to speakevil of dignities and that they are filthy dreamers who despise Dominion speakevil of dignities and of those things which they know not We allow the Magistrate in whatsoever form of Government all the power the Scripture Lawes of Nature or Nations or Municipal do allow him Asserting that he is the keeper avenger of both the Tables of the Law having a power over the Church as well as the state suited to his Capacity that is not formally Ecclesiastical but objectively for the Churches good an external power of Providing for the Church Protecting her from outward violence or in ward disorder an imperate power of commanding all to do their respective duties a Civil power of Punishing all even Church officers for Crimes a Secundary power of Judicial approbation or condemnation or discretive in order to give his Sanction to Synodical results a Cumulative power assisting strengthening the Church in all her Priviledges subservient though not servill Coordinate with Church power not Subordinate though as a Christian he is subject in his oun affairs to wit Civil not to be declined as Judge but to be obeyed in all things Lawful and honoured strengthened with all his dwes We would give unto Cesar the things that are Cesars and to God the things that are Gods But to Tyrants that usurpe pervert both the things of God of Cesar and of the peoples Liberties we can render none of them neither Gods nor Cesars nor our oun Nor can we from conscience give him any other deference but as an enemy to all even to God to Cesar the people And in this though it doth not sound now with Court parasites nor with others that are infected with Royal Indulgences Indemnities we bring forth but the transumpt of old Principles according to which our fathers walked when they still contended for Religion Liberty against the attemptings aggressions of Tyranny against both 5. It must be conceded it is not an easie thing to make a man in the place of Magistracy a Tyrant For as every escape error or act of unfaithfulness even known continued in whether in a Ministers entry to the Ministry or in his Doctrine doth not unminister him nor give sufficient ground to withdraw from him or reject him as a Minister of Christ So neither does every enormity misdemeanure or act of Tyranny Injustice perfidie or profanity in the Civil Magistrate whether as to his way of entry to that office or in the execution of it or in his private or personal behaviour denominate him a Tyrant or usurper or give sufficient ground to divest him of Magistratical power and reject him as the Lawful Magistrate It is not any one or tuo Acts contrary to the Royal Covenant or office that doth denude a man of the Royal dignity that God the people gave him David committed tuo acts of Tyranny Murder Adultery yet the people were to acknowledge him as their King and so it may be said of some others ouned still as Kings in Scripture the reason is because though he sinned against a man or some particular persons yet he did not sin against the State and the Catholick good of the Kingdom subverting Law for then he would have turned Tyrant and ceased to have been Lawful King. There is a great difference between a Tyrant in act and a Tyrant in habit the first does not cease to be a King. But on the other hand as every thing will not make a Magistrate to be a Tyrant So nothing will make a Tyrant habitu a Magistrate And as every fault will not unminister a Minister So some will oblige the people to reject his Ministry as if he turn Heretical Preach Atheisme Mahumetanisme or the like the people though they could not formally depose him or through the corruption of the times could not get him deposed yet they might reject disoune his Ministry So it will be granted that a people have more power in creating a Magistrate than in making a Minister and Consequently they have more right and may have more light in disouning a King as being unkinged than in disouning a Minister as being un-ministerd It will be necessary therefore for clearing our way to fix upon some ordinary Characters of a Tyrant which may discriminate him from a Magistrate and be ground of disouning him as such I shall rehearse some from very much approved Authors the application of which will be as apposite to the tuo Brothers that we have been burthened with as if they had intended a particular exact description of them Buchanan de jure regni apud Scotos Shewes that the word Tyranâ— was at first honourable being attributed to them that had the full power in their hands which power was not astricted by any bonds of Lawes nor obnoxious to the Cognition of Judges and that it was the usual denomination of Heroes and thought at first so honourable that it was attribute to the Gods But as Nero Iudas were sometimes among the Romans Iewes names of greatest account but afterwards by the faults of tuo men of these names it came to pass that the most flagitious would not have these names given to their Children So in process of time Rulers made this name so infamous by their wicked deeds that all men abhorred it as contagious Pestilentious and thought it a more light reproach to be called a hangman then a Tyrant Thereafter he Condiscends upon several Characters of a Tyrant 1. He that doth not receive a Government by the will of the people but by force invadeth it or intercepteth it by fraud is a Tyrant and who domineers even over the unwilling for Rex volentibus Tyrannus invitis imperat and procures the Supreme rule without the peoples Consent even though for several years they may so govern that the people shall not think it irksome Which very well aggrees with the present Gentleman that rules over us who after he was by publick vote in Parliament secluded from the Government of which the standing Lawes of both Kingdoms made him incapable for his Murthers Adulteries Idolatries by force fraud did intercept first an Act for His Succession in Scotland and then the actual Succession in England by blood treacherie usurping intruding himself into the Government without any Compact with or Consent of the people though now he studies to make himself like another Syracusan Hiero or the Florentine Cosinodo Medices in a mild Moderation of his usurped power but the West of England and the West of Scotland both have felt the force of it 2. Tyrannus non civibus sed sibi gerit imperium neque publicae utilitatis sed suae voluptatis rationem habet c. He does not govern for the subjects well-fare or publick ultility but for himself having no regard to that but to his oun lust Acting in this like robbers who cunningly disposing of what wickedly they
Machinations of Adversaries to crush it and all the Methods of Backsliding Professors to quench it And the mean which most effectually preserved it in life vigour was the expedient they fell upon of Corresponding in General Meetings to consult informe confirme one another about common duties in common dangers for preservation of the Remnant from the destruction contagion of the times and propagation of the Testimony Laying doun this General Conclusion for a foundation of Order to be observed among them in incident doubtful cases emergent Controversies that nothing relative to the publick and which concerns the whoâ—e of their Community be done by any of them without harmonious consent sought after rationally waited for and sufficient deliberation about the best means manner In the mean time the Duke of York as Commissioner from his brother held a Parliament wherein he presided not only against all righteous Lawes that make a bloody avowed Papist incapable or such a Trust but against the Letter of their oun wicked Lawes whereby none ought to be admitted but such as swear the Oaths yet not only was he constitute in this place but in the whole Administration of the Government of Scotland without the taking any Oath which then he was Courting to be entailed Successor and heir of the Croun thereof And for this â—nâ— made many pretences of flatteries and feigned expressions of love of doing many acts oâ— kindness to that ancient Kingdom as he hath made many dissembling protestations of it since for carrying on his oun Popish Tyrannical designs But what good-will he hath born to it not only his acts actings written in Characters of the blood of Innocents declare but his words do witness which is known when and to whom he spake when he said It would never â—e wel til all on the southside of Forth were made a hunting field However in that Parliament anno 1681. he is chiefly intended and upon the matter by a wicked Act declared legal lineal Successor and a detestable Blasphemous and Self-contradictory Test is framed for a Pest to Consciences which turned out of all places of Trust any that had any remaining measure of common honesty And when some was speaking of a bill for securing Religion in case of a Popish Prince the Dukes answer was notable that whatsoever they intended or prepared against Papists should light upon others whereby we may understand what measures we may expect when his designs are ripe And to all the Cruel Acts then before made against the People of God there was one superadded regulating the execution of all the rest whereby at one dash all Civil Criminal Justice was overthroun and a foundation laid for Popish-Tyranny that the Right of Iurisdiction both in Civil Criminal Matters is so inherent in the Croun that his Maj. may judge all Causes by himself on any other he thinks fit to commissionate Here was Law for Commissionating Souldiers to take away the lives of Innocents as was frequently exemplified afterwards and may serve hereafter for erecting the Spanish Inquisition to murder Protestants when he thinks fit to commissonate them Against which wicked Encroachments on Religion Liberty the Faithful thought themselves obliged to emit a Testimony And therefore published a Declaration at Lanerk Iannary 12. 1682. Confirming the preceeding at Sanquhair and adding reasons of their Revolt from the Government of Charles the Second 1. For cutting off the neck at one blow of the noble Constitution of Church State and involving all Officers in the Kingdom in the same perjurie with himself 2. For exalting himself into a sphere exceeding all measures Divine humane Tyrannically obtruding his will for a Law in his arbitrary Letters so that we are made the reproach of Nations who say we have only the Law of Letters instead of the Letter of the Law. 3. For his constant adjourning dissolving Parliaments at his pleasure 4. For his arrogantly arrogated Supremacy in all Causes Civil Ecclesiastick and oppressing the Godly for Conscience duty 5. For his exorbitanâ— Taxings Cessings grinding the faces of the poor dilapidating the rights revenues of the Croun for no other end but to imploy them for keeping up a Borthel rather than a Court. 6. For installing a successor such an one if not worse as himself contrare to all Law Reason Religion and framing the Test c. And in end offer to prove they have done nothing in this against our Ancient Lawes Civil or Ecclesiastick but only endeavoured to extricate themselves from under a Tyrannous yoke and to reduce Church State to what they were in the year 1648 and 1649. After which Declaration they were more condemned by them that were at ease than ever and very untenderly dealt with being without any previous admonition reproached accused and informed against both at home abroad as if they had turned to some wild unhappy Course For which Cause in the next General Meeting they resolved to delegate some of their number to forreign Churches on purpose to vindicate themselves from these Calumnies and to represent the justness of their Cause and the sadness of their Case and provoke them to some Sympathie abroad which was denied at home And withall to provide for a Succession of Witnesses who might maintain the Testimony which was then in appearance interrupted except by Martyrdom Sufferings Therefore by that means having obtained access for the instruction of some young men at an University in the United Provinces in process of time Mr Iames Renwick received Ordination there and came home to take up the Standart of his Master upon the ground where it last was left and to carry on the Testimony against all the oppositions of that day from open Enemies backsliding Professors an undertaking more desperate-like than that of Unus Athanasius contra totam orbem and like that of a Child threshing doun a Mountain Which yet against all the outragious rage of ravening Enemies ranging ravaging hunting chasing pursuing after him through all the touns villages cottages woods moors mosses mountains of the Country and against all the scourge of tongues contradictions condemnations obliquies reproaches cruel mockings of incensed Professors and generally of all the Inhabitants of the Land he was helped to prosecute by many weary wanderings travells and traversings through the deserts night day Preaching Confering Catechising mostly in the cold winter nighrs in the open fields until by the Blessing of God upon his labours not only was the faithfull Witnessing Remnant that joyned in the Testimony further cleared confirmed and encouraged and their number much encreased by the coming in and joyning of many others to the fellowship of their settled Societies but also many others in but as soon as it grew dark all hope lost they dispersed every man shifting for himself only a few keeping together all the nixt day had a skirmage with a
at all to be ouned or received as His Lawful Ambassadours But the Prelats their Curats have all their power from a meer usurper on Christs Prerogative who is neither Member nor officer of the Church Ergo 2. It confounds the Mediatory Kingdom of Christ with subjects it to the Kingly Government of the world removes the Seripture Land Marks Limits between civil Ecclesiastick Powers in making the Governours of the State to be Governours of the Church and denying all Church Government in the hands of Church officers Distinct from independent upon the civil Magistrat which clearly derogats from the Glory of Christs Mediatory Kingdom which is altogether distinct from not subordinate to the Government of the world both in the Old Testament in the New. For they have distinct fountains whence they flow civil Government flowes from God Creator Church Government from Christ the Lord Redeemer Head King of His Church whose Kingdom is not of this world Iohn 18. 36. though for this end He came into the world that He should have a Kingdom there vers 37. They have distinct Objects civil Government hath a civil object the out ward man Church Government a Spiritual object men considered as Christians In the Old Testament the matters of the Lord are clearly distinguished from the matters of the King 2 Chron. 19. ult In the new Testament there are matters of Church Cognizance which do not at all belong to the civil Magistrate as in the case of offence they must tell the Church not the civil Magistrate Math. 18. 15. 20. In the case of Excommunication the Church is to act by virtue of the power of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. not by the Magistrats power In the case of Absolution the Church is to Iudge what Punishment is sufficient and what evidence of repentance is sufficient to remove it 2 Cor. 2. 6. 7. So in the case of Tryal ordination of Ministers c. None of these belong to the Magistrate They have distinct Natures The civil is a Magisterial the Ecclesiastick is a Minsterial Government the one is the power of the sword the other of the Keyes The one put forth in Political Punishments the other in Ecclesiastick Censures In the Old Testament the Magistrats power was Coactive by death banishment Confiscation c. Ezra 7. 26. The Church by puting out of the Synagogue interdiction from Sacred things c. In the New Testament The Magistrats power is described Rom. 13. to be that of the sword by punishment the power of the Church only in binding Loosing Math. 16. 19. They have distinct Ends the end of the one being the good of the Common wealth the other the Churches Edification In the Old Testament the end of the civil Government was one thing and of the Church another to wit to warn not to trespass against the Lord in that forecited 2. Chron. 19. 10. In the New Testament the end of Magistratical power is to be a terror to evil works a praise te the good Rom. 13. 3. but the end of Church power is Edification 1 Cor. 5. 5. 2 Cor. 10. 8. 2. Cor. 13. 10. They have distinct Courts of officers In the Old Testament the distinction of the civil Ecclesiastick Sanhedrin is known where there were distinct causes Persons set over them to judge them respectively 2. Chron. 19. ult In the New Testament we find officers given unto the Church 1 Cor. 12. 28. with no mention of the civil Magistrate at all And Church-Assemblies distinct from Parliaments or senats yea when the Magistrate was an Enemy determining questions that did not belong to the Magistrate at all Act. 15. we have Rulers distinct from the Rulers of the Common wealth 1 Thess. 5. 12. whom we are to obey and submit our selves as those who are accountable to Christ only for to whom else can they give account of souls Heb. 13. 17. we have Rulers inferiour to Labourers in word doctrine not to be honoured so much as they Sure these cannot be civil Rulers 1 Tim. 5. 17. we have Rulers commended for trying Impostors which were not Magistrats Rev. 2. 2. And others who are rebuked for suffering Hereticks ibid. vers 14 15 20. which supposes they had Authority to do it yet distinct from not depending on the Magistrate Besides from this confusion of the two Governments together and making the Supreme Magistrate to be Supreme Governour of the Church would follow many absurdities as that They who are not Church members should be Church officers even Heathen Magistrats yea women should be Church officers and none should be chosen for Magistrats but such as have the qualifications of Church officers Sic Apol. Relat. Sect. 12. pag. 190. Rectius Instruen Confut. 1 Dial. chap. 6. pag. 50. Hence they that in deriving their Authority do confound the tuo Governments civil Ecclesiastick and take it all from a meer civil power cannot be ouned as having any Authority of Christs Institution But the Prelats their Curats in deriving their Authority do confound the tuo Governments civil Ecclesiastick and take it all from a meer civil power This same Argument equally militates against hearing the Indulged Ministers who have taken a Licence warrand from the Usurper of this Supremacy because it is highly injurious to Christs Headship very contrary to to Presbyterian Principles clearly Homologatorie of the Supremacy plainly Prejudicial to the power of the people very much establishing Erastianisme Sadly obstructive destructive to the good of the Church wronging our cause ground of suffering Strengthening the Prelats hands contradictory to our Covenants Prejudging the Meetings of Gods people and heinously Scandalous offensive As is clear by unanswerably poven in the History of the Indulgence IV. There is a necessity that any man whom we may Joine with as a Minister must not only be a minister and a Minister cloathed with Christs commission then when we Joins with Him but He must also have a right to administer there where we Ioin with Him. Else we can look upon him no otherwise than a thief a robber whom Christs sheep should not hear Io. 10. 1-5 Now the Prelats Curats though they should he accounted acknowledged Ministers yet they have not a right to officiate where they have intruded themselves Hence we have several Arguments as 1. They who have no just Authority nor right to officiate fixedly in this Church as the proper Pastors of it ought not to be Received but withdrawen from But the Prelats their Curats have no just Authority or right to officiate in this Church as her proper Pastors Therefore they ought not to be received but withdrawen from All the debate is about the Minor which may thus be made good They who have entered into do officiate fixedly in this Church without her Authority Consent have no right so to do But the Prelats
according to the sworn Covenant yow say nothing to the point in hand that sure is not your meaning 3 whoever promises so much of peaceable living under his Maj. Authority leaveing out the exposition of the 5. Command may upon the very same ground subscribe the bond refused by the Godly and so yow pass from the Covenant and make all these bypast Actings of this Kirk State these years by-past to be horrid Rebellion and how deep this guilt drawes consider 5. This would infer though the King should send and kill us we must not resist nor defend our oun lives yet being an Oath against the Sixth Command which enjoineth Natural self preservation it should be intrinsecally sinful and it s all one to swear to non-preservation of self as to swear to self Murder 6. I hope to make it appear in the 5. Head that this is against the practice of Nations the Law of Nature and the Word of God. Yet all this Complex iniquity is clearly comprehended in the Oath of Abjuration in terminis abâ—uring all war against the King. VI. There were some other Oaths frequently obtruded upon people for refusing which they have suffered great cruelties that can hardly be described by any name Nor can their imposition have a paralel in any age or place for illegaltty inhumanity arbitrariness odiousness These were the Oaths of Inquisition or Super inquirendis Whereby people were pressed to answer the Inquisitors according to all their knowledge of things they were interrogate upon and delate discover Intercommuned persons in their Wanderings or such whose names were in their Porteous Rolls c. And power was given to single Souldiers to press these Oaths upon whom they pleased The iniquity of which is monstrous for 1. This was the worst Kind of Combination with these blood-hound to abett assist them in their pursuing after the Lords people Which is worse than to be bare consenters to such wickedness or to be onlookers to their affliction in the day of their Calamity but like that sin charged upon Edom that they delivered up those of His that did remain in the day of distress Obad. vers 13. 14. for these that took Oaths obliged themselves to do all they could to deliver up the Remnant that escaped and if they did not no thanks to them if they could not their sin was in their willingness if they would not and yet swore would contribute their help towards it by telling of all they knew that was horrid perjury false swearing 2. This could be no wayes capable of the qualifications of an Oath not only because the matter is wicked unnatural to discover may be the husband or Children or nearest relations to please men or save their oun life which was a great tentation and therefore in it there could be no delibaration in swearing but also for the doubtful perplexity confounding the mind that they either could not or durst not tell of all they knew and yet sware to do it 3. It is against the Covenant which obliges to discover Malignant enemies and assist our Covenanting Brethren and not to discover them and assist Malignant enemies which is a perfect inverting the fourth sixth Articles of the Covenant 4. It is contrary to clear precepts in Scripture to assist defend our Brethren to make our shaddow as the night in the midst of the noon day and hide the Outcast and bewray not him that wandereth Isai. 16. 3. 5. The illegality of this imposition makes it very absurd that every pitiful Officer or Souldier should be impowered to impose exact Oaths and impannel examine Witnesses about alledged Criminals Yet the monstrousness of this Oath serves to aggravate the Oath of Abjuration in that the Abjurers do renounce their part of disoune the Declarers of that abjured Declaration and so do as much as from them is required to give them up for a prey to their hunters yea they declare them Murderers in that they abjure their Declaration as asserting Murder And consequently they must be obliged to discover them to their acknowledged Judges VII The Abominable Test comes next which needs no other refutation than to rehearse it the substance whereof was a Solemn Swearing that they Ouned sincerely professed the true Protestant Religion contained in the confession of faith recorded in the first Parl. of K. Iaemes the 6 and that they would adhere thereunto all the dayes of their life and never consent to any change or alteration contrary thereto but renounce all Doctrines principles practices whether Popish or Fanatical contrary thereto And they swear that the King is the only Supreme Governour of this Realme over all persons in all causes as well Ecclesiastical as Civil and promise to bear faith true allegiance to the Kings Maj. his heirs Lawful successors and to their power shall assist defend all rights jurisdictions prerogatives belonging to them And affirme it unlawful for subjects upon pretence of Reformation or any other pretence whatsoever to enter into Covenants or to convocate conveen or assemble to treat consult or determine in any matter of State Civil or Ecclesiastick without his Maj. special command or to take up Armes against the King or these Commissionate by him And that there lies no obligation on them from the National Covenant or Solemn League Covenant to endeavour any change or alteration in the Government either in Church or State as it is now established by the Laws of the Kingdom and they shall never decline his Maj. power jurisdiction And finally they swear that this Oath is given in the plain genuine sense meaning of the words without any equivocation mental reservation or any manner of evasion whatsoever This is the Complement of a wicked Conspiracy couching in its Capicious bosome the Complication of all their Mischiefs comprehending all explaining all the former which indeed cannot be taken with any equivocating evasion that can escape either the Stigma of nonsense self contradiction or the censure of Atheisme irreligion or the sentence of Divine vengeance against such baffling the Name of God. The best sense that can be put upon it is that which a poor Sot expressed when it was tendered to him prefacing thus before he took it Lord have mercy upon my Soul. For. 1. It is not consistent with itself there being such contradictions between that confession of faith and the following part that no man can reconcile Some whereof may be instanced as followes 1 In the 11. Art. of that confession entituled of Christs Ascension it is said that Christ is the only Head of the Church Just Lawgiver in which Honours Offices if man or Angels presume to intrude themselves we utterly detest abhore them as blasphemous to our Soveraign Supreme Governour Christ Jesus and a litle before in that same Article it is said this Glory Honour prerogative He alone among the Brethren
stoping the Career of their Murders in a time of real extreame necessity the matter of the action being unquestionably Lawful their ends intentions really good commendable there being also a deficiency of others to do the work and themselves in some probable Capacity for it See Ius Popul Cap. 20. Pag. 410. Neither can it be denyed but true zeal may sometimes incite people to such exploits for the preservation of Religion Liberty their oun lives and Brethren all like to be destroyed by the impunity of beasts of prey This will be found very consistent with a Gospel Spirit And though this Principle be asserted and also put in practice all persons notwithstanding thereof would have sufficient securitie for their life except such as hath really forefeited their lives by all Law of God man. Those that are led by Impulses may pretend the imitation of extraordinary examples and abuse them yet hence it will not follow that in no case these extraordinary Examples may be imitated Shall the examples of good Magistrats executing Justice on Idolaters Murderers be altogether unimitable because Tyrants abuse them in persecuting the innocent If this arguing were good it would make all vertuous Actions in the world unimitable for these may be abused by pretenders See Ius Popul ubi supra Pag. 412. But it cannot be charged upon the Sufferers upon this head that they had nothing to give as the reasons of their Actions but pretexts of Enthusiasmes 5. Thô a man be really so Criminal as thaâ— he deserves death by the Law of God man yet it may be murder to kill him if we do not certainly know it and can prove it and convict him of it upon Tryal for no man must be killed indictâ or incognitâ causâ Thus even Magistrats may Murder Murderers when they proceed against them without probation or cognition according to Law far more private persons Thus the Abiezrites would have murdered Gideon not only unjustly for his duty of throwing doun the Altar of Baal but illegally because they would had him brought out that he might die without any further Tryal Iudg. 6. 29 30. So likewise the Iewes that banded bound themselves under a curse to kill Paul before he was tried would have Murdered him not only unjustly for his duty but illegally before he was tried Act. 23. 12. But this doth not condemn the Actions of those Sufferers in maintaining the necessary execution of Judgement upon persons who are Notorious Murderers yea professing a trade and prosecuting habitually a tract of continued Murdering the people of the Lord. 6. Thô it should be certainly known and sufficiently proven that a man is a Murderer c. Yet it were Murder for an inferiour under a relation of subjection to him to kill him as long as that subjection were acknowledged for whensoever the common mutual right or relation either Natural Moral Civil or Religious to the prejudice or scandal of the Church or State or particular persons is broken by killing any person that is Murder thô the person killed deserve to die As if a Subject should kill an acknowled King a Son by Nature or in Law should kill his Natural or legal father a Servant should kill his Master breaking these relations while their right tye were acknowledged as some of them must still be acknowledged as long as the Correlates continue in being to wit that of a father is not broken by his becoming a Murderer and to the danger detriment scandal of the Church State That were properly Assassination for Assassines are they who being subject to others either out of their oun head for their oun ends or by command of their Superiours kill their Superiours or such as they command them to kill as Alstedius describes them Theolog. Cas. cap. 18. de homicid reg 55. Therefore David would not kill Saul because he acknowledged him to be the Lords Anointed to whom he was under a relation of subjection and because he was his Master and Father in Law And because it would have tended to the hurt of the Kingdom and involved it in Combustions Contentions about the succession and prejudged his oun right as well as to the scandal of the people of God thô Saul deserved otherwise to be capitally punished So Ishbosheth was killed by Baanah Rehab 2 Sam. 4. 7. So Iozachar Iehozabad who killed Ioash 2 King. 12. 21. were punished as Murderers chap. 14. 6. because they were his servants and did assassinate him to whom they were subject So the servants of Amon were punished by the people as Conspirators against their King Master 2 King. 21. 23 24. though Amon deserved to have been punished as well as Amaziah was Hence generally it is observed by some that thô right be given to equals or Superiours to bring their nearest relations to condign punishment when they turn entycers to Idolatry Deut. 13. 6. Yet no right or jus upon any cause or occasion whatsoever is given to inferiours as Children c. to punish their fathers See Pool Synop. Critie in Locum However it be this cannot condemn the taking off of Notorious Murderers by the hand of such as were no way subject nor related to them but as enemies who in extreame necessity executed righteous Judgement upon them without prejudice of the true necessary chief good of the Church Commonwealth or of any particular persons just right security as Napthali qualifies it Pag. 22. 23. Prior edit 7. Thô the matter of the Action were just and the Murderer such a person as we might punish without any breach of relative obligations or duties Yet the manner may aggravate it to some degree of Murder if it be done Secretly when it may be execute publickly or suddenly precipitantly when it may be done deliberately without rushing upon such an Action or hurrying the Murderer to eternity as this also might have had some weight with David not to murder Saul secretly suddenly in the Cave or when he was sleeping So Ishbosheth and Ioâ—sh and Amoa were murdered Or if it be done subtilly when it may be performed in more plain fair dealing or teacherously under colour of friendship or cruelly without regard to humanity and especially when the Actors are at peace with the person whose blood they shed as Ioab shed the blood of war in peace 1 King. 2. 5. in killing Abner Amasa so craftily cruelly and Absalom made his servants Assassinate Amnon 2 Sam 13. 28 29. But this cannot be charged upon them who executed righteous Judgement as publickly deliberately and calmely as the extraordinary exigence of pressing necessity in extremity of danger could allow upon notorious Murderers with whom they were in open and avowed terms of hostility 8. Thô the manner also be inculpable yet if the principle and motive of killing even those that deserve to die be out of malice hatred rage or revenge for private
Some had y r hands struck off hanged others beheaded Some hanged quartered 〈◊〉 Some Tortured by bools thumbkins firematches Some taken instantly shot in 〈◊〉 fields Some banished others perished in ship-wrack women hanged others drowned of stakes in the sea A Hind let loose OR An Historical Representation of the TESTIMONIES Of the Church of Scotland for the Interest of Christ vvith the true State thereof in all its Periods TOGETHER WITH A Vindication of the present Testimonie against the Popish Prelatical Malignant Enemies of that Church as it is now stated for the Prerogatives of Christ Priviledges of the Church and Liberties of Mankind and sealed by the sufferings of a Reproached Remnant of Presbyterians there witnessing against the Corruptions of the Time. WHEREIN Several Controversies of Greatest Consequence are enquired into and in some measure cleared concerning hearing of the Curats owning of the present Tyrannie taking of ensnaring Oaths Bonds frequenting of field meetings Defensive Resistence of Tyrannical Violence with several other Subordinate Questions useful for these times By a Lover of true Liberty Psal. 94. 20. Shall the Throne of iniquity have fellowship with Thee that frameth mischief by a Law Prov. 28. 15. As a roaring Lion a ranging Bear so is a wicked Ruler over the poor people Hos. 8. 4. They have set up Kings but not by me they have made Princes and I knew it not Revel 12. 11. And they overcame him by the bloud of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony and they loved not their Lives unto the Death Printed in the Year MDCLXXXVII The Preface to the Reader Christian Reader PResuming it is thy desire to answer the holy honourable designation I accost thee with I shall take the Confidence to assure thee it is my design to answer in some measure the expectation which the Title of this Treatise would offer in the hope that wherein I come short as I indeed confess not only my jealous fears but my sensible conviction of my insufficiency for such a great undertaking thy Christian tenderness will impute it to my weakness and not to any want of worth in the Cause I manage which is truly worthy weighty noble honourable in the esteem of all the Lovers of Christ that have Zeal for his Honour in exercise And therefore as it gives me all the encouragement I have in dependance on his furniture whose Cause it is to make such an Essay So it animates my ambition albeit I cannot manage it with any proportion to its merit yet to move the Christian Reader to make enquiry about it and then sure I am he will find it is Truth I plead for though my plea be weak All I shall further say by way of Preface is to declare the Reason of the Title and the design of the work Though Books use not to be required to render a reason of their names which often are arbitrarly imposed more for the Authors fancy and the times fashion than for the readers Instruction yet seing the times injuries do oblige the Author to conceal his name the Title will not obscurely notify it to some for whose satisfaction this is mainly intended and signify also the Scope of the subject which aims at giving goodly words not suggared with Parasitick sweetness nor painted with affected pedantry but fairly brought forth in unhampered freedom for the beauty of the blessing of humane Christian Liberty in its due true boundaries This was the subject of a discourse as some may remember on that Text whence this Title is taken Gen. 49. 21. Naphtali is a hind let loose In prosecuting of which the Speaker with several others falling at the same time into the hands of the hunters to learn the worth of that interrupted subject from the experience of the want of it an occasion was given and interpreted by the Author to be a Call to study more the preciousness of that priviledge predicated of Naphtali which is the right an◠property of the wrestling Tribe of Israel the persecuted witnesses of Christ now every where preyed upon And now providence having opened a door for delivering himself as a roe from the hand of the hunter he thought it his duty and as necessary a piece of service as he could do to the Generation to bring to light his Lucubrations thereupon With an endeavour to discover to all that are free born and are not contented slaves mancipated in a stupid subjection to Tyrants absoluteness that this Character of Naphtali satisfied with favour and full with the blessing of the Lord that he is a hind let loose from the yoke of Tyrannical slaverie is far preferable in the account of all that understand to be Christians or men to that infamous Stigma of Issachar the sin shame miserie of this age to be a strong Ass couching under two burdens and he saw that rest was good and the Land that it was pleasant and bowed his shoulder to bear and became a servant unto tribute But to all that are not altogether strangers in our Israel it will appear that this Title is not ineptly applied to the subject and design of this Treatise The party whose Case and Cause and Contendings are here treated of being known to have the same situation of residence in Scotland that Naphtali had in Israel viz. the West and the South Deut. 33. 23. will be found among all our Tribes most appositely to bear the signature of Naphtali who in their wrestlings for the Interest of Christ and the Liberties of his Israel have mostly jeoparded their lives in the high places of the fields and chiefly to deserve his Elogy being a hind called wild by nick-name in the scorn of them that are at ease but truly weak in their present wilderness Condition to wrestle against the force fraud of their Cruel cunning hunters who cease not when they have now got the rest of the Roes and hinds of the field made fast asleep under the bondage of the Lions dens Mountains of Leopards by a pretence of a falsely so called Liberty of Conscience to seek and pursue the chase of them for a prey Yet really they are let loose and not only suffered to run loose as a prey to the hunters by the unwatchfullness of their keepers but made to escape loose by the mercy of the Mighty one of Iacob from the nets of the hunters and snares of the foulers and from the yoke of the bondage of these beasts of prey to whose Authority they will not oune a willing subjection And being such hinds so let loose they make it their work to give goodly words for the worth and honour and Royalties of their Princely Master and for the precious Liberties wherewith he hath endoted and entrusted his Spouse and Children and to keep the goodly words of his patience untill he return as a Roe or a young Hart upon the Mountains of Bether This being
the party who are represented as the Wild folk of Scotland the design of this Treatise is to hold forth the History of their manifold Chases the Craft keenness Cruelty of their hunters and the goodlyness of the words of their Testimony Which by reason of the likeness of the Testimony of former Periods with the present and that the latter may be vindicated by the former is resumed from the beginning of the Church of Scotlands wrestlings against the Enemies of Christ and deduced through all the most signal steps of this long propagated and hereditary War. And lest my words should not be goodly enough nor my notions grateful to the Criticks of this age who cast every thing as new and nice which is someway singular and not suited to their sentiments that it may appear the Cause here cleared and vindicated is not of yesterday but older than their Grandfathers who oppose it I dare avouch without vanity there is nothing here but what is confirmed by Authors of greatest note repute in our Church both ancient modern namely Buchanan Knox Calderwood Acts of General Assemblies Cawses of Wrath Lex Rex Apologetical Relation Napthali Ius Populi History of the Indulgence Banders disbanded Rectius Instruendum and some other Authors much respected whose Authority more alwayes repelled by rage than ever yet resisted by reason though I value more than all the vain oblatrations of the Opposers of this Testimony and think it sufficient to confute all imputations of its Novelty and to counterballance the weight that may be laid on the Contradictions of the greatest that treat on this subject Yet I do not lay so much stress on the reason of their Authority as on the Authority of their reason which is here represented with that Candor and Care that lest any should cavil that they are wrested or wronged when made to speak so patly to the present Controversies I have chosen rather to transcribe their words than to borrow their matter dressed up in my own except where the prolixity multiplicity of their Arguments as clearly demonstrating that which I adduce them for as that for which they were primarly intended did impose the necessity of abridging them which yet is mostly in their oun words though reduced into a Syllogistical forme But this obloquie of Novelty being anticipated when I reflect on the helps I have collected from so many hands I am rather afraid the Truths here delivered be comtemned as obsolete and antiquate than cast at for new speculations However I am content yea it is my ambition that nothing here be looked upon as mine but that it may appear this is an old Plea and that the party here pleaded for who are stigmatized with many singularities are a people who ask the old paths and the good way that they may walk therein and though their paths be not now much paved by the frequency of passengers and multitude of Professors walking therein and albeit it must indeed be confessed the word of their Testimony is some way singular that the same things were never the word of Christs patience stated as heads of suffering before yet they are not untroden paths but the same way of Truth which hath been maintained by the witnesses of Christ in all the Periods of our Church and asserted by the greatest Confessors though never before sealed by Martyrs As for the Arguments I bring to clear confirm them whether they be accounted mine or borrowed from others I am very indifferent if they prove the point they are brought for which I hope they will be sound to do But of this ◠am confident there is nothing here can be condemned untill some one or more of those grave Authors be confuted and when that is done which will be ad Calendas Graecas or against the 30. of February there is something besides here which will challenge Consideration The design then of this work is of great importance even no less than to essay the discussing the difficulties of all our Conflicts with open Enemies about the present state of the Testimony the vindicating of all the heads of sufferings sustained thereupon these 27 years past the proposing of the right state of the Testimony for the Interest of Christ not only of this but of all former Periods with an account of the propagation prosecution of the witnessings wrestlings and sufferings for it from time to time to the end it may appear not only how great the sufferings have been since this fatal Catastrophe and overturning of the Covenanted Reformation and unhappie restauration of Tyrannie and Prelacie but that the grounds upon which they have been stated are not niceties and novelties as they are reproached and reputed by many but worthie and weighty Truths of great value and validity and of near affinity unto Conformity with the continued series and succession of the Testimonies in all former Periods So that in this litle Treatise must be contained a Compendious Historie of the Church of Scotland her Testimony in all ages a vindication of the present state of it yea in effect a short Epitome of the substance of those famous forecited Authors as far as we need to consult them concerning the Controversies of the present time with Adversaries Which is much and perhaps too much to be undertaken in so small a volume But considering that many who are concerned in this Cause yea the most part who concern themselves about it are such who have neither access nor time nor capacity to revolve the voluminous Labours of these Learned men for light in this Case I have done my best to bring them into one body of a portable bulk with as great brevity as could consist well with any measure of perspicuity Not medling with any thing but what I thought might some way conduce to clear some part of the present Testimony Every undertaking of this nature cannot but be lyable to several disadvantages that are unavoidable this hath many discouraging and difficult One is that it shall be exposed to the Common fate of such representations to be stigmatized as a seditious Libel and so may be sent to the flames to be confuted and to enflame the fury of these firebrands already hell-hot into the utmost extremity of rage against the Author that ever Cruelty it self at its fullest freedom did exert against Truth and reason arraigned and cast for Sedition and Treason The only Sanctuary in such a Case is in prospect of this to have the greater care that nothing be spoken but what the Speaker may dare to affirm in the face of Cruelty it self A Second common disadvantage is obvious from the Consideration of the humor of the Age wherein fancy hath greater force than faith and nothing is pleasing but what is parasitical or attempered to the palat of the Greatest not of the best And naked Truth without the fairdings of flatterie or paintings of that pâkiness which is commonly applauded as
vvasted vvounded rent almost ruined but still vvrestling vvitnessing Remnant of Professors Confessors of Christ there vvho though they have not only had their soulls exceedingly filled vvith the scorning of those that are at ease vvith the contempt of the proud but their bodies also killed all day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter have yet through grace endeavoured to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the vvord of their Testimony have not loved their lives dear unto the death have continued to this day contending both against Professed Enemies also declining friends sustaining from both the utmost of rage reproach And since that litle book gives an account vvhat their Contenâ—ings have been against their backdravving brethren on the right left hand I shall spare labour to offer a discussion of them only endeavour to make it not difficult to decide determine on vvhose side Truth lies by vvhat is here hinted I shall conclude vvith advertising the Reader of one thing further that as this Reproached people for vvhose Testimony I am pleading is novv the only party that is persecuted in Scotland some fevv excepted vvho are exempted from the pretended favour of the current Indemnities their persecution still continues notvvithstanding of the impudent as wel as insnaring Declarations of Universal Liberty to all Dissenters vvhich they look upon as their honour happiness to be thought incapable of Tyrannical Antichristian favours So their past present oppressions sufferings are only here in general agregated described as to their kinds vindicated as to their causes the particular deduction of their number vveight measure of their names that have been martyred murdered both by formality of Lavv vvithout all formality of Lavv by Sea Land City Countrey on Scaffolds in the fields of the manner of their sufferings of the forme of their Trialls Testimonies being intended shortly if the Lord vvill to be emitted published in a book by it self vvhich vvil discover to the vvorld as rare instances of the injustice illegality inhumanity of the Scotish Inquisition of the innocency zeal ingenuity patience of the vvitnesses of Christ as readily can be instanced in these latter ages Only here is a taste till more come vvhich if the Lord shall bless for its designed end the Glory of God the vindication of Truth the information satisfaction of all Serious Sympathisers vvith Zions sorrovves the Conviction or Confutation of Reproachers so far at least as to make them surcease from their invidious charges of things vvhereof the innocency is here vindicated I have obtained all my design shall desire to give the Lord the praise To fill up the vacancy of this page it will not be unprofitable for the Reader to cast his eye upon these Sentences of Great Authors which relate to some heads of the following discourse Erasm. Ut Atagen aliás vocalis captus obiuutescit ita quibusdam servitus adimit vocem qui liberi loquuntur libere Nazianzen Melius est pro pietate dissidium quam concordia fucata Bernard Si autem de veritate sumitur scandalum utilius est ut scandalum oriatur quam veritas relinquatur Bracton Rex est qui bene regit Tyramius qui populum opprimit Cicero Amittit is omne imperii jus qui eâ— imperio Rempublicam oppugnat Aristot. Qui legi paret is Deo legi paret qui Regi homini belluae Sweton Sub paena perjurii non tenentur fidem fervare Regi degeneri Ambros. Qui non repellit a socio injuriam si potest tam est in vitio quam ille qui facit Chamier At Cives omnes jus habent insurgendi contra Tyrannos qui vi aperta regna occupant Barclai Contra Monarchom Tyrannos ut hostes publicos non solum ab universo populo sed à singulis etiam impeti caedique jure optimo posse tota Antiquitas censuit AN Historical Representation OF THE TESTIMONIES OF THE Church of Scotland With the true state of the same in all the Periods thereof WITH A Vindication of the present Testimonie THe Church of Christ in the impression of all that have the least spark of the dayes Spirit is now brought to such a doleful dreadful Case Crisis that if it may not be reckoned The killing of the Witnesses yet all that have or desire the knowledge of the times will judge it no impeachment to the Prophecie to say it is either very like or near unto it When now the Devil is come down in great wrath as knowing his time is but short and therefore exerting all the energy of the venom violence Craft Cruelty of the Dragon And Antichrist alias Pope his Captain General is now universally prevailing and plying all his hellish Engines to batter down bury under the rubbish of Everlasting Darkness what is left to be destroyed of the work of Reformation And the Crowned heads or horns of the Beast the Tyrants alias Kings of Europe his Council of War are advancing their Prerogatives upon the ruines of the Nations Churches Priviledges to such a pitch of Absoluteness improving imploying their power for promoving their Masters the Devil Antichrists Interests to whom they have gifted the Churches mancipated their own and sacrificed the Nations Interest and that with such combination of Counsels Countenance of providential success that all the Powers of Hell the Principalities of Earth the Providence of Heaven overruling all things for the accomplishment or the Divine purpose purchase prediction seem to conspire to produce that prodigious Period and ultimus Conatus of the Churches Enemie And the commencement is so far advanced that now in all the Churches of Europe either the Witnesses of Christ are a killing or the witness for Christ is in a great measure killed either the followers of the Lamb who are calâ—ed chosen faithful are killed for their Testimony or fainting in their Zeal and falling from their first Love they are cooled or cajoled from their Testimony Some are indulging themselves in their ease settleing on their Lees sleeping in a stupid security And while the Lord is roaring from above His their Enemies raging about them designing to raze them after they have ruined their Neighbours they are rotting away under the destructive Distempers of detestable Neutrality loathsom lulâ—warmness declining decaying in Corruptions defections divisions distractions confusions so judicially infatuated with darkness delusions that they forget forgo the necessary Testimony of the day Others again outwearied with the length weight of the Tryal under the tentation of Antichrists formidable strength on the one hand a deceitful prospect of an insnaring Liberty on the other are overcome either to be hectored or flattered from their Testimony And so in these Churches comprehending all that are free from Persecution at this
thither and flew him there Lethingtoun doubted whether they did well or not â—e answered where I find execution according to Gods Law and God Himself not accuse the doers I dare not doubt of the equity of their Cause And it appears God gave them sufficient evidence of His approving the fact for He blessed them with peace and prosperity But prosperity does not alwise prove that God approves the fact yes when the acts of men agree with the Law and are rewarded according to the promise in that Law then the prosperity succeeding the fact is a most infallible assurance that God hath approved it but so it is that there is a promise of lengthening out prosperity to them that destroy Idolatry And again concluding Uzziahs example he sayes there The people ought to execute Gods Law even against their Princes when that their open Crimes by Gods Law deserve punishment especially when they are such as may infect the rest of the multitude V. There is another thing for which people have suffered much in our day of blasphemy rebuke trouble which yet we find was not so odious in our Reformers eyes as this dull degenerate age would represent it That in some cases it is Lawfull laudable for private persons touched with the zeal of God love to their Countrey respect to Justice trampled upon by Tyrants to put forth their hand to execute righteous judgment upon the Enemies of God mankind intollerable Traitors Murderers Idolaters when the ruine of the Countrey Destruction of Religion Liberty and the wrath of God is threatened in for the impunity of that vermin of villains and may be averted by their destruction always supposed that these whose office it is to do it decline their duty The mind of our Reformers as to this is manifest both in their practice opinion We heard before of the slaughter of Cardinal Beaton and of the fidler Rizio we shall find both commended by Mr Knox giving account how these that were caryed Captives to France for this Cause from St Andrews were delivered This saith he we write to let the posterity to come to understand how potently God wrought in preserving delivering of those that had but a small knowledge of His Truth and for the love of the same hazarded all That if we in our days or our posterity that shall follow shall see a dispersion of such as oppose themselves to impiety or take upon them to punish the same otherwise then Laws of men will permit if such shall be left of men yea as it were despised punished of God yet let us not damn the persons that punish vice and that for just cause nor yeâ— despair but that the same God that dejects will raise up again the persons dejected to His glory and their comfort And to let the world understand in plain termes what we mean that great abuser of this Commonwealth that Pultron vile Knave Davio was justly punished March 9. 1565. by the Counsel hands of Iames Douglas Earle of Mortoun Patrick Lord Lindsay c who for theâ—r just act and most worthy of all praise are now unworthily left of all their Brethren This is not only commended by the Author alone but we find it concluded by all the Brethren at that time when the Queen brought in the Idol of the Masse again and the proud Papists began to avow it then let it be marked that The Brethren universally offended and espying that the Queen by Proclamation did but delude them determined to put to their own hands and to punish for example of others And so some Priests in the West Land were apprehended Intimation was made to others as to the Abbot of Cosragnel the Parson of Sanquhar and such that they should neither complain to the Queen nor Council but should execute the punishment that God has appointed to Idolaters in His Law by such means as they might wherever they should be apprehended Upon this the Queen sent for Mr Knox and dealt with him earnestly that he would be the instrument to perswade the people not to put hand to punish He perceiving her craft willed her Maj. to punish Malefactors according to Law and he durst promise quietness upon the part of all them that professed Christ within Scotland but if her Maj. thought to delude the Laws he feared some would let the Papists understand that without punishment they should not be suffered so manifestly to offend Gods Majestie Will ye quoth she allow they shall take my Sword in their hand The Sword of Justice said he Madam is Gods and is given to Princes Rulers for one end which if they transgress sparing the wicked oppressing the Innocents they that in the fear of God execute judgment where God hath commanded offend not God although Kings do it not the examples are evident for Samuel spared not to slay Agag the fat delicate King of Amalek whom King Saul had saved Neither spared Elias Iezabels false Prophets Baals Priests albeit that King Ahab was present Phineas was no Magistrate and yet feared he not to strike Zimri Cozbi in the very act of filthy fornication And so Madam your Maj. may see that others then Magistrates may Lawfully punish have punished the vice crimes that God commands to be punished He proved it also at more length in his Appellation from Deut. 13. If thy Brother solicite thee secretly saying let us go serve other Gods consent not to him let not thine eye spare him 〈…〉 him let thy hand be first upon him and afterward the hand of the whole people Of these words of Moses two things appertaining to our purpose are to be noted The first is that such as solicitate only to Idolatrie ought to be punished to death without favour or respect of person for He that will not suffer man to spare his son wife c. will not wink at the Idolatry of others of what state or condition soever they be It is not unknown that the Prophets had Revelations of God which were not common to the people Now if any man might have claimed any priviledge from the rigor of the Law or might have justified his fact it should have been the Prophet but God commands that the Prophet that shall so solicitate the people to serve strange Gods shall dye the death notwithstanding that he alleadge for himself dream vision or Revelation because he teacheth Apostacy from God hereby it may be seen that none provoking the people to Idolatry ought to be exempted from the punishment of death Evident it is that no state condition nor honour can exempt the Idolater from the hands of God when He shall call him to an account How shall it then excuse the people that they according to Gods command punish not to death such as shall solicitate or violently draw the people to Idolatrie The second is that the punishment of such Crimes as Idolatrie blasphemy
Commissioners were sent from both Houses to Scotland earnestly inviting to a nearer union of the Kingdoms and desiring Assistance from this Nation to their Brethren in that their great distress And this by the good hand of God produced the solemn League Covenant of the three Kingdoms first drawen up in Scotland and approven in the Assembly at Edinburgh and afterward embraced in England to the terror of the Popish and Prelatical party and to the great comfort of such as were wishing and waiting for the Reformation of Religion and the recoveries of Just Liberties The tenor whereof did import their sincere constant endeavours in their several places Callings for preservation of the Uniformity in Reformation in Doctrine Worship Discipline Government The extirpation of Popery Prelacy Error Profâ—nity the preservation of the Rights Liberties of the people and of the Magistrats Authority in defence of the true Religion and Liberty the discovery punishment of Incendaries the retaining of the Peace Union of the Kingdoms the mutual assistance defence of all under the bond of this Covenant and the performing all duties we owe to God in the amendment of our Lives and walking exemplarly one before another This is that Covenant comprehending the purpose of all Prior and the Pattern of all posterior Covenants to which Christs witnesses did always adhere for which the present witnesses do suffer contend That Covenant which the Representative of Church State in the three Nations did solemnly Subscribe Swear for themselves posterity of which the obligation either to the duty or the punishment continues indispensibly on the Generation which for the moral equity oâ— its matter the formality of its manner the importance of its purpose the holyness of its solemn Engagment and the Glory of its Ends no power on Earth can Disannul Disable or Dispense That Covenant which the Lord did Ratifie from Heaven by the conversion of many thousands at their entering under the bond of it securing establishing unto them and all the faithful the blessings priviledges therein expressed and avouching Himself to be their God as they had avouched themselves to be His people That Covenant which in all the Controversies it hath occasioned did never receive a greater confirmation than from the malice opposition of its Adversaries That Covenant which malignants do malign deny and Sectaries scorn lay aside as an Almanack out of date which hath been many ways traduced reproached by enemies and yet could never be reflected on by any Serious in this Land without a honourable fragrant remembrance Especially that Retortion of Adversaries of the rigor of its imposition upon Recusants to justifie their cruelty upon its Asserters now is to be refelled not with confutation of its importance but with disdain of its impudence For who were the Recusants but wicked enemies to God and Church Nation who for their malignancy were then to be prosecuted not for their scrupling at a Covenant but for their contumacious Contempt of a Law This was no violence done to their conscience for as they had none and could not pretend to any so they were never troubled for that but for their opposition conspiracy against the common cause However it went through at that time And that the Covenanted Reformation in a nearer conjunction betwixt the united Churches might be promoted the Parliament of England called an Assembly of Divines at Westminster and desired the Assembly of Scotland to send thither their Commissioners which accordingly nominated elected Mr Alexander Henderson Mr Robert Dowglas Mr Samuel Rutherford Mr Robert Balzie Mr George Gillespie Ministers And Iohn Earle of Cassils Iohn Lord Maitland and Sir Archbald Iohnstoun of Waristoun Ruling Elders to Propone Consult Treat conclude in all such things as might conduce to the extirpation of Popery Prelacy Heresie Schism Superstition Idolatry and for the settling of the so much desired union of the whole Island in one forme of Church Government one Confession of Faith one common Catechisme one Directory for the Worship of God. Forces were also sent to assist the Parliament of England which were favoured with great success in their Entreprizes till that War was ended by the total overthrow of Tyranny at that time and all its upholders But that Popish Prelatical Malignant faction being brought much under in England attempted not unlike the Syrians who thought the God of Israel was not God of the Hills Valleyes both to try the fortune of War in Scotland under the conduct of that Treacherous truculent Traitor Montrose gathering an Army of wicked Apostates Irish Murderers who prevailing for a time did punish in the Justice of God the Hypocrisie self-seeking of such in this Land whose hearts were not upright in His Covenant at length was defeat at Philiphaugh in the year 1645. yet certain it is that they had Commission warrant from the King as the Assembly that year Feb. 13. remonstrates it to himself Warning him in the name of their Master the Lord Jesus Christ that the guilt which cleaved to his throne was such as whatsoever flattering Preachers or unfaithful Counsellors might say to the contrary if not timely repented could not but involve himself his Posterity under the wrath of the Everliving God for his being guilty of the shedding of the blood of many thousands of his best Subjects for his permitting the Masse other Idolatry in his family Dominions c. At the same time also the Assembly did zealously incite the Parliament to a speedy course of Justice against these Incendaries Murderers as the only mean of cleansing the Land from that deluge of blood then current and of appeasing the wrath of God and solemnly seasonably warned all ranks to applaud the Glory Righteousness of that Judgment of the sword in the hands of these Apostates Murderers and to search to understand the Language of that Dispensation wherein many Publick sins breaches of Covenant are pointed at as the Causes of that desolation And the Covenant it self is there very Encomiastically vindicated We are so far from repenting of it say they that we can not mention it without great joy thankfullness to God as that which hath drawn many blessings after it and unto which God hath given manifold evident Testimonies for no sooner was the Covenant begun to be taken in England but sensibly the condition of affairs there was changed to the better and our forces sent into that Kingdom in pursuance of that Covenant have been so mercifully manifestly assisted blessed from Heaven that we have what to answer the enemy that reproacheth us concerning that business that which may make iniquity it self to stop her mouth but which is more unto us than all victories the Reformation of Religion in England Uniformity therein between both Kingdoms a principal end of that Covenant is so far
imposed upon consulted again vvhat to do and in end being oversvvayed more vvith respect to their oun credite vvhich they thought should be impeached if they should retract their oun Plenipotentiary Instructions to conclude the Treaty upon the Kings assent to their Conditions than to their reclamant consciences they resolved to bring home that pest and thereby Precipitated themselves us into ineluctable miserie Yet they thought to mend the Matter by binding him vvith all Cords and puting him to all most explicite Engagments before he should receive the Imperial Croun Well upon these termes home he comes and before he set his foot on British ground he takes the Covenant And thereafter because the Commission of the General Assembly by the Act oâ— the West Kirk August 13. 1650. Precluded his Admittance unto the Croun if he should refuse the then required satifaction before his Coronation he emits that Declaration at Dumferling wherein Professing appearing in the full perswasion love of the Truth he repenteth as having to do with in the sight of God his Fathers opposition to the Covenant work of God his oun reluctances against the same hoping for Mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ and obtesting the prayers of the faithful to God for his stedfastness and than protesteth his Truth sincerity in entering into the Oath of God resolving to prosecute the ends of the Covenant to his utmost and to have with it the same Common friends Enemies exhorting all to lay doun their enmity against the cause of God and not to prefer mans Interest to Gods which will prove an Idol of Jealousie to provoke the Lord and he himself accounteth to be but selfish flatterie A declaration so full of heart Professions high Attestations of God that none considering what followed can reflect thereon without horror trembling from the holy Jealousie of the Lord either for the then deep dissimulation or the after unparalelled Apostacy I know it is objected by Court parasites that the King was then compelled to do these things To which I shall only say It would have cost any of them their head at that time to have asserted that he did upon deliberation choise mock God man and entered into these Engagments only with a purpose to be thereby in better Capacity to destroy what he swore to maintain only because he could not have the Croun without this way which in the Confession of the objectors themselves was only deliberate premeditate Perjurie Next if it should be granted he was Compelled let it be also considered who Compelled him and these will be found to be the deceitful Courtiers For let it be adverted what Mr Gilespie declares of the Case who put the pen in his hand when he subscribed that Declaration He perceiving there was sufficient ground to Jealouse his reality and seeing evidently that the Courtiers prevailed with the King on a sudden to offer to subscribe the Declaration when they observed that the Commissioners of Churh State were resolute ready to go away in a fixedness to leave out the puting of his Interest in the state of the quarrel and being afrayed of the sad Consequences of it spoke his mind plainly to the King That if he was not satisfied in his Soul Conscience beyond all hesitation of the righteousness of the subscription he was so far from overdriving him to run upon that for which he had no light as he obtested him yea he charged him in his Masters name and in the name of these who sent him not to subscribe this Declaration no not for the three Kingdoms Whereupon the King answered Mr Gillespie Mr Gillespie I am satisfied I am satisfied with the Declaration and therefore will subscribe it Upon which some of the Courtiers swore that Mr Gillespie intended simply to disswade the King from subscribing it that so Church and State might professedly lay aside his Inetrest which would have defeat their hopes to make up themselves as now they have done upon the then designed ruine of the Interest of Truth Then at his Coronation we have his again reiterated confirmations of that Covenant first he is desired in name of the people to accept the Crown and maintain Religion according to the National Solemn League Covenant whereunto he gave his apparently Cordial consent the words are in the forme order of the Coronation with the whole Action Then next a Sermon being Preached upon 2 King. 11. 12 17. the action commenceth with his most solemn renewing of the National and solemn League Covenant by Oath Then he is presented to the people and their willingness demanded to have him for their King on these termes At the same time in the next place he took the Coronation Oath Then on these termes he accepted the Sword. And after the Crown is set upon his head the peoples obligatory Oath is proclaimed on the termes foresaid otherwise he is not that King to whom they swore subjection Then being set upon the Throne he was by the Minister put in mind of his Engagments from 1 Chron. 29. 33. And then the Nobles of the Land came one by one kneeling and lifting up their hands between his hands swore the same Oath These things done the whole Action was closed with a most solid severe exhortation from several instances Neh. 5. 13. Ier. 34. 18 19 20 c. There after in the year 1651. followed the Ratification of all these preceeding Treaties Transactions Engagments concluded enacted by the King and the Parliament then fully freely conveened whereby the same did pass into a Perpetual Law. And this Covenant which from the begining was is the most sure indispensible Oath of God became at length the very fundamental Law of the Kingdom whereon all the rights or priviledges either of King or people are principally bottomed secured This might seem security sufficient but considering the former discoveries experiences they had of his Treachery and the visible appearances in the mean time of his Refusalls visible Reluctances manifest Resilings open Counter actings and continued prejudices against the Covenant and his following unprecedented avowed perjurie every thing doth indelebly fasten upon them the weakness at least of an overweening Credulity and upon him the wickedness of a perfidious Policy in all these Condiscensions After this it came to pass that zeal for the Cause rightly stated was suddenly contracted to a few and the flame thereof extinguished in many and Court wild fire substitute in its place whereby a plain defection was violently carried on by the Publick Resolutioners who relapsing into that most sinful Conjunction with the People of these abominations so solemnly repented for resolved against did notwithstanding bring in Notorious Malignants into places of power Trust in Judicatories Armies in a more Politick than Pious way of requiring of them a constrained dissembled Repentance to the mocking
of the God of Truth and Scorn of all our holy Engagments Which defection did not only cause for a long time an incurable Division the first of that kind and most permanent of any that ever was in the Church of Scotland by reason of the surcease of General Assemblâ—es stoped hindered by the yoke of the Sectarian Usurpation but also was the spring source of all our defections since all flowing from fomented by that same spirit that fostered that And for that since that time the Lord hath been contending with this Church Nation bringing us under the bondage of these Malignant Enemies whom we suffered them then to encourage introduce And both at that time since that time the Lord never countenanced an Expedition where that Malignant Interest was taken in unto the state of the quarrel Upon this our Land was invaded by Oliver Cromwel who defeat our Army at Dumbar where the Anger of the Lord was evidently seen to smoke against us for espousing that Interest And remarkable it is how in that very day where in the Publick Resolutions were concluded in the Assembly at St Andrews the Lord then shed the blood of His people at Ennerkeithing so as that the Assembly having in great hast hurried through this Approbation were all made to run for it and Adjourn themselves to Dundie where they met and compleated that step of defection And afterwards it s known what a peculiar vengeance fell upon that City where this deed was done beyond all the Cities of the Nation Next an Army being raised according to these unhallowed Resolutions and the Lord puting remarkable Discountinance upon them in their attemptings at home as was manifest in their attemptings at Torewood c. They march into England and there did the Lord continue by His leaving our Army to the Sword to preach that Doctrine to the world Iosh. 7. 10 11 12. Israel hath sinned and transgressed the Covenant have taken the accursed thing and dissembled also and have put it even amongst their oun stuff therefore the Children of Israel could not stand before their enemies but turned their backs before their Enemies because they were accursed Neither will I be with yow any more except ye destroy the accersed thing from among yow An army of near 30000 was totally routed at Worcester and the Achan the Cause of the overthrow was forced to hide himself in the Oak and thence to transport himself beyond sea where he continued a wandering fugitive in Exile till the year 1660. In the mean time the Sectarian Army here prevailed till after the usurper Cromwel his death the false Monk then General with a Combination of Malignants and Publick Resolutioners did machinate our misery and effectuated it by bringing home the King to England from his banishment Wherein he was habituate into an implacable hatred against the Work of God. Yet though since the Kings first reception into Scotland our declensions were still growing untill they produced this fearful Revolt from God wherein the Nation is now involved there was still a faithful Remnant of Ministers Professors zealous for the Cause keeping their Integrity who in their Remonstrances Testimonies witnessed against both their Malignant Enemies and their backsliding Brethren the Resolutioners and also against the Sectarians their Invaders whose vast Toleration Liberty of Conscience which they brought in to invade our Religion as they had invaded our Land and infect it with their multifarious Errors was particularly by the Synod of Fife and other Brethren in the Ministery that joined themselves to them Testified against and demonstrated to be wicked intollerable Now to see how far the present Testimony is Conâ—irmed by the witnesses of this Period we may resume some Reflections on it I. They impartially carried on the Testimony against Prelacy and the Popish Prelatical Malignant faction on the one hand and the Sectarians on the other without ever waving the Testimony against either or at the least winking at the one to weaken the other both which Testimonies they though of so great importance that they could not dispense with but faithfully maintain both in their witnessings warnings In that seasonable necessary Warning Declaration concerning present imminent dangers given at Edinb Iuly 27. sess 27. They say first of the Sâ—ctaries That prevailing Party of Sectaries in England who have broken the Covenant and despised the Oath of God corrupted the Truth subverted the fundamental Government Look upon us with an evil eye as upon these who stand in the way of their Monstrous new fangled devices in Religion Government and though there were no Cause to fear any thing from that party but the Gangren infection of those many damnable abominable errors which have taken hold on them yet our vicinity unto and dayly Commerce with that Nation may justly make us afrayed that the Lord may give up many in this Land into a spirit of delusion to beleeve Lies because they have not received the Love of the Truth In that same warning they say we are not so to have the one of our eyes upon the Sectaries as not to have the other upon Malignants they being an Enemie more numerous more dangerous than the other not only because experience hath proven that there is a greater aptitude inclination in these of our Land to comply with Malignants than Sectaries in that they carry on their wicked designe under a pretext of being for the King but also because there be many of them in our oun bovvells By vvhich vve may see hovv impartially they opposed both and that this cannot be condemned in the Testimonies of the present Sufferers except the Assembly be condemned And because many novv a dayes have extenuating notions of those debates against Prelacy Sectarianisme about the Government of the Church c. and condemn these that vvould adhere to suffer for the Punctilio's of it as rigid nicetie I shall for seeing vvhat account the Assembly had of them cite their vvords in a Letter to the Assembly of divines at Westminster Dated Edin Iune 18. 1646. The smallest say they of Christs Truths if it be Lavvfull to call any of them small is of greater moment than all the other businesses that ever have been debated since the begining of the vvorld to this day but the highest of honours and heaviest of burdens is put upon yovv to declare out of the Sacred Records of Divine Truth vvhat is the Prerogative of the Croun extent of the Scepter of Jesus Christ vvhat bounds are to be set betvveen Him Ruling in His House and povvers established by God on Earth hovv by vvhom His House is to be Governed and by vvhat vvayes a restraint is to be put on these vvho vvould pervert His Truth and subvert the faith of many II. In the manner of maintaining this Testimony these famous Fathers while faithful for God gave us a perfect
Supremacy which were the successive heads of the former Testimonies and also now extended in a particular manner against Tyrannie And not only against the substance essence of these in the abstract but against substance circumstance abstract concret root branch head tail of them and all complying with them conforming to them or countenancing of them or any thing conductive for them or deduced from them any manner of way directly or indirectly formally or interpretatively This is that extensive and very comprehensive Testimony of the present Period as it is now stated sealed with the blood of many Which in all its parts points pendicles is most directly relative and dilucidly reducible to a complex Witness for the Declarative Glory of Christs Kingship and Headship over all as He is God and as He is Mediator which is the greatest concern that Creatures have to contend for either as Men or as Christians The matter of this Testimony I shall give a short manuduction to the progress Result of its Managment During the Exile of the Royal Brothers it is undenyably known that they were by their Mothers caresses and the Jesuites Allurements seduced to abjure the Reformed Religion which was easie to induce persons to that never had the sense of any Religion and to be reconciled to the Church of Rome And that not only they wrote to the Pope many promisses of promoting his projects if ever they should recover the power into their hands again and often frequented the Mass themselves but also by their example and the influence of their future hopes prevailed with many of their dependents attendants abroad to do the like Yet it is also unquestionably known that in the mean time of his Exile â—e renewed confirmed by private Letters to Presbyterians his many reiterated Engagments to adhere to the Covenant and declared that he was would continue the same man that he had declared himself to be in Scotland wherein doubtless as he was an expert Artist he equivocated and meant in his heart he would continue as Treacherous as ever which helped to keep a Loyal Impression of his Interest in the hearts of too many and an expectation of some good of him of which they were ashamed afterwards And immediatly before his return it s known what promises are contained in that Declaration from Breda from whence he came also the second time with greater Treachery than at the first to all Protestants that would live peaceably under his Government begining now to weigh out his perfidie perjurie breach of Covenant in offering to tolerote that in an Indulgence which he swore to maintain as a duty But in all this he purposed nothing but to ingyre ingratiate himself into the peoples over credulous affections that they might not obstruct his return which a jealousie of his intended Tyrannie would have awakened them to withstand And so having seated himself and strengthened his power against the attemptings of any whom his conscience might suggest an apprehension that they ought to resist him he thought himself discharged from all obligations of Covenants Oaths or promises for which his faith had been pledged And from the first hour of his arrival he did in a manner set himself to affront Defy the Authority of God and to be revenged upon his Kingdoms for inviting him so unanimously to sway their Scepter in polluting infecting the people with all debaucheries monstrous villanies and commencing his incestous Whoredoms that very first night he came to his Palace wherein he continued to his dying day outvying all for vileness Yet he went on deluding our Church with his dissimulations and would not discover all his wickedness hatched in his heart at first till his designs should be riper but directed a Letter to the Presbyterie of Edinburgh declaring he was resolved to protect preserve the Government of the Church of Scotland as it is settled by Law without violation Wherein it was observed he altered the Stile and spake never a word of the Covenant our Magna Charta of Religion Righteousness our greatest security for all Interests intrusted to him but only of Law by which as his practice expounded it afterwards he meant the Prelatical Church as it was settled by the Law of his Father since which time he reckoned there was no Law but Rebellion This was a piece preludie of our base defection degeneration into blind blockish brutish stupidity that after he had discovered so much perfidie we not only at first tempted him to Perjurie in admitting him to the Crown upon his mock-engagment in the Covenant whereby God was mocked His Spirit was grieved His Covenant prostituted the Church cheated the State betrayed but after the Lord had broken his yoke from off our necks by sending him to exile ten years where he was discovered to be imbibing all that venome Tyrannical violence which he afterward vented in revenge upon the Nations and after we had long smarted for our first transaction with him yet not withstanding of all this we beleeved him again and Issachar-like couched under his burdens and were so far from withstanding that we did not so much as witness against the readmission restauration of the head tail of Malignants but let them come in peaceably to the throne without any security to the Covenanted cause or for our Civil or Religious Interests and by piece meal at their oun ease leasure pleasure to overturn all the Work of God and reintroduce the old Antichristian yoke of abjured Prelacy and blasphemous Sacrelegious Supremacy and Absolute Arbitrary Tyrannie with all their abominations which he and with him the generality of our Nobility Gentry Clergy commonality by him corrupted without regard to faith or fear of God or man did promote propogate until the Nation was involved in the greatest revolt from rebellion against God that ever could be recorded in any Age or Generation Nay attended with greater grosser Aggravations than ever any could be capable of before us who have had the greatest Priviledges that ever any Church had since the National Church of the Iewes the greatest light the greatest effects of matchless magnified love the greatest Convictions of Sin the greatest Resolutions Solemn Engagments against it and the greatest Reformation from it that ever any had to abuse affront O Heavens be astonished at this horribly afraid for Scotland hath changed her Glory and the Crown hath fallen from off her head by an unparalelled Apostasie a free voluntary vvilfull deliberate Apostasie an avoued declared Authorized Apostasie Tyrannically carried on by Militarie violence cruelty a most universal every vvay unprecedented Apostasie I must a litle change my method in deducing the narration of this Catastrophe and subdistinguish this unhappie Period into several steps shevving hovv the Enemies opposition to Christ advanced and the Testimony of His
of Scotland did now suffer a violent villanous rape from a vermine of vile Schismatical Apostates obtruded imposed upon her instead of her able painful faithful succeseful Pastors that the Lord had set over her and now by their faintness the Enemies force robbed from her And none now allowed by Law to administer the Ordinances but either Apostate Curats who by their Perjurie Apostacy forfaulted their Ministry or other Hirelings Prelatâ— Journey-men who run without a Mission except from them who had none to give according to Christs Institution the seal of whose Ministry could never yet be shown in the Conversion of any sinner to Christ but if the tree may be known by its fruitâ— we may know whose Ministers they are ut ex ungue Leonem by their Conversions of Reformation into Deformation of the Work Cause of God into the similitude of the Roman beast of Ministers into Hirelings of their Proselytes into ten times worse children of the Devil then they were before of the power of Godlyness into formality of Preaching Christ into Orations of Morality of the purity of Christs Ordinances into the vanity of mens Inventions of the beautiful Government of the House of God for Edification to a Lordly preheminence Domination over consciences in a word of Church State Constitutions for Religion Liberty all up side doun into wickedness slavery These are the Conversions of Prelacy But now this astonishing blow to the Gospel of the Kingdom introducing such a Swarm of Locusts into the Church And in forcing a Complyance of the people with this defection and that so violently rigorously as even simple withdrawing was so severely punished by severe Edicts of fyning other arbitrary punishments at first what did it produce did it awaken all Christs Ambassadours now to appear for Christ in this clear clamant case of Confessing Him and the freedom Purity of His Ordinances Alas the backwardness bentness to backsliding in a Superseding from the duties of that day did make it evident that now the Lord had in a great measure forsaken them because they had forsaken Him. The standart of the Gospel was then fallen and few to take it up The Generality of Ministers Professors both went Conformed so far as to hear the Curats contrary to many points of the Reformation formerly attained contrare to their Covenant Engagments and contrare to their oun principles practice at that same time scrupling and refusing to keep the Bishops visitations and to Countenance their Discipline power of Iurisdiction because it was required as a Testification of their acknowledgment of Complyance with the present Government And yet not scrupling to Countenance their Doctrine usurped power of Order required also by the same Law as the same Test of the same Compliance submission It s strange that some yet doe plead for persisting in that same Complyance after all the bitter Consequents of it Other Ministers Lay altogether by in their retired recesses waiting to see what things would turn to Others were hopeless turned Farmers Doctors others more wyllie staid at home Preached quietly in Ladies Chambeâ—â— But the faithful thought that this Tyrannical ejection did 〈◊〉 or could not unminister them so as they might not Preaâ—â—â— Gospel where ever they were as Ambassadours of 〈◊〉 but rather found themselves under an indispensible necessity to Preach the Gospel and witness for the freedom of their Ministry and make full proof of it in preaching in season out of season and thereupon as occasion offered preached to all such as were willing to hear but at first only in private houses and that for the most part at such times when Sermons in publick surceased a superplus of Caution But afterwards finding so great difficulties and Persecutions for their house Meetings where they were so easily attrapped were constrained at last to keep their Meetings in the fields without shelter from cold wind snow or rain Where testifieing both practically particularly against these Usurpations on their Masters Prerogatives and witnessing for their Ministerial freedom contrary to all Law-Interdictions without any Licences or Indulgences from the Usurper but holding their Ministry from Jesus Christ alone both as to the Office exercise thereof they had so much of their Masters Countenance success in their labours that they valued neither hazards nor hardships neither the contempt of pretended Friends nor the Laws nor threatnings of Enemies adjudging the penalty of death it self to Preachers at Field Conventicles as they called them Now having thus overturned the Church Government by introducing Prelacy to advance an absolute Supremacy the effects whereof were either the Corruption or Persecution of all the Ministrie Encouragment of profanity wickedness the enerease advancment of Popery Superstition Error cruel impositions on the Conscience and oppressions for Conscience sake by the practices of cruel Supra-Spanish Inquisitions and all manner of outcryes of outragious violence villany The King proceeds in his design to pervert evert the wel modelled moderated Constitution of the State Government also by introducing advancing an Arbitrary Tyranny the effects whereof were an absolute Mancipation of Lives Liberties and estates unto his lust pleasure the utter subversion of Lawes and absolute impoverishinâ—â— the people For effectuating which he first procâ—â— lasting Imposition of intollerable Subsidies Taxatiâ—â— to impoverish that he might the more easily enslave the Nation Next a further recognizance of his Prerogative in a subjection of persons fortunes whole strength of the Kingdom to his absolute arbitrement in a Levy of Militia of 20000 footmen 2000 horsemen sufficiently armed with 40 dayes provision to be ready upon the Kings call to march to any part of his Dominions for opposing whatsoever invasion or insurrection or for any other service The first sproutings of Tyrannie were cherished by the cheerfull stupid submission generally yeelded to these exorbitances under which they who suffered most were inwardly Malecontents but there was no opposition to them by word or Action but on the contrary generally people did not so much as scruple sending out or going out as Militia-men never adverting unto what this Concurrence was designed demanded and given for Nor what an accession it was in the nature influence of the mean it self and in the sense intention of the Requirers unto a Confederacy for a Complyance with and a Confirmation strengthening of Arbitrary Tyrannie After the fundamental constitutions of both Church State are thus razed rooted up to confirm this Absolute Power he contrived to frame all inferior Magistrats according to his mould And for this end appointed that all persons in any publick Trust or Office whatsoever should subscribe a Declaration renouncing abjuring the Covenants whereby Perjurie was made the chief indispensible qualification and Conditio sine qua non of all that were
capable of exercing any power or place in Church or State. But finding this not yet sufficient security for this unsettled settlement because he wel understood the people stood no ways obliged to acknowledge him but only according to the solemn Covenants being the fundamental Conditions whereupon their Allegiance was founded as amongst all people the Articles mutually consented betwixt them and these whom they set over them are the constituent fundamentalls of Government and wel knowing that he his Associats by violating these Conditions had loosed the people from all subjection to him or any deriving power from him whereby the people might justly plead that since he had kept no Condition they were not now obliged to him he therefore contrived a new Oath of Allegiance to be imposed upon all in publick trust both in Church State wherein they are made to oblige themselves to that Boundless breaker of all Bonds Sacred Civil and his Successors also without any reciprocal obligation from him to them or any reserved restriction limitation or qualification as all humane Authority by Gods Ordinance must be bounded Whereby the Swearers have by Oath homologated the overturning of the very Basis of the Government making free people Slaves to the subverters thereof betraying their native Brethren posterity to the lust of Tyrannie and have in effect as really as if in plain termes affirmed that whatsoever Tyrannie shall command or do either as to the overturning of the work of God subverting of Religion destroying of Liberty or persecuting all the Godly to the utmost extremity they shall not only stupidly endure it but actively concur with it and assist in all this Tyrannie Alas there was no publick Testimony against this Trick to bring people under the yoke of Tyrannie except by some who suffered for Consciencious refusing it while many others did take it thinking to salve the matter by their pitiful quibleng senses of giving Cesar his due Where as this Cesar for whom these Loyal Allegâ—ers plead is not an ordinary Cesar but such a Cesar Nero or Caligula that if he got his due it would be in another kind Strange can Presbyterians swear that Allegiance which is substitute in the place of the broken burnt Covenant Or could they swear it to such a person who having broken buryed the Covenant that he who had sworn it might have another right and another Allegiance than that of the Covenant had then remitted to us all Allegiance founded upon the Covenant However having now prepared furnished himself with Tools so qualified for his purpose in Church State he prosecutes his Persecution with such fervour fury rage revenge impositions oppressions and with armed formed force against the faithful following their duty in a peaceable manner without the least shadow of Contempt even of his abused Authority that at length in the year 1666 a small party were compelled to go to defensive armes Which whatever was the desire of the Court as it is known how desirous they have been of an Insurrection when they thought themselves sure to suppress it that they might have a vent for their Cruelty and how one of the Brothers hath been heard say that if he might have his wish he would have them all turn Rebells and go to armes Yet it waâ— no predetermined design of that poor Handful For Sir Iames Turner pursuing his cruel orders in Galoway sent some Souldiers to apprehend a poor old man whom his neighbours compassionating intreated the Souldiers to loose him as he lay bound but were answered with drawen Swords and necessitated to their own defence In which they relieve the man and disarm the Souldiers and further attacqued some others oppressing that Countrey disarming 10 or 12 more and killing one that made resistence Whereupon the Countrey being alarmed and fearing from sad experience Sir Iames would certainly avenge this affront upon the whole Country without distinction of free unfree they gather about 54 horsemen march to Drumfreis take Sir Iames Turner Prisoner and disarm the Souldiers without any more violence Being thus by Providence engaged without any hope of retreat and getting some Concurrence of their Brethren in the same Condition they come to Lanerk where they renew the Covenant and thence to Pentland hills where by the holy Disposal of God they were routed many killed and 130 taken Prisoners who were treated so treacherously truculently as Turks would have blushed to have seen the like Hence now on the one hand we may see the Righteousness of God in leaving that Enemy to Him whom we embraced to make such avowed Discoveries of himself without a blush to the world and to scourge us with Scorpions that we nourished and put in his hands And also how justly at that time He left us into such a damp that like Asses we couched under all burdens and few came out to the help of the Lord against the Mighty drawing on them Meroz's Curse and the blood of their butchered Brethren after we had sitten seen and suffered all things Civil Sacred to be destroyed in our sight without resentment And though the Lord who called out these worthy Patriots who fell at Pentland to such an appearance for His Interests did take a Testimony of their hands with acceptance by sufferings and singularly Countenanced them in sealing it with their blood yet He would not give success nor His presence to the Enterprise but left them in a sort of infatuation without Counsel Conduct to be a prey to devourers that by a sad inadvertency they took in the Tyrants Interest into the State of the Quarrel Which should have warned His people for the future to have stated the Quarrel otherwise II. By this time and much more after the King gave as many proofs demonstrations of his being true to Antichrist in minding all the promises treaties with him as he had of his being false to Christ in all his Covenant Engagments with His People For in this same year 1666. he with his dear Royal Brother the Duke of York contrived countenanced abetted the burning of London evident by their employing their Guards to hinder the People from saving their oun and to dismiss the Incendiaries the Papists that were taken in the fact The Committee appointed to cognosce upon that business traced it fo far that they durst go no further unless they would arraign the Duke charge the King and yet before this it was enacted as Criminal for any to say the King was a Papist But having gained so much of his design in Scotland where he had established Prelacy advanced Tyranny to the hight of Absoluteness and his Supremacy almost beyond the reach of any additional supply yea above the Popes oun Claim and had now brought his only opposites the few faithful Witnesses of Christ to a Low pass he went on by Craft as wel as Cruelty to advance his oun in promoting
them it being no way supposible that his enlarging his favours can consist with their faithfulness but if they discover any measure of zeal against Antichrist he will quickly diminish them Thus far I have compendiously deduced the Account of the Progress Prosecution of the Testimony of this Church to the present State thereof as it is Concerted Contended for by the Reproached Remnant now only Persecuted which I hope this pretended Liberty shall be so far from obscuring interrupting that it shall contribute further to clear it and engage them more to Constancy in it and induce others also to Countenance it when they shall see the sad effects of this Destructive Snare which I leave to time to produce And hope that as the former Representation of their Cause will conciliate the Charity of the unbyassed so an Account of their Sufferings thereupon will provoke them to Sympathie To which I now proceed PART II. CONTAINING A BRIEF ACCOUNT Of the Persecution of the last Period And of the great Sufferings whereby all the Parts of its Testimony were sealed THe foregoing Deduction being the first thing I proposed to be discussed in the Method of this Essay hath now swelled to such a Bulk that the Last Period of it doth in a manner swallow up what I intended to have said on the Second Because it gives grounds to gather the Methods Measures that our Adversaries have managed for the ruin of this Witnessing Remnant and also discovers some special steps of their Sufferings within these 27. years past under the Tyranny of both the Brothers It will now be the more easie to glean the Gradations of the Means Machins used by this Popish Prelatical Malignant faction to raze the Work of Reformation and to build their Babel of Poperie Slaverie on the ruines thereof And to aggregate an Account in brief of the Great Sufferings of the Faithful Which though it be beyond my power and besides my purposes at present to offer a Narrative of it with any proportion to the greatness of the subject A more particular Relation thereof being now projected if Providence permit to be Published to the world which will discover strange unheard of Cruelties yet in this little heap of some hints only of the kinds of their Sufferings I do not question but it will appear that the Persecution of Scotland hath been very remarkable and scarcely out-done by the most Cruel in any Place or Age in respect of injustice illegality inhumanity though perhaps inferiour in some other Circumstances But that none could be more unjust illegal or inhumane I need not further I cannot better demonstrate than only to Declare the matter of fact as it fell out in the several Steps of the Last Period 1. In the Entry of this fatal Catastrophe the first of their Mischievous Machinations was to remove out of the way all who were eminent Instruments in carrying on the former Work of God or might be of influence for obstructing their Antichristian Tyrannical designs both in the State and in the Church And accordingly when the Marqueâ—s of Argyle who had a main hand in bringing home the King and closing the Second Treaty at Breda went up to London to Congratulate his return from exile he was made Prisoner in the Tower thereafter sent doun to Scotland indyted of high Treason at length beheaded and his head placed upon the Tolbooth of Edinburgh A watch word of warning to our Addressers who may ere all be done meet with the same sawce for no other alledged Cause but for his Complyance with the English when they had our Land in subjection a thing wherein the Judges that condemned him were Socii Criminis but really for another provocation that incensed the King against him which made him a Tyrant as infamous for villanie as for violence to wit for his reproving the King when others declined it for an Adulterous Rape which he held for so piacular a Crime that he resolved nothing should expiate it but the blood of this Nobleman For the same Pretended Cause was the Lord Waristoun afterwards executed to death at Edinburgh after they had missed of their design of taking him off by Clandestine ways abroad Then they fall upon the Ministers And because Mr Iames Guthrie was a man who had been honoured of God to be zealous singularly faithful in carrying on the Work of Reformation and had asserted the Kingly Authority of Christ in opposition to the Erastian Supremacy encroaching thereupon therefore he must Live no longer but is condemned to die and most basely handled as if he had been a most Notorious Thief or Malefactor he is hanged afterward his head placed upon one of the Ports of Edinburgh where it abideth to this day Preaching not only against the Enemies Rebellion against God but against the defection of many Ministers since who have Practically denied that Great Truth for which he Suffered viz his Testimony against the Supremacy and for declining the Usurped Authority of him who Arrogated it At the same time there was a Proclamation which they caused to be read at all the Church-doors discharging Ministers to speak against them or their Proceedings whereby Profane Malicious persons were encouraged to witness against their Ministers By which means though many were in no hazard thinking it commendable Prudence commended indeed by the world but hateful unfaithfulness before God to be silent at such a time some faithful Ministers giving faithful free warning Protesting against the present Defection were condemned of Treason and banished out of the three Dominions Others Indicta Causa without access to give in their defences were sentenced with banishment and could never get an Extract of their sentence And furder were compelled to subscribe a bond under pain of death to remove out of all the Dominions betuixt such a day This was the lot and also the blot of these famous faithful Ministers Mr Iohn Livingstoun Mr Ro Mâ— Ward Mr Io. Broun c. who spent the rest of their dayes in Holland serving their Generation by their excellent Writings Then after they had disposed of many other Ministers whom they thrust out for not keeping the 29th of May having now laid by the most Eminent whom they feared most of the Ministrie they shortly thereafter outed violented the rest from the exercise of their Ministrie and straitened them with strange severe Confinements yea because they would not be out done 〈◊〉 suppressing Religion by any no not by Iulian the Apostate they proceeded to poyson all the springs fountains of Learning ordaining that none be Masters in Universities except they take the Oath of Supremacy oune the Government of Prelacy and none be admitted to teach in a School without the Prelats Licence These Courses brought many Ministers Expectants to great Sufferings 2. Hitherto they reached only Noblemen Gentlemen Ministers and others whom they thought might
visible Kingdom of which the Government is layd upon His shoulders against the heaven-daring Usurpations encroachments made thereupon both as He is Mediator King Head of the Church and as He is God Universal King of the world As He is Mediator it is His Peculiar Prerogative to have a Supremacy Sole Soveraignty over His oun Kingdom to institute His oun Government to constitute His oun Lawes to ordain His oun Officers to appoint His oun Ordinances which He will have observed without alteration addition or diminution untill His Second Coming This His Prerogative hath been is invaded by Erastian Prelacy Sacrilegious Supremacy and now by Antichristian Poperie which have overturned His Government inverted His Lawes subverted His Officiers Perverted His Ordinances As He is God Universal King it is His in communicable Property Glory not only to have Absolute Illimited Power but to invest his Deputed Ministers of Justice with His Authority Ordinance of Magistracy to be administred in subordination to Him to be regulated by His Lawes and to be improved for His Glory the good of Mankind This Glory of His hath been invaded by Tyrants Usurpers arrogating to themselves an Absolute Power intruding themselves without His investment into Authority in a Rebellion against Him in opposition to His Lawes and abusing it to His dishonour and the destruction of Mankind Against both which Encroachments the Present Testimony is stated in a Witness for Religion Liberty to both which these are destructive This will appear to be the Result Tendency of the Testimony in all its parts opposed by the Enemies of Religion Liberty and the end of all their oppositions to bring it to this Crinomenon who shall he King Iesus or Cesar Let any seriously search into all their Proclamations Edicts against Religion Liberty this will be found to be the soul sense of them practically Really speaking to this purpose especially since this man came to the Throne J. R. JAmes the 7 2 by the V. of G. King of Scotland England France Ireland Defender of the Antichristian faith To'all sundry our good subjects whom these presents do or many concern Greeting We having taken into our Royal Consideratiâ—n the many great inconveniences which have happened in that our Ancient Kingdom of Scotland especially of late years through the persuasions of the Christian Religion the great heats animosities betuixt the Professors therof and our good faithful subjects whose faith Religion is subject subservient to our Royal will the Supreme Law Reason publick Conscience to the disappointment of our Projects restraint of our pleasures and Contempt of the Royal power Convertingâ— true Loyaltie absolute subjection into words names which we care not for of Religion Liberty Conscience the Word of God thereby withdrawing some to the Christian faction from an absolute implicite subjection to us our will as if there were a Superiour Law to which they might appeal And considering that these Rebellious Christians do never cease to assert maintain strange Paradoxes such Principles as are inconsistent with the glory interest of our Government as that the Authority of Kings should be hem'd in with Limits and that their Acts Actions are to be examined by another rule than their oun Authority to make them Lawful that somethings in the Kingdom are not subject to the Kings Authority That there is a Kingdom within a Kingdom not subordinate to the King And that there is another King Superior to the Supreme whom they will rather obey than us And that we must either take Laws from Him or otherwise we are not Magistrats And Considering also their Practices are Conforme to their Principles They will not obey our Lawes but the Lawes of Another inconsistent with ours and will calculate their Religion according to His Lawes and not according to ours And continually make their Addresses to and receive Ambassadours from a Prince whom we know not whom our Predicessors of truely worthy memory did crucify One Iesus who was dead whom they affirm to be alive whose Government they alledge is Supreme over all Kings Whom they acknowledge but as His Vassals Being now by favourable fortune not only brought to the Imperial Croun of these Kingdoms through the greatest difficulties but preserved upon the throne of our Royal Ancestors which from our Great founder Nimrod of Glorious Memory and our Illustrious Predecessors Pharaoh Nebuchadnezzar Herod the Great Nero Caligula c. of blessed pious Memory hath been ever opposite to and projecting the Destruction of that Kingdom of Christ Do after their Laudable example resolve to suppress that Kingdom by all the means might we can use because His Government is hateful to us His yoke heavy His sayings are hard His Lawes are contrary to our lusts Therefore we will not let this man reign over us we will break His bonds and cast away His Cords from us And advance exerce our Soveraign Authority Prerogative Royal Absolute Power which all our subjects are to obey without reserve And as by virtue of our Supremacy whereby we are above all but such as we are pleased to subject our selves to settled by Law and Lineally Derived to us as an Inherent right to the Croun we have Power to order all matters of Church as well as State as we in our Royal wisdom shall think fit All Laws Acts of Christ to the contrary notwithstanding And accordingly in our Royal wisdom have overturned the plat-form of that Government which Christ hath instituted razed all Courts fenced in His Name and severely interdicted all Meetings of His subjects and intertainment of His Ambassadours many of whom in contempt of Him that sent them we have punished according to Law for negotiating His Affairs in our Kingdoms without our pleasure requiring Allegiance obedience to Him after we had exauctorated Him we have also established our Right Trusty Entirely beloved Clerks in Ecclesiastick affairs and their underlings by our Authority to have the Administration of the business of Religion and impowered our Right Trusty well beloved Cousins Counsellers to Compell all to submitt to them by Finings Confinings Imprisonment Banishment Oaths Bonds and all Legal means So now having prosecuted this war against Christ to this length that we have no fears of a Rally of His forces again so often beaten we are now engaged with other Antichristian Princes to give our Power to our holy Father Antichrist so far as may serve his purpose to oppse Christ in his way but we reserve so much to our seeves as may encroach upon Him in our Capacity And therefore we have thought fit to restore to Antichrist our Ecclesiastical Supremacy from whom we borrowed it and for which we have no use at present But we resolve to maintain prosecute our Soveraign Authority Prerogative Royal and
called in One Hope Professing One Lord Confessing One Faith sealed with One Baptisme Eph. 4. 3. c. And for Brethren to dwel together in Unity is good pleasant and like the precious Oyntment upon the head that ran doun upon Aarons beard Psal. 133. 1 2. A fragrant Oyntment indeed if it be composed aright of Gospel-simples according to Divine art and the Wisdom that is from above which is first pure then peacable and not made up of Adulterate Politicks that Union that hath the Spirit for its Author the Scripture for its Rule Peace for its bond beauty love for its Cement Faith for its foment Christ for its foundation and Truth holiness for its constant Companions cannot but be intensely desired enixely endeavoured and fervently followed by all the Professors of the Gospel of Peace Subjects of the Prince of Peace Which makes Division Schisme not only a great Miserie but a Grand sin But it must be in the way of Truth Duty and consistent with holiness the honour of Christ otherwise if it be in the way of Apostasie defection it is but a Confederacy Conspiracy against the Lord. And true Union can neither be attained nor retained nor recovered except the sinful Cause of Division Defection and the holy overruling Cause the Anger of the Lord be removed in turning to following him II. Thô there be not perfect Union but diversity both of judgements and practices in several Cases there may be Communion with a Church in its Ordinances and Ministrie As 1. We may have a Catholick Communion with all Christian Ministers Members of the Catholick Church considered as such holding the Head Christ and the foundation sure And so we may meet for Worship with all Devout men in every Nation under Heaven whether they be Parthians or Medes or Elamites or French or Dutch c. thô differing in Controversies of lesser moment not overturning that if they hold the Universal Testimony of the Gospel against the Common enemies thereof Iewes Turks or Pagans for there is neither Greek nor Iew if he be a Christian Christ is all and in all Col. 3. 11. But if they be Hereticks we can have no Communion with them 2. We may have a more special Communion with all Protestant Ministers Members of the Reformed Church considered as such more strictly and upon stricter conditions providing they hold not only the Universal of Christians but the General Testimony of Protestants against the Greater lesser Antichrists thô differing from us in some circumstantial points not Reformed and not contradictory unto the Protestant Testimony against Poperie all Heresie nor declining from their oun Reformation by Defection or Schisme And Consequently its Lawful to oune Communion with the Churches of the United Provinces and take Ordination from them thô they have some formes not allowable from which they were never Reformed because they are sound in the Protestant Testimony But with the Sectarians or Schismaticks or Apostates among them we cannot oune that special Communion 3. We may have a more Particular Communion upon yet stricter conditions with all our Covenanted Brethren Ministers Members of the Churches of Britain Ireland considered as such Providing they hold not only the Universal not only the more Special Protestant Testimony against the Greater lesser Antichrists but the Covenanted Testimony for the Reformation in Doctrine Worship Discipline Government against Poperie Prelacy Superstition Heresie Schisme Profanness according to the Covenant Thô differing from us in those Controversial points never Reformed and which were never the Word of Christs patience and do not overturn the Covenanted Testimony But with those that contradict counteract that we cannot oune that particular Communion 4. We may have yet a nearer Organical Communion upon stricter conditions still with all the Ministers Members of the National Church of Scotland constitute confederate under one Reformed Government according to the Rule of Christ providing they hold not only all the former Testimonies under the foresaid considerations but the Presbyterian Testimony as stated in the Ecclesiastical Constitutions and sworn to in the National Covenants Engagements of that Church founded upon the Word of God against Poperie Prelacy Erastianisme Sectarianisme Toleration Schisme Defection thô differing in some things from us never Reformed never considered in Ecclesiastical Judicatories never engaged against in our Covenants never Stated as the Word of patience and Matter of Testimony But with those that oppose suppress reproach and abandon this Testimony we cannot oune this Organical Communion in this broken State of the Church We may have yet a stricter Congregational Communion upon stricter conditions in and with the Ordinary or extraordinary Meetings or Societies of the Lords people for Gospel Ordinances with any Minister or Ministers duely truely admitted to that function according to Christs Appointment and the Call of the people whether in a fixed or unfixed relation provicing he holds the Testimony of Christ under all the former considerations and ounes and adheres unto the true received principles of the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline Government founded upon the written Word of God and whatsoever Declarations or Testimonies former or latter particular or more General are aggreable thereunto thô differing from us in some of the Integral not Essential parts of our Testimony against the Enemies of our Covenanted Reformation But with such as deny or decline from it by Schisme or Defection or Complyance with the enemies thereof we cannot oune this Congregational Communion in this broken State of the Church III. Thô there be many things in a Church to brangle lessen the Comfort of our Communion with it and the Ministrie thereof yet we may keep fellowship with a true Church thô in many things faultie and Corrupt as all Churches are in some measure in this Militant State. As the Church of Corinth had many corruptions in their practice yet no separation is enjoyned from it And the Lord did not require separation from the Churches of Pergaâ—â—â— Thyatira though they had many corruptions deficiencies in Discipline in a Toleration of Hereticks and would lay no other burden upon them but to hold fast what they had as Mr Durham shewes in his Comment on the Revel chap. 2. Lect. 6. Pag. 148 149. as also Chap. 18. Lect. 1. Pag. 585. in 4 to This must be granted especially in these cases 1. In the infant State of the Church when the Reformation is only begun then many things may be tolerated before they be gradually Reformed which in an adult State are not to be suffered 2. In a growing case of the Church advancing out of corruptions then many things may be born with while they are ascending wrestling up the hill which in a Declining State when the Church is going backward must not be yeelded unto See that Objection of hearing Prelatical men in the time of
former Prelacy answered above Peri. 4. Pag. 54. 3. In a Constitute and settled case of the Church enjoying her Priviledges Judicatories corruptions may be â—oreborn and the offended are not to withdraw before recourse to the Judicatories for an orderly redress But in a broken disturbed State when there is no access to these Courts of Christ then people thô they must not usurp a power of Judicial Censuring these corruptions yet they may claim exercise a discretive power over their oun practice and by their withdrawing from such Ministers as are guilty of them signify their sense of the moral equity of these censures that have been legally enacted against these the equivalent corruptions and when they should be legally inflicted As we do upon this Ground withdraw from the Prelatick Curats and likewise from some of our Covenanted Brethren upon the account of their being chargable with such corruptions defections from our Reformation as we cannot but shew our dislike of This the Reverend Author of Rectius instruendum justifies Confut. 3. Dial. Chap. 1. Pag. 8. where he is shewing what separation is not sinful and gives this for one if we separate in that which a National Church hath commanded us as her Members to disoune by her standing Acts Authority while those from whom we separate oune that Corruption Which holds true of the Curats Indulged and Addressers and all that we withdraw from However it be certainly those are to be withdrawn from with whom we cannot communicate without submitting to the Lawes establishing them and taking on that Test badge of our incorporation with them and partaking of their sin in hazard of their judgment IV. Thô in some cases as we are warranted so are necessitated to withdraw yet neither do we allow it upon slight or slender grounds nor can any tender soul be forced to discountenance the Ministers of Christ I do not speak here of the Prelatick Curats without great reluctancy and grief of heart even when the grounds of it are solid valid and the necessity unavoidable Therefore we reject these as insufficient Grounds besides what are given already 1. We cannot withdraw from a Minister for his Infirmities or weaknesses Natural spiritual or Moral 2. Neither for Persâ—nal faults escapes We expect a faithful but not a sinless Ministrie 3. Nor for every defect in faithfulness through Ignorance want of courage Misinformation or being byassed with affection for particular persons We do not hold that faults in Members or defects in Ministers do pollute the Oordinances and so necessitate a Separation but aggree with what Mr Durham sayes on Revel chap. 2. Lect. 6. Pag. 147. in 4 to Sincerity discovered will cover many faults 4. Nor for every discoverie of Hypocrisie thô we may have groâ—nd to suspect a Mans principle Motive be not right yet if he be following duty unblameably and have a Lawfull Call What then notwithstanding every way whether in Pretence or in Truth Christ is Preached therein me may rejoyce Philip. 1. 18. 5. Nor yet for real Scandals not attended with obstinacy if Ministers will take reproof admonition and at least by Doctrinal Confessing and practicall for saking them satisfie the offended 6. Yea thô his Scandals be so gross that we must discountenance him when he persisâ—s in them yet that is not a disouning of his Ministrie `or a rejecting his Commission but a discountenancing for his disorders until they be removed But the Apologet. Relaâ— Sect. 14. Pag. 290 291. sayes 1 there may be Ministerial corruptions that cut the very throat of the Office and make one no Officer and it is past questioning such may be shunned without all hazard of Separation 2 when personal faults are very gross palpable open avowed such may be shuned without any hazard of Separation because the mans being an Officer coram Deo is much to be questioned and there is great probability that ipso facto he had forefaulted the same thô such should be the corruption in a Church that notwithstanding of all this he may be maintained 3 Separation is 〈◊〉 thing and not hearing such or such a man is a far other thing there may be many just grounds of exception against a particular person why people may refuse to countenance him without any hazard of separation or joining with separatists in their principles Separation is one thing and refusing to attend the Ministrie of such a man is another thing for a man may joine with Ordinances in another congregation and so testify that he hath no prejudice at the Ministrie but only against such a man in particular Whence it is an ignorant as wel as malicious calumnie to say that our withdrawing from the Curats and also from some Ministers whom otherwise we respect reverence as Godly Ministers for their offensive defections is a disouning al the Ministrie of Scotland Whereas we do profess indeed a disouning of the Curats Ministrie but for our Reverend Presbyterian Ministers thô we do discountenance many of them with sad hearts for their not keeping the Word of the Lords patience in this hour of tentation nor adhering to the principles constitutions of the Church of Scotland Yet this is not a disouning of their Ministrie but a Refusing to countenance them in their present administrations in this disturbed State till these offences be removed V. As to disoune the Ministrie were hateful Sectarianisme so to dissolve or break off Communion with a true Church whereof we are Members were an unnatural Schisme which is horrid sin But because among all the various Sufferings wherewith the poor tossed racked Remnant now Persecuted have been exercised this hath not been the lightest that they have been on all hands stigmatized as Schismaticks Separatists not only because they have maintained a resolved withdrawing from the Curats but also have discountenanced many Presbyterian Ministers with whom they have been offended for their declining Courses and Complyances with the Times Corruptions and forsaking in a great measure the duty of this day I shall distinguish some cases of Separation out of the Writings of our approven Authors which will jâ—â—tify all their withdrawings 1. Mr Durham distinguishes these three Schisme separating from the Unity Communion of a true Church consisting not alway in diversity of Doctrine but in divided Practices according to that of Augustine Schismaticos facit not diversa fides sed disrupta communionis Societas Then separation either in whole from a Church as no Church or in part in some things wherein they cannot communicate with that corrupt Church which is Lawful if it exceed not its ground Then lastly Secession a local removing to a better Church The first of these cannot be imputed to the Persecuted Wanderers for they separate from no true Church whereof they were Members but these from whom they separate will be found to be the Schismaticks 2. The second of these to wit separation
Covenants neither could they ever pretend any thing that might loose the obligation 8. That party in a Reformed Church which having overturned her Reformation hath shut out laid aside persecute away sound adherers thereunto both Ministers Professors will not admit Ministers to officiate but upon the sinful termes of complyance with their way are Schismaticks But the Prelats and their Curats are that party in this Reformed Church which having overturned her Reformation hath shut out laid aside and Persecute away sound adherers thereunto c. Therefore they are the Schismaticks to be withdrawn from and their way is the Schisme which we are bound to extirpate in the Covenant HEAD II. The Sufferings of many for Refusing to oune the Tyrants Authority vindicated THe other Grand Ordinance of God Magistracy which He hath in His Soveraign Wisdom Justice Goodness appointed ordained consecrated for the demonstration illustration vindication of His oun Glory and the Communication Conservation and Reparation of the Peace safety order Liberty and universal good of mankind is next to that of the Ministry of Greatest Concern wherein not only the Prudence Policie Propertie Libertie of men but also the conscience Duty Religion of Christians have a special Interest And therefore it is no less important pertinent profitable necessary for every one that hath any of these to care contend for keep or recover to inquire into and understand somthing of the institution constitution nature boundaries of the Sacred ordinance of Magistracy than into the holy ordinance of the Ministry So far at least as may consist with the sphere of every ones Capacity Station and may conduce to the satisfaction of every ones conscience in the discharge of the duties of their relations Every private man indeed hath neither capacity concern nor necessity to study the Politicks or search into the secrets or Intrigues of Government no more then he is to be versed in all the Administrations of Ecclesiastical Policy and Interests of the Ministry yet every mans Conscience is no less concerned in distinguishing the Character of Gods Ministers of Justice the Magistrats to whom he owes ounes allegiance that they be not usurping Tyrants everting the Ordinance of the Magistracy than in acknowledging the Character of Christs Ministers of the Gospel to whom he owes ounes obedience that they be not usurping Prelats or Impostors perverting the Ordinance of the Ministry The Glory of God is much concerned in our ouning keeping pure intire according to His will word both these Ordinances And our Conscience as well as Interest is concerned in the advantage or hurt profit or prejudice of the right or wrong observation or prevarication of both these ordinances being interested in the advantage of Magistracy and hurt of Tyrannie in the State as well as in the advantage of the Ministry and hurt of Diocesan or Erastian Supremacy in the Church in the advantage of Ltberty and hurt of slavery in the State as well as in the advantage of Religion and hurt of Profaneness in the Church in the profit of Lawes and prejudice of Prerogative in the State as well as in the profit of Truth and prejudice of Error in the Church in the profit of Peace and true Loyalty and prejudice of oppression and Rebellion in the State as well as in the profit of Purity Unity and prejudice of Defection Division or Schisme in the Church So that in Conscience we are no more free to Prostitute our Loyalty Liberty absolutely in ouning every Possessor of the Magistracy than we are free to Prostitute our Religion faith implicitely in ouning every Pretender to the Ministry This may seem very Paradoxical to some because so dissonant dissentient from the vulgar yea almost Universal and invetrate opinion Practice of the world that hitherto hath not been so precise in the matter of Magistracy And it may seem yet more strange that not only some should be found to assert this but that any should be found so strict and strait-laced as to adventure upon suffering and even to Death for that which hath hitherto been seldom scrupled by any that were forced to subjection under a yoke which they had no force to shake off and wherein Religion seems litle or nothing concerned for not ouning the authority of the present Possessors of the place of Government which seems to be a Question not only excentrick extrinsick to Religion but such a State question as for its thorny Intricacies difficulties is more proper for Politicians Lawyers to dispute about as indeed their debates about this head of Authority have been as manifold multiplied as about any one thing than for Private Christians to search into and suffer for as a Part of their Testimony But if we will cast off Prejudices and the Tyrannie of Custom and the bondage of being bound to the worlds Mind in our inquiries about Tyrannie and suffer our selves to Ponder impartially the importance of this matter And then to state the question right We shall find Religion Conscience hath no small interest in this business They must have no snall Interest in it if we consider the importance of this matter either extensively or objectively or Subjectively Extensively considered it is the Interest of all mankind to know and be resolved in Conscience whether the Government they are under be of Gods Ordination or of the Devils administration whether it be Magistracy or Tyrannie whether it gives security for Religion Liberty to themselves and their posterity or whether it induces upon themselves and entails upon the posterity slavery as to both these invaluable Interests whether they have matter of praise to God for the blessings mercies of Magistracy or matter of Mourning for the plagues miseries of Tyrannie to the end they may know both the sins snares Duties dangers Case Crisis of the times they â—ive in All men that ever enjoyed the mercy of a right Constitute Magistracy have experienced and were bound to bless God for the blessed fruits of it And on the other hand the world is full of the Tragical Monuments of Tyrannie for which men were bound bath to search into the Causes and see the effects of such plagues from the Lord to the end they might mourn over both And from the begining it hath been observed that as Peoples sins have alwayes procured the Scourge of Tyrannie So all their miseries might be refounded upon Tyrants encroachments Usurping upon or betraying their Trust and overturning Religion Lawes Liberties Certainly Mankind is concerned in point of Interest Conscience to inquire into the cause Cure of this Epidemick distemper that hath so long held the world in miserie and so habitually that now it is become as it were Natural to lye stupidly under it that is that old Ingrained Gangrene of the Kings Evil or Complyance with Tyrannie that hath long
have acquired do seek the praise of Justice by injury of Liberality by robbery So he can make some shew of a Civil mind but so much the less assurance gives he of it that it is manifest he intends not thereby the subjects good but the greater security of his oun lusts and stability of empire over posterity having some what Mitigated the peoples hatred which when he hath done he will turn back again to his old manners for the fruit which is to follow may easily be known both by the seed and by the sower thereof An exact Copy of this we have seen within these tuo years as oft before in the rule of the other Brother After God hath been robbed of His prerogatives the Church of her Priviledges the State of its Lawes the Subjects of their Libertie property he is now affecting the praise captating the Applause of tenderness to conscience and Love of Peace by offering now Liberty after all his Cruelties wherein all the thinking part of men do discern he is prosecuting that hellish Project introducing Popery slaverie and overturning Religion Law Liberty 3. Regium imperium secundum Naturam est Tyrannicum contra Regium Liberi inter Liberos est Principatus Tyrannus domini in servas c. Tyranny is against Nature and a Masterly Principality over slaves Can he be called a father who accounts his subjects slaves or a Shepherd who does not feed but devours his flock or a Pilot who doth allwise study to make shipwrack of the goods and strikes a leak in the very ship where he sails what is he then that bears Command not for the peoples advantage but studies only himself who leadeth his subjects into manifest snares he shall not verily be accounted by me either Commander Emperour or Governour King Iames the 6 th also in a speech to the Parliament anno 1609. makes this one Character of a Tyrant when he begins to invade his subjects rights Liberties And if this be true then we have not had a King these many years the foregoing deduction will demonstrate what a slavery we have been under 4. Quid qui non de virtute certet câ—m bonis c. What is he then who doth not contend for vertue with the good but to exceed the most flagitious in vices If yow see then any usurping the Royal name and not excelling in any virtue but striving to exceed all in baseness not tendering his subjects good with native affection but pressing them with proud domination esteeming the people committed to his trust not for their safegaurd but for his oun gain will yow imagine this man is truly a King albeit he vapours with a numerous Lieveguard and makes an ostentation of gorgeous Pomp The learned Althusius likewise in his Politicks cap. 38. Num. 15. as He is cited by Ius Populi chap. 16. Pag. 347. makes this one Character of a Tyrant that liveing in Luxury whoredome greed idleness he neglecteth or is unfit for his office How these suite our times we need not express what effrontry of impudence is it for such monsters to pretend to rule by virtue of any Authority derived from God who pollute the world with their Adulteries Incests and Live in open defyance of all the Lawes of the universal King with whom to exceed in all villanies is the way to purchase the Countenance of the Court and to aspire to preferment No Heliogabulus c. could ever come up the length in wickedness that our Rulers have professed 5. Omnium vim Legum in se transferre c. He can transfer unto himself the strength of all Lawes and abrogate them when he pleases King Iames the 6. in that fore-cited speech saith a King degenerateth into a Tyrant when he leaveth to rule by Law. Althusius also loc cit saith there is one kind of Tyranny which consisteth in violating changing or removing of fundamental Lawes specially such as concern Religion such saith he Philip the King of Spain who contrare to the fundamental Belgick Lawes did erect an administration of Justice by force of armes and such was Charles the 9 th of France that thought to overturn the Salicque Law. All that knoweth what hath been done in Britain these 27 years can attest our Lawes have been subverted the Reformation of Religion overturned and all our best Lawes rescinded and now the Penal Statuts against Papists disabled stopped without against Law. 6. Ad suum eum unius nutum omnia c. He can revoke all things to his nod at his pleasure This is also one part of King Iames the 6 his Character of a Tyrant when he sets upon arbitrary power And of Althusius loc cit when he makes use of an absolute Power and so breaks all bonds for the good of humane Society We allow a King an absolute power taken in a good sense that is he is not subaltern nor subordinate to any other Prince but supreme in his oun dominions or if by absolute be meant Perfect he is most absolute that governs best according to the word of God. But if it be to be Legibus solutus loosed from all Lawes we thinke it blasphemy to ascribe it to any Creature Where was there ever such an arbitrary absolute power arrogated by any Mortal as hath been claimed by our Rulers these years past especially by the present Usurper who in this Liberty of conscience now granted to Scotland assumes to himself an absolute power which all are to obey without reserve which carries the subjects slavery many stages beyond what ever the Grand Seigneur did attempt 7. Tyranno ad cives opprumendos c. For by a Tyrant strangers are imployed to oppress the subjects They place the establishment of ther Authority in the peoples weakness and think that a Kingdom is not a Procuration concredited to them by God but rather a prey fallen into their hands Such are not joined to us by any Civil bond or any bond of humanity but should be accounted the most Capital enemies of God and of all men King Iames ub supra sayes he is a Tyrant that imposes un Lawful Taxes raises forces makes war upon his subjects to Pillage Plnnder wast spoil his Kingdoms Althusins ubi supra makes a Tyrant who by immoderate exactions and the like exhausts the subjects and cites Scripture Ier. 22. 13. 14. Ezek. 34. 1 King. 12. 19. Psal. 14. 4. It is a famous saying of Bracton He is no longer King then dum bene regit while he rules well but a Tyrant when-soever he oppresseth the people that are trusted to his Care Government And Cicero sayes amittitis omne exceritus imperit jiu qui eo imperio exercitâ— Rempublicans oppugnat He loseth all legal power in over an Army or Empire who by that Government army does obstruct the wel-fare of that republick What oppressions exactions by armed force our Nation hath been wasted with in part is
Lords displeasure they are to give Judgment though the King should countermand it Secondly that the King is not excepted from their Judgment is also evident from the General Commands Gen. 9. 6. whoso sheddeth mans blood â—y man shall his blood be shed there is no exception of Kings or Dukes here and we must not distinguish where the Law distinguisheth not Numb 35. 30 31. whoso killeth any person the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a Murderer which is guilty of death but he shall be surely put to death What should hinder then Justice to be awarded upon a Murdering King Shall it be for want of witnesses It will be easy to adduce thousands Or shall this be satisfaction for his life that he is a Crowned King the Law saith there shall no satisfaction be taken The Lord speaketh to under Judges Levit. 19. 15. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment thow shalt not respect the person of the poor nor honour the person of the Mighty If Kings be not among the Mighty how shall they be classed Deut. 1. 17. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment but yow shall hear the small as well as the great yow shall not be afraid of the face of man for the judgment is Gods if then no mans face can outdare the Law Judgment of God then the Kings Majestick face must not do it but as to the demerit of blood he must be subject as well as another It s no Argument to say the Sanhedrin did not punish David for his Murther Adulterie Ergo now it is not Lawful to punish a King for the same a reason a non facto is not relevant David did not punish Ioab for his Murder but Authorized it as also he did Bathsheba's Adulterie will that prove that Murders connived at or commanded by the King shall not be punished or that Whores of State are not to be called to an account Neither will it prove that a Murdering king should not be punished that David was not punished because he got both the sin pardoned and his life granted from the Lord saying to him by the mouth of the Prophet Nathan Thow shalt not die But as for the demerit of that fact he himself pronounced the sentence out of his oun mouth 2 Sam. 12. 15. As the Lord liveth the man that hath done this thing shall surely die So every king condemned by the Law is condemned by his oun mouth for the Law is the voice of the king why then do we so much weary our selves concerning a Judge seeing we have the kings oun Confession that is the Law. Buchanan de jure regni And there needs be no other difficultie to find a Tribunal for a Murdering king than to find one for a Murderer for a Judgment must acknowledge but one name to wit of the Crime if a king then be guilty of Murder he hath no more the name of a king but of a Murderer when brought to Judgment for he is not Judged for his kingship but for his Murther as when a Gentleman is Judged for Robbery he is not hanged neither is he spared because he is a Gentleman but because he is a Robber See Buchanan ubi supra 6. If the Peoples Representatives be superior to the king in Judgment and may execute Judgment without him and against his will then they may also seek account of him for if he hath no Power but from them and no Power without them to act as king no more than the eye or hand hath Power to act without the body then his Power must be inferior fiduciary accountable to them But the former is true The Peoples Representatives are superior to the king in Judgment and may execute Judgment without him and against his will. In Scripture we find the Power of the Elders and heads of the People was very great and in many cases superior to the king which the Learned Dr Owen demonstrates in his Preliminary Exercitations on the Epist. to the Heb. and proves out of the Rabbins that the kings of the Iewes might have been called to an account punished for transgressing of the Law. But in the Scripture we find 1 They had a Power of Judgment with the Supreme Magistrate in matters of Religion Justice Government Hamor Shechem would not make a Covenant with Iacobs Sons without the consent of the men of the Citie Gen. 34. 20. David behoved to consult with the Captains of thousands every Leader if it seemed good to them to bring again the Ark of God. 1. Chron. 13. 1 2 3. So also Solomon could not do it without them 1 King. 8. 1. Ahab could not make peace with Benhadad against the consent of the People 1 King. 20. 8. The men of Ephraim complain that Iephthah the Supreme Magistrate had gone to War against the Children of Ammon without them and threatened to burn his house with fire which he only excuses by the Law of necessity Iudg. 12. 1 2 3. The Seventy Elders are appointed by God not to be the Advisers only helpers of Moses but to bear a part of the burden of ruling governing the People that Moses might be eased Numb 11. 14 17. Moses upon his sole pleasure had not power to restrain them in the exercise of Judgment given of God. They were not the Magistrats depending deputies but in the act of Judging they were independent and their Consciences as immediatly subjected to God as the Superior Magistrate who was to adde his approbative suffrage to their actings but not his directive nor imperative suffrage of absolute pleasure but only according to the Law he might command them to do their duty but he could do nothing without them 2 They had Power not derived from the Prince at all even a Power of life death The rebellious Son was to be brought to the Elders of the Citie who had Power to stone him Deut. 21. 18 24. They had Power to punish Adulterie with death Deut. 22. 21. They had Power to cognosce whom to admit into and whom to seclude from the Cities of refuge So that if the King had commanded to take the life of an innocent man they were not to deliver him Iosh. 20. per tot But besides the Elders of Cities there were the Elders and heads of the People who had judicial Power to cognosce on all Criminal Matters even when Ioshua was Judge in Israel we find they assumed this Power to judge of that matter of the two tribes the half Iosh. 22. 30. And they had Power to make Kings as Saul David as was shewed and it must needs follow they had Power to unmake them in case of Tyranny 3 They had Power to conveen even without the indiction of the Ruler as in that Iosh. 22. they convene without him and without advice or knowledge of Samuel the Ruler they
sense of Religion among people that so having worn out the awful impression of it they might introduce what they would upon a people involved in the same Apostasie with themselves And either to incorporate all with themselves in the same Combination against the Lord or to exstirpate all Dissenters who should discover any tenderness of Conscience in not going along with them in the same excess of riot And to the end they might have the greater concurrence countenance with the help of hells Policy they contrived them in such terms as might engage many to take them and load the Recusants with odious obliquies either as silly Scruplers or seditious Schismaticks or Rebells For this hath been all alongs their grand project to Level their designs against Religion not directly formally under that notion but obliquely to the destruction of the Lovers Professors of it under the Nick-name of fanatical Enemies to Government Of these ensnaring Engines levelled to these ends some have been more patent open others more latenâ— hidden both have made a prey of people the last chiefly For a snare the more latent hidden it be and the more varnished over with the vermilion of pretended honesty innocence it is the more dangerous and will be â—o accounted by all the Circumspect Cautious as in its design more destructive and in its effects when discovered more dolorous than that which is more open manifest A hook the braâ—er that it is busked and the better that it is baited the surer and more successful it is to catch the simple fish if it want its busking they will not so readily bite at it In vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird yet though this is a Truth such silly birds have the bulk of us been such silly doves without a heart and so senslessly stupified as to suffer our selves to be blind-folded hood-winked into snares of such a manifest baseness as none could be readily supposed might fall into who did not brutishly abandon all common sense of Reason besides Religion As the Test and Oaths of arbitrary Allegiance Bands of Conformity irregular Regulation c. Some again and these Alas too many have been insnared with snares of a more smooth soft subtile Complexion and poysoned with gilded arrowes coloured over with the specious pretexts of the enemies relenting Condescendency tenderness stooping now to universal general terms obviously thought capable of a very good Construction and daubed over with the untempered morter of the frequency of the almost universally unscroupled subscription of very good Consciencious men and the rarity of Recusants lying under the reproach of some few wild fantastical fools These well busked hooks have caught many of which sort have been many banded Indemnities and easily swallowed Oaths thereunto appended Though the present indeed is contrived without gins of this sort and now all these snares of Oaths and Bands are as illegally taken away as they were before imposed upon the same design to catch silly fish by other methods not with hooks as before but with a large spread net to hale the whole School to Antichrists shore And to put to proof practice the vastness of that Leviathan Prerogative of Absolute power to dispense with all Oaths especially because in all of them even the most monstrous people might think there was some tye Obliging them to maintain the Protestant Religion therefore to obliterate that bury it in oblivion all now are taken away But the guilt of them still remains upon the Land and the grievous Cry of sufferings for refusing them still continues And therefore the iniquity of them must be looked unto lamented and that with an eye to the account reckoning must be rendered for thém to a Greater Judgment than that of Creatures But among all these destructive diabolical devices there have been none more charming cheating than that Cunningly Contrived Oath of Abjuration as it is called enjoined to be taken by all within the Kingdom by a Proclamation about it Representing a late Declaration emitted by that party whose sufferings I am vindicating as a Manifesto of their Grievances and necessities to fall upon severe Resolutions towards their Enemies under the most odious Character that the malice of men helped with hells hatred could devise And requiring all to Abjure it in the most peremptory manner and under the severest penalty that ever was heard This Oath I say was contrived with such cunning and followed with such keenness that it hath involved moe under its obligation and engaged more to subscribe it than any other that went before it because it hath been painted over with such pretexts as never any before was capable of The pressing of it hath been so impartial upon all travelling in the Countrey c. And their acceptance of the Pass annexed to it thought so necessary as without it no business could be gone about It s subscription so universally unscrupled even by the Generality of great Professors Ministers too the thing abjured represented so odious as no honest man could refuse to renounce And the matter renounced under its best aspect Construction esteemed only a paper Declaration of a party very despicable wherein the Principles profession or Confession of the Church seems no way concerned and if any way concerned yet the Concern appearing so small as few or none durst state their Sufferings upon that head Yet I beleeve if either such as have taken it or others that may have the tentation of the like hereafter will impartiaâ—ly ponder it so much iniquity may be discovered in it as may oblige the one to mourn in the sense of its sinfullness and the other to beware of its danger And so much the rather would I offer this to Consideration that I know one who was wofully wheedled into it that found the bitter effects of this poysoned pill in his wounded Conscience after reflections on the deed in such a measure that he despaired of ever recovering Peace And this man had as much and more to say to justify his deed than any that ever took it having it with all the advantages that ever it could be tendered with for being urged thereunto before the Iusticiary he expressly refused to disoun that Declaration and the Principles whereupon it was founded and told them that it was misrépresented in the Proclamation And when they yeelded to an abstract disouning of it in so far as the Proclamation represents it or if so be it might be so represented he gave in a sense in writ wherein he would take it shewing that upon supposition the Declaration did assert such things as was represented he would disoune it And after the sense was accepted as satisfactorie he refused to swear after the ordinary manner following the Clerks blind manuduction but behoved to have it written doun And when it was written with express specification of that Apologetical
Puritans in Queen Elizabeths dayesâ— whether it obliges to a King in Idea and in a more general consideration as one who is said never to die Or with reference to such an one as we have a mortaâ— man and an immortal enemy to all those precious Interests for preservation of which he only received his Kingship Whether it must be taken in that of the Imposers practically explained by their administrations or in any other sense alledged more Legal These would be clear before it can be taken with the due qualifications of an Oath 3. As for the Civil part of it or Ecclesiastical no other explanation needeth to be inquired after than what they give forth in their Acts on record The Act of Supremacy to be seen in the Historical Representation of the Sixth last Period pag. 111. senses the Ecclesiastical part of it And the Act for acknowledgment of his Majesties prerogative does sufficiently sense explain expound the Civil part Declaring That it is inherent in the Crown and an undoubted part of the Royal prerogative to have the sole choise appointment of all Officers of State the power of calling holding dissolving Parliaments and all Conventions Meetings of Estates the power of Armies making of peace war treaties leagues with forreign Princes or States or at home by the subjects among themselves and that it is high treason in the subjects upon whatsoever ground to rise in Armes or make any treaties or leagues among themselves without his Maj. Authority first interponed thereto That it is unlawful to the subjects of whatsoever quality or function to convocate themselves for holding of Councils to treat consult or determine in any matters Civil or Ecclesiastick except in the ordinary Judgements or make leagues or bonds upon whatsoever colour or pretence without his Maj. special consent That the league Covenant and all treaties following thereupon and acts or deeds that do or may relate thereunto are not obligatory and that none should presume upon any pretext of any Authority whatsoever to require the renewing or swearing of the said league Covenant c. Whereby it appears that all this screwing up the prerogative to such a pitch is by the Oath of Allegiance to defend all this jurisdiction justified and so these palpable encroachments on the priviledges of the Scots Parliaments that by the fundamental Constitutions of the Government alwayes had a share in making Laws and Peace War These robberies of our Natural priviledges of defending our selves by Armes in case of the Kings Tyranny oppression and of Convocating for Consultations about the best means thereof And these Invasions upon our Ecclesiastical priviledges in keeping General Assemblies for the affairs of Religion Prorenata alwayes strenously contended for as a part of the Testimony yea all these rescindings repealings and condemnings of the Way Manner Methods Measures of promoting the Covenanted Reformation are by this Oath explained by this Act acknowledged to be parts of that supremacy Jurisdiction to be defended maintained As like wise by many wicked Acts since promulgated which promote the Supremacy to a vast degree of Absoluteness which all do interpret what that Supremacy is which is sworn to be maintained to wit pure Tyranny established by Law. See the many grievous Consequences of this laid out at large in Apol. Relat. Sect. 10. 4. Here is absolute Allegiance sworn to an Absolute power Paramount to all Law engaging to faithful obedience to their Soveraign as Supreme over all Persons and in all causes and to defend assist maintain his said jurisdiction and never to decline his power there is no restriction here on obedience nor Limitation on the power nor definition of the Causes nor circumscription of the cases in which that assistance c. is to be given whether they be Lawful or not Now absolute allegiance to an absolute power cannot be sworn by any man of Conscience nor ouned by any man of reason as is proven Head. 2. Arg. 6. It cannot be Lawful in any sense to swear such an Oath to any Mortal nay not to a David nor Hezekiah because to swear unrestricted unlimited Allegiance to any man were a manifest mancipating of Mankind not only to an Ass-like subjection but to a servile obligation to maintain uphold the Persons Government of mutable men be what they will turn to what they will it is known the best of men may degenerate And by this no remedy is left to redress our selves bâ—t our heads hearts and hands all tied up under an engagment to defend assist maintain whosoever doth hold the Government manage it as he pleases This reason will also conclude against the English Oath of Allegiance though it be a great deal more smoothly worded and seems only to require a rejection of the Pope and legal subjection to the King yet that comprehensive Clause makes it border upon absoluteness I will bear faith true allegiance to his Maj. heirs successors and him and them will defend to the uttermost of my power against all Conspiracies attempts whatsoever There are no Conditions here at all limiting the Allegiance or qualifying the Object but an arbitrary imposition of true Allegiance and defence in all cases against all attempts even that of repressing their Tyranny not excepted not only of their persons but of their Dignities if this be not an illimited Allegiance to an absolute power I know not what it is 5. Here is an acknowledgment of the Ecclesiastical Supremacy resident in the King which is the most blasphemous Usurpation on the prerogatives of Christ and priviledges of His Church that ever the greatest Monster among men durst arrogate yea the Roman beast never claimed more And in effect it is nothing else but one of his Names of Blasphemie twisted out of the Popes hands by K. Henry the Eight and handed doun to Q. Elizabeth and wafted over to Iames the 6 th for that was the Original conveyance of it The iniquity whereof is discovered above Head. 1. Arg. 3. But further may be aggravated in these particulars 1 It is only a change of the Pope but not of the Popedâ—m and nothing else but a shaking off the Ecclesiastical Pope and submitting to a Civil Pope by whom Christs Head-ship is as much wronged as by the other And hereby a door is opened for bringing in Poperie as indeed by this Strategem it is brought now to our very doors for by the Act of Supremacy he hath power to settle all things concerning Doctrine Worship discipline or Government by his Clerks the Bishops having all the Architectonick power of disposing ordering ordaining these as he in his Royal wisdom thinks fit 2 By this Church State are confounded whereof the Distinction is demonstrate above making the Magistrate a proper Competent Judge in Church matters not to be declined wherby also he hath power to erect new Courts Mongrel-Judicatories
half Civil half Ecclesiastick which have no Warrand in the Word 3 By this many palpable intollerable encroachments made upon the Liberties priviledges of the Church of Christ are yeelded unto as that there must be no Church Judicatories or Assemblies without the Magistrates consent but that the power of convocating indicting Assemblies do belong only to him and the power of delegating constituting the members thereof that he may dissolve them when he pleases that his presence or his Commissioners is necessary unto each Nationall Assembly that Ministers have no proper decisive suffrage in Synods but only of advice that the Church Judicatories be prelimited and nothing musâ— be treated there which may be interpreted grating upon the prerogative nor any thing whatsoever but what he shall allow approve without which it can have no force nor validity yea by this a door should be opened unto the utter destruction overthrow of all Church Judicatories seeing he is made the fountain of all Church power 4 By this the Magistrate is made a Church member as he is a Magistrate and so all Magistrats as such are Church members even heathens And yet 5 By this he is exempted from subjection to the Ministry because they are made accountable to him in their administrations and in the discharge of their function are under him as Supreme Yea 6 By this the Magistrate is made a Church Officer having the disposal of the Churches Government And not only so but 7 By this he is made a Church Officer of the highest degree being supreme in all Causes to whom Ministers in the discharge of their Ministrie are subordinate And so 8 By this the Church of the new Testament is made imperfect so long as she wanted a Christian Magistrate wanting hereby a Chief Officer yea and the Apostles did amiss in robbing the Magistrate of his power 9 By this the Magistrate might exerce all Acts of jurisdiction immediately by himself seeing he can do it as supreme by his Commissioners in Ecclesiastick affairs 10 Finally By this Oath the King is made the head of the Church being supreme over all persons in all Causes unto whom all Appeals references must ultimately be reduced even from Church Judicatories Those things are only here touched they are more apodeictically confirmed above and may be seen made out at large in Apol. Relat. Sect. 12. But I proceed 6. It is contrary unto the Solemn League Covenant into whose place after it was broken burnt buryed rescinded since they have remitted the subjects allegiance by annulling the Bond of it they substitute surrogate this in its place And therefore none can comply with the surrogation of the second except he consent to the abrogation of the first Oath All the Allegiance we can oune according to the Covenant stands perpetually expressly thus qualified viz. in defence of Religon Liberty according to our first second Covenants and in its oun nature must be indispensably thus restricted Therefore to renew the same or take an Oath of Allegiance simply purposely omitting the former restriction when the powers are in manifest Rebellion against the Lord is in effect a disouning of that limitation and of the Soveraign prerogative of the Great God which is thereby reserved and as much as to say whatever Authority command us to do we shall not only stupidly endure it but actively concur with assist in all this Tyranny See Naph Prior edit Pag. 177. 178. Vindicated at length by Ius Populi chap. 11. By all this the iniquity of the Scots Oath of Allegiance Supremacy may appear and also that of the English Oath of Allegiance even abstract from the Supremacy is in some measure discovered though it is not my purpose particularly to speak to that yet this I will say that they that plead for its precision from the Supremacy annexed seem not to consider the full import of its terms for under the dignities superiorities Authorities there engaged to be upheld the Ecclesiastical Supremacy must be included for that is declared to be one of the dignities of the Crown there as well as here and hither it was brought from thence And therefore those Scots men that took that Oath there and plead that though the Oath of Allegiance in Scotland be a sin yet it is duty to take the Oath in England seem to me to be in a great deceit for the object is the same the subject is the same the duty expected required engaged into is the same and every thing equal in both Yet all this iniquity here Couched is some way Comprehended in implyed by the Oath of Abjuration for the Civil part is imported in abjuring a Declaration for its declaring war against the King Where it is clear he is ouned as King and all part with them that declare war against him being renounced it is evident the Abjurers must take part with him in that war and so assist defend him for being subjects they must not be neutral therefore if they be not against him they must be for him and so under the bond of allegiance to him The Ecclesiastical Supremacy is inferred from that expression of it where some are said to serve him in Church as well as in State which implies an Ecclesiastical subordination to him as Supreme over the Church III. The Tenor of some other Bonds was more smooth subtil as that of the Bond of Peace several times renewed imposed and under several forms but alwayes after one strain engaging to Live Peaceably Whereby many were caught cheated with the seeming saiâ—ness of these general terms but others discerning their faâ—laciousness refused and suffered for it This in the General is capable of a good sense for no Christian will refuse â—o Live Peaceably but will endeavour if it be possible as much as lieth in them to Live Peaceably with all men Rom. 12. 18. that is so far to follow Peace with all men as may consist with the pursuit of holiness 〈◊〉 12. 14. But if we more narrowly consider such Bonds we shall find them Bonds of iniquity for 1. They are Covenants of Peace or Confederacies with Gods enemies whom we should count our enemies and hate them because they hate Him Psal. 139. 21. It is more suitable to answer as Iehu did to Ioram 2 King. 9. 22. What Peace so long as the whoredomes of thy Mother Iezebel and her witchcrafts are so many than to engage to be at Peace with those who are carrying on Babylons Interest the Mother of harlots witchcrafts 2. This cannot be taken in Truth Iudgement Righteousness because of the fallacy ambiguity of the terms for there are diverse sorts of Peace Peaceableness some kind is duty some never It must then be rightly qualified for we can profess pursue no Peace of Confederacy with the enemies of God not consistent with the fear of the Lord otherwise
shall possess And in the 16. Art. of the Kirk Christ is the only Head of the same Kirk And yet in the Test the King is affirmed to be the only supreme in all causes Ecclesiastical 2 In the 14. Art. among good works are reckoned these to obey Superior powers and their charges not repugning to the Commandment of God to save the lives of Innocents to repress Tyranny to defend the oppressed And among evil works these are qualified to resist any that God hath placed in Authority while they pass not over the bounds of their Office And Art. 24. it is confessed that such as resist the supreme power doing that which pertains to his charge do resist Gods Ordinance while the Princes Rulers vigilantly travel in the execution of their Office. And yet in the Test true Allegiance is engaged into without any such limitations And it is affirmed to be unlawful upon any pretence whatsoever to convocate c. or to take up Armes against the King. 3 In the 14. Art. Evil works are affirmed to be not only those that expressly are done against Gods Commandment but those also that in matters of Religion Worshipping of God have no other assurance but the invention opinion of men And Art. 18. among the Notes of the true Church Ecclesiastical Discipline uprightly ministred as Gods Word prescribes whereby vice is repressed and virtue nourished is one In Art. 20. the voice of God and constitution of men are opposed And yet in the Test they swear never to endeavour any change or alteration in the Government of the Church as it is now established whereof many things must be altered yea the whole forme frame of it if these propositions be true as they are 4 In the Test they swear never to consent to any change or alteration contrary to that confession and that all principles practices contrary thereto are Popish fanatical for so they divide them into one of these disjunctively then must all the following principles in their Test be renounced as such seeing they are contrary to that confession in some propositions or Articles And that the Government established by that confession was Presbyterian and this established by the Test is Episcopal 2. It comprehends all the former Oaths Bonds which are cleared above to be sinful Yet for as wicked as it is it must be some way homologated by the Oath of Abjuration excepting the contradiction that is in it Seeing all these oppositions against the King sworn aginst in the Test are abjured renounced in that Oath of Abjuration in renouncing all Declarations of war against the King for if any war can be undertaken against him all these Kinds of opposition must be allowed that are in the Test sworn against VIII In the last place I shall come to consider more particularly the Oath of Abjuration it self for refusing of which the sufferings were more severe being extended even to death or banishment though the words be more smooth than in any of the former which are these I do abjure renounce disoune a late pretended Declaration affixed on several Merâ—at Crosses c. in so far as it declares War against the King and assert it Lawful to kill any that serve his Maj. in Church State Army or Country That the taking of this Oath is a step of Complyance dishonourable to God derogatory to the dayes Testimony contradictory to the many reiterated Confessions of Christs Worthy though poor despised Witnesses sealed by their blood bonds banishments encouraging gratifying to the Enemies of God hardening to backsliding Brethren offensive to the Generation of the Righteous stumbling to all leaving a stain sting upon the Conscience of the Subscriber I shall endeavour to make out by these Considerations 1. Considering the party who imposed it it must be looked upon as a Confederacy with them being tendered upon all the Subjects as a Test of their incorporating themselves with and declaring themselves for their head and syding with them him in this their Contest Contention with a poor Remnant of the Lords people persecuted murdered by them for Truth Conscience sake who issued forth that Declaration against them here abjured Therefore let the party be considered imposing the Oath with such rigour and prosecuting the Refusers with ravenous rage murdering torturing all who did not comply with them declaring a Ware more formally explicitely against Christ as King and all that will dare to assert their Allegiance to Him under an open displayed banner of defyance of Him His than ever Mortals durst espouse avouch The head of that Treacherous Truculent faction both he who was first declared against in that Declaration and he who hath by bloody treacherous Usurpation succeeded to him being such a Monster for Murder Mischief Tyranny Oppression Perfidy that among all the Nimrods Nero's that past ages can recount we cannot find a paralel by all Law Divine humane incapable of Government or any Trust or so much as Protection or any Priviledge but to be pursued by all as a Common enemy to mankind And his Underlings Agents Complices devoted to his lust serving his wicked designs in their respective offices places of trust under him which by his nomination sole appointment they have been erected to established in with the stain indelible Character of perjurie the only qualification of their being capable of any advancement occupying by usurpation intrusion violence the publick places of judicatories and carrying all so insolently arbitrarly and with an effrontry of wickedness despight of all Reason Religion or Justice that they cannot but be looked upon as the most pestilent pestiferous Plague that ever pestered a People The taking then of this Oath by them projected as a Pest to infect Consciences with and pervert them to wicked Truth-deserting Law-perverting Loyaltie and imposed as a Test of Complyance with them and coming off from that litle flock whom they design to devour destinate to destruction must be in their oun esteem as well as of the Generation of the Righteous to their satisfaction and the others sorrow a real incorporating with them an ouning of their usurped power as Judges to administer Oaths giving them all obedience they required for the time to their Authority and all the security they demanded for the Subscribers Loyaltie an approving of all their Proceedings in that matter and transacting tampering bargaining with these Sons of Belial out of fear whereby a right is purchased to that common badge of their ouned professed friends who upon taking that Oath had from them a priviledge allowance to travel traffique where and how they will through the Country denyed to all other that wanted that Badge I mean the Pass or Testificate they got from them thereupon which was the Mark of that secular beast of Tyrannie no less pernicious to
the world than Poperie hath been to the Church and which was given to all the Takers of that Oath as a Mark of Tessera that they were no enemies to the Government as they call it O base and unworthy Liverie for the suffering Sons of Zion to put on the Signature of the Society of her devourers Hence if Covenants Confederacies declaring we are on their side cannot be made with the Enemies of Religion then this Oath could not be taken Lawfully But the former is proved above Ergo the latter followes This will yet more appear 2. If we consider the Party that set forth that Declaration whom the Proclamation against it represent so odiously invidiously whom the Oath imposed obliges us to condemn being so represented as if they were maintainers of Murdering Principles and perpetators of Assassinating villanies inconsistent with Peace or any good Government and therefore to be exterminated destroyed out of the Land whom therefore they prosecute persecute so cruelly to the effusion of their blood under colour of Law. 1. The takers of this Oath must have formally under their unhappy hand disouned renounced them and all part or interest in them or Society or Sympathie with them who yet are known to be the Suffering people of God more earnestly contending witnessing wrestling for the faith Word of Christs patience and have suffered more for their adherance to the Covenanted Reformation of the Church of Scotland and for their opposition to all its deformations defections than any Party within the Land yet them have they rejected as their Companions though with some of them sometimes they have had sweet Company Communion in the House of God by abjuring condemning their deed which duty necessity drave them to 2. Hereby they have presumptuously taken upon them to pass a Judgement upon the deed of their Brethren before their Murdering Enemies And that not a private discretive Judgement but a publick definitive sentence in their Capacity by the most solemn way of Declaring it that can be by Oath subscription under their hand whereby they have condemned all the Sufferings of their Brethren who sealed their Testimony in opposition to this Complyance with their blood and finished it with honour joy as foolish frivolous profusion of their oun blood Nay as just legally inflicted executed upon them as being Rebells of Murdering Principles practices For this cannot be vindicated from a more than indirect justifying of all the Murdering Severity executed upon them 3. And hereby they have unkindly and unchristianly listed themselves on the other side against them and taken part rather with their enemies than with them for thus they used to plead for t it when they pressed this Oath upon them that scrupled it When any War is declared against the King any of his Maj. Souldiers may question any man whom he is for and if he be not for the King he may act against him as an enemy and if they will not declare for the King and disoune the Rebells they are to be reputed by all as enemies Which whatever weakness be in the arguing plainly discovers that they take the abjuring of that Declaration in that juncture to be a mans Declaring of what side he is for and that he is not for the Emitters of that Declaration but for the King and his party which in the present state of affairs is a most dreadful ouning of Christs Enemy and disouning of His Friends Hence a disouning of the Lords persecuted people and condemning their practice and an ouning of their Persecuters and espousing their side of it is a sinful Confederacy But the taking of this Oath is such as is evident by what is said Ergo it is a sinful Confederacy 3. Considering the Nature Conditions Qualifications of so solemn serious a peice of Gods Worship and way of invocating His Holy Name as an Oath is It will appear that the taking of this imposed Oath of Abjuration was a dreadful heinous breach of the Third Command by taking His Name in vain in the worst sort and so cannot be holden guiltless I prove it thus An Oath which cannot be taken in Truth Judgement Righteousness is a breach of the Third Command But this is an Oath which cannot be taken in Truth Judgement Righteousness Which is evident for 1. It cannot be taken by any Consciencious man in Truth in sincerity of the heart simplicity 〈…〉 mind singleness honesty in the intention not puting any other sense than the imposer hath and which is the clear sense of it sine juramento and extra For if he take it according to their meaning then he should swear it unlawful ever to declare War against the King and consequently never to rise in Armes against him upon any pretence whatsoever for if we may rise in Armes for our oun defence we mak must declare a defensive War. And indeed in themselves as well as in their sense meaning who imposed them these two Oaths never to rise in Armes against the King and this of Abjuration are one and the same Then also should he swear it unlawful at any time upon any occasion or for any Cause to kill any such as serve the King in Church State Army or Country either in Peace or War for that is their thought and sensus vel juramenti ipsius vel extra juramentum And in part for their exemption immunity from all condign punishment this Oath was contrived But in fine how can this Oath be taken in Truth when it is not apparent either that the declaring of a War against the King or killing some for some causes which shall afterwards be made appear to be Lawful that serve him are to be abjured disouned or that the Declaration does assert any such thing And indeed it will be found to be a denying the Truth and a subscribing to a manifest falsehood invoking God to be Witness thereto 2. This Oath cannot be taken in Iudgement that is with knowledge deliberation c. All the terms of it have much obscure ambiguity Declaring a war and killing any who serve the King may be constructed in several senses good bad but here they are indefinitely expressed and universally condemned Particularly that in so far as hath several faces and can never be sworn in Judgement For if it denote a Causality and signify as much as quia or quatenus then all Declarations of war against any that have the name of King whatsoever upon whatsoever grounds and all killing of any serving him though in our oun defence must be universally condemned for a quatenus ad omne valet Consequentia If it import a restriction excluding other things in the Declaration but obliging to abjure only that then it implies also an affirmation that these two things are contained in it which will not appear to the Judgement of them that will seriously ponder
the Declaration it self If again it be a Supposition or Condition and to be interpreted for if so be then all that the Judgement can make of it is that it is uncertain and so the Conscience dare not invoke God as a Witness of that which is uncertain whether it be a Truth or a lie 3. This Oath could not be taken in Righteousness for the matter is not true certainly known Lawful possible weighty necessary useful worthy It is not true that the Declaration imports so far as as it is represented in the Oath of Abjuration Neither is it certainly known but by collating these two together the Contrary will appear Neither is it Lawful if it were true that such assertions were in it to abjure all Declarations of war against the King and to swear it unlawful ever to kill any if he be once in the Kings service in Church State Army or Country Nor is it possible to reduce this Assertory Oath into a promissory one Lawfully as most part of such Oaths may do necessarely imply for when I swear such a thing unlawful it implies my promise by virtue of the same Oath never to practise it But it is not possible as the case stands for a man to bind up himself in every case from all declared war against the King or from killing some imployed in his service what if there be a necessary call to joine in armes with the Lords people for the defence of their Religion lives Liberties against him what if he command a Massacre shall not a man defend himself Nor endeavour to kill none of that murdering Crew because they are in his service Was ever a fool so fettered Nor is it of such weight as to be the occasion of involving the whole Country in perjury or persecution as by that Oath was done Nor was it necessary in this mans time to make all abjure a Declaration out of date when the object of it Charles the Second was dead and no visible party actually in armes to prosecute it Nor was it ever of any use or worth except it were implicitely to gratify their greedy lusting after the blood of Innocents or the blood of silly Souls cheated by their snares by involving them in the same sin of perjury Conscience-debauching false-swearing whereof they themselves are so heinously guilty But let them and such as have taken that Oath and not fled to Christ for a Sanctuary lay to heart the doom of false swearrers the flying roll of the Curse of God shall enter into their house Zech. 5. 4. Love no false Oath for all these are things that I hate saith the Lord Zech. 8. 17. The Lord will be a swift Witness against false swearers Mal. 3. 5. And let them sist their Conscience before the Word and set the Word to the Conscience and these Considerations will have some weight 4. If we consider this Particular Oath it self aud the words of it more narrowlie we shall find a Complication of iniquities in it by examining the sense of them as the Imposers expound them 1. Not only that Declaration but all such in so far as they declare assert such things are here renounced and hereby many honest faithful Declarations are disouned that declare the same things It is indeed pleaded by some that profess to be presbyterians as it was also pretended by some of the pressers of the Oath themselves but in order to pervert cheat the Conscience that here is not required a disouning of the Apologetical Declaration simpliciter but only secundum quid or rather of a pretended one of their supposing in so far as it imports such things But this is frivolous for that pretended one is intended by the Imposers to be the Real Apologetical Declaration which they will have to be disouned and cannot be distinguished from it And though all these Assertions cannot be fastened upon that Apologetical Declaration but it is evident that it is invidiously misrâ—presented yet that same is the pretended one which they require to be abjured in so far as it asserts such things which it does not And if it be secundum quid to be disouned then that must either be secundum that Assertion of killing any c. Which is not to be found in it and so it is not to be disouned at all or it must be secundum the Declaration of war against the King And so that quid or formal reason of disouning it will oblige to disoune all Declarations of war against the King which cannot be disouned Others again Object that it is not required to be disouned formally but only conditionally taking confounding in so far for if so be But to any thinking man it is plain this cannot be a supposition nor yet a simple restriction as they would give it out but an assertion that such things are indeed imported in it for so the Imposers think say And if it might pass current under that notion as a supposition being equivalent to if so be then under that sophistical pretext I might renounce the Covenant or the most indisputed Confession or Declaration that ever was in so far as it contained such things And so this equivocation might elude all Testimonies whatsoever and justify all prevarications 2. This must condemn all defensive wai of subjects against their oppressing Rulers in that a Declaration is abjured in so far as it declares war against the King to press perswade people to which it was usually urged by the Imposers that when a war is declared by Rebells against the King then all the subjects are obliged to disoune the Rebells or else be repute for such themselves And when it was alledged the war was ceased because the Object declared against was ceased Charles the Second being dead otherwise if a man be obliged to give his opinion about a war declared against a King deceased gone then by the same parity of reason he must be obliged to give his opinion of that war of the Lords of the Congregation as they were called against Queen Mary in the begining of the Reformation It was still replyed by them that the Rebellion continued and all were guilty of it that did not abjure that Declaration Whence it is evident they mean that every thing which they call Rebellion must be disouned and consequently all Resistence of Superiors upon any pretence whatsoever as many of their Acts explain it yea and it was plainly told by some of them to some that scrupled to rake the Oath because they said they did not understand it that the meaning was to swear never to rise in armes against the King. Against this it hath been objected by several that this was alwayes denied by Presbyterians that ever they declared war against the King but only for defence of their lives Liberties never agaiâ—st the King expressy purposedly designedly but only against him per accidens when he happened to be the
adverse party But this distinction will not be a Salvo to the Conscience For the object declared against is either a King or not if he be not then a Declaration of war against him is not to be abjured if he be King then he is either declared against as King qua Rex perse or as an oppressor or an Abuser of his power the first indeed is to be disouned for a King as King or Lawful Magistrate must not be resisted Rom. 13. 2. But the second to declare war against a King as an oppressor and abuser of his power and subverter of the Laws hath been ouned by our Church State many a time and they have opposed declared war as purposedly against him as he did against them and as really formally as he was an oppresâ—or sure he cannot be an oppressor only per accidens nor does he declare war against the subjects only pes accidens However this hath been ouned alwayes by Presbyterians that war may be declared against him who is called King. And therefore to abjure a Declaration in so far as it declares war against the King will condemn not only that Declaration upon the heads wherein its honesty faithfulness chiefly consists but all other most honest honourable Declarations that have been made emitted by our worthy renouned Ancestors and by our Worthies in our oun time who have formally avowedly explicitely or expressly purposedly designedly declared their opposition to Tyranny Tyrants and their Lawful laudable designs to repress depress suppress them by all the wayes means that God Nature and the Laws of Nations allow when they did ipso jure depose exauctorate themselves from all Rule or priviledge or prerogative of Rulers and became no more Gods ministers but Beelzebubs vicegerents and Monsters to be exterminated out of the Society of Mankind The honestest of all our Declarations of defensive war have alwayes run in this strain And others insinuating more preposterous Loayltie have been justly taxed for asserting the Interest of the Tyrant the greatest enemy of the declarers and principal object of the declared war which disingenuous jugling foysting in such flattering falsifying distinctions in the State of the Quarrel hath rationally been thought one of the procuring Causes or Occasions of the discomfiture of our former Appearances for the Work of God Liberties of our Country 3. This must infer an ouning of his Authority as Lawful King when the Declaration disouning him is abjured in so far as it declares war against his Majestie for in this Oath he is styled and asserted to be King and to have the Majestie of a Lawful King and therefore must be ouned as such by all that take it which yet I have proved to be sinful above Head. 2. Against this it hath been quibbled by some that that Declaration does not declare war against the King expresly as King but only against Charles Stewart by them declared to be no King who set forth the Declaration But this will not salve the matter for then 1 It is a subscribing to a lie in abjuring a Declaration in so far as it did declare a thing which it did not if that hold 2 The enemies impose the abjuring disouning of it in so far as it declares war against their King who had none other but Charles Stewart at that time who was the King in their sense and an Oath cannot be taken in any other sense contradictory to the Imposers even though by them allowed without an unjustifiable equivocation 3 Though he had been King and had not committed such acts of Tyranny as might actually denominate him a Tyrant forefeit his Kingship yet to repress his illegal arbitrariness intollerable enormities and to repel his unjust violence and reduce him to good order Subjects at least for their oun defence may declare a war expresly purposedly designedly against their oun acknowledged King This ought not in so far to be disouned For then all our Declarations emitted during the whole time of prosecuting the Reformation in opposition to our King would be disouned And so with one dash unhappily the whole Work of Reformation and the way of carrying it on is hereby tacitely consequentially reflected upon reproached if not disouned 4. It must infer an ouning of the Ecclesiastical Supremacy when it asserts that some do serve the King in Church as well as in State there is no Distinction here but they are said to serve him the same way in both And it is certain they mean so and have expressed so much in their Acts that Church men are as subordinate and the same way subject to the Kings Supremacy as Statsmen are The absurdity blasphemy of which is discovered above 5. This condemns all killing of any that serve the King in Church State Army or Country for a Declaration is abjured in so far as it asserts it Lawful to kill any such And so by this Oath there is an impunity secured for his Idolatrous priests and Murdering varlets that serve him in the Church for his bloody Councellors and Gouned Murderers that serve his Tyrannical designs in the State for his bloody Lictors Executioners the Sword men that serve him in the Army whom he may send when he pleases to murder us and for his bloody Iust-asses Informers Intelligencing Sycophants the Ziphites that serve him in the Country All these must escape bringing to conâ—ign punishment contrary to the 4. Art. of the Solemn League Covenant and shall be confuted Head. 6. Against this it is excepted by the Pleaders for this Oath that it is only a declared abhoring of Murdering principles which no Christian dare refuse And it may be taken in this sense safly that it is to be abjured in so far as it asserts it Lawful to kill all that are to be imployed by his Maj. or any because so imployed in Church State Army or Country Which never any did assert was Law-ful But though Murdering principles are indeed alwayes to be declaredly abhorred and all Refusers of that Oath did both declare so much and abhorred the thoughts of them yet this evasion is naught for 1 The Declaration asserts no such thing neither for that cause nor for any other but expressly makes a distinction between persons under the Epithet of bloody cruel Murderers and these only whom it threateneth to animadvert upon 2 The only reason of their declared intent of prosecuting these whom they threaten to bring to conding punishment was because they were so imployed by the Tyrant in such service as shedding the blood of Innocents Murdering people where they met them And so that 's the very reason for which they deserve to be killed and therefore foolish impertinent and very absurd to be alledged as a qualification of the sense of that impious Oath 5. If we consider the Proclamation enjoining this Oath and narrating and explaining the Occasions
all the concurrence there required for seeking searching delating apprehending of these people and to all the cruel villanies committed against them 4 They have taken on their prescribed discriminating Sign of Loyaltie and of being repute by them men of good principles that is their friends men for the times Which is so sinful scandalous that it is shameful to hint at them and yet shameful to hide them 6. If we consider the Apologetical Declaration it self which is so bespattered and so odiously represented and so rigorously enjoined to be abjured who will more narrowly look into it and ponder perpend the purpose Scope of it will see nothing that can be abjured conscienciously in it but the whole of it laying aside prejudice invidious Critical Censoriousness capable of a fair acceptable Construction The Motives leading them to set it forth being only their desires and just endeavoures to prosecute and secure themselves in the prosecution of Holy Commanded Duties and to keep a standing Testimony against the Insolencie of those that are given up of God to lay out themselves in promoving a Course of profanity persecution notwithstanding of all their viperous threatenings Their Measures being none other than the commendable precedents Examples of zealous tender hearted Christians who have done the like and our National and Solemn Covenants lying with their binding force indispensable upon all of us and obliging us to endeavour all that 's there declared as being bound for ever to have common friends foes with our Covenanted Reformation to all which they declare avouch their resolved adherence And their oun former Declarations Disouning their Allegiance to Authority of a Man who had ipso jure forfeited all Authority by his intollerable Tyrannie Perjurie perfidious breach of Trust reposed devolved upon him by Covenant and by his overturning all the fundamental constitutions of the Government perverting inverting everting all Laws all Liberties all Priviledges of Church State all establishments of our Covenanted Work of Reformation all Securities of our life and enjoyments whatsoever Usurping to himself an absolute Tyrannical Civil Supremacy inconsistent with the safety or freedom of the people and a monstrous blasphemous Ecclesiastical Supremacy Upon which considerations to endeavour to make good their freedom emancipation from that yoke which they had cast off they behoved to resolve upon defensive resistence against him and his bloody emissaries Which war being declared before they only in this Declaration testified their unanimous approbation of adherence to and resolutions for prosecuting the same against him his accomplices such as lay out themselves to promove his wicked hellish designs By which war they do not mean a formed stated declared Insurection with hostile force to break the Peace of the Nation and involve all in blood but a resolved avowed constant Opposition to the Murdering violence injustice oppression persecution of this wicked faction now raging rather than reigning who have declared still prosecute a declared war against Christ bearing doun His Work Interest in the Land And a constant endeavour in opposition to them to pursue the ends of our Covenants in standing to the defence of the Glorious Work of Reformation and their oun lives And in the defence thereof to maintain the cause Interest of Christ against His enemies and to hold up the Standard of our Lord Jesus Christ meaning the Gospel the Word of our Testimony whereunto they looked upon themselves as bound obliged by their holy Covenants being therein dedicated to the Lord in their persons lives Liberties fortunes for defending promoving this Glorious Work of Reformation notwithstanding of all opposition that is or may be made thereunto and sworn against all neutrality indifferency in the Lords Matters Whereunto they beseech invite obtest all them who wish well to Zion to a concurrence concerting the same cause Quarrel In maintaining of which opposition against such wicked Enemies because by them they were restlessly pursued and hunted and Murdered wherever they were found neither could find any harbour or hiding place in any Corner of the country for Searchers Informers Justigators who still stirred up the country to raise the hue Crye after them and caused them to be delivered up and delâ—ted them to the Courts of their Murdering enemies whereby much innocent blood was shed Therefore to stop their Career of violence and deter them from such Courses they found it necessary to threaten them with more active vigorous opposition and that they might expect to be treated as they deserved Wherein they are far from ouning assassinating principles or practising assassinations for they give only open plain warning and advertisement to the world of their necessitated endeavours to defend themselves and prevent the Murder of their Brethren And can no way be charged with asserting it Lawful to kill all employed in the Kings service in Church State Army or Country as the Proclamation in viperous invective Calumny misrepresents the Declaration but on the contrary do jointly unanimously declare they detest abhor that hellish principle of killing such as differ in judgement from them and they are firmly really purposed not to injure or offend any whomsoever but such as are directly guilty of or accessory to the Murder of their Brethren whom yet they mind not to assassinate or kill tumultuarly but to prosecute them with all the legal formalities that Justice in their Capacity and the times disorder distracted condition will allow Expressly declaring that they abhor condemn discharge all personall attempts upon any pretext whatsomever without previous deliberations common consent certain probation of sufficient witnesses or the guilty persons confession Neither could it ever be supposed that they threaten all imployed in the Kings service with this sort of handling but some select expressly distinguished Kind of Notorious villains men of death blood openly avowing vaunting of their Murders and these they distinguished into several Classes according to the respective aggravations of their wickedness In the first they place those that Murder by Command under pretext of an usurped Authority as Councellours Justiciary Officers of their forces or bands of Robbers not all nor any of these neither but the cruel bloody In the second Class they threaten such as are actually in armes against them of an inferior rank And such Gentlemen and Bishops Curats as do professedly willingly serve them to accomplish effectuate their Murders by obeying their commands making searth for these poor men delivering them up instigating informing and witnessing against hunting after them not all these neither but such as cruelly prosecute that service to the effussion of their blood Neither do they threaten all equally nor any of them peremptorly but that continuing after the publication of this their Declaration obstinately habitually in these courses
Plainly declaring they intended no hurt to them if they would hold up their hands they would repute them as enemies to God the Reformation and punish them as such according to their power and the degree of their offence Withall leaving room for Civil Ecclesiastical satisfaction before Lawful settled Judicatories for the offences of such persons as their power may not reach c. And as unwilling to be necessitated to such severe Courses and earnestly desirous they be prevented they admonish them with sorrow seriousness of the sin hazard of their wicked Courses and protest that only Necessity of self preservation and zeal to Religion lest it should be totally rooted out by their insolency did drive them to this threatening Declaration and not because they were acted by any sinful spirit of revange This is all that is contained in that Declaration And if here be any thing there so odious execrable to be so solemnly abjured renounced abhorred in the persence of God for the pleasure of and in obedience to the will of His our enemies let all unbyassed Considerers impartially weigh or any awakened Conscience speak and I doubt not but the swearing subscribing this Oath will be cast condemned I shall say nothing of the necessity or conveniency or expediency or formality of this Declaration but the Lawfulness of the matter complexely taken is so undeniable that it cannot be renounced without condemning many very Material Principles of our Reformation Only Success Incapacity is wanting to justify the manner whole proceedure formality and all the Circumstances of the business If either the Declarers themselves or any other iâ— powered with strength and countenanced with success to make good the undertaking had issued out such a Declaration in the same terms and had prevailed prospered in the Project many that have now abjured it would approve applaud it But passing these things that are extrinsick to the consideration in hand it is the matter that they required to be abjured condemned it is that the enemies quarrelled at and not the inexpediency or informalities of it And it must be taken as they propound it and abjured renounced by Oath as they represent it And therefore the iniquity of this subscription will appear to be great in two respects First in denying the Truth Secondly in subscribing to swearing a Lie. 1. They that have taken that Oath have denied renounced the matter of that Declaration which is Truth duty and a Testimony to the Cause of Christ as it is this day Stated Circumstantiate in the Nation founded upon former among us uncontroverted precedents Principles of Defensive Wars disouning Tyranny repressing the insolency of Tyrants their Accomplices the whole matter being reducible to these two Points Declaring a resolved endeavour of breaking the Tyrants yoke from off our neck thereby asserting our oun the posterities Liberty freedom from his insupportable entailed slavery And a just Threatening to curb restrain the insolency of Murderers or to bring them to condign punishment Whereof as the first is no wayes repugnant but very consonant to the Third Article So the Second is the very duty obliged unto in the Fourth Article of our Solemn League Covenant But all this they have denied by taking that Oath 2. By taking that Oath they have sworn subscribed to a Lie taking it as they represent it abjuring it in so far as it declares c. asserts it is Lawful to kill all imployed in the service of the King in Church State Army or Country which is a manifest Lie for it asserts no such thing Neither will any other sense put upon the words in so far as salve the matter for as thereby the Takers of the Oath shall deal deceitfully in frustrating the end of the Oath and the design of the Tenderers thereof And to take an Oath quatenus eatenus in so far will not satisfie as Voetius Judgeth de Pol. Eccl. P. 213. So let them be taken which way they can either for in quantum or quatenus or si modo it is either a denying the Truth or subscribing a Lie And Consequently these poor people suffered for Righteousness that Refused it HEAD IV. The Sufferings of people for frequenting Field Meetings Vindicated HItherto the Negative Heads of Sufferings have been vindicated now follow the Positive founded upon Positive duties for doing and not denying and not promising engaging to relinquish which many have suffered severely The first both in order of nature and of time that which was first and last and most frequently most constantly most universally and most signally sealed by Sufferings was that which is the clearest of all being in some respect the Testimony of all Ages and which clears all the rest being the Rise Root Cause Occasion of all the rest to wit the Necessary duty of hearing the Gospel following the pure powerful faithfully dispensed Ordinances of Christ banished out of the Churches to private houses and persecuted out of houses to the Open Fields and there pursued opposed and sought to be suppressed by all the fury force rigour rage Cruelty Craft policy power that ever wicked men madded into a Monstrous Malice against the Mediator Christ and the Coming of His Kingdom could contrive or exert yet still followed frequented ouned adhered to by the Lovers of Christ serious seekers of God even when for the same they were killed all day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter and continually oppressed harrassed hunted and cruelly handled dragged to Prisons banished sold for slaves tortured Murdered And after by their fraudulent favours of ensnaring Indulgences Indemnities and a Continued tract of Impositions Exactions and many Oaths Bonds they had prevailed with many and even the most part both of Ministers Professors to abandon that necessary duty And even when it was declared Criminal by Act of Parliament and interdicted under pain of death to be found at any Field Meetings they nevertheless persisted in an undaunted endeavour to keep up the Standart of Christ in following the Word of the Lord wherever they could have it faithfully preached though at the greatest of hazards And so much the more that it was prosecuted by the rage of enemies and the reproach oblequies of pretended friends that had turned their back on the Testimony and preferred their oun ease Interests to the cause of Christ and with the greater fervor that the Labourers in that Work were few and like to faint under so many difficulties What the first Occasion was that constrained them to go to the fields is declared at length in the Historical Deduction of the Testimony of the Sixt Period to wit finding themselves bound in duty to Testifie their Adherence to Continuance in their Covenanted profession their Abhorrence of Abjured Prelacy and
but our Ministers that ventured their lives in preaching in the fields have had a certain seal to their Ministry is sealed sensibly in the conviction of many confession of moe That Christs Ministers Witnesses employed about the Great Gospel Message cloathed with His Authority under the obligation of His Commands lying upon them must preach the people must hear them not withstanding of all Laws to the contrary Divines grant that the Magistrate can no more suspend from the exercise than he can depose from the Office of the Ministry for the one is a degree unto the other See Apollon de jure Majest circa Sacra Part. 1. Pag. 334. c. Rutherf Due right of Presb. Pag. 430. c. For whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto men more than unto God the Consciences of the greatest enemies may be appealed unto Act. 4. 19. They must not cease wherever they have a Call Occasion to Teach Preach Iesus Christ Act. 5. ult Necessity is laid upon them yea wo unto them if they Preach not the Gospel 1 Cor. 9. 16. In all things they must approve themselves as the Ministers of God in much patience in afflictions in necessities c. by honour dishonour by evil report good report as deceivers and yet true as unknown yet well known 2 Cor. 6. 4 8 9. They must preach the Word be instant in season out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering doctrine 2 Tim. 4. 2. Dare any say then that a Magistrats or Tyrants Laws can exauctorate a Minister or silence him by his oun proper elicite acts as King or Tyrant or formally immediately Will Mischiefs framed into a Law warrant such iniquity or an act of a King of Clay rescind the Mandats of the King of Kings or exempt people from obedience due thereunto Or will the Bishops Canons who have no power from Christ or the Censures of them that stand condemned themselves by the Constitutions of the Church Acts of the General Assemblies have any weight in the case And yet these are all that can be alledged except odious invidious Calumnies the ordinary Lot of the most faithful against the present preachers in the fields which are sufficiently confuted in their late Informatory Vindication and need not here be touched Seeing therefore they have given up themselves unto Christ as His servants they must resolve to be employed for Him to the outmost of their power and must not think of laying up their Talent in a Napkin especially now when there is so great necessity when Defection is yet growing covered countenanced more more Division nothing abated but new oyl cast daylie into the flames of devouring Contentions the people generally drouned in the deluge of the times snares sins and like to be over whelmed in the inundation of black Poperie now coming in at the opened sluce of this wicked Toleration with the Congratulations of Addressing Ministers when now the Harvest is great and the Labourers are few Great then is the necessity and double must the woe be that abideth such Ministers as are silent at such a time And great inexcusable is the sin of the people if they do not come out and countenance faithful Ministers the Messengers of the Lord of hosts from whom they should seek the Law Mal. 2. 7. especially when there are so many that have palpably betrayed their Trust and so few that are faithful in the necessary Testimony of the day Seeing then faithful Ministers must preach people must hear where can they meet with conveniency safety freedom except either under the shelter of this wicked Toleration which they dare not do or else go to the fields 5. It must be obtained also that the Ministers have a right to Preach in this unfixed manner whereever they have a Call their relation now in this disturbed state of the Church being to be considered more extensively than in its settled condition For understanding which we must distinguish a three or four-fold relation that a Minister of the Gospel stands into First He is a Minister of Christ and Steward of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4. 1. having his Commission from Christ as his Master And this relation he hath universally wherever he is Secondly he is a Minister of the Catholick Church though not a Catholick Minister of it which is his primary relation for that is the Church in which Ministers are set 1 Cor. 12. 28. and to which they are given Eph. 4. 11 12. Thirdly He is a Minister of the particular Church whereof he is a Member and so in Scotland a Minister is a Minister of the Church of Scotland and is obliged to lay out himself for the good of that Church Fourthly he is a Minister of the particular Congregation whereunto he hath a fixed relation in a constitute case of the Church This last is not essential to a Minister of Christ but is subservient to the former relations but when separated from such a relation or when it is impossible to be held he is still a Minister of Christ and His Call to preach the Gospel stands binds See M r Durhams Degression on this particular on Revel chap. 2. pag. 89. c. in quarto For thô he be not a Catholick Officer having an equal relation to all Churches as the Apostles were Nevertheless he may exerce Ministerial Acts Authoritatively upon occasions warrantably calling for the same in other Churches as Heraulds of one King having Authority to charge in His Name wherever it be especially in a broken state of the Church when all the restriction his Ministerial relation is capable of is only a tye call to officiate in the service of that Church whereof he is a Member and so he hath right to preach every where as he is called for the edification of that Church The reasons are 1. He hath power from Christ the Master of the whole Church and therefore wherever the Masters Authority is acknowledged the Servants Ministerial Authority cannot be denied at least in relation to that Church whereof he is a Member as well as a Minister 2. He hath Commission from Christ principally for the edification of Christs body as far as his Ministrie can reach according to the Second relation 3. His relation to the whole Church is principal that which is fixed to a part is only subordinate because it is a part of the whole 4. His Commission is indefinite to preach the Gospel which will sâ—it as well in one place as in another 5. The same great ends of the Churches greater good edification which warrands fixing of a Minister to a particular charge in the Churches peaceable state will warrand his officiating more largely in her disturbed state 6. Else it would follow that a faithful Minister standing in that relation to a disturbed destroyed Church and all his
gifts graces were useless in that case which notwithstanding are given for the good of the Church 7. Yea by this when his fixed relation cannot be kept it would follow that he ceased to be a Minister and his Commission expired so that he should stand in no other relation to Christ than any private person so qualified which were absurd for by Commission he is absolutely set apart for the work of the Ministrie so long as Christ hath work for him if he continue faithful 8. This hath been the practice of all the Propogators of the Gospel from the begining and of our Reformers in particular without which they could never have propogated it so far And it was never accounted the Characteristick of Apostles to preach unfixedly because in times of persecution Pastors Doctors also might have Preached wherever they came as the Officers of the Church of Ierusalem did when scattered upon the persecution of Stephen Act. 8. 1. did go every where preaching the Word ver 4. Since therefore they may must Preach in this unfixed manner they must in this broken State look upon all the Godly in the Nation that will oune hear them to be their Congregation and embrace them all and consult their conveniency universal advantage in such a way as all equally may be admitted and none excluded from the benefit of their Ministrie And therefore they must go to the fields with it 6. The Lord hath so signally ouned successfully countenanced and singularly sealed Field-Preaching in these unfixed exercises that both Ministers people have been much encouraged against all opposition to prosecute them as having experienced much of the Lords power presence in them and of the breathings of the enlivening enlarging enlightening and strengthening Influences of the Spirit of God upon them The people are hereby called in this case of defection to seek after those waters that they have been so often refreshed by For in this case of defection God being pleased to seal with a palpable Blessing on their Souls the Word from Ministers adhering to their principles they may safely look on this as a Call from God to hear them and follow after them so ouned of the Lord. And it being beyond all doubt that the Assemblies of the Lords people to partake of pure Ordinances with full freedom of Conscience in the fields hath been signally ouned blessed of the Lord and hath proven a mean to spread the knowledge of God beyond any thing that appeared in our best times And in despight of this â—ignal Appearance of God and envy at the good done in these Meetings all endeavours being used by wicked men to suppress utterly all these Rendevouzes of the Lords Militia both by open force cunning Midianitish wiles Ministers cannot but look upon it as their duty and that the Lord hath been preaching from Heaven to all who would hear understand it that this way of preaching even this way was that wherein His Soul took pleasure and to which He hath been is calling all who would be co-workers with Him this day to help forward the Interest of His Crown Kingdom Many hundreds of persecuted people can witness this and all the Martyrs have sealed it with their blood and remembered it particularly on the Scaffolds that they found the Lord there and that He did lead them thither where He made them to ride upon the high places of the earth and to eat the increase of the fields and to suck honey out of the rock and that in their experience under the Spirits pouring out from on high they found the wilderness to be a fruitful field and in their esteem their feet were beautiful upon the Mountains that brought good tidings that published peace that brought good tidings of good that published salvation that said unto Zion thy God reigneth And all the Ministers that followed this way while they were faithful and had but litle strength and kept His Word and did not deny His Name found that verified in their experience which is said of Philadelphia Revel 3. 8. that they had an open door which no man could shut The Characters whereof as they are expounded by Mr Durham were all verified in these Meetings where 1. The Ministers had a door of utterance upon the one side opened to them and the peoples ears were opened to welcome the same in love to edification simplicity diligence on the other 2. This had real changes following many being made humble serious tender fruitful c. 3. The Devil raged set himself to oppose traduce some way to blast the Ministrie of the most faithful more than any others just as when Paul had a greater door effectual opened to him there were many adversaries 1 Cor. 16. 9. 4. Yet the Lord hath been observably defeating the Devil Profanity in every place where the Gospel came and made him fall like lightening from Heaven by the preaching of the Word 5. And the most experimental proof of all was that hereby ground was gained upon the Kingdom of the Devil and many Prisoners brought off to Jesus Christ. And therefore seeing it is so this mnst certainly be a Call to them who are yet labouring in that Work which others have left off to endeavour to keep this door open with all diligence and reap the corn when it is ripe and when the Sun shines make hay and with all watchfulness lest the wicked one sow his tares if they should fall remiss 7. As for the Circumstance of the place of this unfixed manner of celebrating the Solemn Ordinances of the Worship of God in a time of persecution This cannot be quarrelled at by any but such as will quarrel at any thing But even that is better warranted than to be weakened with their quarrels For before the Law Mountain-Worship was the first Worship of the World as Abrams Iehovah-jireh Gen. 22. 14. Iacâ—bs Bethel or House of God in the open fields Gen. 28. 17 19. his Peniel Gen. 32. 30. his El-Elohe-Israel Gen. 33. ult do witness Under the Law they heard of it at Ephratah they found it in the fields of the Wood Psal. 132. 6. After the Law field-preaching was the first that we read of in the New Testament both in Iohn his preaching in the wilderness of Iudea being the voice of one crying in the wilderness and the Master Usher of Christ Math. 3. 1 3. and in His Ambassadours afterwasds who on the Sabbath sometimes went out to a river side were prayer was wont to be made As Lydia was converted at Pauls field preaching Act. 16. 13 14. And chiefly the Prince of Preachers Christ Himself preached many a time by the syds of the Mountains and the the sea side That Preaching Math. 5. was on a Mountain vers 1. And this is the more to be considered that our Lord had Liberty of the Synagogâ—es to Preach in yet he frequently left them and preached either in
Church but in a way of Dependence upon subordination to Christ as King who ascending far above Principalities Powers appointed gave the Gifts of the Ministry Eph. 4. 8. 11. and set them in the Church 1. Cor. 12. 28. and gave them commission to go teach the Nations by virtue of that all Power that was given to Him in Heaven Earth Math. 28. 18 19. If then they take a new holding close with a new Conveyance of the Ministrie and of the Power to exercise the same from a new Architectonick usurped Power in the Church encroaching on Christs Royal prerogative we dare not Homologat such an affront to Christ as to give them the respect of His Ambassadours when they become the servants of men and subject even in Ministerial functions to another Head then Christ for then they are the Ministers of men by men and not by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead because they do not hold the Head Col. 2. 19. Hence those that receive derive their Church-Power from and are subordinate in its exercise to another Head then Christ Jesus should not be received and subjected to as the Ministers of Christ in His Church But the Prelats their curats do receive derive their Church Power from are subordinate in its exercise to another Head then Christ Therefore they should not be received c. The first Proposition cannot be denyed The Second is proved thus Those officers in the Church Professing themselves such that derive their Church-Power from are subordinate in its exercise to a Power truly Architectonick Supreme in the Church to wit the Magistrate beside Christ Do derive their Power from are subordinate in its exercise to another Head than Christ Jesus But so it is that Prelats their Curats do derive c. Ergo The Major is evident for whosoever hath a Supreme Architectonick Power in over the Church must be a Head to the same and the fountain of all Church Power The Minor is also clear from the foregoing Historical Deduction manifesting the Present Prelacy to be Gross Erastianisme for the disposal of the Government of the Church is declared by Law to be the Croun right and an inherent perpetual Prerogative and thereupon the Bishops are restored to the Episcopal function And it is expressly Declared that there is no Church Power in the Church-office bearers but what depends upon is subordinate unto the Supremacy and authorized by the Bishops who are declared accountable to the King for the Administration By virtue of which Ecclesiastick Supremacy He put excomunication spiritual Censures consequently the Power of the Keyes into the hands of Persons meerly Civil in the Act for the High Commission Hence it is clear that as the fountain of all Church Government he imparts his Authority to such as he pleases and the Bishops are nothing else but his Commissioners in the exercise of that Ecclesiastick power which is originally in Himself and that the Curats are only His under Clerks All the stress will lie in proving that this Monster of a Supremacy from which the Prelats their Curats have all their Authority is a Great Encroachment on the Glory of Christ as King which will appear if we briefly consider these Particulars 1. It usurps upon Christs Prerogative who only hath all undoubted right to this Architectonick Magisterial Dominion over the Church His oun Mediatory Kingdom not only an Essential right by His Eternal Godhead being the Everlasting Father whose goings forth hath been of old from Everlasting Isa. 9. 6. Mic. 5. 2. in recognizance of which we oune but one God the Father and one Lord by whom are all things we by Him 1. Cor. 8. 6. But also a Covenant-right by Compact with the Father to bear the Glory rule upon His Throne by virtue of the Counsel of Peace between them both Zech. 6. 13. A Donative right by the Fathers Delegation by which He hath all power given in Heaven in Earth Math. 28. 18. and all things given unto His hand Iohn 3. 35. and all judgment Authority to execute it even because He is the Son of man Iohn 5. 22 27. and to be Head over all things to the Church Eph. 1. 22. An Institute right by the Fathers inaugaration who hath set Him as King in Zion Psal. 2. 6. and appointed Him Governour that shall rule His people Israel Math. 2. 6. An Acquisite right by His oun purchase by which He hath merited obtained not only subjects to Govern but the Glory of the Sole Soveraignty over them in that relation A name above every name Phil. 2. 9. which is that He is the Head of the Church which is as much His Peculiar Prerogative as to be Saviour of the body Eph. 5. 23. A Bellical right by Conquest making the people fall under Him Psal. 45. 4. and be willing in the Day of His power Psal. 110. 3. and overcoming those that make war with Him Rev. 17. 14. An Hereditary right by Proximity of blood Primogeniture being the first born higher then the Kings of the Earth Psal. 89. 27. and the first born from the dead that in all things He might have the preeminence Col. 1. 18. An Elective right by His peoples choise surrender having a Croun wherewith His Mother Crouned Him in the day of His Espousals Cant 3. ult By all which undoubted Titles It is His Sole incommunicable Prerogative without a Copartner or Competitor Coordinate or subordinate to be Iudge only Lawgiver King in Spirituals Isa. 33. 22. to be that one Lawgiver Iam. 4. 12. who only can give the power of the keyes to His officers which Comprehends all the power they have Math. 16. 19. to be that one Master over all Church officers who are but brethren Math. 23. 8 10. in whose Name only they must perform all Church Acts and all Parts of their Ministry and not in the Name of any Mortal Math. 28. 18. 19. Math. 18. 20. from whom only they receive what ever they have to deliver to the Church 1. Cor. 11. 23. To be the only Instituter of His Officers who hath set them in the Church 1. Cor. 12. 28. and gave them to the Church Eph. 4. 11. whose Ambassadours only they are 2. Cor. 5. 20. from whom they have authority for edification of the Church 2 Cor. 10. 8. 2 Cor. 13. 10. in whose Name only they are to assemble and keep fence their Courts both the least Math. 18. 20. and the Greatest Act. 15. But now all this is usurped by one who is not so much as a Church member let be a Church Officer as such for the Magistrate is neither as he is a Magistrate otherwise all Magistrats would be Church members Hence they that have all their power from a meer usurper on Christs Prerogative who is neither member nor officer of the Church have none