Plain and Peaceable ADVICE To those called Presbyterians IN SCOTLAND.  
By Alexander Skene.  Longè diversa sunt carnificina & pietas, nec potest aut veritas cum vi, aut justitia cum crudelitate conjungi. 
There is a vast difference betwixt Butchery and Godliness, neither has Truth any concord with Violence, of Cruelty with Righteousness.  Lactan. Milit. lib. 5. cap. 20. 
Truth is not propagated by Swords or Spears, nor by Soldiers, but by Persuasion and Counsel.  Athan. Epict. ad Vit. Sel. ag. lib. 1. Rom. 12.18. 
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men, etc.  2 Cor. 10.4. 
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds.  
LONDON: Printed for Benjamin Clark, in George-yard in Lombardstreet. 1681.   

TO THE READER.  
THe serious sense I have of that necessary Duty by which all Christians are obliged, not only to love one another, but even their Enemies, Mat. 5.44. and the great Abhorrence they should have against that Spirit of Cain who slew his Brother, hath not only engaged me, and those of my Persuasion, to forsake that principle and practice of Fight, and to prefer the peaceable way of Christ even under greatest sufferings, Isa. 53.7. but also moved me to write this ensuing Dissuasive to them whose principle and practice hath drawn on themselves much Sufferings, and occasioned greater Severities to be enacted against the Dissenting Worshippers of God from the National way, then probably would otherwise have been; whereby not only they have met with sad Afflictions, but even others (whose chiefest desire was only to have liberty to Worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth, according to their Consciences) have been made to suffer (these three years and a half by gone) by frequent and long Imprisonments, etc. Though we conceive the Narratives of all these Penal Statutes against Meetings, might sufficiently have guarded those who never were Seditious in practice nor principle.  
But if they to whom this is directed, would once at last be induced to that behaviour that is most suitable to the Gospel of Peace, and to the Spirit of true▪ Christianity; it is my hope in the Lord, that he would incline the hearts of our Rulers, both Supreme and Subordinate, to make their Moderation so far known, as to allow a just liberty of Worship to all, whose differences are no ways inconsistent with the Peace and Prosperitys of the Nation.  
Waiting for this Mercy from the Lord, in his appointed time, I commend this small Endeavour to his Blessing.  
The 5th of the 6th mon. 1679. A. S.   

TO THE PRESBYTERIANS IN SCOTLAND.  
KNowing that ye look on it as a duty to fight by military weapons in defence of your principle, yea to promote your Cause and your pretended Reformation by the power of the Sword, in which ye are confirmed by some of your Preachers, who are always labouring to persuade you to this, as one evidence of your Zeal for God, and not to spare to hazard your Lives, Liberties and Estates in such a glorious Cause, as they call it.  
In reference to which, I have found freedom, out of that love I bear to the welfare of your Souls, the peace of our native Country, and that duty of obedience and subjection we own to all that are set up in lawful Authority over us, as we are men and Christians, (whether active or passive, wherein we cannot with a good conscience give active obedience) to lay before you these following Considerations.  
1. Consider how short ye are of that promise and Prophecy of Gospel-times, (when Christians shall be recovered out of the Apostasy, and come to the primitive Simplicity) which is mentioned Micah 4.2, 3, 4. and Isa. 2.2, 3, 4. When many Nations shall say, Come, and let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, and to the House of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths, etc. And he will judge among many people, and rebuke strong Nations afar off, and they shall beat their Swords into Ploughshares, and their Spears into Pruning-hooks: Nation shall not lift up Sword against. Nation, neither shall they learn War any more, but they shall sit every man under his own Vine, and under his own Figtree, and none shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.  
Where, first, this is observable, that this promise is to be accomplished when many Nations shall come to own the true God, which was not so under the Mosaical dispensation, till the Gospel of Jesus Christ was preached amongst the Nations, and the Gentile World converted to Christianity.  
But it may be objected, That Wars were never more amongst the Nations, then since the Nations became by outward profession to own Christianity, and so it continues unto this day; To which my second Consideration shall serve for Answer, thus:  
Before the defection from the Simplicity of the Gospel, in the first and purest times of Christianity, it was not so, as is witnessed by Doctor Cave's Primitive Christianity, citing Testimonies out of Origens and Tertullia's Apology, pag. 326. chap. 2. pag. 55. chap. 1. where he brings in Celsus objecting to Origen, that Christians refused to help the Emperors in their Wars; Origen answers, That they did really assist and help him, and that rather with Divine than humane weapons, according to the command of the Apostle, I exhort, that first of all, supplication, prayers, intercessions, etc. be made for all men, for Kings, and for all that are in Authority. And tells him, the more eminent any man is for Piety and Religion, he will be able to afford greater assistance to his Prince, than a great many Armed Soldiers that stand ready to fight for him, and to destroy his enemies.  
But to clear this further, see that famous Letter of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus the Roman Emperor, to the Senate of Rome, which is recorded in the Works of Justin Martyr in Latin; Also in John Fox his Acts and Monuments, commonly called the Book of Martyrs, his first Tome, pag. 46. (who though he reports according to Eusebius, the Christians to have been a Legion of the Emperor's Army, yet the Letter itself shows the contrary where the Emperor says, I caused to be sent for these men who were called Christians, who did their endeavour, but without either Weapons, Munition, Armour, or Trumpet, as men abhorring such preparation and furniture, but only satisfied in trust of their God, whom they carry about with them in their Consciences. And for your sakes I shall set down the Letter at length.  
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Emperor, to the Senate and People of Rome.  
I Give you to understand what success I have had in my Wars in Germany, as also what I intent, and with how much difficulty I have victualled my Camp, being compassed about with seventy and four fierce Dragons, whom my Scouts descried to be within nine miles of us, and Pompeianus our Lieutenant hath viewed, as he signified to us by his Letter; wherefore I thought no less, but to be overrun, and all my Bands, of so great a multitude, as well my Wayward, Mainward, as Roar-ward, with all my Soldiers of Ephrata, in whose Host there were numbered of fight men, nine hundred seventy and five thousand. But when I saw myself not able to encounter with the Enemy, I craved aid of our Country Gods, at whose hands I finding no comfort, and being driven of the Enemy to an exigent, I caused to be sent for those men whom we call Christians, who being numbered were found a good indifferent number, with whom I was in further rage, than I had good cause, as afterward I had experience by their marvellous power, who forthwith did their endeavour, but without either Weapon, Munition, Armour, or Trumpet, as men abhorring such preparation or furniture, but only satisfied in the trust of their God, whom they carry about with them in their Consciences.  
It is therefore to be credited, albeit we call them wicked men, that they worship God in their hearts; for they falling prostrate on the ground, prayed not only for me, but for the Host also that was with me, beseeching their God for help in that our extremity of lack of Victuals and fresh Water, for we had been now five days without Water, and now in our enemy's Land, even in the midst of Germany, who thus falling upon their faces, made their prayers to a God unknown of me: And there fell amongst us from Heaven a pleasant and cold shower; But amongst our Enemies a great storm of Hail mixed with Lightning; so that immediately we perceived the invincible aid of the most Mighty God to be with us.  
Therefore we give these men leave to profess Christianity, lest perhaps by their prayers we be punished with the like, and thereby make myself the Author of such hurt as shall be received by the Christian profession; And if any man shall apprehend one that is a Christian, only for that cause I will that he being apprehended, without punishment may have leave to confess the same, so that there be none other cause objected against him, more than that he is a Christian; but let his accuser be burned alive. Neither will I that he confessing and being found a Christian, shall be enforced to alter the same his opinion, by the Governor of any of our Provinces, but lest to his own choice. And this Decree of mine, I will to be ratified in the Senate-house, and command the same to be proclaimed and read in the Court of Trajanus: And that further from thence it may be sent unto all our Provinces, by the diligence of Veratius Governor of our City Polione. And further we give leave to all men to use and write out this our Decree, taking the same out of our Copy publicly in the common Hall set forth.  
According to Cluverius his Latin Epitome of the History of the World, this Emperor began his Reign in the year 162. and died 180. which was about one hundred and twenty years before History reports any thing of a Christian Legion, which may bear this sad and woeful remark, (that though it was for a good cause in refusing to worship false Gods) that whole Legion was cut off and perished by the Sword, after they had been twice decimated, at last they were all Massacred without the least resistance made by them, under Maximinianus, Colleague in the Empire to Dioclesian, who raised the tenth persecution; which makes the words of our Lord good, Mat. 26.52. Put up thy Sword into his place, for all they that take the Sword, shall perish with the Sword. However this Scripture may be applied here, I am sure it may be a weighty warning to all private persons, that are not in Authority, to take up Arms in defence of their opinions, let your Preachers plead the contrary as they will.  
Consider thirdly, let all people walk in uprightness and righteousness towards God and all men, that they may in Faith fully rely upon the Arm of the Almighty, who hath said he will Judge among many people, and rebuke strong Nations afar off: if a person or a people knew the true exercise of Faith in this case, they would say with David, Psal. 3.6. We will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against us round about.  
O but this were a tempting of God, if the ordinary means should not be used— Answer. In no ways, for this is but to beg the question; if weapons and Arms be the true ordinary means in the Gospel-times, when God hath said, Swords are to be beaten into Ploughshares, and Spears into Pruning-hooks, etc. See also what the Lord hath said, in confirmation of this truth, Hosea 1.7. But I will have mercy upon the House of. Judah, and will save them by the Lor● their God, and will not save them by Bow, nor by Sword, nor by Battle, by Horses, nor by Horsemen. So Hos. 2.18. When the Lords People have not only forsaken their Idols and Idolatry, so as not to have their names any more remembered, as vers. 16, 17. Then vers. 18. In that day I will make a Covenant for them, with the Beasts of the Field, and with the Fowls of the Heaven, and with the creeping things of the Earth, and I will break the Bow and the Sword, and the Battle out of the Earth, and will make them lie down safely. The surest ordinary means of defence, is true peace with God, grounded upon faith in him, and a good Conscience.  
Consider that of Exod. 34.23, 24. Where the Lord said, Thrice in the year shall all your male children appear before the Lord God, neither shall any man desire thy Land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year. Now if Israel of old, that were engaged often even by the Lord's allowance, to fight the Lords Battle by Military weapons against their enemies, (all which were but typical of the Spiritual Warfare which Christians are to fight) if they at such times were to forbear, and did forbear all outward defence by carnal weapons, at the Word of the Lord, saying, No man shall desire your Land; How much more should reform Christians trust in the Lord, and lean to his defence, who hath said, I will have mercy on the House of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by Bow, nor by Sword, nor by Battle, by Horses, nor by Horsemen.  
The Israelites had many malicious enemies round about them, as the Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, Philistims, that of themselves were ready to wait all opportunities to take advantage against them, especially when all their males were gone up to Jerusalem, and all their Land left destitute of men for defence; yet it was never found, that any Nation invaded their Land during the time of their Feasts, till Titus Vespasian the Roman Emperor came with his Army whilst they were in Jerusalem, after they had caused the Lord of glory to be Crucified. But then their defence had forsaken them: So long then as the Lords people keeps his way and abides in his truth, and trusts alone in the living God, they need fear no enemy whatsoever: Such as return to the Primitive simplicity of the Gospel in faith and practice, will find all these promises fulfilled, though others that are not come to that state think fit to use Arms.  
4. Consider, if these Truths had been believed and received in this Island, there had much blood been spared that hath been spilt these 30 or 40 years by gone, and the desired Reformation carried on, in a more peaceable and prosperous way than it hath been, as may be seen, matters standing as they do at this day. It is wonderful that your eyes are so blinded, that ye reflect not, nor look back upon your disappointments and fruitless labour, by your Wars and Fight, in pretence to set up Presbyterian Government, & in pursuance of Reformation by Arms. I do not question but there have been many of several ranks, that were engaged so in a mistaken zeal; for truly the way and manner was not approved by the Lord, compelling all by force and violence to comply with you, though contrary to their Judgement and Light. If you pretend a good intention, that will not justify a bad Action, witness Vzziah his putting forth his hand to the Ark of the Lord, when the Oxen shook it, the Lords anger was kindled against him, and smote him till he died, 2 Sam. 6.7.  
5 It were worth your serious Consideration, that if these Preachers continue to stir you up to rise in Arms, they have not much of self-interest in their eye, they being now secluded from their places, and that Power and Authority they and their Brethren had, (during our late sad troubles and Wars in this Kingdom) taken from them, whether therefore they seek not to imbroil the Nations in new Wars, rather than still to be thus deprived?  
But I conceive it were more suitable for them to evidence as much care and zeal, in exciting all persons and people whom they could influence, to search and try their ways, and to turn unto the Lord God with their whole hearts, and seek more after a personal Reformation, and after a new Creation in their inward man, then to delude people by stirring up a carnal zeal for outward Reformation, when there is no true zeal for real conformity to the Spirit of Jesus in the heart.  
6. Consider, if the way of Fight and Arms was a means to spread the Gospel at first among the Nations: Christ sent forth his Disciples as Lambs and Sheep among Wolves, and they by pains, and labour, and sufferings, did propagate the Gospel, and will ye imagine to carry on any true Gospel-work another way? They suffered imprisonments, beat, scourge, stonings, and all manner of evil, and will ye by resisting evil with force and violence, apprehend to promote the Kingdom of Christ in these Lands? The best Arms the Primitive Christians used, were preces & lachrymae, prayers and tears; and so long as ye make use of Swords and Guns, can ye upon any just ground lay claim to be their Successors? Remember that the Lords House after the Captivity (which our Babylonish Captivity under Popery resembled) was not built by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord, Zach. 4.6. Even so our Reformation from Antichristian Idolatry and Superstition, whether Root or Branch, is not to be by Sword or Spear; but the Lord is to consume it by the Spirit of his Mouth, and shall destroy him by the brightness of his coming, 2 Thes. 2.8. O that ye knew the virtue and power of the Spirit of life and truth, ye would soon perceive the folly and vanity of your carnal weapons, and of the Arm of flesh! wherefore let Christ who is the head of the true Church, be the sole defender of his Faith, which he hath wrought in all the true members thereof, else acknowledge your Faith and work of Reformation ye pretend too, to be none of Christ's, but merely humane, and therefore must be upholden by the Arm of man.  
7. Consider, this your way is liker the Children of Antichrist, than the Disciples of Holy Jesus, who when he was reviled, reviled not again, when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously, 1 Pet. 2.23. So his Disciples behaved themselves, 1 Cor. 4.12, 13. Being reviled (says Paul) we bless; being persecuted we suffer it; being defamed we entreat; we are made as the filth of the World, and are counted as the offscouring of all things unto this day. Thus we may see the frame of that Spirit that was in the Christians of old; They were far from rendering evil for evil, or repelling force with force, the weapons of their warfare were not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, 2 Cor. 10.4.  
Whereas it is the Spirit of Antichrist to make use of carnal weapons in defence of false worship, it was given to him to make war with the Saints, yea to overcome them, Rev. 13.7. yet nevertheless vers. 19 He that killeth with the Sword, must be killed with the Sword. This is a retribution threatened and promised to come upon Antichrist, and all that walk in his steps: see his lording way in his forcible impositions, vers. 16, 17. He causeth all ranks to bow to him, and receive marks of conformity to him, yea not to have the liberty to buy or sell, or the common privilege of Subjects, except they be such.  
Now if ye be so dealt with in any degree at such a time as this, ye should reflect upon yourselves, how much this was your own way when power was in your hands, and had the Authority of the Civil Magistrate upon your side; But I wish ye and all others, that employed your power to stir up the Magistrate to persecute others for matters purely conscientious, to consider how far ye are from any just right to lay claim to the Holy Mountain of the Lord, which is his Church in Gospel-times, as is Prophesied Isai. 11.9. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my Holy Mountain. Consider how far this excludes force and Arms from being instruments to defend the Faith of the Gospel, or to promote it, as now the most part of these called Christians use to do, these weapons and means never having been used, till the simplicity of Christianity began to be lost, and the Apostasy began to creep in. It was the pride and ambition of the Bishop of Rome and his Clergy, and Arrians, and Nestorians, that would needs have all men to bow to them, and to conform to their impositions, that first stirred up the Kings and Princes of the Earth to persecute all whose Consciences could not comply with them; And shall ye, who think yourselves a part of the Reformed Churches, tread their steps?  
8. Wherefore consider that place of the Apostle, James 4.1. From whence come wars and fightings amongst you? Come they not hence, even from your lusts that war in your members? Is it not evident that all the Wars that have been in the World, have proceeded from no other ground, but either from Pride, Covetousness, Ambition, or Revenge? And if ye shall pretend that your fight is for the cause of God, the Apostle says in plain terms it is not so, but from your lusts, even Pride, and Ambition, to have the Pre-eminence in the Earth, and Revenge against them that are your opposers; and these that pretend to be the Disciples of Jesus Christ, or people of God, should be ashamed to be acted by such principles.  
9 Consider whether it be not the sense of this fight disposition in you, that has occasioned the severity of such Acts of Parliament against your Meetings for worship, whereby not only ye, but those who are Innocent, and altogether abhorrent from such principles of fight, are made to be sufferers, by frequent and long Imprisonments, and to undergo Fines and poindings: whereas if ye had been as peaceably disposed, as others are under these sufferings, it might have pleased the Lord to have moved the hearts of our Superiors to have resented from these severities; And though ye had remained under sad sufferings when Innocent, ye should have had a share of that peace and comfort with others, that it was purely for the Testimony of a good Conscience, that wisheth no Evil to any man.  
Wherefore as ye would show yourselves to be a people answering the Prophecies and Promises of Gospel times, Micah 4.2, 3, 4. Isa. 2.2, 3, 4. Isa. 11.9. and 65.25. As ye would approve yourselves Christians according to the Innocency thereof in primitive times, and to be their true and real Successors; As ye would evidence yourselves to be a righteous people, that can trust and rely upon the Lord God alone, for the preservation of the whole Interest of the Kingdom of Christ, and of your own personal interests in time and Eternity: As ye would not wish these Nations to be again involved in blood and confusion: As ye bear a love to the peace of your native Country; as ye would be free from that imputation of building up Zion with blood, (which was never justly imputed to the true Disciples of Christ, nor primitive Christians, though under greatest sufferings, and though for their power, able sufficiently to defend themselves;) As ye would wish not to manifest yourselves to be the brats of the Antichristian Whore, who is still drunk with blood, yea with the blood of the Saints, by her not ceasing to stir up the powers of the Earth, to persecute all who will not come under her mark and name: And as ye would not wish to be acted by a spirit of lust, pride and revenge, lay aside your Arms and fight principles, and commit God's work to his own Government, and follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which none shall see the Lord; and commit your cause unto God, and let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their Souls to Him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator, 1 Pet. 4.19. And in this only will be your strength and peace.  
Remember David was not permitted to build a House unto the Lord, because he had shed much blood upon the Earth; that work was reserved for Solomon, who was a man of peace, 2 Sam. 22.8, 9 Wherefore do not dream, neither be persuaded by men, that ever the Lord will honour Men of War and Blood, to pr●●● 〈◊〉 the Gospel of peace.  
Take this from one, who with many of his 〈…〉 hath been a sufferer for his Conscience these divers y … bygone, with whom these blessed Promises and Prophecies , are begun to be accomplished, both in our principle and practice; Though we are a people against whom ye have much causeless prejudice and malice, through the many gross misrepresentations of our opposers; yet I am, and hope ever to remain,  
A real wellwisher of your Souls, and of all Men, AL. SKENE.