THE CONDUCT and CONVEYANCE OF OUR Fathers and Martyr's Testimony. In The CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. Justified and Continued.  
The Parallel Testimony in 38 and 49 Reciprocal, with the present Testimony against Popery, Prelacy, Liberty of Conscience, Stated and Delineated, from the Bible, Reason, and Testimony of History.  Job 17.9. 
The righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.  Cypr. Ep. ad Carth. 
Fratribus in plebe consistentibus Examinabuntur singula presentibus & vobis judicantibus.  
By W. H. Minister of the Gospel, and prisoner at Edinburgh, January 9th; 1690.  
Printed in the Year 1690.   

THE clamant case of Confession in keeping the word of God's patience in order to transmitting of a testimony, among the Primitive Christians, was Magnanimously maintained against Paganism by Culdees, by the Tabrits of Bohemia, by the Lollards of England (so named) the Protestants Evidenc● clearly delineat, notwithstanding all the World did dip their pens in poison, and sharpened their tongues in Gall: Calumni●… audacter, & semper aliquod haerebit; glour with their eyes, and gore with their tongues, hate nickname rail, which word of GOD'S Patience, gifts, yea graces, without supply of grace, even the power of GOD: Adam in in the estate of innocency when he had wisdom at his will, and reason at command●… could not maintain, (yet Scotland once styled the life guard of Heaven, whose strength did lie in their tongues before the Crown rights of Heaven, were betrayed into the hands of Tyranny, and lawless Liberty, even the Declarative and Mediatory glory of Christ) was not only among the first of the Conquest o● Christ's Kingdom, but even, also then when 32 parts of the world, 27 were Pagan, 5 degenerate to worship wood and stone, one embraced i Oligarchical Tyranny of Prelacy; the remnant of Bohemia and Scotland, and Joshua Gianevel in Piedmont, and many others, witness Birkbers Protestant Evidence, (though GOD did scum the remnant) concerted and marvously grappled for the pure and powerful testimony of our Lord, for the Kirk and Kernel thereof. Hence some neatly, though critically, yet candidly allude to Scotizei: In the Revelation, that is, shall darken the seat of the beast, viz. Scotsmen; it being a Covenanted Nation to the Lord, 2 Chron. 15. and Jer. 50.6, 7. tells us the fruits thereof, what ever the irregularities of an Oath may be, yet are not the circumstances conversant about the Act of swearing, but the  matter of the Oath which do annihilat the obligation thereof: witness the Confession of the learned Dr. Sanderson, though an enemy, who ever read with Granosalis, plainly perceive the vainity of this Distinction, the Relaxation of the matter, and strength of an Oath; he terms it, materiam and vim juramenti: Yet Arnisaeus Doct: Pol: Leydeker, etc. And all agree, my will, contract, according to what my knowledge reacheth, and in so far am I bound to espouse mutually persons, lives, goods of the Covenanted party, much more when there is a positive law of GOD, against Idolatry, Prelacy, liberty of Conscience, which we have illustrate in the Dimensions of the Primitive Bishops, commenserat according to their pastoral relation: Ignatius styling them, Fraternity, Consociations, and Presbytery, Printed at London in the 84 from the Historical Relations of Holingshead, Pamelius, Albaspineus, Sylvanneus History; Tho much more may be read in the books of God's Judgements on perjured persons. In that Roll of Ezekiel called Opisto grapha 9 ch. having the foreside, all our sins the backside, all our Judgements. And in the 17 of Ezekiel, As I live saith the Lord, it's my oath, ye have broken my Covenant, ye have despised. Zedekiah, Whom God roasted in the fire, for breach of Covenant, shifted the Watchmen; because Jeremiah preached one thing, Ezekiel the clean contrary; Jeremiah told him he should be carried down to Babylon, Ezekiel, he should never see Babylon: Yet God reconciled them both to his ruin, his eyes were picked out of his head, he never saw Babylon; The same end fell to Almerick King of Jerusalem, Vladistaus breach of Covenant with the Turks, Harold the last King of the Danes that ever reigned in England, for his breach of Covenant, with William Duke of Normandy. Thus have we Absolutely consisidered; now Relatively the case, Paul to the Romans 13.11. Tells us, It's high time to awake for our Salvation, is nearer than when we believed; As knowing the time to awake from sleep, though signs Diagnostic of former, and Prognostic of future times, easily ventilat, all Objections in a transient view of the same.  
Moral Signs, are palpable in a long delay of common equity betwixt man and man.  
Evangelical, a spirit of Gospel love, and frame suitable to a Deliverance, where that Porter of prejudice that stands sentinal at the hearts of men, against truth is removed, 1 John 3.14.  
Forenscical, or the Court of Justice, Isaiah 16. v. 12.13.  
Political signs hitherto these 28 years appeared, when pynts of Protestants and Saints blood have been shed; for which we may rationally fear, Tunns of others, the Effusion of blood the Lord prevent: Yet shall we trust to Micah 5.5. Ecclesiastical signs are plain, the Church waxing, not weaning, fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun, terrible as an Army with Banners; Ministers having fire in their Tongues to kindle Zeal in People's breasts, the Kirk the Kernel. Military signs are a praying Army, when Moses hands knocked off from Prayer, Amaleck prevailed; certainly when Aemilius a Pagan would not give over sacrificeing till a sign of Victory, much more we, Martyrological 1851 Martyrs, have sealed this with their Blood. Celestial by Perpendicular and presaging Comets, portending chief the computation of seven Seals, seven Trumpets, seven Vials, pouring out on Babylon: Yet may all dread the cup of God's wrath go round, and drops falling upon us the Lord avert a besom of destruction. Nor do we want Accademical signs, few Metaphisical heads, much more Theological hearts; Arminianisime planted many years ago, not yet eradicated; hence is Scotland's glory stained by illiterate and raw profane, and polluted Nurseries. Neither do we trust to Immediate Mission, or Revelation yet Prognostic Symptoms, are patent penitential. 3 Jonah 8 Man and Beast cried to the Lord, the Heathen deputed a day for mourning, to eat the bread of mourners, and drink a cup of their own tears.  
Testimonial where the Testimony is not fling at our heels, but Valiantly propugned. Critical a glorious Manifestation of the Mediatory Kingdom of Christ before the day of Doomsday, whether it shall be by a formal sworn Covenant, or more Glorious Discovery, I shall not determine. Zech. 14. No Cannanite in the House of the Lord, that is, none mak'n slaves of the souls of men, Architectural, that is not only a regular Disposition of the Members of a Work, but a Symmetrical proportion to that glorious work of Reformation in our Father's days; Homogenical and Organical, The right our Fathers had to hold a Christian Society among themselves, by public Societies, and the exercise of their Ministry the property peculiarly of believers; since Faith, Piety and Charity binds us to an external Society, without which they cannot be called sheep, not in respect of their ordinary Pastors, but in respect of their Faith in Jesus Christ. To note, that it is Faith and not the Ministry, which makes the Society, and by consequence renders their Assemblies Lawful and Necessary: Yet (mind I am a perfect Enemy to the 32 Sects of England, and abhor the right of gifted Brethrening) my Testificates, plainly make appear to the Provost and Solicitor of Edinburgh, who read them, but especially my writing against them at London, whereby for truth, I became the object of their Malice. Tho the External Society, be common to good and bad, Wheat and Tares, mingled externally in the Body of the Church, yet the right of External Society resides in the Faithful only. His Mystical Body for which he died, the Seed which he Sowed with his own hand, against the Harvest, Isa. 7. Who has required this of thy hand, to tread in my Courts! And Ps. 51. What hast thou adoc to read my Covenant, and Laws. The Tares have communion, only by accident, till the Harvest. Austin. Lib. 7. C. 5. Teaches plainly that the Power of the Keys Binding and Losing, is given to the Church of the truly Faithful, in Opposition to the men of the World, that are mixed with them. They then having a right to be in a Religious Society, over whom Christ is Supreme Lawgiver, Isa 35. Their Law binds the Elicite Acts of the Conscience, of all indefinitely: Hence Sun, Moon, Stars, are said to bow to Joseph, that is to the Church. (yet we safely maintain a Co-ordination of Powers and Sub-Ordination of Persons. It's the Elegant saying of the Honourable Lord Brook of England, if the Church swallow up the State inflowes Superstition and Idolatry: If the State swallow up the Church, inflows Atheism and Ignorance. Hence Paul draws the inference of the Authority, which the Lord hath given to us, not for your destruction, but for your edification; which right the Church, has at the bottom, her formation and subsistence, as secretly in a good and sovereign hand preserved: In Parenthsi know this is no negative, much more a positive separation, as the noble Orthodox party against the Arians meeting, as they could sometimes in their fields. But rather a standing still. Jer. 15.19, 21. Till men return to their old principles. 38 and 49. Amongst all our signs none more penetrating and piercing, then Desertion, Penal, Medicinal or Probatory. The first, when God judicially delivers up a man to hardness of heart as Pharaoh. The 2 & 3, a blessing for the future, but a judgement for the time; and some may say oh, that they could water the steps of their backsliding with tears; the fear of man brings a snare, he that trusts in the Lord shall be delivered, the sun of righteousness running under a cloud that they cannot read their evidences for Heaven, has been burdensome to some, though I knew others and the same persons in the like case, might attain to have their thoughts break the Clouds, there soul a chronicle of the love of Christ, a psalm book of his praise. Yet lustful Gallants may carouse at leisure, their powder hair may forget the dust, were their skin as thick as the Whales, the Bullet of Death will pierce them. Of such was one Parker of England, who mocked at acquaintance with God, & obtained his short Heaven and long Hell, a sun of wealth and prosperity, before a thunder bolt of Vengeance: Nor are they better, who wash Sarans face with a colour of Religion.  
Naked truth, that needs not the purple partociny (even tho' of Constantine extorts me to speak? that thereby I may be seen, about those dozen of years wandering, which God booketh down, and will the Innocents', and Sufferers tears bottle up. It pleased the Lord after my licence and formal trial at London, to order my lot in the company of Holy and faithful Mr. Welsh in the west of Scotland, by whom I was invited to preach; Mr. John Cuninghame, and Mr. John Black, and M. W L. being present: Then the Church of God in Scotland like a Ship among the Jaws and Waves of Tribulation: sore tossed, many of her Passengers drowning, and her Skippers and Watch men, rowing ashore to save to save their life. I kept the fields and other places for some time after: Bothwel in the 81 then being induced and invited by others, inclined to that myself, I went for Holland to print, the Testimony of the Church of Scotland, against Popery and Prelacy; the Conveyance thereof in all the Centuries, and in each period of time. At Leith being perceived, and my Brother in Law taken, the Copies canceled, and I escaped and went for London: Where falling happily acquainted with a virtuous person, the Earl of Anglesey I wrote a Reply in 4 to. to the Cassandrian Doctrine emitted from one of the Frogs of Antichrist: The book itself bears the Tittle, Scotland pulling down the gates of Rome, Christ against Antichrist, the Lamb's friends against the Dragon's followers, with some remarks historically upon the Comet Star, and examination of the Popish Confessions, and description of the Romish Morals: ●o which my Name is affixed. Which was prin●ed about that fatal conjuncture of time, the death of the famous Lord Russel: from thence returning to Scotland. I privately resided at Whiteborn, till one Armillan younger, who received the Sacrament, as Presbiterian, as Test-man, as Papist all in 11 years' time. Cowardly and Craftily, apprehended and abused me cruelly; 4 years before having plundered and pillaged the whole Country, and my Chamber and Books amongst the rest; for which he and others, God in providence shall fetch to a Court of blood shed and oppression; he not being satisfied with perjury and forgery of my hand writing; which he pretend he had, but debauched men's and women's consciences to 400 Oaths, he and others, in a day; till at last he landed in Adultery, with his servant, and Murder of the same child, the woman being presently executed at Air for the same; did depone (he escaping by the policy and power, of Craigy Wallace.) I being carried prisoner to Glasgow, Falkirk, and other places, in a pitiful manner. I was staged before the Counsel for Lybels and Books, and preaching in the Fields, at the resentment of which, I cannot cover the sentiment of my thoughts, but with grief, that the fear of Man, did so prevail to hinder more full and faithful Testimony: Yet w●… I keeped free that my heart, and the Temptation never meet with Oaths, Bonds, 〈◊〉 This being over, I returned to the West, an● publicly preached; and then went for London where that Book was printed God's Garde● hedged and watered. In reference to an Essay o● Antidote against distractions, in God's worship; coming too speedily from London hom● again, and embracing an Invitation did preach, upon the 33 of Isa. The Lord is our King, the Lord is our Lawgiver. where I asserted the headship of Jesus Christ.  
Then again was I apprehended, at the order of Buchan, and some others, and guarded 10 weeks, and 4 days, in the Dungeon of Air; where the Arm of the Lord rescued me, and two other old men, from my Enemies; who had blood in their Teeth, and abominations in their mouth, 9 Zec. I broke out, the sentinals sleeping. Now this is the third time of my imprisonment as was reported by the (Right Honourable Earl Crawford's order) the provost of Edinburgh, and the Solicitor, coming into the Prison, did question me upon several heads, and afterwards did take away my testimonials to peruse, and did return the same by a Macer, not only my Licence and Ordination but Testificates of my former Deport●…nt; the Testimony privately and pub●…kly I maintain, I openly yet Reverendly ●…ed out; I was against Popery, Prelacy, Li●…y of Conscience, and that thorough Grace, I ●…olved to die by the Acts of the Assembly ●…nd 49. as consonant to the Analogy of ●…th and holy Bible. I cannot omit what 〈◊〉 betwixt Me and the Reverend Mr. J. W. 〈◊〉 at Glasgow, then at Ecclesom, who at the ●…inning of the Popish Toleration, was swal●…wed up, by this Jonahs' Whale: Boggle not, ●…es he, since ye ventured your neck with Mr. J. R. ●…erly, I plainly prohibit him to own it or 〈◊〉 Address, as Diametrically against our ●…sciples, when Julian summoned hell to 〈◊〉 him, the Devil gave him the engine of ●…ration.  
There remaineth one Objection unremov●…tho a thread bare Argument: thus it is, as 〈◊〉 had conversed with one Dunbar, one of the ●…ans in order to my deliverance, a horrid 〈◊〉 wicked lie, even such as they branded 〈◊〉 Worthies formerly: For I take GOD 〈◊〉 witness, I never spoke with one of them, 〈◊〉 I knew him either name or surname, 〈◊〉 or figure, save him who was my Anta●…ist, against whom I wrote, the examina●… of the Popish Catechism, neither did debate 〈◊〉 him, or converse an hour in all, and that in a public Coffee-house; so let the 〈◊〉 of hell smoke out of their mouths and ha●…lies, the Devils babes, hot coals of Juni●… are prepared for false Tongues; sin is 〈◊〉 Souls sickness, Confession the souls vo●… which the 8 Levites, in the 9 of Nehemiah, 〈◊〉 Precept, by Pattern, acknowledge be●… they lay one Stone in God's house, the 〈◊〉 of Defection, having blown out the eye 〈◊〉 the World: Darkness sayeth Jeremiah, 〈◊〉 the Earth, gross darkness the People. After s●… days deliberation, scrutiny and due exaa●…nation of my Principles, Papers, Persist●… and Adherence to the Acts of Assem●… The Right Honourable the Earl of C●…ford, personally with a Macer, came to 〈◊〉 Prison door and ordered my Liberat●… having every day entered the List, 〈◊〉 Episcopal Clergy and Gentry, and Tolera●… Truth, with its Energy did sufficiently ●…dicate me. Hence Ministers are to cont●… for the Faith, once delivered to the Saints, 〈◊〉 by suffering, were it to seal with their Bl●… what they speak with their mouth in 〈◊〉 Chair of Truth, for the same indivi●… Truths, the former Lords Days at K●… Kirk, and Drumshorlin moor, preceding 〈◊〉 Imprisonment; I plainly Preached, w●…fully and freely, I did aver before My 〈◊〉 Provost. From Jer. 50 Come join yourselves the Lord in a perpetual Covenant: I could not pass from the Reformation, and Protestation relating thereto, for the Laudable Laws of my Master's house, though I should have gone the gate of Mr. Rennick: These were the individual words to My Lord Provost and Solicitor; For Illustration and Confirmation whereof, take a Transient view of the Assemblies Acts.  

Acts of the General Assembly Sess. 23. Dec. 17.  
Anent the Entry and Conversation of Ministers, its expedient that the Acts of Assembly holden at Edinburgh, March 4. 1595. Be ratified and put in Execution in every Presbytery; And to that end, get a Copy under the Clerk's hand, whereof the Tenure followeth Sess. 7. March 26. of the Assembly at Edinburgh, 1596. Concerning the Defections of the Ministry, the same being at length read out and considered, in order to see the Kirk and Ministry purged, to the effect, the Work may have better success; they think it necessary that this Assembly be humbled for want of such care, as became in such points, and that some Zealous and Godly Brethren in Doctrine, lay them out for their Humiliation; and they make Solemn promise bifore the Majesty of GOD, to make new Covenant with him, for a more careful and Reverend discharge of their Ministry And that speedily the Corruptions and Enormities of the Ministry be Remedied, to Avert the impendant Judgements in order thereto. Sess. 8. August 17. Containing the Causes and Remedy of the bygone Evil of the Kirk. The King's Will and Pleasure is, That all Questions about Religion and matters Ecclesiastical, be determined by the Assembly of this Kirk: And Moreover, that no Persons blaked with Public Defection, have power to Vote in the Lord's House, till they condemn Doctrinally these Defections, etc. Hence are condemned the sordid and sullen Apprehensions of many, whereby their vile Aspersions are wept off; etc. As suffering honest men, intended the unchurching of the Ministry, and easting off of the same, when nothing is designed nor desired, save reducing of the Church to the Rules of her Husband's house. Hosea 2. v. 1.3.  
The Church of Scotland was unite 45 years, by by means of Discipline.  
FINIS.