where Satan had his Throne and Antichrist kept the Chair They wrote nine several Creeds not all confirming or explaining the former Creed but some of them containing Contradictions of which themselves were ashamed d Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 25. for a Liar should have a good Memory yea in the last of these Councils they ratifie their Council at Seleucia and its Creed and cursed the Creed at Ariminum because it was not Heterodox enough e Socrat. lib. 4. cap. 4. As we have seen the Activity Perfidity and Falshood of the Arian in spreading their Heresie so in the fourth place we shall take a view of their Hellish Cruelty practised against the Orthodox and true Church of God For they poysoned with their Arianism the Emperour Constantius who began his Reign Anno Dom. 336. and Valence who began his Reign Anno Dom. 366. thâ—se two Emperours they instigate to raise cruel and bloody Persecution against the Orthodox during the time of their Empire of which we shall only mention a few notable Instances First The Arians at Constantinople raised a great Tumult of Sedition that many Christians were troden under Foot to Death a Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 9. Secondly The Arian Emperour Constantius having banished the Orthodox Bishop of Constantinople the Arians strangled him in his Exile and the Orthodox Bishop of Adrianople died in Prison with Torments b Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 21. Thirdly Great Persecution was raised by the Arians in the Cities of the East against the Orthodox Christians by Banishment spoiling of their Goods and sundry kinds of Torments c Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 22. Fourthly The Arians at Alexandria upon the Lords Day invaded with Arms the Orthodox and having kindled a great Fire apprehended Orthodox Virgins who as they thought would soonest yield to them these they threatned with Burning unless they turned Arian but percelving these holy Virgins invincible Courage resolute to die Martyrs for the Glory of the Sacred Trinity they violently in the open Streets pulled off all their Clothes to put them to shame and mocked them in their nakedness but these Virgins being of undaunted Courage to suffer for the Name of Christ them the Arians so wounded on the Face that their nearest Relations did hardly know them and fourty Men they scourged with Rods that some of them died yet they refused to give their dead bodies to their Friends to bury and these who outlived their Scourging part of them they Banished of others not banished the Chirurgians had great difficulty to pull out the Thorn Pricks out of their Flesh At that same time the Arians killed moe then thirty Orthodox Bishops in Egypt and Lybia and banished sixteen moe whereof some died in their cruel usage by the way others died in the place of their Banishment of which Martyrs the World was not worthy d Socrat lib. 2. cap. 23. Fifthly In Constantinople and the Country about many Orthodox Bishops were banished by the Arians and other of the Orthodox that refused to communicate with the Arians they cruelly tormented their Bodies and then scobbing their Mouths violently thrust in the sacramental Elements of the Lords Supper and that not only of Men and Women but also of Children and these who were most reluctant they detained in Prison and Torments that so the Arian intended by this his work to get the honour that the Orthodox did communicate with them but prophane forcing proved the Arian Communion to be the Table of Devils yea they thrust the Papes of some holy Women into a Chest and closing its lid cut off their Papes with a Saw and others they burnt off their Papes with a red hot Iron a Socrat. lib. 2. cap. 30. Theodoret. lib. 2. cap. 14. Sixthly The Arians in Alexandria conspired with the Jews and Pagans and all three raised great Persecution against the true Christians there they apprehended the holy Virgins stripped them naked as they were born and led them through the Streets obscenely mocking them and if any Beholder in Christian compassion did speak but one word in their favours they were driven away with Wounds thereafter many of the Virgins they ravished some they killed and refused to give their Bodies to their Parents to be buried yea in this Tumult the Arian and Pagan committed so great abomination that I am ashamed to render them in English b Theodoret. lib. 4. cap. 20. a most profane Pagan being a chief Acter of these Abominations acted both in the Pulpit and on the Altar of the chief Church of Alexandria it was too like a Stage-Play of Satans divising against God's Word and Worship the most profane the Devil could devise and all this acted in the presence of the Arian Bishop whom the Pagan Spokesman thus saluted O Bishop who denies the Son of God thy coming is welcome to us c Theodoret. lib. 5. cap. 22. our god Serapis embraceth thee and brought thee hither observe how well the Devil and the Arian does aggree like Heart and Joy This Pagan god Serapis had a Church in Alexandria where he was worshipped and in it a monstruous great Image at that time much worshipped by the Pagans there What true Christian can read the Perjury Falshood and hellish Cruelty of the Arian and their atheistical profaning of the Lord's Supper and not look upon them as incarnate devils against these antichristian and profane bloody Arians who blasphemed both the Son and Holy Ghost The Orthodox Church were most zealous to defend the Truth and for that cause to sing the Doxology in their publick Worship exactly according to the words of the Holy Scriptures For then the Arian also keeped the singing of their own Doxology but it was different from the Orthodox and Holy Scriptures Now considering the true Churches hard condition when the Arians persecute them and yet these holy Christians were most willing to suffer Martyrdom for the Name of Jesus and also to sing the Doxology therein professing their Faith in one God in three Persons Father Son and Holy Ghost equal in Power and Glory Now I would ask the Christian now a days If the Lord in His Providence did put them now in such a condition to be persecuted to the death by the prevailing Arian whether or not they would be content to suffer Martyrdom in defence of the honour of Christ and also with the Orthodox Christian to sing the Doxology would they both sing and suffer as these did who are now singing triumphant Songs to Father Son and Holy Ghost having trode Satan and Arians under-foot I willingly judge in Charity to these weak Lambs they would then with the Orthodox Christians both joyn in singing the Doxology and also in suffering with them for the Name of Jesus Then I ask them again if they would have sung the Doxology if they had been going to the Stake to die in desence of the honour of Christ against the cursed Arian then have they not as good
mouth glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And according to this Prayer from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same throughout the whole World where ever Christianity is truly professed the Doxologie is Sung with one Heart and with one Mouth unto this day except by a few of late in Brittain whom I intreat seriously to consider these Questions from that Text Rom. 15. 6. Is it not God Father Son and Holy Ghost who indyts that Prayer 2dly The hearing and granting of that Prayer throughout the Christian World is it not the blessing of God Father Son and Holy Ghost in fulfilling the Christians Prayer indyted by God Himself then dare any Christian deny that it is lawfull to sing Glory to God Father Son and Holy Ghost with one heart and mouth seeing God Father Son and Holy Ghost commands and allowes Christians to glorifie Him with one heart and mouth Upon consideration of the Blooding Wounds and Torn Bowels of my Mother Church in Christian compassion I am pressed in Spirit to speak a word in Her behalf which I intend chiefly for two sort of Christians First To these Babs in Christ and of lesser knowledge who are obedient to their Mother Church and do not forsake this Her Law Prov. 6. 20. of Christianity but sing the Doxologie Be ye stedfast and immoveable be not drawn away from that Duty by the evil Example or Counsel of any who would intise or mislead you to increase their Soure Leaven and Prosylits I declare to you as an Ambassadour of Christ that you shal not have cause to repent you of singing Glory to Father Son and Holy Ghost in the Day of your Account to Father Son and Holy Ghost when the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost shall be with you and your Grace consummat in Glory and your Prayers turned into Hallelujabs As for these who refuse to Sing the Doxologie and think it a Sin to Sing it or at least have their doubts anent it for want of better Information these are of three Sorts 1. The weak Lambs who yet are seeking the way to Zion and to please God in all good Conscience to these I am willing to tender the sincere Milk of the Word because of the Command of the Great Shepherd of our Souls John 21. 15. If you love me feed my Lambs these I intreat in the bowels of Jesus Christ to consider the danger of an Erronious Conscience For St. Paul was once yet more zealous then ye are in a wrong way of which he gave prudent and Christian warning to other Zealots Acts 26. 9. I verily thought with my self that I ought to do many things contraire to the Name of Jesus of Nazareth which thing I also did of which Erroneous Zealot Jews he bears record Rom 10. 2. That they have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge So of you I judge in charity that your Zeal is sincere and abundant but the defect is in your knowledge and in such a case the more Zeall the more danger and therefore be not Children in understanding 1 Cor. 14. 20. Be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 14. Be aware to despise or reject the Light of sound Instruction and side no longer with Antitrinitarians and the like Blasphemous Hereticks all which the universall Church hath declared Excommunicat as such from the Communion of Saints and forgivenness of Sins side no more with these Monsters The God of Truth reveall His Truth unto you and give you understanding in all things for to you I owe great compassion and tendernesse of bowels As for the 2d Sort called Christians to wit the cunningly painted Hypocrite and the openly Prophane I have a word alloted for them reserved till near the close of the Treatise Here I have an Apologie to make to the Learned who may object what needed so much to be written to prove or defend that Practice which none in the universal Church for 1300. Years did call in question to whom in all humility I reply these are not written for Information or Reformation of the Learned in this Point who stand in need of neither being assured both of the Lawfulness and Experiency of this Duty but they also know that there is too many of late years in Scotland who refuse to sing the Doxologie to whom I am resolved to become all things to them all whether weak or more knowing that by all means I may gain some for whose cause I have multiplyed Arguments to prove the lawfulnesse of the Doxologie having to teach these weaned from the Milk and drawn from the Breasts to whom Precept must be upon Precept and Lyne upon Lyne Isa 28. 9 10 I hope none will say that the Holy Ghost useth either Tautologie or Battologie in the foresaid 10. verse when he doubles both the Precept and the Lyne So I have brought for Information of these little Ones and Lambs of Christ Reason upon Reason redoubled For as the strong should have their stronger Food So the Bab's their Milk And some be more moved with one Reason and some with another herein I intending that great Postorall Duty to do all things for Edyfying 1 Cor. 14. 26. 2 Cor. 12. 19. And in Citing modern Divines I have made most use of these who will be most acceptable and convincing to the Refusers of the Doxologie And if at any time for defence fo Truth I bring Proof from any bygone Practice of themselves and their way I here declare that it no wayes to irritat but to bear in the Truth with the more power my purpose being to do all in Love and what makes for Peace and Healing The Servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all Men apt to Teach patient in meekness Instructing those that oppose themselves 2 Tim. 2. 28. and 25. That which is not written in the Vulgar Tongue in this following little Treatise in a distinct Section towards the Right Hand is intended for the Learned Finally I ingenuously declare That my first and chief End is the Glory of God and I pray through the Lords blessing it may prove the End and Essect of the work In the next place I intend the furtherance of the Peace and Prosperity of my Mother-church in Clearing and Removing of mistakes among the Children at least to make the Rent and Breach less that the weak might be strengthened and confirmed in their Judgement in their Singing the Doxologie that the Scruplous may be informed the Averse convinced and Reclaimed Contentions and Swellings pacified and removed as far as Relates to the Doxologie that all with one Heart and Mouth may Sing Glory to God Father Son and Holy Ghost and as my God and Saviour was subject to his Blessed Virgin Mother and hath commanded me to be
England As for these Brethren in England who requested the General Assembly in Scotland to lay aside the singing of the Doxologie no doubt they had taken the League and Covenant and on this account are called Brethren but in that Covenant they did solemnly vow and swear to Almighty God to reform Religion according to the best reformed Churches but all the reformed Churches have still retained the Doxologie why then did not these Brethren in England fear that Oath the mark of the truly godly Eccl. 9. 2. And if any would thus excuse them that they were perswaded by such strong reasons as they thought liberate them from their Oath in regard of singing the Doxologie I answer granting that it is possible they had such thoughts as may be in charity supponed To which I reply If they had as they thought such strong reasons convincing themselves then they were bound to impart that new and rare light unknown to the universal Church for more then 1300. years they should have imparted that spiritual gift and not hid that talent of knowledge in their Napkin nor set their Candle under a Bushel but on a Candlestick to give light to all the house not only of the reformed but even of the universal Church 2. It may be thought that they were obliged to clear themselves of giving offence in separating from the Reformed Churches contrary to their Covenant and quitting the Doxologie without so much as rendering one reason for their making a breach from the reformed Churches in their uniformity in Worship which they did swear in their Covenant I am also sorry that with their quitting of the Doxologie these in England did also quite both the solemn blessings in the Old and New Testament which the Reformed Church useth in the closing of the publick Worship that they would neither give God his due nor his people not him his solemn glory nor them their solemn blessing and so they have not left a blessing behind them and it is like their way hath not been the more blessed in their deed for as their laying aside of the Apostolick blessing 2 Cor 13 14. which Text the universal Church taketh for one of the chief Texts in the Word-of God for proving the great fundamental point of faith of the Sacred Trinity So the universal Church had made use of the Doxologie these many hundred years bygone as a strong preservative against seducing of people to errour anent the Trinity As for the General Assembly of Scotland as they piously and prudently in these unsettled and reeling times retained both the blessings of the Old and New Testament in their Publick Worship with the rest of the reformed Churches So it was a good presage that in the Lords good time they would re-assume and sing glory to the blessed Trinity with the rest of the reformed and universal Church as now they do at this day for which we give glory to the blessed Trinity CHAP. XII That invalid Scruple answered because the Doxologie is not to be found altogether in one place of Scripture and the conveniency of singing it proven THe Apostle Paul as a good Pastor professeth he became all things to all men that by all means he might save some 1 Cor. 9. 22. So I am informed that some Christians weak in knowledge because the General Assembly for a time did lay aside the Doxologie therefore they in an ignorant mistake thought it unlawful to be sung and they are promoved in that errour upon this weak reason because the Doxologie is noâ— express in continued Scriptures as the Psalms of David are I answer first If a Preacher whom they like well Preach or Pray or Praise God in Prose or without a Song although neither of these three their Sermon Prayer or Praise be express Scripture but only according to Scripture and I heartily wish it be alwayes so then without all scruple they joyn in these as parts of Gods Worship when neither that Sermon Prayer or Praise is the express Word of God but if we praise God with a Tone or Song it must either be in the Psalms of David or else it is an abomination to them But doth not the Apostle command to praise God in Psalms Hymns and spiritual Songs Eph. 5. 19. In which place the Learned dare not exclude any Hâ—mn or spiritual Song in Scripture and we have proven already thâ— Dâ—xologie to be of this nature 2. I answer whereas they say nothing should be sung in Publick Worship but express Scripture then let them be pleased to learn this truth that the Psalms which they sing in Meeter or Verse are but a Paraphrase or short Commentary upon the Scripture for no Church nor Divine rejects the express Word of God but for Paraphrase it is ordinary to reject one and authorize another as the Church finds expedient and thus the General Assembly of Scotland rejected the old Paraphrase of the Psalms as not so fit as need were in some things and caused make a new Paraphrase in Meeter and authorized it to be used in Churches therefore no Paraphraâ—e is the express and pure Word of God so they are in a mistake singing an imperfect Commentary of mans making when they think they are singing the pure Word of God and yet you sing it without scruple of Conscience then I reason that any judicious Christian understanding that all the parts of the Doxologie are either expâ—ess Scripture or so infallible Divine fundamental and saving truth that they have been received without scruple or contradiction these 1300. years by the universal Church so that all that time not one Christian did carp at any one word of the Doxologie but as for the Paraphrase in Meeter upon the Psalms as that old is rejected for its faults so some do object and carp at some words and lines in the new Paraphrase which ye sing without scruple so that by consequence a learned and judicious Christian will sing the Doxologie with more clearness and contentment then some lines of the new Paraphrase although I think that last Paraphrase any defect in it is compatible to the peaceable and moderate Christian for this I write not that any should reject the late Paraphrase but that they who accept of the Paraphrase do not despise or reject the Doxologie 3. I answer In our Psalm Books in Scotland printed shortly after the Reformation from Popery we also printed with the Psalms some spiritual Songs and holy Hymns with liberty to sing them in the Church So the Church of Geneva reformed Church of France and the Church of Belgia have printed together with their Psalms of David many Scriptural Songs and holy Hymns and have authorized them to be sung in the publick Worship of God with the Lords Prayer Ten Commandments and the Apostolick Creed all turned in Meeter and sung in the Church and dare any in Britain who own the name of Protestant condemn this practice of the reformed Churches beyond Seas without
Doxologie when he who is greater then thy Conscience knows thy false and seigned words Ah! thou wilt rather be speechless then Mat. 22. 12. as now thou art when thou shouldst sing the Doxologie Therefore to prevent that disaster I intreat you be not silent now but sing the Doxology least in that day the Judge of the Quick and Dead declare to thy confusion that thy refusing to sing the Doxology was not Conscience nor Religion but vain Glory Interest Self-seeking and Faction As for you who livâ— in oppen scandalous sins as Drunkennesse Whoredome c. and yet dare say we cannot sing the Doxology because of Conscience towards God To you hear the Lords answer Psalm 50. 16. Unto the wicked God saith what hast thou to do to declare my statutes Seing thou hateâ—â— instruction being partaker with the thief adulterer and sclanderer 2dly Doth not thy own heart smyt thee as a mocker of God and all Religion when thou pretends Conscience and when it is seared long agoe as with a hot iron 1 Tim. 4. 2. 3ly You may indeed increase the number of your party but you diminish their credit then let all who pretend Conscience depart from iniquity and sing the Doxolowy When was it that the General Assembly laid aside the Doxology even when the Army of the English Rebells who had proved false to God in the matter of Religion false to the King in matter of Loyalty false and perfidious to Scotland in stead of thankfulness to them for their assistance came in against them with the Sword having established a vast toleration so that that Army was made up of the dross and dregs and scume of England and even then when Religion in Scotland and England was in greatest danger then to lay aside the Doxology was like that inference the enemy is approaching therefore put out your Matches then consider the evils that immediatly and inevitable came upon Scotland after they laid aside the Doxology what glory we lost First the purity of Religion by their vast tolleration which with their Sectarian and Blasphemous Army they brought into Scotland Secondly We lost our Liberties for no man durst wear a Sword or Weapon for his defence but this was a just judgement to take a Sword from a man when he had killed his Father a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quis potest haec absque genetu commemorare annon ideo manifestum est ut vel puer intelligat haec quae nunc fuit esse proemia defectura fidei And last of all St. Basil looks upon it as a fearfull prognostick of departing from the truth when he perceived the Arian not to quite the Doxology altogether but to change it from the right words he greatly feared a falling from the Faith to follow so as long as ye refuse to sing the Doxology ye continue in the begun seperation which is a fearfull evil it keeps a door open to more sin and sorrow to follow for by that separation ye keep in your heart a disgust at your Mother Church as faulty and assure your selves through ye had no more Errors at present but that one that ye refuse to sing the Doxology yet that Error will not be alone for Error begets in the Soul a Sinfull inclination to more Error as the Apostle speaks of Erronious Spirits they grow worse and worse are not now too many turned Quakers and some sweet Singers whose beginning in Error was but small And to put a close to the Roll of the evils that follow the refusing to sing the Doxology Is it not both sin and shame to offer to God a lame Sacrifice of worship for they who refuse to sing the Doxology offer to God a lame Sacrifice of praise and they are cursed by God who offer to him the Sacrifice that hath blamish when they have better and will not offer it As for these that refuse to sing the Doxology and think it needless or evil these in their heart and by their deed condemn their Neighbour Christians for offering to God a mostruous Sacrifice as having a Leg more then enough in the 2 Chron. 5. 13. When was it that the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord even when the singers verse 13. were or one to make an sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord but this is far from the practise of these who will noâ— joyn in the praises which discord in the Lords Song cannot be but displeasing to him So that such practise of singing and not singing at one time yea worse singing and grieving at one time for no doubt he that sings not grieves at him that sings and looks very like the confusion that was after the return of the Captivity at the laying of the foundation of the Temple of Jerusalem when one part was praising and rejoycing another part weeping and howling and the last continued evil Is a continued Heart-burning and discontent in the hearts of these who refuse to sing and keeping a door open still for more seperation To close this Chapter as Mr. Calderwood said in great zeall in that foresaid General Assembly That he hoped to sing the Doxology in Heaven So let no Christian think it a paradox for the learned do know that it may be proven by sound Divinity for if in Heaven our praises to God shall be perfect which is most surely true then we shall praise him in all his Attributs in all his mighty Acts especially in his Word and everlasting Gospel then we shall eternally glorifie the infinitly glorious Essence in the mysterious Trinity of the Persons for seing in Heaven there will be neither Petition nor Prayer nor Preaching which make up a great part of our worship on earth and so all our worship in Heaven shall be praises and that to all Eternity and seing our knowledge of God in Heaven shall be far more perfect then it was on Earth and then we shall see God face to face and know him in Essence and Persons more perfectly then we do now on Earth and consequently our love to Father Son and Holy Ghost much more perfect so the perfection of our praises and incessantnesse without wearing shall answer to our greatest perfection in knowledge and love to God therefore it may be christianly supponed that we shall joyn in Heaven with these four living Creatures Revel 4. 8. who rest not day nor night singing Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come where was this trisagium uttered The first two Verses of this Chapter affirm that it was in Heaven who were the living Creatures that kept this Chore of laus perennis the Assembly Notes upon it sayes it was the Ministers of the New Testament 3dly What was the subject of their praises the Assembly Notes say they continually praise God and set out the Trinity of the persons in the God-head If any please to object the Church appointed the Doxology to be sung to