A DECLARATION Against A late dangerous and seditious BAND, under the name of An humble Remonstrance, etc.  
Wherein The Plots and Projects of the Contrivers Tending to the Violating and subversion of our Covenants; Raising and fomenting of Jealousies, within this, and between both Kingdoms; Prolonging of the unnatural Wars; And, Impeding the intended Uniformity in RELIGION, Are discovered, By the Commission of the General Assembly.  
Printed at Edinburgh by Evan Tyler, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1646.   

Edinb. Penult. Martii 1646.  
THe Commissioners of the General Assembly Do Ordain this Declaration to be forthwith Printed and published, and sent to Presbyteries with all diligence: Requiring each Presbytery immediately after the receipt thereof, to take speedy course for the reading of it in every congregation within their bounds upon the Lord's day after the Forenoon Sermon and before the Blessing; And that they report account of their diligence herein with the first conveniency.  
A. Ker.   

Edinb. Penult. Martii 1646. A DECLARATION against a late dangerous and seditious Band, under the name of An humble Remonstrance, etc.  
WHen we consider the usual way of God's wise dispensation toward his people, in exercising them with one trouble after another, and call to mind the inveterate malice of Satan and his instruments, and their incessant practices to pervert the strait ways of the Lord; We do not think it strange, while we are still wrestling with former difficulties, and under hope of prevailing by the mighty help of God's right hand, that we are infested with new assaults, from which he who hath delivered us from so great troubles, and doth deliver us, in him we trust that he will deliver us: Yet perceiving by a Paper come to our hands, carrying the Title of An humble Remonstrance, etc. the endeavours of some to deceive the simple, and to insinuate wicked counsels and courses under the cover of specious pretences, We judge ourselves obliged, out of conscience of the trust committed unto us, according to the constant and commendable practice of the Commissioners of the General Assembly in the like exigences, To unmask the face of disguised impiety, to discover the mystery of Iniquity, and to bring to light the hidden things of dishonesty, that they who through ignorance or inadvertency have been drawn away into the error of the wicked, may be reduced, the simple preserved from seduction, the weak strengthened, the strong confirmed, and the wicked, if possible, made ashamed of their ways.  
It is ordinary in the Title of Remonstrances, to design the persons to whom they are directed, but this doth altogether abstain from all designation of that kind, though the Remonstrants knew that there were Judicatories both Civil and Ecclesiastical appointed by Parliament and General Assembly, to whose consideration belonged matters of such public concernment for Kirk and State; whereby they evidence their neglect and contempt of these, and their wariness to offend them who are in open Rebellion, unto whom it is likely they labour to apply themselves; since there is nothing in the whole Paper excluding them, but by the contrary clear insinuations of their desire and design to have them partakers of the public Peace.  
The flourish of the fair description they arrogate to themselves, as being such who wish Religion to flourish, etc. is not sufficient to free them from the society of those who by their barbarous and bloody courses have been subverting Religion, & the King's lawful authority, destroying the Subjects and their lawful Liberties, and fomenting the unhappy differences between the King and his people; for James Grahame himself is a pretender to all these as well as they: And we know that some, who are prime Leaders in the business, had not only their hand at that Band which did make the first breach upon the Unity made by our Nationall Covenant, and was condemned as unlawful by the General Assembly holden at Edinburgh 1641. Sess. 17. But also after the forfeiture and Excommunication of the beforenamed Traitor, did in the year 1645 subscribe a Band of Union with him and others, as his Majesty's faithful Subjects, without mention of, or relation to any of the Covenants, whether Nationall, or of the three Kingdoms; wherein the power and Commission granted to the said James Grahame, there designed James marquis of Montrose, his Majesty's lieutenant-general, is acknowledged and approven; and the public resolutions of Kirk and Kingdom are blasphemed, as the horrid courses of a Rebellious faction raging within this Kingdom, as most wicked and Traitorous, unjust and unnatural, and as of a perverse faction of desperate Rebels, in fury against the King; obliging themselves to use all their best and most vigorous opposition against the Actors and Instruments thereof, as of abominable and monstrous crimes, and mutually to assist one another, as they shall be desired, or the occasion require. Which are enough to render their byways hateful to the well-affected, though they be strawed with the pretences of Piety and public good.  
Because the Nationall Assembly hath found and declared, that the Band forementioned, and all Bands of that and the like nature, may not lawfully be made: And the Estates of Parliament Parl. 3. of King Charles, Act 4. finds that persons guilty of taking up Arms against the Kingdom and Estates of the Country, are punishable by forfeiture of Life, lands, goods, or any other censure the Parliament shall please to inflict. These Remonstrants, lest people should be scared from accession to their combination, by the authority of Parliament and General Assembly, have laboured to cover the nature of this Paper, under the name of An humble Remonstrance; which nevertheless is so transparent, that every ordinary eye may see it in the end, a Band obliging them each to others, and that by an Oath, To hazard Lives and Fortunes against all deadly for performing all the contents; whereby the Subscribers thereof become liable to the censures and punishments which the Kirk and State may inflict upon them for unlawful Banding and raising Arms against the Kingdom.  
Although they mention the Nationall Covenant, and declare their resolution of paying the debt they own to the individuals (which we conceive to be the particulars, or several Articles) therein contained; yet we cannot but affirm, that their charity is too too common who believe at all their deceitful profession, since the whole strain of their Remonstrance is an evident Demonstration of their monstrous defection. For, 1. Their altering of the words of the Covenant, argues their purpose to swerve from the true meaning of it. The Covenant binds to the defence of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Kirk; they say they purpose to do what may most tend for the propagation of the Protestant Religion in purity, a phrase used in the King's Declarations, wherein he professeth the maintenance of Episcopacy: The Covenant speaks of the defence of the King's Majesty's person and authority, in the defence and preservation of the true Religion, Liberties, and Laws of this Kingdom; they, of the defence of the King's Majesties just Right and Property, and that simply and absolutely, without any such relation to Religion, Liberties, & Laws; The Covenant, of the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom; they, of the lawful proper Freedoms and Liberties of the Subjects. 2. Among other Individuals of the Covenant, this is one, That neither directly nor indirectly shall we suffer ourselves to be divided or withdrawn, by whatsoever suggestion, combination, allurement, or terror, from that blessed and loyal conjunction: But they have directly divided and withdrawn themselves from that blessed and loyal conjunction, wherein the Kirk and Kingdom continue constant, by a clear combination in writ under their hands. 3. Another particular in the Covenant is, That we shall not cast in any let or impediment, that may stay or hinder any such resolution as by common consent shall be found to conduce for ●o good ends: But they oblige themselves to hinder resolutions found by common consent of the Estates of Parliament, to conduce for the ends mentioned in the Covenant, such as the keeping on foot Armies at home and abroad, and all means for their necessary maintenance.  
The solemn League and Covenant, unanimously approven by the General Assemblies of this Kirk, ratified by the authority of the Parliament of this Kingdom, and universally sworn and subscribed through the Kirks of this Kingdom, is not so much as once remembered in this Remonstrance; yea clearly enough to a perceiving beholder, though warily and closely they exclude the same, while they call the Nationall Covenant Approven, as if the other were not approven, and while they deny a desire of dissolving the link of fraternity betwixt us and our Brethren of England, insinuating their disavowing of a League and Covenant of fraternity; Otherwise they would not have shunned the mention of the League and Covenant, when they had so fair an occasion offered of expressing their approbation thereof, as a tye of our unity with our Brethren in England: So that the subscription of this Band brings with it a fearful breach of the League and Covenant.  
Unity and Uniformity in Religion and Kirk government, so much pressed by our Commissioners, as a special means for conserving the Peace betwixt the two Kingdoms, upon the grounds and reasons contained in their Paper of the 10. of March 1641. and given in to the Treaty and Parliament of England; so much promoved by the continued labours of the following General Assemblies, and their Commissioners from time to time, both at home, and at London; to the endeavouring whereof we are so strongly engaged by the League and Covenant of the Kingdom, and which is so far advanced in the Directory for Worship, agreed upon by the Assemblies, and ratified by the Parliaments in both Kingdoms, is utterly neglected, and not so much as mentioned in this seditious Band.  
What is here offered by them to the view of the world, if it be looked upon with the eye of any, but such as have given themselves to a detestable indifferency & neutrality in this cause, wherein the Kirk and Kingdom are engaged, shall be found fraughted with the Characters, set down in the solemn and seasonable Warning of the General Assembly, holden at Edinburgh 1645. whereby secret Malignants and dis-covenanters may be known, such are, Their slighting and censuring of the Public Resolutions of this Kirk and State Art. 3. and 4. Their labouring to raise jealousies and divisions, to retard or hinder the execution of what is ordered by public Judicatories, Art. 5. Their censuring and slandering these whom GOD hath honoured as his chief Instruments in this Work, Art. 2. and 3. Their drawing of Parties and Factions, to the weakening of the Common Union in their conclusion; Their endeavours, Informations, and Solicitations, tending to weaken the hearts and hands of others, and to make them withhold their assistance from this Work, which is the very scope of their 6. Article.  
The Article of Inviting the King's Majesty into this his Native Kingdom, though it seem plausible a● the first hearing, and for that cause first placed: Yet let it be pondered by second thoughts (which are the wisest) in the scales of reason, and the prejudice thereof shall clearly appear. For 1. he who considereth that much innocent blood of his Majesty's good Subjects hath been shed by his Majesty's Commands and Commissions, Irish Rebels have been brought over into both Kingdoms, and endeavours to bring over more; as also Forces from foreign parts; That his Majesty is in open hostility against the Parliament of England, Forces on foot by his Majesty's Commission, against the Kingdom of Scotland, under the leading of that accursed and forfaulted Traitor, and the War in Ireland fomented and prolonged by his Majesty; whereby the three Kingdoms are brought near to utter ruin and destruction, Shall perceive, that until satisfaction and security be first given to both Kingdoms, his Majesty's coming hither cannot be convenient, nor called for. Upon which ground, the Parliament of England, and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, in their Letter to his Majesty; January 13. 1646. refuse the personal Treaty desired by his Majesty, and declare, That Propositions from both Kingdoms are to be sent to his Majesty, which they conceive (far otherways, and upon surer ground than these Banders do) to be the only way for attaining a happy and wel-grounded Peace. 2. Such an invitation for making Peace, may not proceed from this Kingdom, without the advice and consent of our neighbour Kingdom, with which we are entered in League and Covenant (far less from a few private persons, banded in this Remonstrance) unless we will directly break the 8. Article of the Treaty, ratified in the 3. Parl. of King Charles, Act 5. wherein it is agreed and concluded, That no cessation, nor pacification, or agreement for Peace whatsomever, shall be made by either Kingdom, or the Armies of either Kingdoms, without the mutual advice and consent of both Kingdoms, or their Committees in that behalf appointed, who are to have full power for the same, in case the Parliament or Convention of the Estates of Scotland, or the Houses of Parliament of England shall not sit. 3. This Invitation and incoming of the King's Majesty, while he is still in terms of Hostility against his Parliament of England, is so far from settling a solid Peace (as they confidently conceive) that it will undoubtedly prolong these unnatural Wars, and draw upon this Land the heaviest weight, and deepest dint of them.  
These Judicatories, the re-establishment whereof is desired by their third Article, have neither been altogether silent, For some of them have sit and kept their diets of meeting; Neither yet have been silenced by men (as they do insinuate) but have been necessarily interrupted through the Invasion of the barbarous Irishes, and Insurrection of dis-natured Countrymen, and through the spreading and raging of the fearful Plague of Pestilence, and now by ordinance of Parliament they are to meet again at the ordinary times, if the like causes do not necessitate an unexpected vacation. In the mean time it is to be remembered, that Judicatories authorised by Parliament with such power as the condition of affairs, & the necessity of these present times required, were not silent, though some of these Remonstrants would not hearken to them; Or else they had been more active against the public Enemies, which had made a fairer way for opening the Ordinary Judicatories, than the strengthening of the bloody hands of the Rebels unto the works of violence, by contriving a Band.  
The danger of weakening the Kingdom, and rendering it a prey to foreigners represented in the third Article, is increased by this course which they have taken; The Kingdom being thereby made the more unable, not only to resist foreign Invasion, but also to suppress the Intestine Rebellion, while it doth not only want their assistance, but findeth their resistance. The best way of strengthening and securing the Kingdom, is, To join unanimously and actively, in pursuit of the Rebels within the same, whose garments have been died in the blood of the People of GOD; To entertain a firm Peace and Union between the two Kingdoms, for prosecuting the ends of our League and Covenant; But above all, To turn every man from his evil ways, and to return unto him that hath smitten us, who can heal us, and humble our Adversaries, and turn his hand against our Enemies: Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, With whom it is nothing to help with many, or with them that have no power; through him we shall do valiantly, and he shall tread down our enemies: Which are the precious words of GOD, and not the specious phrases of men.  
The fourth Article. 1. Laboureth by reproachful expressions, To make odious unto the people the best ways and means that the Estates of Parliament and Committees thereof could think upon, for the necessary maintenance of War against the wicked Rebels; Whereby they cast in a let and impediment to hinder public Resolutions (though some of these have of all others lest cause to complain) and disclaim the necessity of maintaining an Army against James Grahame, which will afford him and his complices leave to gather strength; For the Enemy cannot be suppressed without a competent number of Forces, and Forces cannot be kept together without maintenance, and maintenance cannot be had without such public burdens. 2. Mentioneth the exacting of great Fines and Intromissions with men's Fortunes and Rents, whereby they evidence their favour to, and endeavour to conciliat the favour and following of such as have been so dealt with by the Estates, for being accessary, less or more, unto the unnatural and bloody Rebellion: And, 3. Maketh a lie against the Estates, as if they had received great sums of money from other Kingdoms or Commonwealths than England.  
If these who have been most active in this Combination had been present in Parliament, they would have been witnesses of the care taken by the Estates to give full satisfaction to every one who desired to be informed of the public expenses & disbursments, by appointing a particular Committee for examination of the public Counts, and thereafter causing keep the Book of Accounts in a public Chamber, with intimation of free access to all that pleased: But they are willingly if not wilfully ignorant, and bewray their disaffection, by apprehending all probable appearance to raise and foment Jealousies between the Parliament and the Country and Soldiers, which is the drift of the 5. Article.  
The large laying forth of the distressed condition of this Kingdom, insisted upon in the 6. Article, aims at the discouraging and weakening of the hearts and hands of the well-affected, and tends to persuade the disbanding our Forces employed against the Rebels, which exposeth what is reserved from the fury of the Enemy, to be preyed upon by them without opposition: But if they, as becomes Covenanters and Countrymen, had considered that the most of those calamities have been caused by the cruelty of the Irish crew, and the rest of that Traitorous Company, and by the lukewarmness, temporising, and double dealing of hollow-hearted men, they would have resolved against all difficulties to cleave unto the Kingdom, in the pursuit and suppressing of these children of Belial, as a compendious way to the removal of distresses. Shall they have Lives and Fortunes to hazard against all deadly, for rescuing these Rebels from their deserved punishment? And is there nothing left unto the Kingdom to hazard for its own defence, and bringing Malignants unto their due censure, according to our League and Covenant? And if the condition of our affairs crave assistance from our Brethren in England, we are confident they will be mindful of our mutual engagements, though these Banders like bad husbandmen, labour to sow the seeds of Jealousies amongst us.  
In the 7. they covertly calumniate the prime managers of affairs, as men indisposed to Peace, who have abundantly evidenced their earnest desire of Peace, by Supplications, Remonstrances, Declarations, Treaties for Peace, Propositions of Peace. And we further declare and profess, in the sight of him who searcheth the heart, That nothing is more in the desire of us all, than that Reformed Religion may be enjoyed, with a happy and well-grounded Peace, through all his Majesty's Dominions: And from the beginning of these troubles, we have been clothed with, and yet will not put off a resolution to use (as we have been ever using) all possible and lawful means to procure the same. And for this effect we beseech all men, who love the Cause of God, and their countries' good, to divest themselves of private quarrels and particular interests, that with the greater unanimity and hope of success, they may pursue the troublers of our Peace. But we do ingenuously acknowledge, That our souls abhor to enter into the secret, and our glory to be joined with the assembly of them who sue for such a Peace as comprehends the prime authors of all our troubles, and would suffer these who have shed the blood of War in Peace to go in peace into the grave.  
As in the entry, so toward the end, that the hook of the Band may the better take with well-meaning men, they busk it with great variety of fair colours; and like the harlot, they deck the bed with cover of tapestry, carved works, and fine linen; they perfume it with myrrh and cinnamon, and with impudent face, they speak of Peace-offerings and paying their Vows; that with much fair speech they may cause the simple ones to yield, and with the flatter of their lips, force them: But he that hath understanding will discern that this their Profession is contrary to their intent formerly discovered, will learn not to be credulous unto them, who speak lies in hypocrisy, and not suffer his heart to decline to their ways, and go astray in their paths which go down to the chambers of death; The repetition of their intention here, giveth them not one grain weight of truth and reality more than they had before.  
These Banders are not all of the same kind and disposition of heart: Some of them have joined in actual and open Rebellion, and embrued their hands in the blood of their Countrymen: These if they had truly forsaken that unhappy conjunction, would have ere now, or will now at length forsaking this combination apply themselves to Kirk and State for reconciliation; which if they do not speedily go about, they manifest to the world, that they still persist in their former Rebellion, and prosecute the same wicked practices. Some there be, who have by some acts, and by some omissions of action when opportunity was offered, brought themselves under the suspicion of malignancy: And these if they continue in this b●nded course make it evident, that they have been lying in wait for the season when they might vent their malignant designs, and do involve themselves under the displeasure of God, and censures of the Kirk. Others there are, who have joined in this Remonstrance (to judge charitably) not out of a mind to oppose the Cause of GOD, having done and suffered so much, and hazarded all for the same: But partly out of their respect to their friends, to whom they have natural and particular ties; partly pressed with the apprehension of some present peril, or greater evil conceived to ensue upon refusal; and partly deceived by the specious pretences in the Remonstrance, not considering the bad intentions of the Contrivers, nor the dangerous importance and consequence of it in itself. These, we expect, when they consider the condition of the Work (laid forth before them in this our Declaration) and the quality of the Company with whom they join, lest they wrong themselves and the Work of GOD, contrary to their desires, and more than they are ware of, will without longer deliberation or delay, renounce that banding Remonstrance, and with all convenient diligence, acquaint the Kirk and State with their sense of that escape, and with their resolution not to suffer themselves hereafter to be divided or with-drawn, by whatsomever suggestion, combination, persuasion, or terror, from the Nationall Covenant, and from the solemn League and Covenant of the three Kingdoms; Which will bring peace to their own minds, and joy to the hearts of the Godly, and restore them to the place which they have had in the esteem of all that love the welfare of Zion.  
Having thus declared our thoughts concerning that divisive Band, and these who are joined together in it, We exhort and warn all the people of God in this Land, and these especially who have it in Commission to reveal his arm to this generation, To observe them who cause divisions and offences, and to avoid them; To keep themselves free from approving of, or adhering to this Remonstrance, the wickedness whereof is now so plainly pointed forth; and as one man, with one mind, according to both our Covenants, unto the utmost of their power to oppose the spreading of it, and the endeavours of such as pertinaciously persist therein. Let us all follow on to seek the Lord, and let the Watchmen of Israel rouse up themselves and others, and strive to get their own, and their People's hearts deeply affected under the feeling of the great burden both of the Sins of the Land, and of the wrath upon it. Let every one turn from the evil of his ways, and crying mightily to GOD, give him no rest, till he repent of the evil, smell a savour of rest, and say, It is enough. And we are confident in him, who hath done all our Works for us, That no such courses or counsel shall prosper, as tend directly or indirectly to the breach of both, or either Covenants, to the stopping of the course of the Gospel, to the strengthening of the hands of the Wicked, or to the suppression of Religion and Reformation; And that GOD all-sufficient, against all impediments, shall carry forward and perfect the blessed and glorious Work which he hath begun, to the glory of his great Name, to the advancement of the Kingdom of his Son JESUS CHRIST, to the destruction of Antichrist, to the confusion of all desperate and irrecoverable Malignants, and to the firm Peace and happy Union in Religion of all the Dominions of his Majesty; For whom we shall still continue our Prayers, That GOD would graciously incline his heart to the counsels of Truth and Peace, that we may live under him a peaceable and quiet life, in all godliness and honesty.  
A. Ker.  
FINIS.