A seasonable and necessary warning and declaration : concerning present and imminent dangers, and concerning duties relating thereto

' -it '•»* ' ' '

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2012 with funding from

Princeton Theological Seminary Library

http://www.archive.org/details/seasonablenecessOOchur

n,

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-

:o

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

V&Z ff, \' u?1"^16 CVCry one ******

,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

C 2 thereof.

(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

C 3 every

f20)

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

v 2i ;

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.

m

:m

".*■■

. i

> ■

tt&&.