his Majesties true and loyall subjects, That whereas our continuall
supplications, complaints, articles, and informations, presented,
first, to the Lords of his Majesties Privie Councell; next, to
his sacred Majestie, and last, from time to time to his Majesties
Commissioner, our long attendance and great patience this twelvemonth
bygone, in waiting for satisfaction of our most just desires, our zeale
to remove all rubs out of the way, which were either mentioned unto us,
or could be conceived by us, as hinderances of our pious intentions,
aiming at nothing but the good of the Kingdome, and preservation of
the Kirk, which by consumption or combustion is likely to expire;
delighting to use no other meanes but such as are legall, and have
beene ordinarie in this Kirk since the reformation, and labouring
according to our power and interesse, that all things might be carried
in a peaceable manner, worthy of our Profession and Covenant, our
Protestation containing a hearty thanksgiving for what his Majesty in
his Proclamation from his justice had granted of our just desires,
and our Protests and hopes for so much as was not as yet granted:
All these made us confidently to expect from his Majesties royall
and compassioned disposition towards this his native Kingdome, that
a free Generall Assembly and Parliament should have beene indicted,
as the ordinary and most proper remedies of our grievances, and
did constraine us to renew our petition, earnestly intreating that
his Majesties Commissioner would be pleased to represent unto his
Majesty the condition of this Kirk and Kingdome, crying in an extreme
exigencie for present help, with the lawfulnesse of the remedies
prescribed by his Majesties Lawes, required by us, and presented to
him in some particular Articles, which his Grace promised to recommend
to his Majestie, and to doe his best endeavours for obtaining the
same; especially the first Article, that there might be indicted a
full and free Generall Assembly, without prelimitation, either in
the constitution and members thereof, in the order and manner of
proceeding, or in the matters to be treated: And if there should be
any question or doubt about one of these, or such like particulars,
that the determination thereof might be remitted to the Assembly it
selfe, as the only proper and competent Judge. And now, after so
many supplications, complaints, articles, and informations; after
our necessary protestation, expressing the humble thankfulnesse and
continued desires of our hearts; after so long expectation, and so
much dealing, having with open eares and attentive minds, heard his
Majesties Proclamation, It is our desire, purpose, and endeavour so
to proceed, that we may upon the one part still be thankfull to God
and the King for the least blinke of his Majesties countenance, and
the smallest crums of comfort that fall unto us from his Majesties
Royall hands; beseeching the Lord yet farther to inlarge his Majesties
heart, for our full satisfaction and rejoicing, to the honour of God,
the good of this Kirk and Kingdome, and his Majesties never dying fame
and glory; that his wise government and zeale to the service of God
may be a measure and patterne of desires to all generations hereafter,
when they shall be wishing for a religious and righteous King: And
on the other part, that Christ our Lord, the King of kings, through
our neglect or luke-warmnesse may want no part of his Soveraignty and
Dominion, and that in our Religion, which is more dear unto us then
our lives, we deceive not our selves with that which cannot satisfie
and make up the breach of this Kirke and Kingdome, or remove our
feares, doubts, and suspicions of the innovations of Religion: This
hath made us to observe and perceive, that his Majesties Proclamation
doth ascribe all the late distractions of this Kirke and Common-wealth
to our conceived feares of the innovation of Religion and Law, as the
cause and occasion thereof, and not to the innovations themselves, with
which we have beene for a long time, and especially of late, heavily
pressed and grieved; as if the cause were rather in apprehension and
fancie, then in reality and substance. That the Service book and booke
of Canons are not so far discharged by this Proclamation, as they
have beene urged by preceding Proclamations; for this Proclamation
onely dischargeth the practice of them, and rescinds the Acts made
for establishing their Practice, but doth not rescind the former
Proclamations, namely, that of the 19 of February at Stirling, and that
of the fourth of July at Edinburgh, which give an high approbation to
these Books, as fit meanes to maintaine Religion, and to beat down all
superstition; and withall declares his Majesties purpose, to bring them
into this Kirk in a faire and legall way: And thus both our feares that
they may be introduced hereafter, must still remaine; and the libertie
of the Generall Assembly by such a Declaration of his Majesties
judgement, is not a little prejudged in the minds of so many as wisely
consider and compare the preceding Proclamations with this which we now
heare, although others who looking upon one step and not upon the whole
progresse, run on rashly, and neither considering what they are doing,
nor with whom they are dealing, may be easily deceived _Qui pauca
videt, citò judicat_, a short sight maketh a sudden judgement.
That it is declared in this Proclamation, That his Majesty neither
intendeth to innovate any thing in Religion or Lawes, or to admit of
any change or alteration in the true Religion already established and
professed in this Kingdome: and withall, this is interposed, That
the articles of Pearth are established by the acts of Parliament and
generall Assembly, and dispensation of the practice only granted,
and discharge given, that no person be urged with the practice
thereof; and consequently, his Majesties intention for the standing
of the Acts of the Assembly and Parliament, appointing the Articles
of Pearth, is manifest; which is no small prejudice to the freedome
of the Generall Assembly, That while the Proclamation ordaineth all
his Majesties subjects to be liable to the triall and censure of the
judicatories competent, and that none of them shall use any unlimited
and unwarranted power; likewise that no other oath be administred to
Ministers at their entrie, then that which is contained in the Act
of Parliament; in both these Articles the Bishops are meaned, who are
only thereby for the present curbed, against their exorbitancie and
enormities in exercing their office: but the office of Bishops is
thereby not only presupposed as unquestionable, but also so strongly
established, that his Majestie declareth, for the present, his
intention, to admit no innovation therein: which is more evident by
the indiction of the Parliament, warning all Prelats to be present,
as having voice and place in Parliament; and by the indiction of the
Assembly, warning all Archbishops and Bishops (for so are their divers
degrees and offices Ecclesiasticall here designed and supposed) to be
present, as having place and voyce in the Assembly, contrary to the
caveats, acts of the Kirk, and our declinator: And thus a third and
great limitation is put upon the Generall Assembly. The Proclamation,
by reason of these many reall limitations, and prejudices of the
liberty of the Assembly in the very points which have wrought so
much woe and disturbance in this Kirk and Kingdome, and wherein the
liberty of the Assembly is most usefull and necessary at this time, can
neither satisfie our grievances and complants, nor remove our feares
and doubts, nor cannot (without protestation) be admitted by us his
Majesties subjects, who earnestly desire that Truth and Peace may be
established; and that for the reasons following:—
1. To keepe silence in any thing that may serve for the good of the
Kirk, whether it be in preaching, prayer, or in proposing and voyceing
in a lawfull Assembly of the Kirke, is against the word of God. Esai.
62. 6. “Yee that are the Lords remembrancers, keepe not silence, and
give him no rest till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a
praise in the earth.” 1. King. 18. 21. “Like the halting of the people
betweene two opinions, and their not answering a word, when the Lord
called them to give a testimony.” Act. 20. 20. “I have keeped backe
nothing that was profitable unto you:” and againe 1 Cor. 12. 7. Mat.
15. 18. Rom. 1. 18. Revel. 2. 14. 20. and 3. 15: and therefore to
keepe silence, or not to meddle with corruptions, whether in doctrine,
sacraments, worship or discipline, in a generall Assembly of the Kirk,
conveened for that end, were the ready way to move the Lord to deny his
Spirit unto us, and to provoke him to wrath against our proceedings,
and might be imputed unto us for prejudice, for collusion, and for
betraying our selves and the posterity.
2. This predetermination is against our supplications and
protestations, wherein we have showne ourselves so earnest for a free
generall Assembly, contrary to every limitation of this kind; so far
prejudging the liberty thereof, is against the Confession of Faith
registrated in the Parliament 1567, declaring that one cause of the
Councels of the Kirk is for good policie and order to be observed in
the Kirk, and for to change such things as men have devised when they
rather foster superstition then edifie the Kirke, using the same; and
is against our late Confession, wherein we have promised to forbeare
all novations till they be tryed, which obligeth us to forbeare now,
and to try them in an Assembly, and by all lawfull meanes to labour
to recover the former purity and liberty of the Gospel, to which this
limitation is directly repugnant, our liberty in a Generall Assembly
being the principall of all lawfull meanes serving to that end.
3. This were directly contrary to the nature and ends of a generall
assembly, which having authority from God, being conveened according
to the lawes of the Kingdome, and receiving power from the whole
collective body of the Kirke, for the good of Religion, and safety
of the Kirke; whatsoever may conduce for these good ends in wisdome
and modesty should be proponed, examined, and determined without
Prelimitation, either of the matters to bee treated, or of the liberty
of the members thereof. It being manifest, that as farre as the
assembly is limited in the matters to bee treated, and in the members
to be used, the necessary ends of the Assembly, and the supreme Law,
which is the safety of the Kirke, are as far hindered, and pre-judged.
This limitation is against the Discipline of the Kirke, which Booke
2. chap. 7. declareth this to be one of her liberties, That the
Assembly hath power to abrogate and abolish all Statutes and ordinances
concerning Ecclesiasticall matters that are found noysome and
unprofitable, and agree not with the time, or are abused by the people,
and against the acts of the generall assembly. Like as the pretended
Assembly 1610 declareth for the common affaires of the Kirk (without
exception or limitation) it is necessary that there bee yearely
generall Assemblies, And what order can bee hoped for hereafter, if
this assembly indicted after so long intermission, and so many grosse
corruptions be limited, and that more than ever any lawfull Assembly of
the Kirk was, when it was yearly observed.
5. It is ordained in Parl. 11. act 40. K. James 6. anent the necessary
and lawfull forme of all Parliaments that nothing shall be done or
commanded to be done, which may directly or indirectly pre-judge the
liberty of free voicing or reasoning of the Estates, or any of them
in time coming. It is also appointed in Parl. 6. act 92. K. James 6.
that the Lords of Counsell and Session proceed in all civill causes
intended or depending before them, or to be intended, to cause execute
their decrees notwithstanding any private writing, charge, or command
in the contrary, and generally by the acts of Parliament appointing
every matter for its owne judicatorie, and to all judicatories their
owne freedome. And therefore much more doth this liberty belong
to the supreame judicatory ecclesiastick in matters so important
as concerneth Gods honour and worship immediately, the salvation
of the peoples Soules, and right constitution of the Kirk whose
liberties and priviledges are confirmed Parl. 12. K. James 6. Parl.
1. K. Charles, for if it be carefully provided by diverse Acts of
Parliament, especially Parl. 12. act 148. King James 6. That there be
no forstalling or regrating of things pertaining to this naturall life:
What shall be thought of this spirituall forstalling and regrating
which tendeth to the famishing or poysoning of the soules of the people
both now and in the generations afterward.
6. It were contrary to our Protestations, proceedings and complaints
against the late innovations. And it might bee accounted an innovation
and usurpation as grosse & dangerous to us, & the posterity, and
as prejudiciall to Religion as any complained upon by us, to admit
limitations, and secret or open determinations, which belongeth to no
person or judicatory, but to an Assembly, Or to consent to, and approve
by our silence the same predeterminations, It were to be guilty of
that our selves, which we condemn in others. We may easily judge how
the Apostles before the Councell of Jerusalem, the Fathers before the
Nicene Councell, and our Predecessors before the assembly holden at the
Reformation, and afterwards, would have taken such dealing.
That this Proclamation commandeth all his Ma jesties Subjects for
maintenance of the Religion already established to subscribe and
renew the Confession of Faith subscribed before in the yeare 1580 and
afterward. And requireth the Lords of privy Counsell to take such
course anent the same, and the generall Band of Maintenance of the true
Religion, and the Kings person, that it may be subscribed, and renewed
throughout the whole Kingdome with all possible diligence, which cannot
now be performed by us. For although of late we would have been glad
that our selves and other his Majesties Subjects had been commanded by
authority to sweare, and subscribe the generall Confession of Faith
against Popish errours, and superstitions: and now would be glad that
all others should ioyne with us in our late Covenant & Confession,
descending more especially to the novations and errors of the time,
and obliging us to the defence of Religion; and of the Kings Maiesties
person, and authority, and for these ends to the mutuall defence every
one of us of another, Yet can we not now after so necessary, and
so solemne a specification returne to the generall for the reasons
following.
1. No means have been left unassayed against our late Confession of
Faith and Covenant so solemnly sworn and subscribed. For first we
were prest with the rendering and rescinding of our Covenant. Next an
alteration in some substantiall points was urged. 3. A Declaration was
motioned, which tended to the enervation thereof, and now we finde in
the same strain, that we are put to a new triall, and the last mean
is used more subtile than the former: That by this new subscription
our late Covenant, and Confession may be quite absorbed and buried
in oblivion, that where it was intended & sworn to be an everlasting
Covenant never to be forgotten, it shall be never more remembered, the
one shall be cryed up, and the other drowned in the noise thereof,
And thus the new subscription now urged (although in a different way)
shall prove equivalent to the rendering of the Covenant, or what of
that kinde hath before been assayed. Like as the reasons against the
rendring of the Covenant, doe militate directly against this new motion.
2. If we should now enter upon this new Subscription, we would think
our selves guilty of mocking God, & taking his Name in vain, for the
tears that began to be powred forth at the solemnizing of the Covenant
are not yet dryed up and wiped away, and the joyfull noise which then
began to sound hath not yet ceased, and there can bee no new necessity
from us, and upon our part pretended for a ground of urging this new
subscription, at first intended to be an abjuration of Popery upon us
who are knowne to hate Popery with an unfained hatred, and have all
this yeare bygone given large testimony of our zeale against it. As we
are not to multiply miracles on God’s part, so ought we not to multiply
solemne oathes and Covenants upon our part, and thus to play with
oathes, as children doe with their toyes, without necessity.
3. Neither would we in giving way to this new subscription think our
selves free of perjury: for as we were driven by an undeclinable
necessity to enter into a mutuall Covenant, so are we bound, not only
by the law of God and nature, but by our solemn oath and subscription,
against all divisive motions to promove and observe the same without
violation: and it is most manifest, that having already refused to
render, alter, or destroy our Covenant, nothing can bee more contrary
and adverse to our pious intentions and sincere resolutions, than to
consent to such a subscription and oath, as both in the intention of
the urgers, and in the nature and condition of the matter urged, is
the ready way to extinguish, and to drowne in oblivion the Band of our
union and conjunction that they be no more remembred. In this case
we are called to lay seriously to our hearts, 1, That we have sworne
that we shall neither directly, nor indirectly suffer our selves to
be divided and withdrawne from this blessed and loyall conjunction,
which consisteth not only in the generall Confession, but also in
our explanation, & application thereof, but on the contrary, shal by
all lawfull means, labour to further and promove the same. 2. That
our union and conjunction may be observed without violation, (and so
without mutilation of our application) we call the living LORD to
witnesse, as we shall answer to Christ in the great Day, &c.
4. This new subscription, instead of performing our vows, would be a
reall testimony and confession before the World, That we have been
transgressours, in making rash vows, that we repent our selves of
former zeal and forwardnesse against the particulars exprest first in
our Supplications, Complaints, and Protestations, and next abjured in
our Covenant, that we in our judgement prefer the generall Confession
unto this, which necessarily was now made more speciall; and that
we are now under the faire pretext and honest cover of a new oath,
recanting & undoing that, which upon so mature deliberation we have
been doing before. This beside all other evils, were to make way and
open a door to the re-entry of the particulars abjured, and to repent
our selves of our chiefest consolations, and to lie both against God
and our owne soules.
5. It hath been often objected, that our Confession of Faith, &
Covenant was unlawfull, because it wanted the warrants of publick
authority, and it hath been answered by us, that we were not destitute
of the warrant civill and ecclesiasticall which authorized the former
Covenant. And although we could have wished that his Maᵗʸ had added
both his subscription & authority unto it, yet the lesse constraint
from authority and the more liberty, the lesse hypocrisie, and more
sincerity hath appeared: But by this new subscription urged by
authority we both condemn our former subscription as unlawfull, because
alleadged to be done without authority, and precondemn also the like
laudable course in the like necessity to be taken by the posterity.
6. What is the use of merch-stones upon borders of Lands, the like
use hath Confessions of Faith in the Kirk, to disterminate and divide
betwixt Truth and errour: and the renewing and applying of Confessions
of Faith to the present errors and corruptions, are not unlike ryding
of merches. And therefore to content our selves with the generall, and
to return to it, from the particular application of the Confession
necessarily made upon the invasion or creeping in of errors within the
borders of the Kirk, if it be not a removing of the merch stone from
its own place, it is at least the hiding of the merch in the ground
that it be not seen, which at this time were very unseasonable for
two causes. One is, because Popery is so pregnant, and powerful in
this land, as we have learned of late. The other, because the Papists
who upon the urging of the Service book & Canons, have presumed of
our return to Rome, will upon this our subscription arise from their
dispareing of us, unto their wonted presumption. None of us will
deny, but the large Confession of Faith registrated in the Acts of
Parliament, doth by consequence contain this short confession and
abjuration: Yet were it not sufficient against Popery to subscribe the
one without the other: how then shall we think that the more generall
Confession & abjuration at this time, when the urging of such Popish
books hath extorted from us so necessary an application, and doth still
call for a testimony, to be compleat enough without it.
7. The Papists shall hereby be occasioned to renew their old objection
against us, _Annuas & menstruas fides de Deo decernunt_, That our Faith
changeth with the Moon, or once in the yeere. Other reformed Kirks
might justly wonder at our inconstancy in changing our Confession
without any reall necessity, and that in one and the same yeer it
cometh forth larger, & more particular, then shorter, & more generall:
& our Adversaries will not fail to traduce us as troublers of the peace
of the kirk & kingdom without any necessar cause.
8. It will likewise prove a confirmation of their errour, who think
they may both subscribe the Confession of Faith, and receive the
Service book, and Canons, which is not only a direct scandaling of
them, but also a ready way to put a weapon in their hands against our
selves, who maintain and professe that these and such other evils are
abjured in the Confession of Faith.
9. If we should now sweare this Confession, we should be obliged by
our oath to maintain Perth articles, which are the innovations already
introduced in the worship of God, and to maintain Episcopacy, with the
civill places, and power of Kirkmen. Because we are bound to swear
this Confession by vertue of & conform unto the Kings command signed
by his sacred Majesty of the date September 9. 1638. (These are the
very words subioyned to the Confession and Band, and prefixed to the
Subscriptions) and it cannot be denyed, but any oath ministred unto
us, must either be refused, or else taken according to the known mind,
professed intention, and expresse command of Authority urging the
same: And it is most manifest, that His Maiesties minde, intention,
and Commandement, is no other, but that the Confession be sworne, for
the maintenance of religion, as it is already or presently professed,
(these two being coincident, altogether one and the same, not only in
our common form of speaking, but in all His Maiesties Proclamations)
and thus as it includeth, and conteineth within the compasse thereof,
the foresaid novations and Episcopacy, which under that name were also
ratified, in the first Parliament holden by his Majesty. And where it
may be objected, that the Counsellors have subscribed the Confession of
Faith, as it was professed 1580. and will not urge the Subscription in
another sense upon the Subjects. We answer, First, the Act of Counsell
containing that declaration, is not as yet published by Proclamation.
Secondly, if it were so published, it behooved of necessity either be
repugnant to His Majesties declared Iudgement and Command, which is
more nor to sweare without warrand from Authority (a fault although
unjustly, often objected unto us) or else we must affirme the Religion
in the yeare 1580. and at this time to be altogether one and the same;
and thus must acknowledge, that there is no novation of Religion, which
were a formall contradiction to that we have sworne. 3. By approving
the Proclamation anent the Oath to be administred to Ministers,
according to the Act of Parliament, which is to sweare simple obedience
to the Diocesan Bishop, and by warning all Archbishops and Bishops to
be present; as having voice and place in the Assembly: They seem to
determine, that in their Iudgement the Confession of Faith, as it was
professed 1580. doth consist with Episcopacy, whereas We by our oath
have referred the tryall of this or any other question of that kinde
to the generall Assembly & Parliament.
10. This subscription and oath in the mind & intention of authority, &
consequently in our swearing thereof may consist with the corruptions
of the Service book & Canons, which we have abjured as other heads of
Popery: For both this present proclamation, and his Majesties former
proclamations at Linlithgow, Striveling, Edenburgh; The Lords of privy
Counsell in their approbation of the same; and the prelates and doctors
who stand for the Service book & Canons, Doe all speak plainly, or
import so much, That these bookes are not repugnant to the Confession
of Faith; and that the introducing of them is no novation of religion
or law: And therefore wee must either refuse to subscribe now, or we
must confesse contrary to our late Oath, and to a cleare Truth, That
the Service book and Canons are no innovations in Religion. And, though
the present bookes be discharged by proclamation, yet if we shall by
any deed of our own testifie, that they may consist with our Confession
of Faith, within a very short time, either the same bookes, or some
other like unto them, with some small change, may be obtruded upon
us, who by our abiuration (if we adhere unto it) have freed both our
selves, and the posterity of all such corruptions, and have laid a
faire foundation for the pure worship of God in all time comming.