to be keiped through out all the kirkes of the kingdome; the maine
causes werre the great securitie of the land, the threatning of the
sectarian armie of England to invade this kingdome, the abounding of
socerie, and that the Lord wald countenance the folowing Gener. Assemb:
etc. This fast was keiped by Mr Ja. Magill, att Largo, the forsaid 7
day of July. This day intimation was made of the excommunication of one
Jhone Enster, a shiper in Enster, for his obstinacie in malignancie. As
also of one Mr Hollande, ane English man, wha gave him selfe foourth
to be a phesitian, he being onlie ane imposter and deceaver, that the
people might not have any dealing with him in the meater of physicke.
July 10.—The Generall Assemblie of this kingd. satte att Edenbroughe,
where Mr Andro Cant, minister of Aberdeine, was moderator. Att this
meiting ther werre severall nobelmen that werre accessorie to the late
unlawfull engagement, that werre desirous to be receaved, as the E.
of Crafoorde, wha was received in the Abey kirke, and appeared to be
verie penitent. The E. of Laderdaile was referred to the comission of
the kirke. Duke Hamilton’s petition was rejected; the E. of Marshall
(whose lady, a litel before this, depairted out of this life,) the
E. of Arroll, and sundrie others. The most pairt of the ministers of
Orkenay were deposed, and appointed to be excommunicate, because they
had subscribed a peaper of the forsaid Montrosse.[436] A number of
the ministers of Caithnes werre deposed in likemaner, for conniving
at his wayes. L. G. Cromuell, that commanded the English armie, sent
a declaratione to this kingdome, declaring the causes why he was
comeing downe to invade this kingdome; and another from the pretended
parliament of England;—both which werre excellentlie answered, both
by church and state, and the Assemb. answers appointed to be read in
the severall kirks of this kingdome. The K. Majestie sent a letter
to this Assemblie; ther was three ministers appointed to attend his
Majestie; as Mr Robert Blaire, m. of St Androus, Mr George Hutcheson,
and Mr James Durhame. Ther was a fast appointed (because the forsaide
Englishis had invaded this kingdome), to be keiped through the wholle
kingdom. This meiting rose the 24 of the said instant. The said Mr
Rob. Blaire was desired to come to Glasgowe, (in the roume of D.
Strange, who was deposed for some erronius opinions), bot it was
refused. A litell before this Assemb. Mr David Dicke, m. of Glasgowe,
was transported by the Com. of the Gener. Ass. to Edenbroughe, to
be professor ther. He did succeid to D. Sharpe.... Mr Ja. Sharpe
was transported from Crayll to Edenbrough, and Mr Jhone Heart from
Dyninnowe to Dunkell, both out of St And. presb.—A visitatione for Fyfe
to sit in Sept.
Oct.—This moneth the malignant pairtie of this kingd. did ryse in armes
in the north; they emited a declaratione. The comission of the Gener.
Ass. emitted a warning, deated at Sterling, 24 Oct. 1650, against them,
to be read in the several churches. L. G. Da. Lesley was sent north
with some horsemen against them.
Oct.—This moneth the westcountrey men joined them selfs in a body (with
L. Coll. Ker, Strachan, and some ministers,) and sent in a Remonstrance
to the estaits,[437] declairing all the escaps of the Kings Maj.;
condeming the treatie with him; accusing many of the comitt. of estaits
of covetousnes and oppression; speaking against the chife leaders of
the armie; and opposing the invasion of England, or enforcing a king
upon that kingdome. Ther forces werre scattered at Hamiltone, by a
pairtie of the English men, under the conduct of Lambert, on the 1 of
Decemb. being Sunday, 1650. Sundry of them were killed, and Coll. Ker,
one of ther cheife leaders, wounded and taken.
Nov.—Ther was a meiting, both of state and church, at St Jhonstone, at
which tyme they both declaired against that remonstrance of the men
of the west contrey (before spoken of), shauing that it was divisive,
contrare to the covenant, and acts of the Generall Assemblie; debaring
all that adhered to that said remonstrance from sitting and voyceing in
the publicke judicatories, ether of state or church. Upon this, sundrie
ministers of the north countrey protested against the declaratione of
the church, and foure ministers in Fyfe adhered to ther protestation,
one in every presbetrey, vizᵗ, Mr Sa. Rutherfoorde, in St Androus
presb.; Mr Ja. Wedderburne, in C. presb.; Mr Alex. Moncriefe, in K. p.;
and Mr Will. Oliphant, in D. presb.
Mr David Calderwood, a minister in Louthian, depairted out of this life.
Dec. 22.—The fast, apointed by the comission of the kirke to be keiped
througe the kingdome before the coronatione, was keiped att Largo the
forsaid day, by Mr Ja. Magill; his lecture, Rev. 3, from v. 14 to the
end of the chapt. his text Rev. 2, 4, 5. Upon the Thursday folowing,
the 26 of this instant, the fast was keiped in likemaner; his lecture 2
Chro. 29. to v. 12; his text 2 Chron. 12. 22. The causes of the first
day (not read) was, the great contempt of the gospell, holden forth in
its branches. Of the second day (which were read), the sinns of the
King, and of his father’s house, where sundry offences of K. James the
6 were acknowledged, and of K. Charles the 1, and of K. Ch. the 2, nowe
king. This second day the E. of Laderdaile gave satisfactione (at the
k. of Largo), for haveing hand in the late unlawfull engagement against
England, where, 1. he acknowledged the sinfulnes and unlaufulnes of
that course; 2. his sorowe and remorse for haveing accession therto;
3. his resolutione, for the time to come, to be warre of such courses.
After this, Mr Ja. Magill did reid the solemn league and covenant, and
he held up his hand and did sweare to the same. So the k. session gave
him a peaper, subscribed by the minist. and clerk, testifying that they
were weill satisfied with his repentance.
* * * * *
1649-50.
_Excerpts from The Waters of Sihor, or the Lands Defectione; By James
Guthrie._[438]
[Propositions laid down and contended for by Guthrie, in page 19.]
1. All judicatories and Armyes, and all places of power and trust
amongst the Lords covenanted people in Scotland, should consist of, and
be filled with, men of known good affectione to the work and people of
God, and of a blamles Christian conversatione.
2. All known malignant, and prophane scandalous persons, ought to be
excluded from power and trust amongst those, and to be purged out from
the Judicatories and Armyes.
3. The making of Associations in counsell and in forces with the
Malignant party, or these who walk in known wickednes, and in enmity
and oppositione to the work and people of God, is to these unlawfull,
and ought to be avoided by them.
4. Malignant and wicked men who have been engaged in such enmity and
oppositione, or given to prophanity, and have there upon been debarred
from the Covenant or Communion, or secluded or removed from power and
trust, ought not to be admitted into these till after tryall they
shall be found in their ordinary conversatione to give reall testimony
of their dislike of their former evill courses and wayes, and of
their sorrow for their accessione to the same, and to live soberly,
righteously, and godly.
[Page 21.]
In the year 1648, when the parliament were on debats of a ingadgment
in War against England, the Comissione of the Kirk, (being there
homologated by the Supplications of most of all the Presbytries and
Synods in Scotland,) as they did desire the parliment “that the grounds
and causes of undertaking a war might be cleared to be so just, as
that all the weel affected might be satisfied in the lawfulnes and
necessity of the Ingagment, with sundry other things to that purpose;
so did they also desire, that if the Popish, Prelaticall, and Malignant
party should again rise in arms in this natione, that their armyes
might be so farr from joyning and associating with them, that, one
the contrairy, they should oppose and endeavour to suppress them, as
enemies to the Cause and Covenant on the one hand, as weel as Sectaries
on the other; and that, for securing of religione, and all other
ends of the Covenant, such persons only might be entrusted to be of
Comitees and Armyes as hes given constant proof of their integrity and
faithfulnes in this cause, and against whom there is no just cause of
exceptione or jealousie.”
And when the parliament, without satisfactione to these desires, did
resolve and enact an ingagment in war against the kingdome of England,
the Gener: Assembly did condescend upon and issue a Declaratione
concerning the sinfulnes of that war as upon many other grounds, so
also upon associating with, and employing and entrusting of Malignants
in the Army and in Comitees. The Assemblys words be these:—“Suppose the
ends of this Engadgment were lawfull, qᶜʰ they are not,” &c.[439]
[After references to the Solemn Confession, &c., and Engagement to
Duties after the defeat of the Engagement, the author proceeds, page
24:—]
At the same time, the Comiss: of the Gen: Assembly did make ane Act for
debaring of persons accessory to the late Unlawfull Ingadgment in War
against England from renewing the Covenant, receiving the Communione,
and from exercise of ecclesiasticke office; and the Parliament meeting
a litle thereafter, did make two Acts, one for purging the Armys
and Judicatories from corrupt and malignant men who were in trust;
another for keeping of them pure for the time to come; and the Gen:
Assembly, qᶜʰ sate in Edʳ in the year 1649, did innact that none of
these persons who were excluded from the Covenant and Communione should
be admitted and received thereto but such as, after exact tryall, did
in their ordinary conversatione give reall testimony of their dislike
of the courses and wayes of Malignants, and of their sorrow for their
accessione to the same, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly.
These Acts of Kirk and State, I shall hear set doun, at least so much
of them as contributes for the further clearing and proving of our
present purpose; to witt, that the propositions formerly mentioned
were received, and ouned, and engaged unto by the kirk and kingdome of
Scotland, ... “as treuths necessary for preserving and promoving of
Religion and Righteousnes.”
[In the 5th chapter, Guthrie goes on to argue, that these several Acts
of the Commission and Estates, _after_ the Engagement was defeated,
were legal and binding on Kirk and Kingdom, because the Confession of
Sins, &c., was made in October, 1648, throughout all congregations and
whole body of the people, _except those who were excluded_; but he
does not shew that either the Commission of Assembly or the Estates,
subsequent to that time, were legal Assemblies, or had any lawful
authority to pass such ordinances.—Page 39.]
The Comissione of the Gen: Assem: meeting at Edʳ about the time of
the marching of the English Army to invade this land—to wit, June 25,
1650—did emitt a Warning concerning dangers and deuties, in which are
these passages:—“Its far from our meaning that any who are tainted
with malignancy and disaffectione to the work of God should be allowed
or permitted to associate or joyn themselves together by pairtyes in
Armys, much less doe we mean yᵗ we should associate or joyne with them,
or that they should be imployed, or made use of, or countenanced, or
permitted to be in our armyes. The Lord hath so far cleared his mind,
both by his words and works, against these that they are very blind
who are not convinced therein; and we have made so solemne publick
confession of this sin that relates unto Malignants, and so solemnly
ingadged our selves against the same, that they among us who should
again hazard upon it should seem to be desperatly perverse. It were
not only to give great ground of encouradgment to the Sectaries, before
whom Malignants have so often fled and falen, but to discouradge the
hearts and weaken the hands of men of integrity and godlines, who
could hardly expect a blessing in the fellowship of such; yea, it were
from the words of their own former confessione and ingadgment unto
deuties, to proclaim a judgment against the land till it were consumed
without remedy. We are therefore bold, in the Lords name, to warn the
honourable Estates of Parliment, and all whom it concerns in the land,
that they may be far from such a thing, and that they may take care,
in their respective places and stations, to purge judicatories and
comitees of all scandalous and disaffected men, and speedily goe about
the removing and purging out from the army all men of a scandalous
conversatione, and of a questionable integrity and affectione in the
cause of God, and that they imploy none but such as are of a blamles
conversatione, and of approven integrity in the Lords work. It shall be
a shame for any in this land to be so faithless and unbeleiving, as,
because of the scarcenes of men, to make use of others who are not thus
qualified. The Lord hath not only spoken it in his word, and verified
it in his works in the dayes of old, but hath let us see it with our
own eyes, that it is all one wᵗ him to save with few as with many, and
that a few whom God will countenance are more worth than many against
whom he hath a controversy.”
Again, in the same Warning:—“Albeit we be dilligently to take heed of
the danger that threatnes from Sectaries, and faithfully to bestir
ourselves in our places and stationes in the use of all lawfull and
necessary means for preventing of the same, yet are we not to forget,
but also with the same dilligence and care, to take heed of these
dangers and snares that threatnes the work and people of God from
Malignants. Malignancy, though a very evill weed, yet is not pluckt
up, but continous to be one of the reigning sins of this land, the
snare wherewith loose hearts, who cannot endure Christs yock, are most
readily taken. Hence it is that there be many of that stamp in all
yᵉ three kingdoms, who, drawing encouradgment to themselves from the
influence they have upon the Kings Counsell, and hardning themselves
in their way by the proceedings of Sectaries, doe still follow their
former designs, and wait for their day, and would rejoice in the ruine
or halting of these who adhere to the Covenant; and experience proves,
that many of these who have seemed to repent of and abandon that way,
yet doe not realy shake of that sinn that hings so fast on, but, upon
new tentations, fall again upon the same wickednes, and prove worse
then before, which may be a cautione to us not suddenly to trust them.
We make no doubt but Malignants will, by all means, endeavour that
there may be roome left for them to undermind the work and people
of God, and ingadge the kingdom in a new war, upon terms of their
devising, destructive to Religione and yᵉ Covenant.”
The Gen: Assembly it self at Edinburgh, in July thereafter, did, upon
the 19 of that moneth, publish a Declaratione, in which they give
warning concerning Malignants thus:—“We exhort all these who are in
publick trust, in yᵉ Comitee of Estates, or otherwise, not only to take
good head of their private walking, that it be suitable to the Gospel
of Jesus Christ, and of their families and followers, that they bee
void of offence, but also be straight in the cause and Covenant, and
not to seek themselves, nor befriend any who have been enemies to the
Lords work, self seeking, and conniving at, and complying with, and
pleading for Malignants, having been publick sins that have been often
complained of; and we wish to God yʳ were no cause to complain of these
things still, notwithstanding of the solemne Confession of them, and
ingadging against them. God forbid that any mocke the Lord. He is a
severe avenger of all such things; and there is the more reason at this
time not to own Malignants, because it is ordinary with men so to be
taken with the sense of the dangers qᶜʰ is before them, as not to look
back to that which is behind them. There may be inclinations in some to
employ these men, and make use of them, that we may be strengthned in
this and in our neighbour land; but God hath hitherto cursed all such
counsels, and blasted such resolutions; and if we shall again fall into
this sin, as our guilt shal be so much the greater by reasone of many
promises and ingadgments to the contrair, so may we expect ane heavier
judgment from the Lord upon it. Let us keep the Lords way, and, though
we be few and weake, the Lord shall be with us, and make us to prosper
and prevail. They are not fit for the work of God, and for the glorious
dispensations of his more than ordinary works of power and providence
in these times, who cannot beleive nor act any thing beyond what sense
and reasone can make clear unto them from the begining unto yᵉ end of
their undertakings. Former experiences and present straits call upon us
that we should act and follow our deutie in such a way as may magnify
the Lord, and make it known to others that we may live by Faith.”
About the same time, the Comitee of Estates in their Declaratione, in
answer to the English Declaratione concerning their Invasione, speak
thus:—“If wee shall keep Malignancy out of our quarel and Malignant
instruments out of our counsels and forces, and our selves free from
every thing which may provoke the Lord, and doe every deutie qᶜʰ may
ingadge him for us, the case of the Ammonites against Jephtah and
Israel, the case of Jeroboam against Abijah, the case of Amaziah
against Joab, the case of Zenachrib against Hezekia, the case of Moab
against Jehosaphat, and the judgment which came upon the invaders,
speake terror to our adversaryes yᵗ come against us, and comfort to the
necessary defenders.”
Immediatly after the defeat at Dumbar, Causes of Humiliatione and Fast
were cendescended upon at Sterline, to be keept through the whole
land.[440]
[Page 42.]
A litle thareafter, to wit, Septemb: 12, 1650, the Comissioners of the
Gen: Assem: did write to the severall Presbytries in the land; in qᶜʰ
letter they doe relate to these causes, and, in speciall, doe recomend
to them, “that they would carefully and instantly warne their people
agˢᵗ snares, and not to be dismayed, but sanctifie the Lord God in
their hearts, that he may be their fear and their dread, soe that they
doe not for their safty choose the course of flesh and blood, tending
either to compliance with Sectaries, one the one hand, or Malignants,
one the other hand, but yᵗ the work of God may be carried on, and his
people may follow and adhere unto it in their stations, according to
the Covenants and former grounds and principles. We conceive (say
they) that these who fear the Lord and make conscience of duety, and
desire to be faithfull, will be so far from slacking their hands in
their deuty and in a straight way of pursuance thereof for any thing
that hath befalen now, that they will rather looke upon themselves as
called and obliged to their deuties in a more speciall way of strictnes
and watchfulnes than formerly, and that the present difficulties and
dangers of the time be not abused for flattering of men in any way that
may tend to turning aside to crooked courses.”
With this letter they sent a short Declaratione and Warning, to be read
in all the congregationes of the Kirk of Scotl:[441]....
Upon the 24 of Octob: [1650] the Comissione upon occasione of the rising
of many of the Malignants in the North, in a tumultous and rebellious
way, did emit another Warning, in qᶜʰ, (after the laying open of these
mens gross miscarriages, and their breaking of all bonds, promises, and
oaths,) they doe give warning against complyance with them in these
words:—“It shall be wisdome to these that are in authority to walk with
Malignants according to the rule of the word of God and the bond of
the Covenant, to take good head of trusting and taking in of such that
have been opposit to the work of God, so many experiences teaching the
unsoundnes of the most of these from year to year.”
In the moneth of Octob: thereafter, or thereabouts, the King (being
then at Pearth) did, by the suggestione of some, write two Letters, one
to the Commitee of Estates, another to the Comiss: of the Gen: Assem:
both qᶜʰ were then sitting at Stirline, in qᶜʰ he did directly propound
it to their consideratione, and ask their judgment concerning yᵉ
imploying of these men who were yⁿ excluded from power and trust, and
in his letter did propound the consideratione of the lands necessity,
and of the advantages that would accress by intrusting of them; yet
the Comitee of Estates, (according to my informatione,) and sure I am
the Commiss: of the Kirk did return a negative answer to him in this
particular, declairing that it would be both dangerous and scandalous
to make use of these men.
In the end of Novemb: the Comiss: did give in to the Parliment at
Pearth, a Remonstrance concerning the search of their guiltines in
the matter of the treaty in the Act of Indemnitie given to the rebels
in the north, who had risen in arms after the defeat at Dumbar, in
neglecting to purge the Kings family and in their personall carriage.
In which Remonst: I find these two passages:—
1. “As we humblie desire your Lo: to be exceedingly watchfull over
your hearts, and to bewar of harburing any prejudices or relenting in
your affections to the Godly in the land, whom God hes honoured to be
instrumentall in his work, so to searche if there hes been at this time
among you any purpose or resolutione tending to a sinfull complyance
with the enemies of the cause of God; and what upon serious search
shall be found of this to ly low before the Lord for it; and withall
to guard for the future against all inclinatione of making use of any
scandalous, malignant, and disaffected persons for publick trust, or
for admiting any to employment in your counsels or armys, except in the
way agreed upon by the Publick Resolutiones of Kirk and State.”
The Publick Resolutions here meant were not these against which this
dispute runs, for these were not then in being, but the Resolutions
contained in the Solemne Ingadgment unto Deuties.
2. “The great foreflowing of that so important a busines, the purging
of the Kings family notwithstanding the many addresses we have had
to your Lo: thereanent, as we desire it to be looked upon as no small
guiltines, so we hope and desire that once for all yow will take some
effectuall course for purging the Kings family of all scandalous and
disaffected persons, and of constituting it of men of knoun integritie
and affectione to the cause of God, as also for debaring all Malignants
from accesse to the Kings Maj: and to the Court. We doubt not but your
Lo: does consider how bad effects the land hes alredie found of such
mens influence upon the King, whereof belike we shall find more, and
worse if your Lo: faithfulnes and wisdome doe not prevent it. Let the
wicked be removed from the King, and his throne shall be established in
righteousnes.”
The same day that this Remonstrance was condescended upon, the Comiss:
did also pass ane Act suspending all these Malignants in the north, who
had risen in arms, from the Communione, till the nixt Gen: Assem: the
just copie whereof follows:—
“Pearth, Novemb: 20, 1650.
“The Comis: of the Gen: Assemb: considering the great sin and
offence these men are guilty of, who have had accessione to the late
Rebellione in yᵉ North; therefore they doe appoint that all these
persons that were actually in armes at the late rebellione, and all
such as subscribed the Bond and Declaratione emited by them, to be
suspended from the Communione till the nixt Gen: Assemb: to which they
are hereby refered for further censure; and for all others that had
any accessione, by counsel or otherwise, to that rebellione, or to
the Kings withdrawing from his Counsell, refers to Presbytries to try
diligently, in their severall bounds, these persons and the degree of
their guiltines, and to report the same, with the evidences and proofs
thereof, to the nixt meeting of this Commissione.”
“A. KER.”
About the same time the Comiss: were instrumentall to cause yᵉ King and
his family, and the whole land, keep a Solemne Publick Humiliatione for
the sins of the King and of his fathers house.
[Page 65.]