A DECLARATION AND WARNING To all the MEMBERS of this KIRK FROM THE COMMISSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY  
EDINBURGH, Printed by Evan Tyler, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, 1649.   

EDINBURGH, May, 11. 1649.  
A Declaration and Warning to all the Members of this Kirk, from the Commission of the General Assembly.  
seeing men of Malignant and perverse spirits do not cease to oppose the Work of the Lord and disquiet the peace of his People, but after many disappointments renew their wicked designs and practices against Religion and the Covenant; It becomes us who the Lord hath called to so public a trust, not to cease to renew our Warnings and Declarations concerning the evil of their way, that they may be recovered out of the snare of Satan if it be possible, and that others may not fall therein but avoid such tentations & do their duty straightly and without fear.  
We did not long since bear Testimony against the proceed of Sectaries in our Neighbour-Land, in reference to Religion and Government; And it is unto us matter of very much astonishment and sorrow, that whilst their practices are not lessened but heightened, there should be found in our Land some who have taken up Arms and made Insurrection in the North, labouring to strengthen themselves against the Power and Authority of the Parliament, that they may set up again the Malignant party to overturn the work of God, and tread upon the necks of his people: And albeit most of that Malignant party are plagued of God with blindness of mind and hardness of heart, and stop their cars against instruction; yet if there ●e any place left for exhortation, We shall desire these men who are hatching such cockatrice eggs and weaving such spider's webs, and all others who favour their way and wish them to prosper, or have any thoughts or inclination to join with them or follow their steps seriously to ponder and consider these things which follow.  

1 What a horrible and high provocation it is for any to be found fight against God and persecuting his People and Truth. Is not this it, that hath brought down many Kings & Princes and great men, and overturned many Kingdoms, Cities and families, and brought many great and sore plagues upon many particular persons of all ranks and conditions.  
2 How abominable and Treacherous a thing it is for men who are under the Oath of God, and the tie both of the National Covenant and of the solemn League and Covenant, some whereof have been lately professing and offering repentance for their former backslidings, to turn open enemies and adversaries thereto; Perjury is hateful amongst the heathen and how much more hateful and monstruous should it be amongst Christians, especially in those things that concern God and Religion.  
3 Hath not the Lord now for ten years passed shown himself strong and mighty, dreadful and terrible in defeating all the designs, and breaking all the power, and bringing down all the pride of the Malignant party? Have they not many times digged deep to hid their counsels from the Lord, and hath he not found them out and filled them with the devises of their own hearts? With what Art & industry have they many time promoted, & with what power and strength have they often times backed and carried on their purposes and projects? But he that sits in Heaven hath always blown upon them and brought them to nothing. No weapon form against his people hath prospered, but after that the Lord had hardened the instruments of our former troubles by success for a little space, he did set a snare for them, and brought them down to horrible destruction in a moment: The Lords dealing with the rebels in this Kingdom, and with the Authors and Abettors of the Engagement against the Kingdom of England, whom he hath made a terror round about, we hope shall be examples of his wrath against the Enemies of his Cause and of his People, not only to this, but also to the following generation.  
4. How great a wickedness must it be in such a period of time, when so much danger threatens Religion and Government, from that prevailing party in England, for men to arise in this Land to discourage the hearts and weaken the hands of the Lords People by their Malignant and insolent attempts.  
5. How little pity have they, nay certainly their malice and cruelty must needs be very great, who will needs after so many and long continued troubles and calamities again involve this land in confusion and blood. It is the earnest and longing desire, and in some measure the hope and expectation of the Lords People in this Kingdom, after so many storms and tempests which have tossed them for many days, that the Lord may now bring them into the harbour of tranquillity and peace; And the man who shall obstruct or retard this, as he shall be hated of good men, so certainly he shall bring upon himself a great measure of wrath and indignation from the Lord, and God shall make his memory stink unto the generations that are to come.  
6. What Treachery and cruelty it is against the King's Majesty, and what an obstruction in establishing of his Throne in such a nick of time, when both State and Kirk have sent Commissioners and given in Desires to his Majesty in those things that concern the securing of Religion, and the settling of his Majesty's Government and the Peace of these Kingdoms, for any to raise new commotions and troubles, which cannot but foment jealousies between the King and his Subjects, and beget and entertain differences amongst them unto the estranging their affection one from another; And whosoever are the Authors thereof, or accessary thereto shall justly be looked upon, as enemies to Religion, to his Majesty's Person and Government, upon whom the guilt of all those miseries that may come upon his Majesty or his Royal Family doth lie in a special way.   
These and any other considerations do exceedingly heighten and increase the guilt of that wicked Insurrection both before GOD and men: And therefore we do earnestly Beseech and Exhort all who live in this Land, that as they tender their solemn Obligation and Oath both by the Nationall Covenant, and by the solemn League and Covenant, and as they love the Honour of Jesus Christ and the Gospel, and the work of Reformation, and as they respect the King's Honour and Happiness, and desire Religion to be secured, and peace to be settled, Nay as they wish to eschew the heavy Wrath and Indignation of the LORD, That they do not give any countenance nor assistance, nor connivance to these wicked men in their wicked way, much less to join with them in Counsel or in Arms: And because it lies upon us to be faithful in our station, therefore as We have already given warning unto these men, that unless they do speedily desist from their evil way and repent, that We will proceed against them with the dreadful sentence of Excommunication; so We do now declare that this being a crime so Atrocious that if any shall hereafter join with them, We will be necessitated impartially to proceed against them with the highest Censures of the Kirk, that such dross may be purged out from amongst Us, and that others may learn to fear. We know that these men labour to shadow their attempts against Religion and the Cause of GOD under the pretext of self-preservation and their being debarred from public trust, and the respect, which they own to his Majesty's greatness, the privileges of the Parliament and liberties of the Subjects; But We know no cause why they should have feared danger from these to whom God hath committed the power of the sword in the Land, sufficient security being offered unto them for their Lives and Estates, they obliging themselves not to disturb the Peace of the Kingdom: That they are debarred from trust, is that which their own misdemeanours and treachery by betraying of their former trust hath justly procured on their part, and necessitated upon the part both of State and Kirk, unless they would have resolved after so many sad and dear-bought experiences of backsliding and unfaithfulness of these men, to be so blind and foolish as again to tempt God to the overturning of his Cause & exposing the Kingdoms to ruin. Neither will any who hath eyes to discern look upon them but as upon the King's Enemies and the Enemies of his Throne; For as they by their perverse counsels and wicked combinations and conspiracies did harden the King his Royal Father unto the continuing of the afflictions and troubles of these Kingdoms: So we cannot but think that if they and others of their way should cease to raise calumnies against those who are truly Loyal to his Majesty, and to suggest evil Counsels to the prejudice of Religion and the Peace of his Kingdoms, and to entertain him with hopes of Armies for carring on their wicked designs, but that his Majesty should in a very short time be settled upon his Throne in Peace, with all the splendour and greatness that is due unto him: And who will believe that these men are for the Privileges of Parliament, who these many years past have pleaded and fought for an Arbitrary and illimitted power, that ought not (if We will believe them) though acting never so unjustly be resisted by any; Or can it bethought that they are for the Subjects liberty, who in the few month's time that GOD permitted them to prevail and use so horrible oppression over the Lord's people in their consciences persons and estates. Most of those who have now made Insurrection and their adherents, are no other than those who opposed the Cause of GOD and the work of Reformation from the beginning, Neither are their principles ways and ends any other than have been owned and promoted by the Malignant party in these Kingdoms these many years past. Of this We desire to give warning to all men in the Land that none may be deceived in partaking with them in their sins, lest they be partakers of their plagues: We do Exhort all the LORDS people to be strong in the LORD, and in the power of his might, and as to adhere unto the Covenant and work of Reformation, so to cleave to those whom GOD hath entrusted with the Government, and public Affairs in the Land, that their hands may be strengthened in the performance of all public duties which they mind with so much faithfulness and care. These are they whom the LORD was pleased to honour to be the Instruments, to begin the great Work of Reformation in this Kingdom, who have been faithful in the midst of many difficulties and temptations in promoving of it in both Kingdoms, whose endeavours have been attended with blessings and success from Heaven. Neither is the cause which they now own and defend any other then that which they have owned and defended against the Popish, Prelatical and Malignant party these ten years past, and are ready to maintain and defend against all enemies whatsoever, both on the right hand and on the left; And therefore we hope that all that love Religion and Covenant, will be obedient unto all their lawful commands, and cordially and actively further and promote the present Levy, and cheerfully and patiently bear the lengthening of necessary burdens, without which We can never preserve that which the Lord hath wrought amongst Us nor ourselves, and if any Injustice or oppression hath fallen out, or shall hereafter fall out in executing of public orders for Levies or maintenance, as We are confident that those whom it concerns will take speedy and effectual course for reparation of the same, so shall we according to our vocation endeavour to have the same redressed and remedies provided for the time to come. We know no cause why any man's hand should fail, or his heart faint, the LORDS Hand is not shortened that it cannot save, nor his ears heavy that he cannot hear; He hath done great things for us, and will never fail us, nor forsake us: Our troubles shall help to refine us, but not to destroy us, they shall not overturn the work of Reformation, but put more beauty and lustre upon it, and shall give unto us more pregnant evidences of the power and goodness of the LORD, and set him high upon the Throne of His Glory.  
A. Ker.   

EDINBURGH, 12. May 1649.  
Postscript.  
Containing the Causes of a solemn Thanksgiving, to be keeped upon friday the 25. day of this instant.  
WIthin a short time after that we had resolved and concluded thus to Declare and give warning concerning the Insurrection in the North, We received certain Intelligence by an Express sent of purpose from thence, that upon Tuesday last at Balvenie upon Spey side, by a party of an hundred and twenty horse, commanded by Lieutenant General Leslie to attend these fields under the conduct of Colonel Ker, Lieutenant Colonel Hacket, Lieutenant Colonel Strachen, the Lord hath defeat the most considerable part, if not all the strength of the Rebels in the North, to the number of twelve hundred, of whom betwixt sixty and eighty are killed, near eight hundred taken prisoners, and amongst those, the now L. Rae with his most considerable officers, and many considerable gentlemen and officers of the name of Mac-kenzie: Which as it is a great and most seasonable mercy that carries upon it a lively impression of the power and goodness of the Lord, so doth it engage his people to acknowledge and bear Testimony to the same before the sons of men.  
And therefore having now for a long time past, had thoughts of a public thanksgiving for the many mercies bestowed upon, and deliverances wrought for the Land; We conceive this day of salvation to be a sitting opportunity, wherein the Lords people should make mention of his loving kindness and exalt his Name by public thanksgiving and praise, for all the great things which he hath done for them, especially for these which follow.  
1 That as the Lord since the beginning of the work of Reformation hath always gone before his people, and visited them with most seasonable deliverances in the day of their difficulties and distresses; so also that of late, when all the power of the Kingdom both in Judicatories and Armies was come into the hands of Malignant and dis-affected men, the Lord was pleased to preserve in this Land (having been over them in a pillar of direction and protection) a remnant in the Parliament to descent from, and protest against the proceed of the greater part tending so much to the prejudice of Religion and the work of God, and that he directed and enabled his servants of the ministry to bear so free and faithful Testimony in their Sermons, Warnings and Declarations against that unlawful Engagement, and put it in the hearts of many of his people to petition against it, and to refuse to concur therein notwithstanding of their great sufferings.  
2. That whilst the Malignant and dis-affected party in the Land were in the height of their strength, and pride of their power, God was pleased to break their horn, and to scatter them and bring them down, and to put it in the hearts of his people to come forth for their own defence against the remnant of their Forces, and so to dispose, that after that Malignant party at Stirling had shed blood, yet things were concluded in a peaceable way, and both their Arms and the Civil power gotten out of their hands, and put into the hands of those that have been honest and faithful in the Cause from the beginning.  
3. That the Lord was pleased to give unto us in such a period of time, a Parliament consisting of so many able and faithful men, who did walk so straightly in all things concerning Religion and his Majesty's Government, and make so many pious and laudable Acts for the suppressing of profanity and iniquity, and advancing Piety, and Righteousness in the Land.  
That the Lord hath disappointed and defeated so many secret Plots and devises, tending to the undermining of his Cause, especially that at the Isle of Wight so prejudicial to the Covenant and the Union betwixt the Kingdoms.  
5. That the Lord hath been pleased at such a time when all the Malignants of the Kingdom were hatching new devices, and strengthening themselves at home, and expecting Forces from abroad, by so small a number, and in so unexpected a way, to defeat so many of them, and give such victory and salvation to his People, without so much as one being killed on our side.  
6. That the LORD was pleased to direct and assist both State and Kirk, in giving so seasonable; full, and harmonious Testimony against the proceed of the Sectaries in England.  
A. Ker.  
FINIS.