an acceptance cannot disallow the other but most recognosce a power in this Tolerator to subvert all Laws And so by accepting this lawless Law-subverting Liberty they make themselves guilty of the palpable breach of the national Covenant where the Laws are contained which this Toleration suspends And dreadfully accessory to all the sad effects of this undermining all the legal bulwarks of our Religion 5. In respect of the nature extent of it It is Toleration which is alwayes of evil for that which is good cannot be Tolerated under the notion of good but countenanced encouraged as good Therefore it reflects upon our Religion when a Toleration is accepted which implies such a reproach seeing it is not ratified as a Right nor encouraged as a Religion but Tolerated under the notion of an evil to be suffered And such a Toleration as maks the Professors of Christ partners in the same bargain with Antichrists Vassals sets up the Ark in the place under the same sconce with dagon the Devils thresholds by the Lords threshold whereby a sluce is opened to let the enemy come in like a flood none lifting up a Standart against them Since it is a Toleration not only of Archbishops Bishops Curats but of all Quakers and Papists reaching all Idolatrie blasphemie Heresie which to accept is contrary to Scripture our Confession of Faith Catechismes as was shewed above and clearly inconsistent with the principles of the Church of Scotland with the Covenants national solemn league where we are bound to extirpate Popery c. Preserve the Reformation defend our Liberties so never to accept of a Toleration in its nature tendency eversive of all these precious Interests we are sworn to maintain 6. In respect of its conditions limitations restrictions by which all the kinds of power that Christ hath seated in his Church is invaded invalidated evacuated As 1 the Dogmatick power whereby Ministers are to judge of Truth Error in point of Doctrine according to the Word of God only this Key is extorted out of their hands for according to the foresaid Proclamations nothing may be taught by the moderate Presbyterian Ministers in their Tolerated Meetings that can be interpreted by the Court according to their will or their Law for all is one to have any tendency to alienate the hearts of the People from this incontrollable Tyrant or his Government Now by vertue of this condition they may not doctrinally discover unto People the affronted wickedness of this unparalelled prerogative They may not shew the iniquitie of the Laws nor warn of the evil thereof They may not testifie against the introduction of Poperie nor these means that give an inlet unto it They may not once mention any wicked design in all this course of a cursed Toleration They may not teach the obligation of the Covenants Neither witness against the breaches thereof expressly Nor reprove the publick sins of the time Nor warn of the dangers thereof nor exhort them against complyances in particular with any course established by Law For all this may be interpreted by Court Expositors to have a direct tendency to alienat Peoples hearts from the man his Government Accordingly Mr. Hardy is apprehended imprisoned and proceeded against for giving Concional Testimony against the taking off the penal Laws Statutes which would be thought could not have offended any Protestant 2 The Diatactik power whereby the Courts of Christ are to decern the circumstances of the worship of God as time place c. For order decency edification according to the general rules of the Word This power is invaded the Key of order is wroung out of their hands in like manner For now the places of worship are determined in the Royal Proclamations which must be made known to some of the Court Patrons on whose warrand they are tyed to depend What may be the hidden design of this intimation we know not we heartily wish pray it may not be to do with them as Jehu with the Priests of Baal In the mean time Fed-meetings for the worship of God which have been signally contenanced of the Lord are severely interdicted whereby the Word of the Lord is bound bounded And by the accepters consent to such a model the bloody Laws against preaching in the open Fields where People have freest access with convenience Safety are justified The manner of meeting is also restricted to be in such a way as the peace and security of the Government may not be endangered that they be peaceably publickly held yea it is expressly required in the Proclamation October 5th That all who shall preach by vertue of this Royal Grant at any time or in any place make intimation of their preaching as to time place to same one or more of the next privie Council-Lords which shall be sufficient for them during their abode only Whereby they not only are engaged to keep the peace with Antichrist or his Lievtenant in all their Meetings not only to give accession to all his Clandestine Censores to observe how they keep their Instructions But formally must mancipate their Ministry the freedom of its exercise to a dependence upon the license of his Trustees Which is not only a formal bargaining with the enemies of Truth and Godliness but a becoming their Servants and so a forfeiting the honour of being esteemed while they continue so enslaved the faithful and free Servants of Christ especially considering how as to the matter of their Preaching also they involve themselves in such inconveniencies that either they must forbear some part of the Counsel of God and decline the Testimony of this day or else expose themselves as a prey to the lust of enemies who hereby have brought them into a hose-net 3. The Critick or Corrective power which the Courts of Christs have to censure Delinquents and absolve the Penitents according to the Word of God is also invaded made void For not only doth this Toleration robb the Ministers Tolerated and the Accepters consent to be robbed of that power of impartial censuring those scandals that are Tolerated thereby all that make themselves guilty of complying with the same or have been involved in sinful scandalous complyances with wicked courses formerly such as taking of sinful Oaths subscribing of sinful bonds paying of sinful exactions other scandalous breaches of Covenant Nor dare these that are free of them censure or remove from among them their guilty Brethren so separate the clean from the unclean But also invads usurps this power formally in investing the Tolerator with Authority to Inhibite discharge some Ministers the exercise of their office whom the standing Laws of this Church do Authorize and to allow others whom the Word of God Constitutions of our Church require to be laid aside suspended from that function 4. Finally the Exousiastick power of trying
can elude when he pleases all these flattering promises of tenderness by excepting at the most necessary indispensible duties if either they be such wherein any other Interest is concerned beside meer Religion or if the troubles sustained thereupon be not altogether invincible necessities Hence the plain falshood doubleness of his assertions as to what is past may give ground to conclude his intended perfidie in promises of what is future But to accept of a Liberty clogged with encroachments upon the Liberties of Christs free Kingdom or either formally or interpretatively directly or indirectly to give way to a Toleration of Idolatrous or false wayes of worship is odious to all that know the rule of Conscience Thô Conscience is not to be forced either to Religion or Irreligion And Religion is not to be propogated by force yet the open efforts overt-acts propagation of Irreligion Atheism Idolatry Blasphemy c. ought to be restrained by force every person pretending to Conscience constrained to give outward respect to the Lawgiver rule of Conscience And what Liberty is either intended or does natively tend to Tolerate what is dishonourrable to God or destructive to conscience cannot be embraced by any who are tender in keeping a Conscience void of offence towards God man These things premitted We come in the next place to declare our Testimony against the Toleration And this we shall do both as it is simply and complexely considered First considering it simply we cannot but testify against it 1. In regard that it doth palpably cross contradict the will of God revealed in the Scriptures of Truth Gen. 35.1 2 3 4. Exod. 23.31 32 33. Exod. 34.12 13 14 15. Deut. 7 2-6 25 26. Deut. 13.6 12. c. Josh. 22.10 12. Josh. 23.11 12 13. Judg. 2.1.2 3. 1 Sam. 3.13 14. 1 King 18.40 2 King 9.22 2 Chron. 15.15 16. Psal 101. throughout Prov. 20.8 Cant. 2.15 Ezek. 43.7 8. Zech. 13.2 3 4. John 2.15 16. Rom. 13.3 4. Revel 2.2.14 20. Prov. 17.16 2. The Commissioners of the General Assembly did plainly fully witness against the Toleration that was in the bud Anno 1649. And the reverend Assembly of divines at West-minister have in the Larger Catechisme in the exposition of the second Commandment reckoned the Toleration of false Religion amongst the sins forbidden therein And in the Confession of Faith Chap. 20. § 4. Asserted that such opinions or practices as are contrary to the light of nature or the known principles of Christianity or destructive to the external peace Order which Christ hath established in the Church they may be proceeded against by the Censures of the Church by the power of the civil Magistrate And Chap. 23. § 3. That it is the Magistrats duty to take care that the Truth of God be kept pure intire that all blasphemie heresies be suppressed all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or reformed all the ordinances of God duely settled administred observed 3. In regard that a Toleration is utterly repugnant unto inconsistent with the indispensible Oath of God in the National Covenant very expressly condemning it more particularlie the solemn league Covenant It is not the way to maintain nay cannot consist with maintaining Reformation to carry on a Uniformity to extirpate heresie superstition schisme profanness and whatsoever is contrary to sound Doctrine the power of Godliness To free our Souls from the guilt of others mens sins to make the Lord one his Name one All which we are engaged sworn unto in the presence of Almighty God the searcher of all hearts with a true intent to performe the same as we shall answer at the great day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed 4. In regard of the sad sinful effects that it produceth such as the growth increase of heresie superstition and error the prophaning the Lords day the contempt casting loose of Church discipline the subversion of Souls the offence of the Godly Faithful In stead of Reformation Deformation Instead of the power of Godliness vain Jangling Instead of love bitter heart burnings jealousies Instead of union schisme divison And instead of peace contention strife Instead of Government and Order Anarchy Confusion as it is elegantly held forth evidenced by the Ministers of Perth Fife in their forecited Testimony pag. 31. The General Assembly of our Church in their Declaration Exhortation to their Brethren in England say what is Liberty of Conscience but Liberty of error scandal schisme heresie dishonour of God opposing the Truth hindering Reformation seducing others And the Ministers of the County Palatine of Lancaster in their harmonious Testimony against Toleration subscribed by them March 7. 1647. do fittly adde that a Toleration is the puting a Sword into a mad mans hand a cup of Poison in to the hand of a child a letting loose of mad men with fire brands in their hands an appointing a city of refuge in mens Consciences for the Devil to flee to a laying of the stumbling block before the blind a proclaiming Liberty to the Wolves to come into Christs fold to prey upon his Lambs A Toleration of Soul-murther the greatest Murther of all other and for the establishing whereof damned Souls in Hell would accurse men on earth Could it be to provide for tender Consciences to take away all Conscience If evil be suffered it will not suffer good If error be not kept under it will be Superiour In fine let any read Mr. Durham in his excellent Treatise of scandal particularly part 3. Chap. 2. pag. 146. 147. And they will see how he holdeth forth the Toleration suffering of error to be a thing most hateful in its self most hurtful in its consequences most displeasing to Christ For if error saith he be such an evil that thwarteth 1. Both with Gods Holiness Truth And 2. That hazardeth so many Souls for never a plague hath so destroyed the face of the visible Church nor carried so many Souls to Hell as error hath done then the suffering of it cannot but be hateful to him who Loveth his Church 3. There is no way whereby the Devil reproacheth Ordinances the word more than by this by turning them to the quite contrary end as if he would outshoot the Lord in his oun bow which is abominable to mention invert his oun means turn his oun weapons upon him suffering of this is a conniving at his design 4. There is no way by which the Devil may so get in on Christs Servants to seduce them as by this as in the Epistle to Thyatira is clear And can there danger come so nigh Christ he not displeased with what strengtheneth their snares 5. This doth equal yea in some respect prefer the Devil to him so far as in us lieth so cannot but provoke his jealousie For
so the Devil hath Liberty to vent his Lies with Truth equally And there being many Lies though there be but one Truth he hath by this moe doors opened to him than the Gospel hath 6. This doth make even the Truth Ordinances and Religion it self to be thought light of When all these have toleration it is on the matter a proclaiming an Indifferency to be in these things than which nothing can more reflect on the jealous God who in his Word putteth such a difference sheweth such detestation at indifferency 7. This bringeth hudge confusions on the Church For 1. If these errors corrupt teachers prevail they carry Souls after them destroy them ought that to be thought light of 2. If they prevail not yet they cross afflict offend them so prove a snare and burden to them of whom the Lord is tender 8. Toleration doth either account litle of error as being no hurtful thing so there can be no esteem of Truth or it doth account little of the destruction of Souls both which must be abominable 9. Error doth not only break Gods Law but doth teach others to do so suffering thereof must be a maintaining of teachers to transgression Rebellion against the Lord. Next we witness against this present Toleration complexly considered And that we do 1. In respect of the Granter considered either as to his morals or Religion or Relation he is to all considering men a person of that character whose dainties are not to be desired that when he speaketh is not to be believed for there are seven abominations in his heart Prov. 26.25 His Plots practices in his known accession to the burning of Londen 1666. In the Popish Plot discovered 1678. In the Murder of the Earl of Essex do give some swatch and specimen of his former craft cruelty of what further he may be suspected to intend as meritorious to atone for such villanies to wit the Exterpation of the Protestant Religion than which in the esteem of Papists nothing can be more meritorious And for which he hath deserved to forefeit all trust with men of knowledg or Conscience he is known of all to be an Excommunicat Papist and a sworn votarie vassal of Antichrist enrolled in the Societie of Jesuites and therefore being in his principles professedly treacherous yea obliged to be both treacherous truculent by that Religion he cannot be trusted in the leist concerns let be those of such momentuous consequence without a stupid abandoning of Conscience reason experience When both that known principle that no Faith it to be kept to Hereticks espoused by all Papists does to them justify all their lying dissimulations equivocations treacheries imaginable And that Lateran canon that enjoyns Kings to destroy extirpate Hereticks under the pain of excommunication does oblige him to be cruel to Protestants by him esteemed to be such Besides that in his relation he cannot be looked upon as a rightful or righteous Magistrate by any that understands considers the Institution Constitution Characters Boundaries of that Sacred Ordinance knowes by what dreadful detestable means he usurped that place who can say a confederacy unto make transaction with or take any security from such a Granter that expects the benefite of the Lords Sanctuary Isai 8.12.13 If it was the Schechemites sin shame to strengthen a naughty Abimelech strengthen themselves under the shadow of his protection Judg. 9.9 Much more must it be to take protection for Religion as well as peace from a man of cruelty and treachery 2. In respect of its design which he himself expresseth to be to unite the hearts of his subjects to him in loyalty to their Neighbours in Love Which is to encline induce them by flatterie to lawless loyalty a stupide contented slavery make them actively cooperate in setting up setling his Tyrannie in the indisturbed possession of all his usurpation And to incorporate them with Babylon For who are the Neighbours he would have them unite with in Love but the Papists against whom all the Lovers of Christ must profess irreconcilible Enmity But in the sense sentiments of all sound zealous Protestants The design of the Work Worker is to get unto himself an acknowledgment of his blasphemous absolutness and to advance it over all Laws in a way which will be best acquiesced in by the People till he be so strengthened in it that he fears no control To get all the Accepters one way or other to operate with him in his Popish and bloody ends To get our penal Laws against the Subjects and Promoters of Antichrists Kingdom with the less contradiction stoped and disabled which by this esteemed gratious Grant and grateful Acceptance of it he hath already effectuated And now by the same measures he is encouraged to atchieve the total rescinding and repealing of them In the mean time his drift is very visible and palpable to increase differences divisions animosities amongst Protestants to hyre these Presbyterians whom he calleth more moderate to commend his Clemency while he is exercising it in pillaging plundering hunting apprehending stigmatizing banishing killing other Conscientious Non-conformists To stop the mouths of Protestants with this morsel of Liberty while he is filling all the places of power trust with men devoted to his way by taking off the penal Laws disabling them then when all power is in the hands of bloody Papists none shall dare to mutter against the setting up of the publick Masses And finally he designs to infatuate the body of the Land lull them asleep by this intoxicating Opium or at leist to lay them by from all opposition till he undermine and overturn the Protestant Religion and establish Poperie Slavery which he intends either to accomplish by these smooth flatteries by peace to overturn Truth and by getting the Laws against the Popish repealled to make way for rescinding these for the Protestant Religion Or rendering them secure as the Zidonians who dwelt carelessly to make his bloody Massacring attempts upon the whole body what he intends to do with the whole if they come not the full length of Complyance may be seen in his outragious beginings with the West of Scotland the old butt of his malice which as sometimes he hath expressed his desire so now it seems he designs to make a Hunting-field We may see through the Tragical History of former ages what wicked and hellish design the men of his character have had in their Protestations and Proclamations of pretended favour It is kwon how Julian the Apostate amongst other devices he used to root out Christianity gave a Toleration openly to all the different Professions that were among Christians whereof there were many Heretical in those dayes And he commenced this cursed contrivance by calling home the Orthodox Bishops whom Constantius banished that the Church might be embroiled
and palpably eversive thereof And doubt not but there are some of our dear and Reverend Brethren who dare not concur in this Conspiracy who both mourn in secret and are willing to witness their dislike at the sins and scandals of this course as they find occasion whom only Misinformation by the industry of our Traducers does demur from concurring in this Testimony But as for our declining Brethren involved in the guilt of this defection though we respect and reverence them in the Lord as our beloved Brethren yet out of Love to them and to the Souls of the People whom they and we must answer for we cannot but witness against them obtest them in the Bowels of Christ to relinquish this Course or otherwise we must warn all that would be free of the sin of it and escape the Judgements where with it is like to be pursued to discountenance them while they continue in it 1. Because by this bargain and Confederacy with the Tolerator in the acceptance of this his Antichristian Toleration receiving upon certain conditions what he gives complying with what he demands obeying what he commands relying on what he promises and acquiesing in what he offers upon the very terms that he offers it which is a formal confederacy they become in the exercise of their Ministry the Servants of men and bound to please them whereby they forefeit the honour of the free Servants of Christ Gal. 1.10 And change the holding of the freedom of their Ministry with Changelings of which sort it is not good to meddle Prov. 24 21. Mr. Durham in a digression of hearing Ministers Revel Chap. 1. pag. 55. in quarto Shews that by palpable defection from the Truth and Commission given to Ministers in their call they may forefeit their Commission and so no more are to be accounted Ambassadours to Christ or Watchmen of his Flock than a Watchman of the City is to be accounted an observer when he hath made publick defection to the enemy and taken on with him Seeing then they have made such a palpable defection from the Truth as is evidenced above and from the Commission Christ hath given them they so far take on with the enemy as to Address him and accept of his favours with a cessation of the war they should maintain against Antichrist they must be looked upon in tantum pro tempore as having Jure forfeited the wonted respect due to Christs faithful Ambassadours while they continue in that defection 2. Because they cannot be submitted to without consenting to the great encroachements made upon Both the Priviledges of this Church and Liberties of this Kingdom For they are fixed in such and such places by a warrand from Councillors Sherifs c. And others are discharged they are Authorized to preach there by a power encroaching on the Priviledges of the Church and usurping the freedom of their Ministry 3. Because while they are under this pretended Liberty not only must they keep Truth in bondage not daring to declare the sins snares duties and dangers of the times faithfully but People are in hazard of being perverted from some parts of our Covenanted Reformation by the Loyaltie of their doctrine and prayers savouring more of sinful complyance with and flattering of wicked men than of Loyalty to or Zeal for Christ as King And while in the application of their doctrine they condemn such essential parts of the present Testimony as are the known and received principles of the Church of Scotland in her best purest times And in the mean time recede and justify their recession from their former way of preaching praying formerly who used to preach up the Reformation and the obligation of the Covenants and cry against the sins of the time and especially the heaven-daring usurpations of the Court And used to pray against the Throne of Iniquity the Kingdom and Seat of the beast and all that gave their power to the beast to support that tottering Kingdom But now People must expect another strain in their doctrine and another style in their prayers since they received this hyre of Liberty who to the sad stumbling of many and observation of all are found to have an apparent tincture of Mercenariness while in stead of joyning with the incessant cry of all the elect for vengeance against Babylon the destruction of the whore they pray for all blessings upon the Person and Government of a chief Pimp of hers who knows but ere long by such prayers People may be induced to such a remitting of their Zeal against Popery as to think it tolerable to pray for the Pope as well as for a Popish Tyrant By such doctrine and prayers they may be caused to erre from the words of knowledge and to receive that instruction that Solomon bids us cease to hear Prov. 19.27 Sure it hath a tendency to cause divisions offences contrary to the doctrine which we have learned and therefore such as cause them are to be marked and avoided Rom. 16.17 4. Because as there are many terrible Charges and Adjurations laid upon Ministers in reference to a faithful diligence in their Ministerial function a suitable Testimony concerning the sin and duty of the time as is well observed by the Iudicious Author of Rectius Instruendum Confut. 3. Dial. Chap. pag. 21. So for their negligence unfaithfulness herein there are many Scripture woes and threatenings thundered against them and the People for adhering to them Isai 9.16 Isai 43.27 28. Jerem. 14.15 16. Jerem. 23.14 16. Lam. 4.13 Ezek. 3.18 Ezek. 13.10 11 14 18 22. Ezek. 22.25 to the end And therefore as People would not be partakers of the Judgement with which this Toleration will be pursued we must warn them to beware of adhering to those who are palpably unfaithful in not witnessing against but justifying the sins of this course 5. Because Communion with them in these circumstances will infer a participation of their sin being a Communion in Sacred things which makes the partakers of the bread to be one body 1 Cor. 10.17 20. And an unequally yoked fellowship to be separated from 2 Cor. 6.14 17. Since it is such a Communion as in the present circumstances is interpreted to be a Tessera of incorporation with them and sign of approbation of them in this new way of theirs 6. Because of the scandal in countenancing them in this way it would be foreborn not only with respect to their own Consciences who joyne not with them but of others also giving non offence neither to the Jewes nor Gentiles nor to the Church Of God 1 Cor. 10.28 c. Master Durham in the forecited disgression makes that a reason of forbearing joyning with some that it carries offence along with it in reference to the party joyned with it proves a strengthening confirming of him and so a partaking of his sin In reference to others it either strengthens them by that example to cast themselves in
that snare or it grieves them and makes them sad who are tender of such things and makes all difference of that kind to be thought light of Since then in the Toleration it self addressing for it and accepting of it there is such a manifest scandal there must also be a manifold offence in countenancing those that are so Tolerated and consent thereunto it strengthens and confirms them it strengthens others to incorporate with them and weakens the hands of these that witness against it 7. Because our duty to themselves yea our greatest office of Love we owe to them in order to their conviction does oblige us to withdraw from them to shame them out of their sin and not suffer it upon them especially because they are Brethren 1 Cor. 5.11 That walke disorderly against without the order of their office the order of the Church Qui quod sui est ordinis atque officii non faciunt facientes turbant 2 Thess 3 6-14 We plead not here for schisme or sinful separation only we apply to this present Case the constant doctrine of Presbyterians Wherefore we shall here subjoyne some plain Quotations out of their Writtings Mr. Rutherfoord in his Due Right of Presbyteries pag. 253. c. Distinguishes a separation from the Church in her worst and most part and a reparation from the best and least part and pag. 258. when the greatest part of a Church makes defection the lesser part remaining sound the greatest part of the Church are separatists Truth is like life that retireth from the married members into the heart in case of danger So it is the major part that hath made defection which are to be accounted separatists and not such who stand to their principles thô they cannot comply or joyn with the corrupt majority Apolog. Relat. Sect. 14. pag. 291. saith there may be a lawful withdrawing where the ordinances and Ministry are not cast at so long as People does not cast at the Ordinances but are willing to run many Myles to enjoy them Nor cast at the Church as no Church thô they sadly fear that God shall be provoked by that dreadful defection to give her a bill of devorce nor at the Ministry for they love these that stand to their principles dearly and are most willing to hear them either in publick or private The Grave Author of Rectius Instruendum Confut. 3. Dial. Chap. 1. pag. 7. c. Allows that every separation is not schisme even from the Church which hath essentials yea and more than essentials if it be from those thô never so many who are drawing back from any piece of duty and integrity attained for this is still to be held fast according to many Scripture Commands Next he sayes If we separate in that which a national Church hath commanded us as her members to disowne by her standing Acts and Authority while these from whom we separate own that corruption He asserts there likewayes there is a lawful forbearance of Union and Complyance with Backsliders in that which is of its self sinful or inductive to it which is far from separation strictly taken the commands of abstaining from all appearance of evil and hating the garments spotted with the flesh do clearely include this He adds many things will warrant separation from such a particular Minister or congregation which will not warrant separation from a Church national nor infer it Lastly he sayes there is a commanded withdrawing from persons and societies even in worship the precepts Rom. 16.17 2 Cor. 6.17 Prov. 19.20 Act. 2.40 will clearly import this by consequence Surely the Ministers and Professors adhering to her reformation must be the true Church of Scotland thô the lesser number These Souldiers who keep the Generals order are the true members not the deserters of the same In the next place considering how our Covenants are slighted the obligation of them forgotten and they like to be buried in oblivion We Judge we are necessarly called to speak a word of our Covenants national solemn League desiring to bless the Lord who put it in the hearts of his People to engage themselves to enter into Holy Covenants unto his Holy Majestie and one to another in subordination to him in order to these things that concern Truth righteousness Holiness And we do testifie our cordial approbation of and real adherence unto these memorable engagements for we are perswaded in our minds that it is the duty of People Nations who professes the name of the Lord to enter into Covenant with him It is the first great Commandment that we should have no other Gods before him Exod. 20.3 And that we do his Statutes Judgements to avouch the Lord to be our God to walk in his wayes to keep his Statuts Commandments his Judgments to hearken unto his voice Deut. 26.16 17. And whereof we have many notable precedents in the Book of God of entering into renewing the Covenant of Israel by Moses Deut. 29. by Joshua Chap. 24. by Asa 2 Chron. 15. by Hezekiah 2 Chron 29. by Josiah 2 Chron. 34. by Ezra Chap. 10. by Nehem. Chap. 9.38 Chap. 10.29 And we are also no less convinced in our Consciences that the obligation of our Covenants is perpetual binding upon posterity And to confirm this we shall adde these few considerations These engagements are national promises laying in pledge the publick Faith Certainly that promise of the Jewish nobles rulers not to exact usury of their Brethren would have brought their posterity under the curse if they should have done it Nethem 5.12 13. They are national vowes whereby they devoted themselves their posterity to be the Lords People Jacobs vow at Bethel that the Lord should be his God Gen. 28.21 did oblige all his posterity virtually comprehended in him he found him at Bethel and there he spake with us saith Hosea many hundred years after Chap. 12.4 So the Rechabites were bound to observe the vow of their Fore-father Jonadab They are national Oaths these do oblige posterity Joseph took an Oath of the Children of Israel to carry up his bones to Canaan Gen. 50.25 which the posterity going forth of Egypt in after-ages found themselves straitly sworn to observe Exod. 30.19 And accordingly buried them in Shechem Josh. 24.32 They are national Covenants wherein King Parliament and People do Covenant with each other to performe their several respective duties as to Religion and Liberty These oblige the posterity as Israels Covenant with the Gibeonites Josh. 9.15 19. for the breach whereof many ages after the posterity was plagued 2 Sam. 21.1 They are national attestations of God as witness for the perpetuity as well as fidelity thereof Such are these Covenants wherein the name of God is invocated as witness and so they are called the Lords Covenants as that which Zedekiah brake wherefore the Lord punished him Ezek. 17. They are national Covenants
ordinances is for a publick Testimony for Christ against all sin and every dishonour done to the Son of God the preached Gospel being not only the Testimony of Christ but a Testimony for Christ Psalm 122.4 Math. 24.14 Revel 6.9 Revel 12.11 Where ever then the Gospel is preached it must be a Testimony but it cannot be a Testimony except it be as publick a can be 3 It is the great work of the day to carry the Gospel and follow it and keep it up as Christs banner of love over his Friends and the Standart of war against his enemies When now Zion is labouring to bring forth as a Woman in travel and made to go forth out of the City and to dwel in the Field and that which will prompt to beat men out in this publick work must be a publick spirit aiming at no less than Christs publick glory the Churches publick good the Saints publick comfort a publick concern for all Christs interests a publick symphathie with all Christs Friends and a publick declared opposition to all Christs enemies which where it is will put his Zealous Lovers Votaries to a publick appearance for him and avowed seeking of him Cant. 3.1 4. Cant. 5.7 Psal 132 5 6. 4 The Priviledge of the Gospel to have it in freedom putitie power plentie is the publick concern of all the Lords People preferrable to all other Interests and therefore more publickly peremptorly and zealously to be contended for than any other Interest whatsoever And therefore we must resolve they shall sooner bereave us of out hearts blood than of the Gospel in freedom purity but we cannot contend publickly for it if our Meetings be not publick 5 The nature business of the Gospel Ministrie is such that it obliges them that exercise it to endeavour all publickness without which they cannot discharge the extent of their Instructions Their very â—â—â—â—nes Titles do insinuate so much being Witnesses Heranlds Ambassadours Watchmen light that cannot be hid The Instructions given them infer the necessity of it Isa 58.1 Isai 62.6 7. Jer. 6.17 Ezek. 2.5 6. Ezek. 16.2 Ezek. 20.4 Math. 10.17 These things cannot be done in a Clandestine way And therefore now when there is so much necessity it must be the duty of all faithful Ministers to be laying out themselves to the utmost to give a publick Testimony against all the evils of the time not withstanding of any prohibition to the contrary in the most publick manner according to the example of all the Faithful Servants of the Lord both in the Old New Testament thô it be most impiously Tyrannically Interdicted yet the Laws of God stands unrepealed therefore all that have a Trumpet and a Mouth should set the Trumpet to the Month and found a certain found not in secret for that will not alarm the People but in the most publick manner they can have access Therefore seeing Meeting must be as publick as they can be That they should be in houses safety will not permit to us to go to the streets or mercat places neither safety nor prudence will admit what can we do then but go to the Fields 3. Keeping of Field Meetings now is not only most convenient for testifying but a very significant Testimony in it self 1 Against the Popish toleration Reason and Religion both will conclude that this is to be witnessed against by all that will adhere to the Cause of Reformation thereby overturned and resolve to stands in the gape against Popetie thereby to be introduced and will approve themselves honest Patriots in defending the Laws Liberties of the Country thereby subverted Seeing then it must be given it is certainly most expedient to do it there where the meeting is without its Covert interdicted by the same Proclamation that tenders it And where the very gathering in such a place is a Testimony against it For to preach in houses constantly leave the Fields would now be interpreted an homologating the Toleration that commands preaching to be so restricted 〈…〉 with it 2 It is a Testimony against that wicked Law that discharges them as criminal which cannot be lawfully obeyed when in some respect it is come to a case of confession For if Daniels case praying with open windowes when publick prayer was discharged under the Pain of death was a case of Confession then must our case come near to it when publick preaching is discharged to us under the same penaltie Thô to us we reckon it as indispensible duty from these Scriptures 1 Cor. 9.16 2 Cor. 6.4.8 9. 2 Tim. 4.2 It is equivalent to an universal discharge of all publick preaching when that manner of it is discharged which we can only have with freedom safety in a way of publick Testimony which can be none other in our circumstances but in the Fields 3 It is a Testimony for the headship honour princely prerogative of Jesus which hath been is the great Word of his patience in Scotland and by an unparalelled insolence encroached upon by usurpers in our day since in these meetings there is a particular Declaration of our holding our Ministry and the exercise thereof from Christ alone without any dependence on subordination to or license from his usurping enemies and that we may and will preach in publick without Authority from them 4 It is a Testimony for our Covenants national and solemn league the owning whereof is declared criminal by that same Law that discharges these Meetings Since then the owning of these Meetings and our Covenants are both discharged together and the owning of the Covenants does oblige to a publick opposition against the dischargers an avowed maintainance of the Churches priviledges whereof this in a manner is the only and chief Liberty now left to be maintained to keep Meetings where we may testifie against them without dependence on their Toleration it must follow that these Meetings are to be maintained which only can be in the Fields with conveniency 4 To give over Field-Meetings altogether at this time would be very stumbling born to Friends who might look on it as a fainting and succumbing at least in our contendings for the Cause of Christ as being quite overcome And to enemies prove very hardening encouraging in their wicked design of banishing all Meetings out of the Land For certainly it will not terminate upon a simple suppression of Meetings of this sort but further is intended to extirpate all Meetings for Gospel Ordinances in which there is any Testimony against the Antichristian Enemy To comply therefore with such a forbearance of them at this time would lay a stone of stumbling before them in these their designs when they shall see their contrivances so universally complyed with wherein they might boast that at length they had prevailed to put quite away that eye-fore the freely preached Gospel of Jesus Christ But to come to an end we shall conclude with that pertinent Epilogue of the Ministers of Lancaster in England used by them in their Testimony against Toleration thus fearing leist if we had altogether held our peace at this time God might have sufficiently vindicated his Truths by other Instruments But for our baseness judged us unworthy to be entrusted any longer with so precious a Treasure as Truth is We have therefore chosen rather to approve our selves faithful unto God thô for so doing we should be never so much persecuted and condemned by men than by our sinful silence seem to be ashamed of Christ his Truth our Covenants Reformation and the faithful Confessors of Christ in all ages although thereby we might be assured to gain the whole World And now having discharged our Consciences in this point however our Actions may be misconstrued by some yet knowing that our witness is in Heaven and that God is the righteous Judge we are hopeful that the Testimony of our Consciences that herein we have aimed at nothing but the Glory of God the defence of his Truth the health and recovery of his bleeding declining Church the casting some discountenance upon this woful Toleration and to testifie our Adherence to our Covenants and Reformation will abundantly support us against the worst of evils that can befall us for witness bearing to the Truth