invasione of the blasphemous sectariean armey, the sade conditione of
our countreymen in the southe pairts of the kingdome, groning wnder the
griuous oppression of strangers, deuoringe ther substance and enslauing
ther persons; the sade silence in maney congregations, quhosse teachers
are driuin into corners by the violence of the enimies, contemners of
Gods ordinances, and mockers of his messingers; the adwersaries roring
and making a strange noisse in the midest of some congregations; the
ineuitable hazard of our deir brethreen to be seduced into pernitious
heresies and errors, by the decetfull practisses and speaches of
sectaries, that ar coming to deceaue and speake lies in hypocrasie; the
innocent blood of our brethreen, murthered by the suord of a merceyles
enimey; the sighing of the prissoners, inhumanlie and creuelly wssed
by thosse quho keepe them prissoners; the caire of preseruing our
posteritie from being sunke wnder the darke dungeon of error, and
fast bound with the heauey chaines of bassest slauerey, do cray so
loud in the eares of all quho haue eares to heire, and a heart to
wnderstand, to be awake and quickned wnto the necessarie deutie of
the tyme; that it is ane wounder that aney Ionah should be found fast
asleep in so grate a storme, wherin this kirk and kingdome are lyke
to be ouerquhelmed: zet the constancie of our deutie, accordinge to
the trust committed to ws, and the carriage of some, quho, opprest
with a lethargie, lye still, or seassed vpone by a benuming coldnes,
moue slowlie; or caried aboute with the vind of strange doctrine, as
children are tossed to and fro, and moue contrairlie; constraine ws
to lift vpe our voyces, and from the watch touer quherone wee are
sett, to giue varning to the professors and ministers of the gospell
througheout the land, and to waken them vpe to ther deutey, as they
wold awoyd the displeasure of the Almightie, and escape the deserued
punishments and censures, wich may be inflicted by judicatories, ciuile
and eeclesiasticke, respectiue, vpone deficiences in, and delinquents
aganist deutie, according to the degree of ther offence. We exhorte all
men vnto repentance, to returne from the eiuell of ther thoughtes and
wayes, and to mourne after the Lord; coming to him through the Mediator
of the new testament, by quhom wee haue ane attoinment through faith in
his blood. It is more then heighe tyme for all to be humbled wnder the
mightie hand of God, quho hath cast ws doune, and is able to raisse ws
vpe againe, quho hath woundit, and is able to bind vpe our wounds. To
this effecte, wee haue appoynted a soleme day of fast and humiliatione,
for the causses sent to the seuerall presbeteries.
It is the deutie of the members of this kirke, and subiectes of this
kingdome, at this tyme, most cheirfully, wnanimously, and spedily to
come out, and concurre in the comon defence of religion, King and
kingdome; endangered by the wniust invasion of forraners, according to
call and command of authoritie. Let it be seriously layed to harte,
how muche blood is spilt; how maney tounes and shyres are spoyled; how
miserablie our brethreen are distressed and oppressed; how muche the
comon enimey is strenthned, quhill you be only preparing for releiffe;
quhatsoeuer is done to the least of them for this causse, is to be
takin as done to ws all in generall, and eurey one of ws in particular,
according to the expresse word of the nationall couenant; and in pleine
tearmes, wee are oblidged by the soleme leauge and couenant, to assist
(wich necessarly imports concurrence) and defend all that enter the
leauge and couenant, in the manteining therof. Wee obtest and exhorte
you, for the intrest wee haue in the comone adwenture of thesse riche
goodis, our liues, our liberties, our King, our religion, wich are
all embarked in one bottome, that ze abandon not the schipe of the
comonwelthe in this tempest; for if the schipe perishe, quhat can be
saiffe that is within. If you tender true religion, you see how the
sectaries shew themselues plaine enimies therto, and manteine that
impious monster of tolleration, thoughe religion wer not the question.
Let loyalty to your King, the onlie King in the world quho is in a
religious couenant with God and his people, animat you aganist thesse
quho are his enimies, becausse he is a King, and becaus couenanted.
Cast not offe the caire you ought to haue of your countrie, wich you
see manifestly and violently ruined befor your eyes. If thesse will not
moue you, (wee speike the language of our worthey reformers, in the
lyke caisse of invasione by forraners) remember your wyffes, children
and posteritie, your antient heritages and housses; and be sure thesse
strangers will not regaird your rights, quheneuer occasione shall
serue. And if ye purpois (as wee doutt not bot all thesse quho haue
ather witt or manhood will declare, and proue indeid) to brooke your
ancient roomes and heritages, defendit valiantly by your courageous
progenitors aganist all strangers, inwaders of the same, (suche as
the sectaries are this day); if you will not be slaues to them, and
haue your lyues, your wyffes, your children, your substance, and
quhatsomeuer is deare wnto you cast at ther feette, to be wssed and
abussed at the pleasure of strange shouldiers; if ze will not haue
experience some day in your auen persons, (as wee suppose the least of
you wold not gladlie haue, but wold rather chusse with honor to die
in defence of his auen natiue roume, then liue and serue so shamefull
a seruitude); then, brethreen, ioyne with the forces of the kingdome,
and both with witt and manhood opposse the comon enimey, or els our
libertie shall be heirafter deirer bought. Lett non be so vnhappie and
mischiwous, and so withdraw himselue heirfrom.
Except men will blot out of ther heartes the loue of religion, cast
offe loyalty to soueraine authority; and lay assyde all caire of ther
countrey, lawes, liberties and estaits, zea, all naturall affection to
the preseruatione of quhatsomeuer is deirest to them wnder the sune,
(all being in a visible danger of ruine and destruction) they must
now or neuer appeire actiuely, eache one streaching himselue to the
wttermost of his power. It is no tyme now to delay nor goe about the
bussines by halffes, nor be almost but altogider zealous. The Scripture
prononceth him accursed, that doeth the work of the Lord negligently,
that cometh not forth to the helpe of the Lord aganist the mightie.
If wee haue beine forward to assist our nighbour kingdomes, shall wee
neglecte to defend our owen? or shall the enimey of God be more actiue
aganist his causse, then his couenanted people for it; God forbid! If
the worke shall now miscarey and faill in our handes, throughe our
wnfaithfullnes, our auen consciences shall condeme ws, and posterity
shall cursse us. Who knowes, bot if wee stand stoutly and steadfastly
to it, the Lord may zet command our deliuerance, and shew ws his
saluation.
Lett all sortes, both of heighe and low degree, in this kingdome,
call to mynde ther soleme couenants; and namlie, that artickell of
our national couenant, wich oblidgethe ws not to stay or hinder aney
such resolution as by comon consent shall be found to conduce for the
endes of the couenant, bot by all meins to further and promoue the
same; wich layeth as a bond vpone peoples consciences, reddely to
obey suche orders as by the publicke resolutione of the parliament,
and Commissione of the Generall Assembley, are found necessarey for
the prosecutione of the warr; and that artickell of the soleme leauge
and couenant, wich oblidgethe ws not to suffer ourselues, directly nor
indirectly, by quhatsomeuer combination, persuasione, or terror, to be
dewydit and withdrawin from this blissed wnion and coniunction, or to
make defectione to the contrarey pairt, or to giue ourselues ouer to
a detestable neutrality in the causse; according to wich artickell,
mens reality and integrity in the couenant will be manifest and
demonstrable, als weill by ther omissions as commissions: by ther not
doing good, as by ther doing euill. He that is not with ws, is aganist
ws, and he that gathreth not with ws, scattereth. Since euerey mans
not adwenturing his persone, not sending out thesse that are wnder his
power, according to publicke order and appoyntment, and not paying the
contribution imposed for mantinence of the armey, haue beine formely
esteimed a ground of judgeing men enimies, malignants, and couenant
breakers, wee vishe it may be the caire of all to shune the wayes that
may bring them wnder thesse foull charecters, and quherby they may rune
themselues wnder the hazard of the displeasure of God, and censures of
the kirke, and no doubt of ciuil punishment also to be inflicted by the
stait.
Lett ministers, an the messingers of the Lord, sture vpe others,
both publickly, by free and faithfull preaching, and priuatly, by
admonishing eurey one of his deutey, as ther shall be occasione,
considringe, that silence in the publicke causse, especially in
publicke fastis not laboring to cure the dissaffectione of people; not
vrging them to constancie and patience in bearing of publick burdens,
nor to forwardnes in the publicke causse; that speaking ambigouslie,
inclyning to justifie the wicked causse, wtring wordes wiche sauor of
disaffection, complaining of the tymes in suche a way as may steall
the heartis of people from being good instruments in this worke, and
consequently from Gods causse; that some reiding publicke orders, and
speckes aganist them in priuat conferences, are reckoned vpe amongest
the enormities and corruptiones of ministers in ther callings. By the
Generall Assembley, 1646, sess: 4.
And becausse the Commissione of the Generall Assembley, in ther
remonstrance to the Conuention of Estaites, 6 Julij, 1643, teaching all
trew patriotts and professors of the reformed religion, that they may
learne to know and descerne the enimies of the kirke, amongest other
markes of malignancey giue this ther offring to presbeteries, in all
the quarters of the kingdome, papers contrarey to the declarations of
the Commissioners of the Generall Assembley. The Generall Assembley,
1645, in ther seasonable warning, 12 Februarij, gaue thesse characters
of secrett malignants and discouenanters, ther slighting or censuring
of the publicke resolutions of this kirke and stait; ther laboring to
raisse jelosies, diuisions, to retarde or hinder the executione of
quhat is ordained by the publicke judicatories; ther censuring and
slighting of thesse quhom God hath wsed as his cheiffe instruments
in this worke; ther drawing of parties and factions for weakning of
the comon vnion; ther endeworing informations and sollicitations,
tending to weakin the hartis and handes off others, and to make them
withold ther assistance from this worke; enioyning such to be weill
marked, tymly discovered, and cairfully awoyed, lest they infusse ther
counsells into the mynds of others, quherin they requyre ministers to
be faithfull, and presbeteries to be vigilant and impartiall, as they
will anssuer the contrarey to God, and to the Generall Assembly, or
ther Commissioners. The Generall Assembley, 1646, sessio 10, ordaines,
that besydes all vther scandels, silence and ambiguous speaking in the
publicke, muche more detracting and disaffected speiche, be seasonablie
censured. The Generall Assembley 1647, sessio 27, doeth, in the name
of God, inhibit the spreding and dispersing of erronious books or
papers, pamphletts, lybills and letters, requyring all ministers to
warne ther flockes aganist suche bookes in generall and particular;
and particularly aganist suche as are most plausable, insinuatting and
dangerous; and ordaines presbeteries and synodes to tray and processe
suche as shall trangresse; recommending to ciuile magistrats, that they
may be pleassed to be assisting to ministers and presbeteries in the
execution of this acte, and to concurre with ther authority for that
effecte.
Therfor, for execution of the forsaids actes of Assembley, and
preuining the emminent danger of religion, the people of God, and
the kingdome, by practisses leading to encourage the heartis and
strenthen the handes of enimies, in prosecutting ther wicked practisses
and purposes, to make fant the heartis and enfeeble the handes of
Gods people, and to seduce ther myndis with diuisiue and seperating
counsells and principalls, according to the power and trust committed
to ws, and according to the practisses of former Commissions of the
Generall Assembley: Wee doe, in the name of God, inhibit and discharge
all ministers to preache, and all ministers and professors to detracte,
speike or wreatt aganist the lait publicke resolutions and papers of
the Commissione of the Generall Assembley, in order to the calling
furth of the people for the necessarey defence of the causse and the
kingdome aganist the uniust invasione of thosse enimies to the kingdome
of God, and to the gouernment of this kirke and kingdome; ore to spred
and disperse letters, informations, or aney other papers aganist the
same; or in aney other way to obstructe that seruice, tending to the
preseruation and defence of religione, King and kingdome: requyring
ministers to warne ther flockes of thesse papers in generall, and
particularly suche as are most plaussible, insinuating and dangerous;
and wee doe seriously recommend to presbeteries, that with all
vigilancey, they take special notice and trayell of such persons
within ther bounds, wither suche as haue ther station ther, or suche
as, in this troublesome tyme, haue ther present residence, ministers
ore others, and impartially proceid aganist them, as they will be
anssuerable; and to report ane accompt of ther diligence herin to this
commissione, from tyme to tyme.
Thoughe our difficulties be maney and growing, zet quhen wee looke
backe vpone the grate thinges wich God hath done for ws and for our
predecessors, and our manifold deliuerances out of seuerall dangers
and difficulties wich appeired insuperable, experience breides hope.
Our fathers trusted in God; they trusted in him, and he did deliuer
them; they crayed wnto him, and wer deliuered; they trusted in him, and
wer not confounded. Let ws wait vpon him, quho hydeth himselue from
the housse of Iacob; let ws cray wnto the Lord of Hostis, quho hathe
deliuered ws, and doeth deliuer ws; and in him lett ws trust that he
will zet deliuer ws; though for a small moment he hath forsaken ws, zet
with grate mercies he will gather ws. He quho hath shewed ws grate and
sore troubles, shall quicken ws againe, and shall bring ws upe again
from the deipthes of the earthe; he shall encrease our strenthe, and
comfort ws on eurey syde, aganist our feares one eaurey syde; onlie
be stronge, be of good courage, be of one mynde, and according to the
worke of the Lord, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
_Sic subscribitur_,
W. KER.
[20 Martij.]—Ordred that it be putt one the Commissione of the Generall
Assembley, that Stirling receaue no præiudice by Guthrie and Bennitt,
ther preaching, or ther being ther.
[21 Martij.]—Ordred that a barrone and a burgesse goe with the Earle of
Eglinton to the Commissione of the Kirke, and enquyre for ther anssuer
to the quere proposed by the parl: to them.
[22 Martij.]—The Com: of Generall Assemblies anssuer to the parliaments
quere, reed; being a delay of a full anssuer to the said quere, wntill
ther be a more frequent meitting of the said commission; zet in ther
paper, they desyre the King and parl: to admitt vpone ther counsells,
all bot some few as haue beine pryme actors aganist the stait, &c.
Saterday, 29 Martij. 14 dies parl: Rege presente.—Ordred that my
Lord Chanceler and my Lord Balcarras draw vpe a letter to be sent to
the Commission of the Generall Assembley, that they wold haist ther
meitting for remouing that obstikelle and scruple of taking in all
remoued by the acts of classis; and that ther may be a generall vnity
in the kingdome.
* * * * *
_The anssuer of the Commission of the Generall Assembley to the paper
sent to them for the King and parliament, concerning Mr James Guthrie
and Mr Dauid Bennett._
Perth, 18 Martij, 1651.
The Commissione of the Generall Assembley hauing receaued first from
Mr James Guthrie and Mr Dauid Bennett, ministers at Stirling, and
afterward from the Kings Maiestie and parliament, tuo protestations
made by thesse brethren aganist the proceidinges of his Maiestie and
the Committee of Estaits with them, in relatione to the securing of
Stirling from aney danger wiche might ensew therinto, by the doctrine
and carriage of the said brethren, contrair to the present publicke
resolutions, in relation to acting for defence of the kingdome and
causse against the publicke enimey; and being desyred by his Maiestie
and parliament to giue ther adwisse and oppinione, wither the Committee
of Estaits, in ther proceiding with ther brethren, hes done aney
thing preiudiciall to the preuiledges and liberties of the kirke; to
vindicat the publick resolutions of kirke and stait, in order to acting
aganist the enemie, from the imputatione layed therone in the forsaid
pretestations; to giue ther oppinione, wither the Committee of Estaits
hes wronged ther brethren, contrair to the law of nature, the law of
God, and the lawes of the land, by ordring them to remaine at Perth or
Dundie, wntill his Maiesties returne from Aberdeine; that in a more
full meitting of the committee it might be determined quhat should
be done further with them, in relatione to the saftie of Stirling;
and finally, to giue ther adwice quhat now shall be done further to
the presenters of the forsaid protestations, for the securing of the
garisons of Stirlinge. Therfor the commission, hauing takin to ther
consideratione the forsaid protestations, and being informed of the
proceidinges of the committee with the presenters therof, haue thought
fitt, in obedience to the desyre of the King and parliament, and for
the discharge of the trust comitted to them, to giue this declaratione
and anssuers followeth:—
1. That they find it a thing lawfull for ministers, citted and
compeiring befor the ciuile magistrate, vpone matters relatinge to
ther doctrine and carriage in ther ministeriall dewties, to protest,
that ther compirance be with preseruation, and without all preiudice
of the liberties and preuelidges of the kirke and of the ministers of
Christ, in thesse thinges that relate to the doctrine and deuties of
ther ministeriall function; and that the forsaid brethren compiring,
vpone matters of that kind, befor the committee, had no wayes faylled
in doing so, had they contented themselues with a simple protestation
to this purposse.
2. That they doe not find that the Kinges Maᵗⁱᵉ and Committee of
Estaits, in requyring the forsaid brethren to compeir befor them,
or the Committee of Estaits, in ordaining them to stay at Perth
or Dundie, wntill a fuller meitting of the committee, haue not
trenched or incroched vpone the liberties or preuilidges of the
kirke, or wronged the same in aney wayes; for, first, quheras, in the
first protestatione, made vpone the King and committees requyring
the brethren to compeir, and ther compirance, the ground of the
protestation is layed doune to be, that they wer citted vpone a
naratiue relating to ther doctrine and ministeriall dewties, and that
the judicatories of the kirke are the only and competent judges of
thesse thinges. These is so far from evidencing aney incrochment made
by the King and committee vpon the preuilidges of the kirke, that one
the contrarey, as thus layed doune, without aney qualificatione, it
importeth a grate wronging of the iust right of the ciuill magistrat,
as if it wer not proper to him in aney caisse to judge of thesse
matters, which is contrair to the doctrine of the quhole Reformed Kirke
in generall, and particularlie of this Kirke of Scotland; to witt, that
the ciuill magistrat hes power and authoritie, and is oblidged, in his
ciuill and coerciue way, to censure and punishe idolatrie, schisme,
vnsound doctrine, ministers neglecte or perwersues in doing ther
ministeriall deuties and functions: and if he may and ought to censure
and punishe thesse thinges, may he not citte ministers to compeir befor
him, vpone ane naratiue relating to thinges of that kynd, without
encrotching or wronging the liberties and preuelidges of the kirke?