NAPHTALI OR The Wrestlings of the Church of SCOTLAND For the KINGDOM of CHRIST Contained in A true and short Deduction thereof from the beginning of the Reformation of Religion until the Year 1667. Together with The last Speeches and Testimonies of some who have died for the Truth since the Year 1660. Whereunto are also subjoined A Relation of the Sufferings and Death of M R HEW M C KAIL and some Instances of the Sufferings of Galloway and Nithisdale LAM 1 12. Is it nothing to you all ye that pass by Behold and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow which is done unto me wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger MIC 7 8. Rejoice not against me O mine Enemy When I fall I shall arise When I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a Light unto me ISAI 14 32. What shall one then answere the Messengers of the Nation That the Lord hath founded Zion and the poor of the People shall trust in it Printed in the Year 1667. AD LECTOREM NOn hîc Herculeae sunt cum sudore palestrae Nullus Olympiaco in pulvere Ludus iners Pro sadore cruor Christi de Corpore manat Ardua pro ludo est lucta rapina neces Scotica bis denis luctata Ecclesia Lustris Penè dedit victas lassa labore manus Duros passa Patres dudum velut ame Novercas Vi premitur Stygia fraude subacta gemit Constitit effraenes contra tumidasque procellas Proque Fide steterat dum stetit ulla fides Nusquam cana fides nunc est jurataque Coeli Numina mortales vinc'la nec ulla ligant Credula dum nimis est fida haec Ecclesia vanà Spe lusâ rupto Foedere strata jacet Strata tamen non tota jacet de pulvere surgit Auricomum tollet mox supra astra caput Ipsa triumphalem currum Crux saeva ministrat Sanctorum sanguis fertile semen erit Ecce Sacerdotum turmam Regumque Coronam Pendentem infami de trabe Lector habes Cerne oculo Heroum facies corpora cernas Verba audi videas pectora plena Deo Hîc loquitur Princeps magno cum Judice Vates Et Juvenes Vatum spes animosa senum Hîc Generosa cohors Miles Mercator agelli Cultor Arte rudis spirat ab ore Deum Disce immortalem hinc Animam vitamque futuram Nulla est pro Christo mors male grata pio Pro Christi Crux est diademate Laurea restis Faedere pro Sancto est vitta monile decus READER THE LORD in great mercy having wonderfully and with an outstretched arm notwithstanding all the opposition of Sathan and earthly Principalities redeemed Scotland from the Power and darkness first of Gentilism and then of Antichristianism by raising of some burning and shining Lights and other Instruments fitted for that Work Whereby the Light of the Glorious Gospel from a very small beginning did increase more and more untill at length shining with brightness and heat as the Sun in his strength it filled the Land with knowledge in so much that the name thereof became Jehouah Shammah the Lord is there And having built to Himself a house upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles not only sufficiently instructed with righteous Laws and Judgments for Doctrine and Worship But also provided with all Ordinary Officers necessary in the Christian Church and with a form of Church-Government of his own Institution distinct from and without any prejudice unto the Civil Government of the Kingdom Whereby the Church of Scotland for Soundness of Faith Purity of Worship Excellency of Government Freedom and Power of the Gospel beautiful Order and Unity was not inferior to any if not preferable to most of the Reformed Churches and therefore was deservedly famous and esteemed amongst them Having also for an hundred Years from it's first National Establishment preserved the same from utter overthrow notwithstanding the many various and renewed endeavours of men by force and fraud to reduce it unto the same Errors Ignorance and Superstitions wherein it self at first lay buried and under which others groaned And several times revived and restored it when by it's own Impurity Indifferency and Formality it began to decline or by the Treachery Subtilty or Violence of others it was oppressed Thereby not only disappointing confounding and many times ruining the Adversaries and comforting and strengthening the faithful But also alwayes rebuilding to Himself a Temple the glory whereof did far excell and darken the glory of the former And having many times engaged the whole Land to Himself by several most solemn Obligations of voluntary Surrender and Resignation by frequently renewed Oaths and Covenants So that within these few Years past there were not many persons of age of whatever degree and not so much as one Preaching Minister in all the Land who not only did not make publick profession of the true Reformed Religion but also subject themselves unto the Presbyterial Form of Church Government and Discipline who did not which we desire to be noted for that effect in their own persons swear and subscribe with the hand unto the Lord in the National Covenant and Solemn League and Covenant In so much that as to the publick Profession of the Truth and almost as to the number of persons the Church of Scotland was of equal extent with the Nation and in that respect of all other National Churches did most resemble the old Church of the Iewes The Lord I say having to the conviction and acknowledgement of our selves and others done such great things for us whereof we are glad the present Apostacy whereby Scotland's Bethel is become Bethaven and the Land that was sometimes Holiness unto the Lord is become alas too Edom-like the border of wickedness an Aceldama a Tragical Theatre of blood persecution ought to be unto us no less matter of Sorrow Shame and Fear then it is Sin in itself Wonder and Amazement unto others Who can hear our Covenanted and Kindest Lord who hateth putting away and defieth us to shew the bill of our Mothers divorcement who groaneth under our Backslidings being pressed therewith as a cart full of sheaves complaining that He is broken with our whorish hearts and therefore declaring that He will be no more our Husband nor we His Wife and that His heart cannot be toward us But that He will drive us out of His house and love us no more and not cover the lip for Shame And in consequence thereof who can behold the Fathers house not only defiled by turning it into a house of Marchandise and den of theeves but the Temple casten down to the ground and the Adversary in the midst thereof insultingly and scornfully set up their ensignes for signes of Triumph And furder behold the blood of the Saints shed like water and their flesh given to be meat to the fowles of the heaven and beasts of the Earth and
Discipline promising by the Great Name of the Lord our God to continue in the Obedience of the Doctrine and Discipline thereof all the dayes of their lives Which Discipline as the foregoing Assertions do clearly discover to have been from the beginning fundamentally Presbyterial so the Model of Presbytery being now compleated and any shaddow of power that the Mock-Bishops had lately usurped being now fully abrogated it is sufficiently clear that both Prelacy is by this Covenant abjured and Presbytery owned and sworn to And really if it be further considered that the Assemblies both 1581. and 1590 while most intent and forward in the erecting of Presbyteries did enjoyn and require the same to be subscribed by all ranks of People in the Land and that these Acts were both seconded and enforced by Ordinances of King and Council it may be justly doubted whether the impudence of the succeeding Prelats in denying of the Obligation or Perjury in breaking of it be greater This is the Great Oath into which as the Lord God did bring us by the Power of his own Spirit and Truth in opposition to that Bloody Bond called the Holy League wherein Antichrist and his followers had at that time conjured themselves against the true Church of God So the Kingdom thereby became the Lords and we his peculiar people as-well by the people's subjecting of themselves and their Alleageance as by the King 's submitting Himself and his Scepter in a due Subordination unto God and our Lord Jesus Christ for the maintenance and defence of his Church and Gospell the Liberties of the Land and Ministration of Justice And this Oath and the Ordinances enjoyning it notwithstanding the many fearful violations thereof that have ensued do yet stand to this day unrepealed and declared against to the unanswerable conviction and condemnation even in their own Courts and Consciences of all it 's wicked Transgressors 6. As the Tulchan Bishops were the effect and product of the Avarice of these Lords that favoured them So the same principle of Avarice and Wickedness did again resist the Work of God when almost brought to Perfection by stirring up certain of the Nobles to re-induce Bishops for the better inhaunsing of their Benefices and the devouring of the Churches patrimony And not only for their better establishment that what they want of Divine Right and Warrant might be supplyed by the accession of the Kings power and Command but also that by their meanes the growing wickedness of these times might abound without restraint or control the Devil inciteth others of the more prophane licentious and violent Courtiers such as the Earle of Arran and his complices to move and instigat the King contrary both to the Word and Oath of God to usurp the Prerogative of Jesus Christ who is alone King in Zion and to invade His Churches Priviledges purchased for Her with His own Blood by assuming to Himself in the first and immediat Instance the cognition of Her Doctrine and Censures Which though the Church did constantly and valiantly oppose both by Petitions and Protestations yet this Wickedness did so impetously proceed that all at once in a Parliament summarily called in the Year 1582. the Prerogative of Our Lord is translated upon the King and his Jurisdiction and Empire exalted over all persons and Causes the Estate of Bishops their power and dignity confirmed the power of the General Assemblies of the Church put in the King's hand We mention not these things with any purpose to debate these questions which have been moved on this Subject Only we are confident that how extensive soever the King's power may be in the case of Reformation which Alas for the most part cometh short of it's reach yet where a Church is Regularly constituted and so acting and by Him sworn to be maintained no King or Prince ought so far to intrude Himself into Her Power and Priviledges unto which he is neither called nor gifted as to assume to Himself a Soveraign immediat power of judging and discerning upon Doctrine and her most spirituall Rights and Censures and thereby in effect not only to constitut Himself a Proper and direct Church-Officer without our Lords appointment but in stead of Papacy so justly abrogated and so solemnly abjured to erect and revive the same in Himself a Secular Person far more absurdly and intollerably We know that other formalities and notions are pretended as these of Treason Sedition and Disorder to palliat and colour this Usurpation but seing nothing spoken or acted by warrant of the Word of God can fall under the definition or pain of these crimes and that all Ministers and Ecclesiastick Courts are known allowed and presumed both to speak and act according to that only warrant and Lastly seing both the warrant is to them committed and the Church is priviledged and permitted to have it 's own proper power and cognition thereanent as it followeth by clear consequence that the things questioned must and ought to be first subjected to her tryal and cognition so none do deny the Magistrat's just right and power over both these things and persons they being once lawfully found to be destitut of the warrant pretended But seing both Scripture and Reason doth testify against this Usurpation as most unlawful in it self and injurious to our Lord Jesus and that all experiences have proven it to be most pernicious to His Church Kingdom therefore many of his faithful Servants have worthily and valiantly resisted it not only to bonds and banishment but even to blood for the Testimony of their Lord Master We return to the purpose of this observation which is to vindicat the honour of the Lord's Work and the memory of his faithful Servants in the discovery of the old malice and subtilty of the great Enemy of the Church of God working in the wicked Prelats their abettors who to the effect they may enjoy their carnall designes and prosecute their wicked lusts without controll endeavour mainly by an absolute surrender of all things powers persons and interests to flatter and exalt the King unto an illimited Soveraignty and pretended Omnipotency thereby both to oblidge and enable him the more to such acts deeds and grants as are requisite for the satisfying of their vain Ambition insatiable Covetousness and wicked lusts Which Flattery and Usurpation being not more agreeable to the vain heart of man then contrary to the Kingdom of our Lord and the Power and Purity of His blessed Gospel what wonder if his faithful Servants who can neither deny His Name nor dissobey His commands by complying with the wicked practices and the blasphemous flattery of these vile Apostats be not only hated of all men but with their Lord and Master become the continual object of the reproaches violence and cruelty of the wicked as enemies and rebells to lawful Authority Now that the World may perceav the wicked intent and design of this Prerogative that it is
the dangerous Method of some who the better to enforce the obligation of the Oath of God do suppose the Matter thereof especially as to that article against Prelacy to be antecedently Indifferent and not determined either by the Word of God or any other Moral Precept Justly apprehending how easily in this light and backsliding time such suppositions may become positions and that the obligation of the Oath of God now so much violated and little regarded may be found too weak to secure mens stedfastness As we are therefore persuaded and would have all to consider and fix it in their hearts that this wicked Prelacy and it's Hierarchy are not only contrary to the Word of God to the Practice of the Holy Apostles to sound Doctrine and the Power of Godliness under which express consideration we are also sworn to endeavour it's extirpation but by the sad experience of all Ages in the Christian Church especially in these our later times had been found most pernicious to all Truth and Righteousness and the main Engine and Device whereby the Devil hath alwayes laboured to advance his Kingdom of Darkness and therefore hath been the great butt and aime for the overthrow whereof the great Work of God in this Land hath been so Powerfully and Gloriously manifested so do we most constantly hold that as wel this Article against Prelacy as all the rest contained in this Holy Covenant were and are antecedently oblidging both to King and People without the supervention of either Oath or Promise and that the rooting out of Prelacy the wicked Hierarchy therein so obviously described is the main duty in the endeavour whereof as most advantageous unto all these great and holy Ends proposed by the Covenant all the Zeal of the faithful ought to be concentred As for such profane Jugglers who neither considering this Oath and Covenant as a special Ordinance and blessing of God whereby we are more effectually stirred up and enabled to the performance of all the duties of Religion and Righteousness therein contained nor knowing that this Covenant made with God and accepted by Him is also the Lords Covenant with us for the securing and establishing unto us all the great Blessings and Priviledges therein expressed that as we therein do avouch the Lord to be our God so doth He avouch us to be His People Do from the Righteousness and Necessity of it's matter vainly argue the superfluity of any accessory Obligation and would thence infer that the same may be the more easily dispensed with or renounced We de only remit them to that Solemn Covenant Deut. 29.10 c. made there betwixt the Lord and His People and thereafter so often renewed only for their greater Engagement to the most necessary duties of God's express commands We come in the next place unto the Manner and Form of this League and Covenant wherein not purposing to resume the many debates that have been raised anent it we shall only take notice that these old Acts and Laws viz. Act. 43. Parl. 6. of Mary 1555. and Act. 12. Parl. 10. Iam. 6.1585 made against Leagues and Bands contracted without the Kings consent are now obtruded with the force and lustre of a new Act. cap. 4. of the last Parliament to condemn the Covenant as from the beginning Unlawfull and Rebellious But as these old Acts at the time of the entering into this League and Covenant did then stand explained by the 29. Act. Parl. 2. Charl. 1. ratifyed and authorized by the King himself in a sense most consistent with the Covenant and could no wayes render the same from the beginning unlawful much less could the revival thereof in their greatest rigour or the superveniency of any other Act thereanent dissolve the Sacred Obligation of this Oath once lawfully contracted so the reason of the former answer made ro this objection and the Justice and Equity of that Act. 29. P. 2. C. 1. whereby the same was declared remaineth in ful force viz. that no League nor Bond made by the Subjects for maintenance of Religion Liberty and the Publick good of Church or State was or can be understood to be prohibited by these old Acts and Laws objected Because as the makers of such Bonds cannot be reputed to be movers of Sedition to the breach of the publick peace which is the express reason and certification of these old Acts objected so both the King and his Government being appointed for the preservation of these great ends and Interests and He himself principally oblidged both by the Command and Oath of God upon him to authorize all such bonds Covenants and other means which may advance the same It were a gross Paradox both in Reason and Religion that the King's neglect of his duty and perverting of his Office to the overthrow of these ends for which he is ordained should therefore oblige the People to a sinful Complyance and stupid connivance to the high Dishonour of the Great God and King of Kings and the utter ruine of the souls bodies and fortuns of themselves and their Posterity It 's true it may be and is replyed that this answer and reasoning doth proceed from an unjust jealousy of Kings and is founded upon an intollerable presumption in the Subject to censure and judge their actings But seeing the entering into this Covenant and into all others which we allow was so far from proceeding upon an unjust jealousy that on the contrary it was in a manner extorted by the force of the most palpable and rational necessity that can be imagined and seeing the feeling and discerning thereof is so far from that criminal presumption alleadged that to disprove it is in effect to deny both sense and reason unless our adversaries can prove that notwithstanding thereof the King is by God the Lord vested with such an uncontrollable Dominion and Soveraignty that whatever Violence Outrage or Cruelty he commit the People are obliged by a patience or rather stupidity greater then that of Beasts to endure without gain saying it is impossible for them to establish the Tyranny that they contend for But that the World may see that such objections are only the wicked flattery of selfish men and how little they do therein either use or regard Reason in the late Act abovementioned made against Leagues and Conventions it is declared that the explication contained in the Act 1640. viz. That such Leagues and Conventions as are made by Subjects for the preservation of the King Religion and the Laws are not prohibited by these old Acts is false and disloyall and contrary to the true and genuine meaning thereof which Declaration is not only a naked Assertion and contrary to the express reason and certification of these old Acts which is before sett down but so blind and irrational that in case of an Interregnum or the incapacity of the King to give His consent to any Bond Meeting or Convention which in such a case may be
not lament with Jeremiah Cap. 9 1 2 3 â— Oh that my head were waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of the Daughter of my People Oh that I had in the Wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men that I might leave my People and go from them For they be all adulterers an assembly of treacherous men And they bend their tongue like their bowe for lies But they are not valiant fâ—r the Truth upon the Earth for they proceed from evil to evil and they know not me saith the Lord. And this will the more appear not only if we remember the general nature of Backsliding which is a very comprehensive Sin importing less Love Fear and Trust in the true God and proclaiming more Inconstancy Unfaithfulness and ingratitude towards Him then sometimes is found in very Heathens towards their Idols But also if we consider that our present Defection hath all circumstantial Aggravations in the highest degree For it is not in things only Civil Indifferent or of little moment But in things Religious Necessary Important and which at least in their tendency and consequence reach to the very foundation It is not the effect of common humane and invincible infirmity but most free and voluntary yea wilful and deliberate It is not done by stealth or in a corner but avowedly and openly in the sight of the Sun It is not Private and Personal but Representative and Authorized by Acts and Proclamations of King Parliament and Council It is not smoothly and subtilly but most tyrannically carried on by military violence and cruelty It is not of a few or inconsiderable Persons but very Universal The greatest part of all Ranks and of some Ranks almost the whole being some one way or other involved therein It is not only of these who were alwayes of known and professed disaffection to the Cause and Covenant of God but also of many who sometimes being exceeding zealous themselves and exemplary and forcible upstirrers of others therein are now become the chief Ring-leaders theirof and most bloody Persecuters of those who remain stedfast in the Truth It is not in an Heathenish or Antichristian Land or Church divided and broken with several Sects as some others are but even in Scotland so clearly enlightened for which the Lord had wrought so many wonderful works which was under so many obligations of Oaths and Covenants to the contrary and had been so united in the profession of the Truth It is not from violent force Inevitable necessity or irresistible temptation which is neither possible nor yet would excuse it but when the Lord by breaking the yoke of forrain Usurpation had given King and Countrey the fairest opportunity which they ever had to restore confirm and advance His Work as if He had delivered us that we might work all these Abominations And all this for no other end then the base flattering of the Kings humor and inclination the satiating of Prelaticall Pride and Ambition the indulging of the licentious profanity of some Debauched degenerated Nobles and others who could not endure the yoke of Christ's sound doctrine and impartiall discipline And the suppression of Religion and Righteousness in the subversion of the late work of Reformation Whereby we have charged our selves with all the blood that hath been shed upon either side during the former wars Have laid a stumbling block before all who shall see or hear of it to blaspheme Religion as a fiction to condemn the late Work of Reformation as a false pretence for Rebellion and Self-Interest and to affirm that there is neither truth nor ingenuity in the Professors thereof Pass over the Isles of Chittim and see and send unto Kedar and consider diligently and see if there be such a thing hath a Nation changed their Gods which yet are no Gods But Scotland Ah Scotland hath changed her glory for that which doth not profit Be astonished O ye heavens at this and be horribly afraid And so much the rather because few Lands did ever make Defection after this manner but as upon the one hand the Lord gave them up unto more Backsliding until they abounded more with Atheism and all manner of abominations then some Pagan-Nations who never heard nor made Profession of the Gospel So upon the other hand He alwayes pursued them with sorest plagues not only of subjugation at home scattering and exile abroad dividing of Kingdomes amongst themselves and from their former Rulers and final subversion of whole Empires Kingdomes and Common-wealths But also many times with the Final removal of the Gospel and utter dissolution of all visible National Covenant-relation as might be demonstrated from Holy Scripture and other Histories And indeed if He to whom nothing is strange or impossible though they may seem both to us and whose wayes and thoughts are as far above ours as the Heavens are above the Earth do not in the Soveraignity of His Grace recede from His ordinary method of dealing with such apostatizing People and now when he hath seen our way do not heal us we have alas â—oo too just ground of fear that we shall become such a proverb amongst the Nations that the generation to come of our Children and the stranger that cometh from a far Land when they see the plagues of this Land shall wonder and ask Wherefore hath the Lord done this unto this Land What meaneth the heat of this great anger Oh! that the very first and next following steps of Defection together with the Causes of the Lord's wrath against the Land were remembered and acknowledged and that all who have had any accession to the kindling of this flame and who can wholly Justify himself If any would be sure his own mouth should condemn him would draw water and pour it out before the Lord for quenching thereof and that the first resiclers from our National Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to duties would glorify God by Confession that he might turn from the fierceness of his Anger But alas He hath at once pour'd out upon us the Spirit of Whoredome and of a deep sleep and hath both made us to erre from His way and hard'ned our hearts from his fear And as we should look bekind us to the Rise so before us to the Result of thâ—se things for though every runner may read the Primum mobile of this course the great axletree and wheels upon which all moveth and who are the furious drivers and slavish drawers thereof and we have both seen the several degrees of Motion and advancement and smarted the sad effects of the same yet I am affray'd that there is now another Spirit in Persons and Tendency in affairs then some men apprehend Whether there be a sufficient ground in the Holy Scriptures to think with some that before the last fall of the Roman Antichrist the Popish Religion shall once more overshadow the Christian World is not proper
answere for itself if according to the Patience Learning Justice of many thow do not Refute and condemn before thow know it or brandish big words as he who upon a Coronation-day offereth duell to all who question the Kings Right when he knoweth that for Major Vis none dare appear in the contrary But in the passing take a word of the National Covenant the Solemn League and Covenant and Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement unto Duties that at one view thow may'st see Scotlands Engagements and Breaches the Faithfulness of many flood of Sin and Suffering that hath overflowed the Land Here is the Terminus a Quo and ad Quem of our Backsliding whereof though the most skilled Artist cannot pourtray to the life the whole body the form is so monstruous Complexion so strange he may well darkly represent some Lineaments of fingers and toes that the reader may know Ex ungue leonâ—m yet the Author hath nervously asserted the Truth and drawn matters of Fact with such True Collours that he can only be accused for a Picture fairer then the live-face of many Persons Actions To winde up all be not discouraged upon the one hand nor insult upon the other by the Death of many Mighty men of God Co-workers and Eye witnesses of his Work within these few years past and the stripling-stature of many survivers who have not attained unto the dayes of the years of the life of their Fathers and being but of yesterday can know little of the Lords ancient kindness to the Land except what thâ—ir Fathers have told them For as he hath reserved a numerous remnant of Holy Learned and Faithful men a rich cluster wherein there is a blessing and we have reason to bless Him who gave not our Church dry breasts a miscarrying womb so he can make the barren bear seven become a Joyful mother of many Children and as he hath work for them will raise up both Shepherds and Principal men It is true alas there is grown up a most degenerat Off-spring of all Qualities some whereof and not the meanest being as profane as Machiavel who teacheth Rulers to keep promise and Oath no longer then with pretended advantage they can break and that it is a prejudice to be Really Religious but not so honest as He who notwithstanding affirmeth a Necessity of Seeming to be Religious which they are not accompt no man to be a Man who by Whoring Swearing Drinking Spending all or more then they have do not class themselves into their new Profane Orders become as Cartesian in their Religion by Atheistical doubtings disputings about God the Holy Scripturs Heaven Hell c. as others are in their Philosophy But here is an Advantage that by Discovery and distinguishing betwixt the precious and the vile the Lord hath made this Defection contribut more to the Facility as well as Necessity of a future Purgation of the Church then all her Judicatures could ever effectuat without it And further as he hath frustrated many chief Authors and Promotters thereof of their Hopes and Designs and called Nobles Prelats and others to an accompt before they well tasted the expected sweetness or were warm in their Places or Promotions So though Herod Pilat may aggrie against the Innocent yet where men are like Samsons foxes only tied together by the tail of common Corrupt Principles whilst their heads of Self Interest and designs look different wayes what such a Position Conjunction and Aspect prognosticateth let Scripture Reason and Experience be consulted and they will tell Let us not in the meantime mistake Gods Work Wayes Doings nor Intentions neither be envyous at evil doers nor yet be Curious nor Anxious about futuritions much less limit the Holy one to Means Method or Time but bear the Indignation of the Lord because we have sinned till he plead our cause waiting upon him who is a God of Judgment and waiteth that he may be gracious and in patience possess our souls for though we do not he knoweth his own thoughts toward us it may be they are thoughts of peace and not of evil to give an expected end and that when he hath ripen'd Deliverance he will bring us forth to the Light we shall behold his Righteousness It is a crime of the highest nature with our Rulers to complain or supplicat for redress Others are either of deaf ears or feeble hands and cannot help and seeing we can do no more for the Cause and Covenant of God for our Mother-Church the Land Ourselves Our Brethren Posterity let us open our cause to him who tryeth the Righteous O Lord Hear O Lord Forgive O Lord hearken and do Defer not for thine own sake O my God For thy City and thy People are called by thy Name AMEN The Testimony of M R JAMES WOOD Minister of the Gospel and Professor of Theology in the University of S. Andrewes for Presbyterial Government I MR JAMES WOOD being now shortly by appearance to render up my Spirit to the Lord find my self obliged to leave a word behind me for my just Vindication before the World It hath been said of me that I have in word at least reseiled from my wonted Zeal for Presbyterial Government expressing my self concerning it as if it were a matter not to be accounted of that no man should trouble himself in the matter practice thereof It is true being under sicknes I have some times said I was taken up with weightier matters then any external ordinance and what wonder I said so being under such wrestling anâ—nt my interest in Iesus Christ which is a matter of for greater concernment Surely any Christian in this Church that knows me will judge there is a wrong done to me For since the day that the Lord convinced my heart which was by a strong hand that it was the Ordinance of God appointed by Iesus Christ for governing ordering his visible Church I never had the least change of thoughts concerning the necessity of it nor of the necessity of the use of it And now I declare before God the World that I account so of it still And that however there be some more precious ordinances yet that this is so precious that a true Christian is obliged to lay down his life for the profession thereof if the Lord shall see it meet to put him to the tryal And for my self if I were to live I would account it my glory to seal this word of my testimony with my blood Of this my declaration I take God Angels and Men to be my witnesses and have subscribed thiâ— presents with my hand the 2 of March 1664. about 7 hours afternoon before Mr William Tullidaf and Mr John Carstairs my Brother in Law and John Pitcarn writer hereof M R JAMES WOOD. AS the Matter of this Testimony is very considerable especially from so Great a man as Mr Wood was So the occasion
consequents thereof are very observable which were thus Mr Sharp having formerly been intimately familiar with Mr Wood came to visite him under his Sickness whereunto Sharps Apostacy had no small accession thereafter did falsely spread a report by word writ that Mr Wood had reseiled from Presbyterial Government Whereof when Mr Wood was informed he was of new grievously affected and afflicted and thereupon for his own Vindication left this Testimony behind him But Mr Sharp finding himself thereby made a publlck lyar making lyes still his refuge pursueth Mr Wood being dead as well as alive with a new slander alleaging his Testimony to be Fictitious or Extorted from him when through distemper of his sickness he knew not what he did and thereupon caused summond the Witnesses the Writter and some other persons before the High Commission But the contrary of this was and is most Evident not only because this Testimony was written and subscribed a considerable number of dayes before his Death dureing which intervall as before he was so composed that he spake many gracious words about his own soul Ordered his Civil affairs and a famous Physician was not without hopes of his Recovery But also because hearing that some of his faithful Brethren Co-Presbyters were in the town he sent once again for them and before them and some other Ministers at other times purged himself of that unjust Imputation and did bear witness for Presbyterial Government more fully freely then is in the written Testimony some time thereafter of his own accord did call for the Writter there being none other present in the chamber at the beginning did indite and cause him writ the same as it now is without any Alteration as also in a Letter written some considerable time before inviting Mr Carstairs to come and visite him he had made mention of the Backsliding Tryalls and Sufferings of the times and expressed his desire to Live that he might give a more free Testimony to the Truth Notwithstanding all which Mr Sharp obstructing the reading of a Letter written by Mr Carstairs to the Chancelor containing and clearing the matter of fact persisted with great Attestations before the High Commission in his former false alleagance and Slandering both of the Dead and the Living and caused imprison the Writer and one of the witnesses and forced the other whom for his eminent Parts Holiness and Faithfulness he most pursued to a Retirement for his own safety What shall be given to Thee O Sharp Or what shall be done to Thee O false Tongue Sharp arrows of the Mighty and Coals of Juniper The Nationall Covenant OR The Confession of Faith of the Kirk of Scotland subscribed at first by the Kings Majesty and his Houshold in the yeare 1580. Thereafter by Persons of all rankes in the yeare 1581 By ordinance of the Lords of the Secret Councill and Acts of the general Assembly Subscribed againe by all sorts of Persons in the Yeare 1590 By a new Ordinance of Council at the desire of the General Assembly With a General Band for maintenance of the true Religion the Kings Person And now subscribed in the Year 1638. By Us Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons then under-subscribing Together with our resolution and promises for the causes after specified To maintaine the said true Religion and the Kings Majesty according to the Confession foresaid and Acts of Parliament And now upon the Supplication of the General Assembly to His Majesty's high Commissioner and the Lords of his Majesty's Honorable Privy Council subscribed again in the Year 1639. by Ordinance of Council and Act of General Assembly The Tenor whereof here followeth WE All and every one of Us underwritten Protest that after long and due Examination of our owne Consciences in matters of true false Religion We are now throughly resolved of the Truth by the Word and Spirit of God and therefore we believe with our hearts confess with our mouths subscribe with our hands and constantly affirme before God and the whole Word that this onely is the true Christian Faith and Religion pleasing God and bringing Salvation to man which now is by the mercy of God revealed to the world by the preaching of the blessed Evangel and receaved believed and defended by many and sundry notable Kirks and Realmes but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland the Kings Majesty and three estates of this Realme as Gods eternall Truth and onely ground of our Salvation as more particularly is expressed in the Confession of our Faith stablished and publickly confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliament and now of a long time hath beene openly professed by the Kings Majesty and whole body of this Realme both in Burgh and Land To the which Confession and forme of Religion wee willingly agree in our consciences in all points as unto Gods undoubted Truth and Verity grounded onely upon his written Word And therefore we abhorre and detest all contrary Religion and Doctrine But chiefly all kinde of Papistry in generall and particular heads even as they are now damned and confuted by the Word of God and Kirk of Scotland but in special we detest and refuse the usurped authority of that Roman Antichrist upon the Scriptures of God upon the Kirk the civill Magistrate and conscience of men All his tyrannous lawes made upon indifferent things against our Christian liberty His erronious Doctrine against the sufficiency of the written Word the perfection of the Law the office of Christ and his blessed Evangel His corrupted Doctrine concerning originall sinne our naturall inability and rebellion to Gods Law our Justification by faith only our imperfect Sanctification and obedience to the Law the nature number and use of the Holy Sacraments His five bastard Sacraments with all his Rites Ceremonies and false Doctrine added to the ministration of the true Sacraments without the Word of God His cruell judgement against Infants departing without the Sacrament his absolute necessity of Baptisme his blasphemous opinion of Transubstantiation or reall presence of Christs body in the Elements and receiving of the same by the wicked or bodies of men His dispensations with solemne Oathes Perjuries and degrees of Mariage forbidden in the Word his cruelty against the innocent divorced his divellish Masse his blasphemous Priesthood his profane Sacrifice for the sinnes of the dead and the quick his Canonization of men calling upon Angels or Saints departed worshipping of Imagery Relicts and Crosses dedicating of Kirks Altars Dayes Vowes to creatures his Purgatory Prayers for the dead praying or speaking in a strange language with his Processions and blasphemous Letany and multitude of Advocates or Mediators his manifold Orders Auricular Confession his desperate and uncertaine Repentance his general and doubtsome Faith his satisfactions of men for their sinnes his Justification by works opus operatum works of Supererogation Merits Pardons Peregrinations and Stations his holy water baptising of Bells conjuring of Spirits crossing saning
and Kingdome as Gods undoubted truth grounded only upon his written Word The other cause was for maintaining the Kings Majesty His Person and Estate the true worship of GOD and the Kings authority being so straitly joined as that they had the same Friends and common enemies and did stand and fall together And finally being convinced in our mindes and confessing with our mouthes that the present and succeeding generations in this Land are bound to keep the foresaid nationall Oath Subscription inviolable Wee Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers Commons under subscribing considering divers times before especially at this time the danger of the true reformed Religion of the Kings honour and of the publick peace of the Kingdome By the manifold innovations and evills generally conteined and particularly mentioned in our late supplications complaints and protestations Do hereby professe and before God his Angels and the World solemnly declare That with our whole hearts we agree resolve all the dayes of our life constantly to adhere unto and to defend the foresaid true Religion and forbearing the practice of all novations already introduced in the matters of the worship of GOD or approbation of the corruptions of the publicke Government of the Kirk or civil places and power of Kirk-men till they be tryed allowed in free assemblies and in Parliaments to labour by all meanes lawful to recover the purity and liberty of the Gospel as it was stablished and professed before the foresaid Novations and because after due examination we plainely perceave and undoubtedly believe that the Innovations and evils contained in our Supplications Complaints and Protestations have no warrant of the Word of God are contrary to the Articles of the Foresaid Confessions to the intention and meaning of the blessed reformers of Religion in this Land to the above written Acts of Parliament do sensibly tend to the re-establishing of the Popish Religion and Tyranny and to the subversion and ruine of the true Reformed Religion and of our Liberties Lawes and Estates We also declare that the Foresaid Confessions are to be interpreted and ought to be understood of the Foresaid novations and evils no lesse then if every one of them had been expressed in the Foresaid confessions and that we are obliged to detest abhorre them amongst other particular heads of Papistry abjured therein And therefore from the knowledge and consciences of our duety to God to our King and Countrey without any wordly respect or inducement so farre as humane infirmity will suffer wishing a further measure of the grace of God for this effect We promise and sweare by the Great Name of the Lord our GOD to continue in the Profession and Obedience of the Foresaid Religion That we shall defend the same and resist all these contrary errours and corruptions according to our vocation and to the uttermost of that power that GOD hath put in our hands all the dayes of our life and in like manner with the same heart we declare before GOD and Men That we have no intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may turne to the dishonour of GOD or to the diminution of the Kings greatnesse and authority But on the contrary we promise and sweare that we shall to the uttermost of our power with our meanes and lives stand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne the Kings Majesty his Person and Authority in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true Religion Liberties and Lawes of the Kingdome As also to the mutual defence and assistance every one of us of another in the same cause of maintaining the true Religion and his Majesty's Authority with our best counsel our bodies meanes and whole power against all sorts of persons whatsoever So that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us for that cause shall be taken as done to us all in genearal and to every one of us in particular And that we shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer our selves to be divided or withdrawn by whatsoever suggestion allurement or terrour from this blessed loyall Conjunction nor shall cast in any let or impediment that may stay or hinder any such resolution as by common consent shall be found to conduce for so good ends But on the contrary shall by all lawful meanes labour to further and promove the same and if any such dangerous divisive motion be made to us by Word or Writ We and every one of us shall either suppresse it or if need be shall incontinent make the same known that it may be timeously obviated neither do we fear the foul aspersions of rebellion combination or what else our adversaries from their craft and malice would put upon us seing what we do is so well warranted and ariseth from an unfeined desire to maintaine the true worship of God the Majesty of our King and peace of the Kingdome for the common happinesse of our selves and the posterity And because we cannot look for a blessing from God upon our proceedings except with our Profession and Subscription we joine such a life conversation as beseemeth Christians who have renewed their Covenant with God We therefore faithfully promise for our selves our followers and all other under us both in publick in our particular families and personal carriage to endeavour to keep our selves within the bounds of Christian liberty and to be good examples to others of all Godlinesse Sobernesse and Righteousnesse and of every duety we owe to God and Man And that this our Union and Conjunction may be observed without violation we call the living GOD the Searcher of our Hearts to witness who knoweth this to be our sincere Desire and unfained Resolution as we shall answere to JESUS CHRIST in the great day and under the pain of Gods everlasting wrath and of infamy and losse of all honour and respect in this World Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with a happy successe that Religion and Righteousnesse may flourish in the Land to the glory of GOD the honour of King and peace and comfort of us all In witnesse whereof we have subscribed with our hands all the premisses c. The Article of this Covenant which was at the first Subscription referred to the determination of the General Assembly being determined and thereby the 5 Articles of Perth the Government of the Kirk by Bishops the Civill places and Power of Kirkment upon the reasons and grounds contained in the Acts of the General Assembly declared to be unlawful within this Kirk we subscribe according to the determination foresaid A Solemn League and Covenant For Reformation and Defence of Religion The Honour and Happiness of the King and the Peace and Safety of the three Kingdoms of Scotland England and Ireland WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens Burgesses Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdoms
of Scotland England and Ireland by the providence of GOD living under one King and being of one reformed Religion Having before our eyes the glory of GOD and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the Honour and Happinesse of the Kings Majesty and his Posterity and the true publick Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdoms wherein every ones private condition is included And calling to minde the treacherous and bloody Plots Conspiracies Attempts and Practices of the Enemies of GOD against the true Religion and Professours thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their rage power and presumption are of late and at this time increased and exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church Kingdom of England and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick testimonies We have now at last after other means of Supplication Remonstrance Protestation and Suffering for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times and the example of GODS People in other Nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutuall and solemn League and Covenant Wherein we all subscribe and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the most high GOD do Swear 1. That we shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of GOD endeavour in our several places and callings the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Chuch of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common Enemies The Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England and Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of GOD and the example of the best Reformed Churches And shall endeavour to bring the Churches of GOD in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and Uniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church-government Directory for Worship and Catechizing That we and our Posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us 2. That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the Extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-government by Arch-bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-deacons and all other Ecclesiasticall Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresy Schism Prophanesse and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the power of Godliness Lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to receive of their plagues And that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdoms 3. We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our severall vocations endeavour with our estates and lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdoms And to preserve and defend the Kings Majesty's Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms That the world may bear witnesse with our consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish his Majesty's just power and greatnesse 4. We shall also with all faithfulnesse endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his people or one of the Kingdoms from another or making any faction or parties amongst the people contrary to this League and Covenant That they may be broughr to publick triall and receive condigne punishment as the degree of their offences shall require or deserve or the supream Judicatories of both Kingdomes respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient 5. And whereas the happinesse of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms denyed in former times to our Progenitors is by the good Providence of GOD granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and settled by both Parliaments We shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firme Peace and Union to all Posterity And that Justice may be done upon the willfull Opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent Article 6. We shall also according to our places and callings in this Common cause of Religion Liberty and Peace of the Kingdoms assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing thereof And shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terrour to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Union and conjunction whither to make defection to the contrary part or to give ourselves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the Glory of GOD the good of the Kingdoms and honour of the King But shall all the dayes of our lives zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all Lets and Impediments whatsoever And what we are not able our selves to suppresse or overcome we shall reveale and make known that it may be timely prevented or removed All which we shall do as in the sight of GOD. And because these Kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations against GOD and his Son Jesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof We professe and declare before GOD and the world unfained desire to be humbled for our own sins and for the sins of these Kingdoms especially that we have not as we ought valued the inesteemable benefit of the Gospel that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts nor to walk worthy of him in our lives wich are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much abounding amongst us And our true and unfained purpose desire and endeavour for ourselves and all others under our power and charge both in publick and in private in all dutyes we owe to GOD and man to amend our lives and each one to go before another in the example of a real Reformation That the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in truth and Peace And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty GOD the Searcher of all hearts with a true intention to peform the same As we shall answer at that great Day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with such successe as may be deliverance and safety to his people and encouragement to other Christian Churches
by the erecting of Rule and Government for the security of Religion more particularly and eminently intended 5. That the Powers appoinâ—ed for Preservation cannot warrantably endeavour Subversion 6. That as every man is bound to obey God rather then man so such Violence and intollerable and ineviâ—able injury offered by he Powers on this account as to the person injured destroyeth boâ—h the Common-welath of he people more specially the Glory of God which are the only ends of Governments maketh both the End the Means of Government and Authority and the injured person's Obligation thereunto to cease 7. As the persons one or more reduced to this estate and condition if by a real or apparent incapacity of Acting they conceave them selves called to a Testimony by Suffering ought herein with all patience to give unto God the Glory so having the opportunity of and being called whither to their own Defence or the Assiâ—â—ing of their Brethren in so just a cause they ought therein valiantly to acquit themselves for the Glory of God the mantainance of his Truth and the mutuall preservation one of another 8. As the Combination of more persons whom the same common cause of just and necessary Defence doth join together is founded upon and doth most natively arise from that Primaeve Right and Priviledge which at first gave Being and Rise to all Societies and whereunto the force of extream Necessity through the perversion of that Mean of Government appointed for their Preservation doth ultimatly reduce them so the duty of mutual Assistance is not only warranted by that principle of Humanity and common Stipulation which is the Motive and Bond of mens entering into Society the immediat and subordinat End of all Rule and the most effective Mean whereby that superior end of the Good and Safety of every Individuall therein included can be best secured But also first by that more endearing principle of Christian and brotherly Affection in the Lord upon the indispensible force and obligation whereof the very glory and righteousness of the great and last judgement seemeth to be founded Math. 25 31. to the end And secondly by that supream chief concernment of God's Glory to which the interests of all Powers Common-wealth's must certainly stoop and cede And how is it possible that any scruple anent this can remain with any considerat or conscientious person if we consider that whole Cities Kingdomes Empires for the violation of this duty in not releeving delivering of Innocents from the unjust Tyranny even of lawful Powers have been involved in the Guilt of the violence and cruelty which had been only acted by one or a few persons and have been overtaken therefore by fearfull effects and Iudgments to their utter ruine and Subversion As is most evidently confirmed by that clear intimation thereof made by Ieremiah to the Jewes Chap. 26..15 Know ye for a certain that if ye put me to death ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves upon THIS CITY and upon THE INHABITANTS thereof 9. As the Power exercise of Reformation hath been grosly calumniated by the adversaries as if thereby were meant and had been practised manifest force and violence upon Consciences and Persuasions so on the other hand open Idolatry Blasphemy Perjury Venting and Spreading of Heresy and such like abominations being most dishonorable to God and pernicious to all Common-wealths ought without doubt by all means to be suppressed restrained and severely punished Now that this Vindicative and in case of backsliding Reforming Power is committed to the Magistrat and that he is thereto mainly appointed none will question But what if not only the supreame Magistrat but with him all the Nobles and Primores of the Realme shall turn the principal perverters and chief Patrons of these abominations As we have already cleared that in case either the People or any part of them be violented to a sinful complyance or be wickedly persecuted for adhering to God in the profession and practise of the contrary duties they may lawfully Defend themselves and are mutually bound to assist and deliver one another So it now comes to be considered that seing the maintenance of Truth and the true Worship of God were and are the principal ends and motives of contracting of Societies and erecting of Governments whereunto both the People and Rulers are not only separatly every one for himself but jointly oblidged for the publick advancement establishment thereof that God doth therefore equally exact and avenge the sin of the Rulers only or of the People only or of any part of the People only upon the whole body of the Rulers and People for their simple Tollerance and connivance without their active complyance with the transgressors of necessity both from the principles deduced and from the most visible judgments of God agreeable thereto there must be a Superior and Antecedent obligation to that of Submission incumbent upon all both jointly and separatly for the maintenance vindication and Reformation of Religion in order to the promoting of these great ends of the publick profession of Truth and true Worship which the Lord doth indispensibly require And though this position be indeed more evident where express Covenants betwixt God and the whole People betwixt Rulers and their Subjects and betwixt the People and subjects amongst themselves in order to these Holy Duties can be produced yeâ— seing all Constitutions of Societies and Governments do virtually suppose and imply the same and are founded thereon the Assertion doth with equal certainty firmly hold But that all contradiction may stop it's mouth let the import and true meaning of the Scriptures and instances following be impartially weighed Deut. 13 ver 12 13 14 15. The Lord saith If thou shalt hear that in one of thy cities certain men amongst yow have with-drawn the inhabitants of their city to serve other Gods and if after deligent searchâ—s the thing be found a truth thou shal smite and destroy that city utterly Jos 22 ver 17 18 19. Phinâ—has saith to the two Tribes and the half upon their supposed defection If yee rebel to day against the Lord to morrow he will be wroth with the whole Congregation of Israel And Judges 22. throughout in the case of Israel against Benjamin and Gibeah All the places as they clearly hold out the command and practise most consonant to our position so to think that the same may be evaded by astricting the places to the Hypothesis contained in the letter viz of more or all the cities against one apostatizing and that either an equal division of the cities the one half faithful the other backslidden should bring the matter to an accommodation or that the greater part backsliden who certainly had the casting voice in that Democratick constitution should oblige the fewer remaining stedfast to a sinful acquiescence is to elude all Scripture and mock the Holy Ghost by whom it is given Now whither these places
the Accidental hazard of Private mens usurping of the Office or doing of the duty of Publick persons every vertue and vertous Action which may be so abused shall be utterly neglected Impiety shall quickly gain an Universall Empire to the extermination of all Goodness It is true that the God of Order hath assigned to every man his Station and Calling within the bounds whereof he should keep without transgressing by Defect or Excess and therein wait and act in such a measure of the Spirit as He is pleased to comunicate And we do not hold such instances for Regulare ordinary precedents for all times and persons universally which while some have fancyed and heeding more the glory and fame of the Action then the sound and solid Rule of the Holy Scriptures they have been tempted and carried to fearfull Extravagancies Neither are insolent or disorderly much less Wicked attempts which sometimes have covered and yet may mask themselves with a pretence of Zeal upon this or any other ground to be licenced or approved But on the other hand as these instances hold forth for the conviction and reproof of our stupidity and indifferency what an high pitch of Holy Zeall and Courage the Servants of the Lord have sometimes attained and do further demonstrat that He doth sometimes warrant even Private persons in their doing of these things in an Extream Necessity and collapsed state of the Church to which at other times He doth not call them So when the Lord with whom is the residue of the Spirit doth breath upon his people more or fewer to the exciting of more then Ordinary Zeal Courage and Resolution for the Reforming of an Apostat Church for the Execution of justice upon the Adversaries and for the advancing and establishing of Truth and Holiness in the Earth wee should rather ascribe glory and praise to Him whose hand is not shortened but many times choiseth the Weak and Foolish things of the World to confound the Mighty and the Wise then condemn His Instruments for Rebels and Usurpers as it is like Phinâ—has would have been had he lived in this generarion if the same Lord who by his Spirit had Acted him had not also by his own hand rescued him 10. As the Right of Self-Defence mutual Assistance and Reformation is properly and only derivable from the grounds adduced so the Concurse of the Nobles and Primores Regni is no wayes of absolute necessity though indeed singularly conducible for the carrying on thereof Unto which Concurrence as they are doubly obliged according to that unto whom much is given of the same much shall be required so if they shall convert their Power to the strengthning of the hands of the wicked they do thereby not only aggravat their own condemnation but by their endeavouring to wreath fasten more strongly the yoke of wickedness and oppression they do the rather and more justify the cause and plea of all the Asserters of Truth and Righteousness These are a part of the grounds whereupon these Noble Worrhies raised up by God eminently by him inspired did singly act for His own glory which as they have left upon record for their own perpetual vindication so thereby they did clearly purge themselves from all imputation of Rebellion Nor were their proceedings and practises ever by any so much as termed disorderly except by such who being altogether indifferent in the Work of God endeavour by all means to calumniat and shame them from being made precedents to their own prejudice Fourthly It is observable that though the practises of these first times were Extraordinary and to many may appear Disorderly Yet the faithful men whom the Lord honoured both to Suffer to Do for His name did constantly and boldly charge both the Rise and progress of these disorders upon the Persons then in Power Authority who being ordained entrusted by God for the defence maintenance of Truth and Righteousness as the only true foundations and solid grounds of the Peoples felicity whither temporal or eternal and including all the ends for which either the Power or Persons of Governours are appointed and consequently the principal bonds of all obedience and subjection for which all these engadgements are intended and to which they do ultimatly refer by resieling and starting out from this most sacred and fixed line of subordination As they could not claim Obedience to their unjust commands so far-less could they oblidge the people to that more then slavish and brutish subjection in the submitting of their souls bodies goods to the arbitriment of their cruel Tyranny directly contrary unto and destructive of all these holy great Ends both of Gods Glory and the Peoples spiritual and temporal Good for which they were constituted Governours That this was the source and fountain of all disorders in these times and that it was so reputed to be by these valiant Worthies who then opposed them the History thereof doth plainly verify Wee are not forgetful how vehemently the Powers on earth which set themselves against the Lord and their creaturs and flatterers have in all times decryed such assertions The noise belshings thundering of Treason Treason wherewith the very mentioning of such positions useth at once to be attended and condemned do already sound in our ears Let such as are thereby alarmed read the debats and controversies both of former later times Especially these two Martyrs against Tyranny Lex Rex and the Apologetical Narration upon this subject This is our peace and establishment before the Lord and all men that wee with our Noble Reformers do acknowledge and honour Authority as the great Ordinance of God for the uphold and maintainance of Truth and Righteousness and the Persons therewith vested not only as eminently thereby dignified but also as most signally impressed by a very sacred and illustrious Character of the glorious Majesty of the Most High who hath appoynted them But on the orher hand wee cannot but wish that these same persons would constantly remember that not only they are the Ministers of God and to Him accountable but also his Ministers to the People for their Good whom they neither ought to Tyrannize over at their own Pleasure nor Rule only for their own Profit O! that these sacred Boundaries had ever been observed that both Tyranny and Rebellion with all their Antidots and remedies had been perpetually unknown But shall Tyranny unto which Power both in it's self is so easily corrupted and by the flattery of others more frequently abused be not only shrouded under the priviledge and impunity of a Divine Exemption but thereby in effect be more intollerably licenced to the acting of all wickedness and violence and the perverting and overturning of all the ends of Government And in the mean time shall the Peoples most just necessary Defence of themselves whereunto they are seldome and very hardly provocked even by the most extream necessity of all
them over-ruled in the Year 1640. the King and Prelats vigorously arm again and prepare for a new war But this intended War is composed by a new Pacification and in the mean time the Parliament formerly adjourned until Iune 1640 doth conveen at the time appointed and by their fourth fifth and sixth Acts fully establish Presbyterial Government ratify the Covenant with the Addition and Explanation of the Assembly and all Acts made thereanent abrogat the Estate of Bishops and all Acts whatsoever made in their favours Thereafter in the Treaty ensuing the Pacification it is agreed that the Acts past in the last Parliament with these to be made in the next Session thereof shall be published in the King's Name and have the strength of Laws in all time coming Which Treaty being closed and the last Session of the above-mentioned Parliament sitting in the Moneth of Iune 1641. the King in person being present among them and the Oath of Parliament for maintenance of Religion in purity as then established and of the King's Authority and the Peoples Liberties according to the Covenant and for endeavouring by all just and humble meanes of Union and Peace betwixt the three Kingdomes appointed to be taken by that all succeeding Parliaments being taken by the second Act thereof superscribed by the King and subscribed by the President the foresaid Treaty is amply and perpetually confirmed and the whole Articles thereof are ratifyed and recorded Thus by all the Security that either Sacred Oaths or Acts of Lawful Authorized Assemblies Ordinances of King and Council doubled and re-iterated Pacifications and Treaties Acts of Parliament Enacted Re-enacted the Kings Authority and Consent being often and solemnly interposed both by promise and hand-writ And all that either Religion Truth Faith Honour or Honesty could devise or grant these Wicked Prelats are cast out of this Church and Kingdom Presbyterial Government fully established the pure Worship of God with His pure and powerful Ordinances and Ministry restored and in the maintenance and pursuance of all these great Blessings the whole Land by many Oaths most Solemn tyes engaged unto the Lord for ever By all which Blessings and the restoring of the Lord 's own Ordinances amongst us as the Work of the Gospel and the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus in the Conversion of many thousands were greatly advanced and the Glory of God in the abounding of true Piety and flourishing of Righteousness did eminently shine amongst us as the memory of these times in all such as fear God and love our Lord Jesus Christ doth sweetly testify so all these great things were transacted to the perpetual shame and confusion of all our calumnious Adversaries without any diminution of his Majesty's just Authority and Greatness As the Power and Glory of the Lord was great in this Land so the splendor and fame thereof reaching unto other Nations it pleased the Lord thereby to provoke His People in England at that time grievously groaning under the Tyrannous yoke of Prelacy and justly alarmed by the imminent fears of prevailing Popery to set about and intend the like blessed Reformation It doth not concern us to reflect on the Causes and beginnings of that War betwixt the King and Parliament there nor what were the transactions betwixt the two Kingdoms in order to that Aid and Assistance given by Scotland and how the same was mannaged But this is certain that upon the Representation of the most just and important grounds of the maintenance of Religion and Liberty against the prevailing power of Popery Prelacy and Tyranny in that Kingdom of England and their most instant and earnest desires for our help and Assistance and rhe most rational clear motives of our own Security the hazard and loss whereof had undoubtedly been the consequence of the Prelats Victory there this Kingdom was induced in the Year 1643. to enter into that Sacred Bond of the Solemne League and Covenant never to be forgotten containing no other Articles then every one's Sincere and constant endeavours in their several places callings for the preservation of the Reformed Religion in this Church in Doctrine VVorship Discipline and Government the Reformation of the same in England and Ireland according to the VVord of God and the example of the best Reformed Churches and the nearest Conjunction and Vniformity of all the three in Truth Faith and Love the extirpation of Popery Prelacy Error and Profanity the preservation of the rights and Liberties of the People and of the Kings person and Authority in defence of the true Religion and the Kingdom 's Liberties the Discovery and the punishment of Incendiaries the retaining of the Peace and Vnion of the Kingdomes the mutual assistance and defence of all entering into this League and the performing of all duties we owe to God in the amendment of our lives and in walking exemplarly one before another And all these in order to no other end then the Glory of God the advancement of the Kingdom of Iesus Christ the Honor and Happiness of the King and his Posterity and the true Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdom This is that Covenant which in all the controversies it hath occasioned did never receave a greater confirmation then from the malice and opposition of it's adversaries who in the same Spirit with the same Spite have alwayes persecuted and reproached it with the same Calumnies of Rebellion Sedition and Blood which from the beginning the Devill hath ever been most active to raise and stir up against the Lord Jesus his Gospel Kingdom and Followers But seing such only as are blessed do evite the offence of Truth and all who truely seek Gods Glory or Love the Lord Jesus did and still do heartily approve and embrace this Covenant though it had brought the Sword not only into Britain but with the Truth into all the Earth though it were reproached as unfriend not only to our King but with our Lord Jesus to Caesar and all the Kings of the Earth though it had divided and disturbed not only Realms and States but with the Gospel families and nearest relations and had with Paul moved Sedition throughout the whole World we ought not thereby to be either shaken or offended We know also that all the subtilty and malice of Hell have been set on work and spared no calumny or cavillation by which either it's Words Matter or Manner might be impugned But these are so often and fully answered and without the assistance of any man's Patrociny by the obvious plainness of it's Phrase the Holiness Importance of it's Purpose and the Justice and Necessity of it's way and Manner so clearly confuted that nothing can be added Only seing the Constancy of Truth ought not to cede to the Confidence of prevailing Powers as we have asserted and do hold the subject matter of this League and Covenant to be in it self Holy Just and True so we cannot but disprove
unto that Laodicean luke-warmness more desperate and incurable then coldness and death it self 3. The faithful Ministers being outed and the hedge of Presbyterian Government removed as prophanity and wickedness doth yet more abound so there came out of this smoak Locusts upon our Church even a crue of Curates for Insufficiency Vanity Lies and Prophanity the very Scorn of Reformation Scandal of Religion We need not here adduce particular instances there is none who in the least observe their doctrine and maner of conversation but will easily acknowledge it And the certainty of what we here affirm is so obvious unto all that a particular condescendence would either prove an infinite labour or too much abridge the extent of so sad a truth It s true there are some who being convinced and others who supposing the truth of what is here alleadged do either doubt or deny these things to be the proper effects of Prelacy but rather of the licentiousness of men and such accidents which may be incident to the best constitutions But if it be considered 1. That that thing which inseparably and infallibly attends another may with more then ordinary probability be concluded to depend thereon by a certain influence 2. That that which is no Ordinance of Jesus Christ but the visible product of the Devils malice and mens pride and lust can never be effectual for the establishing of Truth or promoting of Holiness 3. That such who not only discover in themselves the foresaid evils but by open and most notorious Perjury do usurp and invade and hold the Offices they pretend to must of necessity hate the light because their deeds are evil it will be very easily granted that Prelacy Prelates and their dependants to whom all these things are clearly applicable are not only the proper causes and authors of all the Prophanity and Wickedness under which this poor Land now perisheth but most naturally introductive unto all these Superstitions and Abominations wherein the Devill by the same means did and hath involved the Christian World under the Roman Papacy 4. The Prelates and Curates being thus established from the ground and warrant of the Acts mentioned several Proclamations and Edicts for the more effectual execution thereof and pressing conformity thereunto for the suppressing conscientious adherence to or so much as is possible the very remembrance of our former Engagements and Covenants and the holy Ministry and Government therein contained are emitted and published We have already mentioned that at Glasgow and these others to the same purpose which did ensue upon it The first what we here note is that the Prelates conceaving that their persecutions already practized and to be practized might excite the compassion of some to a charitable supply of the afflicted more to express their cruel malice then really to hinder that which at best is not worth the noticing under the pretext of Disâ—rder they procure a discharge of charitable Collections And now let it be here observed once for all that such is the cruelty not only of the malice but of the very Acts procured by the Prelates against conscientious Non-conformists that if they were followed with a sutable compleat execution there should remain no comfort to any abiding stedfast other then that of Arcadius mercy to the children of Traitors that life should be their grief and death their relief There was another Proclamation emitted at the time of the first planting of the Curates that all persons should keep their own Parish Churches and should not repair to any other except in case of vacancy under pain of twenty Shillings Scots totiâ—s quoâ—ies to the effect that such as could not in conscience attend the Curats Conventicles might be also deprived of any mean of edification which the opportunity and neighbourhood of a faithful Ministry might afford Then thereafter there is another Edict published against unwarrantable Preaching Praying or Hearing whereby even such Exercises without which the Communion of Saints can hardly be intertained are restrained discharged in so much that if a faithful outed Minister should repair to any private family or two or three moe then the Domesticks of one House be found together though only imployed in the most Christian edifying Exercises of Praying Lecturing or Godly Conference their meeting is declared an unlawfull Conventicle and all such as are accessory punishable accordingly By a fourth Proclamation men are required to be assistent to and concur with the Curates in the exercise of Discipline as they shall be thereto called though they be not told either by what warrant or in what capacity they are to meddle in the Matters of God for our Adversaries do both disown Elders allow Deacons no rule There is a fifth Proclamation discharging all Conventions meetings whatsoever under the pretence of Religion which are not allowed by Authority certifying all persons accessory that they shall be looked upon and punished by pecuniary and corporall pains as seditions persons at the arbitrement of the Council and especially that the Ministers exercising therein and their resetters or countenancers in any sort shall be liable unto the highest pains due to seditious Persons And lastly there is a sixt commanding all Masters of Families to cause their Servants and all their dependents and all Heritors and Landlords to cause their Tennants and Tax-men to obey all Acts of Parliament or Council enjoyning Conformity and particularly to frequent their Parish Churches and to submit and conform to the Curates their Ministry or else to remove them summarly from their service and eject them out of their Possessions And also that Heritors take bond and security of their intrant Tennants in time coming that they and their Cottars and Servants shall give obedience as said is and lastly that all Magistrates of Burghs cause their Inhabitants give Bond for the like obedience for which effects these Heritors and Magistrates are warranded to charge them under the pain of Rebellion And whosoever shall contraveen this Edict is certified and declared lyable to the same pains due to the Non-conformists themselves for whom he hereby is made answerable This is the last Act Proclamation for Conformity not only in course but even in the utmost of extremity and rigor whereby as many persons having a freedom as to their own practise are further urged contrare to all the rules of charity and moderation to compel others towards whom they may rather desire a Christian Forbearance and Indulgence to be used so the generality of the Land without any exception whatsoever are reached and obliged to all the Complyance with and Conformity to this wicked Apostasy and accursed and abjured Prelacy whereof they are capable and that under such Pains as if generally incur'd and execute should infallibly reduce the Land to utter Desolation and confusion But the Lord heareth and regardeth and Oh that men would also hear the voice of this poor Church that bewaileth her self and spreadeth
after publication without any assurance of Indemnity offered and lastly commanding the whole Subjects to be assisting to the Lieutenant General and being required by him or others in Authority to rise in Arms and assist with all their Power under the Pain of Rebellion A Proclamation so full of fury and madness not only rendering such as were in Arms desperate without hope except in the cruel mercy of the wicked Prelates But also engaging all without distinction either Actively to concur to the destroying of these poor innocent and afflicted People or els to prepare themselves for suffering the same pains and punishment that it may justly be wondered at that even the single motive of this Proclamation did not procure to these Galloway-men a greater concourse But that poor hand-full being come towards the West and some hundreds there whom partly the like pressures and fears of worse but most of all the sense and remembrance of the indispensible obligation of the Holy Covenant for mutual sympathy and defence and our uttermost endeavours all the dayes of our lives to prosecute the great and blessed Ends therof did thereto determine having in the sincerity and simplicity of their hearts joined themselves to that company most harmlesly and inoffensively without the least violence or exaction done to any they march through the Countrey until they come to Lanerk Where upon the consideration of the Lord's wrath imminent upon the whole Land by reason of breach of Covenant and the many horrid Sins thereon ensuing and the apprehension of His holy displeasure yet continuing whereof by many visible and afflicting signs and tokens they were most sadly convinced as men reduced to the last extremity and in great distress after the example of Nehemiah and the Iewes Neh. chap. 9 10. in the like case they resolve and do renew the Solemn League and Covenant That at least by this Action they might bear Testimony both to the oppressed Cause and Truth of God and their own innocency From Lanerk upon the 26 of November they march to Bathgaâ—e and the morrow thereafter to Colington a place about two miles distant from Edinburgh That same night Lieut. Gen. Dalzel coming to Calder there is a Cessation agreed to betwixt them for that night and until upon the morrow their grievances and Petition might be presented to the Council which they for that effect send to Dalzel to be by him transmitted But as notwithstanding of this Cessation and though the same was timously signified to the Bishop as President of the Council yet the Countrey-troops leavyed about Edinburgh were not restrained from making an in-fall upon their Quarters where they rested securely upon the trust of the Cessation so upon the morrow before almost they were aware and without giving up the Cessation agreed to Dalzel finding a nearer way doth almost surprize them Whereupon they endeavour to march off but finding the Enemy so near they are constrained to stand to prepare for that Conflict upon the South of Pentland-hils Wherein the Lient General 's forces and theirs being engaged the very time and hour that the Gentle-man sent by Dalzel to the Council was presenting his letters and the West-land mens Grievances these poor men not exceeding eight or nine hundreds and extremly weakened and spent by sore travail and watching and mostly by their fasting and great abstinence are according to the Holy Wise and determinate Counsel of God a litle after sun-set routed and dissipated The number of the slain on both sides were reckoned about 40 and upwards of the Westland men and 4 or 5 of the Generals Forces The number of the prisoners was greater amounting in all to 130 and upward But because the threed of this story hath precipitated our Narration to this fatal period the observations following will supply what is ommitted 1. That these men who rose in the West were not only for the most part persons of known and very exemplar integrity piety and zeal for God and all of them severally and jointly so far from base and turbulent designes that they cannot be supponed by any who know them to have been Ambitious of either Rule or Riches but also did with the same straightness and sincerity in all parts declare that their only Motives were the rigor of extreme Necessity which constrained them to the defence of Religion and Liberty and the Conscience of that indispensible duty vve all owe to God one to another in the bond of the Holy Covenant and in the innocency of a most harmless deportment did fully conform themselves to these professions so that it may truly be affirmed that a company of more sincere upright and harmless men did never in any age appear in such a posture Which as it doth eminently appear in their sparing and civil usage of Sir Iames Turner and their great abstinence and moderation in all places not only from Plunder and such insolencies but even from the necessary means of Subsistence so it is a truth so certain that all their enemies save a few profane Curates who spare no lies whereby they may vent their malice must and do acknowledge it 2. That as in many places there were many found who joined themselves to the Lieut. General 's Forces to assist against and suppress that faithfull afflicted company so the Militia of Edinburgh by order from the Secret Council to the Town-Council and from the Town-Council to the several Captains who did administrate it to their respective Companies did in opposition to the same persons take the following Oath viz. I shal be true and faithfull to the King and shall defend his Authority and maintain the same against this Insurrection and Rebellion and any other that shall happen with the hazard of my life and fortune And the two Shires of Middle and East Lauthians did arm very readily against them But whether this Insurrection was in Rebellion against the King or whether this Conjuration and these Practices were not a manifest Conspiracy and horrid Rebellion against the great God a few reflections on what we have premised shall hereafter clear 3. That as only the force of Necessity from the rigor of their persecutions and the cutting off of all liberty to Petition or hope of Redress did compel the West-land men to this course so upon the first appearance and most slender insinuation of liberty to Represent Grievances to these in Authority they very wilingly and readily embraced the opportunity and signified to the Council that the only evill under which the Land perisheth is the Erecting of this wicked and tyrannous Prelacy contrary to the Holy Covenant and the cruel oppression both in Body Conscience of all that desire to continue Faithfull therein but how they were abused in this offer and Transaction we have before related 4. That though the wicked Prelats for the greater exaltation of their pride and triumph both over God and his Cause have boldly affirmed that these men were by
their obligation in the Covenant for mutual defence and assistance in the common cause of Religion and Liberty to joyn with them for their help Neither should I have adventured to insert these instances if besids the diligent care that was used in collecting of them making them credible the notoriety thereof whereby they were unquestioned in that part of the Countrey and many such-like things whereunto all that is mentioned is but like a preface committed since Novemb. 1666 especially in the Western parts rendering them probable they were not the native product of this Prelatical course betwixt which and them there is such connexion as is betwixt the natural cause and the effect and if the committers thereof had not had command example and encouragement for many of them from the Prelats whom they resemble as much as face answereth to face in water It is true the Prelats should no more bear all the blame then Sathan who restraineth none but tempteth to all should be charged with all the Sin of man and they were and are first and chief in the transgression who were their Authors and are their upholders and abettors and in retaliation of their flattery of the Powers and connivance at profanness in all and in subserviency to their interest and designe have perpetrated and permitted so much wickedness and oppression Yea the Peoples walking willingly after the commandement will never Excuse those who by Law Force Example make Israel to Sin yet it is above contradiction that Prelacy is the chief though not the only Interest in subserviency to which all these things are done and the Prelats themselves are a conjunct if not the Principal cause thereof These men having put off their former vizards no man needeth further to unmask them Let these who employed and maintained Sharp to agent their cause and others who promoted him to the Prelacy declare their own Experience of his continued series of ungrate deceaving and undermining of them and their Interests under Trust and professions to the contrary as all men know that he hath Impiously and Perfidiously betrayed the Church and Cause of God if they will not Let his own many letters written unto them be produced as in reason and for Vindication they should and they will evince him to be the Archest Traitor that ever Scotland bred And how can it otherwise be will he who is false to God be true to any man If that man escape some stupenduous and disgracefull remark by the hand of God or Man I will not say that Others need neither fear the One nor regard the other but sure I am that many more Experienced in the observation of divine Providence and forseâ—ing then I am are much mistaken Let the City of Glasglow and persons of all Qualities especially in that countrey-side ingenuously say whether that fiery Zelot for the height of English Hierarchy and Ceremonies and otherwise insignificant man Master Burnet prelate there doth nor in Just recompence of too many their enslaving their own light and conscience in flattery of him and complying with that course most insolently domineer over them as his slaves with as much Prid Ambition and Contempt as the most absolute Prince doth over his vassals Let these of the Synod of Glasgow remember with what deep dissimulation Mr Hamilton prelat of Galloway did by Express suffrage declare before the last Synod there against the same Prelacy which at that same instant of time he was clandestinly corresponding with the Rulers to establish This man of all others hath been the chief Cause of all the Oppression and persecution in that countrey and thereby the Occasion of the late riseing in Armes blood that hath followed thereupon One instance of Mr Honeyman prelate of Orkney I cannot ommit that in the year 1661 when Mr Sharp had discovered himself walking in his own garden he said to a famous person who can bear witness thereof Just as Balaam spake truth whether he would or not That Mr Sharp was as false as Iudas and I would gladly know to whom this Casuist who since hath embraced a Bishoprick will Compare himself for fals-hood except to him who entered into Iudas with the sop I need tell no man who knoweth the Persons of the brutish Sensuality of Mr Wallace P. of the Isles who studieth more the filling of his belly then he was ever fit for feeding of a flock nor of the hatred of Godliness and good men in Mr Guthrey P. of Dunkel who while he was Minister at Sterlin was an old persecuter of both nor the scandalous drinking of Mr Sraughan P. of Brechen let those who visite him in his own house declare how liberally he useth to entertain them with Wine there upon their own Expence It is true indeed that Mr Lighton prelate of Dumblan under a Jesuitial-like vizard of Pretended Holiness humility crucifixion to the world hath studied to seem to Creep upon the ground but alwayes up the hill toward promotion places of more ease honor Wealth as there is none of them all hath with a Kiss so betrayed the Cause and smiten Religion under the fifth rib and hath been such an offence to the godly so there is none who by his way practice and Expressions giveth greater suspicion of a popish affection inclination and design If these men had not put off their own vaile no pencil of the most skilled artist could have drawn them to the life but now by shewing of themselves they have saved others a labour or at least made it more easy And therefore I shall rake no more into this unpleasant dung-hil of the vilest vice which they and their Brethren in Iniquity whom not nameing here doth not Except from their part of the charg of Ambition Prid Sensuality Idleness Covetousness Oppression Persecution Dissimulation Perjury Treacheiy and Hatred of Godliness and Good men have heaped together in their own Persons and transsused to others over all the Land O the Immense long suffering and unsearchable Wisedome of God! who hearing the cry of these things stirreth not the Zeal of all to Execute his just Judgment upon these men but it may be that he is ripening and reserving them for a more God-like strok then any would be acknowledged to be wherein man were Instrumental Neither are their Mercenaries whom they hire as Postillions to ride upon the fore-horse of all their Wickedness less skilled but more foreward that way then their drivers It were as far above the faith of any who have not heard and seen to beleeve and might render any pen suspected of the want of truth or tenderness to write the Hundreth part as it it easy to instance incredibly much but endless to relate all that is true of the Ignorance Lightness Profaness of these men When I have told that several lying in known and acknowledged fornication without removall of the scandal have been admitted to the Ministry by the Prelats who knew it
and violently obtruded by them the Patrons upon the offended people That some of them after Admission have been deprehended lying with women by the way side that Others have been found guilty of Actuall fornication and of unanswerable presumptions of Adultery with other mens wives and that drounkenness is both open and frequent amongst many of them I may well awake the wonder the blush and horrour of the reader but I have only begun to shew a part indeed avery small part of these mens wayes A Prophet he may be by way of prognostication but let the world Judg what manner of Preacher he must be who offending that the people did not come to hear him did before the Congregation Imprecate thus against himself God nor I be hanged hut I shall make you all come Another refused to pay the price of a horse before he pleased which he used to boast privately would be at Doomsday because the seller at the making of the bargan in Civility said Pay me when ye please and thereupon to the scorn and derision of all substained an action of Law some dayes before a Civill Court Who will commerce with such horse-koopers but much less who can acknowledg such men for Ministers These men being themselves generally without substance and forme of Religion are such malicious persecuters of both in Others that as I could never hear of one soul turned from Sathan to God by their labours whereof indeed there are many profane seals so they are become vile in the eyes of all that are truly godly or but morally civil In so much that this is the only advantage and indeed it is an advantage for if they were more smooth and sober they might be more insnaring that they do not wear a rough garment to deceave and though I cannot say that their out-side is as unclean as their inner-side yet it is such as saith in every mans heart that the fear of God is not before their eyes These are the pleasant birds that are hatched and cherished under the warm wings of Prelacy of whom though no man can speak the half of the truth to a stranger without exposing himself to the Censure of partiality Passion or being a Reproacher yet the Universall and incontroverted Notoriety of these things in all places where they reside or converse will absolve the relater before all men who know them It is true we do not charg every individuall with every particular yet because they are generally true of Many and being notourly knows and sometimes represented are not remeeded they are chargable upon the Course which being Sinfull in self the Authors and Abettors thereof are participant of the guilt and lyable to the punishment And indeed the Lord hath already begun his controversy with some of them not only by pouring shame and Contempt upon them particularly upon Traiterous Sharp and drying up the Right eye blasting the gifts which severall seemed to have whether by their own negligence which every man observeth or Immediat judgment or both I do not determine but also by visible cursing of their substance diverse of them being necessitated through poverty to sell their tithes at half worth long before they are payable and others of them to remove leaving more debt behind then they are able to discharge Neither have these men thus profaned the sanctuary only by the sins of the Sons of Ely made all men to abhor the offering of the Lord but from them are issued forth such overflowing streames of wickedness over all the Land that besids all that is mentioned there are other inconceavable inexpressible Atheistical abominations said to be committed by men which as it is a Wonder the Devil himself should dare to act so for fear of the great and dreadful God and of offending the ears of others my heart trembleth to think my hand faileth to writ O Lord forgive that ever anothers speaking but much more Acting should have occasioned my Thinking thereof And yet as if all that is related were too little for sanctuary to themselves for further inslaving of the Countrey venting of insatiable revenge cursed be their anger for it is fierce and their wrath for it is cruell they have procured two Proclamations dated at Edinburgh March 25. 1667. making mention of great evidence of many disaffected Persons in the Western Shares who are ready to break out in open Rebellion involve the Kingdom in blood of just reason of suspition that these Rebells will rise in Armes against the King and his Authority and not only make use of the Armes Powder and Ammunition concealed or transported from Enemies but seâ—se upon the Armes of others and invade the Ministers of the Gospel c. And therefore for preventing and disabling of them to put themselves in Military posture to make sudden marches or attempts upon other Subjects or the standing Forces or to joine with other persons of Pernicious And disloyal principles c. commanding all persons within the Shires of Lanerk Air Renfrew Wigton and Stewarty of Kireâ—dbright who have refused or deserted publick trust who withdraw from publick Ordinances and keep not their Parish-Churches or do not submit to the present Government of the Church and all who being warned did not joine to suppress the late Rebellion unless they take the Oath of Alleageance and subscribe the Declaration that after the 15 day of May next by themselves or any other for their behoof they do not keep any horse above the value of an hundred merks and in case of failzie that the Sherif value deliver such horses to the Informer without payment to be made therefore and before the first of May to deliver to their respective Sherifs all their Armes and Ammunition allowing Gentlemen only swords under the pain of fining each Gentleman in 2000 merks each other person in 500 merks whereof the one half to the Informer and commanding all Heritors and Parishioners to defend the persons families and goods of their Ministers from all affronts and injuries with certification that the sufferers and not opposers of the same shall be reputed art part he proceeded against with all rigor as guilty thereof and in case of surprizal that they pursue apprehend and present the committers before the Council otherwise to be lyable to reparation of damnage c. What new and strange Policy is there here that the Narrative of both Proclamations in stead of concealing in the time of declared and continued War with Forrainers should proclaime that there are so many disaffected persons who are ready to rise in Armes to seise upon the Armes of others and weaken the Forces of the Kingdom thereby expressing the sense of their own deservings and the fears of an evil conscience discovering their own nakedness to enemies and encouraging Forrainers to invade with the more confidence Must these Shires which without derogation to others do eminently flourish with men of Piety