QVAERES CONCERNING The state of the Church OF SCOTLAND.  DEUT. 27.18. 
Cursed be he that maketh the blind to go out of the way: and all the people shall say, Amen.  
reprinted in the year 1638.   

Quaeres, concerning the state of the Church of Scotland.  
Quaeres. I.  
WAS there ever any Realm since Christ's Incarnation professed Christian Religion so universially through all the parts thereof, even to the utmost corners, in such purity both for Doctrine, Discipline, and public worship, with such liberty and for so many years together, as our Realm hath done? In the Apostles days we read not of whole Cities, let be kingdoms, to have professed the name of Christ. Soon after the departure of the Apostles, sundry corruptions entered into the Church, and the mystery of iniquity which was working under ground in their time, was advanced by little and little till it came to the full ripeness. Neither was there any Nation free from the open profession of Paganism the first 300 years. Since Constantine's time, that Christianity began to prevail above Gentilism, there hath been no Church, which hath not been defiled with much superstition, and corrupted with many errors, till the days of late Reformation. From the first time of reformation to this hour, no reformed Church hath spread itself so universally through any Kingdom, with such purity of profession, but either their profession is not so universal, being intermingled with Papists, Anabaptists, Lutherians, or not so pure, as in our neighbour Church.  
II. WAS there ever any Nation which sealed their profession with Oaths, Covenants and Subscriptions, so universally, and so oft, as our Church hath done. How often hath the Confession of Faith, called the King's Confession, been subscribed by persons of all Estates through the Realm, or by particular persons from time to time, as occasion was offered to require their subscription? A more fearful oath cannot be conceived, then is taken in the end of that Confession, in these words: Promising and swearing by the great Name of the Lord our God, That we shall continue in the obedience of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Church, & shall defend the same according to our vocation and power, all the days of our lives, under the pains contained in the Law, and danger both of Body and Soul, in the day of God's fearful judgement. This is the promissory oath. The assertory oath, whereupon it is grounded, is this: We, therefore willing to take away all suspicion of hypocrisy, and of such double dealing with God, and his Church, protest and call the Searcher of all hearts for witness, That our minds and hearts do fully agree with this our Confession, Promise, Oath, and Subscription. So that we are not moved for any worldly respect, but are persuaded only in our Consciences, through the knowledge and love of God's true Religion, printed in our hearts by the holy Spirit, as we shall answer to him in the day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed. To underlye the pains contained in the Law, and danger both of Body and Soul in the day of God's fearful judgement, and to answer to him in the day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, are not lightly to be considered, but to be pondered deeply, and ever to be remembered, specially when we have to do with this our Confession.  
III. I appeal to every man's Conscience, Whether we have adhered to all the general & particular clauses of this our Confession, or not? When we say in this Confession, that we detest and abhor the Antichrist, his five bastard Sacraments, with all his Rites, Ceremonies, and false Doctrine added to the ministration of the true Sacraments, without the word of God, his cruel judgement against Infants departing without the Sacrament, his absolute necessity of baptising, do we not protest that we will abhor and detest, confirmation one of the five bastard Sacraments, kneeling, which is a Rite added to the ministration of the Supper, without the warrant of God's Word, and invented by the Antichrist, private Baptism, which is grounded upon the necessity of baptism, and doubting of the Salvation of all Infants dying unbaptised; When we protest we abhor and detest his dedicating of days, do we not condemn observation of aniversarie holy days? And when we protest we detest and abhor not only his own worldly Monarchy, but also his wicked hierarchy, Do we not condemn the degrees of Bishops and Archbishops? When we say, we abhor and detest all contrary religion and doctrine, (to wit, to the former Confession mentioned immediately before, and the Christian faith received, believed, and defended by the Church of Scotland) but chiefly all kind of Papistry in general, and particular heads, even as they are now damned and confuted by the Word of God and Kirk of Scotland. Do we not condemn Archbishops, Bishops, Holy days, Kneeling, Confirmation, private Baptism, seeing all these particular heads were damned by our Church either in the former Confession, the first or second Book of Discipline, and Acts of general Assemblies before the said Confession was sworn to and subscribed, and if any pressed to practise them after they were damned, the censures of the Church was inflicted upon them. Have we not of late failed in all these particulars, and consequently violated our oaths, promises, and subscriptions, underliing the danger both of body and soul in the day of Cod's fearful judgement, unless we repent, which we cannot seriously do, except we recover, so fare as in us lieth, what is lost, to the loss of any temporal thing whatsoever, to the spending of the least drop of our blood, and defend what is yet reserved whole and sound, with the same hazard? For what is that hazard or loss in comparison of all the pains contained in the Law, and danger both of body and soul, in the day of God's fearful judgement. Let no man deceive himself, thinking to deceive God with evasions and shifts. The Searcher of all hearts knoweth what was thy meaning, when thou saidst, We call the Searcher of all hearts to witness, that our minds and hearts do fully agree with this our Confession, Promise, Oath, and Subscription: And what was the meaning of the Church of Scotland, with which thou protested, thou would not use double dealing, was too manifest both in practice, preaching and the authentic Records above mentioned. And put the case the particular heads above specified, had been a matter indifferent, howbeit they were not so esteemed by our Church, yet who can deny but thus fare at least was intended to eschew all occasions and provocations to tyranny, & superstition, and therefore the oath, howbeit in a matter indifferent, was lawful and so remaineth, as long as they remain occasions and provocations to tyranny, and corruption, yea as long as the forbearance of them is not proved to be a sin. For great regard should be had even to a rash oath if it be not or prove not unlawful, for the reverence we ought to carry to the great name of God. Remember of the breach of the Oath made unto the Gibeonites.  
FOUR Joining all the three former Quaeres together, I ask, If ever a Realm professing Christian Religion so universally, in such purity, with such Liberty, for so many years together, and sealing their profession with such solemn promises, oaths, and subscriptions (if there were any such to be found in any History) that did make such defection, as if they did, if the heavy judgement of God did not overtake them? Or, secluding the consideration of our oaths, subscriptions, and solemn Covenants, I ask, If any of the Reformed Churches in any Realm, or Province, professing the Gospel in the same purity, and so many years, as we have done, hath made so great defection as many of us have done. Have they returned to their vomit, taken up that which they rejected & condemned, remaining still a reformed Church, and not overturned with force of arms? If not, then suppose we had never sealed our profession with such solemn seals, our defection is singular, and our punishment will be exemplary, unless we repent, recover what is lost, and defend what remaineth uncorrupted.  
V WHereunto doth this defection tend? Doth it not tend first to perfect conformity with the English Church, then at last will it not end in full conformity with the Roman Kirk? The intent of the first is professed by his Majesty in express terms extant in print: and therefore be not deceived with the promises and protestations of our usurping and pretended Prelates. As for example, They will say to you, his Majesty careth neither for He Saint nor She Saint, but for days dedicat to Christ. They lie: For his Majesty observeth both He & She Saints days, as well as days dedicat to Christ. So howbeit you could digest both a Christmas Preaching and a Christmas Pie, which once ye loathed, ye must and shall ere it be long, do as much for Saint Bartholomew, Virgin Mary, the Innocents', and all the rest of their Saints, & for five Ceremonies ye shall have fifty, yea, a hundred. All the Relics of Rome, which are lying like stinking filth in their Church, shall be communicated to us; the pattern of their Altar, their Service, their Hierarchy, and Romish policy, shall be set up in our Church. This defection tendeth yet further, to wit, to conformity with Rome. What meaneth the Bishop of Spalleto, in the Preface before his fifth Book, to exhort his Majesty to proceed as he hath already begun, to restore the Christian Church to unity: Papist, Lutherian, Formalist, and Calvinist, must then all be reconciled together, & united in one. How, I pray you, are we united to the English Church? We must yield all to them, they will not yield any thing at all to us, no not a hoof, said Whitgift, Bishop of Canterberrie, neither are they urged to yield any thing unto us. But we are unmercifully dealt with to yielded unto them. Shall we for conformity with the Lutherian the next day except of his monstrous opinions, & other fond ceremonies, after the same manner, and the third year for reconciliation with Rome, drink of the diep of her abomination? Or, how shall that great work come to pass? Neither England nor Rome giveth the least token of their coming towards us. Yet we must play the fools, and turn our face to them, and take our journey first to England, then to Rome. The Bishop of Spalleto hath not ridden all the fords of Tweed well, whatsoever is intended, this our conformity will of itself tend in the end to full Popery. For, suppose we should give place to these disturbers of our Church, who for their own gain and glory, have laid aside all respect to God's glory, the gaining of souls, and the we'll of their Brethren, yet Popery should increase more mightily, as it hath done in our neighbour Church.  
VI WHether our conformity end at last in conformity with Rome, or not? What reason have we to leave our conformity with the pure Apostolical Churches, or the best Reformed Churches in foreign Nations? Brightman compareth our Church, & the rest of the best Reformed, to the godly Church of Philadelphia; the English to the glorious & lukewarm Church of Laodicea. Shall we cast off our conformity with Philadelphians, and conform to Laodiceans? Is not their Church government the same that it was this day 100 years since in time of the grossest darkness and blindness, Archbishops, Bishops, Archdeacon's, Chancelours, Officials, Commissaries, exercising Ecclesiastical jurisdiction in their spiritual Courts, as they did in time of Popery, excluding both Preaching and ruling Elders from the Government of their own Parishes, and the joint government of the Church, excommunicating, suspending, depryving, by their own sole authority, meddling with Testamentary, and other causes, not belonging to Ecclesiastical Consistories; the Bishop taking to himself the sole administration of spiritual jurisdiction over many hundreth Churches; yea, deputing the same to Civilians, Chancelours & officials, and meddling with the administration of Civil Affairs, as best beseeming his Grandeur. This Bishop is not Paul's Bishop, nor yet the Bishop which was first erected in the Ancient Church; He differeth as fare from him as the Consul in a Senate doth from a King or Monarch. So, seeing he is neither the divine, nor humane Bishop, He must be that Satanical, brought in by the Antichrist. It were wearisome to go through the calling and functions, of their Suffragans, Deans, Canons and Prebandaries, Organists, Singing boys, Pistlers, Gospelers, Priests, Deacons, who are half Priests: their Fasts, their Ewes, their feast-days, their Crossing, Kneeling, Bishopping, Houseling of the sick, Baptism by supposition, private Baptism, Copes, Capes, Tipets, Surplices, Rochets, Churching of women, Marriage toys, Funeral rittes, the gestures waried superstitiously at Service, the form of their Prayers, and the rest of their Ceremonies. It sufficeth, that the best & worthiest among them, hath continually pleaded against them, that they had never quiet possession in their own Church; that they were disused in many Congregations in the latter years of Queen Elizabeth, of worthy memory, till they got strength again, immediately after the King's Coronation; that they are obtruded only by authority, not liked off by many of the Formalists themselves, who do temporise only, with a bad conscience, how shall we then conform to a Church entrhalled, and under bondage? How many times have the godly among them put up their Prayers to God, and preferred petition to King and Parliament for the Church policy of Scotland, and the liberty of that pure Profession, which we have enjoyed many years; and shall that our glorious Garland be stamped underfoot? The morning clouds which eclipsed the beginning of their Reformation remain unscattered to this day: and shall they be suffered to come within our horizon: Not in our morning, but after many years, at the noon tied of our day, to obscure the glorious Gospel, which hath shined to us in as clear and pure brightness, as ever to any nation. Consider the charges which must be bestowed upon these idle functions, and superstitious Ceremonies; If the Abbeys be recovered out of Nobleman's hands, I persuade myself, they will either be converted to the maintenance of Deans, Canons and Prebendaries, Organs, Copes, and other unlawful uses; or else in time be restored to the old Crows to build their nests in again.  
VII. IF there were a time of Conformity to be granted, which we will never grant; yet, is this a fit time? When the reformed Churches abroad are in so great hazard, and some presently under the fiery trial. When the Antichrist, and all his adherents, hath resumed fresh courage to prosecute their bloody designs, hoping wholly to extirpate true Religion out of Europe; is it time to conform to them, to take on the badges of their profession? Will not this encourage the enemy and discourage our friends?  
VIII. IF the Antichristian government, before described, and the many superstions be not matters of weight, but trifles; which they shall never be able to prove with sound and solid arguments; why are we persecuted for them? Is it a small matter to turn a Minister out of his Office, wheerein he hath served many years, to send him and his family, wife & children, to beg their Bread, so fare as in them lieth. For, having dedicated themselves to the service of God, and spent their former time in studies, they are unable to make shifts, as Artisans and Tradesmen can do. Was there ever a persecutor since the days of Christ, who with one breath did both persecute, and pronounce the cause wherefore then are worse by many degrees, than the Ethnic, Heretical, or Popish persecutors, and consequently the worst that ever were. Our case is yet the more to be pitied, that we are denied the protection of Law: when we would fly to the Sanctuary of justice, we are shut back, like unworthy beasts, and no more pitied, then if we were dogs, left or redelivered, into the hands of merciless Tyrants, who have given testimony out of their own mouths, of the loyalty, and good behaviour of those whom they have persecuted.  
IX. AFter so many Quaeres, and expostulations, in all humility and reverence, to the honourable, the true, and native estates of Parliament, Nobles, Barronnes, and Burgesses: not regarding that bastard estate of Prelates, I would demand two things: First, Why they suffer the high Commission, a Court not established by the Statutes of the Realm, thus to tyrannize over the Church, over dutiful and loyal Subjects, fyning, confining, suspending, depriving, warding, and directing the Lords of Secret Counsel, to banish, or to give out letters of horning, against Ministers, or other Professors, for not conforming to Popish Ceremonies against their conscience. The Parliament is the highest Court of the Realm, and therefore should provide that no strange Court be set up to oppress the Subjects, without their approbation and consent, and therefore it is, not only our Quaere, why it is not, but our request, that it may be put down. For it is the strangest, the most tyrannical, and lawless Court, that ever came in this Land, lyker to nothing, then to the Spanish Inquisition, whereunto it will turn in the end to the full, as Papistry increaseth. That one or two Archbishops, with two or three associates, Ecclesiastical, or civil persons, such as they please to assume to themselves, being nominat in the King's Letters Patents, should judge in all Ecclesiastical causes, and inflict both temporal and spiritual censures, and punishments, according to their pleasures, is contrary and repugnant to the word of God. For spiritual power, neither Princes not Parliaments, may give to Ecclesiastical, or Civil persons; neither are Ecclesiastical persons capable of the power of the Temporal Sword. Seeing then, neither the one, nor the other can be lawfully done, this high Commission, so much grieved at in our neighbour Church, should not be suffered to have place amongst us. Next, I demand in all humility & reverence, Why acts of pretended and null assemblies, are ratified in Parliament, and Statutes made, wherewith our pretended Prelates, make snares to entrap their brethren, and wherewith they countenance their tyranny? Was ever the general Assembly convocat in time of Parliament, or their advice and information sought, since these alterations began. In England, howbeit the Prelates sit in the upper House as Barons, yet they have beside, a convention of the Clergy, which is called the Convocation House, which representeth almost our general Assembly (for they have no other) whose advyce was never neglected, no not in time of Popery. What hath our Church deserved, as thus to be neglected and misregarded, and the report, advice, consent and wot of Prelates to be taken, who are both judge and party in this cause? The Acts of that corrupt, and pretended assembly at Glasgow, were not only ratified, and confirmed, but also under name of explanation enlarged, and Bishops exemed from the judgement and censures of the general assembly. Shall the like be done now for that pretended & null Assembly holden last at Perth, God forbidden, that the honourable Estates should make so light account of their own credits among the Reformed Churches, to whom the proceed of that pretended Assembly are discovered; and if need be, may yet be further discovered: or that their Honours should make light account of many faithful Subjects, their own dear Countrymen, who are resolved, rather than to conform, to suffer temporal losses, and to render their lives. Howbeit some of them have defiled themselves with these corruptions, will they be avenged on their Brethren, who for conscience sake have kept themselves free, Queen Elizabeth of famous memory, did at the suit of the Commons, and upon a Bill preferred into the House, at the Parliament holden the 14. year of her Reign, signify in express words, yet upon record, that her Will and Pleasure was, that no Preacher or Minister, should be impeached, or indicted, or otherwise molested, or troubled, for the Rites and Ceremonies in question, as the preamble of the said Bill did purport: Adding these comfortable words further, 
Dial betwixt the old Protestant, & now Formalist. p. 54.55.  That her Majesty, as Defender of the Faith, would aid and maintain all good Protestants to the discouragement of all Papists. We do expect the like, not only at the hands of honourable Barons and Burgesses, but also of our Nobles, who should be nourish Fathers to faithful Subjects, but no maintainers of proud Prelates, enemies to their Estate, and the estate of Church and Country.  
FINIS.