THE CONFESSION OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, Concerning the Original of Political Authority compendiously paraphrazed.  
Also a Letter from an Intelligent Person, Communicating the present affairs of Scotland, March, 14. 1647.  
Printed in the Year, 1647.   

The Confession of the Church of SCOTLAND.  
WE confess and acknowledge, Empires, kingdoms, Dominions, and Cities to be distincted and ordained by God; the Powers and Authorities in the same, be it of Emperors in their Empires, Kings in their Realms, Dukes and Princes in their Dominions, and of other Magistrates in their Cities, to be Gods holy ordinance ordained for manifestation of his own Glory, and for the singular profit and commodity of mankind; so that whosoever goeth about to take away or confound the whole state of Civil policies now long established, we affirm the same men, not only to be Enemies to mankind, but also wickedly fight against Gods expressed will.  

Of the Original of Political Authority.  
GOD is the universal Monarch of the whole world, and in the several Kingdoms, and dominions thereof, he constituteth Kings, and princes next under him, and in his stead to rule and govern the people: hence God is called the King of Kings, and they are called Gods Lieutenants and Viceroys.  
As the King of England is the Monarch or governor of the Kingdom of England, and constitutes o●her subordinate Governors under him throughout all the whole Kingdom; sometimes by name as in the government of the Counties, and sometimes by the election of the people, as in Cities, and Corporations; where the Inhabitants choose the chief Magistrate by his Majesty's Indulgence, and Charter, or rather the King himself constituteth the Magistrate there by the people, authorized by his Grant to make such election; and hence the Magistrate so elected is called, Minister Regis, the King's Minister, and the King's Lieutenant, representing his Person, and governing there in his stead, and by his Authority and Power.  
And that God gives power to Kings and Princes is plain, from Dan. 2.37. The God of Heaven hath given thee a Kingdom, power, and strength, and glory: And that God also constituteth Kings, and Princes is proved from Dan. 2.21. He removeth Kings, and setteth up Kings; and from Dan. 4.17.25.32. He ruleth in the Kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will: Likewise St. Paul tells us, that the Higher Powers are ordained by God, Rom. 13. And whosoever resisteth the power resisteth the Ordinance of God, v. 2. And that the people cannot (of themselves) empower, or constitute: the supreme Magistrate is proved thus: the Magistrate is over men's persons and estates, and extends unto fines, imprisonment, and death itself, and hence is it called the power of the sword. Rom. 13.4. now the people are under the commandments, Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal; and they cannot give order to any to take away another's life and estate without guilt of murder and theft: only God who is above the Law, the Lord possessor of Heaven and Earth, and the Lord of life and death can give this authority and power; and he giveth it to the Magistrate for the administration of justice only; for he hath said, vengeance is mine and I will repay, Deut. 32.35. And he makes the Magistrate his Minister, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil, Rom. 13.4. Wherefore we must needs be subject not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. v. 5.   

A Letter from Scotland, etc.  
Sir:  
YOurs of the seventh instant, I received, whereby any man may easily perceive your great and sad perplexities in regard of the present distractions, which trouble you the more, because you seem to be destitute of advice which way to turn, should a new war (as is justly feared) break forth. Sir, though otherwise conscious of my own wants, I cannot dictate to you any certain Rules of direction; yet my present thoughts of the state of things here shall not be wanting to you: For mine own & others satisfaction, my stay in these parts hath been somewhat curiously employed to search out mysteries, and all that can be discovered yet, is, that 'tis evident the Grandees who sit at stern, have fixed their resolution to engage your Independent Party in a new war; in prosecution whereof their whole endeavour now is, to purge out, or quell at least the same side in both Houses here: which once effected, the next design seems to be some attempt upon the Army with you, to try whether by jealousies and discontents they can make a Division, and so bring it to a confusion, or else by freequarter, impositions, or other oppressing means, to provoke the long enslaved people to cast off their yoke, and once more stand up for liberty: For this purpose upon specious pretences they seem to comply with Malignants, till they can get strength enough to settle their Presbyterial government, in its full career and tyranny; but what ever the colour is, be assured there is nothing less intended, then to take in the King's party, for fear lest once engaged, they should be able to curb the Presbytery: Nor are encouragements wanting for bringing about their ends, as long as that Party doth still prevail at Westminster, or there be hearts or money ready in the City to invite them in. To which you may add the design of those that have obtained leave (as we hear) to retire into their several Counties, especially the Northern, where they sleep not supinely; but upon every occasion animate the people in all possible arguments, now if ever to regain their freedom by lending assistance to their dear, and deeply engaged B ethren: to which no small advantage the Northern Presbyters afford them, especially about York, where at this day upon all sorts of people (as the report goes) the Covenant is engaged, and all manner of motives used for a brotherly assistance, if they hope to be freed from an Independent slavery; and which is worse, an inundation of all manner of Sects and Heresies. We are told likewise, the two Houses of late have been very solicitous to disband those York: shire Regiments, which were any whit inclined to Presbytery, whereby the discontented Souldery (whose Religion is their money) being unsatisfied for arrears, are ready upon the least opportunity to engage against the Parliament, and in all likelihood are very active to draw in their fellow-soldiers to their Party, that so both in due time may be fully revenged upon those ingrateful Master's. In my opinion it had been more wisdom in our Grandees, by sending down some well gifted Emissaries, who in all popular Auditories, might have possessed the Pulpits, and refuted those rigid Presbyterian Tenants; so to have reclaimed the Northern people from this dangerous recidivation, rather than so inconsiderately to have cashiered part of their Army, and so put them into a condition to do themselves a mischief when time serves. Most certain it is, some Parliament men of those parts, who daily vote at Westminster against the Presbyterian Party, have notwithstanding their Agents here at Edinburgh transacting their designs with the Scots, and to my knowledge, H. D. H. C. and R. D. have given assurance to desert the Houses so soon as they receive certain intelligence of the Scots advance upon English ground; by these particulars you may easily conjecture wherein our Sampsons' strength lies.  
That the Scots will not engage the King's Party in this their design, is more than probable, not only because they have refused the marquis of Montrosse his employment in their Army; but also because they are still pressing that Party to take the Nationall Covenant, or forthwith to departed the Kingdom. I can assure you, in Spain under the Inquisition, or at Constantinople under the great Turk, you may enjoy liberty of conscience, sooner than now in Scotland under the Presbytery; for from all sorts of men an absolute, necessary and unlimited obedience is required, the conformity of the outward man being not sat isfactory, without the approbation of Will and Judgement; you must be constrained to take all sorts of Oaths that are imposed without disputing the lawfulness of them: Therefore in my opinion, you had better forbear coming hither as yet, if you desire freedom, and the enjoyment of a good conscience, which you have hitherto so carefully preserved; for in that respect it is much more safe to live at Rome, or Constantinople, for exercise of the Reformed Religion, than it is in Scotland, under the tyranny of the Scots Presbytery, which in England is yet but an Embryo, or at most but an Infant of few days old, in comparison of the full strength it hath attained to here, ruling in a most rigid and imperious way, judging all, being judged of none; and since from the Assembly no appeal lies either to King or Parliament, you cannot believe how insolent every Minister is grown, presuming to Lord it over us; so that if not of their opinion, though otherwise never so unblameable in life, presently you shall be defamed openly in the Pulpit by name, and debarred from the comfortable communion of Christ's body and blood: Read but their last Declaration of March the first, and you may soon judge of what spirit those men are. For other affairs I can give you no satisfactory account; the Parliament as yet having done little or nothing in the main business, save only the pu●ging of their House, and setting the due elections of their Members, as also appointing a Committee to draw up a Declaration for justifying their Commissioners carriage in England, and to prepare an answer to the late Declaration of the Parliament at Westminster, and touching the proceed of the Army. Thus Sir, having given you a true representation of the state of things here, I shall leave you to the Conduct of your own prudence, and God Almighty's providence, for the future steering of your course; and remain ever,  
Edinburgh 14. March 1647. Sir, Your most affectionate and faithful Servant.    
FINIS.