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SEASONABLE

AND NECESSARY

WARNING DECLARATION,

CONCERNING

Prefent and Imminent Dangers, and con- cerning Duties relating thereto from the

GENERALL ASSEMBLY

-->.,..,. OF THIS

Vnto a -the Members thereof;

£<DTNSVRGH, . _

Printed by B<m T)hr, Printer to the Kings MoftM-

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Edinburgh, 27. July, !<ftj.p. Sef. if,

Afeafonahle and necejfary Warning and ^Declaration , concerning Trefen t and Imminent dangers^ and concerning du^ ties relating t hereto 3 from the General JJfembly of this iQr^ unto aU the £K£emhers thereof.

HE Lord who choofes Jerufafem in a furnace of AfiMion,hath been pleafed fince the beginning of the work of Re- formadon in this Land, to exercife his People with many trialls \ all that de- fiiedtokeepa good con fcience, were not long agoe under many heavy and fad prelTures from the infolency and oppreffion of a pre- vailing party of dif-affe&ed and Malignant men,who un- der a pretext of bringing the King to a condition of Ho- nour 3 Freedom and Safety, did carry on an unlawful En-

. A 2 gage-

gagemrntagainft the Kingdom of England: and if the Lord had not been merciful! unto his people, they were like either to have been banimed out ot the Land, orto have been kept inaperpetuall bondage in their confer- ences, perlons and eftates: But he whole Meftengers thole men had mocked, and whofe word they had di- fpifed, did bring them down (uddenly in a day, and re- ftored liberty and peace unto his people,a mercy and de- liverance, which as it ought to be remembred with tt ankfulnelTeand praife,fo may it engage our hearts noc to faint in troubles and ftraites that do yet abi le us , but to truft in the name of the Lord, who both can and will deliver us ft;ll out of all our afflictions.

Albeit, wee do now enjoy many rich and precious bkllings wherein we have reafon to be comforted, and to rejoyce; yet it were to fhut our o m\ eyes if we mould not fee oui lelves involved inv and tbreatned with many and great dangers at home and from abroad. It is mat- ter of exceeding great forrow to chink upon the igno- rance and profanity, the impenitencie and feruritychac abounds drill in the Land, notwithftanding all the graci- ous difpenfation of the Gofpel, and means of grace in fuch purity ana plenty, that none of the Nations round about us'canboaft of the like , and of all the long-fuffe- ring patience of the Lord, and of all his fharp rods wherewith he bath afflicted Us from year to year, and of all the mercies and delivrarces wherewith he hath vi- fucdus, and ofoui latefolemnconfeffton of(innes,and engagement unto duties, fealed with the renewing of the Covenant and the O ith o( God '•, Which fome men have fo far already forgotten, as to return with the dogge to the vomit, and with the low to the puddle ^ and ma- ny (ignes of inconfhncy and levity do appear among all

forts

\3 J foits and ranks of perrons* who feemto want nothing but a feible tentation to draw them away from their fteadh fine fie : Our Army is not yet fufficiemly purged, but there be flill in it Malignant and fcandalous men, whofe fidelity and conftancy, as it is much to be doubt- ed, fei? the wrath of the Lord to be feared, upon their proceedings and undertakings, without a fpeedy and ef- fe&uall remedy.

That prevailing party of Sectaries in £#g/W,who have broken the Covenant, and difpifed the Oath of God, corrupted the truth, fubverted the fundamental! Government by King and Parliament, and taken away the Kings life, look upon us with an evil! eye, as upon thefe who ftand in the way of their monftruous and new fangled devices in Religion and Government, and though there were no cauleto fear any thing from that party but the Gangrene and infection of thofe many damnable and abominable errours which have taken hold on them, yet our vicinity unto, and daily con> merce with that Nation, may juftly make us afraid chac the Lord may give up many in this Land unto a f pit it of delufion to beleeve lies, becaufe they have not received the love of the truth.

Neither is the Malignant party fo far broken and brought low, as that they have abandoned all hopes of carrying on their former defigns againft the Covenant and work of Reformation, befide many of them in this Kingdom who are as Foxes tied in chains, keeping their evill nature, and waiting an opportunity to break their cords, and again to prey upon the Xords people. There be fhnJing Armies in Ireland, under the command of the MarqaeflTe ofOrmond, The Lord Inchqueen, the- Lord or Airds and George Munro, who forgetting all.

A 3 the:

(4) the horrible [cruelty that was exercifed by the Irifh Re- bels, upon many thoufands of theEnglifti andScottifh Nations in that land , have entred into a Peace and Af- f ociation with them, that they may the more eafily carry on the old defignes of the Popifli, Prelaticall and Malig- nant pmy, and the Lord of o*W/, and George Monroe, have by creadiery and oppremon brought the Province of^^andGarrifons therein, under. their Power and Command , and have redacted our country -men , and fuch as adhere unto the Covenant , and caufe of God in that Province, unto many Miferies and Straits, and are like to banifli the Minifters of the Goibell, and to over- turn thefe faire beginnings of the work of God , which were unto many a branch of hope, that the Lord meant to make Ireland a pleafant land.

But which is more grievous unto us then all thefe, our King, Notwichftending of the Lords hand againft his Fathers oppofition to the work of God , and of the ma- ny fad and doleful! confequences thst followed there- upon, m reference to Religion, and his Subje&s and Per- fon, and Government, doth harken unto the counsels of ihefe, who were Authours of thefe miferies unto his Royall Father, and to his K[ngdomes, by which it hath come to pafle , that his Majefty hath hitherto refufed to grant the juft and neceflary deilres of this Kirk and Kingdom,which were tendred unto him fromtheCom- irnffioners of both for fecuring of Rehgion,the Liberties of the Subje&, his Ma/efties Government,and the Peace of the Kingdome-, And it is much to be feared that thofe wicked Counfellours may fo farre pre vail e upon him in his tender yeers, as to engage him in a warre , for over- turning (if it be poflible) of die work of God, and bear- ing down alkhofe in the three Kingdomes that adhere

thereto,

tneKto, which if he fadl doe, cannot but brin* great wrath ftoai the Lord upon himfelfe and his Throne, and m«ft be the caufe of many new, and gteat miferies , and calamities to tbefe Lands.

It concerns a Nation thus finfuli and loaden with ini- quay, and involved in fo many difficulties and danger

„eartTrSo7en!anCeanad,Unfained humiliatio» »8S Dhca 1? ,1' f"d torwreftle,Wisi> Wm ''n Prayer and Sup- C','11.0?' fi" may be pardo„ed,and our iniquity oveoTJ'r Bdr*«heVouldeft«blifl, the Land in the

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,le SaLt y Mdiy r"d r hout fear> a"d in • hnm- 2*a uP?n *e Lord, in whom alone is the fal-

Olf* 5 ev«y man ought with all faithful- to are approven and allowed of God, for preferving

ig the Landagainfl ,a lenemies whatfomever, both up- on the right-hand and upon the left. P

JJ I ;„Tr't0fe.rou/tand ***<*.« our Neighbour-' tt h m Pf c'e,° .Sa«n hath vailed it fclfe in many, ider the nusfcof hohneffe , and is in the righteous and ife difpenfation of God , armed with power and at-

sLand luwlfh- **?"*** a11 ^'inhabitants of ™ nK 1 • °ur f 0t more fenowl«dge, and more &effi ft *' WIth0u^ which th£y may W bede-

iflibSitt^r"'"^ Md W0lJd Ieatn * diftm- ™,T » "he ihewand power of godlineffe. Wee

and mo , ' Hmany'n *&** who be truly god- and mourn with os for all the errours and abominati-

unldsofthefewhohath^alaS/^

work of God, defpifed the Covenant, forced t!ie Parli- ament,murthered the King, changed the civill Govern- ment,and eftshfhed fo vail: a Toleration in Religion,can- not be the Spirit of RighteoufnefTe and HolinelTe , be- caufe it teaches not men to live godly and righceoufly, but drawes them afide into errour , and makes them to bring forth the bitter fruits of impiety and iniquity, and therefore ought to be avoided -7' and not only are fuch of our Nation as travaile in our Neighbour-land , to take heed unto themfelves , that they receive not infection from fuch as are leavened withErrour,butthefe alfo who live at home, efpecially in thofe places where Sectaries, upon pretext of merchandife , and other civill imploy- mens, ordinarily traffique and converfe: Neither needs any man to be afraid of the power and fuccefle of that party, they who have gadded about fo much to change their way,iTiall ere long beafhamed; the Lord hath reje- cted their confidences, and they mail not profper in them. How farre they may proceed in their Refolutions and AdVmgs againftthis Kingdome, is in the hand of the mofthigh,if the Lord fhallfuffer that party to invade this land, it may be the comfort and incouragement oi all the Inhabitants thereof, that not only hath that un lawfull engagement againft the Kingdome of Englam beendelared againft , and condemned both by Kirk anc Stare, but alfo that thefe men can pretend no qua* rell againft us , unlefte it be that ;we have adhered unt^ the Solemn League and Covenant , from which thei have fo foully revolted & backflidden, and that we havni borne teftimony againft Toleration , and their proceed] ings in reference to Religion and Government, andthjj taking away of the Kings Iife«,and therefore we truft tha in fuch a cafe none will be fo farre deficient in their due

(7) as hot to defend themfelves againft fuch injufl violence,

and in the fhength of the Lord to adhere unto their for- mer principlcs,with much boldnes of fpirif,and willing- nefTe of heart, in this certainly we (ball have a good con- icience, and the Lord fhall be with us.

We are not fo, to have the one of our eyes upon the Sectaries, as not to hold the other upon the Malignants, they being an enemy more numerous , and no leiTe f ub- eile and powerfull nor the other, and at this time more dangerous unto us , not only becaufe experience hath proven that there is a greater aptitude and inclination in thefe of our land , to complie with Malignants then Se- ctaries , that they carry on their wicked defignes under a pretext of being for the King, but alfo becaufe there be many of them inour own bowels-, and for that they doe pretend to be formaintenance of the Kings Perfon and Authority, ( and which is the matter of our griefe) be- caufe the King ownes their principles and wayes , which if it be not taken heed unto, may prove a great fnare, and dangerous tentation to many to fide with them againft the Lords people, and his caufe. The conftant tenour of the carriage of thefe in this land, who ftand for the caufe of God, are undeniable arguments of their affedion to Monarchy , and to that Royali Family and Line which hath f weyed the Scepter of thisKingdom for many hun- dreds of yeers pall:-, albeit his Majeftie who lately reign- ed, refuted to harken totheirjuftdefires^ yet did they with much patience and moderation of n>ind, fupplicate and folicite his Majefty for fatisfadion in thefe things that concerns Religion and the Covenant, and were (kill willing j that upon fatisfadion given , he fhould be ad- mitted to the exerciie of his Royal power,& whatfoever envie and malice objeds to the contrary, were careful to

B gee

gee afTurancc concerning the fafety of his Majefties Per- fon, when they brought their Army out of England^n& when not with (landing of that aflurance, the p -ev-iliig party of Sectaries were a&ing his life, did to the utmoft of their power, endeavour by their CommifTi neisthat there might have been no fuch proceeding , and when their de ires and endeavours were not fuccelefull , did proteft and bear teftimony againft the fame. And as both Kit k and State had teftified their tender refpecl to his Majefty who now reigns , by their Letters written to him whilft his Father was yet living , fo no fooner did the Parliament heare ot his Fathers death , but they did With all folemnity proclaim him King of thele King- domes , and after they had acqua nted his Majefty by Meflages with their proceedings herein , Commiflio- ners were fent both from State and Kirk inftruc'ted with power and CommifTion to exprefle the Affection of this Kingdomc to Monarchy, andhisM.jefties Perfonand Government, together with thdr defires concerning the fecurity of Religion, and the Peace of thofe Kingdoms. And albeit the defires of both which are now publifhed to the world , with his Majefties aniwers thereto , are fuch as are moft |j uft and neceflary , yet the Counfels of the malignant party had fo geat influence upon his Ma- jefty,that his antwers are not only not fatisfa&ory, but fhort of that which was many times granted by his Roy- all Father, and cannot be acquiefced unto , unlefle we would abandon the League and Covenant , and betray Religion, and the caufe of God.

We hold it the duty of all who live in this Land , to wreftle with God in the behalfe of the King , that he may be recovered out of the fnare ofevill Counfell , and brought to give fatisfaction to the publick defires of

Kirk

K91 Kirk and State,and in their places and ftadons, eonfe ail endeavours with himfelfe and others for that effe&, and to be willing,upon fatisfavftion given,to admit him to the exercife of his power , and cheerfully to obey him in all things according to the will of God,and the La wes of the Kingdom,andto do every thing that tends to theprefer- vation of his MajeftiesPerfon,and juft greatnefte andAu- thority,in the defence and prefervation of the trueReligi- on and Liberties of the Kingdomes.

But if his Majefty , or any having,or pretending power andCommiflion from him, dial invade this Kingdom ,up« on pretexc of eftablifhing him in the exercife of hisRoy- all power, as it will be an high provocation againft God to be accellory oraffiiting thereto, fo wil it be a necellary duty to reiift &oppoie the fame. We know that many are fo forgetful of the oath of God, & ignorant & careles of the intereft of JafusCh; ift & theGof pel,and dothfo little tender that which concerns hisKingdom &thePrivileges thereof,& doth fo much dote upon abiolute & Arbitrary Government for gaining their own ends,& fo much ma- ligne the Inftruments of the work of Reformation, thae they would admit his Majefty to the exercife of hisRoy- all power upon any termes whatsoever , though with never fo much prejudice to Religion, and the Liber- ties of thefe K ngdomes, would think it quarrell enough to make Warreupon all thole who for confeience fake cannot condefcend thereto- but Wedefire all thefe who fearethe Lord , and mind to keep their Covenant im- partially to coiiider thefe things which follower , firft. That as Magiftrates and their power is ordained of God, fo are they in the exercife thereof , not to walke accor- ding to their owne will, but according to the Law of equity and righteoulnefse , as being the Minifters of

13 2 God

< 10 1

of G O D for the fafety of His People •, Therefore a boundles and illimittcd power is to be acknow- ledged in no King nor Magiftrate , neither is Our King to be admitted to the exercifc of his Power as long as he refufes to walk in the Adminiftration of the fame, according to this rule , and the eftablifhed Laws of the Kingdom, that his Subjects may live under him a quiet and peaceable life in all Godlineife and honeftie.

2. There is anemutuall Obligation and Stipulation betwixt the King and his People, as both of them are tied to G O D , fo each of them are tied one to another for the performance of mutuall and reciprocal! dutie?, according to this: It is Satute and Ordained in the 8. Act of the i .Parliament of King James the tf.Thataii King?, Princes or Magiftrates whatiomever,holding their place which hereafter (hail happen in any time to Reign and bear rule over this Realm,at the time of their Ccronation and receit of their Princely Authority , make their faith- fall promife by Oath in the pretence of the Eternal GOD, that during the whole courfe of their lives, they mail ferve the fame Eternall G O D to the utmoft of their power,according as he hath required in His moll Holy Word contained in the Old and New Teftament> and according to the fame Word , fhall maintain the true Religion of thrift Jefus , the Preaching or His moft Holy Word, and due and right Adminiftration of His Sacraments now received and preached within this Realm , and lliall abolifhand gainftand' all falfe reli- gion c )ntrary to the fame, and mall rule the people com- mitted to their charge according to the Will and Com- mand of G O D revealed in His Word, and according to the lovable Laws and Conftitutions received within this Realm 3 and fhall procure to the utmoft of their

power

power to the Kirk of God and whole Chriifmn People, true and perfect peace in all dme coming , and thae Juftice and Equity be keepedto all creatures without exception , which Oath was (worn , firft by King J- Ames the 6. and afterwards by King Charles at his Coronation, and is inferted in our Nationall Covenant, which wasapproven by the King, who lately Reigned : As long therefore as his M.ijefty who now Reignes, re- fufes to hearken to the juft and neceftary defires of State and Kirk , propounded to his] Majefty for the Security of Religion, and (afetyof his People, and to engage and oblige himfelf for the performance of his Duty to his People: It isconfonantto Scripture and reafon, and the Laws of the Kingdom, that they mould refute to admit him to the exercifeof his^Government, untill he give fatisfa&ion in thefe things.

3. In the League and Covenant which hathbeenfo folemly fworn and renewed by this Kingdom , the Dutieof defending and preferving the Kings Majefties Perfonand Authority , is joyned with ane fubordinate unto the dutie of preferving and defending the true Re- ligion and Liberties of the Kingdoms: And therefore his Majeftie (landing in oppofition to the juft and necef- farypublick defires concerning Religion and Liberties, it were a manifeft Breach of Covenant, and a preferring of the Kings intereft to the Imereft of *fef$s Chrift , to bring him to the exercifeof his Royall power, which he walking in a contrary way ,, and being compared about with Malignant counfels, cannot but imploy unto the prejudice and ruin of both.

4. Was not an Arbitiary Government and unli- mited power, the fountain of mod of all the Corrupti- ons both in Kirk and State i And was it not for reftraint

B 3 of

( 12)

of thisand for their own juft defence, againft Tiranny and injuft Violence, which ordinarily is the fruit and effect of fuch a power , that the Lords People did jo\n in Covenant , and have been at the expenfe of fo much blood , pains and treafure thefe yeerspaft, and if his Majeftie mould be admitted to the exercife of his Go- vernment before fatisfaction given , were it not to put in his hand that Arbitarity Power, which we have up- on juft and neceflary grounds been fo long withftand- ing, and fo to abandon our former Principles, and be- tray our Caufe.

5. The King being averfe from the Work of Refor- mation and the inftruments thereof, and compalled about with Malignant & difafte&ed men, whom he hear- kens unto as his moft faithfull Counfellcrs, and looks upon as his beft and moft Loyall Subjects : We leave it to all indifferent men to judge , whether his Majeftie, being admitted to the exercife of his Power before fa- tisfaciion given , would not by fuch Counfells endea- vour an overturning of the things which G O Dhath wrought *amongft ms, and labour to draw publick adminiftrations concerning'Religion and the liberties of the Subject, unto that courfe and channell in which they did run under Prelacie , and before the Work ot Refor- mation $ Which we have the more caufe to fear, be- caufe his Royal! Father did fo often declare, that he conceived himfelf bound to imploy all the power that G O D fhould put in his handsto the'utmoft for thefe ends-, and that he adheres as yet to his FathersPrinciples, and walkes in his way, and hath made a Peace wich the Irifh Kebells , by which is granted unto them the full li- berty of Popeiy.

6. It is no ftrange nor new thing for Kingdoms to

preferve

(13) preferve Religion and themfelves from mine, by putting reftraint upon the exercife of the power and Govern- ment of thofewho have refufed to grant thole things that were neceflary for the good of Religion , and the Peoples fafety * there hath been many precedents of it in this and other nations of old , and of late upon thefe and other important confiderations : It (hall be the wifdom of every one who dwells in the Land, to take heed of fuch a temptation andfnare, that they be not acceffory to any fuch defignes or endeavours , as they would not bring upon themfelves, and upon their families, the guilt of all the detriment that will undoubtedly follow there- upon to Religion and the Covenant v and of all the mi- feriesand calamities that it will bring upon his Maje- fties Perfon and throne,and upon thefe Kingdoms 5 fuch aching would in all appearance be the undermining and making , if not the overthrowing and deftroying ot the work of Reformation •, and therefore whofoever at- tempt the fame , oppofe themfelves to the Caufe of G O D , and will at laft dafh againft the Rock of the L O R D S Power , which hath bro- ken in pieces many high and lofty ones fince the beginning of this^ Work in thefe Kingdoms , and it is unto us a f ure Word of P romife , That whofoever (ball aflociate themfelves , or take counfell together, or gird themfelves againft G O D and His Work, fhall be, broken in pieces.

It is not onely joyning in Arms with the Malignans partie, that all thefe who would keep their integritie has need to beware of, but alfofubcill devices and de- fignes that are promoted by fair pretexts and perfwa- fions to draw men to difpence at leaft with f ome part of thefe neceffarie defires that are propounded to his

Majeftie,

04) Majeftie for fecuring of Religion, after many turnings and devifes the foundation of the Unlawfull Engage- ment was at laft laid by his Majefties Concefftons of the date the year 1648. wherein though many things feemed to be granted, yet that was denied, without which Re- ligion and the Union betwixt the Kingdoms could not have been fecured,and it isprobable.that fuch a way may be allayed again, and profecuted with very much cun- ning and skill to deceive and infnare the fimple : It doth therefore concern all ranks and conditions of per- fons to be the more warie and circumfpeft , efpecially in that which concerns the National! Covenant, and the Solemn League and Covenant , that before his Ma- jeftie be admitted to theexercifeof his Royall Power, that by and attour the Oath of Coronation , he fhali allure and declare by his Solemn Oath under his hand and feal, his allowance of the Nationall Covenant , and of the Solemn League and Covenant, and obligation to profecute the ends thereof in his Station and Calling, and that he fhall for himfelf and his fuccelTours, confent and agree to A&s of Parliament > injoyning the Solemn League and Covenant, and fully Eftabliftring Presby- teiiall Governmem,the Directory of Worfhip,the Con- feflion of Faith and Catechifme , as they areapproven by the Generall AfTembly of this Kirk and Parliament of this Kingdom , in all his Majefties Dominions, and that he flull obferve thefe in his own Pra&ife and Fa- milie , and that he {hall never make oppofition to any of thefe, nor endeavour any change thereof •, Albeit the League and Covenant be difpifedby that prevail- ing party in Enghnd,ixi& the Work of Uniformity,tho- rovv the retardments and obftru&ions that hath come in the way,be almoft forgotten by thefe Kingdoms , yet

the

(*5)

the obligation of that Covenant is perpetual! }and all the duties contained therein ae conftantly to be minded3 and profecuted by every oneof]us, and ourpofterity, ac- cording to their place and fhtions vand therefore we are no leiTe zealoufly to endeavour , that his Majeftie may Eftablifh , and fwear , and fubfcrihe the lame , then if it weie unamimoufly regarded and ftook unto by all the Kingdom of England, his Majeftie (wearing and fubfcribing the League and Covenant, will much contribute for the Security of Religion , his Majefties happinefTe, and the Peace of his Kingdoms.

As it is incumbent to all, who live in this Kirk and Kingdom , to be watchfull and circumipect , fo it con- cerns thefe of the High and Honourable Court of Par- liament and their Committees, in a fpeciali way to fee to their dutie , and to be ftraight and refolute in the per- formance of the lame 5 Their former proceedings is un- to us a f uf fident evidence and ground of hope, that they will not be wanting in any neceflary teftimony of dutie and Loyalty that they owe to the King, by ufing all juft and feafonable endeavours for obtaining fatisfa&ion of his Majeftie , that fo he may be efhblifhed upon his Thrones $ And we truft, that upon the other hand, the fence of their obligation to G O D , and his Oath that is upon them, will make them conftantly to adhere to their former Principles , and reiolutions , and defires concerning Religion and the Covenant , that reall fa- tisfa&ion may be had thereanent, before the King be put in the exercife of his power , and that they will care- fully provide for the fafety of the Kingdom , both in re- gard of inteftine dangers , and in regard of invafion from without : It is not long fince they , together with the reft of the Land, made folemn Publick Confeflion

C Qt

of Compliance with Maiignants,carnall confidence, fol- lowing of (elf intereftf,and hearkening to the Counfells of fiefli and blood , and did in a fpeciall way engage themfelves to comply , and feek themfelves and their own things, no more to abandon the counfels of their own hearts, and not to rely upon the Arm of flefh, and to purge Judicatories , and Armies from Profane, and fcandalous perfons • And God forbid that they fhould fo foon forget , or neglect fo neceflary duties , and fall again unto fo great and grievous tranfgreffions. We truft that they will (eek the things of CHRIST, and not their own things , that they will hearken to His Word, and not walk in the imaginations of their own hearts, that they will relie upon the Arm of the L O R D, and not upon the arm of flefh , that they will be warie and circumfpect in decerning the dif pofitions and affections ofthofe whom they put in truft-, and that feeing this Kingdom hath fo much fmarted , and been fo often de- ceived by compliance with Malignants, that they will carefully avoid this mare ofthofe who were upon the former Unlaw full Engagement , and be tender in bring- ing in of fuch 5 And we cannot but exhort them in the Name of the LORD, to^take notice of the Oppreflion of the People and Commons in the Land , by the law- leiTe exactions of Land- Lords, Collectours and Soul- diers. Wedonot juftifiethemurmuringsand grudgings of thofe , who preferring the things of the world to the Gofpel and things of fefus Chrift , repine at necef- fary burthens, without which it is not polTible that the Land can be fecured from invafion without , and insur- rection within, or the Caufe and People of G O 1) de- fended from enemies: It is the duty of everyone who hath taken the Covenant, willingly and witfi a eheerfuU

minde

(*7) mind to beftow their means and their pains as they fhall

be called thereunto, in an orderly way •, yet mould thefe to whom God hath committed the Government, take care that they be not needleffely burthened , and that nonegrind their faces by oppreflion $ not only by ma- king of Lawes againft the fame, but by fearching out of thecaufe of the poor, and by executing thefe Lawes ti- moufly upon thefe that oppreiTe them, that they may find real redrefse of their juft grievances and complaints, and be encouraged to bear thofe burthens which cannot be avoyded.

As the Parliament have begun, f owe hope they will continue, to purge out all thele from truff. , that are not of known integrity and affection to the caufeof God, and of a blamelefse and Chriftian converfation, and th&t they and the Officers of the Army in their refpe&ive pla- ces, will ferioufly mind, and fpeedily and reioiutely goe about the removing from the Army all malignant and fcandalous perfons, and alfo the removing of Sectaries when any fhall be found therein, that they may give real evidence that they did not deal deceitfully with God , in the day that they^ngaged themfeives thereto.

Albeit wee hope and pray that thofe who beare charge in our Army, will from the remembrance of the Lords goodnefse to them, and the honour that he hath put upon them , endeavour to carry themfelves faith- fully, and ftraightly , yet it cannot be unfealonable to warn them to take heed of tentations , and to beware of fnaresthat they be not drawn to indifrerencie or neutra- lity in the caufe of God, much lefse unto connivance at> or compliance with the courfes and defignes of malig- nants or Sectaries, but to ftick clofely by the fame , and to be zealous againft all the enemies and adverfaries

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(i8j thereof,and it concerns fouldiers to be content with their wages , and to doe violence to no man , but as they arc called unto the defence of the cauie and people of God, fo to behave themfelves in (uch a blameletae and Chri- flian a way, that their carriage may be a teftimony to his caufe, and a comfort to his people , fo mall our Armies profper, and the Lord mail goe out with them*

But moft of all it concerns the Minifters of the Gofpel whom God hath called to give warning to his people to look to their duty- It is undeniably true,that many of the evils wherewith this Kirk and Kingdome hath been affli- cted in our age, have come to pafse , becaule of the neg- ligence of fome, and corruptions of others of the Mini- ftry, whilft fome fell afkep, and were carelefse,and o- thers were covetous and ambitious,the evil man brought in Prelacy,and the Ceremonies, and had farre promoted the Service-Book, and the Book of Cannon, and the courfe of backfliding and revoking was carried on, untill it pleafed God to ftirre up the fpirits of thefefew who had flood in the gap to oppofe and refift the fame? and to begin the work of Reformation in the Land-, fince which time, thefilenceof lome Minifters, and compli- ance of others, hath had great influence upon the back- fliding of many amongft the people , who upon the difco very of the evill of their way , complain that they got not warning , or that if they were warned by fome, others held their peace,or did juftifie them in the courfe of their backfliding- We can look upon fuch Minifters no otheiwife then upon thofe that are guilty of the blood of the Lords people, and with whom the Lord will reckon for all the breach of Covenant, and defecti- on that hath been in the Land. iThe Priefts lips fhould preferve knowledge3and they mould leek the law at his

mouth,

(19) mouth, for he is the mefsengerof the Lord of Hofbjimc fuch are departed out of the way, and have caufed many to ftumble at the Law , therefore hath the Lord made them contemptible and bafe before all the people, accor- ding as they have not kept his wayes,but have been par- tial! in his Law , became they have loft -their favour, he hath cafi: out many of them as unfavoury falr,but (uch as have been faithfull,as he hath preferved them from the violence and fury of men, To hath he verified his word m their mouthes , both againft his enemies , and concern- ing his people, and his work,and makes them fee,though not all their defires concerning the Gofpel, and the work of God in the land, yet very much of the fruit of their labour , by preferving the doctrine and all the ordinan- ces of Jefus Chrift in their purity , and adding in fome meafure thereto the power and life thereof : We doe therefore charge all the Minifters of the land,beforeGod and the Lord Jefus Chrift, who (hall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing in his Kingdom , as ine- very thing to be enfamples of a good con verfation , and to walk without offence , that the Miniftry benotbla- med^So to take heed unto the flock over which the Holy Ghoft hath made them overfeers , to declare unto them all the Counfell of God, and to give them timous warn- ing concerning every danger and duty, and to hold forth unto them the folid grounds of reallconfolation, by which the.y may be encouraged and comforted in ail their trials and afflictions , that they may be free of the blood of all men,and have this as a ground of re/oycing, even the teftimonyof their confciences,that in fimplicity and godly purenefse, not with flefhly wifdome , but by the grace of God they have had their converfation in the world3and have exhorted and comforted , and charged

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every one committed unto them as a Father doth his children*, efpecially, Minifters are to be care ^ull to be much in difcovering the temptations , and prefling the duties of the times,that thefe who are under their charge may know what to avoy d,and what to embrace and pur- fue. If all the Watchmen in theLand fhall give warning, and blow the Trumpet at once, it fhall not be eafie for e- nemiestoprey upon the people of God 5 Wee know no caufe why any whom God hath called to preach the Gofpel, fhould be afraid to fpeak boldly in the Name of the Lord, fince God hach given fo manifeft a teftimony of his care and protection, in preferving them thefe yeers pad, who have ftriven to be faithful! to him who hath called them from all the fury and malice of the haters of the work of God,and of the Kingdom of his Sonne Jefus Chrift,who hath promifed to be with his fervants unto the end of the world.

Albeit the Land be involved in many difficulties, and compaiTed about with great and imminent dangers , yet there is hope and ground of confolation concerning this thing, the Lord is in the midft of us,and we are called by his name,our eares hear the joyfull found of the Gofpel, and our eyes fee our Teachers. We behold the Atme of the Lord ftretched out daily in working falvation for his people, and anfwering their defires upon their enemies, by terrible things in righteoufnelTe , although we be but few in number, yet the Lord of Hofts is with us, and in the power of his ftrength , we fhall be able to prevaile., although our land be filled with fin , yet we have not been forfaken of the Lord our God, but he hath alwayes had compallion upon us , and delivered us in all our di- flrefse, although fome of underftanding fall , it is but to try, and to purge and to make white even to the end , be- cause

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caufe ic is yet for a time appointed,although many cleave to us by flatteries, yet there be a remnant who keep their integrity, and the Lord lhall doe good to thefe that be good,but iuch as turn afide to crooked wayes , fhall be led forth with the workers of iniquity.

The Lords people in England and Ireland , who ad- here to the caufe and Covenant, may be perplexed , but fhall not defpaire, they may be perfecuted , but fhall not be forfaken, they may be caft down, but lhall not be de- ftioyed-, and although uniformity, and the work of Re- formation in thefe lands , feem not only to be retarded, but almoft pluckt up by the roots , and the foundations thereof iazfed •, yet the feed which the Lord hath fowen there, fhall again take root downward, and bear fruit up- ward •, The zeale of the Lord of Hofts fhall performe this.

A. Ker,

F1&CIS.

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