THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE REVEREND FATHER, and faithful Servant of GOD, Mr. WILLIAM COWPER, Bishop of Galloway, who departed this life at Edinburgh, the 15 of February, 1619. WHEREUNTO IS ADDED A RESOLUTION penned by himself, some few days before his death touching the Articles concluded in the late general Assembly holden at PERTH 1618.  
LONDON, Printed by George Purslowe, for john Budge, and are to be sold in Paul's Churchyard, at the Sign of the Greene-Dragon. 1619.   

THE PREFACE.  
IT is profitable, and considering the times we now live in, very necessary, that the lives & deaths of Gods faithful servants, (such as was this worthy Person) be registered, and commended to Posterity (as well for examples to the living, that they may know how to walk in a good Conscience before God, as to preserve the fame of the righteous after their death, from the reproachful detractions of the wicked. And this last, charity towards our Brethren departed, requires of us then especially, when the wrong done unto their memories, tends to the discrediting of the service, wherein they were by God employed in the time of their life. For though it be true, that lies and calumnies can never long prevail, and that Truth, by some rightly called the Daughter of Time, will at last break forth, as the light, and shine as the noon day, to the justifying of them that have feared the Lord, and been careful to approve their courses unto him: yet in the mean while, preiudices may possess the minds of many not evil affected: and while they lack better information, by misreports they may be made to think and speak of persons and matters otherwise then they should. Neither can we be excused, if we shall keep silence, and forbear to give witness unto the Truth, when perverse men take such liberty, as we see, to vent lies both by speech and writing, only to confirm others in wicked and rebellious courses. This respect, albeit there had been no other, is a sufficient reason for the publishing of this Discourse; written by that faithful Servant of God, of himself, some two years before his departing, and since found amongst his papers: for as in his life there wanted not enemies to charge him with many false imputations, whereof himself did often complain; so yet after his death, when humanity itself might teach them not to disquiet the ashes of the dead, they forbear not to lay upon him and the manner of his death, false and foul aspersions, albeit no man, while he lived, did walk in all his ways with a better conscience; nor any of the Saints of God did ever conclude his days more peaceably, and with better Resolution.  
Concerning his life, which was not idle or fruitless, as his writings already come forth, and others that shortly will see the light, may sufficiently witness; we remit you to this Discourse penned by himself, as it seems, when he found his sickness beginning, which put an end to his days: And for his death, whereof there were many witnesses, the form and manner thereof we have annexed, to stop the mouths of ungodly men, and give all that fear the Lord, an example of dying, and occasion of thankfulness to Almighty God, who vouchsafed so mercifully to rid his servant of the miseries of this life, and receive him to his joy, and that place of felicity, where we are persuaded now he rests.   
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF W. COWPER, BISHOP OF GALLOWAY.  

This Discourse was penned by himself on the first of january. 1616.  
MY life hath not been such, that I am ashamed to live longer, if my gracious God have any further service to employ me withal in his Church: Neither am I so desirous to live; but yet I am willing, and heartily content to remove out of this body, that I may be with my Lord, freed from these restless temptations, which on every side have sore pressed, but, through his grace, never oppressed me.  
In my younger years I was trained up with the wrestle of God; from my youth I have borne his yoke, exercised with his terrors; yet, so that many a time his sweet consolations have refreshed my soul. In my old days men have risen against me, but without a cause: betwixt these two my days are spent: my Witness is in heaven, He knoweth that in every state of life, my heart was ever toward the Lord; it was my joy to serve him, and my grief when I sinned against him.  
Being of the age of eight year old, about Martimas I was carried by my father from Edinburgh to Dunbar School, I could not write, nor read any Latin then. I tarried there till my twelft year; even than did the Lord begin to acquaint my heart to seek him: we went two & two to the Church; he put then this prayer in my heart every day in the way, Lord, bow mine care, that I may hear thy Word. In the School many a time have I turned on my face, seeking from God knowledge and understanding. In the space of four years and less, I learned the whole course of Grammar, wherein God made me to prosper, not inferior to others in the company with me.  
From thence I was called by my Parents to Edenborugh, and in the entry of my 13. year, sent over to S. Andrew's, and passed in course of Philosophy there in the 16. year: there made I not such progress in knowledge, as I had done before in my other Studies, either mine age not being capable of it, or my wise and merciful Father not thinking it expedient for me; yet even there was the seed of grace still working in me, inclining me to a careful hearing and penning of Sermons, and Theological lessons, as I could have occasion to hear them. And here Satan working in corrupt nature, sought many a time to trap me in his snares, intending in my young years to give me that wound, that night have been a mark of shame to me in my old age, when the Lord should call me to do his Work: but as on the one part I felt my weakness compared with the strength of corrupt nature; so though then I could not discern it, afterward I had proof it was the Lords preventing mercy, that kept me from being an offence unto his Church. It is his mercy that he pardoned the vanities and ignorances of my youth, and his mercy also that he preserved me in all my life, from any that could make me a shame to his Saints, or a scorn and reproach to his enemies.  
Having passed my course in S. Andrew's at the age of sixteen years, I returned to my Parents in Edinburgh, I was pressed by them to enter into sundry sorts of life I liked not; for my heart still inclined to the study of holy Scriptures: whereupon I resolved to go into England, where I evidently perceived the Lord going before me, and providing for me at Hoddesdon, within eighteen mile of London, my mean portion which I had being all spent (I speak it to his glory that cared for me:) in that same place, that same day was I desired by our kind countryman Master Guthrie, to help him in the teaching of a School; with whom I remained some three quarters of a year, but after did the Lord lead me further: for having occasion to go to London, without my knowledge, or any suit of mine, I was called to the service of a learned Divine Mr. Broughton, unto the which with good will of Mr. Guthrie I entered, and there remained about a year and a half, daily exercised under him in the study of theology. To him under God, and some other learned Divines of that City, do I acknowledge myself bound for these beginnings of knowledge I then received.  
In the nineteenth year of my life, I returned again to Edinburgh, where having the commodious occasion to be with my elder Brother, than one of the Ministers of Edinburgh, I still continued in the same study, and at length was required to give a proof of my gift privately, which I did in the new Church in presence of Mr. Robert Pont, and Mr. Robert Rollock, with sundry others of the Ministry: then after that, I was required to teach publicly in the new Church on a Sabbath in the afternoon. And the next week I was commanded to teach publicly in the great Church, in time o● a Fast, on a Thursday in the afternoon. Thus did the Lord train me up, and these were the beginnings of my Ministry, which I recount to the praise of his grace, who counted me faithful, and put me in his service.  
A little after that, in the beginning of my twentieth year, there ensued a general Assembly of the Church at Edinburgh & by their authority wa● I sent out and appointed Pastor of Bothkenner in Stirling Shire, for that Church had been desolate ever since the reformation, and the people had given in their supplication to the Assembly for a Pastor. This calling of God and his Church I embraced and went unto them, where I found the desolation so great, that except the walls, which were ruinous also, neither door, nor window, nor seat, nor Pulpit, nor any part of a roof was there at all; yet pleased it God to give such a blessing to the Ministry of his Word, that their hearts thereby were stirred up cheerfully to build the Lords House, which most willingly they fully resolved within half a year, not content to build their own part of the House, but the Choir also, which of due should have been done by the Parson: there needed here no letters of homing nor other compulsitories: neither content to have built it only, they adorned it within and without it, not inferior to any other Church of such quality round about it. This was my first external seal, and confirmation of my calling to the Ministry.  
In this service I remained seven or eight years, subject to great bodily infirmities, by reason of the weakness of the Soil in Winter, and the unwholesome waters thereof. And here did the Lord first begin to acquaint me with his terrors, and the inward exercises of sundry sorts of temptations; so that between these two, my life was almost wasted with heaviness; yet I bless the Lord for it, it was unto me like the wilderness of Midian to Moses, a School of tentation, whereby I learned daily more and more to know Christ jesus, gathering some store of knowledge thereby, inward exercises, and outward studies, which the Lord afterward called me to give out in more public places in his Church, for the necessity of increasing, disease forcing me to bethink of a transportation, the purpose of my mind was to another Church unplanted in the South, some 8. mile from Edinburgh, but the Lord still continued his calling, and drew me another way Northward: for at the same time, there intervened a general Assembly of the Church at Perth: there was I nominated, and with consent of the Assembly and people was I written for to that Ministry, as the letters of both, sent to me out of Perth, with my dear Brother Mr. Patrick Simson, yet extant do bear. Thus did the Lord clear my way before me, and lead me there, where I thought never to have gone; yet two or three days before, did the Lord give me some signification of it, but I understood it not, till the event did teach me: for in my thoughts in the night, there seemed a man to lead me by the hand to a little pleasant City, in a plain valley on a rivers side, having some banks lying at the shore thereof (as indeed it had the first time, that after this I was brought to it, such a sight got I of it, in that vision, as afterward I saw with my eyes) he led me a long time up and down the streets of that Town from one to another, at length carried me over the water to an hill, and led me up unto it, by many turnings and windings from one earth to another, very near unto the top thereof. Then did I awake, my face looking to the south-west. This made such an impression in my mind as after that I could never get forgotten. Let no man here impute to me, the superstition either of Papists or Anabaptists. I know, there is no revelation now of doctrine, or new article of faith, to be sought out in dreams. The Lord hath spoken once for all now unto us by his Son in the Word; but that the living Lord who sleeps not, can give warnings to the souls of his servants, when their bodies are sleeping, no man acquainted with his working, I trust will deny it.  
After this, three or four days, as I said, returned Mr. Patrick Simson from the general Assembly at Perth, to Sterling, and delivered me Letters from the Assembly and the town, containing my calling to that ministery. The town shortly after sent their Commissioners, to transport myself and my Family. There I continued doing the work of God, for the full space of nineteen years. How I did carry myself in my open conversation, living amongst them not as one separate from them, but mixed myself in all their fellowships, as a comfort to the best, and a wound to the worst inclined sort, this Age will not want loving witness to record it. My diligence in like manner in the ministery, not only on the ordinary days, but on others, which I voluntarily chose thrice a week in the evening: to wit, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, for a preparation to the Sabbath, (for these days they had no preaching in the morning;) It would have done a Christian heart good, to have seen those glorious and joyful Assemblies, to have heard the zealous cry to God among that people with sigh & tears, melting hearts and mourning eyes. I speak the truth in modesty, and not all the truth. It is not vaine-glorying, I abhor that; not I, but his grace in me. Why shall it offend any man, that I eat the fruit of my labour, and that my conscience this day enjoys the comfort of my former painfulness, and fidelity? My witness is in heaven, that the love of jesus and his People, made continual preaching my pleasure, and I had no such joy, as in doing his work. Some witnesses also I want not to remain: For albeit my charge was to teach five times in the week, yet this was more, that I penned thereafter, whatsoever I preached, whereof some are already extant, others, by God's grace, if the Lord spare my days, shall come in their time. And in outward things, what care I had to see the House of God there honoured, the welfare of that people every way, there are monuments standing to witness for me, when I am dead.  
All this time, except some little intermissions and breathing times, did the LORD still exercise me with inward temptations. O what a vicissitude of estates! O what a variety of combats! It were tedious here to set them down all, as they were done and fought: but this I must say, the end of all and every one of them were unspeakable joy. And once for all, in greatest extremity of horror, and anguish of Spirit, when I had utterly given over, and looked for nothing but confusion, suddenly did there shine (in the very twinkling of an eye) the bright and lightsome countenance of God proclaiming peace, and confirming peace with invincible reasons. O what a change was there in a moment? The silly soul that was even now at the brink of the pit, looking for nothing, but to be swallowed up, was instantly raised up to Heaven, to have joyful fellowship with God in Christ jesus; and from this day forth my soul was never troubled with such extremity of terrors. This confirmation was given me on a Saturday in the morning; there found I the power of Religion, the certainty of the Word: there was I touched with such lively sense of a divinity, and power of the Godhead, in mercy reconciled with man, & with me in Christ, as I trust, my soul shall never forget: Glory, glory, glory be to the joyful Deliverer of my soul out of all adversities for ever.  
In the midst of these wrestle with God, all this time wanted I not combats with wicked men, like those Beasts at Ephesus, with whom Saint Paul did fight. All the time of my residens year continued this battle; as one left off, another still renewing the battle: but the greatness of my inward conflicts made me regard lightly all their outward contradictions, and I esteemed them but like the bitings of a Flea. I resolved with myself, It was no marvel to see Satan stir up his wicked instruments to disquys me, since I professed myself a disquieter of him, and his Kingdom: yea my comfort was, that I had never a controversy with any of them but for their sins: God knows I loved their persons and estates; therefore did the Lord assist me, the power of his Word hammering down their pride, they were all of them by course brought to the acknowledgement of their sins.  
But at length, as God turned the heart of Pharaoh and his people from the Israelites, when the time came that he would have them to remove out of Egypt: so by little and little did the zeal and love of the most of this people, at least, in my sense, fall away; so that at last, my battle was not with such as were like the Publicans and sinners, (for these now were turned my favourers and comforters,) but with such as seemed before justiciars, I mean, unrebukable men for outward offences: These men found I stuffed with such pride, self-conceit, disdain, and intolerable contempt, as carried them further from their duty, than any of the former: yea, such as above others should have been my comforters, were my crossers: That I had cause to say with Micah, The best of them are briars. But I trust it reputes them ere now: And therefore pray I God not to lay it to their charge. I will have none of my words extended to that handful there, which truly scare the Lord.  
Now about this time God had opened to me a door, and called me to the charge of the Churches in Galloway, in the south-west part of this Kingdom: for being named with others, by the general Assembly of such as they thought meet to be preferred to the Episcopal dignity (whereof I ever acknowledged myself not worthy) and recommended by the Fathers of our Church; it was his majesties pleasure to present me to that Benefice, due to the office whereunto the Church had called me. God knows, this was done without my knowledge, or seeking, directly or indirectly. For I could have been contented all my days with a private life, resolved to give honour and obedience in God to such as were called to these places; after that once it was established by order in our Church, and I had considered the lawfulness, antiquity, and necessity of it among us.  
Here was I neither guilty of Ambition, not of any precipitate embracing of it; for between the date of his Ma: presentation, and my acceptation, there intervened eighteen weeks.  
Yet as the Calling to this Work was greater, than any other whereto I had been led before, so greatest opposition was there made unto me by men, whose lying Libels, and carnal contradictions forced me to spend more time unprofitably, than I had done before since my entry to the ministery. The Lord forgive them, and me also where, in the manner of my answering, I have been sharper than became Christian meekness. For as to the matter itself unfeignedly I followed my light, I esteem it a lawful, ancient, and necessary government; I see not, nor have not read of any Church that wanted it before our time: Only the abuses of it by pride, tyranny and idleness, have brought it in misliking. From these evils I pray the Lord preserve his servants, that now are, or hereafter shall be called to those places; but there is no reason why a thing good in itself, should be condemned or rejected, for the evil of abuse: for so no good thing at all should be retained in the Church. And in this Calling how I have walked, and what my care was to advance the Gospel there, I trust I shall not, nor yet do want witnesses.  
In this estate do I now live; my soul always in mine hand, ready to be offered to my God; where, or what kind of death, God hath prepared for me, I know not: but sure I am, there can be no evil death to him that liveth in Christ, nor sudden death to a Christian Pilgrim, who, as job says, every day waits for his change, yea, many a day have I sought it with tears, not out of impatience, distrust, or perturbation, but being weary of sin, & fearful to fall into it. Concerning those who have been my enemies without cause, and charged me with many wrongful imputations, from which my conscience clears me, excusing me of these things, love of gain, and glory, or such like whereof they accused me: The Lord lay it not to their charge. I go to my Father, & wish his blessing to them, to rectify their judgements, & moderate their affections with true piety from faith & love.  

AMONGST THE SAME Papers, we found three short Meditations, whereby he comforted himself, whilst he found his death approaching, written also with his own hand, and bearing date the seventh of December. 1618.  
NOw my soul be glad: at all parts of this prison, the Lord hath set to his pioneers to lose thee, Head, Feet, Milt & Liver are fast failing; yea the middle strength of the whole body, the stomach is weakened long ago. Arise, make ready, shake off thy setters, mount up from the body, and go thy way.  
Let me tell you that which I know, yea foreknow, yet I, after others have foretasted before you. Death is somewhat drieric, & the streams of that jordan between us and our Canaan, run furiously; but they stand still, when the Ark cometh. Let your Author be cast within the vail, and fastened on the Rock jesus: Let the end of the threefold cord be buckled to the heart, so shall ye go thorough what threads the cord is made of. I cannot now tarry to tell you, who knows: but if ye ask, God will teach you.  
I saw not my children when they were in the womb; there the Lord fed them without my knowledge: I shall not see them when I go out of the body; yet shall they not want a Father.  
This faithful Servant of God, who from the time of his entry into the ministery had always showed himself diligent and painful in his Calling; notwithstanding that his Sickness grew daily upon him, was no way deficient in his duties of ordinary preaching, taking great pains also to perfect his Work upon the Revelation, which he had begun, and desired greatly to finish it before his dying. Besides which studies, the grief he conceived for the backwardness of unruly spirits, in giving obedience to the Articles concluded in the late Assembly, and ratified by authority, to the great disturbance of the Peace of the Church, which he laboured carefully in all his life to procure, did hasten him not a little to his end. So as in the beginning of january 1619. his infirmity increasing, he was compelled to keep at home, and not to go any more abroad: yet as his weakness did permit, he gave himself to revise his writings, and dispose of his worldly affairs, that he might be ready for his passage, which every day he expected. And some ten days before his departure, having his mind freed of all earthly business, to those that visited him, he manifested a great contentment he had in his approaching death. The Wednesday before, which was the tenth of February, The Bishops & some other Brethren being assembled at Edinburgh for certain affairs of the Church, took occasion to meet at his house because of his Sickness, which he took most kindly, and continued with them that whole afternoon, giving very wholesome advice in matters propounded, and showing himself as pleasant and jocund in speeches as ever before. Howbeit, even than he signified to them that his death was drawing near, and declared his mind somewhat disposedly, concerning his Successor. The days following, he kept with all that came to visit him in most holy and Divine conferences, expressing a great willingness of exchanging this life, with that better. And upon Monday which was the fifteenth of February, at one of the clock in the afternoon, feeling his strength and spirits to decay, after he had conceived a most heavenly prayer, in the company of those that were by him, he desired to be laid in bed, (for the days before he arose always, and either walked or sat in his Chamber:) which being done, after he had again commended himself most devoutly unto Almighty God, he took some quiet rest: after which he spoke not many words, but those that he uttered show his memory and other senses to have been perfect, his tongue only failing him; and in this sort about seven of the clock at night, he rendered his soul to God in a most quiet and peaceable manner. His body the seventeenth of February was interred, according to his own direction, in the Churchyard, called the Blackfriars at Edinburgh, in the Southside of the new Church, and was conveyed to the place by the Earl of Dumsermeline, Chancellor, and the rest of the Honourable Lords of Council, with the Magistrates of the City, and many others. The Funeral Sermon being preached by the most Reverend Father in God, the Archbishop of St. Andrew's.    

THE BISHOP OF GALLOWAY HIS answers to such as desire a resolution of their scruples against the Acts of the last Assembly holden at Perth in the month of August, 1618.  
Mercy, grace and peace be unto all them that love the Lord jesus.  
We are commanded by S. Peter to give a reason of that faith which is in us, and so will I: No good Christian differs one from another in any Article of faith: for our belief is a short compend of the Scripture, and I have preached all the Articles thereof, I believe all.  
As for Papists; where they differ from us, see what I have professed in my writings, published in Print, and I am resolved to die in the same mind: what that is, they may perceive by the seven days conference betwixt a Catholic Christian, and a Catholic Roman.  
By that threefold Treatise upon the 8. to the Romans.  
By that Anatomy of a Christian.  
By that Alphabet for Sious Scholars.  
By that Treatise of Jacob's wrestling with God.  
And that of Christ's Genealogy.  
And another, of his Baptism.  
And the third of his combat with Satan in the Wilderness.  
By that which I entitled, A defiance to Death.  
By that Preparative to the new Passeover.  
By the Treatises of good news from Canaan, on the 51. Psalm.  
By the Heavenly Mansions, and the Praise of Patience.  
By the Conversion of the Prodigal Son.  
By that comfortable Dialogue betwixt God and a troubled Soul.  
And that begun Commentary upon the Apocalyps; beside many others.  
These have done good to many good Christians, and I hope, shall do when I am gone. And as for these needless controucrsies that make divers voices among us: I say, some conscientious with little knowledge, these I love, others contentious with less knowledge, these I pity, willing them always to remember, that to them who are countentious and disobey the truth, and obey unrighteousness, shall be indignation and wrath, Rom. 2. 1. yet wishing to them mercy and light to illuminate their minds.  

OF DAYS.  
IN my mind, no King on earth, no Church may make an Holiday, only the Lord who made the day, hath that prerogative, and he hath sanctified the seventh Day, yet either a Christian King or a Church may separate a day by preaching; and that either ordinary as we have Tuesday, or extraordinary for fasting and humiliation, or then for solemn joy and thanksgiving. This is, and hath been ever the lawful practice of our Church, and continual, who at such times hath commanded cessation from ordinary trades, both before and after noon, that so the people might frequent the Assembly, I hope, no other purpose be in our Prince's Proclamation, whereat so many are offended: & if any cause of offence be, it is to be mended with humble supplication, not with rebellious contradiction. Brigh●man on the 11▪ of the Revel. records, that the day wherein Queen Elizabeth came to the Crown, after the Maria● persecutions, was observed with anniversary or yearly Sermon, even by those who in that country are enemies to Episcopal government, of which number himself is one. So we have preaching and public rejoicing the 5. days of August and November, for that double deliverance of our gracious Sovereign, whom the Lord may long continue a comfort to his Church: and I am sure, we have greater cause to rejoice at the remebring of Christ his Nativity: Albeit, Herod & Herodians in upper jerusalem were against it, when Angels, heavenly Soldiers, and Saints redeemed were singing in Bethlehem, Glory be to God in Heaven, and peace to men on earth, I will rather sing with the one, then startle with out cause with the other. O but this is not the day of His Nativity. I answer, Let it be for it is not the day; but the benefit we remember, which no good Christian will clery should be done: sure it is, he was borne, died upon Good Friday, and the 3. day he rose, the 40. day after he ascended, ten days after his Ascension, he sent the Holy Ghost, which from his resurrection is the 50. day, called Acts 2. the Pentecest: all this is according to the Articles of our faith, expressly set down in Scripture: and why do then men make such scruple to remember our Lord's Nativity, in such a day as Christian Catholics, in all ages have remembered it? But here they say, We remember his Nativity every day. I answer, This is like that presumption of the young man who spoke to Christ in the Gospel, All these▪ (saith he) have I done from my youth. He spoke out of ignorance, affirming he had done the thing he did not: And so do they Lappeale to their own consciences, how many days of the year will pass, wherein they have not so much as mind of his Nativity? But if it were as they say▪ that they remember his Nativity every day, why make they it strange to remember it on this day also? Yet (say they) ye remember it this day more than another. I answer, And why every good Christian hath his own days chosen by himself; some for fasting, some for thanksgiving for particular benefits; what a private Christian may lawfully do, ye make it unlawful, a Christian Church to do specially; where we go in the Communion of Saints, with all the present Reformed Churches in Europe. In France there most notable Preachers give the Communion on that day, as did also the ancient Primitive Churches throughout the world, as testifieth S. Augustine in his Epist. 118. 119. So did our own old Scottish Church also, for 800. years after Christ, before ever it was polluted with Papistry, as I have proved in my forenamed Conference; whoso likes to read it. But (say they) we have no commandment in the Word to do it. For answer, Let them distinguish betwixt that which is substantial or real, in Religion, and that which is circumstantial or ritual. A point substantial, must have an express warrant in the Word commanding it: For that which is circumstantial it is sufficient, if it be not against the Word, it being left to be ordained by Ecclesiastical authority. As for example to preach in season and out of season, is a substantial point: For it, we have an express command in the Word: what day of the week ordinary preaching should be beside the Sabbath, that is circumstantial, and left to the determination of the Church, who by the same authority, that they may ordain preaching such a day of the week, may also ordain preaching such a day of the month in a year. Again, he that sins openly, shall be openly rebuked. This is substantial in Religion, and we have an express command for it. But to set him on a Pillar three days, or more, or fewer, is circumstantial: such as our Church, without doing wrong against the Word of God, hath determined, I acknowledge it to be a good order. And will any of these men condemn it, because it is not an express command in the Word? Marriage is honourable among all men; for man and woman to join without Marriage, is Fornication: this is substantial, and hath the warrant of the Word: But that first they must be three days publicly proclaimed, that is circumstantial, done by the Church for good order, which I acknowledge sufficient, because it is not against the Word.  
Evil day, say they, was cast out of our Church: For answer, what they call evil day, I know not: but a day reputed for the day of Christ's Nativity, & observed for remembrance thereof, that I know. I find no Ecclesiastical Law in all the books of our Assembly standing to the contrary▪ But if it have been cast out, yet a thing not against the Word of God, upon good considerations may be brought in again, albeit it had been cast out. Instances of this I might bring from the Church of Geneva. One I bring from our own; since Baptism, not upon a preaching day was cast out by act and practice, and yet is now received again: Why may not preaching of Christ's Nativity, Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, and sending of the holy Ghost on such days be received again, albeit it had been cast out? We were well, say they, before: what needs this novation? For answer, Conformity with the ancient and recent reformed Churches requires it, except we will be singular. Beside this, the question here is betwixt a Prince and his People, They will be nourished in their humours, not remembering that a Christian Prince is also to be regarded, who finds himself bound in conscience to see duties in Religion performed: what is evil in their eyes, seemeth good in his. And here the debate falling betwixt their will & his, about a matter not against the Word of God, let any indifferent man give sentence who should be followed.   

OF BAPTISM to be ministered in due time and place.  
NOw for Baptism; Our Commission is to baptise, without limitation either of time or place, decency always both for time and place being observed: so far as may be: where the public order of the Church is not contemned, Baptism should not be refused. It is not, will they say, necessary to salvation. I grant that: I abhor that blind and merciless sentence of Papists, that Infants dying without Baptism, go to any house of Hell. But albeit it be not necessary to the child's salvation, who will deny, but it is a necessary, at the least, a profitable help of the Parents faith? For our Lord hath not ordained it in vain. Where then a Christian parent requires it to his child, either upon a preaching day, or other day, with what warrant a Preacher can deny it, I know not.   

OF PRIVATE COMMUNION.  
THe same is my judgement of Private Communion. here are two words would be well understood. Private I call it, in respect of the public assembly, not of a private person; Communion it is, in respect of many Christians partaking it. Where a man hath been a reverent hearer of the Word in the public Assembly, and a reverent & careful receiver of the Sacrament there, if God suspend him by sickness from doing of that duty, may we not sit beside him, and comfort him by the Word? may we not pray together for him, and for ourselves, even in a private Family? And why also may we not give to him, and take to ourselves the Seals of the Covenant of mercy? The particular precepts hereof, both for the person and place, I take not upon me to determine, but leave it to the wisdom of the Preacher.   

OF KNEELING AT THE COMMUNION.  
THe hardest point of all, is Kneeling at the holy Communion, which is the more misliked, because it was, and yet is abused by Papists, to Idolatry: that vile error of transubstantiation, and worshipping of Bread, my soul abhorreth it. But it is hard to condemn a thing lawful in itself, because it hath been abused: For what is so good, that hath not or may not be abused? Shall not S. Paul bow his knees to the Father of the whole Family in Heaven and in Earth, God the Creator; because Idolaters bow their knees to the Creature? he was not so scrupulous. If I should condemn Sitting at the Table, should do wrong to my Mother the Church of Scotland. If I should condemn Standing, I should do wrong to that Sister Church of France, which hath stood for the Truth to the blood. If I should condemn Kneeling, I should do wrong to the Church of England, glorious with many Crowns of Martyrdom, and many other Churches also. I like well that modest judgement of Peter Martyr, who thinks any of these, Sitting, Standing or Kneeling, lawful. Our Church hath determined, that Kneeling seems the most reverent form, for receiving so great a benefit: and the rude gesture of many of our People, in many parts of the Land, requires that they should be led to a greater reverence of that holy Mystery, & taught that by humble Kneeling, we shall at length be brought to a joyful Sitting with Him for ever. But here it will be objected to me▪ that our Lord and his Disciples sat at the Table. I answer; The Evangelist saith, that as He sat at the Table, he took Bread, and gave thanks. This seemeth to note the time of the Institution; to wit, after he had done with the natural and Paschall Supper, not the gesture: For why? S. Paul prescribing all that is essential in the Sacrament, makes no mention neither of Sitting, Standing, nor Kneeling: Yet he says, What I have received of the Lord, that I deliver to you. If he received it, and delivered it not, he was not faithful. Which I abhor to think. If he delivered it not, then sure he received it not. This is the soundest & most safe course: It keepeth all the reformed Churches free from doing against the Word of God. For we must think, that S. Paul knew certainly the mind of Christ: such as are conscientious, let them ponder this well, the contentious I am not able to satisfy. If the expediency be set aside, and the question be only of the lawfulness, my Argument stands yet unanswered. Whatsoever spiritual benefit I may lawfully seek on my knees with Supplication, that same I may receive lawfully upon my knees with thanksgiving. But I may lawfully with supplication seek salvation by jesus on my knees: Therefore I may lawfully receive it on my knees. They answer nothing, who say, I may not kneel to an Idol: For to Christ I kneel, praising him when I receive the holy Symbols, & exhibiting instruments of his Body & Blood: and it is madness either to make them Idols, as Papists do, or call them Idols, as Male contents do.  
Great murmuring is now against Pastors, who ply not their tongues to pleasure the humours of people. God hath opened their mouths to preach his Gospel; woe will be to them that open their mouth to prattle against Pastors. He that rewardeth evil for good, evil shall never depart from his house, saith Solomon, My son, fear God and the King, and meddle not with the seditious: It is Salomon's also. Let seditious Prattlers, or Libelers, whom though I know, I spare to name, pause upon this. When unthankful Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, they both ran to the door of the Tabernacle, and the Lord failed them never. He came down in the Cloud, to protect & comfort them. Let all the servants of the Lord do so, when an ungrateful people renders them evil for good; remembering that which the Lord said to jeremy 15. 19, 20. Let them return to thee, return not thou to them. They shall fight against thee, but shall not prevail against thee for I am with thee. Blessed are ye when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against ●ou falsely for my sake: Rejoice & be glad, for great is your reward in Heaven▪ for so persecuted they the prophets, which were before you, Math. 6. 11.  
I have opened my mind according to my light. To them that ask, Where was this light before? my answer is, Remember what is said of our blessed Lord, the Latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to lose. He increased in wisdom, Luc. 2. 52. Shall it then be an imputation to his silly, weak, unworthy and infirm servants, that they increase in wisdom, and grow in knowledge, as they are commanded? Such as are contentious, I leave tumbling in the tumultuous thoughts of their perturbed minds, raging like the waves of the Sea, forming and casting out their own dirt and shame. For me, I rest in the peace of my God, through jesus Christ, which, blessed be God, I enjoy. A sore famine of the Word of God is at hand, for the loathing of 〈◊〉 and murmuring against Moses and Aaron: there may be bread, but God will break the Staff of it preaching of the Word in many parts, but without life or power, Prattlers, & lying Libelers, Papists, or Atheists, I commend them to the mercy of God, that they may be brought to repeutance. Let them read these words of our Saviour, Math. 7. 6. Give not that which is holy unto Dogs, neither cast ye your Pearls before Swine: Be not of that number, if ye mind to enter into that heavenly jerusalem. I will have nothing spoken here, extended to peaceable and truly religious Christians, of which number God hath a flourishing Church, both in this Town, and in other parts of the Land: The Lord increase them. The Lord grant peace to his own jerusalem, and have mercy upon us, that we may prevent these, and other immivent judgements upon great and small, with unfeigned repentance.  
FINIS.