_The Present testimony stated and vindicated in its principal heads._
By what is above premitted, the reader may see the series and succession
of the testimony of Christ's witnesses in Scotland from time to time, in
all the periods of that church; how it hath been transmitted from one
generation to another down to our hands; how far it hath been extended,
and what increasements it hath received in every period; how it hath
been opposed by a continued prosecution of an hereditary war against
Christ, by an atheistical, papistical, prelatical, and tyrannical
faction; and how it hath been concerted, contended for, maintained, and
sealed actively and passively, by an anti-pagan, anti-popish,
anti-prelatical, anti-erastian, anti-sectarian, and anti-tyrannical
remnant of the followers, professors, confessors, and martyrs of Christ
in all ages. Now it remains in the third and last place, to consider the
merit of the cause as it is now stated, to see whether it will bear the
weight of those great sufferings wherewith it hath been sealed. I hope
all the lovers of Christ, who have an esteem even of his reproaches
above all the treasures of Egypt, will grant, that if these sufferings
be stated on the least or lowest of the truths of Christ, then they are
not mistated, nor built upon a bottom that will not bear them, or is not
of that worth to sustain them. For certainly every truth, the least of
truths, is of greater value than any thing that we can suffer the loss
of for it; yea, of infinitely greater value, than the whole world. So
that if I prove these heads of suffering to be truths wherein conscience
is concerned, the cause will be sufficiently vindicated from the
loadings and lashings of such as prefer peace to truth, and ease to
duty, who to justify their own backwardness and detestable lukewarmness,
call some of them only state questions about things civil, and not
gospel truths and heads to state suffering upon: and if they be truths
and duties, the cause will some way be rendered more illustrious, that
it is stated upon the smallest hoofs and hair-breadths of the concerns
of Christ's declarative glory; as being a greater witness of its owners
love and loyalty to Christ, and of their pure and tender zeal for his
honour, than if for more substantial and fundamental truths, which a
natural conscience may reclaim to decline, when for the meanest
circumstantials of Christ's truths they dare and are ambitious to bestow
their dearest blood. But if the complex of them be impartially
considered, no unprejudiced arbiter will suffer himself to have such
extenuating impressions of the present word of patience, and testimony
of the suffering remnant in Scotland this day: but it will appear to be
a very weighty and worthy concern, as any that either men or Christians
can be called to witness for; being the privilege of all mankind, the
duty of all Christians, and the dignity of all churches, to assert; it
is for the glory and crown prerogatives and imperial regalia of the King
of kings, with reference to his visible kingdom, of which the government
is laid upon his shoulders, against the heaven daring usurpations and
encroachments made thereupon, both as he is Mediator, and King, and Head
of the church, and as he is God and universal King of the world. As he
is Mediator, it is his peculiar prerogative to have a supremacy and sole
sovereignty over his own kingdom, to institute his own government, to
constitute his own laws, to ordain his own officers, to appoint his own
ordinances, which he will have observed without alteration, addition, or
diminution, until his second coming: this his prerogative hath been, and
is invaded by erastian prelacy, sacrilegious supremacy, and now by
antichristian popery, which have overturned his government, inverted his
laws, subverted his officers, and perverted his ordinances. As he is God
and universal King, it is his incommunicable property and glory, not
only to have absolute and illimited power, but to invest his deputed
ministers of justice with his authority and ordinance of magistracy, to
be administred in subordination to him, to be regulated by his laws, and
to be improved for his glory, and the good of mankind; this glory of
his, hath been invaded by tyrants and usurpers arrogating to themselves
an absolute power, intruding themselves without his investment into
authority, in a rebellion against him, in opposition to his laws, and
abusing it to his dishonour, and the destruction of mankind. Against
both which encroachments the present testimony is stated, in a witness
for religion and liberty, to both which these are destructive. This will
appear to be the result and tendency of the testimony in all its parts,
opposed by the enemies of religion and liberty, and the end of all their
opposition, to bring it to this crinomenon, who shall be king? Jesus or
Caesar? Let any seriously search into all their proclamations and edicts
against religion and liberty, this will be found to be the soul and
sense of them, practically and really speaking to this purpose,
especially since this man came to the throne.
'_J. R._
'James the VII. II. by the V. of G. king of Scotland, England,
France, and Ireland, defender of the antichristian faith: To all
and sundry our good subjects, whom these presents do, or may
concern: greeting. We having taken into our royal consideration,
the many and great inconveniencies which have happened in that our
ancient kingdom of Scotland, especially of late years, through the
persuasions of the christian religion, and the great heats and
animosities, betwixt the professors thereof, and our good and
faithful subjects, whose faith and religion is subject and
subservient to our royal will (the supreme law, and reason, and
public conscience) to the disappointment of our projects, restraint
of our pleasures, and contempt of the royal power, converting true
loyalty and absolute subjection, into words and names (which we
care not for) of religion and liberty, conscience and the word of
God, thereby withdrawing some to the christian faction, from an
absolute and implicit subjection to us and our will, as if there
were a superior law to which they might appeal; and considering
that these rebellious christians do never cease to assert and
maintain strange paradoxes, such principles as are inconsistent
with the glory and interest of our government, as that the
authority of kings should be hemmed in with limits, and that their
acts and actions are to be examined by another rule than their own
authority to make them lawful, that some things in the kingdom are
not subject to the king's authority, that there is a kingdom within
a kingdom not subordinate to the king, and that there is another
King superior to the supreme whom they will rather obey than us,
and that we must either take laws from him, or otherwise we are no
magistrates; and considering also their practices are conform to
their principles, they will not obey our laws, but the laws of
another inconsistent with ours, and will calculate their religion
according to his laws, and not according to ours, and continually
make their addresses to, and receive ambassadors from a prince whom
we know not, whom our predecessors, of truly worthy memory, did
crucify, one Jesus who was dead, whom they affirm to be alive,
whose government they alledge is supreme over all kings, whom they
acknowledge but as his vassals: being now by favourable fortune,
not only brought to the imperial crown of these kingdoms through
the greatest difficulties, but preserved upon the throne of our
royal ancestors, which from our great founder Nimrod of glorious
memory, and our illustrious predecessors Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar,
Herod the great, Nero, Caligula, &c. of blessed and pious memory,
hath been ever opposite to, and projecting the destruction of that
kingdom of Christ, do, after their laudable example, resolve to
suppress that kingdom by all the means and might we can use,
because his government is hateful to us, his yoke heavy, his
sayings are hard, his laws are contrary to our lusts; therefore we
will not let this man reign over us, we will break his bonds, and
cast away his cords from us; and advance and exercise our sovereign
authority, prerogative royal, and absolute power, which all our
subjects are to obey without reserve. 'And as by virtue of our
supremacy, whereby we are above all, but such as we are pleased to
subject ourselves to, settled by law, and lineally derived to us as
an inherent right to the crown, we have power to order all matters
of church as well as state, as we in our royal wisdom shall think
fit, all laws and acts of Christ to the contrary notwithstanding;
and accordingly in our royal wisdom have overturned the platform of
that government which Christ hath instituted, razed all courts
fenced in his name, and severely interdicted all meetings of his
subjects, and entertainment of his ambassadors: many of whom, in
contempt of him that sent them, we have punished according to law,
for negotiating his affairs in our kingdoms without our pleasure,
and requiring allegiance and obedience to him, after we had
exauctorated him; we have also established our right trusty, and
well beloved clerks in ecclestiastic affairs, and their underlings,
by our authority to have the administration of the business of
religion and impowered our right trusty and well beloved cousins
and counsellors, to compel all to submit to them, by finings,
confinings, imprisonment, banishment, oaths, and bonds, and all
legal means: so now having prosecuted this war against Christ to
this length, that we have no fears of a rally of his forces again
so often beaten, we are now engaged with other antichristian
princes to give our power to our holy father antichrist, so far as
may serve his purpose to oppose Christ in his way; but we reserve
so much to ourselves, as may encroach upon him in our capacity. And
therefore we have thought fit to restore to antichrist our
ecclesiastical supremacy, from whom we borrowed it, and for which
we have no use at present: but we resolve to maintain and prosecute
our sovereign authority, prerogative royal, and absolute power
foresaid, against Christ, and without subordination to him, from
whom, as we sought none, so we received no power by his warrant and
grant, and against whom we mind to manage it to the uttermost of
our power. Yet reflecting upon the conduct of the four last
reigns, how, after all the frequent and pressing endeavours that
were used in each of them, to reduce our kingdoms to antichrist,
the subjects of Christ were so stubborn, that the success hath not
answered the design: we must now change our methods a little, and
tolerate that profession of Christ which we cannot yet get
overturned, his subjects being so numerous, but always upon these
terms, that they take a special care that nothing be preached or
taught among them, which may be a testimony for Christ's
prerogatives, in opposition to our usurpation, or may any way tend
to alienate the hearts of our people from us, or our government, or
preach his truths which we have condemned as seditious and
treasonable, under the highest pains these crimes will import.
Hereby we shall establish our government on such a foundation, on
the ruin of Christ's, as may make our subjects happy, and unite
them to us by inclination as well as duty, in a belief that we will
not restrain conscience in matters of mere religion: for which we
have a dispensation from our holy father, and also from our own
absoluteness, to be slaves to this promise no longer than consists
with our own interest; and which we have power to interpret as we
please: and would have all to understand, that no testimony for
Christ's supremacy against our encroachments thereupon, shall be
comprehended under these matters of mere religion, for which the
conscience shall not be constrained: but we will have the
consciences of such subjects of his, that dare assert it, brought
to a test and probation how they stand affected in this competition
betwixt us and this King Jesus, and see whether they will own or
decline our authority, because not of him, nor for him, nor to him,
but against him and all his interests. Our will is therefore, that
all who will countenance any other meetings of his subjects than we
have allowed, or connive at them, shall be prosecuted according to
the utmost severity of our laws made against them, which we leave
in full force and vigour, notwithstanding of all the premises. And
for this effect, we further command all our judges, magistrates,
and officers of our forces, to prosecute all these subjects and
followers of Christ, who shall be guilty of treating with, or
paying homage to that exauctorated king of theirs, in their
assemblies with his ambassadors in the fields with the utmost
rigour, as they would avoid our highest displeasure: for we are
confident none will, after these liberties and freedom we have
given to all without reserve, to serve God publicly, in such a way,
as we, by our sovereign authority, prerogative royal, and absolute
power aforesaid, have prescribed and allowed, presume to meet in
these assemblies, except such whose loyalty to Christ doth alienate
them from us and our government. As also, under the same
certifications, by the same sovereign authority, and prerogative
royal, and absolute power foresaid, we charge, impower, warrant,
and authorize, against all hazards (hell excepted) all our foresaid
judges and officers, in their respective places, to prosecute and
execute our laws, against all that may be suspected or convicted of
their adherence to Christ, or be found guilty of owning their
allegiance to him as their liege Lord, by solemn covenant, which we
have caused burn by the hand of the hangman, and declared criminal
to own it, or shall be found guilty of declining allegiance to us
and our absolute authority, stated in opposition to him and his, or
of maintaining that pernicious principle, inconsistent with our
government, that their lives are their own, which they will
preserve without surrender to our mercy: all which we command to be
executed to death, or banished as slaves, as shall be found most
conducible to our interest. And to the end, the few that remain of
that way may be totally exterminated, we straitly command all our
soldiers, horse and foot, to be ready upon order, to march and
make search, pursue and follow, seize and apprehend, kill and slay,
and cause to perish, all such, whether they shall be found at
meetings, or in their wanderings, wherever they may be apprehended:
and ordain all our good subjects to be assistant to these our
forces, in prosecuting this war against Christ and his followers,
and contribute their best help and encouragement, in giving them
their required maintenance, and duly paying cess and locality
imposed for that end; and that they shall not dare to countenance,
converse with, refer, harbour, supply, or keep any manner of
correspondence with any of these traitors that adhere to Christ,
under the pain of being found art and part with them, and obnoxious
to the same punishments to which they are liable; but on the
contrary, to assist our forces to apprehend, and raise the hue and
cry after them wherever they shall be seen, that they may be
forthwith pursued, seized, cut off, and destroyed, which we order
to be instantly done upon the place, where they or any of them are
apprehended, and that without any delay or mercy to age or sex,'
&c.
On the other hand, if any will take a look of the declarations and
testimonies of the other party without prejudice or stumbling at some
expressions, which may be offensive to critics, he will find the scope
and strain of them to have this importance.
'We, a poor company of persecuted, reproached, and despised
Christians; who indeed have not many wise men among us after the
flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, but are a few foolish,
weak, base, and despised nothings in the world; yet having this
ambition to be his called chosen; and faithful soldiers, who is
King of glory, King of heaven, King of saints, King of nations,
King of kings, whose kingdom is everlasting and universal;
considering the many insolent indignities, affronts, and
reproaches cast upon his name and glory, and the many usurpations,
encroachments, and invasions made upon his crown and dignity, by a
pestilent generation of his atheistical, papistical, prelatical,
and tyrannical enemies, who have rebelled against him, and have
renounced, corrupted, and subverted his royal government, both in
the church and in the world, both in his kingdom of grace and of
power: do bear witness and testimony against these rebels, from the
highest to the lowest: and assert the interest and title of our
princely Master, and own allegiance and absolute obedience to him
and his government, to which he hath undoubted right; an essential
right by his eternal Godhead, being the everlasting Father, whose
goings forth have been of old from everlasting; a covenant-right by
compact with the Father, to bear the glory and rule upon his
throne, by virtue of the council of peace between them both; a
donative right by the Father's right of delegation, by which he
hath all power given to him in heaven and in earth, and all
authority, even because he is the Son of man; an institute right by
the Father's inauguration, which hath set him as King in Zion; an
acquisite right by his own purchase, by which he hath merited and
obtained not only subjects to govern, but the glory of the sole
sovereignty over them in that relation, a name above every name; a
bellical right by conquest, making the people fall under him, and
be willing in the day of his power, and overcoming those that make
war with him; an hereditary right by proximity of blood and
primogeniture, being the first born, higher than the kings of the
earth, and the first born from the dead, that in all things he
might have the pre-eminence; an electing right by his people's
choice and surrender, a crown wherewith his mother crowned him in
the day of his espousals. In a humble recognizance of all which
rights, we own and avouch, that he hath that incommunicable
prerogative of sole sovereignty over his visible kingdom, as well
as invisible, without a co-partner or competitor, either
co-ordinate or subordinate; in prescribing laws, by no human
authority to be reversed; in appointing ordinances immutable,
without addition or diminution, for matter or manner; instituting a
government, which no man or angel can, without blasphemy, arrogate
a power either to invert or evert, change or overturn; and
constituting officers, which must depend only on his authority, and
his alone; and must be cloathed only with his commission, and his
alone; guided by his instructions, and his alone; acting according
to his laws and prescribed platform, and his alone; without any
dependence on, subordination to, licence, warrant or indulgence
from any mortal. And therefore we disown and detest every thing
that hath not the stamp of his authority, either in doctrine,
worship, discipline or government: and will discountenance prelacy,
supremacy, popery, and all corruption contrary to his institution,
who is sole and supreme lawgiver to the conscience, and will submit
to, or comply with nothing that may directly or indirectly signify
our respect unto them. Hence we will take none of their oaths,
subscribe none of their bonds, yield to none of their impositions,
pay none of their exactions; neither will we hear or receive
ordinances from any minister, but the faithful authorized
ambassadors of Christ our king, whatever either rage or reproach we
suffer for it. We assert and affirm also, that our exalted Prince
is King of the whole world, by whom kings reign, and princes decree
justice, as his ministers of justice, in subordination to him; whom
he hath hath appointed to rule over us, with just boundaries, that
they may not exceed, and true characters, by which we should know
them and pay them deference. And therefore, whosoever shall
arrogate to themselves, and extend their power beyond and above
his prescripts, being neither called to, nor qualified for, nor
improving the office for the ends he hath appointed; we will
acknowledge them no otherwise than usurping tyrants, and not
magistrates nor ministers of justice, to whom he hath given the
sword by his perceptive will; only as lions, bears, wolves, to whom
he hath given a rod by his providential will; in that case we may
be passively subject, when we cannot do better; but will never own
conscientious allegiance to them, nor own them as our lawful
magistrates; and therefore we will not bow down to their idols they
have set up, nor prostitute either conscience or liberty to their
lust, but will endeavour, under our Master's banner and conduct, to
preserve whatever he hath intrusted to us religion, life, liberty,
estate, and whatsoever the Lord our God hath given us to possess,
as they unjustly possess what their god gives them; and will
maintain a war of constant opposition to them (against whom our
Lord hath declared a war for ever) without parley, treaty of peace,
capitulation, composition, truce, or any transaction; we will
neither meddle nor make with them, less or more, nor seek their
favour, nor embrace it when it is offered, on any terms that may
imply any obligation to surcease from our duty to our King, and
irreconcileable opposition to them,' &c.
Now I shall come more distinctly to the purpose, in offering a short
vindication of the heads and grounds of our great sufferings, dividing
them into their principal parts, which I reduce to two, to wit,
negatives and positives. The negative grounds I reckon three
principally. 1. For refusing to acknowledge a corrupt ministry. 2. For
refusing to own a tyrannical magistracy. 3. For refusing to swear and
subscribe their unlawful imposed oaths, chiefly that of abjuration,
which was the occasion of suffering unto death. The positive grounds are
also three. 1. For frequenting field-meetings, to receive gospel
ordinances from faithful ministers. 2. For maintaining the principle
and practice of defensive resistance of superior powers. 3. For
maintaining the privilege and duty of offensive revenge, in executing
justice upon murdering enemies of mankind, in cases of extreme
necessity, in prosecuting which, I shall intertex some subordinate
questions relating to their respective heads, and endeavour to discuss
them briefly.