Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library https://archive.org/details/usefullcaseofconOOgill U S E F u L L CASE O F CONSCIENCE 4 DISCUSSED * ' • ^ N T> R E S O L V E D, Concerning Aflbciations andConfe- deracies with Idolaters, Infidels, Heretic^ or any other Jmmn Enemies of Truth and Godlinefle. -t V By Matter GEORGE GILLESPIE late Minrfter at Edinburgh, -W^ercu 5 itj> IS fubjoyncd a Letter, written by him to the rwOmmifiTionefa ' of the Generali Attembly, in the time of his ficknefle: Together with his Teftimony unto thisTruth, written two ciaycs before his Death, Printed at E DIN B U R G H, by the Heires of G E O R G E ANDERSON, for ANDRO WILS0N, Anoo j 6 4' concerning afibciations und confede- racks mth Idolaters, Infidels, Here-' ticks, or any other known Enemies of Truth, and Godlineffe. as wel among Divines, as among PoUtitians and Lawyers, whether a confederacy and allociation with wicked men or fuch as are of another Religion, be lawful!, yea, or no. For anfwer whereunto fiiortly, let us diftinguifh. i. Civil Covenants. 2. Ecclefiaftical, Sacred or Religious Covenants. 3. Mixed Covenants, partly civil, partly Religious. The laft two being made with wicked men and fuch as differ in Religion lib.6.cap. is meant only ofthefefeven Nations enume¬ rate, Deut, 7, the lame Law is interpret of four other Nations 5 I Kings II. I, 2. fothat’tis to beunderftoodgenerallyagainR. confederacies with Idolaters and thofe of a falfe Religion: And the rcafon of the Law is Morall and perpetuall, viz,, the danger of en- fnaring the people of God; therefore they were forbidden to Co¬ venant either with their gods, or with themfelvcs; for a ebnjun- dion of Counfels , and familiar converfation (which areconfe- quents of a Covenant) dra weth in end to a fello wf hip in Religion, 2. From difallo wed and condemned examples, as his Cove-- nant.with , z Chron. 16. to verf 10. And Hhay^-, His Covenant with the King of z Kings. i6. 7. to. 2 Chron.. 28.16. to 2 3. And if it fhouid be objeaed, thele are but exam^ pjes of Covenants with Idolatrous heathens ^ there is not the iii^. reafon to condemne confederacies and aflbeiations with wicked men of the fame Religion ; I aiifwer. i. Itholds-^/orf/oriagainfl confederacies with fuch of the feed of lacoh^ as had made defe- c 5 bon from true Religion, for Grotius de jure belli&'pactsWh.i, Cap, ly Numb. p. noteth, God would have fuch to be more, abominated then heathens, and to be deftroyed from among their people, Hm, 12. 13. befidwthis I adde. 2. We have in other • .Scrip- . Scriptures examples, which meet withtliat cafealfo; forMo- faphats confederacy with iy 4 hab : 2 Chron, 18.3. with Chron, ip, z. and after mth haz.iah. z Chron. 20. 55. arc condemned which made lehofaphat (although once relapfing]into that hn) yet afterwards mend his fault, forhewouldnotagain joine with uihaz.iah, when he fought that alTociation the fecond time, 1 Kings 22.49.. So u 4 ma':i^ah having alTociatc himfelfin an expc« ditioh with the 5 when God was not with them, did upon the Prophets admonition disjoine himfelf from them and take his hazard oftheiranger: 2 Chron. 2 5.7,8,9, 10. Lavater upon the place applying that example, noteth this as one of the caufes why the Chriftia»n Wars With the had fo ill fucceffe , why faith he, conlidcr what Sou Idiers were imployed, thisisthe fruit of aflbeiations with the wicked. 3 . Thefe confederacies proceed from an evill heart of unbelief, asismanifeft by therea- fons which are brought againft Ahaz. his League with Benhadad’, z Chron, \ 6. 7,8,9. andby that which is faid againft the confede¬ racy with the King of , Jfap. 8.12,13. for as Calvin upon the place noteth, the unbeleevers among the people confidering their own inability for managing fo great a War, thought it ne- ceflary to have a confederacy with tht ^Jfjrians; but this was from faithlefte feares, from want of faith to ftay and reft upon God as alfutficicnt 4.^ If w'e muft avoidfellowfhipand conver- fation with the Tons of Belial, ( except where naturall bonds or the neceftity of a callingtyethus) PJal. 6.%.Prov. p.6. & 24. i. 2 Cor. (5. 145 > 5- & if we fbouid account Gods enemies our ene¬ mies, Pyi?. 139. 21. then how can we joine with them, as confe¬ derates deaftbeiates^ for by this means we fhali have fellowfhip with them, and look on them as friends. Now as to the Arguments which ufc to be brought for the con¬ trary opinion, Firft't is objeded that Abraham had a confederacy with Efchol.^ znd tJHamre ^ Genofts i^. ly u 4 braham with Abimehch^ Genefts 21. 27, 32. and Jfaac -witli Abimelech:, Gen, 26. Jacob with Gen, 31. 44. Solomon Hiram, 1. JCings 5. J 2. Anfw. i. It cannot be proved that thefe confede¬ rates oi Abraham, Jfaac, and So^mon, were either idolaters or wicked; indeed was an idolater: But there are good in- tetpreters who xYiSii ioibrahams three confederates feared A3 God 5 tGod ; and thatalfo feared God, becatife he fpeaketh reverently ofGod, andafcribethto Godthe bleiling andprofpe- lity of thofe Patriarchs. Tis prefumed alfo that Hiram apiousmani becaufeof his Epiftle to Solomon, i Chron*i. n, i2. however, 2. Thofe confederacies were civill, either for commerce or for peace and miituallfecurity that they fhould not wrong one another, as that with Laban., Gen. 31. 52. and with Abimelecjo ^ Gen. 26. 2p, which kinde of confederacy is not controverted. T is objeded aUo that the had a Covenant with the Romans and Lacedemonians, i Macca. 8 and 12.1,2. Anfw. 1. That Covenant is difallowed by many good Writers; yet’tis obferved from the Story that they had not the better, but the worfe fucceffe, nor the ieile but the more trouble following it. 2. The Story it felf, xMacc.i.i i. tells us that the firft notion of a confederacy with the heathen in thofe times proceeded from the children of Belial in Ifrael, Lafl:ly,itmaybeobjedledthat perfons difeontented, and of broken fortunes were gathered to David; and that he received them, and became a Captaine unto them, I Sam. 22.2. Anlw. i. Some think (and,tis probable) they were fiich as were oppreffed and wronged by tyranny, and were therefore in debt and difeontented, andthat in recei¬ ving them was a type of Chrift who is a refuge for the afflided, and touched with the feeling of their infirmities. 2. Whoever they were, took care that no prophane nor wicked perfon might be in his company, Vfal. 101. yea, Ffal.^^.n. (whichwas penned at that fame time when he departed from Achifh and be¬ came Captain ofthofe4oo men) he faith to them. Come ye chil¬ dren hearken ^nto me , 1 vcill teach you the fear of the Lord, 5 .1 fhall bring a better Argument from Davids example againft the joyning with fuch alTociatcs in War as are known to be malignant and wicked, Pfal. 118. 7. The Lord taketh my part with them that help me, therefore I fhall fee my defire uponmine enemies Pfal. 54, 4. The Lord is with them that uphold my foul. Upon this laft place, both Calvin and (fiefuerus obferve, that although Davids helpers were few and weak, yet God being in them, and with them, his confidence was that they f hould prove ftrongcr then all the wicked; he intimateth alfo, that if he had not known that God was with ( 7 ) his helpers, leading and infpiring them, he haJ looked for no help by them: 2 (^hron, 25. 7, 8. That Davids helpers in the War were lookt upon as iincere, cordiall, andftirred up of God , may further appear from I Chron. 12. where D^w^joyneth with him- felf jidos homines qui idem cum eo fentirent faith Lavater on the place, fakhfull men of his own minde : he addeth, that they "were fuch as hated Sauls impiety and injuiTiice, and loved Davids vertuc. 1 ^0, Strigelius calls them yfideles amicos y faith full friends. The text it felftells us, that diverfc ofthem joyned themfelves to David while hee was yet in diftreffe and fhut up in Zicklag-.verf i. (which was an Argument of (incerity :) alfo, that fome of Ben¬ jamin {Sauls own tribe) adjoyned themfelves to David , and the Tpirit came upon Amafaiy whobyafpeciallDivine inftindfpake to alTure David of their (incerity , verf. 2.16,18. They alfo who joyned themfelves with David after Sauls death, verf. 2 3. were not o^^idouble heart , but of zperfe6i heart, verf, 35. 38. and they all agreed that the firft great bufineffe to be undertaken, fhould be Religion, the bringing back of the Arke: i Chron, i 3. 3,4. This point of the unlawfulnefTe of confederacies with men of a falfc Religion isftrangelymifapplyed by againft con¬ federacies with us, whom they call ; So argueth T<«r- novius TraB, de Foederib, But we may make a very good ufe of it: for as we ought to pray and endeavour that all who are Chrifts may be made one in him, fo we ought to pray againft and by all means avoide fellow Chip, familiaritie , Marriages, and military confederacies with known wicked perfons, and fuch as arc of a falfe orhereticall Religion. Ifhall branchfonhthis matter in five particulars, which God forbade to his peopledn reference to the Canaanites and other heathens which alfo (partly by parity of reafon, partly by.concluding more ftrongly) will militate,againft confederacies and conjundlions with fuch as under the profeftion' of the Ghriftian Religion do either maintain Herefies and dange¬ rous Errors, or Uvea prophanc and wicked life. Firft, God forebade all Religious Covenants with fuch, and' Would not have hispeople to tolerate the Gods, images, altars^ or groves ofidolaters: Exod.ii, 32. and 54. i i,Dmt, 7.5. Indg* z.z. And although the letter of the Law mention this in reference to the CavaaniteS f yet thebeft reforming:Kings of/K^^^applyed andi < 8 ) and executed rfiis Law In taking away the groves and high placc;i ahufed by the /eivw in their fuperdition: And whatmarvell^ If Sotrai*^ fuch things were not to be tolleratcd in the CanamniteS’^ much Cap. 1*0. iefl'e in the levees . Theodoftm is commended for his fupprefling and punifhing Hereticks. 2. God forbade familiar converfation with thefe heathens, that they fhould not dwell together with his people, nay, not in the land with them , Exod, 23. 33. left one of them being familiar •with an Jfraelite , might call him to a feafl:, and make him eat of things facrificed to idols, Exod.^.i^. Comparcthis with/«!?/. 1. 21, ?fal, rod. 3j. Now the ApoHlelayeth much more reflrainc upon ns, from con vcrling, eating and drinking with a fcanda- lous Chriftian, i Or. 5. ii. then with a|P««^<««orunbeleever t Car, 1,27. There is a c'onverfing and companying with wicked perfons, which is our afflidion, not our fault, that is when wc cannot be rid of them, do what we can, lOr. 5. 10. which is an argument againft feparating and departing from a true Church, becaufe of fcandalous perfons in it. The Apoftle gives this check to fuch, go where they will, they fliall find e fcandalous perfons all the world over. There is again a converfing and company ing with wicked perfons , which naturall and civill bonds, or near relations, our calling tyeth us unto, as between husband and wife, parent and child, Paftor and People, Magiftrate and thole of his charge. But wittingly and willingly to converfearrdhave fellowfhip either with hereticall or prophane perfons, whether it be out oflove to them and delight in them, orforour owninte- icft or fomc worldly benefitthis is certainly finfull and inexcufa- ble. If wee take care of our bodily fafety, by flying the company of fuch as have the plague , yea if we take care of the fafety of our beafts, and would-not to our knowledge fuffer a fcabbcd or rotten fheep to infedl the reft, fhall wc not much more take care of o-ur own and neighbours foules, by avoidingand warning others to avoide the fellowfhip of the ungodly, whereby fpirituall infedion •comes. Remember it was but akindeyiCit Iehofaphat toAha^ which was the occafion of engageing him into a confederacy with that wicked man, 2 18.2, 3. 3. God forbade conjugall CovenantsorMarrylng with them." £xod. 34. 16* Dm* 7* 3 * • rule is the fame againft matching :wkh-©ther wicked perfons, whether Idolaters er profcflTfig the fame -Keligion with us. We read not ofido 4 atry'ofany profeffed dpdri- .na!l differences in Religion between the Poft’erity of Seth and the Poflerity of Cain , yet this was the great thing that corrupted the old world and brought on the flood, that the children of God joyned themfelves in Marriage v;itb theprophanc, Gen. 6. i, i., i. Jehoram Married notan heathen, but the Daughter of ; but tis mar¬ ked, hee did evil, as did the houfe of ^habi And what is the reafon given for this ? For the Daughter of Ahah ivas hit ')iHfe , z Kings 8. i8. and by and by, verf.i’j. the like is of Ah az.iaht^t fon of fehoram , Tvho did evillin the fight of the Lord'as did the houfe of Ahah, for he "iVas the fon in Law of the houfe of Ahab. The A poftlc Peter fuppofeth that Chriftians Marrie fuch as are heiret tage'- ther of the grace of life, i Pe/cj" 5.7. fee alfo, Prot/. 31.50. 4.God forbade his people to make with the Canaanitesyiew^/f^:^^ fin, that he hited vaine and light pfrfonsvphicb followed him. God would have Amaz^iah to difmilfe an hundred thoufand meii of Ifrael being already with him in a body , and told him he Ihould fall before the enemy ifthefe went with him, becaufe God wasnot with them, z C/?ro«. zy.y. &c. Ifthey had not yet been gathered into a body, it had been much to abftainfrom gathering them, upon the Prophets admonition ibut this is much more, that he fends them away after they are in a body , and takes his hazard, of all the hurt that fo many inraged Souldiers could do to him. or his people, and indeed they did much hurt in going back, njerf. 13. yet God rewarded <^maz.iahs obedience with a great Vidory. In the lallage fhortly, after the begun Reformation in Germany ^ this cafe ofconfcience concerning theunlawfulncfleof. fuch confederacies was much looked at. 'V\itC\t.yoiStrafbuYg-,, iTIcitl.com- Anno, lyzp- made a defenfiveLeague withand ^ vicini- eranty & dogmate magis conveniebant faith , Sieidan-, they were not oncly neighbours, but of the fame Faith ' and Religion, therefore they made a.confederacy with them, dihout two yeares after the Eledor of Saxony refufedto take into - a^iveti- confederacy thofe Helvetians , becaufe although they were power- Jeefc!*, and might be very helpfull to him., yet they differing inRcli- - \ .. gion, gion, eoncerning the Article of the Lords Supper, hcfaid, durft not joync with them as confederates, left fuch fad things cipfebam> might befall him, as the Scripture teftifieth to have befallen thofe Saxo pet who for their help or defence took any affiftance they could get. J iioniam e cotna Dom. diretfam fequantur dogma non libi licere focietaeem cum ipfis ullam coiri: quantifitipforuiu conjunaio, propter vires acquc potentiam , non fe quidem latere, fed eo fib:minime refpicwndmn efle, netnftis inde fequatur exims, quod xis accidifTe Scriptura teft^Njr qui muniendi fui caufa, cujnf- que modi prxfidiis ufi fuiflent, Vide etiam pag. ij j. Quod fi Zuingliani faterentur errorem atque de- fifterent, comprehendi etiam in hac pace, fin minus, turn deferendos , nec auxilii quicquam eis communicandum , nequefcedusullum cum ipfis faciendum efle. Et infra lib. 9. pag. 156. Etrecipien- dos efle placet in hoc fcedus (Smalcaldicum) qui velint atque cupiant, modoDoftrinamAuguflopro- pOutam in Commitiisprofiteantur 6c forcem communem fubeant. 'The rule was good in theji^ although in that particular cafe mifapplyed. The very heathens had a notion of the unlavvfulnefTe of confederacies with wicked men, foi as P^iUorinus Strigeiius ovi z Chron^ i y. noteth out of fihjlHs his Tragedi entituled Seven to Thehe , z/^mphiaraas a wile and vertuous man was therfore fwallowed up in the earth with feven men and feven horfes, be- caufe he had alTociate himfelfvvith 'Tydens^Capaneus ether iir- pious Commanders marching to the ^\t^zo{Thehei, Laftly take this reafon for further confirmation, as we muft do all to the glory of God , fo we muft not make Wars to our felves but to the Lord; hence thebool^oftheWarsoftheLord.l^umh. zi. i4,^nd the hattell is net ours , but the Lords, i Sam. 2 y. 28. 2 Chron. 20. ly. Now how fhall we imploy them that hate the Lord, toheip the Lord \ or how fhall the enemies of his glory do for his glory > Shal Rebels and Traitors be taken to fight in the Kings Wars> Offer ittothyGovernour, asicisfaid, i. fee if he would take this well. As for the Objedlions from Scripture, they arc before anfwc- red. There arc many other exceptions of mens corrupt reafon , which yet may be eafily taken off, if we will receive Sripture light. That very cafe of fehofaphats confederacy with, taketh off many of them; for although i. ^ehofaphat was a good man and continued fo after that alTociation, not drawn away into idolatry, nor infedlcd with Ahabs Religion, but only alfifting him ina civill bufinelTe. 2. ^hab lived in ihe Church of//r<«tf/, which was ftill a Church , although greatly corrupted , and he was no profefled hater of God (only he had proftfled to hate B 2 iJHtcajah Polit. Chnll. 7 - Cap. C * i) (J^icajah the man ofGod^ yea lately before.-this he appeared very penitent, and now judged charitably oiAhnb , becaufe of that great humiliation and repentance of his, wliich God did accept, fo far, as to reward itwithatemporali fparing mercy, i Kings zi. at the end. Then followes imme- d\dit\y Chap, 21, aflociation with him. Although yehofaphat was alfo joined in affinity withdaugh¬ ter being married to his Ton. 3. The enemie was the King of Syria ^ and yehofaphat doth not joine with a wicked man againfl: any of Gods people, but againft the infidell Syrians \ even as Amazjah was beginning to joyne with thofe of the ten Tribes againft the Edomites, 4, The caufe feems to have been good , as Carthtifian on i Kings iz. 3, and Lavater upon 2 Chron. 19. 2, note. For R-^wot^G^/e^^^wasaCity ofrefuge, pertaining to the Eevites in the T ribe of Gad , and ffiould have been reftored by the King of Syria to Ahab , according to their Covenant, i Kings 20. 34. Danem brings that fame example of going up i. %amoth Gilead ^ to prove that tis juft to make VVaragainit thefe who have broken Covenant with us. y. yehofaphats man¬ ner of proceeding was pious in this refped, that he faid enquire I pray thee of the Word of the Lord to day ^ and again, is there not here a prophet of the Lord beftdes y he enquireth and feeks all the light he could there have in pointofconfcicncc from. Prophets of the Lord, which makes it probable that thofe 400. Prophets did not profeATc, ot \i/titno\.kno'v/nx.oyehofaphatio be Prophets of 'Baal-y but were lookt upon as Prophets of the Lord, as Cajetan thinketh. Therefore they anfwcr alfo in the name ofthe Lord, the Lord fhall deliver it, ’Tis not likely that yehofaphat would defire the Prophets of to be confulted, or that he would hearken to them more then to the Prophet ofthe hold iJ^icajahy yet in this he failed extremly , that he had too far engaged himfelt to%Ahaby before the enquiring at the Word of the Lord. How ever , it feemes, he was by this enquiring Peeking a fair way to come off again. 6 . yehofaphats end. was good, Martyr on \ Kings ii. thinks entered into this confe¬ deracy with Ahah ,' 'for the peace and fafety of his Kingdome, and to prevent anew War between fiedah and //r^e/,fLu;hashad been betv/een Afa his father', and Baafha King of Ifrael, for which end <." 5 )' end alfo Caiihuftan Ibid, thinks that yehofnphtit took jibSs daughter to his Ton, Yet nbtwithfl'anciing ofall this the Prophet yehu hxth. to him, 2 Chron. ip, z. ShoHl'dejlthoH help the ungodly, dt love them that hate the Lord, The LX X. read hated of the Lord., which comes all to one thing. And left it fhould be thought a ve- niall ot Hght*matter, headdeth, therefore is wrath uponthee from before the Lord. So that from this example we learn , that let us keep our felves unfpotted of the falfe Religion or errors of thofe •with whom we aftbeiate, let wicked men feem never fo penitent, and our relations to them be never fo near, let the common enemy be an Infidell, let the caufe be never fo good, let the manner of proceedingbc never fo pious, and the end alfo good, yet all this cannot excule nor juftifie confederacies and aftbeiations with wicked and ungodly men. And ifGod was foangryat Jehofaphat when there were fo many things concurring as might feem to ex- cufe or extenuate his fault, it beingalfo in himafinofinfirmity only, and not without a reludtation of confcicnce, andacon- fli(ft of the fpirit againft the flefh (which Pareas upon i Kings 1 2. doth well colled from his defire of enquiring at the Word of the Lord, that he might have occafion to come off) how much more will God be angry with fuch as go on ^with an high hand in this trefpaffe, cafting his word behind them, and hating to be re¬ formed. If it be further objeded, that we are not able without fuch confederacies and help to profecut a great war alone. ThisaUb the Holy Ghoft hath before hand anfwered, in the example of iyLhaz, his confederacy with the King of .Ajfyriai for he had a great War to manage , both againft the Syrians , and againft the King of Ifrael , 1 Kings 1 6. 7. alfo againft the Edomites and Phi- lijims., 1 Chron. 28. id, 17,18. yet although he had fo much to do , thu could not excufe the confederacy with the Kydjfyrian : he lliould have trufted to God, and not ufed unlawfull means. God can fave by few as well as by many; yea fometimes God thinks not fit to fave by many, lud.j. It fhall not be the ftrength of bat¬ tel to have unlawfull confederates, but rather to want them, Exod. z^.zz, I*fit befaid it is dangerous to provoke and mcenfe many wicked men by cafting them ofti This is plainly anfwered from the exam. B 3 pie Kekerm. c!e Repiib. Spart.difp. 4- lib. I. ,Ca/. 10. (14) pie of Am(C(jah and 100000. men ofwith him of which before. If furthermore objedlion be made, that we raufl: be gentle and patient towards all, and in meeknefle inftrud thofc that op-« pofe themfelvcs, 2 Tim. 2,24. 2 5. Anfw. i. Yet he bids us turnc away from the wicked, Ibid. Cb. 3. 5, We ought in meekncfTe to inftrud even him that is excommunicat, 2 The^, 5.15. yet wc are there warned, wr/. 14. to have no company with him. 2. The Angel of the Church at £p^e/»;, is at once commended, both for his patience , and that he could not bear them which were evill. I fhall adde five diHindlons which will take off all other obje- ^ions that I have yet met with. i. Diftinguifh between a confe¬ deracy which is morediferetiveand diferiminative, andaconfe- deracy which is more unitive. And here is the reafon why Cove¬ nants of peace and commerce even with Infidels and wicked per- fons arc allowed , yet military afiociations with fuch, difallowcd: for the former keeps them and us ftill divided as two : the latter unites us and them , as one, and imbodieth us together with them: for Thncidides defines to be fuch a Covenant as makes us and our confederates to have the fame friends and enemies, and tis mentioned by Writers as afurther degree of Union then coTovScvi or Covenants of peace. 2. Diftinguifh between endea¬ vour of duty and the perfection of the thing i^hichanfwers that exception, O then , we mufl have an Army all of Saints , fit fhould bee faid, without any known wicked perfon in it ■, ) Now even as tis our duty to endeavour a purging of the Church from wicked and fcandalous perfons, yet when we have done all we can , the Lords field fliall not be perfeUly purged from tares till the end of the w’orld , Mat.t'^. So when we have done all that ever we can to avoid wicked perfons In an expedition , yet we cannot be rid of them all; but we muftufe ourutraofl:endeavours, that we may be able to fay, tis our affliUion, not our fault. 3. Diftinguifh between fome particular wicked perfons, here andthcre mixing themfelves with us, and between a wicked faeftion and malignant party: The former fhould be avoided as much as is poflible: but much more a conjunUion with a wicked fadion. David would by no meanes meet and confult with iht K ah aimer egnim-, the Aftembly of Malignants; neither did he only fhunne to meet and con- , (15)' conftilt with vaine ptrfons, who openly fhcw and bewray them- fclves; but even with dijfemhlers, or (as the Chaldee) xviththofe that hide thentfelves that they maj do evil, Pfal. 26. 4, 6 ^ We can know better how to do with awhole field oftarcs in which is no wheat, then we can do with tares growing here and there among the wheat, 4. Diftinguifh between fuch a fellowfiiip with Tome wicked perfons, as is neceffary (which is the cafe of thoiethat are Married, and of Parents and Children^ or unavoidable, (which is the cafe of thofe, whofe lot is to cohabite in oneTownc, or in one Family) in a cafe of neceflity travelling or fay ling toge¬ ther; Diftinguifh, I fay, between thefe and an cledlive or vo¬ luntary fellowfhip with wicked men, when love to them, or our own benefite draweth us thereunto. We neither loofc naturall bonds , nor require impoftlbilities, but that we keep our felves pure by not choofing or confenting to fuch fellowfhip. j 5. Diftin¬ guifh between Infidels, Hcreticks, wicked Perfons repenting and thofe who go on in their trefpaffe; what ever men have been, yet asfoonc as the fignes of repentance and new fruits appear in them, we are ready to receive them into favour and fellowfhip : Then indeed the Woolfe fhall dwell with the Lamb, and the Cow and the Bear fhall feed , their young ones fhall lyedowne togethcri meaning fuch as were Wolves, Leopards, Beares, and now begin to change their nature; not fo with the obftinatc, contuma¬ cious and impenitent, who ftill remain Wolves, &c. Let us now, i. Examine our felves, whether there be fo much tendcrnefre.of, confcicnce in us, as to clofe with thofe Scripture Truths, or whether wc arcftillin a wayofconfultingwkhflcrh and blood, z. Be humbled for former mifeatriages and failings in thefe particulars, and for not walking accuratly according to thefe Scripture Rules. 3, Beware for the future: remember and apply* thefe B ules when we have to do with the praiftife of them. And that I may drive home this naile to the head, I adde ('bcfide what was faid before) thefe Reafons and Motives. Firft, tis a great jud¬ gement when God mingletha y^erverfeSpirit ^e, Jfay 19.14. fhall we then make that a voluntary adlofour own, which the Word mentioneth as a dreadfuJl judgement?*. With this fpirituall judgement is oftentimes joyned a temporal!, jydgement as p.andzo. 37. andzS, 2o,fo//i>/. 5.13.- (l^) compared with Hof. 8. 8,5?. where their judgement / foim*^ deth forth their fin as by an Echo : The Chaldee paraphrafe in'the ^lace lafl: cited faith, The houfe of Ifrael is deliver cdtnto the hands ■■ of the people whomthey loved. Secondly, remember what followed upon Gods peoples mingling themfeives with the heathen , Pfat. J06. 35. They ni^re mingled among the heathen and learned their workes. Hof.j. 8. Ephraim he hath mixedhimfelfamongthepe&i- pie , that is, by making confederacies with the heathen , (as Z.»- expounds the place) and by feeking their help and affiftance;, ■Hof.y.t^, But what foil owes, Ephraimis a cai^e not turned, hot and overbaken in the neither fide, but cold and raw in the upper fide. This will prove the fruit offuch confederacies and afibcia- tions, to make us zealous for fome earthly or humane thing, but •remifs and cold in the things of Chrift ; to he too hote on our •neither fide, and too raw on the upper fide. Whereas not ming¬ ling our felvcs with the wicked, we fhali through Gods mercy be like a cake turned; That heat and zeal which was before down¬ ward, f hall now be upward, heavenward, Godward, letifbe alfo remembred , how both Ahaz., z Kings r6.10. and himfclf, 1 Chron. 16.10, (though a good man) were drawninto other great fins upon occafion of thefeafibciations.-with die ene¬ mies of God and his people: this fin will certainly enfifere men in' ether fins. Tis well faid by Calvin upon Es^ek: 1^ that as we are too prone of our felves to wickednefie, fo when we enter into confederacies with wicked men, we are but Ihekingitewtenta- tions, and as it were a bellows to blowup our own corruptions / as wine being mixed with water lofeth ofits fpirits, and white being mixed with black, lofeth much ^of its whirenefTe: fo the people* of God , if once mixed with wdeked enemiei, fhall certainly Ioffe" of their purity and integrity. Thirdly, as tiiefe unlawful! cofife-' deracies draw us both into great judgements and great fins , into a great fecurity and ftupiditie under rhefc great plagues and fins, which will make the eftate offuch to be yet worfe , Hof-y. p, after Ephraims mixing himfelfs among the people, tis added, ’ Strangers have devoured hisftrength , and he hpoweth it-no-t , yea gray haires are here and thereupon him ^ yet he knowethit not: although’ his confederates have diftrclTed him , and not firengthened him, and although there may bee obferved in him diverfe figrtesof a) de- ; c^7) decaying dying condition, yet hcknowesitnot, nor takes it to heart; The fame thing is infilled mponverf. ii. Sphraimalfois like a filly Dove vaithout hearty They call to E^ypt-, they go up to ■^Affyria. He is as voideofunderftandingas afiiiy Dove, whofc neft being fpoiled, her young ones taken fyom her (which the Chaldee addeth for explications caufe) yetfhc fiiilre- turneth to thofe places where , and among thofe people by whom fhe hath been fofpoiled; So//r4e/willfi:iiibemeddling with thofe that have done him great hurt. Fourthly, w'ee finde that fuch confederacy or aflociation either with idolaters or kno wn impious perfons, isfeldome ornever recorded in the Book of God, with¬ out a reproof, or fome greater mark of Gods difpleafure put upon it. If it were like the Polygamie of the Patriarchs, often men¬ tioned and not reproved, it were the lefie marvel! to hear it fo much debated. But now when God hath purpofely fet fo many Beacons upon thofe rocks, and Shelves that we may beware of them, O why fhall we be fo mad, as ftili to run upon them. It was reproved in the time of the Judges, Judg.z, 1,2,3. Itwasre- proved in the time of the Kings; j^habs Covenant with Benhadady uifa’s Covenant with Benhadad, his confederacy with the u 4 Jfyriani, Jehofaphats afibciation, firft with Ahab ^ then with Ahaz.iah', Amaz^iahs affociation with thofe 100000. men of Ephraim, when God was not with them , all thofe are plainly dif- allowed and condemned. Moreover that reproof, yer. 2. i8, ^And novo •) what hafi thou to do in the way of Egypt to drink^the waters of Sihorl Or what hafi thou to do m thewayofhkTynz^ to drink^the waters of the river} the Chaldee hath thus; what have ye to do to ajfociate with Pharaoh King of Egypt «— And what have ye to do to mal{e a Covenant with the EhTynzn? Again after the capti¬ vity, Ezjra j?. the Reiver mingling of themfelves with the heathen is lamented. Fifthly, thegreat and precious promifesofGod, may encourage us fo, as we fhaii never fay to the wicked, a confederacy'. for upon condition of our avoiding all fuch confederacies and con- jun(fiions, (jod promifeth never to break his Covenant with us, ^udg. 2. r, 2. and to receive us as his Sons and Daughters, 2 (for. 6 . 14. id, 17, 18. Sixthly, tis one of Gods great mercies which he hath Covenanted and promifed, 1 will purge otit from among ycu the Rebels and them that tranfgnffe aTamfl me , E%.ek^ 20.38. C Whv Ci8) Why fhould \ve then forfake our own mercy, and defpire the counfell of God againll: our own foules ’ Seventhly, asitwasin his experience , iChron. 16.7,8. fo it hath been in our own, God hath done his greateft works for us, when we were moil un¬ mixed with fuchmen. There is another Objedion, which at the writing hereof, I have met with; Tis confederacy andaffociation both with Abner ^ 2 Sam. 3.12,15. and '^’w.h.Amafa , 2 Sam. ip. 13. whom according to agreement he made Generali of his Hofie, 2 Sam. 2 o. 4. although both of them had been Davids enemies, and born Arms againfl: him, being alfo fcandalous, both for his who- redome , 2 Sam. 3. 7, and his treachery againfl: Jfhbofheth in afpy- rlng to the Crown (which is colledled from his going in Unto Concubine^ as Abfolom did unto Davids afterward) yea for that he had born Arras againfl: Davidy when he knew that God had fworn to make D avidKmg , and fo againfl the light of his confcien- ce, 2 Sam. 5. 9. 18. Anfw. i. Peter tSKarf^r commenting upon thofe places, diffaloweth D^wWipraftife in both thefc cafes: cfpe- cially his League Abner. Should we follow thofe tw’O examples, not being allowed or commended in Scripture? or fhould we not rather avoid fuch confederacies, becaufe of many examples thereof, plainly condemned in the Word of God’ 2. Whatfoever may be conceived to be allowable or excufable in thefe examples of yet it cannot be applyed, except in like cafes. When David nanted with Abner , he was but King of Judah , Abner undertakes to bring about all Ifrael to him, and that he fhould make him reigne over all the Tribes, whereas otherwife there was no appearance of Davids fabduing of all the other Tribes; but by a long and bloudy War. Again when "David Covenanted and capitulated with Amafa, he was in a manner fled out of the Land for2 Sam. 19. 9. and was forced to abide in the land of Gilead beyond Jordan, fearing alfo (as interpreters obferve) that the men ohjndah having flrength- ned Jerufalem and kept it with a garrifon forand having done fo much in affifling Abfolom againfl David, fhould grow dc- fperate in holding out againfl him, hoping for no mercy, therc- iore he is content to make Amafa Generali ofhis Army , upon con* dition that he would caufe the menof/W^a/jto bring him back to JcrnfiUm, which Amafa moves the men of fadah to doe; iSam., 2 Sam 19.14. for it was done by hisauthorltic, Jofephtts writeth, norcould it be done without his authority, £otAbfolom and Ahitophel being dead, tAmafa hid the whole power and foie headfhip of that Army and ofall that faction that had followed Al?- folom. Now then let them that will plead for the lawfulnefTe of con¬ federacies with wicked pcrfons from thefe examples of David , firfb make the cafe alike , that is, that the wicked one have power of an Army, and ofagreatpartofthe bodyoftheKingdome, to make them either continue in Rebellion and enmity or to come in and (ubmit. Next let it be remembred that both Abner and Amafa did a great fervice, (which was mofl: meritorious at the hands of men (for the good, peace, and fafety of King and Kingdom, andthey did it at that time alfo when was but W’cak, and they had power enough to have continued aWar againft him. Which is a very rare cale, and far different from the cafe offuch as have done and are doing all that they can to pervert and miflead many thou- fands of the people of God, in ffead ofreducing many thoufands x.oohQd\QnQt\isAbnerindAmafad\d, 3. There are fome other anfwers proper to the one cafe and the other. Thereis nothing in the Text to prove , that made fuch 3 Covenant ^\th Abner, as the Grecians call or that he Covenanted to make him Generali of his Army, (as afterwards he Covenanted with Amafa) for at that time he could have no colour of reafon for ca¬ lling out of his place, as afterwards he had; Therefore I un- derftand with Sanblas that the League which Abner ^onghi^iom David wis Foedus pacts, a Covenant of peace. Hyer owe veadeth, fac mecum amicitias i make friendl’hip with me , for before, they had been enemies. So that this League is not of that kind which is chiefly controverted. As for Amafa I fhall net go about (as fome have done) toexcufeor extenuate his fault in joining with Abfolom^ as not being from any malice or wicked intention againfl David his Uncle; But there is fome probability that was a penitent and hopcfull man. Sure had better hopes of him , then of yoab : And if it be true which writeth that hchoic David fent Zadock. trnd Abiathar to the men of "Judah and to xAmafa , frequent mellages came from them to the King, def reing to be re¬ ceived into his favour; however Amafa being fo willing and ready to do fo much for Davids when hee might have done fo much C 2 a^ainff w Toflatus in 2 Reg. 17. QiixR. 24. Anriq. lib 7. Cap. 10 / See M. For afts and monu¬ ments 7ol. 2. pag. §6. S70. edit. 1589. See the E- liates Prin¬ cipalities & Empires pfehe world , traiUlareJ by G/imJion pag. 564. 10370. Afts and monu¬ ments ubi ftipra j pag. gjZ. Sleid. Com. Hb. 7, pap. 106. a 19. 110. (io; agalnfl him, David'^LS he could not do hlsbufinefle without him , fo he had Tome ground to hope wellofhim: conhdering withal!' that Amafa was not fet upon this bufinelle by any offence or dif- pleafure at the other party, as Abner was. 4. Even as this exam¬ ple, fo far as concernech the laying alideand carting off of Joab and not preferring his brother Abifhaimhdsioom (both of them being guilty ofA^'wcrdbloud. 2 Sam. 3.50. andboth ofthem be¬ ing too hard for helpeth to rtrengthen that which 1 have been pleading for. The point being now fo fully cleared from Scripture, here is- the leffe reafon to argue contrariwife from humane exemplesin- Chrirtian States and Common weahhes. The Word of God murt not ftoup to mens pradifes, but they to it. Yet even among thofe whofe exemple is ailedged for the contrary opinion , there want not inrtances for cautioufneffeand confeientioufneTein choofing: or refurtng confederats: As namely among x.ht Helvetians or Sait^- sL^ers. T\\ty ZHrik^an why are we forced and compelled into the Covenant. Anfw. i, Ifany known malignant or complier with the rebels or with any enemy of this Caufe hath been received either to the Covenant or Sacra¬ ment, without fignes of Repentance for their former malignancy, and fcandale (fuch fignes of F epentance I mean , as men in Cha¬ rity (j)ught to be farisfied with) ’tis more then MlniRers andElder- fhips can anfwcr either to ,God or the AcRs and conflitutions of this Nationall Church. 1 truR allfaithfull and confeientious Mi C niRer.S' niters have laboured to keep themfelves pure in fuch things. Yea the Generali AfTembly hath ordained that known com pliers with the rebels, and fuch as did procure protedions from the enemy, or keep correfpondence and intelligence with him, lhall befu- fpended from the Lords Supper, till they raanifeft their Repen¬ tance before the Congregation. Now ifany after fignes andde- claration of Repentance have turned again to their old wayes of malignancy, their iniquity be upon themfelves, not upon us. 2. Men are no otherwife drawn or forced into the Covenant, then into other necellary duties. Nay it ought not to be called a for¬ cing or compelling. Are men forced to fpare their neighbours life, becaufe murther isfeverly punifhed’ or are men compelled to be loyall, becaufe traitors are exemplarily puniflied? There may and muft be a willingnelTe and freenellein the doing ofthe contrary duty ; although great fins muft not go away unpunifhed^ Men are not compelled to vertue, becaufe vice is puniflied, clfe vertue were not vertue. Thofe that rtfafethe Covenant, reproach it, orrailagainftit, ought tobe looked uponasenemies toit, and dealt with accordingly: yet if any man were known to take the Covenant againft his will, he were not to be received. 5. Thefe two may well ftand together, to cenfurc the contempt or negletfb of a duty, and withall to cenfure wickednelfe in the perfon that hath taken up the pradlife of the duty. Ifanyv/ould not woi flip the true God, he was tobe put to death, 2 15. 13. but withall, if, worlhipping thetrueGod, he was found to be a murthcrer, an adulterer, &c. for this alfo he was to be put to death. The Generali Allembly of this Church hath appointed that fuch as after admonition continue in an ufuall negled of Prayer, and the Worfhip of God in their Families, fhali be fufpended from the ^Lords Supper, till they amend. Yet ifany man fhali be found to make Familic VVorfiiip a cloak to his fwearing, drunken- neflc , adultery or the like, mud thefe fcandalous finnes be uncen- fured, becaufe he hath taken upon him a forme of godlinelfe i God forbid. 'Tis juft fo here , refufers of the Covenant and railers againft it, are juftly cenfured ’ but withall if wickedneffe and mali¬ gnancy be found in any that have taken the Covenant, their offen¬ ce atui cenfure is not to be extenuated , butto be aggravated. I had been but very fhort in the handling of this (^eltion if new ob- ©bjedions coming to my cares had not drawn mce forth to this length. Andnow I find one objedion more. Some fay, the argu* ments before brought from Scripture prove not the unlawfulnclfe of confederacies and affociations with Idolaters, Hereticks or pro- phane perfons of the fame Kingdom , but only with thofe ofano- ther Kingdome. Anfw. i. Then by the conceffion of thofe that make the objedion, ’tisat leaft unlawfullto alTociate our felves with any of another Kingdome, who are ofafalfe religion or wick- ed life. 2. If famillarfellowfhipeven with the wicked of the fame Kingdom be unlawfull, then is a military aifociation with them unlawfull; for it cannot be without confulting, conferring, con- verfirig frequently together. It were a prophane abufing and mock¬ ing ofScriptnre to fay, that we are forbidden to converfe familiarly with the ungodly of another Kingdom, but not with the ungodly of the fame Kingdome, or ^lat we are forbidden to marry with the ungodly ofanother Kingdome , but not with the ungodly of the lame Kingdome j for what is this but to open a wide gate upon the one hand, while we feem to fhut a ^narrow gate upon the other hand? 3. Were not thofe military affociations, 2 Chron. 19. 2. and zy. 7,8. condemned upon this reafon ,becaufe the affociats were ungodly , haters of the Lord, and becaufe God was not with them. Now then a cjuatemis ad omne. The reafon holds equally againfl: affociations with any of whom it can be truly faid, they are un¬ godly, haters of the Lord,and God is not with them. 4.God would have the Camp of Ifrael altogether holy and clean , Dent. 25.9. to 14.clean from whominot fo much from wicked heathens (there was not fo much fear of that) as from wicked Ifraelites. y.Saith not David , I will early dejiroy all the wicked of the Land , Pfal, 1 01.8. and. Depart from ?ne all ye ^vorkers of iniquity ^ PfaL 6. 9. How can it then be imagined that he would make any of them his affo • ciats and helpers in War ? Amandus Polanus Coment. In id. 16, 27, 28. Ecclef^e fcortationem, hoc eft, idololatriam njel doElrhimn, ■ confederaticnes cum tmpis reprehevdit, non ep Heretkiis, non ejl Shlfmaticus, non ejl ingratns ad'VerJuc matnm Ecclcfiam : y^lio- cjiun etiam Ezekiel cum jeremid, aliijque Prophetis, f'djjet Hcre- SiLUs, ant Sbijn-mticus, ant wgratus^ T O' ® ® ® ^ ^ $ ^ 2 ?^ % # ^ TO THE RIGHT REVEREND, The Commiflion of the GENERALL ASSEMBLY, S^fy very Rev trend and dear Brethren , Lthough the LORDS hand detaineth me from at¬ tending Your meetings, yet as long as I can write or fpeak , I dar not be tilenr, nor conceal my thoughts of any linfull And dangerous courfe in the publick proceed¬ ings. Having therefore heard of fome motions and be¬ ginnings of complyance with thofe who have been fo deeply engaged in a War diftrudli veto Religion, and the Liberties of the Kingdomes; I cannot but difeharge my confciencein giving aTeftimony againltall fuch complyance. I know, and am perfwaded , that all the faiihfull WitnefTes that gave Teftimony to the Thefis, that the late Engagement was contrary anddiftrudtive to the Covenant, will alfogive Teftimony to the Appendix , That complyance with any who have beene adfive in that Engagement is moft finfuH and unlawful), I am not able to expreffe all the evills of that complyance, they are fo many; Sure I am,itwere a hardening of the malignant party, a wounding of the hearts of the Godly j a infinite wronging of thofe who from their affecTion to the Covenant and Caufe of GOD have taken their life in their hand; A great fcandall to our B rethren ot England , who as they have been ftreng- thened and encouraged by the hearing of the zeal and integrity of the well afFedted in this Kingdome , and how they oppofed the late Enga¬ gement : So they would be as much fcandalized to hear of a complvance with malignants now. Yea, all that hear ofit might juftlyftandama¬ zed at us, and look on us as a people infatuated, that Cdii take in our bofome the fiery Serpents that have ftung us fo fore. But Ti5). . But above all, that which would heighten this fin even to the hea¬ vens , is this, That it were not only a horrible backfliding, but a back- fliding into that very fin which was fpecially pointed at, and punifhed by the prevalcncie of the malignant Party : G O P jultly m^ing them thornes and fcourges who were taken in as Friends , without any reall evidence or fruits of Repentance. Alas, fhall we fplii twice upon the fame Rock, yea, rim upon it, when GOD bath fee a Beacon on it; Shall we be fo demented as to fall back into the fame fin, which was engraven with great letters in our late judgement; Yea, I may &y, fhall wee thus out-face and out-dare the Almighty byproictfting his and out enemies, whenheisperfecutingthem, by making Peace and friendlhip with them when the anger of the L O R O is burning agaitRihem , by Cetting them on their feet, when GOD hathcaft them down ; Oh fhall neither Judgements nor Deliverances make us jvifej I muft here apply toourprefent condition , rhe words of And after allihit is'come upon ut for our evill deeds , and for our great tref» fafCi feeing that thou our GOD haf punijhed us leffe thenpur ^ntj^uities deferve , and hath given us fuch deliverance as this : Should we again heal¬ thy Commandements andjoyneinafinitiewith the people of theje abomina¬ tions \ Wouldefi thou not be angry with ustilltbou hajl confumedus, fo that there fhould be no remnant norefcaping ? O happy Scotland if ihou canft now improve aright and not abule this golden opportuniiie, but if thou will help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord ^ wrath upon wrath, and wo upon wp (hall be upon thee from the Lord. ' ThisTeftimony ofadying Man, (whoexpedfstoftandlhoffly-be- jFqte the Tribunall of Gbrift) I leave with you my Reverend Brethren, being cpnfi 4 epr of You through the L O R D, that ye will be no otherwife minded but that as Men of G O D, moved with the zeal pf G O D, Youwillfreely difehafgeYourconfciences againftevery thing which You fee liftiug up it lelf againft the Ringdome of the LORD JESUS: This fhall be Your Peace and Comfort in Your latter end; Now the GOD ofall Grace eftablifh You , and tiiret^ You , ^nd preferve You all blatrieLelfe toMheend, and bring pthers Pbt of thp Inare that h^kcr after that compliance. Soprayeih^ ' > Your moft aflf^dkionate Brother to ferve You in what I caa Kirkctildiey September ^. tomy iaft. I « 4 8. ' pEOROE eiLLESPIE, <3? «? w ct i9 23fe9^1g9i 5 :%;^ The Teftimony of M'". ^eorge (/ille~ fpie againfl: Affociation ana Com- plyance with malignant enemies of the Truth and* GodlinefTe ; Written two dayes before his death. Eing now in all appearance the time of my dlffolii tion is very near, although 1 have in my latter Wildeclared my ninde of publick affaires, yet I have thought good to idde this further Tedimony i that I efteem the mali¬ gnant Party in thcle Kingdomes, the feed of the Serpenr, enemies to Pietie, and Presbyteriall Government, (pretend what they will to the contrary) a generation that have not fet GOD before them. With the malignants are to be joyned the profane and fcanda- Jous, from all which , as alfo from herehes and errors > the Lord I truft is about to purge his Churches. I have often comforted my felf (and ftill do) with the iiopes of the Lords purging this polluted Land, furely the Lord hath begun and will cary on that great Work of mercy, and will purge out the Rebels : 1 know their will be alwayes a mixture of Hypocrites, but that cannot excufe the conniving atgroffeandfcan- dalous finners. This purging Work which the Lord is about, very many have direcdly pppofed and faid by their deeds, we will not be purged nor refined, but we wUl be joyning and mixing our felves with ihefe whom theMinilters preach againft as malignant enemies to God and his Caufe. But let him that is filthy, be filthy flill j andletWif- dome be juftifyed of her Children. I recommend to them that fear God, fadly and ferioufly to confider that the holy Scripture doth plainly hold forth. I. That the helping of the enemies of Cod , or joymng and mingling with wicked men, isafinbighly difpleafing. 2 . Ifiatthis fin hath ordinaryly enfnared Gods People into diverfe other fins, j. That it hath been punifhed of God with grievous judgements. ^ 4. That t 4 4* That utter deftrudlion is to be feared, when a people after great mereies and judgements relapfeinto this fin, Es'ra. p. 15,14. Upon thefe and the like grounds for my ownexoneration, tbatfo necelfary a Truth want not the Teftimony of a dying Wiinefle of Chrift, alfo the unworihieft among many thoufands : Andthat Light may be held forth, and warning given , I cannot be filenc at this time; but fpeak by my pen when 1 cannot by my tongue, yea, now alfo by the pen of another, when I cannot by my own, ferioufly and in the name of (efus Chrift, exhorting, and obtefting all that fear God and make confcience of their wayes, to be very tender and circumfpctft: , to Watch and Pray that they be not enfnared in that great dangerous fin of conjuntftion or comply ance with malignant or profane enemies of the Truth, under whatfoever prudentiall confideraiions it may be vernifhed over, which if men will do , and truft God in his own way, theyfhall not only not repent it, but to their greater joy and peace of Gods people, they lhal fee his workgoonandprofperglorioufly. Inwit- nelTe of the premises, I have fubferibed the fame with my hand at K irkaldi, Decemif. 1648. Before thefe wicneifes, M. F. Carmichael Minifter at xMaikingl. and M. Alex. Money ief Sl^pnie, Sic fubferib. George GiUefpie, F. C. Witnes. A. M. Witnes. Fol- D 2 T.. This far did the Au’ thor write with his own hand, two dayes before his death; but finding his_ vveaknefle' encreafp, that he was abie to write no loore, he dyted that which fol' lovreth. Followeth that part of M’' ^ilkfpie his Letter-Will, unto which the former tellimonyrelateth. Eing through much weaknefTe andficknelTeinexpecSta- tion of my laft change* I have thought good by this my Letter-Will under my hand to declare firft of all that the expcdlaiion of death which appeareth nut to be far off doth not fhake me from the Faith and Truth of Chrift which I have profeffed and preached ,* neither do I doubt but this fo much oppofed Covenant and Reformation of the three Kingdomes is of God and will have a happy concluGon. It hath pleafed God who choofeth the foolifh things of this world to confound the wife, and the things that are not ro confound the things that arc to imploy me (the unfitieft and unworthieft among many thoufands) in the advancing andpromotingof that glorious work ^ and now I repent no forwardnefle or zeal that ever I had therein, and dare promife to as many as will be faithful andzealousinthe CaufeofGod, icfballbeno grief of heart to them afterward , but matter of joy and peace ; as this day I find it, through Gods mercy palling by my many and great in- • firmities, & approving my poor endeavours in his caufe. But if there be a falling back to the fin of complyance with malignant ungodly men, then I look for the breaking out of the wrath of the Lord till there be no remedy. O that therewerefuchafpiritat leaftinluchof our Nobility as ftand for the Truth that they may take more of Gods coanlell, and leane Icfle to their owne reafon and underftanding. As from dangers on the other hand from SctSlaries , I have been and am of the opinion that they arc to be prevented and avoided by all lawfull means; but that the dangers from malignanis are neareft and greateft in this Kingdome. Kjrcaldiet September i, i( 54 .S. FINIS.