THE GREAT SIN, AND CHIEF GUILTINESS OF SCOTLAND, In the contempt of the GOSPEL.  
As it was branched out in particulars, by the Commission of the General Assembly, in the Year, 1650.  
Now reprinted at the desire of the Synod of Lothian, for the Fast appointed by them in the Year, 1654.  
Printed, Anno Dom. 1654.   

At Edinburgh, the seventh Day of May, 1654.  
THe Synod of Lothian and Tweddail, considering the continuing evidences and effects of God's wrath, and his Hand still stretched out against the Land, Do find it their duty, to stir up themselves, and these under their charge, to accept the punishment of our iniquities, and to turn to him that smites us: And therefore do seriously recommend to the several Presbyteries within their bounds, that, from time to time, as they shall have occasion, they appoint and keep Solemn Fasts for stirring up the people to be humbled in the sense of their iniquities, and to repent for the same; And specially for the contempt of the Glorious Gospel of the Son of GOD, and not employing of Him in His Mediation and Offices, for reconciliation and amendment: Which, as it is the chief cause of the LORDS controversy against us: so, unless this be reform, we cannot expect that our other iniquities shall be amended, or that the LORD will turn from the fierceness of his anger against us. And albeit this hath been recommended in many former Causes of Humiliation, and particularly insisted on in a Printed Paper of the Commission, 1650. Yet their is cause to fear, that the people do either little understand or lay to heart the heinousness of this sin: And therefore the Synod seriously recommends, that Ministers be the more careful in their Doctrine to lay it out before them. Extracted.   

SINS Relating to the GOSPEL-ORDINANCES.  
FIrst: To the Word. Neglecting to come and attend on the Preaching of the Word, both on the LORDS Day, and on week days, in these places where such exercises are on these days.  
2. Not coming to the Preaching of the Word, for the right end, viz. to find communion with Christ, and a taste of his goodness and excellency, and to be built up in the most holy faith: but either out of custom, or to eschew censures, or to satisfy and hold off the challenges of a natural conscience, or some by-respect; And not preparing the heart before hand in secret, to come with Godly fear and reverence, humility, spiritual hungering and thirsting after the Kingdom of God and the righteousness thereof, and desiring as new born babes the sincere milk of the Word, to grow thereby.  
3. That when the people are at the Preaching of the Word, besides great carelessness, overlinesse, sleeping, wand'ring of the heart, and in advertency to what is Preached; the Word is not heard as an Ordinance and mean appointed of God to work upon, and carry in grace and comfort unto the heart, but is only regarded as other discourses proceeding from men's ability and parts, and is accordingly esteemed by the most part, or at most is only made use of, as a mean of informing the judgement.  
4. That in the Preaching of the Word, neither do Ministers speak the same as the Oracles of God, not remembering themselves to be the ambassadors of Christ, speaking in God's stead: nor do the people present themselves in so immediate a way before God himself, as to receive the Word not as the word of man, but as the true Word of God; Whence it cometh to pass that there is little trembling at the Word, and so little rejoicing in it.  
5. That people in the hearing of the Word, content themselves with man's teaching, and do not, in the conviction of their own blindness, and utter inability of themselves to perceive the things of the Spirit, and of the insufficiency of the outward means without Gods immediate work therewith upon the heart, employ himself to teach them inwardly by his Spirit, joining with the outward means, according to the promise of the Covenant, They shall be all taught of God. Whence it cometh to pass that there is so much Preaching, and so little profiting, so much learning, and so little speed coming in the knowledge of God.  
6. The not mixing of the Word Preached with faith, while as in the hearing thereof, even these who seem to give most heed thereunto do for the most part, rather employ the judgement, to consider and judge of the pertinency, coherence, the way of uttering of the Doctrine delivered; or in a mere speculative way to apprehend the matter and truth of what is spoken, than they do labour with the heart to close with, embrace and apply to themselves the truth Preached.  
7. No care to lay up, and hid the Words of Christ in the heart, to remember the same for use making: But letting them slip and run thorough; which the Apostle accounteth a neglecting of the great Salvation of God, (Heb. 2.1.3.) Nor employing the Spirit to bring the Word that hath been heard, but forgotten, to remembrance: Not making conscience to confer on the Word Preached, and to whet it one upon another. Not taking pains, nor delighting in it in private, to read, and meditate on it.  
2. IN relation to the Sacraments. And first in general and common: Not making use of them as Seals of the Covenant of Grace, and promises thereof made to us in Christ; but laying all the weight of confidence upon themselves, and being content with the deed done, which was the ordinary sin of the Jews in the use of Circumcision, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Law, so often charged upon them in Scripture. Then particularly,  
In Baptism. I. In Parents bringing their Children thereunto, either out of mere fashion and custom, as merely to have a difference put between them and unchristned people, or in effect as unto a mere Ceremony: and not from any sense that they are unclean from unclean, born dead in sins, and children of wrath of themselves, defiled with Original guilt and corruption; nor from a desire that they may be spiritually regenerated, incorporated unto Christ, to be made partakers of the virtue of His Death and Resurrection, to be washed from their filthiness in the blood of Christ, and to get interest in the Covenant of Grace, and promises thereof, sealed up unto them. 2. Not setting themselves in the Administration of this Sacrament to consider and prise the free love and grace of God, which hath prevented us, and our seed, in providing such a fountain for sin and uncleanness in Christ, making such a Covenant with us, so well ordered in all things, and sure, preventing us and our seed with the Seal thereof; nor to apply the Covenant and the promises thereof for ourselves and our seed, and this Sacrament as the Seal of the same. 3. The great and evident slighting of the Administration of the Sacrament, while as few in the Congregation joineth therein either for their own edification, or to hold up the baptised to God, that he might bless his own Ordinance to them, and receive them in amongst his Children in Christ: And many withdraw themselves from the Administration thereof, as if it did not concern them, and only the Minister and Presenter were to be actors in it. 4. Parents not making conscience, to make known unto their Children, when they come to years of Capacity, their Baptism, the ends and use thereof, and the obligation thereby lieth upon them as consecrated to Christ. 5. The not making use of this Sacrament all along the course of our life, for renewing and strengthening our comfort in the faith and assurance of our Regeneration and Adoption; and of our interest in God, as our God and Father in Christ, and for strengthening through Christ our resolutions and endeavours of Mortification, and newness of life: Which is a great despising of this Ordinance.  
In the Lord's Supper; 1. The great profanation thereof, by the coming and admitting thereunto, of many gross ignorants, who cannot discern the Lord's Body, nor knoweth how to examine themselves: many profane Ones, godless Livers, without the Worship of God in private, and into many places, all sorts of persons promiscuously, without making a difference between the precious and the vile, whereby the Blood of Christ is much profaned (although the constitutions of our Kirk, were they well observed, doth sufficiently guard against these evils) which no doubt is one of the main sins, for which God hath been provoked to suffer so much of our blood to be shed: See 1 Cor. 11.30.  
2. The little or no care or pains that is taken for preparation to so high and holy an Ordinance, wherein we are called to the nearest and most familiar Communion with Christ that is here upon earth: most part contenting themselves giving their presence at a Preparation Sermon, many not making conscience of so much as this. Very few separating themselves as is needful, to Examine themselves; that, being sensible of their guiltiness, spiritual inlacs, etc. they might come with humble, broken, and contrite spirits, with spiritual hunger and thirst for Christ Crucified: And sincere purposes of heart to forsake their former sinful courses, and to renew their Covenant with God, in the strength of Christ's Grace.  
3. The great and lamentable blockishness of the most part, in the participation of this Ordinance, who, may be, have some kind of amazement at the Solemnities thereof, but do no ways therein exercise themselves in remembering the Lords Death till he come again; to apply the same to themselves, for peace with God, and mortifying the body of sin, for working deep Repentance, and Gospel-sorrow for sin, and getting the Love of Christ more kindled in them, and their hearts enlarged with greater thankfulness toward him, who loved us, and gave himself for us. And on the other hand, the great heartless sinful dejection or many sensible souls, who at no time are readier to be plunged in legal heaviness, and feeding as it were on Gall and Wormwood, then at this Ordinance, wherein they ought to be most rejoicing through faith on the propitiation in the Death of Christ, so familiarly set forth therein to them.  
4. That the time and occasion of this Sacrament, is used by the most part, only for some outward restraint of grosser sins, for a day or two before and after; but all such goodness being as a morning Cloud, no constancy nor real Reformation, but presently turning to wont, natural, worldly, and carnal courses; Notwithstanding renewed remembering of the Death of Christ, and Profession of renewing Covenants with God.  
3. IN relation to the Ordinance of Discipline.  
1. Much partiality in the administration thereof, with respect of persons, and according to affection; which appeareth in that, While as Offences and Scandals in meaner persons are taken notice of, challenged and censued: There is not the like Christian Freedom, faithfulness and zeal used toward such as are more eminent for wealth, place or dignity in the world.  
2. Want of a Spirit of Meekness, sometimes in the administration thereof; whereby men, if GOD peradventure would give them Repentance, might be recovered out of the snares of Satan. And, on the other hand, want of zeal often times, to save others with fear, plucking them out of the fire.  
3. Much vilifying, contemning of the Censures and Exercise of Discipline; yea, hating, thereof, and the Officers of the Kirk for it.  
4. Not making use of it as a spiritual Medicine and Means of Salvation: but as a mere Punishment, which as it is in itself a misapprehension and abuse of this Ordinance so is (no doubt) the cause of so much impatience and indignation against it in people, and of so much inequality and mixture of selfish affection in the administration thereof.  
5. The great formality that is every where in the use thereof, while as, so be it that persons under censure continue out their set time and days of Censure, little care or respect is had of the effects for which it was instituted, to wit, humiliation of heart and godly sorrow, bringing forth Repentance not to be repent of, which maketh the administration thereof to look too like the way of Popish Penance.  
4. IN relation to Prayer: 1. Great neglect thereof by most part of persons and Families throughout. the Land in private and secret.  
2. Many, more eminent persons in the world, accounting the performance thereof in their Families (although this be incumbent to them by their place and station) a disparagement; and therefore turning it over upon others, as a Service below them.  
3. In the public Prayers of the Kirk, Peoples lying by from joining therein all along with their Spirits, which should be striving together with the Minister: either muttering words of their own, or taking liberty to themselves to be idle in the Work, and roving in their thoughts, as if the Minister only were to be an Actor in that Service.  
4. Not using this Ordinance as a mean of communion with God, and of obtaining blessings from Him: But using it merely as a duty, and many as a matter of mere task. Whereof many may be convinced by this, That they do not make conscience, nor set themselves to observe what cometh of their Prayers. how they are taken of their hand, what speed they have come, and what answer they get.  
5. The little care that is had either by Ministers or others to pray in the Spirit, or to employ the Spirit of Grace and Supplication for this Service: The most part in their performances thereof too evidently acting merely their own memory, invention, wit, etc. and that often times with apparent affectation.  
5. RElating more immediately to Christ Himself and the free grace of God in him, which is the Matter and Object of the Gospel: As,  
1. Gross ignorance in the most part, and great short-coming of the best in the knowledge of Jesus Christ His Person, Offices, His blessings and benefits, of the Covenant of Grace established in Him, and the way of making use of Christ and the Covenant of Grace.  
2. Undervaluing and misprysing of Christ, communion with Him, and His spiritual graces and blessings; Which appears most evidently, by the great neglect of the use of these means and exercises, public, private and secret, wherein He offereth Himself to be sought and found: the great wearying of them, greater willingness and readiness to bestow time and pains upon things. worldly, even vanity and trifles, than on these: preferring the interests of creatures to the interests of Christ, and not giving him the pre-eminence above all: by the readiness which appears in people, in times of try all, to comply with sinful courses, to the prejudice of Christ's Cause, and the hazarding of their own peace with God, for maintaining their ease, temporary safety and worldly commodities, rather than to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him.  
3. Not receiving of Christ; nor making use of him as he is held forth in the Gospel, in his fullness of grace, nor living by faith in him, more especially in not receiving and making use of his freegrace and imputed Righteousness for Justification, acceptation before God, and for peace of conscience: while as most part securely rest on mere outward Church-priviledges: many confide in their own Moral Honesty performances and duties; So going about to establish their own righteousness, and following duties this way to make their Peace and Reconciliation thereby with God. And even the best Professors do not so purely and entirely rest on his Righteousness as the Gospel requireth: as well appear by these things amongst many others: heartless fears, misbelief, fearring to apply Christ, and to make use of the promises, not rejoicing in Christ and his propitiation with humility, when there is a discovery, challenges and apprehensions of want, short coming and failing of duties, which in effect is in a degree, and in part, an establishing our own righteousness, and not submitting to the Righteousness of God. Not making use of Christ, for Sanctification, according to the promises of the Covenant, and not acting in a way of dependence on him, in all the performances of our common Christian calling, and of particular lawful vocations, for direction, quickening, strength to mortify corruptions, to every duty, and to carry us through against discouragements, and tentations: but acting only, or most part by the strength of our own wits, abilities, and pains.  
In not making use of the Mediation and Intercession of Christ, in approaching to the Throne of Grace, in Prayers, Supplications, and Thanksgivings (while as many do neglect Prayer altogether) albeit they have some course of performance of this duty, yet know not what it is to put their Prayers up to God through the Mediator, though they may perhaps name His Name, but do as that Uzziah, who would offer Incense himself, neglecting the High Priest: And even Believers themselves doth not directly, distinctly, and steadfastly in their approaches to God, eye Christ, to offer all their service through him; nor do come with that humble boldness and full assurance of faith in God as a Father, wherewith the intercession of Christ warrandeth them to come, Heb. 10.19, 20, 21, 22.  
4. Not walking as becometh the Gospel of Christ, in Righteousness, Godliness, and Sobriety: many notwithstanding their Profession of the Gospel, and claiming interest in Christ and his Grace, yet living lose, profane, godless, carnal and earthly in their way; in effect, turning the Grace of God unto wantonness and security, and taking liberty to sin, because Grace doth abound. And even the best not so constrained with the love of Christ, to live to him who died for them, nor striving to keep the thoughts of the love of Christ, and the freegrace of God in him, upon their hearts, so fresh and constant, as they should be, to keep them watchful, tender, zealous, and enlarged for God, and his honour.  
6. IN relation to the operations of the Spirit, wherein the Gospel is the Ministration, and maketh it effetuall: As,  
1. Profane mocking, miscalling, and misinterpreting the tender and accurate walking of the Godly in the ways of God, as unnecessary and proud preciseness, and their spiritual exercises, as fantasticness, melancholy, or madness: Which is a horrible sin, sib to that which is unpardonable; yet, very frequent amongst carnal and natural people.  
2. The mere natural and moral way of living in a civil honesty, and sitting down contented therewith, of the most part of people, not labouring in their conversation to walk after the Spirit, i. e. upon Spiritual Principles, according to the Spiritual Rule (of Gods revealed Will in his Word) nor for Spiritual ends, the Honour of God, Glory, and Immortality.  
3. Not observing and yielding unto the knockings of the Spirit, whereby Christ maketh tender to come in to hearts, that he may sup with them, and they with him; resisting and quenching his motions, whereby he stirreth up to duties, stifling or putting by his challenges, whether in public or secret, which tend to Repentance, Humiliation, or withdrawing from sin; not being tender of his Presence and consolations, to  the same; but grieving him, by misprizing them, refusing them, careless walking, in not attending on his direction and guiding, in giving way to known sinful thoughts, and lustings in a continued tract, although not growing up to a full accomplishing of them; and sometimes in giving way even to grosser out-breaking, and in not watching against predominant corruptions, whereof even the best are much guilty.  
4. Not delighting in, nor improving spiritual company and spiritual exercises.  
5. OF Ministers, in relation to their Preaching of the Gospel: As,  
1. Many not labouring to set forth the Excellency of Christ, in his Person, Offices, and the unsearchable Riches of his Grace, the New Covenant, and the way of living by Faith in him: nor making this the main and chief Theme and matter of their Preaching, as did the Apostle, 1 Cor. 3.2. 2 Cor. 4.5. Col. 1.28. Nor Preaching other things with a relation to Christ; to wit, Not Preaching convictions, reproofs, discoveries of sin, and of short come in duties, and threaten, to lead to Christ, to prise him the more highly, and to embrace him the more earnestly; especially for Justification, and pressing duties in a mere legal way; not urging them, as by the Authority of God's Commandments▪ so from the love of Christ, and the grace of the Gospel, nor pointing and directing people to their furniture for them in Christ: Oftentimes craving hard, but giving nothing wherewith to pay.  
2. What they Preach of Christ, and the matters of the Gospel, not Preaching the same in a Gospel-way: Whereof see, 1 Cor. 3. from the beginning, at length.  
3. Not commending, as they ought, neither their own work, whether of meditation, or delivery: nor their hearts to Christ, that He might give the increase: but going about the work, either altogether in their own strength, or much that way.  
4. Often times not speaking, because they believe and many not seeking for communion with Christ, in their own personal estate: and to feel the power of the Word upon their own hearts, that they might speak so.  
These branches of contemning and abusing of the Gospel, are thought fit, for the better information of all, to be held forth at this time, as being most obvious, recommending withal to Ministers, to apply themselves to make a more, full and particular discovery thereof; As is not doubted but they will do, according to their wisdom and understanding in the Gospel, and the experience they have by observation of their own hearts, and of the ways and consciences of People.  
FINIS.