III. This fearful and fatal stroke at Bothwel, not only was in its

immediate effects so deadly, but in its consequents so destructive, that

the decaying church of Scotland, which before was beginning to revive,

was then cast into such a swoon that she is never like to recover to

this day. And the universality of her children, which before espoused

her testimony, was after that partly drawn by craft, and partly drawn by

cruelty, from a conjunction with their brethren in prosecuting the same,

either into an open defection to the contrary side, or into a detestable

indifferency and neutrality in the cause of God. For first of all the

duke of Monmouth, whose nature, more averse from cruelty than the rest

of that progeny, made him pliable to all suggestions of wicked policy

that seemed to have a shew of smoothness and lenity, procured the

emission of a pretended indemnity, attended with the foresaid bond of

peace for its companion. Which were dreadful snares, catching many with

flatteries, and fair pretences of favours, fairded over with curious

words, and cozening names, of living peaceably, &c. while in the mean

time a most deadly and destructive thrust (as it were under the fifth

rib) because most secret, was intended against all that was left

remaining of the work of God undestroyed, and a bar put upon all essays

to revive or recover it by their own consent who should endeavour it.

This course of defection carried away many at that time: And from that

time, since the taking of the bond of peaceable living, there hath been

an universal preferring of peace to truth, and of ease to duty. And the

generality have been left to swallow all baits, though the hook was

never so discernible, all those ensnaring oaths and bonds imposed since,

which both then and since people were left to their own determination to

chuse or refuse; many ministers refusing to give their advice when

required and requested thereunto, and some not being ashamed or afraid

to persuade the people to take them. The ministry then also were

generally insnared with that bonded indulgence, the pretended benefit of

that indemnity, which as it was designed, so it produced the woful

effect of propagating the defection, and promoting the division, and

laying them by from their duty and testimony of that day, which to this

day they have not yet taken upon their former ground. For when a

proclamation was emitted, inveighing bitterly against field meetings,

and absolutely interdicting all such for the future under highest pain,

but granting liberty to preach in houses upon the terms of a cautionary

bond given for their living peaceably: yet excluding all these

ministers who were suspected to have been at the late rebellion, and all

these who shall afterward be admitted by non-conform ministers: and

certifying, that if ever they shall be at any field conventicle, the

said indemnity shall not be useful to such transgressors any manner of

way: and requiring security, that none under the colour of this favour

continue to preach rebellion. Though there seems to be enough in the

proclamation itself to have scared them from this scandalous snare, yet

a meeting of ministers at Edinburgh made up of indulged, avowed

applauders of the indulgence, or underhand approvers and favourers of

the same, and some of them old public resolutioners, assuming to

themselves the name of a general assembly, yea of the representatives of

the church of Scotland, voted for the acceptance of it. And so formally

transacted and bargained upon base, dishonest, and dishonourable terms

with the usurper, by consenting and compacting with the people to give

that bond, wherein the people upon an humble petition to the council,

'obtaining their indulged minister to bind and oblige--that the

said--shall live peaceably. And in order thereto to present him, before

his majesty's privy council, when they shall be called so to do; and in

case of failzie in not presenting him, to be liable to the sum of 6000

merks.' Whereby they condemned themselves of former unpeaceableness, and

engaged to a sinful peace with the enemies of God, and became bound and

fettered under these bonds to a forbearance of a testimony, and made

answerable to their courts, and the people were bound to present them

for their duty. The sinfulness, scandalousness, and inconveniences of

which transactions, are abundantly demonstrated by a treatise thereupon,

intitled, the banders disbanded. Nevertheless many embraced this new

bastard indulgence, that had not the benefit of the former brat, of the

same mother the supremacy, and far more consented to it without a

witness, and most of all did some way homologate it, in preaching under

the sconce of it: declining the many reiterated and urged calls of the

zealous lovers of Christ, to come out and maintain the testimony of the

gospel in the open fields, for the honour of their Master and the

freedom of their ministry. Whereupon, as many poor people were stumbled

and jumbled into many confusions, so that they were so bewildered and

bemisted in doubts and debates, that they knew not what to do, and were

tempted to question the cause formerly so fervently contended for

against all opposition, then so simply abandoned, by these that seemed

sometimes valiant for it, when they saw them consulting more their own

ease than the concerns of their Master's glory, or the necessity of the

poor people hungering for the gospel, and standing in need of counsel in

time of such abounding snares, whereby many became a prey to all

tentations: so the more zealous and faithful, after several addresses,

calls, and invitations to ministers, finding themselves deserted by

them, judged themselves under a necessity to discountenance many of

them, whom formerly they followed with pleasure; and to resolve upon a

pursuit and prosecution of the duty of the day without them, and to

provide themselves with faithful ministers, who would not shun for all

hazards to declare the whole counsel of God. And accordingly through the

tender mercy of God, compassionating the exigence of the people, the

Lord sent them first Mr. Richard Cameron, with whom after his serious

solicitation his brethren denied their concurrence, and then Mr. Donald

Cargil; who, with a zeal and boldness becoming Christ's ambassadors,

maintained and prosecuted the testimony, against all the indignities

done to their Master and wrongs to the cause, both by the encroachments

of adversaries and defections of their declining brethren. Wherein they

were signally countenanced of their Master; and the Lord's inheritance

was again revived with the showers of the gospel's blessings, wherewith

they had been before refreshed; and enlightened with a glance and

glimpse of resplendent brightness, immediately before the obscurity of

this fearful night of darkness that hath succeeded. But as Christ was

then displaying his beauty, to his poor despised and persecuted people;

so antichrist began to blaze his bravery, in the solemn and shameful

reception of his harbinger, that pimp of the Romish whore, the duke of

York. Who had now pulled off the mask, under which he had long covered

his antichristian bigotry, through a trick of his brother, constrained

by the papists importunity, and the necessity of their favour, and

recruit of their coin, either to declare himself papist, or to make his

brother do it: whereby all the locusts were engaged to his interest,

with whom he entered into a conspiracy and popish plot; as was

discovered by many infallible evidences, and confessed by Coleman his

secretary, to Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey; for which, lest he should witness

against him, when Coleman was apprehended, that gentleman was cruelly

murdered by the duke of York's contrivance and command. Yet for all the

demonstrations of his being a bigot papist, that he had long given unto

the world, it is known what some suffered for saying, that the duke of

York was a papist, and being forced to leave England, he was come to

Scotland to promote popery and arbitrary government. However, though the

parliament of England, for his popery and villany, and his plotting and

pursuing the destruction of the nation, did vote his exclusion; yet

degenerate Scotland did receive him in great pomp and pride. Against

which, the forementioned faithful witnesses of Christ did find

themselves obliged to testify their just resentment, and to protest

against his succeeding to the crown, in their declaration published at

Sanquhar, June 22d, 1680. 'Wherein also they disown Charles Stewart, as

having any right, title, or interest in the crown of Scotland or

government thereof, as being forefaulted several years since, by his

perjury and breach of covenant, usurpation on Christ's prerogatives, and

by his tyranny and breaches in the very _leges regnandi_ in matters

civil--and declare a war with him, and all the men of these

practices--homologating the testimony at Rutherglen, and disclaiming

that declaration at Hamilton.' This action was generally condemned by

the body of lurking ministers, both for the matter of it, and the

unseasonableness of it, and its apparent unfeasibleness, being done by a

handful so inconsiderable, for number, strength, or significancy. But as

they had very great and important reasons to disclaim that tyrant's

authority, hinted in the declaration itself, and hereafter more fully

vindicated: so the necessity of a testimony against all the tyrannical

encroachments on religion and liberty, then current and increasing; and

the sin and shame of shifting and delaying it so long, when the

blasphemous supremacy was now advanced to its summit; the church's

privileges all overturned; religion and the work of reformation trampled

under foot; the people's rights and liberties destroyed, and laws all

subverted; and no shadow of government left but arbitrary absoluteness,

obtruding the tyrant's will for reason, and his letter for the supreme

law (witness the answer which one of the council gave to another;

objecting against their proceedings as not according to law, what devil

do ye talk of law? have not we the king's letter for it?) and all the

ends of magistracy wholly inverted; while innocent and honest people

were grievously oppressed in their persons, consciences, and estates;

and perjuries, adulteries, idolatries, and all impieties were not only

connived at, but countenanced as badges of loyalty, and manifest and

monstrous robberies and murders authorized, judgement turned into gall,

and the fruit of righteousness into hemloc; do justify its

seasonableness: and the ends of the declaration, to keep up the standard

of the gospel, and maintain the work of reformation, and preserve a

remnant of faithful adherers to it; the nature of the resolution

declared, being only to endeavour to make good and maintain their

revolt, in opposition to all who would pursue them for it, and reinforce

them to a subjection to that yoke of slavery again; and the extremity of

danger and distress that party was in, while declared and pursued as

rebels, and intercommuned and interdicted of all supply and solace,

being put out of their own, and by law precluded of the harbour of all

other habitations, and so both for safety and subsistence compelled by

necessity to concur and keep together, may alleviate the censure and

stop the clamour of its unfeasibleness. But though it is not the

prudence of the management, but the justness of the action, that I would

have vindicated from obloquies; yet it wanted nothing but success to

justify both, in the conviction of many that made much outcry against

it. In these dangerous circumstances their difficulties and

discouragements daily increased, by their enemies vigilance, their

enviers treachery, and their own inadvertency, some of their number

falling into the hands of them that sought their lives. For two of the

most eminent and faithful witnesses of Christ, Mr. Donald Cargil and

Henry Hall, were surprized at Queensferry; Mr. Cargil escaped at that

time, but the other fervent contender for the interest of Christ, fixed

in the cause, and courageous to his death, endeavouring to save him and

resist the enemies, was cruelly murdered by them. And with him they got

a draught of a covenant, declaring their present purposes and future

resolutions. The tenor whereof was an engagement. '1. To avouch the only

true and living God to be their God, and to close with his way of

redemption by his Son Jesus Christ, whose righteousness is only to be

relied upon for justification; and to take the scriptures of the old and

new testament, to be the only object of faith, and rule of conversation

in all things. 2. To establish in the land righteousness and religion,

in the truth of its doctrine, purity and power of its worship,

discipline, and government; and to free the church of God of the

corruption of prelacy on the one hand; and the thraldom of erastianism

on the other. 3. To persevere in the doctrine of the reformed churches,

especially that of Scotland, and in the worship prescribed in the

scriptures, without the inventions, adornings, and corruptions of men;

and in the presbyterian government, exercised in sessions, presbyteries,

synods, and general assemblies, as a distinct government from the civil,

and distinctly to be exercised, not after a carnal manner, by plurality

of votes, or authority of a single person, but according to the word of

God, making and carrying the sentence. 4. To endeavour the overthrow of

the kingdom of darkness, and whatsoever is contrary to the kingdom of

Christ, especially idolatry, and popery in all its articles, and the

overthrow of that power that hath established and upheld it--and to

execute righteous judgments impartially, according to the word of God,

and degree of offences, upon the committers of these things especially,

to wit, blasphemy, idolatry, atheism, bougery, sorcery, perjury,

uncleanness, profanation of the Lord's day, oppression and

malignancy.----5. Seriously considering--there is no more speedy way of

relaxation from the wrath of God, that hath ever lien on the land since

it engaged with these rulers, but of rejecting them who hath so

manifestly rejected God--disclaiming his covenant----governing contrary

to all right laws, divine and human----and contrary to all the ends of

government, by enacting and commanding impieties, injuries, and

robberies, to the denying of God his due, and the subjects theirs; so

that instead of government, godliness, and peace, there is nothing but

rapine, tumult, and blood, which cannot be called a government, but a

lustful rage----and they cannot be called governors, but public

grassators and land-judgments, which all ought to set themselves

against, as they would do against pestilence, sword, and famine raging

amongst them----Seeing they have stopped the course of law and justice

against blasphemers, idolaters, atheists, bougerers, sorcerers,

murderers, incestuous and adulterous persons--And have made butcheries

on the Lord's people, sold them as slaves, imprisoned, forefaulted &c.

and that upon no other account, but their maintaining Christ's right of

ruling over their consciences against the usurpations of men. Therefore,

easily solving the objections, (1.) Of our ancestors obliging the nation

to this race and line: That they did not buy their liberty with our

thraldom, nor could they bind their children to any thing so much to

their prejudice, and against natural liberty (being a benefit next to

life, if not in some regard above it) which is not as an engagement to

moral things: they could only bind to that government, which they

esteemed the best for common good, which reason ceasing, we are free to

choose another, if we find it more conducible for that end. (2.) Of the

covenant binding to defend the king: That this obligation is only in his

maintenance of the true covenanted religion--which homage they cannot

now require upon the account of the covenant, which they have renounced

and disclaimed; and upon no other ground we are bound to them--the crown

not being an inheritance that passeth from father to son without the

consent of tenants--(3.) Of the hope of their returning from these

courses: whereof there is none, seeing they have so often declared their

purposes of persevering in them, and suppose they should dissemble a

repentance--supposing also they might be pardoned, for that which is

done--from whose guiltiness the land cannot be cleansed, but by

executing God's righteous judgments upon them--yet they cannot now be

believed, after they have violated all that human wisdom could devise

to bind them. Upon these accounts they reject that king, and those

associate with him in the government--and declare them henceforth no

lawful rulers, as they had declared them to be no lawful subjects--they

having destroyed the established religion, overturned the fundamental

laws of the kingdom, taken away Christ's church-government, and changed

the civil into tyranny, where none are associate in partaking of the

government, but only these who will be found by justice guilty

criminals--and declare they shall, God giving power, set up government

and governors according to the word of God, and the qualifications

required Exod. xviii. verse 20.--And shall not commit the government to

any single person, or lineal succession, being not tied as the Jews were

to one single family--and that kind being liable to most inconveniences,

and aptest to degenerate into tyranny--and moreover, that these men set

over them shall be engaged to govern principally, by that civil and

judicial law (not that which is any way typical) given by God to his

people of Israel--as the best so far as it goes, being given by

God--especially in matters of life and death--and other things, so far

as they reach, and are consistent with Christian liberty--exempting

divorces and polygamy--6. Seeing the greatest part of ministers not only

were defective in preaching against the acts of the rulers for

overthrowing religion--but hindered others also who were willing, and

censured some that did it--and have voted for acceptation of that

liberty, founded upon and given by virtue of that blasphemously arrogate

and usurped power--and appeared before their courts to accept of it, and

to be enacted and authorized their ministers--whereby they have become

the ministers of men, and bound to be answerable to them as they

will--and have preached for the lawfulness of paying that tribute,

declared to be imposed for the bearing down of the true worship of

God--and advised poor prisoners to subscribe that bond--which if it were

universally subscribed--they should close that door, which the Lord hath

made use of in all the churches of Europe, for casting off the yoke of

the whore--and stop all regrets of men, when once brought under tyranny,

to recover their liberty again.--They declare they neither can nor will

hear them &c. nor any who encouraged and strengthened their hands, and

pleaded for them, and trafficked for union with them. 7. That they are

for a standing gospel ministry, rightly chosen and rightly ordained--and

that none shall take upon them the preaching of the word &c. unless

called and ordained thereunto--and whereas separation might be imputed

to them, they resell both the malice, and the ignorance of that

calumny--for if there be a separation, it must be where the change is;

and that was not to be found in them, who were not separating from the

communion of the true church, nor setting up a new ministry, but

cleaving to the same ministers and ordinances, that formerly they

followed, when others have fled to new ways, and a new authority, which

is like the old piece in the new garment. 8. That they shall defend

themselves in their civil, natural, and divine rights and

liberties----and if any assault them, they shall look on it as a

declaring a war, and take all advantages that one enemy does of

another--but trouble and injure none but those that injure them.' This

is the compend of that paper which the enemies seized and published,

while it was only in a rude draught, and not polished, digested, nor

consulted by the rest of the community: yet, whether or not it was for

their advantage, so to blaze their own baseness in that paper truly

represented, I leave it to the reader to judge: or, if they did not

thereby proclaim their own tyranny, and the innocency and honesty of

that people, whom thereby they were seeking to make odious; but in

effect inviting all lovers of religion and liberty to sympathise with

them, in their difficulties and distresses there discovered. However

that poor party continued together in a posture of defence, without the

concurrence or countenance of their convenanted brethren, who staid at

home, and left both them to be murdered and their testimony to be

trampled upon, until the 22d of July 1680. Upon the which day they were

attacked at Airsmoss, by a strong party of about 120 horse well armed,

while they were but 23 horse and 40 foot at most; and so fighting

valiantly were at length routed, not without their adversaries testimony

of their being resolute men: Several of Zion's precious mourners, and

faithful witnesses of Christ were killed; and among the rest, that

faithful minister of Christ, Mr. Richard Cameron, sealed and fulfilled

his testimony with his blood. And with others, the valiant and much

honoured gentleman, David Hackstoun of Rathillet, was after many

received wounds apprehended, brought in to Edinburgh; and there,

resolutely adhering to the testimony, and disowning the authority of

king and council, and all their tyrannical judicatories, was cruelly

murdered, but countenanced eminently of the Lord. Now remained Mr.

Donald Cargill, deprived of his faithful colleague, destitute of his

brethren's concurrence, but not of the Lord's counsel and conduct; by

which he was prompted and helped to prosecute the testimony against the

universal apostacy of the church and nation, tyranny of enemies,

backsliding of friends, and all the wrongs done to his Master on all

hands. And considering, in the zeal of God, and sense of his holy

jealousy, provoked and threatening wrath against the land, for the sins

especially of rulers, who had arrived to the height of heaven-daring

insolence in all wickedness, in which they were still growing and going

on without controul; that notwithstanding of all the testimonies given

against them, by public preachings, protestations, and declarations,

remonstrating their tyranny, and disowning their authority; yet not only

did they still persist in their sins and scandals, to make the Lord's

fierce anger break forth into a flame, but were owned also by

professors, not only as magistrates, but as members of the christian and

protestant church; and that, however both the defensive arms of men had

been used against them, and the christian arms of prayer, and the

ministerial weapon of preaching, yet that of ecclesiastical censure had

not been authoritatively exerted against them: Therefore, that no weapon

which Christ allows his servants under his standard to manage against

his enemies, might be wanting, though he could not obtain the

concurrence of his brethren to strengthen the solemnity and formality of

the action, yet he did not judge that defect, in this broken case of the

church, could disable his authority, nor demur the duty, but that he

might and ought to proceed to excommunication. And accordingly in

September 1680, at the Torwood, he excommunicated some of the most

scandalous and principal promoters and abettors of this conspiracy

against Christ, as formally as the present case could admit: After

sermon upon Ezek. xxi. 25, 26, 27. 'And thou profane wicked prince of

Israel, whose day is come,' &c. He had a short and pertinent discourse

on the nature, the subject, the causes, and the ends of excommunication

in general: And then declared, that he was not led out of any private

spirit or passion to this action, but constrained by conscience of duty,

and zeal to God to stigmatize with this brand, and wound with the sword

of the Lord, these enemies of God that had so apostatized, rebelled

against, mocked, despised, and defied our Lord, and to declare them as

they are none of his, to be none of ours. 'The persons excommunicated;

and the sentence against them was given forth as follows: 'I being a

minister of Jesus Christ, and having authority and power from him, do,

in his name, and by his Spirit, excommunicate, cast out of the true

church, and deliver up to Satan, Charles the Second, king,' &c. The

sentence was founded upon these grounds, declared in the pronunciation

thereof, (1.) 'For his high mocking of God, in that after he had

acknowledged his own sins, his father's sins, his mother's idolatry, yet

he had gone on more avowedly in the same than all before him. (2.) For

his great perjury in breaking and burning the covenant. (3.) For his

rescinding all laws for establishing the reformation, and enacting laws

contrary thereunto. (4.) For commanding of armies to destroy the Lord's

people. (5.) For his being an enemy to true protestants, and helper of

the papists, and hindering the execution of just laws against them. (6.)

For his granting remissions and pardons for murderers, which is in the

power of no king to do, being expressly contrary to the law of God. (7.)

For his adulteries, and dissembling with God and man.' Next, by the same

authority, and in the same name, he excommunicated James duke of York,

'for his idolatry, and setting it up in Scotland to dedefile the land,

and enticing and encouraging others to do so:' Not mentioning any other

sins but what he scandalously persisted in in Scotland, &c. With several

other rotten malignant enemies, on whom the Lord hath ratified that

sentence since very remarkably, whole sins and punishments both may be

read more visible in the providences of the time, than I can record

them. But about this time, when amidst all the abounding defections and

divisions of that dark and dismal hour of temptation, some in zeal for

the cause were endeavouring to keep up the testimony of the day, in an

abstraction from complying ministers; others were left (in holy

judgment, to be a stumbling-block to the generation hardening them in

their defections, and to be a beacon to the most zealous to keep off

from all unwarrantable excesses) to fall into fearful extravagancies,

and delirious and damnable delusions, being overdriven with ignorant and

blind zeal into untrodden paths, which led them into a labyrinth of

darkness; when as they were stumbled at many ministers unfaithfulness,

so through the deceit of Satan, and the hypocrisy of his instruments,

they came to be offended at Mr. Cargil's faithfulness, who spared

neither left hand declensions, nor right hand extremes, and left him and

all the ministers; not only disowning all communion with those that were

not of their way, but execrating and cursing them; and kept themselves

in desert places from all company; where they persisted prodigiously in

fastings and singing psalms, pretending to wonderful raptures and

enthusiasms: and in fine, J. Gib, with four more of them came to that

height of blasphemy, that they burnt the Bible and Confession of Faith.

These were the 'sweet singers,' as they were called, led away into these

delusions by that impostor and sorcerer, John Gib, who never encreased

to such a number, as was then feared and reported, being within thirty,

and most part women: all which for the most part have been through mercy

reclaimed from that destructive way, which through grace the reproached

remnant, adhering to the foresaid testimony, had always an abhorrence

of. Wherefore that ignorant and impudent calumny, of their consortship

with Gib's followers, is only the vent of viperous envy. For they were

the first that discovered them, and whose pains the Lord blessed in

reclaiming them, and were always so far from partaking with them, that

to this day these that have come off from that way, and have offered the

confession of their scandal, do still complain of their over rigid

severity, in not admitting them to their select fellowships. To which

may be added this undeniable demonstration, that whereas the persecuting

courts of inquisition did always extend the utmost severity against the

owners of this testimony, yet they spared them: And the duke of York,

then in Scotland, was so well pleased with Gib's blasphemies, that he

favoured him extraordinarily, and freely dismissed him. This was a

cloudy and dark day, but not without a burning and shining light as long

as that faithful minister of Christ, Mr. Donald Cargil, was following

the work of the Lord; who shortly after this finished his testimony,

being apprehended with other two faithful and zealous witnesses of

Christ, Mr. Walter Smith, and Mr. James Boog, who with two more were

altogether, at Edinburgh, 27 July, 1681, crowned with the glory of

martyrdom. Then came the day of the remnant's vexation, trouble,

darkness and dimness of anguish, wherein whoso looked unto the land

could see nothing but darkness and sorrow, and the light darkened in the

heavens thereof, wherein neither star nor sun appeared for many days,

and poor people were made to grope for the wall like the blind, and to

stumble in noon-day as in the night. While the persecution advanced on

the one hand, a violent spait of defection carried down the most part of

ministers and professors before it, driving them to courses of sinful

and scandalous conformings with the time's corruptions, compearings

before their courts, complyings with their commands, paying of their

cesses and other exactions, taking of their oaths and bonds, and

countenancing their prelatical church-services, which they were ashamed

to do before: and thereupon on the other hand the divisions and

confusions were augmented, and poor people that desired to cleave to the

testimony were more and more offended and stumbled at the ministers,

who, either left the land in that clamant call of the people's

necessity, or lurked in their own retirements, and declined the duty of

that day, leaving people to determine themselves in all their

perplexities, as a prey to all temptations. But the tender Pastor and

Shepherd of Israel, who leads the blind in the way they know not, did

not forsake a remnant in that hour of temptation who kept the word of

his patience; and as He helped those that fell into the hands of enemies

to witness a good confession, so He strengthened the zeal of the

remaining contenders, against all the machinations of adversaries to

crush it, and all the methods of backsliding professors to quench it.

And the mean which most effectually preserved it in life and vigour, was

the expedient they fell upon of corresponding in general meetings, to

consult, inform, and confirm, one another about common duties in common

dangers, for preservation of the remnant from the destruction and

contagion of the times, and propagation of the testimony: laying down

this general conclusion for a foundation of order, to be observed among

them in incident doubtful cases, and emergent controversies, that

nothing relative to the public, and which concerns the whole of their

community, be done by any of them, without harmonious consent sought

after and rationally waited for, and sufficient deliberation about the

means and manner. In the mean time, the duke of York, as commissioner

from his brother, held a parliament wherein he presided, not only

against all righteous laws that make a bloody and avowed papist

incapable of such a trust, but against the letter of their own wicked

laws, whereby none ought to be admitted but such as swear the oaths; yet

not only was he constitute in this place, but in the whole

administration of the government of Scotland without the taking any

oath, which then he was courting to be entailed successor and heir of

the crown thereof; and for this end made many pretences of flatteries,

and feigned expressions of love, and of doing many acts of kindness to

that ancient kingdom, as he hath made many dissembling protestations of

it since, for carrying on his own popish and tyrannical designs: but

what good-will he hath borne to it, not only his acts and actings

written in characters of the blood of innocents declare, but his words

do witness, which is known when and to whom he spake, when he said, It

would never be well till all on the southside of Forth were made a

hunting field. However in that parliament, anno 1681, he is chiefly

intended, and upon the matter by a wicked act declared legal and lineal

successor, and a detestable blasphemous and self-contradictory test is

framed for a pest to consciences, which turned out of all places of

trust any that had any remaining measure of common honesty; and when

some was speaking of a bill for securing religion in case of a popish

prince, the duke's answer was notable, that whatsoever they intended or

prepared against papists should light upon others: whereby we may

understand what measures we may expect, when his designs are ripe. And

to all the cruel acts then and before made against the people of God,

there was one superadded regulating the execution of all the rest,

whereby at one dash all civil and criminal justice was overthrown, and a

foundation laid for popish tyranny, that the right of jurisdiction both

in civil and criminal matters is so inherent in the crown, that his

majesty may judge all causes by himself, or any other he thinks fit to

commissionate. Here was law for commissionating soldiers to take away

the lives of innocents, as was frequently exemplified afterwards, and

may serve hereafter for erecting the Spanish inquisition to murder

protestants when he thinks fit to commissionate them. Against which

wicked encroachments on religion and liberty, the faithful thought

themselves obliged to emit a testimony: and therefore published a

declaration at Lanark, January 12. 1682. Confirming the preceeding at

Sanquhar, and adding reasons of their revolt from the government of

Charles the second. 1. 'For cutting off the neck at one blow of the

noble constitution of church and state, and involving all officers in

the kingdom in the same perjury with himself. 2. For exalting himself

into a sphere exceeding all measures divine and human, tyrannically

obtruding his will for a law in his arbitrary letters, so that we are

made the reproach of nations, who say, we have only the law of letters

instead of the letter of the law. 3. For his constant adjourning and

dissolving parliaments at his pleasure. 4. For his arrogantly arrogated

supremacy in all causes civil and ecclesiastic, and oppressing the godly

for conscience and duty. 5. For his exorbitant taxings, cessings, and

grinding the faces of the poor, dilapidating the rights and revenues of

the crown, for no other end but to employ them for keeping up a brothel

rather than a court. 6. For installing a successor, such an one (if not

worse) as himself, contrary to all law, reason, and religion, and

framing the test, &c. And in end offer to prove, they have done nothing

in this against our ancient laws, civil or ecclesiastic--but only

endeavoured to extricate themselves from under a tyrannous yoke, and to

reduce church and state to what they were in the year 1648 and 1649.'

After which declaration, they were more condemned by them that were at

ease than ever, and very untenderly dealt with; being without any

previous admonition reproached, accused, and informed against, both at

home and abroad, as if they had turned to some wild and unhappy course.

For which cause, in the next general meeting, they resolved to delegate

some of their number to foreign churches, on purpose to vindicate

themselves from these calumnies, and to represent the justness of their

cause, and the sadness of their case, and provoke them to some sympathy

abroad, which was then denied at home: and withal to provide for a

succession of witnesses, who might maintain the testimony, which was

then in appearance interrupted, except by martyrdom and sufferings.

Therefore by that means having obtained access for the instruction of

some young men, at an university in the united provinces, in process of

time, Mr. James Renwick received ordination there, and came home to take

up the standard of his master, upon the ground where it last was left,

and to carry on the testimony against all the oppositions of that day,

from open enemies and backsliding professors: an undertaking more

desperate-like than that _Unus Athanasius contra totam orbem_, and like

that of a child threshing down a mountain. Which yet against all the

outrageous rage of ravening enemies, ranging, ravaging, hunting,

chasing, pursuing after him, through all the towns, villages, cottages,

woods, moors, mosses, and mountains of the country; and against all the

scourge of tongues, contradictions, condemnations, obliquies,

reproaches, and cruel mockings of incensed professors, and generally of

all the inhabitants of the land; he was helped to prosecute, by many

weary wanderings, travels, and traversings thro' the deserts, night and

day, preaching, conferring, and catechising, mostly in the cold

winter-nights in the open fields: until, by the blessing of God upon his

labours, not only was the faithful witnessing remnant that joined in the

testimony, further cleared, confirmed, and encouraged, and their number

much increased by the coming in and joining of many others to the

fellowship of their settled societies; but also many others, in other

places of the country were induced to the contracting themselves in the

like, to the settling such fellowships in most of the southern shires.

But then the fury of persecutors began to flame more flagrantly than

ever; not only in sending out cruel soldiers, foot, horse and dragoons,

habitually fleshed in, and filled with the blood of the saints, to hunt,

hound, chase, and pursue after them, and seek them out of all their dens

and hiding-holes, in the wildest glens, fens, and remotest recesses in

the wilderness; but emitting edicts allowing them to kill, slay, hang,

drown, and destroy such as they could apprehend of them _pro libitu_;

and commanding the country to assist them, in raising the hue and cry

after them, and not to refer, harbour, supply, or correspond any manner

of way with them, under the hazard and pain of being liable to the same

punishment. Whereby the country was harassed and spoiled in searching

after them, and many villains were stirred up to give informations and

intelligence of these wanderers wherever they saw them, or learned

where they were. Hence followed such a slaughter and seizure of them,

that common people usually date their common occurrences since, from

that beginning of killing time, as they call it. For which cause, to

preserve themselves from, and put a stop to that deluge of blood, and

demur and deter the insolency of intelligencers and informers, they were

necessitate to publish the Apologetical Relation, and affix it upon

several market-crosses and parish-doors, November 8, 1684. Wherein they

'declare their firm resolution, of constant adherence to their covenants

and engagements, and to the declarations disowning the authority of

Charles Stewart. And to testify to the world, that they purpose not to

injure or offend any whomsoever, but to pursue the ends of their

covenants, in standing to the defence of the work of reformation, and of

their own lives; yet, if any shall stretch forth their hand against

them, by shedding their blood actually, either by authoritative

commanding or obeying such commands, to search for them, and deliver

them up to the spilling of their blood, to inform against them, to raise

the hue and cry after them, and delate them before their courts. All

these shall be reputed by them enemies to God and the covenanted

reformation, and punished as such, according to their power and the

degree of their offence, if they shall continue so maliciously to

proceed against them; and declare, they abhor and condemn any personal

attempt, upon any pretext whatsomever, without previous deliberation,

common or competent consent, without certain probation by sufficient

witnesses, the guilty person's confession, or the notourness of the

deeds themselves; and in the end warn the bloody Doegs, and flattering

Ziphites informing against them, to expect to be dealt with as they deal

with them.' This declaration, though it occasioned greater trials to

them and trouble to the country, by the courts of inquisition, pressing

an oath abjuring the same universally upon all, as well women as men,

and suffering none to travel without a pass, declaring they had taken

that oath: yet it was so far effectual, as to scare many from their

former diligence in informing against them, and to draw out some to join

with the wanderers more publicly, even when the danger was greatest of

owning any respect to them. But at length in the top and height of their

insulting insolency, and heat of their brutish immanity and barbarous

cruelty, designing to cut off the very name of that remnant, the king of

terrors (a terror to kings) cut off that supreme author and authorizer

of these mischiefs, Charles the Second, by the suspicious intervention

of an unnatural hand as the instrument thereof. Wherein much of the

justice of God was to be observed, and of his faithfulness verified,

that 'bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days.' His

bloody violence was recompensed with the unnatural villany of his

brother, and his unparalleled perfidy was justly rewarded with the most

ungrate and monstrous treachery of a parricide: for all the numerous

brood of his adulterous and incestuous brats, begotten of other men's

wives, and of his numerous multitude of whores at home and abroad, yea

of his own sister too, he died a childless pultron, and had the

unlamented burial of an ass, without a successor save him that murdered

him: and for all his hypocritical pretensions to a protestant

profession, he not only received absolution and extreme unction from a

popish priest at his death, but drunk his death in a popish potion,

contrived by his own dear brother that succeeded him; impatiently

longing to accomplish that conspiracy of reintraducing popery, wherein

the other moved too slowly, and passionately resenting Charles's vow, to

suffer the murder of the earl of Essex to come to a trial (which was

retorted by the reiterated solicitations of some, who offered to

discover by whom it was contrived and acted) which made the duke's

guilty conscience to dread a detection of his deep accession to it:

whereupon the potion quickly after prepared, put a stop to that, and an

end to his life, Feb. 6, 1685. Of which horrid villany time will

disclose the mystery, and give the history when it shall be seasonable.

IV. The former persecution and tyranny, mainly promoted by the duke of

York's instigation, did not only oppress the poorer sort, but reached

also the greatest of the nobility and gentry in both kingdoms. In

Scotland, the earl of Argyle was arraigned and condemned for his

explanation of the test, but escaped out of the castle of Edinburgh,

_anno_ 1681. And after him several gentlemen were arbitrarily oppressed

and troubled, upon the act of intercommuning with rebels, and for a

pretended plot against the government (as they called it) but really

because they knew these gentlemen had a desire, and would design to

preserve the nation, which they were seeking to destroy, and would

counteract their wicked projects to advance popery and tyranny upon the

ruins of the nation's interest. For which cause they left their native

country, to seek safety and quiet abroad. And in England, upon the same

pretences, the lord Russel was murdered by law, and the earl of Essex by

a razor in the Tower, in a morning when the king and duke of York came

to pay it a visit. And many other gentlemen lost either their lives or

fortunes, upon the same grounds of opposing the duke's designs: which

made many resort to the United Provinces. Where they, with the Scots

gentlemen, as soon as they heard of the death of Charles II. and of the

ascending of James duke of York, a notorious and bigot papist, to the

throne, associating themselves in counsel, to essay some diversion and

opposition to the present current of tyranny and popery, threatening the

ruin of both nations; resolved and agreed upon the declaring a war

against that usurper and all his complices. And in order thereunto,

having provided themselves with arms, concluded that a certain number

should, under the conduct of James duke of Monmouth, direct their course

for England, for managing the war there: And others to go for the same

ends to Scotland, under the conduct of Archibald earl of Argyle, their

chosen captain. Whereupon in a short time they arrived at Orkney, where

two gentlemen of their company going ashore, were taken prisoners, and

carried to Edinburgh; whereby the country was alarmed, and a huge host

gathered to oppose them. From thence they went to the West Highlands,

where encreasing to the number of about 2000 men, they traversed to and

again about Kintyre and Bute, and other places in the Highlands, for six

or seven weeks, until many of their men ran away, and the rest were much

straitened for want of victuals, their passage by sea was blocked up by

ships of war, and by land with their numerous enemies, who got time to

gather and strengthen themselves, whereby their friends were frustrate

and more oppressed, and themselves kept little better than prisoners,

till their spirits were wearied and worn out, and all hope lost. At

length the earl determined, when out of time, to leave the Highlands,

and the ships, cannons, arms, and ammunition at Island Craig, and

marched towards Dumbarton, crossing the water of Leven about three miles

above it. Next morning near Duntreith, they discovered a party of the

enemy, and faced towards them, but they retired. And then directed their

course towards Glasgow, were intercepted by a body of the enemy's army:

where they drew up in battalia one against another, and stood in arms

till the evening, a water being betwixt them. But Argyle's party,

perceiving that their enemies were above ten times their number, and

that themselves were wearied out with a long and tedious march, want of

victuals and sleep, resolved to withdraw: but as soon as it grew dark,

all hope lost, they dispersed, every man shifting for himself; only a

few keeping together all the next day, had a skirmish with a party of

the enemies, in which they slew the captain, and about 12 or some more

of his men, and afterwards they dispersed themselves also. The enemies,

searching the country, gleaned up the earl of Argyle himself, colonel

Rumbol an Englishman, Mr. Thomas Archer minister, Gavin Russel, and

David Law, who were all condemned and executed at Edinburgh, and many

others who were banished to America: and about some 20 in the Highlands,

who were hanged at Inveraray. In England, the duke of Monmouth's

expedition, though it had more action, yet terminated in the same

success, the loss of many hundred lives, many killed in battle: and

afterwards, by the mercy of the duke of York, several hundreds in the

west of England were carried about, and hanged before the doors of their

own habitations; and to make his captains sport by the way, according to

the number of the hours of the day, when the murdering humour came in

their head, so many of the poor captives were hanged, as a prodigious

monument of monstrous cruelty. This was the commencement of the present

tyrant's government. In the mean time, the wanderers in Scotland, though

they did not associate with this expedition upon the account of the too

promiscuous admittance of persons to trust in that party, who were then

and since have discovered themselves to be enemies to the cause, and

because they could not espouse their declaration as the state of their

quarrel, being not concerted according to the constant plea of the Scots

covenanters, and for other reasons given in their late vindication: yet

against this usurpation of a bloody papist, advancing himself to the

throne in such a manner, they published another declaration at Sanquhar,

May 28, 1685. 'Wherein approving and adhering unto all their former

declarations, and considering that James Duke of York, a profest and

excommunicate papist, was proclaimed.--To testify their resentment of

that deed, and to make it appear unto the world, that they were free

thereof, by concurrence or connivance; they protest against the foresaid

proclamation of James duke of York as king: in regard that it is the

chusing of a murderer to be a governor, who hath shed the blood of the

saints--that it is the height of confederacy with an idolater, forbidden

by the law of God--contrary to the declaration of the general assembly

of the church, July 27, 1649. And contrary to many wholesome and

laudable acts of parliament----and inconsistent with the safety, faith,

conscience, and christian liberty of a Christian people, to chuse a

subject of antichrist to be their supreme magistrate----and to instruct

an enemy to the work and people of God with the interests of both: and

upon many important grounds and reasons (which there they express) they

protest against the validity and constitution of that parliament,

approving and ratifying the foresaid proclamation.----And against all

kind of popery in general and particular heads----as abjured by the

national covenant, and abrogated by acts of parliament----and against

its entry again into this land, and every thing that doth or may

directly or indirectly make way for the same: disclaiming likewise all

sectarianism, malignancy, and any confederacy therewith.'----This was

their testimony against popery in the season thereof: which though it

was not so much condemned as any former declarations, yet neither in

this had they the concurrence of any ministers or professors; who as

they had been silent, and omitted a seasonable testimony against

prelacy, and the supremacy, when these were introduced, so now also,

even when this wicked mystery and conspiracy of popery and tyranny,

twisted together in the present design of antichrist, had made so great

a progress, and was evidently brought above board, they were left to let

slip this opportunity of a testimony also, to the reproach of the

declining and far degenerate church of Scotland. Yea to their shame,

the very rabble of ignorant people may be brought as a witness against

the body of presbyterian ministers in Scotland, in that they testified

their detestation of the first erection of the idolatrous mass, and some

of the soldiery, and such as had no profession of religion, suffered

unto death for speaking against popery and the designs of the king,

while the ministers were silent. And some of the curates, and members of

the late parliament, 1686, made some stickling against the taking away

of the penal statutes against papists; while presbyterians, from whom

might have been expected greater opposition, were sleeping in a profound

submission. I cannot without confusion of spirit touch these obvious and

dolorous reflections, and yet in candour cannot forbear them. However

the persecution against the wanderers went on, and more cruel edicts

were given forth against them, while a relenting abatement of severity

was pretended against other dissenters. At length what could not be

obtained by law at the late parliament, for taking off the statutes

against papists, was effectuated by prerogative: and to make it pass

with the greater approbation, it was conveyed in a channel of pretended

clemency, offering a sort of liberty, but really introducing a

licentious latitude, for bringing in all future snares by taking off

some former, as arbitrarily as before they were imposed, in a

proclamation, dated Feb. 12, 1687. 'Granting by the king's sovereign

authority, prerogative royal, and absolute power, which all subjects are

to obey without reserve, a royal toleration, to the several professors

of the Christian religion afternamed, with and under the several

conditions, restrictions, and limitations aftermentioned. In the first

place, tolerating the moderate presbyterians to meet in their private

houses, and there to hear all such ministers, as either have or are

willing to accept of the indulgence allenerly, and none other: and that

there be nothing said or done contrary to the well and peace of his

reign, seditious or treasonable, under the highest pains these crimes

will import, nor are they to presume to build meeting houses, or to use

out-houses or barns----in the mean time it is his royal will and

pleasure, that field conventicles, and such as preach at them, or who

shall any way assist or connive at them, shall be prosecute according to

the utmost severity of laws made against them----in like manner

tolerating the quakers to meet and exercise in their form, in any place

or places appointed for their worship----and by the same absolute power,

foresaid, suspending, stopping, and disabling all laws or acts of

parliament, customs or constitutions against any Roman catholic

subjects----so that they shall in all things be as free in all respects

as any protestant subjects whatsoever, not only to exercise their

religion, but to enjoy all offices, benefices, &c. which he shall think

fit to bestow upon them in all time coming----and cassing, annulling,

and discharging all oaths whatsoever, and tests, and laws enjoining

them. And in place of them this oath only is to be taken----I A.B. do

acknowledge, testify, and declare that James the VII. &c. is rightful

king and supreme governor of these realms, and over all persons therein;

and that it is unlawful for subjects, on any pretence or for any cause

whatsoever, to rise in arms against him, or any commissionated by him;

and that I shall never so rise in arms nor assist any who shall so do;

and that I shall never resist his power or authority, nor ever oppose

his authority to his person--but shall to the utmost of my power assist,

defend, and maintain him, his heirs and lawful successors, in the

exercise of their absolute power and authority against all deadly--and

by the same absolute power giving his full and ample indemnity, to all

the foresaid sorts of people, under the foresaid restrictions.' Here is

a proclamation for a prince: that proclaims him in whose name it is

emitted, to be the greatest tyrant that ever lived in the world, and

their revolt who have disowned him to be the justest that ever was. For

herein that monster of prerogative is not only advanced, paramount to

all laws divine and human, but far surmounting all the lust, impudence,

and insolence of all the Roman, Sicilian, Turkish, Tartarian, or Indian

tyrants that ever trampled upon the liberties of mankind: who have

indeed demanded absolute subjection, and surrender of their lives,

lands, and liberties at their pleasure, but never arrived at such a

height of arrogance as this does, to claim absolute obedience, without

reserve of conscience, religion, honour, or reason; not only that which

ignorantly is called passive, never to resist him, not only on any

pretence, but for cause, even though he should command his popish

janissaries to murder and massacre all protestants, which is the tender

mercy and burning fervent charity of papists; but also of absolute

active obedience without reserve, to assist, defend, and maintain him in

every thing, whereby he shall be pleased to exercise his absolute power,

though he should command to burn the Bible as well as the covenant (as

already he applauded John Gib in doing of it) and to burn and butcher

all that will not go to mass, which we have all grounds to expect will

be the end of his clemency at last. Herein he claims a power to command

what he will, and obliging subjects to obey whatsoever he will command:

a power to rescind, stop, and disable all laws; which unhinges all

stability and unsettles all the security of human society, yea

extinguishes all that remains of natural liberty: wherein, as is well

observed by the author of the representation of the threatening dangers

impending over protestants page 53. 'It is very natural to observe, that

he allows the government, under which we were born, and to which we were

sworn, to be hereby subverted and changed, and that thereupon we are not

only absolved and acquitted from all allegiance to him, but

indispensibly obliged, by the ties and engagements that are upon us, to

apply ourselves to the use of all means and endeavours against him, as

an enemy of the people and subverter of the legal government.' But this

was so gross, and grievously gripping in its restrictions, as to

persons, as to the place, as to the matter allowed the presbyterians in

preaching, that it was disdained of all; and therefore he behoved to

busk it better, and mend the matter, in a letter to the council (the

supreme law of Scotland) bearing date March 31. 1687. of this

tenor--'Whereas we did recommend to you to take care, that any of the

presbyterians should not be allowed to preach, but such only as should

have your allowance for the same, and that they at the receiving the

indulgence should take the oath contained in the proclamation----these

are therefore to let you know, that thereby we meant such of them as did

not solemnly take the test; but if nevertheless the presbyterian

preachers do scruple to take the said oath, or any other oath

whatsoever, and that you shall find it reasonable or fit to grant them

or any of them our said indulgence, so as they desire it upon these

terms, it is now our will and pleasure----to grant them our said

indulgence, without being obliged to take the oath, with power unto them

to enjoy the benefit of the said indulgence (during our pleasure only)

or so long as you shall find they behave themselves regularly and

peaceably, without giving any cause of offence to us, or any in

authority or trust under us in our government.'----Thus finding the

former proposal not adequately apportioned to his design, because of its

palpable odiousness, he would pretend his meaning was mistaken (though

it was manifest enough) and mitigate the matter by taking away of the

oaths altogether, if any should scruple it; whereas he could not but

know, that all that had sense would abhor it: yet it is clogged with the

same restrictions, limited to the same persons, characterized more

plainly and peremptorily, with an addition of cautions, not only that

they shall not say or do any thing contrary to the well and peace of his

reign seditious or treasonable, but also that they behave themselves

regularly and peaceably without giving any cause of offence to him or

any under him; which comprehends lesser offences than sedition or

treason, even every thing that will displease a tyrant and a papist,

that is, all faithfulness in seasonable duties or testimonies. But at

length lest the deformity and disparity of the proclamation for the

toleration in Scotland, and the declaration for liberty of conscience in

England, should make his pretences to conscience suspect of

disingenuity, and lest it should be said he had one conscience for

England and another for Scotland; therefore he added a third eik to the

liberty, but such as made it still an ill favoured patched project to

destroy religion and true liberty, in another proclamation dated at

Windsor, June 28, 1687, wherein he says--'Taking into our royal

consideration, the sinistrous interpretations, which either have or may

be made of some restrictions (mentioned in the last) we have thought fit

by this further to declare, that we will protect our arch bishops, &c.

And we do likewise, by our sovereign authority, prerogative-royal, and

absolute power, suspend, stop, and disable, all penal and sanguinary

laws; made against any for non-conformity to the religion established by

law in that our ancient kingdom----to the end, that by the liberty

thereby granted the peace and security of our government in the practice

thereof may not be endangered, we hereby strictly charge all our loving

subjects, that as we do give them leave to meet and serve God after

their own way, in private houses, chapels, or places purposely hired or

built for that use, so that they take care that nothing be preached or

taught, which may any way tend to alienate the hearts of our people from

us and our government, and that their meetings be peaceably and publicly

held, and all persons freely admitted to them, and that they do signify

and make known to some one or more of the next privy counsellors,

sheriffs, stewards, bailiffs, justices of the peace, or magistrates of

burghs royal, what place or places they set apart for these uses, with

the names of the preachers----provided always that the meetings be in

houses, and not in the open fields for which now after this our royal

grace and favour (which surpasses the hopes, and equals the very wishes

of the most zealously concerned) there is not the least shadow of excuse

left: which meeting in the fields we do hereby strictly prohibit and

forbid, against all which we do leave our laws and acts of parliament in

full force and vigour, notwithstanding the premises; and do further

command all our judges, magistrates, and officers of forces, to

prosecute such as shall be guilty of the said field conventicles with

the utmost rigour; for we are confident, none will after these liberties

and freedoms, given to all without reserve to serve God in their own

way, presume to meet in these assemblies, except such as make a pretence

of religion to cover their treasonable designs against our royal person

and the peace of our government.'----

This is the royal charter for security of the protestant religion

(intended to secure it so, that it shall not go much abroad again) in

lieu of all the laws, constitutional oaths, and covenants wherewith it

was formerly confirmed. This is the only patent which the royal dawties,

the moderate presbyterians, have now received to ensure their enjoyment

of it _durante bene placito_, during his pleasure whole faith is as

absolute over all ties of promises, as his power from whence it flows is

over all laws; whose chiefest principle of conscience is that no faith

is to be kept to hereticks. Here is the liberty which is said to surpass

the hopes, and equal the wishes of the most zealously concerned; holding

true indeed of too many, whose hopes and wishes and zeal are terminate

upon peace rather than truth, case rather than duty, and their own

things rather than the things of Christ; but as for the poor wild

wanderers, it some way answers their fears and corresponds with their

jealousies, who put the same interpretation upon it as on all the former

indulgences, indemnities and tolerations, proceeding from the same

fountain, and designed for the same sinistrous ends with this, which

they look upon as more openly and obviously antichristian: and

therefore, while others are rejoicing under the bramble-shadow of it,

they think it a cause of weeping and matter of mourning, not because

they do not share of the benefit of it, but because they are afraid to

share of the curse of it. For which cause, though a freedom be pretended

to be given, to all without reserve to serve God in their own way, they

think it necessary to reserve to themselves the liberty wherewith Christ

hath made them free, and to serve him in his way though interdicted by

men, and to take none from antichrist restricted with his reserves; and

do look upon it as a seasonable testimony for the cause of Christ, and

the interest of the protestant religion, and the laws and liberties of

the country, all overturned and subverted by this toleration, to keep

their meetings as in former times, in the open fields whither their

tyranny hath driven them. And let them call these meetings covered and

treasonable designs against the government on pretence of religion, I

trust it shall be made evident to the conviction of all that know

religion, that their designs are to preserve it, in opposition to the

tyranny that goes about all these ways to suppress it. Though I must

suspend the reasons of their keeping their meetings in the fields, till

I come to discuss that case in its own place: here I shall only say,

none that are acquainted with their circumstances, which are as

dangerously stated as ever, by reason of the constant persecution of

cruel enraged enemies incessantly pursuing them without relenting,

notwithstanding of all this pretence of clemency and tenderness to

conscience, but may know they can neither have safety, secrecy, nor

conveniency in houses for fear of their entrapping enemies, and none

will blame them, that after so many discoveries of their truculent

treachery they dare not trust them: and besides, they think it sinful,

scandalous, and inconvenient to seem to homologate this toleration, the

wickedness whereof they are convinced of, from these reasons.

I. Considering the granter in his personal capacity, as to his morals,

they look upon him as a person with whom they cannot in prudence

communicate, in any transaction of that nature. First, because being in

his principles and practice professedly treacherous, yea, obliged to be

both perfidious and cruel by that religion whereunto he is addicted, he

cannot be trusted in the least concerns, let be those of such momentous

consequence as this, without a stupid abandoning of conscience, reason

and experience. Since both that known principle, that 'no faith is to be

kept to 'hereticks,' which is espoused by all papists, does to them

justify all their lying dissimulations, equivocations, and treacheries

imaginable; and that lateran canon, that enjoins kings 'to destroy and

extirpate 'hereticks, under pain of excommunication,' does oblige them

to be cruel; besides what deep engagements he is known to be under by

oaths and promises to the pope, both in his exile, and while a subject,

and since he came to the crown; which make him, to all considering

persons, to be a person of that character, whose deceitful dainties are

not to be desired, and that when he speaketh fair is not to be believed,

for there are seven abominations in his heart. Of which open and

affronted lies we have a sufficient swatch, both in his proclamation for

Scotland, and declaration for England; where he speaks of his constant

resolves of 'uniting the hearts of subjects to God in religion, and to

their neighbours in christian love, and that it never was his principle

to offer violence to any man's conscience, or use invincible necessity

against any man on the account of his persuasion;' and that their

property was never in any case invaded since his coming to the crown;

and that it hath been his constant sense and opinion, that 'conscience

ought not to be constrained, nor people forced to matters of mere

religion.' To which his uninterrupted endeavours to divide us from God,

and from one another, that he might the more easily destroy us, and his

constant encroachments upon laws, liberties, and properties, and all

interests of men and christians for conscience sake, do give the lie

manifestly. And it must be great blindness not to see, and great

baseness willingly to wink at that double-faced equivocation, in matters

of mere religion; by which he may elude all these flattering promises of

tenderness, by excepting at the most necessary and indispensible duties,

if either they be such wherein any other interest is concerned, beside

mere religion, or if their troubles sustained thereupon be not

altogether invincible necessities. Hence the plain falsehood and

doubleness of his assertions as to what is past, may give ground to

conclude his intended perfidy in the promises of what is future. Next,

it is known what his practice and plots have been for the destruction of

all honest and precious interests; what a deep hand he had in the

burning of London, in the popish plot discovered in 1678, in the murder

of the earl of Essex, yea in the parricide committed upon his own

brother. By all which it appears, nothing is so abominable and barbarous

which he hath not a conscience that will swallow and digest without a

scruple; and what he hath done of this kind must be but preparatory to

what he intends, as meritorious to atone for these villanies. And in his

esteem and persuasion of papists, nothing is thought more meritorious

than to extirpate the protestant religion, and destroy the professors

thereof. Therefore being such a person with whom in reason no honest man

could transact, for a tenure of the least piece of land or house, or

any holding whatsoever, they dare not accept of his security or

protection for so great an interest, as the freedom and exercise of

their religion under the shadow of such a bramble. If it was the

Shechemites sin and shame to strengthen a naughty Abimelech, and

strengthen themselves under the shadow of his protection, much more must

it be to take protection for religion, as well as peace, from such a

monster of cruelty and treachery. This were against their testimony, and

contrary to the laudable constitutions of the church of Scotland, to

take no protections from malignant enemies, as was shewed above in

Montrose's case. See page 107 above.

II. Considering his religion more particularly, they judge it unlawful

so to bargain with him as this acceptance would import. It is known he

is not only a papist, an apostate papist, and an excommunicate papist

(as is related above) but a fiery bigot in the Romish religion, and

zealous sworn votary and vassal of antichrist: who, as the letter from

the Jesuits in Liege lately published in print, tells us, is resolved

'either to convert England to popery, or die a martyr,' and again that

he stiles himself 'a son of the society of Jesuits, and will account

every injury done to them to be a wrong done against himself;' being

known to be under the conduct and guidance of that furious order, yea

and enrolled as a member of that society. Which makes it the less to be

wondered, that he should require absolute obedience without reserve,

seeing he himself yields absolute obedience as well as implicit faith

without reserve, to the Jesuits. Such a bigot was Mary of England (as

also his great grand dame of Scotland if she had got her will;) and his

bigotry will make him emulous of her cruelty, as counting it a

diminution of his glory, for such a champion as he under antichrist's

banner to come short of a woman's enterprizes: Nor would the late king

have been so posted off the stage, if his successor were not to act

more vigorously than he in this tragical design, to which this

toleration is subservient. He is then a servant of antichrist, and as

such under the Mediator's malediction; yea in this respect is heir to

his grandfather's imprecations, who wished the curse of God to fall upon

such of his posterity as should at any time turn papists. How then can

the followers of the Lamb strike hands, be at peace, associate,

confederate, or bargain with such a declared enemy to Christ, certainly

the scripture-commands of making no covenant or league, interdicting

entering into any affinity with the people of these abominations, and

forbidding saying a confederacy with them, do lay awful bonds on the

faithful to stand aloof from such. The people might have had liberty of

conscience under the Assyrian protection, when they were saying a

confederacy with him, but in so doing they forefaulted the benefit of

the Lord's being a sanctuary to them. To bargain therefore with such an

one for a toleration of religion, were contrary to the scriptures,

contrary to the covenants and principles of the church of Scotland,

against associations and confederacies with such enemies. See

Gillespie's useful Case of Conscience concerning associations, hinted

page 109, and more head 3. argument 1. But to accept of this liberty as

now offered were a bargaining; for where there is a giving and receiving

upon certain conditions, where there are demands and compliance;

commands and obedience, promises and reliance, offers upon terms, and

acquiescence in these terms, what is there wanting to a bargain, but the

mere formality of subscriptions? at least it cannot be denied, but the

addressers have bargained for it, and in the name of all the accepters,

which must stand as their deed also; if they do not evidence their

resentment of such presumption, which I do not see how they can, if they

abide under the shadow thereof the same way as they do. I grant liberty

is very desirable, and may be taken and improven from enemies of

religion: and so do the wanderers now take it and improve it to the

best advantage, without receiving it by acquiescing in any terms. But

such a liberty as this was never offered without a destructive design,

nor ever received without a destructive effect. It is one of the filthy

flatteries found in the English addresses, particularly that from

Totness, that the present indulger is like another Cyrus who proclaimed

liberty to the people of God, Ezra i. But who sees not the disparity in

every respect? Cyrus at his very first entry into the government did lay

out himself for the church's good; this man who speaks now so fair, his

first work was to break our head, and next to put on our hood, first to

assert and corroborate his prerogative, and then by virtue of that to

dispense with all penal laws: it was foretold that Cyrus should deliver

the church at that time; but was it ever promised that the church should

get liberty to advance antichrist? or that antichrist, or one of his

limbs, should be employed in the church's deliverance, while such? The

Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus; can it be said without blasphemy

that the Lord stirred up this man, to contrive the introduction of

popery by this gate and gap, except in a penal sense for judgment? Cyrus

had a charge to build the Lord a house, but this is not a charge but a

grant or licence, not from nor according to God's authority but man's,

not to build Christ a house, but a Babel for antichrist; and all this

liberty is but contrived as scaffolding for that edifice, which when it

is advanced then the scaffolding must be removed.

3. Considering him in his relation as a magistrate, it were contrary to

their testimony so often renewed and ratified, and confirmed with so

many reasons, and sealed by so much blood, bonds, banishment, and other

sufferings, to own or acknowledge his authority which is mere usurpation

and tyranny; in that by the laws of the land he is incapable of

government, and that he had neither given nor can give, without an

hypocritical and damning cheat, the oath and security indispensibly

required of him before and at his entry to the government. Yet this

liberty cannot be complied with, without recognizing his authority that

he arrogates in giving it: seeing he tenders it to all his good

subjects, and gives it by his sovereign authority, and to the end that

by the liberty thereby granted, the peace and security of the government

in the practice thereof may not be indangered; and in the declaration to

England, it is offered as an expedient to establish his government on

such a foundation, as may make his subjects happy, and unite them to him

by inclination as well as duty; to which indeed the acceptance thereof

hath a very apt subserviency: seeing it implies, not only owning of the

government out of duty, but an union and joining with it and him by

inclination, which is a cordial confederacy with God's enemy, and a

co-operating to the establishment of his tyranny; that the peace and

security thereof may not be endangered. And in his former proclamation,

he gives them the same security for their rights and properties, which

he gives for religion; and in the English declaration, addeth that to

the perfect enjoyment of their property, which was never invaded, &c.

Which to accept, were not only to take the security of a manifest lie,

but to prefer the word of a man that cannot, must not, will not keep it

(without going cross to his principles) to the security of right and law

which is hereby infringed, and to acknowledge not only the liberty of

religion, the right of property to be his grant: which when ever it is

removed, there must remain no more character for it, but stupid slavery

entailed upon posterity, and pure and perfect tyranny transmitted to

them. The sin and absurdity whereof may be seen demonstrated, head 2.

4. Considering the fountain whence it flows, they cannot defile

themselves with it. In the English declaration, it flows from the royal

will and pleasure which speaks a domination despotical and arbitrary

enough, but more gently expressed than in the Scots proclamation; when

it is refounded on sovereign authority, prerogative royal, and absolute

power: proclaiming by sound of trumpet a power paramount to all law,

reason, and religion, and outvying the height of Ottoman tyranny: a

power which all are to obey without reserve: a power to tolerate or

restrain the protestant religion, according to his royal will or

pleasure: an absolute power which cannot be limited by laws, nor most

sacred obligations, but only regulated by the royal lust; whereby indeed

he may suffer the protestant religion, but only precariously so long as

he pleases, and until his royal pleasure shall be to command the

establishment of popery, which then must be complied with without

controul. Whereby all the tenure that protestants have for their

religion, is only the arbitrary word of an absolute monarch, whose

principles oblige him to break it, and his ambition to disdain to be a

slave to it. Now the acceptance of this grant, would imply the

recognizance of this power that the granter claims in granting it; which

utterly dissolves all government, and all security for religion and

liberty, and all the precious interests of men and Christians: Which to

acknowledge, were contrary to scripture, contrary to reason, and

contrary to the principles of the church of Scotland, particularly the

declaration of the general assembly, July 27, 1649. See page 117, &c.

and contrary to the covenant.

5. Considering the channel in which it is conveyed, they cannot comply

with it. Because it comes through such a conveyance, as suspends, stops,

and disables all penal laws against papists, and thereby averts all the

securities and legal bulwarks that protestants can have for the

establishment of their religion; yea in effect leaves no laws in force

against any that shall attempt the utter subversion of it, but ratifies

and leaves in full vigour all wicked laws and acts of parliament,

against such as would most avowedly assert it; and stops and disables

none of the most cruel and bloody laws against protestants: for the most

cruel are such as have been made against field-meetings, which are

hereby left in full force and vigour. Hence as he hath formally by

absolute power suspended all laws made for the protection of our

religion, so he may when he will dispense with all the laws made for its

establishment; and those who approve the one by such an acceptance,

cannot disallow the other, but must recognosce a power in the king to

subvert all laws, rights, and liberties, which is contrary to reason as

well as religion, and a clear breach of the national and solemn league

and covenants.

6. Considering the ends of its contrivance, they dare not have any

accession to accomplish such wicked projects, to which this acceptance

would be so natively subservient. The expressed ends of this grant are,

to unite the hearts of his subjects to him in loyalty and to their

neighbours in love, as in the former proclamation; and that by the

liberty granted the peace and security of his government in the practice

thereof may not be endangered, as in the latter proclamation; and to

unite the subjects to him by inclination as well as duty, which he

thinks can be done by no means so effectually as by granting the free

exercise of religion, as in the English declaration. Whence we may

gather not obscurely, what is the proper tendency of it, both as to the

work and worker, to wit, to incline and induce us by flattery to a

lawless loyalty, and a stupid contented slavery when he cannot compel us

by force, and make us actively co-operate in setting and settling his

tyranny, in the peaceable possession of all his usurpations, robberies,

and encroachments upon our religion, laws, and liberties, and to

incorporate us with Babylon; for who are the neighbours he would have us

unite with in love, but the papists? against whom all the lovers of

Christ must profess themselves irreconcileable enemies. The English

declaration does further discover the design of this device, in one

expression which will most easily be obtained to be believed of any in

it, viz. that he heartily wishes that all the people of these dominions

were members of the catholic church: which clearly insinuates, that

hereby he would entice them to commit fornication with that mother of

harlots; which enticing to idolatry (if we consult the scripture) should

meet with another sort of entertainment than such a kind and thankful

acceptance, which is not an opposing of such a wicked wish, but an

encouraging and corroborating of it. And further he says, that all the

former tract of persecutions never obtained the end for which it was

employed; for after all the frequent and pressing endeavours that were

used, to reduce this kingdom to an exact conformity in religion, it is

visible the success has not answered the design, and that the difficulty

is invincible. Wherein we may note his extorted acknowledgment, that all

former endeavours to destroy the work of God have been successless,

which induces him to try another method, to which this acceptance is

very subservient, to wit, to destroy us and our religion by flatteries,

and by peace to overturn truth, and by the subversion of laws to open a

door to let in popery and all abominations. But what is more obscurely

expressed in his words, is more visibly obvious in his works, to all

that will not willingly wink at them; discovering clearly the end of

this liberty is not for the glory of God, nor the advantage of truth, or

the church's edification, nor intended as a benefit to protestants; but

for a pernicious design, by gratifying a few of them in a pretended

favour to rob all of them of their chiefest interests, religion, laws,

rights, and liberties, which he could not otherwise effectuate but by

this arbitrary way; for if he could have obtained his designs by law: he

would never have talked of lenity or liberty, but having no legal ends,

he behoved to compass them by illegal means. They must then be very

blind who do not see, his drift is, first to get in all popish officers

in places of public trust, by taking off the penal laws disabling them

for the same; then to advance his absoluteness over all laws, in a way

which will be best acknowledged and acquiesced in by people, till he be

so strengthened in it that he fears no control; and then to undermine

and overturn the protestant religion, and establish popery and idolatry:

which he is concerned the more violently to pursue, because he is now

growing old, and therefore must make haste, lest he leave the papists in

a worse condition than he found them: which, to be sure, the papists are

aware of, and their conscious fears of the nation's resentments of their

villanies will prompt them, as long as they have such a patron, to all

vigilance and violence in playing their game; and withal, hereby he may

intend to capacitate himself for subduing the Dutch, against whom he

hath given many indications of a hostile mind of old and of late; not

only in hiring two rascals to burn the Amsterdam-fleet heretofore, but

in stirring up and protecting the Algerine pirates against them; so

universal a protector is he become of late, that Papists and

Protestants, Turks and Jews are shrouded under the shadow of his

patrociny, but with a design to destroy the best, when his time comes.

Which cursed designs cannot be counteracted, but very much strengthened

by this acceptance.

7. Considering the effects already produced thereby, they cannot but

abhor it. Seeing the eyes of all that are tender may afflict their

hearts, observing how the papists are hereby encouraged and encreased in

numbers, the whole nation overflowed with their hellish locusts, and all

places filled with priests and Jesuits, yea the executive power of the

government put into the hands of the Romanists, and on the other hand

how the people are endangered with their abounding and prevailing errors

(to which the Lord may and will give up those that have not received

the love of the truth) truth is fallen in the streets and equity cannot

enter, a testimony against antichrist is abandoned and laid aside as

unseasonable, the edge of zeal for the interest of Christ is blunted and

its fervour extinguished, they that should stand in the gap and upon the

watch tower are laid aside form all opposition to the invasions of the

enemy, and lulled asleep by this bewitching charm and intoxicating

opium, ministers and, professors are generally settling on their lees

and languishing in a fatal security, defection is carried on, division

promoted, and destruction is imminent. Is it not then both a part of the

witness of the faithful, and of their wisdom to stand aloof from such a

plague, that hath such destructive effects?

8. Considering the nature and name of this pretended liberty, they

cannot but disdain it as most dishonourable to the cause of Christ. It

is indeed the honour of kings and happiness of people, to have true

human and Christian liberty established in the common wealth, that is,

liberty of persons from slavery; liberty of privileges from tyranny, and

liberty of conscience from all impositions of men; consisting in a

freedom from the doctrines, traditions, and commandments of men against

or beside the word of God in the free enjoyment of gospel ordinances in

purity and power, and in the free observance and establishment of all

his institutions of doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, in

subordination to the only rule of conscience, the revealed will of its

only lawgiver Jesus Christ. When this is ratified as a right by the

sanction of approven authority, and countenanced and encouraged as

religion, by the confirmation of laws, approving whatsoever is commanded

by the God of heaven to be done for the house of the God of heaven

(which is the full amount of all magistrates authority) then we are

obliged to accept of it with all thankful acceptation. But such a

liberty, as overturns our rights, our privileges, our laws, our

religion, and tolerates it only under the notion of a crime, and

indemnifies it under the notion of a fault to be pardoned, and allows

the exercise thereof only in part so and so modified, cannot be accepted

by any to whom the reproach thereof is a burden, and to whom the

reproaches of Christ are in esteem, in such a day, when even the hoofs

of Christ's interest buried in bondage are to be contended for. Whatever

liberty this may be to some consciences, it is none to the tender

according to the rule of conscience, it is only a toleration which is

always of evil: for that which is good cannot be tolerated under the

notion of good, but countenanced and encouraged as such. Therefore this

reflects upon our religion, when a toleration is accepted which implies

such a reproach: and the annexed indemnity and pardon tacitely condemns

the profession thereof as a fault or crime, which no Christian can bear

with or by his acceptance homologate these reproaches, if he consider

the nature of it: and much more will he be averse from it, if he

consider how dishonourable it is to God (whatever some addresses,

particularly the presbyterians at London, have blasphemously alledged,

that God is hereby restored to his empire over the conscience) since the

granter, after he hath robbed the Mediator of his supremacy and given it

away to antichrist, and God of his supremacy imperial as universal king

by a claim of absolute power peculiar to him, he hath also robbed him of

his empire over the conscience, in giving every man the empire over his

own conscience, which he reserves a power to retract whom he pleases.

9. Considering the extent of it, they cannot class themselves among the

number of them that are indulged thereby. It takes in not only the

archbishops and bishops, and the prelatical and malignant crew, but all

quakers, and papists, reaching all idolatry, blasphemy, and heresy, and

truth also (which could never yet dwell together under one sconce.)

Whereby the professors of Christ come in as partners in the same bargain

with antichrist's vassals; and the Lord's ark hath a place with Dagon,

and its priests and followers consent to it; and the builders of Babel

and of Jerusalem are made to build together, under the same protection;

and a sluice is opened to let the enemy come in like a flood, which to

oppose the accepters cannot stand in the gap, nor lift up a standard

against them. Liberty indeed should be universally extended to all the

Lord's people, as Cyrus's proclamation was general, who is there among

you of all his people? his God be with him. But a toleration of

idolaters, blasphemers, and hereticks, as papists, &c. is odious to God,

because it is contrary to scripture, expresly commanding idolaters to

die the death, and all seducers and enticers to apostacy from God to be

put to death without pity; and commending all righteous magistrates that

executed judgment accordingly, as Asa, Hezekiah, &c. yea even heathen

magistrates that added their faction to the laws of God, as Artaxerxes

is approven for that statute, that whosoever will not do the law of God

and of the king, judgment should be executed speedily upon him. And in

the new testament this was never repealed but confirmed, in that the

sword is given to magistrates, not in vain, but to be a terror to, and

revengers to execute wrath upon all that do evil, among whom seducers

that are evil workers and idolaters are chiefly to be ranked, being such

as do the worst of evil to mankind. Ephesus is commended because they

could not bear them which are evil: and Thyatira reproved for suffering

Jezebel: by which it appeareth, that our Lord Jesus is no friend to

toleration. It is true this is spoken against churchmen; but will any

think that will be approven in civil powers, which is so hateful in

church officers? Surely it will be the duty and honour of these horns

spoken of Rev. xvii. to eat the whore's flesh and burn her with fire:

and shall that be restricted only to be done against the great

antichrist, and not be duty against the lesser antichrists, the limbs of

the great one? it is recorded of Julian the apostate, that among other

devices he used, to root out Christianity this was one, that he gave

toleration openly to all the different professions that were among

Christians, whereof there were many heretical in those days: which was

exactly aped by James the apostate now for the same end. It is also

contrary to the confession of faith, chap. 20, sect. 4. asserting that

'for their publishing such opinions, or maintaining of such practices,

as are contrary to the light of nature, or to the known principles of

Christianity, whether concerning faith, worship, or conversation, or to

the power of godliness, or such erroneous opinions or practices, as

either in their own nature, or in the manner of publishing or

maintaining them, are destructive to the external peace and order, which

Christ hath established in the church; they may lawfully be called to

account, and proceeded against by the censures of the church, and by the

power of the civil magistrate.' And therefore to accept of this

toleration is inconsistent with the principles of the church of

Scotland, with the national and solemn league and covenants, and solemn

acknowledgment of sins and engagement to duties, in all which we are

bound to extirpate popery, prelacy, &c. With the whole tract of

contendings in the fifth period above related, and particularly by the

testimony of the synod of Fife, and other brethren in the ministry,

against Cromwell's vast toleration and liberty of conscience, mentioned

above page ----, for it is plain, if it be not to be suffered, then it

is not to be accepted.

10. Considering the terms wherein it is offered, they cannot make such a

shameful bargain. In the former proclamation it is granted expresly

under several conditions, restrictions, and limitations: whereof indeed

some are retracted in the latter, as the restriction of it to moderate

presbyterians, which would seem to be taken off by extending to all

without reserve to serve God in their own way; but being evidently

exclusive of all that would serve God in Christ's way, and not after the

mode prescribed, it is so modified and restricted that all that will

accept of it must be moderate presbyterians indeed, which as it is taken

in the court sense, must be an ignominy to all that have zeal against

antichrist. The limitation also to private houses and not to out-houses,

is further enlarged to chapels, or places purposely hired, but still it

is stinted to these, which they must bargain for with counsellors,

sheriffs, &c. So that none of these restrictions and limitations are

altogether removed, but the condition of taking the oath only: yet it is

very near to an equivalency homologated, by the accepters acknowledging

in the granter a prerogative and absolute power over all laws, which is

confirmed and maintained by their acceptance. As for the rest that are

not so much as said to be removed, they must be interpreted to remain,

as the terms, conditions, restrictions, and limitations, upon which they

are to enjoy the benefit of this toleration. And what he says, that he

thought fit by this proclamation further to declare, does confirm it,

that there are further explications, but no taking off of former

restrictions. Hence it is yet clogged with such provisions and

restrictions, as must make it very nauseous to all truly tender. (1.)

The restriction as to the persons still remains, that only moderate

presbyterians, and such as are willing to accept of this indulgence

allenarly, and none other, and such only whose names must be signified

to these sheriffs, stewards, bailiffs, &c. are to have the benefit of

this indulgence: whereby all the zealous and faithful presbyterians are

excluded, (for these they will not call them moderate) and all that

would improve it without a formal acceptance, and all who for their

former diligence in duty are under the lash of their wicked law, and

dare not give up their names to those who are seeking their lives, must

be deprived of it. (2.) It is restricted to certain places still, which

must be made known to some one or more of the next privy counsellors,

and whereby they are tied to a dependence on their warrant, and must

have their lease and licence for preaching the word in any place, and

field-meetings are severely interdicted, though signally countenanced of

the Lord, whereby the word of the Lord is bound and bounded; and by this

acceptance their bloody laws against preaching in the open fields, where

people can have freest access with conveniency and safety, are

justified. (3.) The manner of meeting is restricted, which must be in

such a way as the peace and security of the government in the practice

thereof may not be endangered, and again that their meetings be

peaceably held, which is all one upon the matter with the bond of peace,

and binding to the good behaviour so much formerly contended against by

professors, and is really the same with the condition of the cautionary

bond in the indulgence after Bothwel, of which see page ----. And

further they must be openly and publicly held, and all persons freely

admitted to them; which is for the informing trade, exposing to all the

inconveniencies of Jesuits, and other spies and flies their delations,

in case any thing be spoken reflecting on the government, a great

temptation to ministers. (4.) The worst of all is upon their matter of

preaching, which is so restricted and limited, that nothing must be said

or done contrary to the well and peace of his reign, seditious or

treasonable; and in case any treasonable speeches be uttered, the law is

to take place against the guilty, and none other present, providing they

reveal to any of the council the guilt so committed, as in the former

proclamation: and in the last it is further declared, that nothing must

be preached or taught, which may any way tend to alienate the hearts of

the people from him or his government. Here is the price at which they

are to purchase their freedom (a sad bargain to buy liberty and sell

truth) which yet hardly can be so exactly paid, but he may find a

pretence for retrenching it when he pleases; for if a minister shall

pray for the overturning of a throne of iniquity, or for confounding all

that serve graven images, and for destruction to the pope, and all that

give their power to that beast, there will be something said against the

well of his government; or if any shall hear this and not delate it,

then the same pretence is relevant; or if he shall preach against the

king's religion as idolatry, and the church of Rome as Babylon, and

discharge his conscience and duty in speaking against the tyranny of the

times; or let him preach against any public sin faithfully, a popish

critic or Romish bigot shall interpret it to be an alienation of the

people's hearts from the king and his government. But who can be

faithful, and preach in season and out of season now, but he must think

it his duty to endeavour to alienate the hearts of the people from such

an enemy to Christ, and his absolute tyranny, so declaredly stated

against God? What watchman must not see it his indispensible duty, to

warn all people of his devilish designs to destroy the church and

nation, and preach so that people may hate the whore, and this pimp of

her's? sure if he preach the whole counsel of God, he must preach

against popery and tyranny. And if he think this indulgence from

absolute prerogative, granted and accepted on these terms, can supersede

him from this faithfulness, then he is no more the servant of Christ but

a pleaser of men. Therefore since it is so clogged with so many

restrictions, so inconsistent with duty, so contrary to scripture, so

clearly violatory of covenant-engagements, so cross to the constant

contendings and constitutions of this church, and acts of assembly (see

page ----, &c.) it were a great defection to accept of it.

11. Considering the scandal of it, they dare not so offend the

generation of the righteous by the acceptance, and dishonour God,

disgrace the protestant profession, wrong the interest thereof, and

betray their native country, as thus to comply with the design of

antichrist, and partake of this cruel tender mercy of the beast; who

hath always mischief in his heart, and intends this as a preparative for

inducing or inforcing all that are hereby lulled asleep either to take

on his mark, or bear the marks of his fiery fury afterwards. For hereby

foreign churches may think, we are in a fair way of reconciliation with

antichrist, when we so kindly accept his harbinger's favours. And it

cannot but be very stumbling to see the ministers of Scotland, whose

testimony used to be terrible to the popish, and renowned through all

the protestant churches, purchasing a liberty to themselves at the rate

of burying and betraying the cause into bondage and restraint, and thus

to be laid by from all active and open opposition to antichrist's

designs, in such a season. The world will be tempted to think, they are

not governed by principles but their own interest in this juncture,

seeking their own things more than the things of Christ; and that it was

not the late usurpation upon, and overturning of religion and liberty

that offended them, so much as the persecution they sustained thereby;

but if that arbitrary power had been exerted in their favours, though

with the same prejudice of the cause of Christ, they would have complied

with it as they do now. Alas, sad and dolorous have been the scandals

given, and taken by and from the declining ministers of Scotland

heretofore, which have rent and racked the poor remnant, and offended

many both at home and abroad, but none so stumbling as this. And

therefore the tender will be shy to meddle with it.

12. Considering the addresses made thereupon, with such a stain of

fulsome and blasphemous flatteries, to the dishonour of God, the

reproach of the cause, the betraying of the church, and detriment of the

nation, and exposing themselves to the contempt of all, the poor

persecuted party dare not so much as seem to incorporate with them. I

shall set down the first of their addresses, given forth in the name of

all the presbyterian ministers, and let the reader judge whether there

be not cause of standing aloof from every appearance of being of their

number. It is dated at Edinburgh, July 21, 1687, of this tenor.

_To the king's most excellent majesty. The humble address of the

presbyterian ministers of his majesty's kingdom of Scotland._

'We your majesty's most loyal subjects, the ministers of the

presbyterian persuasion in your ancient kingdom of Scotland, from

the due sense we have of your majesty's gracious and surprising

favour, in not only putting a stop to our long sad sufferings for

non-conformity, but granting us the liberty of the public and

peaceable exercise of our ministerial function without any hazard:

as we bless the great God who hath put this in your royal heart, do

withal find ourselves bound in duty to offer our most humble and

hearty thanks to your sacred majesty, the favour bestowed being to

us and all the people of our persuasion valuable above all our

earthly comforts, especially since we have ground from your majesty

to believe that our loyalty is not to be questioned upon the

account of our being presbyterians, who as we have amidst all

former temptations endeavoured, so we are firmly resolved still to

preserve an entire loyalty in our doctrine and practice (consonant

to our known principles, which according to the holy scriptures are

contained in the confession of faith, generally owned by

presbyterians in all your majesty's dominions) and by the help of

God so to demean ourselves, as your majesty may find cause rather

to enlarge than to diminish your favours towards us; throughly

persuading ourselves from your majesty's justice and goodness, that

if we shall at any time be otherwise represented, your majesty

will not give credit to such information, until you have due

cognition thereof: and humbly beseeching, that those who promote

any disloyal principles and practices (as we disown them) may be

looked upon as none of ours, whatsoever name they may assume to

themselves. May it please your most excellent majesty graciously to

accept of this our most humble address, as proceeding from the

plainness and sincerity of loyal and thankful hearts, much engaged

by your royal favour, to continue our fervent prayers to the King

of kings, for divine illumination and conduct, with all other

blessings spiritual and temporal, ever to attend your royal person

and government, which is the greatest duty can be rendered to your

majesty, by

_Your majesty's most humble, most faithful,

and most obedient subjects_.

Subscribed in our names, and in the name of the rest of our

brethren of our persuasion, at their desire.'

Which received this gracious return.

_The king's letter to the presbyterians in his ancient

kingdom of Scotland_.

'We love you well: and we heartily thank you for your address: we

resolve to protect you in your liberty, religion, and properties,

all our life: and we shall lay down such methods, as shall not be

in the power of any to alter hereafter. And in the mean time, we

desire you to pray for our person and government.' To which may be

added that kind compliment of the chancellor's: 'Gentlemen, My

master hath commanded me to tell you, that I am to serve you in all

things within the compass of my power.'

These gentlemen needed not to have been solicitous that those who avouch

an adherance to the covenanted reformation, and avow an opposition to

antichristian usurpers (which they call promoting disloyal principles

and practices) might not be looked upon as of their confederacy: for all

that abide in the principles and practices of the church of Scotland

(which they have deserted) and that desire to be found loyal to Christ,

in opposition to his and the church's, and the country's declared enemy,

would count it a sin and scandal, laying them obnoxious to the

displeasure of the holy and jealous God, who will resent this heinous

indignity they have done unto his majesty (if they do not address

themselves unto him for pardon of the iniquity of this address, which is

the desire of those whom they disown that they may find grace to do so)

and a shameful reproach, exposing them to the contempt of all of whom

they expect sympathy, to be reckoned of their association who have thus

betrayed the cause and the country. These mutual compliments (so like

the caresses of the Romish whore, whereby she entices the nations to her

fornication) between the professed servants of Christ and the vassals of

antichrist, if they be cordial, would seem to import that they are in a

fair way of compounding their differences, and to accommodate their

oppositions at length; which yet I hope will be irreconcileably

maintained and kept up by all true presbyterians, in whose name they

have impudence to give out their address: but it they be only adulatory

and flattering compliments, importing only a conjunction of tails (like

Samson's foxes) with a disjunction of heads and hearts, tending towards

distinct and opposite interests; then, as they would suit far better the

dissimulations of politicians, than the simplicity of gospel-ministers,

and do put upon them the brand of being men-pleasers rather than

servants of Christ, so for their dissemblings with dissemblers, who know

their compliments to be and take them for such, they may look to be

paid home in good measure, heaped up and running over, when such methods

shall be laid down as shall not be in the power of any to alter, when

such designs shall be obtained by this liberty and these addresses, that

the after-bought wit of the addressers shall not be able to disappoint.

However the address itself is of such a dress, as makes the thing

addressed for to be odious, and the addressers to forefault the respect,

and merit the indignation of all that are friends to the protestant and

presbyterian cause, as may appear from these obvious reflections. 1. It

was needful indeed they should have assumed the name of presbyterians

(though it might have been more tolerable to let them pass under that

name, if they had not presumed to give forth their flatteries in the

name of all of that persuasion, and to alledge it was at their desire;

which is either an illuding equivocation, or a great untruth, for though

it might be the desire of the men of their own persuasion, which is a

newly start up opinion that interest hath led them to espouse, yet

nothing could be more cross to the real desires of true presbyterians,

that prefer the truth of the cause to the external peace of the

professors thereof) and call it the humble address of presbyterian

ministers: for otherwise it could never have been known to come from men

of the presbyterian persuasion; seeing the contents of this address are

so clearly contrary to their known principles. It is contrary to

presbyterian principles, to congratulate an antichristian usurper for

undermining religion, and overturning laws and liberties. It is contrary

to presbyterian principles, to justify the abrogation of the national

covenant, in giving thanks for a liberty whereby all the laws are cassed

and disabled therein confirmed. It is contrary to presbyterian

principles, to thank the king for opening a door to bring in popery,

which they are engaged to extirpate in the solemn league and covenant.

It is contrary to presbyterian principles, to allow or accept of such a

vast toleration for idolaters and hereticks, as is evident above from

all their contendings against it, which is also contrary to the

confession of faith, generally owned by presbyterians, as may be seen in

the place forecited, chap. 20. par. 4. It is contrary to presbyterian

principles, to consent to any restrictions, limitations, and conditions,

binding them up in the exercise of the ministerial function, wherewith

this liberty is loaded and clogged; whereby indeed they have the liberty

of the public and peaceable exercise of it, without any hazard of

present persecution, but not without great hazard of sin; and incurring

the guilt of the blood of souls, for not declaring the whole counsel of

God, which addressers cannot declare, if they preserve an entire loyalty

in their doctrine, as here they promise. 2. There is nothing here sounds

like the old presbyterian strain; neither was there ever an address of

this stile seen before from presbyterian hands. It would have looked far

more presbyterian like, instead of this address, to have sent a

protestation against the now openly designed introduction of popery, and

subversion of all laws and liberties which they are covenanted to

maintain, or at least to have given an address in the usual language of

presbyterians, who used always to speak of the covenants, and work of

reformation; but here never a word of these, but of loyalty to his

excellent, to his gracious, and to his sacred majesty, of loyalty not to

be questioned, an entire loyalty in doctrine, a resolved loyalty in

practice, and a fervent loyalty in prayers: and all that they are

solicitous about is not lest the prerogatives of their master be

encroached upon, and the liberties of the church be supplanted, and

religion wronged; but lest their loyalty be questioned, and they be

otherwise represented: and all that they beseech for is, not that the

cause of Christ be not wronged, nor antichristian idolatry introduced by

this liberty; but that these who promove any disloyal principles and

practices may be looked upon as none of theirs, wherein all their

encouragement is, that they persuade themselves from his majesty's

justice and goodness, that he will not give credit to any other

information, until he take due cognition thereof. Here is a lawless

unrestricted loyalty to a tyrant, claiming an absolute power to be

obeyed without reserve, not only professed, but solicitously sought to

be the principle of presbyterians; whereas it is rather the principle of

atheistical hobbes exploded with indignation by all rational men. This

is not a Christian loyalty, or profession of conscientious subjection,

to a minister of God for good, who is a terror to evil doers, but a

stupid subjection and absolute allegiance to a minister of antichrist,

who gives liberty to all evil men and seducers. This is not the

presbyterian loyalty to the king, in the defence of Christ's evangel,

liberties of the country, ministration of justice, and punishment of

iniquity, according to the national covenant; and in the preservation

and defence of the true religion and liberties of the kingdoms,

according to the solemn league and covenant; but an erastian loyalty to

a tyrant, in his overturning religion, laws and liberties, and

protecting and encouraging all iniquity. This loyalty in doctrine will

be sound disloyalty to Christ, in a sinful and shameful silence at the

wrongs done to him, and not declaring against the invasions of his open

enemies. This loyalty in practice is a plain betraying of religion and

liberty, in lying by from all opposition to the open destroyer of both.

And this loyalty in prayers, for all blessings ever to attend his person

and government, will be found neither consonant to presbyterian prayers

in reference to popish tyrants, nor consistent with the zeal of

Christians, and the cries of all the elect unto God to whom vengeance

belongs, against antichrist and all his supporters, nor any way conform

to the saints prayers in scripture, nor founded upon any scripture

promises, to pray for a blessing to a papist's tyranny, which cannot be

of faith and therefore must be sin. It were much more suitable to pray,

that the God which hath caused his name to dwell in his church, may

destroy all kings that shall put to their hand to alter and destroy the

house of God, Ezrah vi. 12. 3. This address is so stuffed with sneaking

flatteries, that it would become more sycophants and court-parasites

than ministers of the gospel; and were more suitable to the popish,

prelatical, and malignant faction, to congratulate and rejoice in their

professed patron and head, and fill the gazettes with their adulatory

addresses, which heretofore used to be deservedly inveighed against by

all dissenters; than for presbyterians to take a copy from them, and

espouse the practice which they had condemned before, and which was

never commended in any good government, nor never known in these British

nations, before Oliver's usurpation and Charles' tyranny; flattery being

always counted base among ingenuous men. But here is a rhapsody of

flatteries, from the deep sense they have of his majesty's gracious and

surprising favour----finding themselves bound in duty to offer their

most humble and hearty thanks, to his sacred majesty, the favour

bestowed being to them----valuable above all earthly comforts. One would

think this behoved to be a very great favour, from a very great friend,

for very gracious ends: but what is it? in not only putting a stop to

their long sad sufferings; which were some ground indeed if the way were

honest: but this not only supposes an also; what is that? but also

granting us the liberty----which is either a needless tautology (for if

all sufferings were stopped, then liberty must needs follow) or it must

respect the qualifications of the liberty; flowing from such a fountain,

absolute power; through such a conveyance, the stopping all penal laws

against papists; in such a form as a toleration; for such ends, as

overturning the reformation, and introducing popery. This is the favour

for which they offer most humble and hearty thanks, more valuable to

them than all earthly comforts; though it be manifestly intended to

deprive the Lord's people, at the long run, of the heavenly comforts of

the preached gospel. Sure, if they thank him for the liberty, they must

thank him for the proclamation whereby he grants it, and justify all his

claim there to absoluteness, being that upon which it is superstructed,

and from which it emergeth, and so become a listed faction to abett and

own him in all his attemptings, engaged now to demean themselves as that

he may find cause rather to enlarge than to diminish his favours, which

can be no other way but assisting him to destroy religion and liberty,

at least in suffering him to do what he will without controul. O what an

indelible reproach is this for ministers, who pretend to be set for the

defence of the gospel, thus to be found betraying religion, through

justifying and magnifying a tyrant, for his suspension of so many laws

whereby it was established and supported. 4. It were more tolerable if

they went no further than flatteries: but I fear they come near the

border of blasphemy, when they say, that the great God hath put this in

his royal heart: which can bear no other construction but this, that the

holy Lord hath put it in his heart to assume to himself a blasphemous

and absolute power, whereby he stops and suspends all penal laws against

idolaters, and gives a toleration for all errors: or if it be capable of

any other sense, it must be like that as the Lord is said to have moved

David to number the people, or that Rev. xvii. 17.

"God hath put it in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree and

give their kingdom unto the beast." But to bless God and thank the

tyrant for this wicked project, as deliberate and purposed by men, I say

is near unto blasphemy. And again where they say, they are firmly

resolved by the help of God so to demean themselves as his majesty may

find cause rather to enlarge than to diminish his favours; this in

effect is as great blasphemy as if they had said, they resolved by the

help of God to be as unfaithful, time-serving and silent ministers as

ever plagued the church of God; for no otherwise can they demean

themselves so as he may find cause to enlarge his favours towards them,

it being in no way supposeable that his enlarging his favours can

consist with their faithfulness, but if they discover any measure of

zeal against antichrist, he will quickly diminish them.

Thus far I have compendiously deduced the account of the progress, and

prosecution of the testimony of this church to the present state

thereof, as it is concerted and contended for, by the reproached remnant

now only persecuted: which I hope this pretended liberty shall be so far

from obscuring and interrupting, that it shall contribute further to

clear it, and engage them more to constancy in it, and induce others

also to countenance it, when they shall see the sad effects of this

destructive snare, which I leave to time to produce; and hope, that as

the former representation of their cause will conciliate the charity of

the unbiassed, so an account of their sufferings thereupon will provoke

them to sympathy. To which I now proceed.