THE CONFESSION AND CONVERSION OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, MOST ILLUSTRIOUS, AND ELECT LADY, MY LADY, C. OF L. MATH. 22. Ye err, not knowing the Scriptures. 1. JOHN. 4. Dear beloved, believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits, whither they be of GOD, for many false Prophets are gone out into this World. EDINBURGH Printed by john Wreittoun. 1629. A CONFESSION. AS it was rare, unexpected, and long wished for, of all that honoured and loved her, so is it to be as seriously to be read, and conscienciouslie to be considered of all, or ignorant and wilful Papists of this land: Not so much in regard of her rank, person, and place, but rather in so fare, as that in that faith much beyond her sex, she exceeded in knowledge more than many others who yet wilfully and most ignorantly still continue in their error. PSAL. 77. MY voice came to GOD when I cried; my voice came to GOD & he heard me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord, etc. my soul refused comfort. I did think upon GOD, and was troubled. I prayed, and my spirit was full of anguish. Thou kept mine eyes waking. I was astonished, and could not speak. Psal. 119.81. My soul fainted for thy salvation; Yet will I wait for thy word. 82. Mine eyes fail for thy promise, saying, when wilt thou comfort me? 92. Except thy law had been my delight, I should now have perished in my affliction. I will never forget thy precepts, for by them thou hast quickened me. I am thine, save me, for I have sought thy precepts. 15. I will meditate therein, and consider thy ways. 59 I have considered my own ways, and turned 〈◊〉 feat to thy testimonies. 67. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep thy Word. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn thy statutes. 58. By thy Commandment thou hast made me wiser than mine enemies. I have had more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditations. I understood more than the ancient, because I delighted in thy precepts. 104. By thy precepts have I gotten understanding, therefore I hate all the ways of falsehood. 29 Now, take from me the way of lying, and grant me graciously thy law. 30. I have chosen the way of truth, and thy judgement have I laid before me. 173. O Lord let thine hand help me, for I have chosen thy precepts. 176. I have gone astray like a lost sheep: seek thy servant, etc. 103. The entrance to thy words showeth light, and giveth understanding to the simple. 124. Deal with thy servant according to thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. 74. So they that fear thee, seeing me, shall rejoice, because I have trusted in thy Word. AMEN. THE CONVERSION AND CONFESSION OF THE RIGHT NOBLE C. OF L. O send out thy light, and thy truth let them lead me, let them bring me unto thine holy hill, and to thy Tabernacles. PSAL. 43. I will hear what GOD the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his Saints; but let them not turn again unto folly. PSAL. 85.8. I perfectly knowing, and fullelie assuring my soul, that there is no possibility of salvation to me, but allanerly in the free mercy of GOD, and precious satisfaction of his Son my only Saviour, who is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto GOD by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them, Heb. 7.25. neither is there salvation in any other, Act. 4.12. 2. I renounce and condemn all worshipping, or praying to Angels, he or she Saints, not now excepting the blessed Virgin Marie, and conform to the express direction of the Angel to john. Revel. I take me to worship GOD; and as CHRIST, Math. 4.10. commandeth him only to serve, and to pray to my father. Math. 8.9. who is in Heaven, to whom only belongeth religious worship, both of prayer and praise. 3. I renounce and condemn all prayers in Latin, or any unknown tongue to me, taking me hereafter, by the grace of GOD to pray with the Spirit, and with understanding also, 1. Cor. 14.15. and not to mumble and number my prayers according to the order and distinction of beads, which I have caused break and destroy, with present and perpetual thanksgiving to GOD therefore 4. I acknowledge with jeremy 10.14. that a molten image is falsehood, they are vanity and the works of errors: and therefore casting away all those abominations of images, pictures, medalles, and pretended relics: I take me wholly to the pure and plain Gospel of JESUS CHRIST, and his holy Sacraments, wherein the lively picture of CHRIST is, and the most hallowed Crucifix that I can set before mine eyes, handle with mine hands, or carry upon my breast; wherein I rejoice, and ever shall do, by GOD'S help and assistance, and finds great comfort in the conference and prayers of GOD'S Ministers, who now resort unto me frequently: resolving by the grace of GOD never thereafter to crave, nor admit the company and conference of Priests, and other teachers of lies, guides of idolatry; which all now I have forsaken by the light and force of GOD'S Spirit: and woes me that I harkened so long to these seducers. 5. I acknowldge that the bowing down before images is forbidden by GOD'S Law, Exod. 20.5. as well as worshipping of them. That images are altogether bruttish and foolish. jerem. 10.3. I fear them not, for they can do no evil, neither is it in them to do good: but forasmuch as there is none like to thee O LORD, thou art great, & thy Name is great in might: Who would not fear thee, O KING of Nations? jerem. 10.5.6.7. 6. I embrace the holy Scriptures of the old and new Testament, wherein is the perfect rule of faith and manners, acknowledging that the writs and judgements of all men should be tried thereby, and reduced thereunto, or else altogether rejected. And therefore I will curse & reject and cast from me all blasphemous books in write or print, (whereof alas I had so many too long) contrary to GOD'S truth in these holy Scriptures. 7. I confess and profess that the Scriptures are plain and pure, being a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path, Psal. 119.105. in all things necessare for me to know my salvation. And seeing CHRISS commandeth us joh. 5.39. to search the Scriptures, and the Bereans are commended for searching the Scriptures daily, Act. 17.11. I condemn the forbidding of their translations in vulgar languages, and the reading of them by the people. And from my heart I detest that saying, that ignorance is the mother of devotion; bewailing my former ignorance and stryving more and more to increase in all spiritual understanding. 8. With Paul. 1 Tim. 4.3. I acknowledge the commanding to abstain from meats for conscience sake, to be from seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, for the Kingdom of GOD is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost. Rom. 14.17. Neither doth that which entereth in at the mouth defile a man, but that which proceeds out of the mouth that defiles a man. 9 I acknowledge and believe, Rom. 3.24. that I am justified freely by GOD'S grace, through the redemption that is in CHRIST JESUS, without any respect to my works; whereof I neither can, nor should boast with the proud Pharisee, but with the penitent Publican. I cry to God continually to be merciful to me, who am a miserable sinner, and with St. Paul. the chief of sinners, and so I believe not the satisfaction made by me, but the free remission of sins, persuading myself that the wages of sin is death, Rom 6.23. but the gift of GOD is eternal life, through CHRIST JESUS our LORD, and we his little floke should not fear, seeing as our Saviour sayeth, Luke 12.32. It is our Father's pleasure to give us a Kingdom, which we could never merit by ourselves, or any other creature for us. 10. I acknowledge no fire after this life that purgeth us from our sins, and temporal punishments, but as in joh. 1.7. the blood of JESUS CHRIST his Son purgeth us from all our sins, without any exception or destruction of sin whatsoever, and as the souls of the wicked immediately after death go to hell, so the souls of the godly go to Heaven. 11. I acknowledge and believe with St. Paul. 1 Cor. 10.16. that the Cup in the Lord's Supper is not the blood, but figuratively the communion of his body. And with joh. 6.30. The way how to eat and drink of this body is to believe in him, and the Doctors, and Cannons of the Roman Church affirmeth the same with us, for the holy Scripture is full of such manner of speeches; and our Saviour himself in this same place sayeth that whosoever beleiveth in him shall not thirst, plainly making us to understand that this thirst is quenched only by believing, and not by the drinking at the mouth: and in joh. 6.56. he sayeth, Whosoever eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me and I in him: and in verse 35. Who comes unto me shall not hunger, and who beleiveth in me shall never thirst: So he eateth and drinketh, who cometh unto me, who beleiveth in me, and abideth in me. and alitle after, having said, Who beleiveth in me hath eternal life, inferreth thereby that he is the bread of life. He is then meat indeed, but for our souls, not for our bodies; which is to be had by believing, not by swallowing. And so expondeth Origen an ancient father, in his Hom. 12. in Math. this same place. According to the Apostle his exhortation, I am heart'ly desirous after trial of myself, 1. Cor. 11.18. oft to eat of that bread, and drink of that Cup, and so (as praised be GOD) I lately did rrceave that holy Sacrament, publicly in GOD'S Sanctuary, under both the kinds, for the food of my soul, whereby now I find great peace and comfort. 12. I acknowledge also, and believe, that the Mass is not a propitiatory sacrifice, but a blasphemous, and idolatrous abomination, altogether derogatory to CHRIST'S propitiatory sacrifice, who once in the end of the world to appear, came to put away sin, by that only one sacrifice of himself, and who once was offered to bear the sins of many, Heb. 9.26.28. and by that one offering, for ever he hath perfited all them that are sanctified, Heb. 10. v. 14.15. 13. I acknowledge, and believe, that the Pope is not CHRIST'S Viccare, nor Peter's successor, but he is that man of sin, the son of perdition, and that ver●e great Antichrist described by St. Paul, 2. Thess. 2. Who will judge all men, whether they be Kings or subjects, and be judged of none, and will have all men under pain of damnation to be subject to him, as their own supreme Lord, both in spiritual and temporal things. I did also before my conversion after long trial find some great odds, and very remarkable differences between the Pastors of the reformed Kirk, and that of the Roman Kirk: And first that the Pastors of the reformed Kirk would be judged by the word of GOD; but the Pastors of the Roman Kirk would be judges of the word of GOD. 2 The reformed Pastors would be ruled; but the Roman Kirk would be the rule themselves, saying, that the Kirk is sovereign judge of all doubts of faith, and that it can not err. And so I perceive in this question: If the Roman Kirk may err; or if it be sovereign and infallible judge, it must be that the Roman Kirk shall be judge, and so consequently she shall be both judge and party. I have also observed this difference between the two religions, which is, that the reformed Kirk hath no rules that teacheth vices: but the Roman Kirk hath sundry rules that teacheth men to do evil, and to disobey GOD. Such is the rule of the council of Constance, that a man is not bound to keep any faith and truth to Heretics. Such is the doctrine, that the Pope may dispense with the express Commandeme●t of GOD, by dispensing with the Cup in the Sacrament, by dispensing with oaths and vows, in granting permission to a man to man-sweare himself, neither yet to perform any ways that which we have promised to GOD. Such are the disobedience of young infants towards their fathers and mothers, maintained & authorized by the Roman Kirk, when a young child is entered into a closter contrary the will of his father. Such are also the foundations of public Bordels, whereby the Pope himself draweth great tribute. Such are also the revolt of subjects from their Prince, and against them, when it shall please the people to dispense with their Oath of alledgeance, which they have sworn to their King. I have found also the plain text of Scripture in many places most pitifully corrupted, and wrongously perverted by the Roman Kirk, and some I remarked most carefully, as followeth. It is said in the 2 Epist. to the Hebrews verse 21. That jakob worshipped GOD leaning upon the end of his staff; but the Bible of the Roman Kirk hath, jakob worshipped the end of his staff, thereby to establish the adoration of Creatures. The like corruption is in the Psal. 99 v. 5. Where David sayeth Worship towards his footstool: the Roman Bible hath, Worship his footstool: and in Genes. 3. v. 15. GOD said, The seed of the woman should tread down the head of the Serpent: the Roman Kirk hath, the woman shall bruise the head of the Serpent; that is the Virgin Marie shall bruise down the head, etc. Again in St. Paul's Epist. Rom. 11 6. is cutted off, two lines being omitted: For these are the words of the Apostle, But if it be of works it is no more of grace, or else were works no more works, which are left out in the vulgar translation. And where St. Peter sayeth, Hear are two swords: the Roman Kirk most ridicoulouslie expondeth thus, that the Pope hath power over the spiritual and temporal. And where the Evangelist sayeth, Do this in remembrance of me: the Romish Church expoundeth thus, sacrifice my body in a sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and the dead. And another falsehood I remember, is, where our Saviour speaking of the Cup in the Sacrament, sayeth, This Cup is the new Covenant in my blood which is shed for you: But the Bible of the Romish Church hath into it, This Cup is the new Covenant in my blood, which shall be shed for you, lest a man should perceive that JESUS CHRIST spoke of a sacramental shedding of his blood: For as yet he had not then really shed his blood which he had begun to shed in his passion. These and many other falsehoods did I many times remark, as they were objected unto me, yet did I ever misregard them, being ever discontented that any should speak to me of such heretical opinions, (as I called them) because my ghostly fathers assured me continually that it was a deadly sin any ways to doubt, or to let it so much as once enter into my thought, that ever the Church might or could err, continually dinging in my ears a warrant out of the Prophet Malachi; cap. 2, verse 8. that the Priests cannot err, where it is thus read, The Priests lips shall keep knowledge, and they shall seek the law at his mouth. This many years contented me, till at last in my old days GOD so happily moved my heart to hear the truth of better and sounder instructers, and their warrant, (I praise GOD for it) who showeth to me that the words of the Prophet are, and aught to be translated thus, yet men that are led with an opinion that the Kirk can not err will never consider this: The Priests lips should keep knowledge: For they that translate thus the words, and that they shall seek the law at his mouth, they did never intent to show thereby, that GOD did make here a promise that so it shall be for ever, but only to show that this it the law and commaadement of GOD, teaching what the Priests and people should do, and aught to do, even as in the Commandment, Thou shall have no other GOD'S but me: Now I find that the words do not promise that the Israelites should always acknowledge and worship JEHOVA the true GOD alone, (for as may be seen in the text within forty days the event shown the contrary) but show what they ought to do, but the words are a Commandment recited, not a promise made: For the words of the fourth verse did show it: Therefore men not partially led may easily perceive that the translation of the reformed Kirk is most perfect of all, showing not only the sense and meaning of the law, but also how it did bind the people and Priest, and how they ought to obey it. By this I think it no heresy, and I believe with the reformed Kirk that it is GOD'S holy truth, that Priests succeeding in the place and office of Aaron and Moses may err, and have erred: yea, I think it the greatest error of all errors to think that a man can not err, were he never so holy. I perceive now Moses Chair in the which the Scribes and Pharisees did sit, was the seat wherein they were wont to read the law of Moses, and the expositions thereof to the people, for what they there did teach was true, and therefore CHRIST commanded them to obey it. To sit in Moses Chair, I understand, is to teach Moses doctrine, but (as the jews made GOD'S law void by their own glosses & traditions) they erred most damnably, and were no more in Moses Chair, and so the people were no more bound to obey it. For at that time CHRIST himself called their doctrine sour leaven, and warned his Disciples to beware of it. I know also, and fimelie now believe, that it was never the purpose of GOD'S Spirit in that place, or by these words to teach, that the Law should always be taught truly and infallablie by the Priests and Pastors, who succeed Moses or the Apostles in the Church by a continued succession: For that is a falsehood contrary to experience in all ages: That this is most certain, I desire but any of a contrary opinion to read but the same very place with an indifferent and unprejudged mind, which confutes it most evidently: For in reading the same attentively, I find the Priests unto whom the Prophet there speaketh in these places, were Levits, and directly succeeded Aaron in the Preisthood: And yet ye see by the plain text they were departed out of the way: they caused many fall in the law by their corrupt gloss, and their abuse of the Covenant of Levi, as it appeareth most clearly into the next words following immediately: Yea, some of them (ye see) had sacrificed to Idols, which I have read myself in josephus' history of these times, and therefore the LORD threatneth to corrupt their seed by cutting off the male progeny, and to cast the dung of their sacrifices in their faces. Finally I hope now in the mercy of GOD yet before I die, to hear a hundreth sermons in GOD'S true Kirk: for now my only joy is my new birth, that by the mercy of my GOD I am regenerate, and of a daughter of darkness and death, that have been from my natural birth, am now made a daughter of light and life in my old age, and my settled peace and comfort is my spiritual marriage with my head and husband the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who hath married me to himself in truth and everlasting compassion, and will take from me my old corrupt garment, and cloth me with the white robe of his righteousness, so that my nakedness shall never appear any more. Now O LORD my GOD, and gracious Father in thy CHRIST, my sweet SAVIOUR, let thy Spirit quicken me more and more, thy wisdom guide me, thy grace sanctify me, and thy Word instruct me: Let the holy Ghost of whom thy Son my SAVIOUR was conceived, beget in me, and me in thee, by the immortal seed of thy Word: Let my faith conceive, my repentance honour thee, my love embrace thee, my zeal continually keep thee with me, till the coming again of thy Son for my ever hoped glorification: So come unto me LORD JESUS, come quickly, Amen. Blessed be the LORD, for he hath showed me his merciful kindness. Psal 31.21. Why art thou cast down my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in GOD, for I shall yet praise him, who is the hope of my Salvation, and my GOD. Psal. 42.11. PSALM. XLI.I. I Waited patiently upon the LORD, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me also out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon the Rock, and ordered my doings. And he hath put into my mouth a new song of Praise unto our God. Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust into the LORD. Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust, and regardeth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 7. Then said I, lo, I come, for in the roll of thy book it is written of me, I desire to do thy good will, O my GOD. Yea, thy law is within my heart, I have declared thy righteousness in the great congregation: Lo, I will not refrain my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. PSALM 86.11. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and I will walk in thy truth, knit my heart unto thee, that I may fear thy Name. 17. Show a token of thy goodness toward me, that they which hate me, may see it, and be ashamed, because thou LORD hath helped me, and comforted me. PSALM 116.6. The LORD preserveth the simple, I was in misery, and he saved me. Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the LORD hath been beneficial unto thee. PSALM 109.26. Help me O LORD my GOD, save me according to thy mercy, and they shall know that this is thy hand, and that thou LORD hast done it. If the LORD had not helped me, my soul had almost dwelled in silence. PSALM 101. Mine eyes shall be unto the faithful of the Land, that they may dwell with me: He that walketh in a perfect way shall serve me, there shall no deceitful person dwell in mine house, neither shall he that telleth lies remain in my sight. PSALM. 56.12. I will now render praise unto thee, 13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, and my feet frm falling, that I may walk before GOD in the light of the living. PSALM 103. Blessed be the Name of the LORD from henceforth and for ever, AMEN. A PRAYER. PSAL. 45. 10 Harken (O daughter) and consider, incline thine ear, forget also thine own people, and father's house. AS thou O LORD art great and wonderful in all thy works: yet thy mercy shineth above all things: Albeit I forsook thee O LORD, yet thou hast not forsaken me: I have turned my back to thee, yet thou callest me thy Child: All that thou requirest at mine hands is, that I would hearken unto thee. And why should I not hearken unto thee, sith that all our destruction came from thence, that our fathers turned their ears from thee, to listen unto the voice of the sly and subtle Serpent? Grant me grace that I may have a willing and obedient heart, that by the means of good food, that I shall receive in thy Word, which alas too long I have forsaken, I may forget my wicked nature, original sin, and all the vices which I did bring with me from my mother's womb; that I forget the world, to give myself wholly unto thee, and thy service; that I forget mine own works, and mine own opinions, to depend wholly on thy grace. And if the Bride, and new married woman forsake, and leave her father's house to follow her husband: if she leave the sport and pastime of her youth, to go about her houswifrie, and to conform herself unto her husband: why should not I alas! forsake that which displeaseth thee, to be agreeable unto thy Son JESUS CHRIST, which in so great mercy hath wedded me? And albeit I was a stranger from his league, & promises of everlasting life, notwithstanding he hath joined himself unto me in hearty love, & ratified his league with his precious blood. Let me therefore O Lord be as his chaste and faithful spouse, and let me be obedient unto the will of our good LORD, which doth me this honour to place me by his side, and to take me not only for his servant, but also for his child, his friend, his dear and well-beloved Spouse, joh. 15. Grant me O LORD that I follow no more strange Gods to delight in them, but that my love and affection be wholly set on him. I will therefore endeavour myself to please him. I will love him, and love that which he loveth. I will honour him, sith he hath so much honoured me. I will forsake all things to follow him, seeing he forsook the Heavens to save me on earth. O happy marriage! Of the marriage of Adam and Eve came so many unthrifts, so many wretches, and miserable caitiffs, bondslaves to Satan, and of their own nature, detestable and abominable before the face of GOD. But of this holy marriage, are new borne, the elect, the vessels of glory, the children of GOD, the heirs of everlasting life: whom GOD so loveth and esteemeth, taking pleasure in their beauty, wherewith he doth adorn and deck them through his Son CHRIST JESUS: which gifts LORD make me partaker thereof, and let the praise be ascribed unto thee, for that great and glorious light of thy Word, shown unto me, from henceforth and for ever, AMEN. THis profession of faith, meditations, prayers, and praises, as they were most joyfully; and constantly uttered, and declared before many honourable men and women: So were they most heartily sealed and subscryved by the right religious, most noble, and truly wise Lady, the 25. of Maij. FINIS.