A BLASPHEMOUS& TREASONABLE PAPER, Emitted by the fanatical Under-subscribers, on May 1, 1681. According to the ORIGINAL Lying in the hands of the CLERKS of His MAJESTIES most Honourable Privy COUNCIL.  
WE undersubscribers, now Prisoners for the truth in the Cannongate Tolbuith Ironhouse, though most vile, yet it pleased the Holy Ghost to work on our Spirits of a time past, in clearing causes of wrath, and showing us duty from day to day, that now in some time past we are, and have been called Mad men and Devils, and now there is none in the Kingdom, in Prison, or out of Prison that we can converse with as Christians. And yesterday being the 26. day of the 5th. month, it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to take out of our Bibles the Psalms in metre for several Causes mentioned afterwards, for the book of the Revelation says, If any man should add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book; and we did burn them in our Prison▪ house, and sweep away the Ashes. Likewise, in the Holy Scriptures, we renounce Chapters and Verses, and Contents, because it is only done by human Wisdom, and the changing of the books after the Holy Ghost had placed them: we being pressed to this work by the Holy Ghost, do renounce the Impression and Translation of both the Old and New Testaments, and that for additions put unto them by men, and other causes; as first, putting in horrid Blasphemy, making a Tyrant Patron of the Church, when the Scriptures holds of none but of God, and needs no Patronage from any King, Prince, or Rulers, and the writing of that Blasphemous, Sacrilegious,( as some call it) the Epistle Dedicatory, filled with such language, as Dread Sovereign, Highness, most High and Mighty, most Sacred Majesty; and likewise the horrid unparalleled blasphemy, making a Trian●le with these Hebrew Letters in it thus, יהוה Jehovah, representing the Trinity; and likewise putting in horrid Pictures in several places of the Holy Scripture; and likewise drawing scores betwixt the books of the Bible, and other superfluous traditions. Likewise we renounce the Catechisms Larger and Shorter, and Confession of Faith, against which we have many causes: one cause is, in the 23. chap. for the Scripture proofs that they city, proves the contrary of that they writ. We renounce the Acts of the General Assembly, and all the Covenants, and acknowledging of sins and engagement to duties, and that which they call Preaching books, and all their works, way, form, and manner of worship, Doctrine, Discipline, and Government, and the studying on their books the thing they call their Preaching, for instead of going to God for his mind to the people, they go to their books, and so makes their books their God and their leader, and so all following that way, go to Hell together; the cause of this is, we find none of their works but they are like themselves, carnal and corrupt, according to that Scripture, Hate the Garment spotted with the flesh We renounce the limiting of the Lords mind by Glasses, and their ordination of men only learned, and their saying, that Learning is the essential of a Minister without grace. Likewise, we renounce their manner of renewing Covenants, pressing mens consciences to take a Covenant, and by so doing, has filled the Kirk and State with Tyrants and incarnat Devils, as we find this day, they knew the men to have no marks of grace, but on the other hand, to be prophant, as them they call King and Rulers, Captains and Commanders in State and Armies, and all Kirk Officers whom we call Tyrants and Judases; for by so doing they have corrupted both Kirk and State, as this day Kirk men and States men, whom we call Judases and Tyrants, are studying in opposition to Holiness and the work of Reformation, who entered in by these same Covenants, are now pursuing our lives for a Christian walk. And likewise, we renounce the Covenant taken at Queensferry, commonly called Cargil's Covenant, and likewise Hamiltown Declaration, yea, and Sanquhare Declaration, because they may and has owned these, and are owning these, who are enemies to Holiness, and were enemies to us, as some of them said, we should suffer Kirk Censure for giving over the old apostate Ministers to the Devil, and some of them counted us their enemies for the truths sake, and sent us word they would protest against us, and so we justify our Lord in breaking them at Airds Moss, we justify the Lord likewise, in taking away that they call Field-Preachings, or mockings, because they were nothing but Rebellion against the High Lord, as we find now when our Lord is come to the across, there is neither Minister nor People to bide by him, of the many thousands has flocked to the thing they call Preachings or mockings, and therefore now all are found voided of saving grace, and so we see that word is accomplished, straight and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it; and that other word, many shall strive and shall not be able. We finding all former Actions to be such as Devils has and can creep in at( as Declarations and Covenants) and get the name of Saints; Therefore, this day it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to renounce and burn the former Covenants and Declarations, because they are not straight enough according to Scrippture, and all their works such like, and therefore we will own none of their works, till it please the Lord to give us teaching from himself. By this all may know and understand, we overturn, and formally burns all the former, work of the Clergy of Scotland, and throughout all the whole world that are in opposition to Holiness▪ dated the 6th. day of the week, being the 27. of the 5th. month 1681. about midday.  
We renounce and decline all Authority throughout the world, and all that are in Authority, and all their Acts and Edicts, from the Tyrant Charles Stuart to the lowest Tyrant, and burns them the samen day, being the 6th. day of the week, the 27. day of the 5th. month, 1681. at Cannongate Tolbuith Iron-house.  
We renounce the names of Moneths, as January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, Nov. December. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday▪ Martymass, Hol●●●yes, for there is none holy but the Sabbath day▪ Lambas day, Whitsunday, Candlemass, Beltan, Crossstones, and Images Fairs, name by Saints, and all the remnants of Popery, Yool or Christmas, old wives Fablet and By words, as Palmsunday, Carlinsunday, the 29. of May, being dedicat by this Generation to profanity, Peacesunday, Halloweven, Hogmynac night, Valenteins even; no Marrying in the month they call May; the innumerable relics of Popery, Atheism and Sorcery, and New-years-day, and Hansel-Munday, Dredgies and Likewakes, Valentin● Fair, chapels, Chaplains: likewise Sabbath-days feastings, Blythmeats, Banquetings, Revellings, Pipings, Sportings, Dancings, Laughings, Singing profane and lustful Songs and Ballads, Table-Lawings, Monk-lands, Frier-lands, Blackfrier-lands, Kirks and Kirkyards, and Mercat Crosses, Fount-stones, Images, Registers of Lands and Houses, Register Bands, Discharges, and all their Law-works, Inhibitions, Hornings, Letters of Adjudications, Ships Passes, profanity and all unchaste thoughts, words and Actions, formality, and indifferency, Story-books and Ballads, Romances and Pamphlets, comedy books, Cards and Dice, and all such like, we disown all of them, and burns them the 6th. day of the week, being the 27. day of the 5th. month, 1681. at the Cannongate Tolbuith Iron-house.  
We renounce all the Customs and Fashions of this Generation, their way and custom of eating and drinking, sleeping, and wearing, and all our ownformer ways, as well Religious as Moral, in so far as they have been squared and casten in this Generations mould, and all our Iniquious courses, lightness and unconcernedness with the Glory of God, the only end wherefore we were sent into the world, the 7th. day of the week, being the 27. of the 5th. month.  
We renounce all that are now in Prison houses or Correction houses, men and women: for none of them are with us in this work, and when we sent them a Copy of this our Renounciation, they called us Devils. The Copy of this we burnt instead of the Books and works of this Apostate Generation, and butted the Ashes in our and covered it with dust.  
Notwithstanding of our burning Covenants and Declarations, and renouncing of them and their works; Be it known to All, that we do neither vindicate the Cursed Murderers of their Bloodshed on Fields, and Scaffolds, and Seas, and other horrid cruelties, such as Torterings, Imprisonments, Pillagings, Banishments, Scourgings, Stigmatizings, &c. nor condemn we the worthy Martyrs, and the sufferings of others, only we give the Lord Justice, and vindicats his tarrying, for now the Furnace has brought forth a more pure Cause, which we term, Holiness to be built upon the word of God.  
That all may know and see our innocency, and know our end is and was the Glory of God in all we did, though we came far short; and in Moneths past we could get none to show us kindness for meat or lodging, though we could pay for it ourselves: That word in Malachy, Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even the whole nation. And likewise in Deut. We seeing the land all thus cursed, and all justifying themselves in that iniquity, were afraid to eat, or drink, or sleep under a roof with them; though there were many that would have sheltered us, yet we could not eat, drink, converse or pray with them, least we had come under the curse, so many times our beds has been in he open fields, and we have come to houses and they would not sell us Meal to make pottage of, and we have found Meal and water a rare dish, because the curse was off it, and it was blessed to us, according to that Scripture, the blessing of the Lord maketh rich. We are not murmuring in this, but when the whither has been worst, winds and rain, could frost and snow, and when we had fasted most, we were best satisfied, according to that Scripture, all shall work together for their good, that truly seek the Lord; when we had outward straits, then we had most inward peace, we had joy in the Holy Ghost, so the thing the world calls the worst of our life, as reproaches, imprisonments, nakedness, hunger, and could, &c. we had rather be suffering for our Lords sake, then be Kings of the whole earth, for our joy no man can take from us, and our prison is so pleasant through our Lord, that we care for no company, for we know no company but all are cursed, and we know not what it is to weary, but according to that Scripture, eat and drink my beloved, yea eat and drink abundantly, we are rather in paradise.  
These things were cleared to us when fasting and praying, and we were pressed to do this by the Holy Ghost, we had many fasts about this thing, and this week we took some milk and bread in the third day of the week in the morning being the 24 day of the 5th. month 1681. and tasted neither meat nor drink, nor any other kind of living, till the 6th. day of the week at 4. afternoon( and then we took a little milk and bread) for to find out the Causes of his wrath we have, wandered, mourned, wept many a night, and day in houses and fields, for we have and has had no other end but his Glory, that the Elect such as should be saved might be brought in, and it is only Conscience that keeps us from giving men reverence in word and behaviour, though some call us dumb Devils, and unlearned Bruits, and one of us when coming before them they call Rulers, was called a Block-head, notwithstanding of all that came on us, we know and are taught by the Holy Scriptures, to give honour unto whom honour is due, and to salute one another, but it has been our work of a time to renounce the filthy vilde embracings, Salutations, and compliments of this Generation which they call Court-breeding, our carriage, professing to follow the Lord Jesus, should be st●●d and circumspectly, according to that Scripture, Let us walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wisemen, as it is written in Matthew, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven.  
Cursed are they that says peace to a land, who are in the place of Watchmen, when the Lord says no peace, which practise, we silly unlearned creatures renounce, for we bless him he has keeped us from resting till the Ark rest; and as for these they call Watch-men, that cries peace or keep silence, we shall refer them to the Prophet Ezekiel, which ye may red at leisure, which we think shall be Scotlands Doom, for we have heard tell of few of them they call Ministers, but they have all said peace, when brought before the enemies to witness their practise, being most unconscionable on Hill sides, and Moor sides, before several thousands, they called them Tyrants, and intolerable Oppressors, and their Government Tyranny and oppression, and that the Crown of Supremacy that Charles Stuart had usurped over the Kirk, would weight him down from the Throne, and all that Race with him, and when they are brought before them, and into Prisons, nothing but in with the other supplication, to the Honourable Lords of His Majesties Secret Council, beck and being, and please your Lordships Grace. &c. and now they are all at peace with his enemies, save one whom we disown, and so or long the enemies shall curse them, when the Lord awakens their Consciences;( though we confess we have had some special witnesses of Ministers) and we think or long, the Malignants shall pursue these Ministers to death for unfaithfulness, for the vilest Creatures in the Land high and low, rich and poor, noble and ignoble, must give account for works done in the flesh; then the Dogs, Sorcerers, Whoremongers, and Murderers, and Idolaters, False-swearers, Cursers, Sabbath breakers, idle loose livers, and all that are unchaste in thoughts, words, and behaviour, and all that makes no Conscience of their way, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie, shall tremble that day when they shall enter into Eternity; when it shall be said as it was to Dives, thou in thy life-time hadst thy good things, and Lazarus his bad things; for except a man be born again, he can in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  
We take up the Book of the Holy Scripture at the Lords command, and for a testimony of our dissatisfaction, at the abounding corruptions, both of Translators and the Press, and likewise for a Testimony of our desires and intentions for a new Translation and Impression, free of the foresaid and other abuses, we to our power reform our own books, and says, that the word of God needs no human Art; We hold that the Word of God is laid the foundation of this new building, and shortly it shall become the head Corner ston of the Building, over both Kirk and Stater herdmen, and States-men; so that Scripture towards the end of the Rev. of John shall be fulfilled; And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war, his eyes were as a flamme of fire, and on his head were many Crowns, and he had a new name written that no man knew, but he himself, and he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called the word of God.  
And first, to show that we take the Word of God in every point to be our Rule, the sum and end of our so much reproached and mocked at Exercise( Fasting and Prayer,) will be found in the Book of Psalms; Be thou exalted, O God, above the Heavens; and let thy glory be above all the Earth. It is written in the Acts of the Apostles, It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us: but they usurping Supremacy, says, by the Authority of the General Assembly allows these Psalms to be fung in Congregations, &c. which we renounce: And more, we think the Psalm Book in metre, and no other thing ought to be within the broads of the Bible, but the simplo Scriptures of Truth; the Psalms may be had in a Book by themselves.  
We are so reproached and calumniate, that we are forced to make our defence, and show that we have mourned, fasted, and prayed many a day, and many a night this last Winter, many times in the open Fields, in Frost and Snow, while our Clothes were frozen upon us, and our Feet frozen in our shoes, as the Town of cursed Borrowstonness can witness, and all this to find out the causes of our Lords tarrying, when those who are now calling us Devils, were turning themselves upon their Ivory beds, like a door upon the Hinges, eating the fat and drinking the sweet at their own ease: And when we were driven thence by Persecution, we took ourselves to the Fields, holding still by our duty, where many Women did offer themselves to the Work, with whom our spirits was many a time burdened, whom we could not put away( as our blessed Lord dealt with Judas whom he knew would betray him) without manifest causes: We stayed not with them but on solemn days, such as Sabbaths, and appointed times for public Meeting; but when they took their rest betwixt hands, we continued still in Fields, nights and days, fasting and praying for two or three days together, several times, and it was always their fear we should propose some question to try them for separation, and that night before we was taken, we warned them that the Souldiers would come, and  told them to use their freedom; We saw them alfo a Mile off, an hour before they came, and none of them would go away; and after we were brought in hither, after some several days Fasting and Prayer, we being warned by the Holy Ghost, followed Esthers advice, and continued from eight a Clock of the morning the 24 day of the 5 Month, till the 27 at four afternoon fasting and praying; we sent them word likewise to Fast and Pray, and when we sent them the anwer of our Prayers in writ, they called us Devils; thence we fasted till the 28 day at night, and thence till the 30 at night, waiting still to see if they would recover, but they waxed still worse, and we were forced to write this to vindicate our carriage towards them.  


Walter Ker.  
John Gibb.  
David Jamison,  
John Young.     

This is exactly compared and collationed with the Principal Copy,  
by me WIL. PATERSON, Cl. Sti. Concilii.  
FINIS.