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
the source rise and conduct of the Rulers procedour against you and their barbarous câ—uelty give you not onely confidence to pour out your heart befoâ—e him and present your câ—sâ— and cause in this General for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted as sheep for the slaughtâ—r But more particularly when you can sist your selves bâ—fore him and sob out your sorrowes in these words of a truth Lord against thy Holy Châ—ld Iâ—sus whom thou hâ—st anoâ—nâ—ed are all thâ—se gathered together and it is for our owning of him as thy anointed and râ—fuseing to be on that conspiracy that we ore thus used I know not vvhat can give ground of gladenesse in a mans life or vvhat can be cause of gloriation in death if resisting unto blood upon such a quarrell and not loving a mans life unto death in such a cause will not give ground for it Beloved Friends and much honourâ—d sufferers for Christ you know since you are taught of God that the way to overcome all trouble here and to carry as becometh Saints under it is to look above it and beyond it above it to the high and supreme hand that sends it and disposeth of it so as it may subserve your great Interest for in despight of the malice and madnesse of all inferior agents all these dire and dreadful things shall together with him who worketh mightily in his people and for them work together for your â—ood and beyond it and above it to the end of it and the recompence of reward following after it This is the way to profite by pressures to be gainers in all losses This is the ground of sweet peace and serenitie of mind amidst all trouble and the solid foundation for patience of Spirit For he is only in a capacitiâ— to possesse his spirit in patience whose spirit hath received these impressions without which the soul will be still disquieted Trouble will still tosse it as a ball in a large place and it will prove unstable as water I suppose since you are Saints and so must have some impressions of the absolute Soveraignitie of God that though in your searchings you could not finde out or fixe upon the cause of his contendiug with you thus yet you would either be silent or say it is the Lord let him doe unto us what seemeth hâ—m good And if he have no pleasure in our liveiâ—g and dwelling in our little huts and houses Bnt will drive us thence the will of the Loâ—d be done But not to insist on this which yet you will grant to be infinitly rational for who hath enjoyned him his wayâ— or who may say unto him what doest thou there is sufficient to keep you and me aâ—d the Christians of this generation from frâ—tingâ— and saying while in the fire and while the rod of the wicked rest upon your lot and these plowers plow upon your back and make their furrowes longer and deeper than all these plowersâ— which went before them did O when will God Loose the plough by cutting asunder the cords of the wicked and confouâ—ding turning them all back that hate you He is the Lord who will hasten it in his time to shew that he is righteous Let us weep for what we have done And wait in hope for what he will do why are we thus Surely a sight of our sin would make us wonder that we are not worse yea admire his goodnesse who will be at all this pains about us to heal us of these mortal diseases whereof our immortal souls are sick even unto death I am sure that the crimson dye of our crying iniquities would curb our impatience and cure us of that evil of quarrelling with him because of our suffâ—rings Consider therefore however you suffer very unjustly from men against whom you have done nothing justly to procure their indignation yet if you look within you and lift up your eyes above you and consider how the cry of your transgâ—essions is come up into his eare you will be constrained not onely to justifie him in this seeming severiâ—ie but to confesse from clearnesse and conviction you are punished lesse then your iniquities desâ—rve And that it is of the Lords mercâ— you are not consumed because his compassions fail not Hence is it thaâ— when the Apostle Peter hath been speaking of the fiery trial 1 Pet. 4â—12 13 14 15 16. which this day in our case and hath been encouraging and comforting them to a paâ—â—ent endâ—reinâ— while schorâ—hed with these flames by many noble arguments yet when he looks upâ—n thes heavie afflictions as coming from God he calls them verâ— 17 judgements intimaâ—ing thereby that his precious and peculiar people how upright and innocent soever as to men yet they are guiltie before God the righteous judge and that they muâ—â— acknowledge when â—hey â—ist thâ—mseâ—ves in his sight that what ever they suffeâ— is the fruit of their own doings and that by their provocations they have procured these things and rewarded all these evils unto their own soul by not walking worthy of him nor befoâ—e him to all pleasing If his people by their multiplied and manifold sins did not extort if I may say so strokes our of his hand he who doth not aâ—â—lict willingly nor grieve the Children of men but hath pleasure in the prosperitie of this people would not so often take the rod in his hand or would soon cast it into the â—ire for he doth not love to lash beyond necessitie and therefore when he hath performed his whole work upon mount zion he casts the rod into the fire and punisheth the fruit of the stout heart of his and his peoples enemies and the glory of their high looks The saints you know Brethren how graciows and grown so ever they are but Children and therefore must be under Chastisment The best of them are given to many Childish toyes and not a few of them in whom the root of the matter may be yea will be found are so far from abideing witâ— God in their callings and from adorning the Doctrine of God the Saviour that so men by seing their good works may glorifie their Father which is in heaven that there is a groffnesse in their way their iniquitie is ofâ—en found upon the skirts of their garmenâ—s and their spots are so unlike the spots of the people of God and Persons made partakers of the divine nature that because of these mouths of enemies are opened to blaspheme the name of God and reproach the blessed Profession But seting thsee aside Alas how doe they who escape such grosse pollutions yet often trifle in the matter of communion with God How formal and luke-warme in their addresses So that he who seeks the heart and will be worshiped in Spirit and Truth misseth their soul in their service How seldome arâ— they in Heaven How little dwelling upon the thoughts of Jesus Christ and the great sâ—lvation purchased by him on purpose
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