A BROTHERLY EXHORTATION FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, To their BRETHREN in ENGLAND.  
EDINBURGH, Printed by EVAN TYLER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty, 1649.   

Edinburgh 6. Aug. 1649.  
A Brotherly Exhortation from the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, to their Brethren in England.  
THe many and great obligations which lie upon us in reference to our Brethren in England, who hold fast their integrity, and adhere to the Solemn League and Covenant, together with the desire which we have to testify our Sympathy with them in their afflictions, and to preserve so far as in us lieth that fellowship and correspondence that hath been entertained betwixt the Church of Scotland and England these years past, do call upon us and constrain us not to be silent in this day of their trouble and distress.  
Albeit the Lord (who hath his fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem) hath now for a long time past, afflicted these Kingdoms with many and sharp rods, and that his wrath seems not yet to be turned away, but his hand stretched out still; yet in all this, it becomes us who live in these Lands to stop our mouths, neither can any impute iniquity to the most High.  
It is rather a wonder, that any mercy should be continued, and that England and Scotland are not cut off from being Nations, seeing the back-slidings and provocations of both has been so many and so gross; Although the Solemn League and Covenant was sworn and subscribed by both, yet have many in both despised the Oath of GOD, as appears by the late unlawful Engagement against the Kingdom of England, contrived and carried on by a prevailing party of Malignants in this Land, and by the proceed of the Sectaries in England, in reference to Religion and Government.  
We shall not insist upon what hath been the condition and carriage of the Lords People in this Land in reference to the late unlawful Engagement: As we desire to magnify the power and loving kindness of the Lord, who enabled all the Judicatures of this Church, and a considerable part of the Parliament, and the body of the Land, to descent from, and bear Testimony against the same, which made the House of Commons in their Letter directed to the last General Assembly or their Commissioners, to declare, that that Engagement could not be looked on as a National breach; So we look upon it as a wonder of his Wisdom and Mercy, that he hath disposed and directed the same for the furtherance of his Work in our hand, and purging his House amongst us. All this cometh forth from the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in Counsel, and Excellent in Working. Neither was it the least part of the Lords goodness to us, in that day of our strait that we were led in a plain path, and kept from compliance with Sectaries on the one hand, no less then with Malignants on the other. We have obtained this mercy to be steadfast to our old principles, in bearing free and faithful Testimony against their proceed, both in reference to Toleration and Government, and the taking away of the King's life.  
And as the danger and judgement which threatens the Authors and Abettors of these things, doth affect our Spirits with horror, and maketh us desire that it may be given to them of God to repent: So we should conceive ourselves void of Christian affection and compassion toward those in England, who suffer for the truth and Cause of God, if we were not very sensible of all their present troubles and calamities. It is no small grief to us, that the Gospel and Government of Jesus Christ are so despised in that Land, that faithful Preachers are persecuted and cried down, that Toleration is established by pretext of Law, and maintained by Military power, and that the Covenant is abolished and buried in oblivion. All which proceed, cannot but be looked upon as directly contrary to the Oath of God lying upon us, and therefore cannot eschew his Wrath when he shall come in Judgement, to be a swift witness against those that swear falsely by his Name.  
These things are the more grievous to us, because (beside many other woeful evils brought forth by them) they have interrupted the building of the Lords House in England; the foundation whereof was laid by Oath and Covenant with the most High God, and followed for some years with many Declarations and Protestations of Faithful adhering thereto, and with great expense of blood and Treasure: Which things were to all the godly in these Nations a branch of hope, that the Lord would bring to perfection the Work of Uniformity (so far advanced in all the parts thereof) in these three Kingdoms.  
But the great obstructions and sad interruptions that have been made therein, by the strange and unexpected practices of many now in place and power in England, are to all the well-affected in both Kingdoms, and in all the Churches abroad, the matter of their sorrow and humiliation. And it there be any place left for admonition, we Warn such as have forgotten the Covenant, and despised the Oath of God, and turned aside to lies and error, to consider whence they are fallen, and to repent. Prosperity and success for a time are no warrantable evidences of a good Cause, nor sufficient guards against the wrath of God; It is no good use of the Lords mercy for such men under pretext of Liberty to make both themselves and others slaves to corruption, & to make all men both in Church and State like the fishes of the Sea, o● the creeping things that have no Ruler over them. Are these things according to the Word of God, and the pattern of the best Reformed Churches? Or is that the endeavour to bring the three Kingdoms to the nearest uniformity that may be in Doctrine, Worship, Government, and Discipline; Or is that the maintaining of the union betwixt the three Kingdoms, when the straitest bond thereof is utterly dissolved and quite taken away, and the fundamental Government by King and Parliament wholly overturned? The just God who is of pure eyes beholds these things, and shall with no less fury and indignation break the horn of these men, than he hath broken the power, and brought down the pride of Malignants before them, if repentance prevent not.  
Amidst those fears and griefs, it is unto us matter of rejoicing, that there be many in England who mourn for all these abominations, and labour to keep their garments pure by refusing to comply with that course of backsliding, and by bearing testimony against the same. And we hope the expectation of such, shall not be disappointed, but that the Lord will open to them a door of hope for carrying on of his work, and making the lying spirit to pass out of that land.  
And albeit many think no otherwise of the Covenant and work of Reformation, then as a mean to further their own ends; yet we are confident, that none who holds fast their integrity, have so learned Christ, but are careful to make conscience of the oath of God lying on them; And we are sure (whatever be the base thoughts and expressions of back sliders from the Covenant) it wants not many to own it in these Kingdoms, who (being called thereto) would seal the same with their blood.  
Although there were none in the one Kingdom who did adhere to the Covenant, yet thereby were not the other Kingdom nor any person in either of them absolved from the bond thereof, since in it we have not only sworn by the Lord, but also covenanted with him. It is not the failing of one or more that can absolve others from their duty or tye to him; Besides, the duties therein contained, being in themselves lawful, and the grounds of our tye thereunto moral, though others do forget their duty, yet doth not their defection free us from that obligation which lies upon us by the Covenant in our places and stations. And the Covenant being intended and entered into by these Kingdoms, as one of the best means of steadfastness, for guarding against declining times; It were strange to say that the back sliding of any should absolve others from the tye thereof, especially seeing our engagement therein is not only national, but also personal, every one with uplifted hands swearing by himself, as it is evident by the tenor of the Covenant.  
From these and other important reasons, it may appear that all these Kingdoms joining together to abolish that oath by law, yet could they not dispense therewith; Much less can any one of them, or any part in either of them do the same. The dispensing with oaths hath hitherto been abhorred as Antichristian, and never practised and avowed by any, but by that man of sin; therefore those who take the same upon them, as they join with him in his sin, so must they expect to partake of his plagues.  
As we shall ever (God willing) be mindful of our duty to the faithful that adhere to the Covenant in England, having them always in our hearts before the Lord, so we desire to be refreshed with their singleness and boldness in the cause of God, according to their places. This is the time of their trial, and the hour of tentation among them; blessed shall they be who shall be found following the Lamb, and shall not be ashamed of his testimony. We know in such dark hours, many are drawn away with the multitude, when the Lord will again purge and make white; And we doubt not but many such are in England, whom the bold and clear preaching of Christ may reclaim; Much therefore lieth upon the Watchmen at this time, that their Trumpet may give a certain and distinct sound, warning and exhorting every one, as those that must give account; And blessed shall those servants be, who shall be found faithful in their Lord's house, distributing to his household what is meet for this season, and can say they are free of the blood of all men, having shown them the whole Counsel of God, being in nothing terrified of the threats of their adversaries; And blessed and happy shall that people be, that walk in the light holden forth by them, and stay upon the Lord in this dark time, harkening to the voice of his servants, and walking in the light of his word, and not in the sparks of their own kindle, which will end in sorrow. How inexcusable will England be, having so foully revolted against so many fair testimonies, which the Lord Christ hath entered as Protestations to preserve his right, in these ends of the earth long since given unto him for his possession, and of late confirmed by Solemn Covenant. Christ's right to these Kingdoms is sure then that he should be pleaded out of it by pretended liberty of Conscience, and his begun possession is more precious to him, then to be satisfied with a dishonourable toleration. All that yet we have seen, doth not weaken our confidence of the Lords glorifying the house of his glory in these lands, and of his sons taking unto him his great power, and reigning in the beauty and power of his Ordinances in this Island. His name is wonderful, and so also are his works, we ought not therefore to square them according to our line, but leave them to him who hath the government laid upon his shoulder, all whose ways are judgement, and whose ruling these Kingdoms had never yet reason to decline. It is good for us to be steadfast in our duty, and therein quietly to wait and hope for the salvation of God. The word of promise is sure, (and hath an appointed time) that he that will come shall come and will not tarry. There is none hath cause to distrust the Lords word to his people; It hath often to our experience been tried in the fire, and hath ever come forth with a more glorious lustre. Let not therefore these that suffer in England cast away their confidence,