A Solemn TESTIMONY AGAINST TOLERATION AND The present Proceedings of SECTARIES and their Abettors in ENGLAND, In Reference to RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT, WITH An Admonition and Exhortation to their Brethren there, from the COMMISSIONERS OF THE general ASSEMBLY OF THE KIRK of Scotland.  
Together with The Return of the Honourable Estates of Parliament upon the said TESTIMONY communicated to them and their concurrence with the same.  
Edinburgh, Printed by Evan tiler, Printer to the King● most excellent majesty, 1649.   

Edinb. 16. january 1649. Postmeridiem.  
A necessary and seasonable Testimony against Toleration, and the present proceedings of Sectaries, and their Abettors in England, in reference to Religion and Government; with an Admonition and Exhortation unto their Brethren there, from the Commissioners of the general Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland.  
ALbeit the work of Reformation in these Kingdoms hath engraven upon it so many, and so lively characters of the Truth, and Power, and Wisdom of Jesus Christ, as gives unto us sufficient grounds of hope that he will bring forth the head ston of his house with shoutings, unto the shane of his adversaries and refreshing of his people; yet the sense which we have of our duty, in regard of our station and trust, the danger that threatens Religion and Government, together with the desire which we have to restore those that are fallen, to strengthen the weak, and to comfort the afflicted in England, calls upon us to give public Testimony against the present proceedings of Sectaries and their Abettors in that Land, and to speak a word of Admonition and Exhortation to to our Brethren there.  
It hath been unto Us, and we make no doubt unto the Protestant Churches abroad, matter of much sorrow and grief of heart, that after 〈◇〉 many sufferings from, and wrestling with the Popish, Pro●… and Malignant party: And after that they are brought down by the mighty hand, and stretched out arm of the LORD, there should arise in their stead another to oppose his Work in these Kingdoms; And it adds unto our affliction that they be such as profess for Jesus Christ, and pretend unto holinesse, and seemed once to build with ourselves, whilst now their way is become grievous, and goes down unto the gates of death, as tending to overturn Religion, destroy the League and Covenant, and to raze the foundations of Government.  
It shall not now be needful to fall upon an ennumeration of all these errors which have sprung up in England of late: A few yeers past have brought forth more and more dangerous opinions in that one Kingdom, then many preceding Generations in all the Churches of Christ, so evil and bitter a thing it is to leave every man to his own fancy, and the vineyard of the LORD without an hedge. The late general Assemblies of the Kirk of Scotland and their Commissioners, have born Testimony against Independency, Erastianisme, anabaptism, antinomianism, arminianism, socinianism, familism, turcism, &c. And the Ministers of the Province of London, and many others have more particularly reckoned and condemned the errors which men of corrupt mindes there have run into, We bless the LORD for every faithful witness, and desires to put to our seal that his Testimony is true; But of all things it most afflicts our spirits, and we cannot but look upon it with horror and amazement, that in a Land Covenanted with God after Satan hath been so cunning as to sow the seed of so many Heresies and errors, he should now prevail so far upon the spirits of men, as to make them instrumental to pled for a Toleration unto all errors, and to endeavour that this monstrous Iniquity may be established by a Law, and that of so large extent, as carries no exception, but express Popery and compulsion. The first whereof leaves latitude enough to take in any Papists whatsoever, if he can but a little dissemble the grossness of his way, and the latter doth not obscurely point at those, who pled for the Government of Jesus Christ by Presbyteries, and hold that all men are 〈◇〉 wall 〈…〉 king to the rule of the Word of God; Is this all the favour and approbation, that such may expect to be ranked amongst the worst of Papists? There are many devices in the heart of man; but the counsel of the LORD shall stand; And he will give unto his people a nail in his holy place.  
We have preached after the mind of Christ, and have traced the footsteps of the Prophets and Apostles, in the Old and New Testament: and no where can we find in the Scriptures of truth, either precept or precedent allowed of God for Toleration of any error, much less did it ever come into his mind, or did he speak to any of his servants concerning a Toleration of all error. As that Infinitely glorious Divine Essence is one in himself most holy, most righteous, most true, so hath he given unto the children of men, one eternal, unchangeable Law, according to the rule whereof they are to square their profession, and order their conversation: Therefore as his justice requires in the Covenant of Works that we should walk according thereto without declining to the right hand or the left, so he in his mercy promises in the Covenant of Grace to give unto his people one heart and one way to fear him for ever. And in both Covenants they are obliged to walk after the rule of this Law. It is acknowledged by many of those with whom we have now to do, that no liberty is to be allowed unto men in the breaches of the duties of the second Table, which we owe unto our neighbours, but that if a man sin against his neighbour and disturb the peace of the Common-wealth, he is to be restrained and punished; Can there any solid reason be given why it should not also be thus in regard of the duties of the first Table which we owe unto God? Is not one LORD Author of both, hath not conscience influence upon both? Is not the LORDS glory interested in the one as well as in the other? Doth not his Image shine as brightly, and may it not be as much defaced in the one as in the other, are the things of God less precious then the things of men, and that which concerns the soul less to be cared for then that which concerns the body, or are we more to value our own damage then the Lords dishonour? We know that no man hath dominion over the conscience, But the LORD who made it, exercises his sovereignty therein; And he hath set a Law unto the spirits of men, after the rule whereof they are to order both their judgements and affections; And hath given power to those whom he clothes with Authority, which they are to exercise in these things so far as they are manifested in expressions and actions unto the dishonour of his Name, and hurt and prejudice of others: All those who have their senses in any measure exercised in the Word of God will aclowledge that it is repugnant thereto, that any who are clothed with power economic, ecclesiastic or politic, should connive at any error in any of those that are subject to their jurisdiction, or allow it liberty by a Law. Abraham did command his children and his household to keep the way of the Lord, and to do Justice and Judgement Gen 18.19. Jacob took order for purging of his household and all that were with him, from all the Idols and strange gods that were amongst them, Gen. 35.2. David will have none of those who tell lies, but such as walk in a perfect way to be in his house, Psalm. 101. And the Apostle Paul will have all Pastors and Deacons to rule their houses well, and to keep them in subjection, 1 Tim. 3. Neither is there less required of those who bear charge in the house of God. It was a special part of the Office of Aaron and his sons to separate betwixt the precious and the vile, Jehoiada set porters at the gates of the house of the Lord, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter therein, 2 Cron. 23.19. The Apostle Paul would not give place unto those by subjection who came in privily to spy out the Kirks liberty for the space of an hour, Gal. 2.5. and he will have an heretic after the first & and second admonition to be rejected, Tit. 3.10. And are not some of the Churches of Asia commended for their diligence, and others of them reproved for their negligence herein, Rev. 2.2, 6, 14, 15, and ●0. And though the power of the Magistrate be herein most questioned by the patrons of Toleration, yet is the Scripture very clear and plentiful both in precepts and precedents, in promises, towards, in thr●…nings and judgements, in encouragements and reproofs, that it is the office and duty of the Magistrate not only to suppress and perish iniquity and unrighteousness, but also ungodliness and error, and that he beareth his sword in relation to both. As the Lord by his servant Moses, in the 17. of Deut. requires of him that shall reign over his people, that he have a copy of the Law of the Lord by him, and that he red therein all the dayes of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, and to keep all the words of that Law; So in the 13. of that book he gives a command to put to death the false Prophet, and the Brother that speaks to his people to turn them away from the Lord their God, and the reasons taken from the nature of the duty, whereby he persuades unto the obedience thereof, are perpetual and no less binding unto us now, then to them of old: How strongly doth the Lord pled in the 22. of Deut. against Toleration and false worship, and all the occasions thereof, and provocations and incitements thereto, and how severe is he about the removing and destroying all these, and in tying all his people to one way according to the rule of his word, and what peremptory commands are there given unto them concerning both. Was not the blasphemer stoned unto death, Levit. 24.10. It was the great care and singular commendation of Joshua, Samuel, David, Asa, Jehosaphat, Hezechiah, Josiah, Ezra, Nehemiah, zorobabel, and of such as judged or reigned well in Israel or Judah, that they preserved Religion and Reformation in integrity, restored it when it was fallen and corrupted, by destroying Idolatry, and establishing the pure Ordinances of God. Asa made a Covenant, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their Fathers, 2 Cron. 14. Jehosaphat went out throughout the people, from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back into the Lord God of their Fathers, 2 Cron. 19. Josiah made a Covenant, and caused all the people to stand to it, 2 Chron. 34.32. And the children of Judah after their return from Babylon made a Covenant, and entred into a curse, and into an oath to walk in Gods Law, and to observe and do all the Commandments of the Lord their God, Nehem●… 38, 10, 2●. 〈…〉 as a note of perpetual infamy 〈…〉 that he c●… d Israel to sin by erecting the Calves at D 〈…〉 hel, and suffer 〈…〉 people to go a whoring after the same and as it was the cause of the destruction of his house, so at last 〈◇〉 the communion of 〈◇〉 And it is several times observed by the holy Ghost as a fa 〈…〉 all of the Kings of Judah that the high places were not take 〈…〉 and Judah itself was also many times ●… fore p●… ged of God 〈◇〉 last carried into captivity because of their Tolerating of E 〈…〉 nd Idolatry; And whoso well ponde●… the story of Iosephus the ●… ish Writer, will find that both in Divine and politic considerations, the Toleration of divers Sect●… amongst them was a 〈…〉 se of their ruin.  
Some say, that the 〈…〉 ve porter of the Magistrate had pl●… in the Old Testament 〈…〉 se of an in●… llible iudgement of correction that was alway 〈…〉 them, in the urim and Thi●… for applying of th●… to those who were 〈◇〉. But besides that this overthrowet 〈…〉 ecclesiastic as well as Civill censures under the new Testament, 〈◇〉 supposing the necessity of an infallible direction to the right proceeding unto a sentence against a blasphemer or heretic, what needed then any judicial process or the testimony of Witnesses against such; This argues that the proced●… was to be in an ordinary way according to a known standing Law 〈◇〉 in cases of the second Table: And it hath as little strength that the Magistrate then did these things not as a Magistrate but as a Ty●e of Iesus Christ, seeing the Kings of the heathen such as Ar●…, Nabuchadnezzar and Darius made decrees hereabouts, whose practise is commended by the Spirit of God: And some knowing no other shift, would have the Old Testament laid aside in all the question and have proofs only from the new; but did not the Prophets of old foretell that their should be such a thing under the New Testament Zachary in his 13. telleth, that in the day that the fountain shall be opened in the house of David for sin and for uncleanness, the Prophet that speaks lies in the name of the LORD shall not live, 〈…〉 thrust thorough; And as Iesus Christ commands us to beware of false Prophets, Matth. 7.15. And the Apostle Paul to mark 〈…〉 because divisions, Rom. 16.17. and wishes that those who 〈…〉 Churches of Galatia were cut off, Gal. 5.12. So the same Apostle, Rom. 12. tells us that the Magistrate is the Minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon those that do evil; Neither is this wrath confined to the deeds of unrighteousness, and these things onely that are prejudicial unto men, and troubles the peace of the Common-wealth, but is also to be extended to these things that are dishonourable to GOD and the peace of the Church; for it cannot be shown that any part of that power which Magistrates had under the Old Testament is repealed under the New, neither can any convincing reason be brought, why it should be of narrower extent now nor then; are not Blasphemies, Heresies and errors dishonourable to GOD, and destructive unto souls as well now as of old? And are not men as prove to run into these things? And have they not need of as many remedies and restraints now as of old? Nay, be not these evil works, as well as the works of injustice and unrighteousness? they are high transgressions against the first and great Commandment of the Law, and Moses speaking of the punishing of them, calls them the evil which we are to put away from amongst us, Deut. 13.5. And the Apostle Paul desires us to beware of man that are polluted therewith as evil workers, Phil. 3.2. and the same Apostle calls them evil men and seducers, 2 Tim. 3.13. and the Apostle John calls their works evil deeds, 2 John 10. Therefore if liberty be granted in these, We know no cause why men that can in a handsome way pretend conscience for it, should be denied liberty to run into excess and riot, and to commit all sort of uncleanness and practise all wickedness with greediness; Which makes us the less to wonder, that it is propounded that nothing may be punished with death but murder: Thus far do the principles of Libertines led them, that the most monstrous and unnatural abominations that can be are not to be punished with death; Neither belike should murder be excepted, if the carnal desire of the preservation of natural life did not led them to it: We know not with what words of wonder and astonishment to express ourselves upon these things, pass over to the Isles of Chittim, and see and sand unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if such a thing hath been heard of of old, or of late amongst the most brutish and barbarous Nations, such a cursed Toleration as this will not only make every thing in Religion appear to be uncertain, end the Churches and disturb the State, and tremple all Ordinances, Order and Government under foot, and bring forth many blasphemies and abominations, but is like to banish Religion and righteousness quiter out of the Land, and at last make a Hell upon earth.  
And the thing in itself is not more strange unto us, then that these who have lifted up their hands unto Heaven, and sworn before God, Angels and men to extirpate Popery, heresy, error, Schism, Superstition, Idolatry and profaneness, and whatsoever is contrary to found Doctrine and the power of godliness, and who do so much pretend unto holinesse, and have been made partakers of so many mercies and deliverances, should have so far forgotten the Oath and Covenant of GOD, as to pled for, and proclaim a liberty unto all those things. The Solemn League and Covenant was in the beginning, amongst all the means that could be thought of, looked upon and entertained as the strongest Bulwark of Religion, and surest foundation of a lasting Union and Peace betwixt the Kingdoms and the best way for bringing down the enemies of both, and being confirmed by the Oath of God, cannot be repealed nor altered by any power or authority on earth, but obliges both kingdoms unto all the duties contained therein, which makes us to wonder that men should be so unhappily bold as to sport with the Oath of GOD, and mock the Almighty, who is a severe avenger of all such things. And 〈◇〉 we have no cause to repent of Covenanting with England, as having done a necessary duty, and laid the foundation of a glorious Work, which we must shall be perfected maugre all the opposition of men, and that we resolve to adhere to that solemn Lengue and Covenant as long as we live; yet have we reason to complain of the exceeding great levity and inconstancy of some of those with whom we had to do, because of the sad reproach that is 〈◇〉 brought upon the Cause of GOD, and the great prejudice that 〈◇〉 thereby redound to the Kingdom of his son Jesus Christ.  
Neither is it the least part of our grief, that is a Throne is set up for Satan, and the House of GOD laid waste, so the Civill Government is exceedingly shaken, if not quiter subverted and overthrown. We pled not for tyranny, or Arbitrary power either in Kings or Parliaments; Neither are we to own or justify any man in his sin, but we may remember what adversaries have many times cast upon both Kingdoms, and what both have oftener then once Printed and Published to the world for their vindication in this; and if after so many public professions and solemn attestations to the contrary the foundations shall be razed, Monarchy be destroyed, and Parliaments subverted by an imaginary and pretended Agreement of the People, as it would destroy the League and Covenant, and cause the adversary to blaspheme and insult, so it cannot but be the cause of many miseries and calamities unto these Kingdoms. If power be originally in the people, and all of them do equally share in the privilege of liberty and freedom, how comes it to pass that a few take upon them to impose this Agreement upon others, and that it is desired that the opposers may be punished with death; let it be yielded that some at first may condescend upon the model without the knowledge of the whole body, yet when it is offered unto them, what if the one half or the greater part shall refuse to consent or sub●… thereto, shall they be compelled by others to do it, and destroyed if they will not obey? Is not this to take power over these that have equal power with themselves, and to encroach upon the freedom of these who are as free as themselves? If it be said, that they do but impose in things necessary, that concern common equity had freedom, We demand who are Judges of these things? Have not these who refuse, as much power and freedom to judge, as those who would impose it upon them, and if they judge it to be contrary to their freedom, who can control them herein, without encreaching thereupon, and offering violence to their consciences who may conceive such a way neither to suit with Religion nor righteousness; And to speak nothing of the troubles that are like to arise otherways, may not this open again the issues of blood, and embroil the Land in a new War betwixt these who shall refuse, and these who shall impose such a model, wherein men may happily lose both themselves and their liberty, whilst they seek to be too much free; were it not better to preserve Monarchy and the privileges of Parliament, walking in the middle betwixt tyranny and anarchy, betwixt Arbitrary Government and confusion.  
We know that such a way is looked upon by some as the best foundation of safety, but we know nothing more like to bring ruin and destruction, And therefore pitying these who are gone out of the way, We do from the compassion which we have to their souls, earnestly, and in the name of the LORD, Beseech all these in England who pled for Toleration, the laying aside of the Covenant and change of the Civill Government, to consider these things impartially. 1 What fair professions and promises were made unto this Kingdom, to persuade them to join in Covenant with England, and how often before and since that time these things have been renewed by Letters, Declarations and Remonstrances unto these in this Land, petitions to the King, Ordinances of the Houses, and letters to the Kirks abroad; all this is still upon record, and will bear witness before the Lord, and unto the following generations against the levity, perverseness and perjury of those who have sworn the League and Covenant, and guade so much about to change their way. 2 That the League and Covenant was the first foundation of their victories and success, and of the ruin of the Malignant party in England. We need not put them in mind at what low ebb the Parliaments forces were at the contriving thereof, and how soon the Lord gave Testimony from heaven, by victory over the enemy, of his approbation of the same, and how from that day forward they prospered, and the enemy fell before them still. 3 That the LORD hath always been a severe avenger of the breaches of Oaths and Covenants personal, and which concerns the things of men, much more national, and which concerns the things of God. 5 That never any perverted the truth, and corrupted the Worship of God and prospered. 6 What shal be the advantage, nay how g●… shall be the loss of all the expense of blood and of pains that those Kingdoms have been at; If for all this, We shall reap nothing but Toleration and confusion; have we laboured in the fire to remove one corrupt Religion, and to bring in many in its stead, to put down Tyranny and set up anarchy? 7 Whether this be such a Testimony of gratitude, as the Lord calls for at their hands in lieu of all his mercies, and giving unto them victory over all their enemies. 8 Whether such things beseems those who would be called Saints, and pretend to be for the Lord, and use his name in all their professions and undertakings. 9 Whether such proceedings do not bring a sad reproach and heavy imputation upon the work of God in these Kingdoms; In nothing do the Popish, prelatical and Malignant party more insult; and is it a light matter to cause the enemy to blaspheme? 10 How sore the weak are stumbled, and the hearts of the godly throughout all the Protestant Churches wounded. We have suffered many things, but nothing so heavy to our spirits as this. 11 If such a way be not contrary to the whole strain of Gods word, and to the practise of all the Saints since the beginning of the world unto this day. 12. What shall be the end of these things, and the many sad and doleful consequents that shall follow thereupon. If from these and the like considerations any be moved to take warning to desist from the evil of their way, we shall therein rejoice and glorify God on their behalf; But if they shall refuse to harken, we have discharged our consciences; and in the name of the Kirk of Scotland whose servants we are, We do Dissent from, and Protest against such proceedings, as destructive to Religion, the solemn League and Covenant, the work of Uniformity, and the Civill Government; And shall wait for the salvation of the Lord.  
In the next place, albeit we do not desire to add sorrow unto any mans affliction, but rather if any suffer for righteousness sake to comfort him; Yet we were not faithful if we did not put our Brethren in England in mind of their slothfulness and negligence in the Lords Work, that in this day of their trouble they may be ●… ed because of their want of zeal for God and his cause. The Lord put into the hands of the Parliament of England many precious opportunities and fair occasions to have extirpate Popery, error, heresy, Schism and profaneness, and to have established reformation, and the Government of the house of God, many petitions and supplications from many in England, and Declarations and Remonstrances and Letters from the Parliament and general Assembly and their Commissioners in this Land were tendered unto them concerning this thing, yet notwithstanding of all these, did they still suffer the house of God to lye waste, and the evil to grow which had been easily resisted in the beginning, but now is gone over the face of the Land like a flood, and hath trodden under foot their own power and authority. It hath been the Lords way in carrying on of his work, to slain the pride of all glory, and to break and put down all those powers that have not exalted himself and pr●moved the Kingdom of his son. And though We do not justify these insolent attempts upon the Houses, yet we cannot but desire the Members to behold the hand of the most high, and to red their sin engraven in their judgement. It is a righteous thing with the Lord to abuse all those that will not honour him. The Lord certainly hath a great controversy against them for encroaching upon the royal sceptre of Jesus Christ, and denying unto him any external government over his house, but such as is dependant upon them, by assuming unto themselves the ●… timete decision of all ecclesiastic causes and Kirk censures: And doubtless the Lord is also highly displeased with their proceedings in the Treaty at Newport in reference to Religion and Covenant, concerning which, they accepted of such concessions from his Majesty as was dangerous and destructive unto both. We wish that they may now at last see their negligence and presumption in these things, and be men of wisdom to hear the voice of the rod, and who hath appointed it, if their soul be humbled for their sin, and if they shall take upon them the vows of God for giving unto Jesus Christ his due, & doing whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven for the house of the God of heaven, who knows but the Lord may take away their reproach, and restore them to their dignity and power.  
And though we doubt not but many in England have these years past mourned for the desolations of the House of GOD, and for the rise and growth of so many errors in that Land, and have poured forth their supplications before the LORD for a remedy of these things; And that we are not ignorant what a considerable number of Ministers have done in their Sermons, and Printed Books, and Testimonies, yet we shall desire all that love Truth and Holinesse in that Land, to consider whether they have so ●i●… ously, and with that courage and zeal that was convenient appeared for the LORD, and acquit themselves in their duty in reference to Religion and the Solemn League and Covenant, and if any find themselves faulty, to mourn for it, and to pray for mercy, and more of the Spirit of Christ, that they may hereafter be more faithful, and do their duty boldly and without fear; As many in England mourned with us in the day of our distress before the LORD in our behalf, so we and all the Godly in this Land, pour forth our supplications to GOD in private and in public for them; And albeit we will not take upon us to prescribe, yet as the Servants of the living GOD who have obtained mercy in some measure to be faithful, and have found such a way to be profitable amongst ourselves; we exhort all our Brethren in England to aclowledge their Iniquities before the LORD, especially the breaches of that solemn League and Covenant which was so publicly sworn, before GOD, Angels and men, and to renew their Oath and vows in his sight, which we doubt not, if gone about in sincerity, shall be attended with a blessing and success from Heaven: It hath been the LORDS dispension in these Kingdoms, for the most part, to leave a branch of hope in the one Kingdom, when the other was like to perish, and to suffer enemies to grow to a great height of insolence and power, and then to bring them down; And therefore albeit the floods lift up their voice and make a noise, yet we know no cause why the LORDS People should wax faint or cast away their confidenc 〈◇〉 the LORD on high is more mighty then the noise of many ●…ters, yea, then the mighty waves of the Sea; his Word is e●…blished in heaven, and his Testimonies are very sure; And beside t●… many great and precious promises which he hath given unto us, a●… his goodness to his Saints of old, he hath furnished his People these Lands with so many experiences of his mighty Hand an● stretched out arm, working salvation and delivery for them, th●… it were a shane for any amongst them to wax faint, and not to believe; For yet a little while, he that shall come will come, and w●… not tarry; Now the just shall live by Faith, but if any man dr●… back, his soul shall have no pleasure in him.  
A. Ker.