ—ll not the Zeal of Iehovah performe it Hath Christ bought his Crown aâ—d Scepter with his Blood and hath he such a tittle and right to it And hath he all power in Heaven and in Earth for securing himself in the possession of his purchase And shall any mortal oâ—ter to mount his Throne Shall any mortal offer to stripe him of this Glory pull the Crown from his Head and cloth himâ—elf with the spoils of the Mediator's honour and be able to keep himself in possession of what he hath taken from the Son of God O vain attempt Let them answer these Questions put unto them Psal. 2 vers 1 2. and read â—heâ—r doom Vâ—râ— 4 5. O! the Mediator's Iron rod put in his hand for securing to him his royal Scepter shall make the potsheads of the Earth by dashing them in pieces know whaâ— it is â—o strive with hâ—m for state And here let me adde these things shortly Fiâ—st Aâ— in the way he shall take to aâ—complâ—sh our delivery his holy and hot Indignation againâ—t breach of Covenant with God shall be witnessed to the conviction even of sucâ— who decâ—eâ—d it for the breach oâ— Covenaâ—t with him shall either breack Brittaâ—'s Heart or Head so Secondly It shall be seen to have a most convincingly closs connexion with the vengeanceâ— wherewith our Supâ—â—mâ—cy shall be pursued The Mediators Zeâ—l against this idol of indâ—â—nation shall be written on the revenges he will take for it And in the day when he raiâ—eth up a paâ—tie to state the quarrel upon this Head how despicable and contemptible so ever they may appeare thâ—n it shall appeare he is about rescinding of our Supremacy for rescinded it shall be and if they will not he will Nay because they will not he shall For his Crown must flowrish on his own Head and all his Enemies must be clothed with shame setting that Crown with pure gold upon his Head from whose Head it is taken by our Law And Thirdly Let me adde this and so I have done that as their rage and violence in this late invasion made upon you in pursueance of the designe of a full and final setlement of themselves in the possession of what they have taken from Jesus Christ by the ruine and overthrow of all whose way speakes the least of resistance even to a non-complianceâ— hath been an high transport of rage whereby they have been carried beyond all the Boundaries of Law and Reason So I have as little doubt but God shall make the connexion betwixt his arising to deliver his People their having risen up thus to delete and destroy them at once so closs and so cleare how long so ever he delay it as it shall be no matter of difâ—icultie for any who wisely considers these things to observe what dependance upon connexion with the deliverance of the People of the Lord hath as to it 's visible rise with this their horrid and inhumane violence He is the Lord whâ— will hasten these things in his time Do not therefore beloved Sufferers for Christ suffer your hearts to sink into a despondency The cause is His and he will plead yea thorowly plead that cause which is his own And this shall be your Crown and Comfort to continue contending for him for so the cause that is so purely his becomes the cause of your Soul and if you should fall in this conflict and die suffering Besides that you fall in the bed of honour fall asleep in the blessed expectation of the conquerours Crown this your cause will out live all it's Enemies and have a glorious Resurrection and your wrestlings and witnessings and sufferings as they will be rewarded in Heaven so they shall be recorded on Earth Therefore lift up the hands that hang dovvn and strengthen the freeble knees The sâ—me yea greater afflictions have been accomplished in your Brethren which have been in the World and as the God of all Grace after they had suffered a vvhile made them perfect and put them in possession of that eternal Glory to vvhich they vvere called by Jesus Christâ— so shall he stablish strengthen settle and keep you â—rom falling and after all your sorrovves and sufferings present you faultlesse before the presence of his Glory vvith exceeding joy Pray for Your poor Welwisher and Companion in Tribulation
their carriage and cruelty is beyond my describings send some of their number to declare that they were most peacable but to binde themselves to such a compliance with the course of the time that is upon the matter to cooperat with the workers of iniquity and to stâ—p Christs Ambassadours from delivering their message and to hinder the people from meeting together to heare what he would say unto them by such as he hath cloathed with a commission and called to â—â—eake in his name as a thing now no more in their power o let it never be in the power of these abusers of their power for hindering the word of the Lord to have a free course and to be glorified But as to the secureing oâ— themselves against all these groundlesse apprehensions of an insurrection there was no way so proper no way so possible as to suffer the sent servaints of Iesus Christ to preach and perswade the things belonging to the Kingdome of God But this seemed so insufferable and such a plain and practical contradiction to the Supremacy in its new o let it never wax old ovrtâ—rne o Lord overtuâ—ne overturne till he come whose right it is elevation as the same reall and practical reâ—urne was given to it which Pharoah gave to that request Exod 5 1 Thus saith the Lord God of Israel let my people go thaâ— tâ—ey may hold a feast to me in the wildernesse And verse 2. Pharaoh said who is the Lord that I should obey his voice to let Israel go I know not the Lâ—rd neither will I let Israel go I say the thing sought on the behalfe of that poor people sâ—emes to be of a piece with that of Moses Aaron for it was this upon the matter If you have taken all the houses of God in possession If you have driven Iesus Christ out of all the Cities of the Nation yet will you leave him will you allow him some place in the open feilâ—s to met with his followers will you suffer him and his to hold their Assemblies in the wildernesse in some mosse or Mountain No that may not be heard it hath a haâ—efulnesse in itâ— as implying a proper and peculiar soveraignity still ascribed unto Iesus Christ as King inconsistent with and subversive of our new Supremacy Aâ—d therefore nothing is now heard but muster and march And thus an host is raised with as great solemnity and celerity with as much pomp and parad of Artillery c. to invade that poor peacable company as if the land had been invaded by the most formidable and furious forraigne enemy and impowered withall to do and act at that rate of violence as the actors of all imaginable mischeifs are secured by Law from all feare of future hazard for what ever violence they commit or wickednesse they can perpetrat if â—hey have but the wit to say in their own defence it was done to answer the end of that expedition and for his Maj. service against those who professe subjection to another in soul-concerns Now as there was never an act of Supremacy so explicitly in all points opposit to the kingly power of our Lord Iesus Christ as this late one of ours an act onely defineable by its own wickednesse for this is Supremacy so besides the stupenduous unreasonablenesse of this course without a parallel for a Magistrat to run upon and ruine his own peacable subjects without a provocation on their part or the least ground in law to justifie the crueltie of this procedour on his part besides this I say no man who doth narrowly look into the matter and consider the quarrell but he must see it he must say it that since God made man upon the earth since souldiers were mustered and marched under colours and command never was there an army raised or an host put so formally to march up with displaied banner against Christ as King for this is the summe substance and soul of all that can be said as the genuine import of this expedition Christ Iesus from whom we have taken the Crown by Law is yet like to keep some possessions oâ— the Nation come thâ—refore let us march into the fields And since he calls himself a Kingâ— and will trouble us with Conventicles and feild meetings and since his followers and these who flock unto him affirme him both to be a King and Captain yea that King against whom there is no riseing up because he is the Lord of Hosts let him meet us in the feilds and maintaâ—n his â—itle and vindicaâ— his prerogative for as we have no King but Caesar so this is our quarrel And if he will not draw out and draw up if he will not measure swords with us then as we have taken his house in Possession so we shall fall on and by the strong hand tâ—ke the houses of all into possession who will not renounce their depenâ—ance â—pon him as Soveraigne and Supreme and shut them out either to die in the fields wiâ—h himâ— or â—â—ob or starve tâ—em in their houses who will not applaud our having taken his house inâ—o possession My soul trembles to give the obvious sense of those our Rulers proceedings nor date I give my pen it 's just libertie to unbowel this course and lay open the blasphemies wherewith it is big even â—o a bursting Neither is it necessare for me for every one who doth not shut his own eyes must see that hatred against Christ and the coming of his Kingdome expressed in this expedition which he cannot he dare not without horrour and amazement expresse who can suffer himself to resolve the practice of Rulers who have bound their souls to obedience fidelitie and loyaltie to Christ as King under the penalâ—ie of the forfeiture of their immortal souls into this which is it's native and necessare sense We are now wearied of the government of Jâ—sus Christâ— It is a yoke we cannot beare we will not beare we are resolved once for all to burst these his bonds and cast away these his cords from us We are wearied of this his Church Jurisdiction Let him be gone therefore out of our borders Let his name as King and Soveraigne be no more in remembrance We have set up anoâ—her in his place and have soudered into a samenesse his Crown with the Imperial Crown of the Nation and have setlâ—d that upon the head of our King and whosoever shall succeed him the most dangerous and deadly decree that ever was made for that succession so that now all his old pretenses to a Royal prerogatvie amongst us for the futuâ—e are cut off or if he will clame any interest notwithstanding of this our Law let him now appeare to try the justice of his tittle and preâ—ence by the sword We are now drawn into the fields to maintain what we have done Where is he If his followers meet together to oppose us we have what we would for then we will make a breakfast of
consideration of what the Holy Ghost hath there said if any of his words have weight with you must powerfully perswade to this dutie remember what is said of the believers Acts 2. from ver 41. c. and consider what the paritie of the case pleads But I may not insist yea and dare I say I hope it is needlesse onely let me aske you what you would do for Christ himself if he were so dealt with Then consider the place Math. 25 v. 35. and see how he reckons and reckon that he will recken witâ— you in thaâ— day according to that reckoning and your carriage in this I hope this one place for allâ— if â—ver you look to have a place with him and suffer me to leave you with a desire to consider that place also Heb. 13. and if you will compare what is said of that great dutie of suffering for Christ v. 13 and of that high dutie of praising God v. 15. and compare what is said of both with what is said of the dutie now perswaded to v. 16 and you will both know what is to be done and carry as believing he is not unrighteous to forget the work and labour of love of such who minister to the necessitie of those who for his names sake have been spoiled of all Onely perswade your selves God is taking particular notice of the carriage of every man and woman in Scotland this day and accordinglâ— as he observes he will repay he that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully I shall shut up all in answering two Questions briefly First what now should be our carriage in reference to enemies Secondly what may be our hope of a delivery from them To the first I say shortly let us be moved out of compassion to their precious souls First to pray much for them While they stretch forth their hands against you studie ye this blessed revenge of good will Liâ—t up your heart with your hands unto God in the heavens on their behalfe that the spirit of repentance may be given them Do this and fulfil his law whose injunction it is pray for them that despite fully use you and persecute you It may be there are some of the elect so far left at presentâ— as to run alongst with this course pray that these may be reclaimed and however it will afford you much sweet peace to have this Testimony that while they in rage and malitious rancour were pursuing you to heavens gates you in love and compassion to their souls endeavoured to cry to him to catch themâ— and carry them in with you to the fruition of himself and to share with you in the glory to be revealed And though as to them you shouâ—d not prevail yet besides that your prayer shall be set forth before him as incense it shall returne into your own bosome Secondly henceforth stand aloof from all listenings to proposals coming from them or making any to them For what ever fredom and clearnesse Godly and wise men might formerly or hitherto have had without scruple in this matter before they had made such a cleare discovery of their perfect and stated opposition to Christ as King and of the puritie of their enmitie at and implacabilitie against all who desire to be faithful and loyal to Him yet now I conceive us called of God to take this course as that way wherein alone we can expect his approbation and countenance First as the most propter mean to convince them of their wickednesse This now seems to be the most proper Testimony against their way to stand at such distance from them Secondly as the alone expedient how to preserve our selves free from all compliances with them and in good termes with Jesus Christ for seing it is his presence we now need it is sure best policy to beware of sining him out of soul or sight by touching with that which is soul hates and for which his soul will be avenged Thirdly this is the way to preserve unitie amongst the remnant do we not know that their dainties are deceiâ—ful meat do we not know that their most seemingly tender mercies are really keen crueltie do they offer us any thing that looks like a favour but upon designe that they may more cerâ—ainly ruine the work of God by our divisions about it I shall give but two instances to evidence what their purposes are in their treatings with us The first I had from a great man now in glory who had it from the mouth of that Noble Man who then was active above all others in bringing the Indulgence first upon the stage I abstract wholly from the thing it self for that is not my businesse now to say either good or ill of it I onely intend here to discover what they designe by their favours when he said to him what my Lord intend you by this Indulgence and what do you think to gaine by it if said that Noble Man we gaâ—ne no more we shall certainly gaine this It shall separate between the made cape and the moderat fanaticks I give it in the very words wherein I had it this was plain dealing indeed and a palpable discoverie of the desperatnesse of the designe A second Instance is this when that work of darknesse our Suprâ—macy was brought to light to the end we should not according to the merit of the cause be allarmed and give the allâ—rme which its like from the knowledge of our principles their conscience indiâ—ed to be our dutie some were â—et on work to whisper us into the eare and mumble us into a mutnesse that we should not ment nor whimper at the sight of this prodigious monster though for face and feature an opposition to Christ as King beyond what ever had appeared upon the stage But why forsooth must we be silent O! because favour to the fanaticks is hereby intendedâ— for what ever appeaâ—ed at brime there was some special advantage to them at bottome The lessening of the Episcopal power which did so lash the fanaticks and the curbing of their crueltie was intended By which means they weâ—e sure that so many as they could fool into this faâ—sie or please with this nothing or if any thing the most wicked of all things would not onely divide and be divided from their brethren But they knew very well also â—hat the more seeing and serious servants of Christ who adhered to former principles would count themselves called of God to look upon such what ever names they assume to themselves as manifest deserâ—ers of the cause of the Church of Scotland and betrayers of it And for my own part how much so ever I am for union yet I scruple not to let the world know that be who he willâ— that hath beaten his brains to shape a beautiful maske for hiâ—ing the hell blakenesse of thiâ— monsters face which sâ—ould be the abhorrence of all that love our Lord Jesus Christ in