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Of the 
 
 WRATH againft 
 
 J 
 
 % 
 
 Manifefted in his fad late. 
 
 Whereunto is added a PAPER, par¬ 
 ticularly holding forth the Sins 
 
 o/^/&fMINISTERY. ' 
 
 J 
 
 v 
 
 r' 
 
 
 
 Printed in the year i6S3 
 
 
i 
 
 i 
 
 Some general Heads of the Caufes jphy the 
 
 LOR'D contends with the Land, agreed upon {^after 
 feeking of the LO R 'Dfoy the CommijJmi of the G e- 
 NERALL Assembly i6^Q,with the advice of diver- 
 fe Minifersfrom fever a llparts of the Kmgdom , met 
 at Edinburgh, OcJlobcr 16^1. fofar as for the pre- 
 fent they could attain light therein^ which they ojfer 
 and advife to he made ufe of by all the LO RDs "Peo¬ 
 ple Jn the Latid ^ leaving place to adde^ as the Lord 
 fhall make further difcoveries hereafter of the guilti- 
 nejfe of the Land , and intending more fully andpar¬ 
 ticularly to enlarge this Paper, 
 
 I. Article. 
 
 He grofle Atheifme and ignorance of God and 
 of his Word and Works, that is in a great part 
 of the Inhabitants of the Land, which is fuch, 
 that neither Law nor Gofpel, nor the moft 
 common and neceifary points oftruthareun- 
 derftood or known by many thoufands. 
 
 2. Article. Hor’'ible loofnefle and prophanity of Converfa- 
 tion in all forts, againft the Commandments^ both ofthefirft and 
 fecond table, which hathfoabounded and encreafed, that fcarce 
 hath any of the Nations exceeded us therein. 
 
 Article, The defpifing and flighting of J e s u s Christ 
 offered in the Gofpel (which we look on as the chief and mother 
 fin of this Nation ) and the not valuing and improving the Gofpel 
 and precious Ordinances of C h r i s t , unto the eflablilhmg and 
 building up of our felves in the lively faith of C h r i s t and power 
 
 A 2 
 
(4 ) 
 
 of eodlinefle, but either negleding and defpifing thefe things alto¬ 
 gether , or elferefting upon and idolizing outward and bare forms, 
 without ftudying to know inourfelves, or to promove in others 
 the Kingdom ofGod, which is righteoufhefle and peace, and joy in 
 theHolyGhoft: whereby it hath come to pafle, that perlbns not 
 rightly qualified, have been admitted unto, and continued in the 
 Work of the Miniftery and Elderships, and that publick repentance 
 and Kirk-cenfures have be,en groffely flighted, and the Sacrament 
 of the Lords Supper fearfully polluted by the promifeuous admit¬ 
 ting of many ignorant and fcandalous perfons thereto, and many 
 wilfully ignorant, and openly and continuedly prophane, have been 
 keeped in the fellowship of this Kirk, contrary to the Word of 
 GOD, and Conflitutions of this Kirk, and that many other fad and 
 fearfull conlequences have followed untotheprophaningof all the 
 Ordinances of G O D, and rendering them for the moft part barren 
 andfruitlefle to us: 
 
 4. Art. Not only the exercife ofgodlines in families much fligh¬ 
 ted, great men being unwilling and ashamed to call on the name of the 
 L o R D in their Family (which guilt is exceedingly heightned by the 
 continuing of many of thefe in the fame after folemn Publick confef- 
 fing thereof, and engaging to the contrary duty in the year 16^ 8.) 
 and others much negleding the fame; But alfo the loathing and ha¬ 
 ting of the power and life of Religion 3nd godlinefle, and bearing 
 down fuch as make confcience thereof, or aime at any perfedion 
 therein, which hath come to fuch an height, that the Godly arc eve¬ 
 ry-where reproached, reviled, oppreffed andperfecutedthrough¬ 
 out the Land by fundry ofall ranks; yea, by fundry Magiffrates and 
 Miniffers; and the ungodly and prophane countenanced, encouraged 
 and imployed. 
 
 5. (iArtkle. The bafe love of the world, and Covetoufnefle, 
 whkh hath made not onely the Body of the People, but many Mi- 
 nifters, more to minde their own things, then the things of j e s u s 
 Christ; and many Mafters, Rulers, Magiflrates, Officers 
 and Souldiers in Armies, exceedingly to abufe their power unto 
 the excrcifing of intollerable oppreffion of allkindeson the, poor, 
 to the grinding of their faces, and making their lives bitter to 
 
 . ‘ them i . 
 
^ 5 ) 
 
 them; Which fountain of Covetoufnefle did alfo produce the 
 great infolencics and oppreflions in our Armies in England and 
 Ireland^ and the fearfull perjuries in the Land inthc matter of valua¬ 
 tion and Excife. 
 
 6 . Article, The abufing and proftituting the Publick Faith of 
 the Kingdom in the way of borrowing ofMoney andotherwife; 
 unto the dishonouring of God, mocking of Men, and reproach 
 of the Nation. 
 
 7. Article. In purfuing of ncceifary Duties of renewing the 
 Nationall Covenant, and entring into and renewing the folemo 
 League and Covenant, the way of many mens takingthefe Co¬ 
 venants was without the knowledge of the neceffary things con¬ 
 tained therein, and without reality and fincerity of heart, in or¬ 
 der to the performance thereof; feme being induced thereto by 
 example, fome by fear, and not a few by principlesofpolicy, fol¬ 
 lowing their own carnall and corrupt ends. 
 
 8. Article. The Folio wing the work of God, and purfuing the 
 ends of the Covenant not in a Sprrituall holy way, fetting the 
 Lord alwayes before our eyes, and acknowledging him in all our 
 paths but in a carnall politick way , abufing Gods Intereft for 
 our own intereft and ends, as if it had been the Work of men, 
 and not the Work of God , which made us walk more in the 
 counfels of our own hearts then in the Counfel of G o d , and to 
 truft more in the arm offlefh, then in the A rm ofthe Lord. 
 
 9. Article. Backflyding and defedion from the Covenant, 
 and from our folemn Vows and Engagements; the guilt whereof 
 is exceedingly heightned by the aggravating circumftances of our 
 renewed Oaths, and of the Lords Mercies and Engagements, 
 and of our frequent relapfcs into the fame fins, whereofw'e once 
 feemed to have repented, and which we condemned in others: Of 
 this Defedion there be thefe fpeciall heads and Steps. 
 
 I. Step. A fourfailingfromthathonefty of heart, and purity 
 of. converfation , and from the fingleneffe and integrity of heart, 
 
 A 3 and I 
 
((^) 
 
 and from the fervency & zeal for God that appeared to be in ma¬ 
 ny at the firft entry to the Covenant; and declining into loofe wal¬ 
 king , and felf intereft, and neutrality and indifferency, from which 
 haue ifTued many fadconfequencesjefpecially the great fcandall and 
 ftumbling of many godly in the Land, at us and the Work ofGod 
 in our hand. 
 
 1. Step. The fitting up of many Profeflbrs in the Land under 
 the Gofpel, and becoming formal! and remifie, not entertaining 
 tendernefs, fpirituall life and fobernefs ofminde, which asit hath 
 been amongft the provoking Caufes of the Lords wrath, and 
 hath rendered fome obnoxious to fnares on both hands, fo may it 
 (if it be not mourned for and amended) draw on more wrath, 
 and cxpofe to the ha2ard of errour and difaffeftion to the Work 
 of G O D. 
 
 5. Step. The fccret falling off of fome, and open falling away 
 of many unto the oppofite party, after their^ntering in Covenant, 
 L-fpLCialiy that defedion carried, on by Jamet Graham Ik his party, 
 and that which was afterward Carried on by the Authors and Abet¬ 
 tors of the unlawful! Lngageme(it 1.648. 
 
 Step, negIe( 5 iing,obftruding, and condemning, the pur¬ 
 
 ging of the Judicatories and Army, 1649.* and afterward, from 
 fcandalous and difafttded men; and ofthe conflituting the fame of 
 m^n of known integrity and affedion to the Caufe, andofablame- 
 lefs and Chriflian Converfation, notwithftanding of the folemn 
 publick Confeflion of thefe fins, and Engaging unto thefe duties a 
 little before that time. 
 
 5. Step. The Authorizing of Commiffioners to clofeaTrcaty 
 with the King, for the inveff ing him with the Government, upon 
 his fubferibing fuch Demands aswerefentto him, after he had gi¬ 
 ven many clear evidences of his difaffedion and enmity to the 
 work and people of God, and was continuing in the fame: And 
 the admitting ofhim to the full exercife of his power, and Crown¬ 
 ing him , notwithftanding of new difeoyeries of his adhering to his 
 former principles andvvpy, and of many warnings to the contrary. 
 
 6. Step. 
 
6 . Step. The Rejeding of Difcoverics of guiltinefs and caufes 
 
 of the Lords contending with us, and ofour duty in reference ther- 
 to; fuch as the caufe of humiliation offered by rheGommiffion of 
 the General Affembly, to the Committee of Eft ate s at be¬ 
 fore the defeat at Dumbar : The caufes of humiliation condefcen- 
 ded on at Sterlin immediately after the defeat at Dumbar : The 
 K emonftrance of the Gentlemen, Minifters and Forces in the Weft, 
 and many other teftimonies of Presbyteries and Synods together; 
 neglecting the means tending to peace, and to the preventing the 
 effufion of more blood; from pride and birternefs offpirit againft 
 ihofe who had-— invaded us. 
 
 7. Step. The Publick Refolutions of Kirk and State, for bringing 
 in the Malignant party, firfttothe Army, andthentothe Judica- 
 tories^ and to the adual intruding of them with the power of the 
 Kingdom, both Military and Civil, [whereby the ftate ofour caufe 
 is not only turned up fde down, by fubordinating the intereft of 
 God to the intereft of men; but the work and people of God have 
 been entrufted to the enemies there§£ 
 
 8. Step. The joyning of inahy'engaged in the Covenant and 
 Caufe of God, in Arms with the Forces of the Kingdom, after that 
 by the Publick Refolutiohs , there was a prevailing party of Malig- 
 nants brought into the Army, whohadthefwhy ofCounfels and 
 A (flings therein, andwere carrying on a malignant intereft. 
 
 9. Step. T he pre- limiting and corrupting of the Gen. Aftembly, 
 in regardofthefree, lawful and right conftitution thereof, exclu¬ 
 ding fuch as were faithful and conftant in the Caufe, and making 
 it up, for the moft part, of thofe who had been adive and inftru- 
 mental in carrying on a courfe of Defedion , or were confenting 
 thereto; whereby it came to pafs that that Meeting did ratifie and 
 approve the Defed^ion it felf, and did not only cenfure fundry 
 for protefting againft them, but alfo laid a foundation forcenfu- 
 ring all fuch Minifters, and for keeping all fuch out of the Miniftry 
 who did not approve oftheir Conftitution and Ads, and didiflue 
 Warnings and Declarations refledingesgjeedinglyupon, andcon- 
 
 tradidipg 
 
p 
 
 (S) ; 
 
 tradi( 5 l{ng and condemning former pious and warrantable procee¬ 
 dings, and the inftrumentstbereof. 
 
 lo. Article. Deep fecurity, impenitency, obftinacy and incor- 
 rigiblenefs under all thefe, and under all the dreadful ftroaks of 
 God, and tokensofhisindignationagainll:us, becaufeofthefame, 
 fo that whileft he continues to fmite , wearefo far from humbling 
 ourfelves, and turning to Him, that we wax worfe and v/orfe* 
 and fin more and more. 
 
 
7 
 
 Haying at our la ft ^5\ieeting intended and 
 
 promt fed to enlarge mure fully andparticularly thefe 
 Generali Heads of the LOR^DS Controverjtewith 
 the Landi then condefiended onJVe fhall nom 
 profecuie and perform thefame , fo far as we conceive 
 is needfully and may be helpfuUto others, for the better 
 underjlanding thereof. 
 
 T were fuperfluous to fpcakany thing to the 
 I, Article,which relates to the groffe ignorance 
 of many thoufands in theLand; the truth of 
 the thing being unquefl-ionably acknowledged 
 and bemoaned by all the faithfull and godly 
 Minifters in the Land, and that a great many 
 come to age,are grofly ignorant of the firftPrin- 
 ciples ofChriftian Religion; which (in ofignorance, although it be 
 extenuated and (lightly looked on by many, yet itis holdenforth 
 by the HolyGhoH; in the Scriptures,as the fountain ofthe eftrange- 
 ment of fouls from the life of God. Ephef,/!^, 18 .through the blindnes 
 that is in them, having the underfiandingdarkned, being alienated 
 from the life of (jod, through theignorance that is inthem, becaufe 
 of the blindnes of their heart-, of all their difobedience, and living 
 in their lulls, i. P^f. i. 14. as obedient children, not fafhioning 
 pur fehes according to the former lufls in your ignorance-. And 
 as that which makes them lyablc to the wrath of God in the day 
 of Chrifts appearance, i.Thefs. i. 8. Whenthe Lord lefus fhall be 
 revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in faming fire, 
 
 B " taking 
 
not (jod, and obey not the Go* 
 he guilt of this fin is much aggraw 
 -cs ; I. It is willful! under the light of 
 the Gofpel , and the means bf knowledge, i. In regard oflorrg 
 continuing therein , many have lived under it for fo many years 
 together, even till their old age. 3.From the groITnefie ofir, being 
 (uch in many, as they know almofi: nothing of the very Letter of 
 the Scriptures , either of-their fin and mifery, or of the mercy and 
 remedy that is holden forth throngh ]efus Chrift, or of the dutie 
 whichthey owe to God andthefrNeighbour; nothing almofi: either 
 of Law orGofpel, of the Covenant of Grace, or of the Cove¬ 
 nant of Works , of Commandments ,Threatnings or Promifes,ex¬ 
 cept in luch a gencrall and confufed way as is altogether ufelefie 
 unto them ', andfruitlefs in them. 4. In regard of the multitudes of 
 thefe who lye under it, which is very great in all the corners of the 
 Land, efpecially in the Highlands. 5. In regard of the quality of 
 perfons who are not onely fervantsand Commons, but Mafters of 
 Families, and perfons of fome note in Burghs and in the Countrey,” 
 yea, not a few who have the plice of Magiftrates and Elders.- The 
 Article doth alfo mention ignorance of the WbrksofGod,by which 
 is meant not only the Works of Creation wherein the Eterna!! 
 Power and Godhead are clearly feen, Rom.t.iOi For theinvijible 
 things of him from the Creation of the World., are clearly feen , being 
 underjfood by the things that are made, even hts eternall Fo'xver 
 and Godhead •, but alfo the igrioiance of the Works of Provi¬ 
 dence , which are greatand marvellous, ‘Rev. 15. And they fmg 
 the fong of tJ^yCofes the fervaht of God, andthefongef the Lamb, 
 faying , Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty , 
 ynji andtrn'e are thy wayes thou Kingof Saints. And albeit thefe fhould 
 be fought out ofall thefe that takepleafure therein, Pfal. i ii. 2-, 
 and the right underftanding and obfervation of them, hath a largc-^ 
 promife made thereunto, Pfal. 107.43. hPho is wife and will ob- 
 ferve thefe things, even they Pj all underfiand the loving kjndnes of 
 the Lord. Yet doth the ignorance thereof exceedingly abound a- 
 mongft many, efpecially the ignorance and not obferving, butfor- 
 getting the works of mercy and judgment, which GOD hath 
 wrought amongft our felves^ which fin as it proved an In-let to 
 many other provocations, from the 7 verfe of that Plalm through- 
 
out, To hath It great threatning^ pronounced agaiofl: it, andfore 
 
 judgments inflided on it, *?/<?/. 18.5. Becaufe they regard not the 
 works of the Lardy nor the operation of his'hands , he fhal defray 
 them-f and not batld them up. Ifa. j. 11, i z. Wb to them that rife up 
 early in the morning y that they may follow firongdrink^, and conti¬ 
 nue till night y till wine inflame them y andthe wine and the pipe y the 
 violy the tabret and the harp are in their feafls y but they regard 
 not the work^ of the Lordy nor conflder the operation of hts hands, 
 Pfal. 10(5. 7.15.2 1,21. Our fathers underfloodnot thy wonders in E‘ 
 gypt-, they remembred not the multitude of thy mercies , but provo¬ 
 ked him at the fla, they foon forgot his works y they waited not for 
 his counfell, *Ihy forgat God their Savioury who had done great 
 things in Lgyph wondrous workj in the land of Ham y and terrible 
 things bytheredfea. In this Article alfo, Atheifme is joynedfwith 
 Ignorance, which as it is the root and fountain of all other 
 lin, Pfal, 14.1. The foolhathfaidin his hearty there is no God, they are 
 corrupt y they have done abominable works , there is none that doth 
 good. So it is alfo the root.and fountain of all mifery, Eph. 2.12. 
 
 that time ye were without Chrifly beingftrangers from the Com^ 
 monwealth of Jfrael , and f rangers from the Covenant of promifcy 
 having no hope y and being without God in the world. And yet this 
 doth pofTelTe many, there being multitudes of that wicked fort , 
 ‘Tfal. 1 o. 4. Who through the pride of their heart , will not feek^ Cody 
 God is not in all their thoughts. Thefc are far from acknowledging 
 him in all their way es, and aiming at his glory in all their adions, 
 according to thefe divinerules, Proverb.1.6. In all thy way e sac- 
 know ledge him y and he fhall dircBthy^paths. i Cor. i o. 3 r. Whether 
 thereforeye eat or ye drink^y or what foeverye do, in word or deed , do 
 ail in thenameof the Lord Jefus (fhrifl y givingthanks to the Father 
 through him. But they do live as if there were no God, or as if 
 hehadforfaken the earth, and did not fee. 9. p. Then [aid he 
 unto me y Tise iniquity of the houje of Jfl-ael and ffuda is exceeding 
 great y andthe Landis full of blood y andthe City full ofperverfncflcy 
 for they fay, The Lord hath forfaken the earth, andthe Lordfeeth 
 fjot; Or as if the Lord would not do good or evill, like thefe who 
 are threatned, Zeph.i. 12. I will fearch lerufalem with candles y 
 and punifh the men that are fttled on their lees , that fay in the.r heart , 
 the Lord will not do goody neither will he do evilL 
 
 B 2 
 
 The 
 
The fecond Article. 
 
 T He fecond Article concerning loofnelTe and prophanity.is no 
 lelTe true and evident then the firft, it being undcnyable that 
 afloud ofprophanity hath overflowed the whole Land, and 
 that the mofl: part ofthe Inhabitants thereof have corrupted their 
 way before him, unto the dirtionouring of his Name, reproach of 
 our profefllon, and provoking the eyes of his Glory, Ifa. ].2.,534. 
 y. Hear O heavensand give ear O earth for the Lord hath fpo- 
 ken j / have notirifhed and brought up children , and'they have re¬ 
 belled againfl me ; the ox hath l^own his owner, and the affe his 
 wafers crib , but Ifrael doth not know , my people doth not conji- 
 der: Ah, fnfull Ration , a people loaden with iniquity ^ a feed of 
 evill doers ^ children that are corrupters, they have forfaken the 
 Lord, they have provoked the holy one of Ifrael to Anger , they 
 have gone away backyeard 5 why fhould ye be frickyn any more , ye 
 will revolt more and more the whole head is fick,, and the whole 
 heart is faint. Ezek. 56. 21,22, 25, But 1 had pity for 7 ny holy 
 names fake j which the houfe of Ifrael hath prophaned amongfl the 
 Heathen whether they went: Therefore fay to the houfe af Ifrael, 
 thus faith the Lord God, I do not this for your fake, O houfe of 
 Ifrael, but for my holy Names fake, which ye have prophaned a- 
 mongfl the Heathen whither ye went, and Twill fanliifie-mygreat 
 name which was prophaned among the Heathen which ye havepro- 
 fhaned in the midjl of them, and the Heathen fhall kno 7 v that 1 am 
 the Lord, faith the Lord God, when I fa all he fanBifed inyou, bc’- 
 fore their eyes, Malach. 2.11,12,13. Judah hath dealt treache-. 
 Youfy, and an abomination is committed in Ifrael and Jerufalem, 
 for Judah hath prophaned the holinejfe of the Lord which he loved, 
 and hath married the daughter of a f range god, the Lord will 
 cut off the mm that doth this, the mafler and the fchollar out of 
 the Tabernacles of Jacob, and him that ojfereth an offering unto 
 the Lord of hofs', and this have ye done again, covering the (iyll~ 
 tar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and with crying out, in 
 fo much that he regardeth not the offering any more, or recciveth 
 it with good will at your hands,. Ifa. 3. 8, For Jerufalem is ruined 
 and Judah ts fallen , becaufe their tongue and their doings are a- 
 
gain ft the Lord ^ to provoke the eyes of his glory. The guilt of this a** 
 bounding loofnefTc and prophanity is fo much the more heightned 
 by thcfe circumftanccs that do attend it: Firft, that it is under the 
 clear light of the Gofpcl, of the Word preached now for many 
 years throughout theXand , in purity and plenty. Secondly, that 
 It is contrary to many folcmn Vows, Engagements, Oaths and Co¬ 
 venants taken on us before God, Angels and men to the-coi\trary. 
 Thirdly , that it is under many blefllngs, mercies and deliverances 
 from the Lord. Fourthly that it is under many chadifements, rods 
 and judgements,efpecially the f>»'ord and pe{lilence,by which two, 
 many thoufands in the Land have been taken away within thefe 
 few years.Fifthly,that it is common and univerfalfand hath reach¬ 
 ed over all forts of perfons, Noblcmen,Gcntlemen,Barons,Burgef- 
 fcs,Minifters and Commons. Sixthly,from the greatnefl'e of ir,fha- 
 mclefnes of it, avowednefs and groBnefs of it, which is fuch that 
 many declare their fin as5o<5/owf,and commit all forts of wickednef- 
 (e with grecdinefTe.Seventhly,from the kinds of it,fome of the chief 
 and moft common of which, efpecially thefe who are not named in 
 fome other Article of the formerPaper,-we fhal here touch; i.Impa. 
 tiencie,murmuring and freting againft God and his works, which- 
 hath made many to weary of the charges and expence they have 
 been put to,for thcGofpel,and to wifh there had been no fuch thing 
 as the entering into the NationaU Covenant, and the renewing and 
 entering into the folcmn League and Covenant, not to an few to 
 curfeand blafphemc the Covenants,and to look on them as the rile 
 and ( riginall of all the evils wherewith theLand hath been afflided; 
 and it is an great provocation before God, as it appears from thei'e 
 and the like Scriptures, Numb 14,1, 2,5,4,10,11,11. ^ndall the Con- 
 grrgfTt tons lifted up their voice and weeped and cryed^and the people 
 wceped that triglst 3 and all the children of Ifratl murmured again ft 
 tyftofes^ and againft ydaron 3 and the vchokCatfgregauon fat'd to 
 theujj would to God vpe had di-ed in the land of Egypt, or would to 
 God U'f had died in the wtldernejfe; and wherefore hath the Lord 
 brought us to this land to fall hj the fword^ that our wives ^at d 
 our children fhould be a prey , were tt not better Jor us to return 
 toE-jyptl ydnd they fatd one to another 3 let us wake a Captain-, 
 let us return to Egypt, then t^Eofes and Aaron fell on their faces 
 before the AJfcmbttes of all the Congregation of ths thtldnitof If- 
 
 13 3 rail 
 
rael^ 'bdt all the Qon^egdtion bade ftone them with flones ^ and the 
 glory of the Lord appeared in the Tabernacle of the Congregation 
 before all the Children of Ifrael: ^nd the Lord faid unto Mofes, 
 How long Will this People provoke me? and how long will it be 
 ere this People beleeve me^ for all the (igns / havefhewed amongji 
 them\ I will [mite them With pefilence^ and dtjinherit them ^ 
 and will make of thee a JVation, mightier and greater then they. 
 Numbers 2 1. 5, 6. ^ndthej journted from tJHouyit Hor, by the 
 way of the Red Sea^ to compaffe the Land of Edomj and 
 the foal of the People was much difc our aged becaufe of the 
 ■way\ and the People fpakp again/} GO and againjl "hAoPts, 
 W her fore have ye brought us up out of the Land to die in thewiU 
 dernefs ? for there is no breads neither is there any water\ for 
 our foul loatheth this light bread: and the Lord fentfiery fierpents 
 among the people , and much people ()/^Ii'rael died, i Cor. 11. 10. 
 ‘If either be je murmurers ^ as fiome of them al/o murmured, and 
 were defrojed of the dejirojer. 1. Ufing not only of charmes,, 
 though it be condemned in the Scriptures, Deut. 18. 11. Char¬ 
 mer , or a confkiter with familiar fpints , or a Wiz,ardy oraNe^ 
 cromanccr , fhall not be found atmngfi you \ for all that do thefe 
 things are an abomination to the Lord: yet is very frequent among the 
 Commons; But alfo Sorcery and Witchcraft, which isanabc- 
 minacion Exod. ii. 18. Thou /halt not fuffer a Witchto live.Deut, 
 18. 10. There fhall not be found amongji you any thatufeth DivL 
 nation y or my Inchanter y or any Witch \ efpecially amongft thefe 
 who have been baptized in the Name ofthe Lordjefus, and yet 
 doth fby thegreatdifcoveriesthcreof which hath been of late) ap¬ 
 pear to be very frequent in the Land. 5. Ordinary fwearingby 
 them that are noGods, ler,^. j.How fhall I pardonthee for this? 
 thy Children have forfaken Me^ and fworn by them who are no 
 Godsy when 1 have fed them to the full 2'eph. 1.4, 5. / will alfo 
 flretch out my hand again/} Judah , and all the inhabitatasof jeru- 
 falem-, and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place y and 
 the name of the Chemarims, with the Priefis: and them that worfhip 
 the hofi of heaven upon the houfe tops j and them that worfhip , and 
 that fwear by the Name of the L ORD , andthatfwear byMA- 
 cham : fiich .as Faith Truth , Soul, Confcience , and by the holy 
 and hlclfcd Name of GOD Himrell, and by His Blood and 
 WoundS;andfearful Execrations and Curfings,which though they 
 
(If) 
 
 Be condemned,forbidden and threatned in the ScriptlireSjExod. 20;. 
 7. Theft [halt not take the ‘^ame of the Lord thy God m vain. Le- 
 vir. 19. 12. Thou [halt mtfwear bymy N amefajly , neither [halt' 
 thoptprophane the Name of thy God: 1 am the Lord. Matth. 5. 
 
 34', 5 5:» 3d, 37. Again , ye have heard it faid by them of old- 
 time^ Thou fhalt not forfveear thy felf^ but fhalt perform to the 
 Lord thy God thy Oathes. But I fay unto you y Swear not at alf 
 neither by Heaven y for itTs Gods! hrone\ neither by the Earth, for 
 it is His Footfool: neither by Jernfalem, for it is the City of 
 the great King', neither fhalt thou futeat by thy Head, for thou- 
 cannot make one hair white or black. But let your communication.- 
 be. Tea, yea'. Nay, nay for whatfoever is more then thefe,cometh 
 of evil. Jer. 2 3.10. For the Land is full of Adulteries \ becaufe 
 of Swearing the- Land mourneth , and the pleafant places in the- 
 wdderneffe are dried up , becaufe their courf ? is evil , and their force 
 is not right. Zecli. 5, i, 2, 3, 4. Then I looked, and lift up 
 mine eyes , and behold , a flying Roll : the length thereof is twenty: 
 cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. Then faid he unto me 
 This it the curfe thatgoeth over the face of the whole Earth : for every. 
 (me that flealeth, fhallbecutojfasonthisflde, accordingto-it: and 
 every one that fwearethfhallbe cutoff on that fi,de, accordingtoit.- 
 1 will bring it forth , faith the Lord of.hofls, and it fhail enter into. 
 the houfe of the Thief, and into the houfe of him that fwcareth 
 falfly by my Name : and it fh all remain in the midfl of his houfe y 
 and fhall con fume the timber and flones thereof. Yet thefe are fo 
 frequent and habitual amongft us, that in many parts of the Land 
 k is a rare thing tofinda man ora woman, tliat in their ordinary 
 fpcech is not addided to fome one ofthefc. 4. Ordinary andl 
 grofs prophanation of the Lords Day; not only by flighting of,and 
 abfenting from the Publiek Woifaip with the Congregation,, 
 which is a fault whereof many are guilty; and not attending.to 
 the Word, or joyning in Prayer and Tinging of Pfalms, when 
 they are prefent, but alfo by travelling, ttyfling, working,fpeaklng 
 our own words and otherwife: The danger and hainoufnefs ot 
 this fin appears , fsom Exod^ 20. 8. Remember the Sabbath day 
 to keep it holy. Nehem. i 3, i 5, i( 5 , 1 7, i'8. Jnthofedayes, faw / 
 m Judah, fome treading Wine-prejfes on the'Sabbath, and brings 
 ing in Sheaves , and loading tA(f is ,and atf1 Win e- Grapes, and Figs, 
 and all manner of burdens which they brought to Jerufalcin on- 
 
(Its)’ 
 
 the Sabbath Daj x and 1 teftified again^ them in the day where- 
 in they fold vi^inals. There dwelt men of Tyne alfi therein y 
 which bought fifh and all manner of ware, which they fold to the 
 children of Juda and on the Sabbath: then I contended 
 
 with the Mobles <^Juda, andfaid unto themy What evill thing u 
 this which ye do, and prophane the Sabbath day, did not your fathers 
 thus , and did not our God bringallthis etjillon us y and on this city I 
 yet ye bring more wrath on Ifracl, by prophaning the Sabbath, 
 Ifai 58.15,14. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from 
 doing thy own pleafure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a de¬ 
 light, and the holy of the Lord, honourable, andfto alt honour him, 
 not doing thine own wayes, nor finding thine own pleafures,^ nor 
 /peaking thine own words , then foalt thou delight thy felf in the 
 Lord, and thou foalt ride on the high places of the earth, andiwii- 
 feed thee with the heritage of ]as:oh thy father, for the mouth of 
 the Lord hath fpoken it. y. Not giving obedience to authority 
 to their juft and lawfull commands for confcience fake, Rom. 13.5, 
 Wherefore ye muji needs be fubjeSi not only for wrath , but for 
 confcience fake. And on the other hand, an implicite and willing 
 following of their unlawfull commands, obeying men rather then 
 Go^, Hof 5. I r. Ephraim is opprejfed and broken in judgment, be- 
 caufe he willingly -walked after the commandement, Ad. 4, ip. 
 Whether it be right in the fight of God to hearken to you rather 
 then to God, judgeye. The grolTe negled of many parents in the 
 inftruding and breeding of their Children in knowledge, vertue 
 and piety, Te fathers,provoke not your children towrath , but 
 bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, And 
 the untowardnefle and ingratitude of many Children to their Pa¬ 
 rents, Eph. 6. r. 2,3. Children, obey your parentsin the Lord, for this 
 is right. Honour thy father and mother (which is thefirfi comman^ 
 dement with promife ) that it may be well with thee , and that thou 
 may live long on the earth, 6. Self murder, unnaturall murder of 
 Children,enimity,malice,ftrife,contention,efpeclally at Law fuits, 
 revenge, and blood, whichas they areancientfins ofthisNation, 
 and did much appear in the banding of Clans dne againft another , 
 and have been little mourned for, or repented of to this day, fo 
 do they ftill continue whiliT: we profelTe the unity of the Faith in 
 Chrift,and are joyned in Covenants of love and peace one with an¬ 
 other 
 
- ■■ '--.mii.ili 11 .. ..J.IJl 
 
 other, 5.14. 15,1 6, *B(it tf ye have bitter envying andflrifc 
 
 in your hearts^ lie not againfl the truth. Thiswif- 
 
 dome dejcendeth not from above y bm is earthly, fenfually devilifh : 
 For where envying andJlrifeis , there is confufion andevery evil work* 
 1 Cor. 5. ^.Therefore let us koep the feajl not Tvith old Leaven, neither 
 with the leaven of malice andwtckednejfe , but with the mleavened 
 bread ofJincerity and truth. Fit. i. i- For we our [elves were fome’i 
 time dif obedient , foohfh^ deceived ^ ferving diverf ? lujls and plea^ 
 fares i living in malice and envy y hatefully and hating one 
 another, Levit. ip. j8. Fhou [halt not avenge nor bear 
 any grudge againfi the children of thy people-y but thou [halt love 
 thy neighbour as thyfelfy lam the LOR D. Prov. i. 16. For 
 their feet run to evill , and they make hajle to fhed bloud. Gal, 5. x 5. 
 For if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not con" 
 fumed one of another. 7. Intemperance, gluttony and drunkcn- 
 nelTe , the laft of which is become fo common , that it hath over¬ 
 run almoft the whole Nation , fo that it is hard to find many who 
 are not tiplers, or common drunkards, or will drink drunk on 
 occafion and with company.- Withthisfin we may joyn the im¬ 
 moderate and cxceffive ufe of Tobacco, which is fuch, that much 
 money and precious time is needlefly andfuperfloully fpent that 
 way , by pcrfons of dll forts. Ifa. 5. 11, 12, 2 2, Wo to them that rife 
 up early in the morning to dr inkjlrong drinks, and continue till night, 
 till Wine inflame them, and the harp, and the viol, and tabret, 
 and the pipe, and wine are in their feafls. Wo to them that are 
 mighty to drmk, vcine, and men of might to mingle flrong 
 drinks Prov. 25. 29, 50, 31, 32. Who hath wo ^ Who hath 
 forrow ? who hath contentions ^ Wiso hath bablings ? Who 
 hath wounds without caufel Who hath rednefs of eyest They 
 that tarry long at the wine , they that go to feek^mixt wine. Look^ 
 not thou on the wine when it is red, when it gives its colour in the cup, 
 when it moveth it feIf aright; at lafl it byteth like a ferpent, 
 and flingeth like an adder. Eph, 5. 18. Be not drunk^with wine^- 
 whereinisexcefs, 8. Vanity ah^ excels in apparel, and in houlhold 
 fiulf, far above'that which becometlv'the fobriety of the Gofpefior 
 thatthe condition of'fiicha people can reach unto. Ifa. 3. from the 
 16. verfe. Tecaufe the daughters of Zion are haughtie , and walk, 
 with flretched out necks, and wanton eyes, and mincing as they 
 ffo , and making a tinkling with their feettherefore the LORD. 
 
 C will 
 
with afcahthe crown of the head ofthe daughters ofZion^and 
 the LOKT) willdifcovertheir fecret parts.udndin that day the Lord 
 wil take away the bravery oftheirtinklingornaments about their feet, 
 and their cauls , and their round tyres like the tJPkCoon , the chainSy 
 and the bracelets , and the mufflers , & the bonnets , & the ornaments 
 of the legs y and the head.-bands , and the tablets , and the ear-rings , 
 and the nofe-jewells , the changeable fuits of apparell, the mantles 
 and the wimples y the cr if ping pins y theglajfesand the fine linen y 
 and the hoods, and the vails-, and it [hall come to pafis that in 
 fiead of a fweet fmell there fhall be fiink^y and in fiead of d 
 girdle a rent y and in fiead of wellfet hair, baldnefs, and in fiead 
 of a flornacher, a girding of fackcloath, and burning in fiead of 
 beauty , thy men fhall fall by the [word , and thy mighty men tn 
 the war y and her gates fhall lament and mourn y andfhe being de. 
 folate fhall fit on the ground. i Pet. 3.3. W hofie adorninglet it not 
 bt outward adorning of plaiting the hairy and of wearing of gold y 
 and putting on of apparell, Zeph, i. 8. udnd it fhall come to pajfe 
 in the day of the LORDS facrifice that I ivillpunifh the Princes ; 
 and the Kings children and all fuch as are cloathedwith firanqe appa¬ 
 rell. 9. UncleanefTe and filthinefTe ofall forts, rotten fpeeches, 
 iiithy communication , chambering and wantonnefTe , & fornica¬ 
 tion, adultery,inceftdn fome places beaftiality,and fodomie,efpea- 
 cially fornications and adulteries which abound in many places; 
 the firft whereof, viz,, fornication is by many accounted no fin. 
 Fordifeoveringthegreatneffeof thefefins,con(ider 20. 14. 
 
 Thoufhalt not commit adulteryy i Cov. 6.1^. Now the body is not for 
 fornicationy but for the Lor dy andthe Lord, for the body, 1 Cor. 5. i. 
 Jt is reported commonly y that there is fornication amongf you y and 
 f '<ich fornication as is not f i much as named among the gentiles , that 
 one fhould have his fathers wife, Rom. 13.13. Let us walk, honefily 
 asintheday yuotin chamberingandwantonneffe. Eph. 5. 3. ^utfor¬ 
 nication and all uncleanneffe, let it not once be named among you. 
 4. ver. "^either filthineffcy nor fooltfh talking y nor jefiingy 
 which are not convenient, 10. Prodigality, opprefTion, extortions, 
 ufury, bribery, theft , robbery, falfe weights and meafures, 
 injuflrice and unfaithfulncffe in Contrads and Bargaines , with 
 fraudulent dealing and deceiving one another; Artificial dearthing 
 of riduais and other things, the livelyhood and maintenance of 
 thePeopie.Exod.20.ly. Thoufhaltnotfieal. Ezek. 22.12. Jnthee 
 
 have 
 
' . ^ (rp) 
 
 have thy taken gifts to fhed blood, thou haft taken ufury andw- 
 creafe, thou haft greedily gained of thy neighbour by extortion. 
 Amos. 5- ii. They the juft , they have taken a bribe, they 
 turn aftde thegoor from his right, Micah, 6. jo, ii. u4re there 
 yet treafures of wickednejfe in the houfe of the wickedy and the 
 fcant tneaf we that is abominable ? Shall 1 count them gure ’with 
 the wicked badances , and with the bag of deceitfull n>eights 1 
 i TheflT 4. 6. That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in 
 any matter, for the Lord is the avenger of allfuch. ii. Lying, 
 ilandering.,backbiting, detrading, riviling, tale-bearlngjrafhcenfu- 
 ring , and defaming and fpeaking ill one of another, with falfewic- 
 laeiling and perjury, breach of Oaths, Covenants,promifes. Exodus 
 20. 16. Thou fhalt not bear falfe ovitneffe againft thy neighbour, 
 Pfal. 50. ip, 20. Thou giveft thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue 
 frameth deceit : thou Jitteft and fpeakeft againft thy brother ; shots 
 Jlandereft thine own mothers fon. 1 Cor. 12.20. Left there be de~ 
 bates y env yings y wrath , ft rife y backbiting y whifpenngs , fwellmgs 
 andtumults. Match. 7.1. Judgenot, that ye be not judged. Rom. 
 
 I. 31. without underftandingy Covenant-breakjrs , without natural 
 Afte^ionftmplacable, unmercifutt* 2Tim 3. i, 2. This know alfo, that ^ 
 ift the lafl daycs, perillous times fhal come, for men fhal be lovers 
 ofthemfclves , covetous, boafters, proud, blafphemers, difobedientto 
 parents , unholy. Before we clofe this Article of prophanity , we 
 cannot but in a fpeciail way take notice ofthe carriage of many 
 beggars in the Land, amongft whom for a long time paft,abomina¬ 
 tions of all forts hath abounded ,• which fin lyes fo much heavier 
 on the Landibecaufe though it hath been generally known and ac¬ 
 knowledged by all, yet hath no effeduall courfe beentakcnto 
 this day for the helping thereof. 
 
 3. eyLrticle. 
 
 .^^He third Article which relates to JESUS CHRIST and 
 the Gofpel, is in a great nacafure fpoken to in the Caufes ol 
 Humiliation , concerning the contempt of the Gofpel, condefeen- 
 ded on by the Commillionof the Generali AlTembly at Perth,Dec. 
 
 II. i6yo. yet fomc particulars there be in the Article, which we 
 fhallnow fpeak unto: i. The refting on out ward and bare forms , 
 without ftudyingto known in our fclves, or to promove mothers, 
 theKingdom ofGOD, which is iighteoufnellejand peace,and joy in 
 
 C 2 the 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 theHoly Ghoft. The Work ofRcformation in the outward part of 
 it, or externall means, that do relate to Worfhip and Ordinances 
 of GOD and the purity thereof, is certainly a thing excellent and 
 defirablc, which all the lovers of pure Religion and undefiled , 
 ought to endeavour to attain to and preferve , Ezra 7. 27. Blejfed 
 he the Lord God of our fathers , who hath putfuch a thing as this in 
 the Kings heart'-, to heaatifie the honfe of the Lord at Jerufalem, 
 Exod. 5 9. ip2. tyiccording to allthat the Lord commanded tJMiofes, 
 fo the Children of Ifrael made all the worf , 43. v. ayLnd cJTf of did 
 look^on all the vvorkt cind hehold they had done it, as the Lord.com-- 
 manded, even fo had they done, and tJ^Lofes bleffedthem. Ezek. 
 42. II. .And the way before them was like the appearing of the Cham¬ 
 bers that were toward the Tforth , as longas they, and as broad as they-, 
 and all their goings out 'were both according to the irfafoions, and accor¬ 
 ding to their doores. Heb. 3. 2. Who was faithful to him that ap¬ 
 pointed him , as alfo (tSHofes was faithful in all his houfe. Hcb. 8. 5, 
 Who ferve unto the example and fhadow of heavenly things, as 
 tJdLofes was admonifhed of God , when he was about to make the ta¬ 
 bernacle', for, fee (faith he) that thou make all things according to 
 the pattern Jhewed thee in the mount. But when thefe things are refl:- 
 cd upon an4 idolized, they do.through our corruption become 
 fnares to us, to keep us from feeking in to more excellent and 
 better things,to wit,communion and fello wfhip with G O D, and 
 the power and life ofgodrmefs, which are the kernell, whereof thefe 
 things are but the fhell and the ferooff, and being refted upon, do 
 provoke the Lord either to make them barren and fruitlefle to us, 
 or elfc to loath us in the following of them , or to remove them 
 wholly away from us. Iftt r. 10, ii, ii, 15, 14, \ Henrthe 
 
 word of the Lordye rulers of Sodom, giveeartotheLaw'ofohtrGod 
 ye people of Gomorrah-, To what purpofe is the multitude of your fa- 
 crifices to tne, faith the Lord? I'^amfull of the burnt-of^erings of 
 rams , and the fat of fed beafs: / delight hot in the blood-of buL 
 locks, or of lambs , or of he-goats. When ye come to appear before 
 me , who hath required this at your hands, to tread my Courts'* 
 Bring no more vain oblation, incenfe is an abomination tome, the 
 new moons and the Sabbaths, and the eaUmg -of the ajfembly, I 
 cannot away with-, it is an iniquity, eventhefolemnmeetihg\ your 
 new moons and appointed feafis my foul hateth , they a^e a trouble 
 ■to:me, L am weary to bear them: And when ys fpre ad forth your ■. 
 
 hands-, / 
 
t j ... r^o 
 
 KAHa^ •) I will hide wine eyes from you ; yea when ye make many 
 prayers ^ 1 willnothear i yom hands are fuil of blood. \{eLU 66. 
 
 3,4, Thus faith the Lord, The heavens ismy thron-e ^ and the earth 
 is my footfiool , where is thehoufejc wtU build me , and.where is the 
 place of my refl\ for ail thefe things hath mine handmade^ and all 
 thefe things have been faith the Lord Lut to this man will / 
 look^, even to him that is of a poor and contrite fpirit <, and trem- 
 bleth at my word. He that killeth an ox is as if he flew a man : he 
 that facrificeth a lamb ^ as if he cut off a dogsneck^: hcthatoffe- 
 reth an oblation , as he that offereth fwmes blood \ he that burneth 
 incenfle, as he that bleffeth anidol. Teas they have chofen their own 
 wajes ) and their foul delighteth in their abominations ; / alfb 
 will cheofe their deiufiom, and bring their fears on them ^ her 
 eaufewhen Jealled-^mne Sd anfwtr ^ and when Ifpake.they didnot 
 hear but did evilt before mine eyes.^ and &hofe thatinwhichI de.^ 
 lighted not. Jcr* 8, 10, 1 1, iz, i 3, 14. Truf ye not .in lying 
 
 wordsfaymg , The temple of the Lord the temple of the Lord, are 
 thefe. Behold y ye trufl in lying words that cannot profit. Will ye 
 Jieal ^ murder, commit adultery'). and Jwear falfely, and burn incenfle 
 to Baali and walk^after other gods whom ye 'know not.^ and come 
 and (band ibefore me in this houfle, which is called by my name, and 
 fay, we are delivered to do all cthefe abomiuationsl It this houfe 
 which, is. called by my ISlame become .a. den of robbers inyour eyes ? 
 Beholdy even l.hatle feemit s: faith the Lorda .butigb .ye to my place 
 vfknch Was in Shiloh s where IfetmyNameattheflrjf-ahdfeewhat.l 
 did to it, for. the wickydneffe of my people Jfrael. .iAndnowbecaufe 
 yehave done all thefe works , faith the Lord, and 1 fpafle tpyou^ ri- 
 fing up early, and fpea king, but ye heardnop% . and J' called you, but 
 ye anfwered not : Therefore, will L do umo tins houfi which is called 
 by my Name ^ wherem ye trufl, and to the. place which 1 gave to 
 your father^., as I have, done to Shiloh, Jizek. y,.^On 2 i,'22. As 
 far the .beamyafhisornament ,.he fletftm M aye fly.'.butthe'y mads the 
 images of thetr abominations, and of their deteflable things therein : 
 therefore have i flu it far from them. And I will give it to the 
 bands of the /hangers for a prey, and to the wicj^d of the earth for 
 a fpoil, and they fhall polluse it', my face alfo will i turn, from 
 them , and they fhall pollute my /ecru place, for the robbers fhal 
 mter into, it and defile it. Zeph. 3.13.; The remnant of Ifrael fhal 
 not do tmquisy , nor fpe.ak,lfii, nsnber fhal aidecmfuTtfingue:be 
 t' ■ C 3_, found 
 
(tl) 
 
 found in their mouthy for they [hal feed and lydo7vn if and none Jhai 
 ?Kak^ them afraid. And this hath been undoubtedly in a: great 
 mcarure the fault of many in thisLand, the height of whdfe zeal 
 and endeavours hath been for the moft part to attain the purity of 
 Ordinances, not labouring for the power thereof, vjf hence hath 
 iffued a great deal of boafting and confidence in a Covenant and 
 pure Ordinances,and a well reformed Kirk.when in the mean while 
 moH: men be ftrangers to that gracethatbringeth falvation , and 
 teacheth to deny ungodlinefl'e and worldly lulls , and to live fober- 
 Iv-jfighteoufly and godly in this prefent world. Titus z. 11, n.Fur 
 the grace of God that bringetF falvationhath appeared to all men , 
 teaching us, that denying ungodlinejfe and worldly lufis,Vpefhould 
 live godly , righteouflj andffberly in this prefint,world. The fecond 
 is the lad Confequents that hath followed on this,, whereof there 
 be four fpeciail in the Article. 
 
 The Firll whereof is , Theadmittingofperfonsnotrightly qua¬ 
 lified to the workoftheMinillry, and Elderlhips in Congregati¬ 
 ons , and the continuing offuch in thefe places. For underllanding 
 of which , ye would confider, that the Word ofGod, and Ads and 
 Conllitutions of outKirk, do require of Minillers, not only that 
 they be men of knowledge, underllanding and confcience, for ru¬ 
 ling in thehoufe of God, and of a blamelefs converfation; but that 
 they be landified and holy, and fpirituai, and have their fences ex- 
 ercifed in fpirituai things: A Bifhop Paul ^ Tit. 1.8.) mujl 
 he a lover ofgoodmen ,foher fuflfholy^ temperate. And the fame A- 
 polfle iTim.^. 6.tQ\sus,hemuJ} not he a novice^ororiQ newly con\Q 
 in to the faith. He would not only have hi min the faith, that he 
 may fpeakbecaufe he beieeves, and be able to comfort others with 
 the confolations wherewith he hath been himfelf comforted of 
 God, 2 Cor. i. 3,4. Blejfed he God., even the Father of our Lord 
 Jeftis Chrifl, even the Father of merci.es , and God of all comfort y 
 who comforteth us in all our tribulation y that we may be able to 
 comfort others who are in trouble , with the comfort wherewith we 
 our felves have been comforted of God. In the Ads of the Alfem- 
 b!y at Edinburgh 1596, iJMharch 16. it is provided, That the 
 trial of the perfons to be admitted to the Minillry hereafter, confifi: 
 not only in their learning and ablity to preach, but allb in confcicn- 
 ceand feeling, and fpirituai wildom ; and in the fame Ad itis pro¬ 
 vided , chat llich as lhall not be found given tofandification and 
 
 prayer. 
 
prayer, that ftudy not to be powerful and fpiritual, but be cold,and 
 wanting Ipiritual Zeal, that ail fuch perfons be cenfured, and con¬ 
 tinuing therein , be deprived ; Which Aft was revived in the Gen. 
 Affembly i6 s8. likewife in theGen. Affembly 164^. The putting 
 in,and holding in of infufficicnt and fufpefted men, who favour the 
 things ofthisiife^ and the keeping the door ftraiter on thele whom 
 God hath fealcd, then on thefe who have lefs evidence of Grace 
 and holinefs, is reckoned amongfl: the enormities and corruptions 
 of the Miniftry in their callings; and amongft the remedies of thefe 
 corruptions, it is provided,That all Presbyteries make great confei- 
 ence to have all vacant places, within their feveral bounds fetled 
 with godly and able men, wherever they be found. Thefe Scrip¬ 
 tures and Afts, with fundry others of the like kind , require, not 
 only that a Minifter be negatively holy,that is,one who is not fcan- 
 dalous in his life and converfation , but that he be pohtiveiy holy, 
 acquainted with God and fpiritual things, and a partaker of the 
 grace of the Gofpel in himfelf, which he preacheth to others; and 
 religious reafon doth require the fame: How fhall he be a Chri- 
 ftian Minifter , whois not aChriftian> how fhall he preach to o- 
 theis, who doth not himfelfbeleeve ’ how fhall he know to fpeak 
 a word in feafon, to whom the Lord hath not given the tongue of 
 the Learned’ to comfort others with the confolations of God, 
 who was never comforted therewith himfelf’ How fhall he pray 
 for others, who cannot pray for himfelf’ How fhall he reveale ' 
 Chrift , who never knew him’ How fhall he naturally care for 
 fouls, w ho hath not the love of Chrift dwelling in him ? The Scri¬ 
 pt ures do alfo require of ruling Elders , not only that they be men 
 of Linderftanding, knowledg, and wifeiom, and fuch as are able to 
 difeern and rule , but,alfo that they be blamelefs and holy, as is 
 evident in the Epiftles of PauLio Timothy and Tttus. And the 
 DifeiplineofourKirk requires, That befidcs abilities to govern , 
 confult, admonifh, and order all things appertaining to the ftate of 
 the Congregation, that they be men of a good life and holy con¬ 
 verfation , without blame, and allfufpition, careful for the Flock, 
 wife; and above all things fearing God: notwithftanding hereof, 
 many litteral and formal men, who arc ftrangers to the myfterie of 
 godlinefs, & work of the Spirit of life, which is in Jefus Chrift, arc 
 Emitted unto, and continued in the Miniftry and Elderfhips,{'nay, 
 in fome places, efpecially in Elderfhips, men that are ignorant and 
 
 fcandalous) 
 
(h) 
 
 fccindalous) by which things it comes to pafs that there is a llfelefs, 
 /lead , and carelefsMiniftry , and unprofitable Elderfnlps in many 
 Congregations, and that the growth of the Gofpei and godiinel's, 
 is exceedingly obftrudled and hindered. 
 
 The fecondConfequent which is mentioned , is, T he grols fligh¬ 
 ting and mocking of Kirk Cenfiircs, and of Publick Repentance; 
 whereof it would be confidered, That the W ord of God, Acfls and 
 Conftitutions of this Kirk, do require of thefe who are to make 
 Publick Profeflion of their Repentance for fcandalous offences, not 
 only a naked and bare profeflion of Repentance , butfuchaprofef- 
 fion of Repentance,as doth hold forth a real conviilion andforrow 
 for fin; and not only the ceafing from the fin for the time, but the 
 bringing forth of the contrary good fruits of fobriety , righteouf- 
 nefs and holinefs. 5. 6, 7, 8. Speakjinto the Children ofJf- 
 
 rael , vahen a man or a woman [hall commit any (in that men com- 
 mit, to do a trefpafs againfl the Lord, and that perfon beguiltj; 
 then they [hall confefs their Jin which they have done ; and foe fhal 
 recompence his trefpafs with the principal thereof, and add amo it 
 the fifth part thereof, and give tt unto him againji whom he hath 
 trefpaffed. But if the man have no kinfman to recompence the 
 trefpafs psnto, let the trefpafs be recompenced unto the Lord, 
 even unto the Priefl : bejide the %am of atonement, whereby an atone¬ 
 ment fhal be made for him- It is appointed that offenders who have 
 wronged others, and were to be admitted to the trefpafs. offering, 
 fnould not only make confeflion of their fins, but alfo make fatisfa- 
 (flion to the party to whom the wrong was done, which fatisfadio n 
 is a fruit of righteourneffe; to which agrees that of 
 
 5. 2 j. Jf thou bring thy gift to the jd I tar, and there remem^ 
 brefl that thy brother hath ought againfi: thee , verf. 24. leave 
 there thy gift before the Altar, and go thy way , and fir ft be recon¬ 
 ciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. In that publick 
 penirentiall confeflion that is mentioned, Ejra. 10 ro, 11. Te 
 have tranforejfed and taken [range wives, and increafed the tref¬ 
 pafs ofifrael' now therefore make confefiion to the LORD GOD 
 of your fathers , and do his pleafure, and feparate your [elves from 
 the people of the land, and from the [range wives. There it not 
 only a confeflion of the fin, but a doing ofthe LORDS pleafure, 
 and a feparating of themfelves from the people ofthe land, and 
 from the ftrange wives. Tfal, 51. which was penned to be a tefii- 
 
 mony 
 
mony of Davids VxMxck Repentance, forthefcandalousfinsof 
 murder and adultery committed by him; and was therefore com¬ 
 mitted to the chief Mufician, to be Pubiifhed in the Sandtuary and 
 Temple, doth contain many noiableEvidences of Repentance and 
 Reformation; And wcfecthe Apoftle 2 Cor.i.y. doth not 
 give charge tq the for the receiving the Inceftuousper- 
 
 fon , until he is in fome appearance of hazard to be fwallowed up 
 with too much forrow. 7. verfe Te ought to forgive him andcom^ 
 fort him^ leaf perhaps fuch an one be fwallowed up with overmuch 
 forrow, which doth argue that the Apoftle thought a great mea- 
 fure of reallconvidion and forrow requifite in fuch an ©ne, before 
 he ought to be received: According to thefe Scriptures , the firfi: 
 bookofDifcipIine,in the 7, head thereofrequires, that before Scan¬ 
 dalous perlbns be admitted to the Publickconfeffion of their Re¬ 
 pentance , that there appear in them fignes of unfeignedrepentance; 
 and the form and order of Publick repentance appointed by the 
 Generali Ahembly of the Minifters and Elders , in the which they 
 ought Sharply to be examined what fear and terrour they have of 
 Gods judgements, and what hatred for fin, and dolor for the 
 fame, and what fenfe and feeling they have of Gods mercies;in the 
 which if they be ignorant, they ought diligently to be inflrudled: 
 For it is but a mocking to prefent luchjto Publick Repentance as 
 neither know what fin is, what Repentance is, what Grace is, nor 
 by whom Gods mercy and favour is purchafed, thereafter the of¬ 
 fender fhall be inftruded in the Affembly, fo that he have fome tafte 
 of Gods Judgements, but chiefly of Gods Mercies through Jefus 
 Chrift, he may be prefented before the Publick Kirk; And the Adb 
 of the Generali Affembly at 159<5. fJMiarch.z. 6 . That 
 
 none falling in Publick fcandall be received in the fellowfhip of the 
 Kirk, except his Minifter have fome appearance and warrand in his 
 Confcience, that he hath both a feeling of fin, and an apprehenfion 
 of mercy; and for this effed, thattheMinifler travail with him in 
 Dodrine, and private inflrudion, to bring him thereto; efpecial- 
 ly in the Dodrine of Publick Repentance, which being ncgleded, 
 the Publick place of Repentance is turned to a mocking. And the 
 Ads of theGenerall Affembly at Edinburgh i 549.provids that be- 
 caufe many heretofore have made a fhew and profeffion ofRepen- 
 tance , who were not convinced of theirguiltineffc , nor humbled 
 for the fame, but did therafter return like the dog to the vomite, 
 
 D and 
 
(26) 
 
 and with the fo W to the puddle, unto the mocking of God, the ex¬ 
 ceeding great reproach and detriment of hisCaufcjThercfore for the 
 better difeerning the truth & fincerity oftheRepentance ofthefe 
 who defire to be admitted to theCovenantandCommunionjit isap* 
 pointed and ordained that none of the perfons who are debarred 
 from the Covenant and Communion , fhall be received and admit¬ 
 ted thereunto , but fuch as after tryal fhall be found for fome com¬ 
 petent time either before or after the offer oftheir Repentance , 
 according to the diferetion of the refpedlive Judicatories, to have 
 in their ordinary converfation given reall teftimony oftheir diflike 
 of the late unlawfull Engagement, and of all the courfes and ways 
 ofMalignants, and of their forrow for their acccffion to the fame, 
 and to live godly, righteoufly, &foberly &c.And reafonalfo proves 
 the fame point, for whether we take Publick Repentance in refer¬ 
 ence to the removing offcandal and offence given to the Kirk, or in 
 reference to the abfolution of the party from the guilt of the fam-e 
 intimated to him by theMinifterasthefervantofChrift , andin 
 the Name of Chrift, on his Repentance ; it muftalwayes be under¬ 
 flood of fuch a profeffion of Repentance, as doth evidence the rea¬ 
 lity and humility thereof in outward fruits; fora real fcandal can¬ 
 not be removed by a bare and verbal profeffion without fcLiits; nei¬ 
 ther can a miniiler with any perfwafionofconfciencemake^ny in¬ 
 timation of mercy and pardon to him of the reality and fincerity 
 of whofe profeffion he hath no teflimony in his carriage and con- 
 verfation. Yet notwithffanding of thefe things many fcandalous 
 perfons cfall forts, efpecially thefe who were prophane Maiignants 
 difaffeded to the Work of GOD and his people this laft year, have 
 been admitted toPublickRepentance , on bare conviclionsofRe- 
 pentance and forrow j without any reall evidence and fruit there¬ 
 of in their carriage and converfation j nay, in many of them there 
 w'as prefumptions in the contrary ; which as it hath proven a fnare 
 to their fouls, fo hath it exceedingly provoked God , andltumbled 
 the godly, and rendered Kirk Cenfures and Publick Repentance 
 bafe and contemptible. 
 
 The third confequence is, That the Sacrament ofche LORDS 
 Supper hath been fearfully polluted and prophaned, by the pro-. 
 JTiifcuous admitting of many fcandalous and ignorant perfons 
 thereto: The truth whereof in the matter of fad , asithathbeen 
 t he conflant burden and complaint of all the godly Miniflers and 
 
 people 
 
(^ 7 ') 
 
 people in Scotland thefc many years fo it hath been oft 
 confefTed in the Caufes offolem n Fads, and publick Humiliation 
 and particularly in that publick Acknowlcdgenaent ofSin that was 
 made by the Kirk of Scotland^ in the year 1648. that it may be 
 the better underdood and taken up; ye would conhder firft what 
 perfons by the Word of GOD, and doflrine of the Kirk of 
 Scotland, are to be debarred from, or admitted to the Sacrament 
 of the Lords Supper; how theruleofthe Word andconditutions 
 of the Kirk are keeped in this particular. For the firft, it is clear 
 from the Word of God, and the Dodrine of the Kirk of Scot¬ 
 land, that all fcandalous and ignorant perfons ought to be debar¬ 
 red from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper , and that none ought 
 to be received and admitted thereunto, but fuch who do not only 
 know and make profeflion of the Gofpel, hut vvalke futablc 
 thereunto. The Apodle Paul in thz i Cor. 11.28. appoints that 
 a man mud fird examine himfelf, and lb eat. And he alfo faith. 
 That he who comes to that Sacrament, mud be one w ho difeerne s 
 the Lords Body; otherwife, that he eats and drinks damnation to 
 himfelf; and he further adds. That this miifthe done in remem¬ 
 brance of JESUS CHRIST, to Ihewforthhi^deathtdlhecome 
 again; and therefore fuch as by reafon oftheirignorance cannot 
 examine themfelves, nor difeern the Lords Body , nor knowesiiot 
 what it istofhew forth the Lords death , ought not to come. This 
 fame duty ofexamination, difeerning the Lords Body , which the 
 Apodle calls for, doth alfo debar fcandalous perfons, and admit of 
 none but fuch who walk orderly according to the Gofpel, becaufe 
 the examination here required , mud be according to the nature of 
 tbe Ordinance of the Lords Supper,^ tb wit, wheth^rthey be wor¬ 
 thy or not, thatisjwhethcrthcy have repentance or not; For hc' 
 that comes without it, is unclean i and fb pollutes the Ordinance; 
 as alfo whether he hath faith or not, without which , there can be 
 no difeerning oft he Lords Body, nor fhewing fort k'lds death; and 
 whether they have love or no, without which i there can be no 
 Communion with CHRIST and his Members in that Ordinance. 
 The Confeflion of Faith of i\\tK.\xkoi Scotland, Intituled, To 
 whom Sacraments appertain, fpeaks thusiButtheSupperofthe,. 
 Lord (we confefTcJ to appertain to fuch only as be of the houf-,, 
 hold of Faith, and can try and examine themfelves, afwell in t heir „ • 
 faith as in their duty toiheir neighbour; but iffuch perfons ought „ 
 
 D 2 not 
 
(28) 
 
 not to comejand if the Sacraments do not appertain to them, there 
 canbenoque(l:ion,'but if they prefume tocome , they ought to be 
 debarred, it being a trufl: committed to the Officers of the Kirk, 
 both in the Old and New Teftament to keep the charge of the ho¬ 
 ly things, and to take heed that his Ordinances be not polluted and 
 prophaned, and to feparate the precious from the vile. Lev\t, lo. 
 3 o. That ye may put a dijference betwixt the holy and unholy , be¬ 
 twixt the clean and unclean^ 2 Chron. 23. 19. udnd he fet the por¬ 
 ters at the gates of the houfe of the Lord ^ that none who was un¬ 
 clean, in any thing, fhould enter in, Ezek. 22. 26. They have put 
 no dijference betwixt the holy and prophane , neither have they 
 jhewed dijference betwixt the clean and the unclean. Ezek. qq.. y. 
 Jn that ye have brought into my fanUuary firangers uncircumci- 
 fed in heart, and uncircumcifed m fiejh , to be m my fanUuary to 
 pollute it, even my houf ?, when ye offer my bread, the fat andthe 
 bloud,, and they have broken my Covenant, becaufe of all your abo¬ 
 minations , and je have not keeped the charge of my holy things , but 
 ye have fet keepers of my charge in my fanbluary for your (elves. 
 Mat. y. 6 . Give mtthat which is holy unto dogs, neither cajl ye 
 your pearls before swine , lejithey trample them under their feet , and 
 turn again and rent you. 1 Cor. 5* 13. ^ut them that are without 
 God judgeth ; therefore put away from amongjl your felves that 
 wicked perf m. Tit. 5,10. A man that is an heretickj, after the frji 
 andfecohd admonition, rejeB. Re v. 2. 20. Nevertheleffe I have a few 
 things again/} thee , becauf ? thou fuffereflthat woman ffez^ebel , which 
 calleth herfelfa prophetef r, to teach &feduce my fervants to commit 
 fornication, and to eat things facrificedto idols. Jer. ij. 19. If thou 
 take forth the precious from the vile, thou fhalt be as my mouth: 
 let them return unto thee , but return not thou unto them, T he Direcfl-. 
 ion for the Publick Worlhip of God throughout the three King- 
 domes , in the Head concerning the Celebration of the Lords Sup¬ 
 per , aflerts, that the ignorant &fcandalous are not to receive the 
 Sacrament.And the LargeCatechifm afierts.That fuchas are found 
 to be ignorant &fcandalous, notwithftanding their profeffion of 
 faith and defire to come to the Lords Supper, may & ought to be 
 keeped from that Sacrament, by the power which Chrifl: hath left 
 in hi s Kirk, until! they receive inflrudion, and manifeft their refor¬ 
 mation; And theConfeffionofFaitlicondefcended on by theAffem- 
 biy ofDivinss, and approven by the Kirk of ^^otland, in the Chap- 
 
terof the Lords Supper, faith, That all fcandalous and ignorant per- 
 fons, as they are unfit to enjoy Comiuunion with CHRIST, fo are 
 they unworthy of the Lords Table, and fo cannot without great 
 fill againlL CHRIST (whilft they remain fuch) partake of the 
 holy Myfteries, or be admitted thereto. And for proof thereofjci- 
 teth thefeScriptures, i Cor. 11. 27, 28, zp. Whereforewhofoever 
 fhall eat this breads and drink^this cup of the Lord unworthily, 
 fhall be guilty of the body and blond of the Jford'. But Ictaman 
 examin himfelfj and f » let him eat of that breads and drinl:^ of that 
 cup : For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily , eateth and drirf- 
 keth damnation to himfelf^ not difcerning the Lords body. 2 Cor. 
 y. 14, t j, 16. For the love ofChrifi conftraineth us, hecaufewe thus 
 .judge., That if one died for alf then were all dead-, and that he 
 died for aUy that they which livefhould not henceforth live 
 to themfelves., but to him that died for them, and roje again. 
 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after theflefh ; yea , though 
 we have known Chrifi after the fiefh , yet we henceforth know him 
 no more. \ Cor. 5- 6, 7. Know ye not , that a little leaven leavenetb 
 the whole lumpi ’Furge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may 
 he a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Chrifi ourpajfover 
 ts facrficed for us, v. 13. But them that are without, Godjudgethi 
 therefore put away from among your felves that wickedperfon, 
 2 Theff. d, 14, I y. ‘B^pw wecommandyou, brethren,in the Name 
 of our Lord Jefus Chrifi, Tloatye withdraw your felves from every 
 brother that walkjth diforderly , and not after the tradition which 
 hereceived of us. .And if any man obey not our word by this EpifiU , 
 note that man , and have no company with him , that he may be 
 afhamed. Tet count him not as an enemy , hut admonifh him as a 
 brother. Mat. y. 6 . Give not that which iS holy unto do neither cafi 
 
 ye your pearls before fwine, lefi they trample them under their feet 
 andturn again and rent you. 
 
 As to the otber,howthe Ruleofthe Word,andConfiitutions of 
 this Kirk are keept in this particular it needs not much be fpoken, 
 the tranfgreffion being fo palpable & common that they who runs 
 may read , thefe particular faults may betaken notice of in order 
 to this point; i. To fay nothing, that in fome places, few or none 
 at all arc excluded for ignorance,but that perfons being once come 
 to fuch an age, are admitted, and being once admitted, are never a- 
 gain excluded : Therg^s in many Congregations little or no care to 
 
 D 3 examin, 
 
( 5o) 
 
 examine,or take any notice ofthe knowledge of all perfonsindiffe- 
 renrly, fomething being done in reference to fervants , and thefe of 
 the poorer fort, but mafters of families and thofe of the richer fort 
 for the moft part negleded, takingitforgranted (as it were) that 
 they have knowledge, when indeed many ofthem aregrofly igno¬ 
 rant , and ought becaufe of their ignorance to be debarred. 2 .That 
 the barerepeating ofthe Lords Prayer, the Belief, or ten Comman- 
 dements, or anfwering a Quehion or two of the Catechifme by 
 rot-rime (as wefayj when nothingofthe meaningisunderftood, 
 is by many taken for knowledge fufficient. 3. There isnotfuffi- 
 cient caie to take notice of all fcandals and fcandalous perfons, in 
 which refpedl there is a twofold grofs negledt; i That the fcandal 
 of omifTion of Duty is not taken notice of, as well as the fcandal of 
 commiflion of fin, notwithflranding that the Adfs and Conflituti- 
 ons of the Kirk make exprefs provifion for the one afwel as for the 
 other, as may be feen in their Ads againft’thefe who abfent them- 
 felves on the Lords day from the Pubiick W orfhip of God, and a- 
 gainfl mailers of families who negled to pray in their family, anci 
 others of that nature. 2.The many fcandals of commiflion are alfo 
 neglecled , it being acullom in many Congregations to take notice 
 only of Fornicators and Adulterers, and workers on the Lords day, 
 and fuch as thefe; but do negledlTiplers, Drunkards, Swearers, 
 Lyars, Deceivers of their Neighbors, Fighters, OpprefTors, Extor¬ 
 tioners, Covetous perfons, and many others who walk contrary 
 to the Gofpel; whereas it is exprefly provided by the Difeipiine 
 ofthisKirk, in the year 158 7. that if the Elderfhip perceive any 
 thing in the Congregation either evil in the example,or fcandalous 
 in manners, and not befeeming their profeflion , whatfoever it be 
 that may fpot the ChriflianCongregation,yea rather whatfoever is 
 not to edification, ought not to efcape admonition or punifhmenr, 
 Of higher degree of Kirk-Cenfure , as 2 Cor. 2.6. Sufficient to fuch' 
 a man is this -puniflrment which was infiiSled of many. 3. That 
 many fuch as have been judicially convided offcandalous feults, 
 are prefled and received into a pubiick profeflion ofP cpentance, 
 wiien as indeed there is no real evidences of Repentance , yet by a' 
 profeflion therofare put in a capacity to come to the Lords Table : 
 By thefe waies it comes to pafs that many igndrant and fcandalous * 
 perfons are admitted who ought to be excluded ; which certainly 
 is a fearful fin, as may appear in thefe and BRany other refpeds : 
 
 I. It 
 
I. It hinders many poor fouls from fearching after knowledgCjond^ 
 from departing from iniquity,and hardens them in their ignorance 
 and lewdnefs, 2, It caufeth them to prohane the precious blond of 
 the Covenant, and to eat and drink damnation to themfelves. 3. It 
 makes the ignorant and fcandalous promifcuoufly partakers of the 
 feals ofthe Covenant of Grace with the truly godly. 4. It provokes 
 the Lord to depart from hisOrdinances,and forfake his Temple,be- 
 caufe of fuch diihonour to his Name. 5. It brings on the judgment 
 of God on particular perfons and the whol Land. LafllyTt grieves 
 and Humbles the godly amongfl: our felves, and expofes our felves 
 and the Ordinances of Chrift: therein , to contempt and reproach 
 amongfl; others. 
 
 The FourthConfequent which is named to follow on the refling 
 upon outward and bare forms,is the keeping in of many continual¬ 
 ly & openly profane in the fellowfhip of this Kirk, by which is 
 meant the negled of calling out fuch from the fellowfhip of the kir k 
 by the fentence ofexcomunicationj for certainly thefe who do wil¬ 
 fully continue in their ignorance from year to year, flighting the 
 means ofknowledgc, and refufing to be inftrudfed, or to learn the 
 way of the Lord : And thefe who do continue in an open couiTe of 
 prophanity , niakingaprofeflionofrepentancc, and Hill peiTifling 
 in their wicked way after fufficient pains taken on them , and their 
 flighting other inferior Kirk Cenfures, ought to be caften out as dry 
 and withered, corrupt and rotten branches, and not to be looked 
 as Members oftheKirk of GOD. Num. 15. 30. But the foul that 
 doth ought prefumptuoujlj ^ whether he be born in the Land, ora 
 Jiran^er; the fame reproacheth the Lordj and that foul fhall be 
 cut off from amongji his People. Ffal. 50. 16, 17. Butto the wic~ 
 kjd God faiths What haji thouto do to declare mj Statutes ^ or that 
 thou fbouldcf take mj Covenant in-thy mouth feeingthouhatefl m~ 
 ftruBion and cafleth mj Words behinds thee 1 tWkCat» 18.18. ^rily 
 L fay unto jau-^ Whatfoever you fhallbindon Earth., fhallbebound 
 in Heaven, And therfore it is provided in the old Ads of the Af- 
 fembly of this Kirk, that who willftubbornly remain ignorant in 
 the principal points of Salvation , fhall be Excommunicated: And 
 that every Mailer of Family fhall be commanded, either to inflrud 
 his Children and Servants, or caufe them heinflruded ; and if they 
 will not, the Kirk fhall proceed againft them. The Gen. Aflembly 
 at Edinburgh in the year- i(Sq8. in the Overtures lor the remedy. 
 
( 3 O 
 
 of Grievances and common Sins of the Land , provided, That per- 
 Tons often giiiity ofgrofs fcandalsjbeExcommunicated morefum- 
 marily then ordinary Procefs, except there be more then ordinary 
 figns & an eminent meafure of repentance,made known to theSef, 
 jfions and Presbyterie. Befides thefe four, the Article alfo mentions 
 . many other fad and fearful confequents unto the prophaning ofall 
 the Ordinances of God, and rendring them bare , barren and fruif- 
 lefstous. And thereisnoqueftion, but that formality in profeffi- 
 on, and refting upon, and idolizing outward and bare forms,brings 
 out many fad confequents beiides thefe-, fuch as the flighting by 
 many, and mocking by feme, the work ofthe Spirit, not Peeking 
 after communion and fellowfhip with God in Ordinances, not 
 ftudying to know, and be humbled for the iniquity ofourHoly 
 things, not feeing a need, and imployingof JESUS CHRIST 
 forftrength, and acceptance in all our performances; and turning 
 the living God to a dumb Idol: and many others that are menti¬ 
 oned and fpoken to, inthatPaper pubiifhcd by the Commflion, 
 concerning the contempt ofthe Golpel. 
 
 The Fourth zyirticle. 
 
 The fourth Artde hath two parts; the firfl: whereof relates to 
 the neglect of Family-worfhip: which though it be a grievous fin, 
 which provokes the Lord to pour our his wrath on a People, 
 lo. 25. Four out thy fury on the Heathen that know thee not ^ and 
 G» the families that call not on thy Name. Yet there be many Ma- 
 fters of Families amongft all ranks of perfvns. Noblemen , Ba¬ 
 rons, Gentlemen, BurgelTes, Commons, and even fome Miniflers 
 W’ho lie underihe guilt; nay, there be but few in which the plu¬ 
 rality will not be found to ncgledl, or never to have pradtifed the 
 Duty: Inftance is given in the Article ofGreat men, (Nobles, 
 Barons, Gentlemen and Burgefles ofl’pedal note) becaufe very few 
 are to be found amongft thefe who make confcience to call on the 
 Lords Name in their Families, fome of them turning over the Du¬ 
 ty wholly on a Chaplain, or fome other perfon in the Family; and 
 others of them having no fuch Duty In their Families performed at 
 all, either by themfelves, or by any other, they being either un¬ 
 able, or afhamed and unwilling to do it; whereas great and eminent 
 perfons have accounted it their duty and glory, and have followed 
 it with much confcience and care,as may be inftanced in Ahrahamy 
 Cjen. iB. 19. For I himy that he will commandhts children , 
 
 and 
 
md his hotifhold after him , and they fhalkeepthewayoftheLordj 
 to do jHjlice and jndgement ^ that t!^ Lord may bring on hhxdhzn): 
 that which he hathfpokenof, hn^my-ofhud ^ 24. 15. ^ndifit 
 feem evill unto you to ferve the LORD, choofet you this day whom 
 ye will ferve whether the gods that your fathers fervedwioo were 
 on the other fide of the floud, or the gods of the Amoiitcs mwhofe 
 Land ye dwel : but as for me , and my hvuf ? we willftrve the LORD. 
 And in David , 2 Sam, 6 . 10, Then David returned to blefs hts 
 
 houfihold. This woful negled of fo necefl^ry and profitable a duty, 
 efpecially in the Families of great Ones, ufualiy attended with 
 the negled of catechifing and inrtruding of Children and Servants, 
 irt the way of the Lord, and prefTing and exercihng them untp 
 Prayer and other religious Duties, ^ as it is a great fin before God , 
 the height whereof is encreafed by their continuing therein, after 
 folemn publick confelTion thereof, and engaging to the contrary, 
 in the year 1648. andisexprefiy to be feen in the folemn , publick 
 confeffion of fins, and engagement to duties; fo it isthe caufeof 
 much ignorance ofGod, Atheifm and loofnefs, prophanity , dif- 
 order and difeontent that is in Families: and not only proves?, 
 hindcrance to the fpreading of piety amongft others who walks af¬ 
 ter their example, but alfo flops the courfe of the Lords bleflings 
 on themfelvcs and on their Families, and brings down upon them 
 many judgments and curfes from the Lord. The other part ofthe 
 Article relates to the loathing and hating of godlinels, and the re¬ 
 proaching, reviling , opprelling and perfecuting the godly: A fin, 
 as it is great in it (eliyGen. 21.9. udnd Sarah faw thefon of Ha^ar the 
 Egytian which fhe had born unto Ahrahammocking.GaLr^. li^.NoTif 
 tve ^ brethren» as Ifaac are the children ofpromife'.'But as 
 then he who was born after the fiefh , perfecuied him who was born 
 after the Spirit, even fo it is now. Pf. 14.6. Te have foamed the coun- 
 fel of the poor; bjcaufe the Lord is (ns refuge. I fa. 8. 18. Behold , 1 
 and the children whom the Lord bath given me are for figns and 
 for wonders in Ifracl, from the Lord of IJofis ivho dwelleth in 
 ^ypiount Sion. Aft, 9.4 tydnd befell to the earth, and heard avoice 
 faytngto him, Saul, Saul, whyperfecutefithoume? Anddrawes 
 down a rccompenfe of tribulation from the Lord. 2 r . 6 . See¬ 
 
 ing ft is a righteous thing with the Lord to recompenfe tribulation 
 to them v>hich trouble you i fo it feems to be a nnonllruous fin a- 
 mongft a People, making profelFion of Reformation, and who arc 
 
 L fo 
 
f 3^> 
 
 fo oftren covenanted to God in fo foiemnaway, andyethatHit’ 
 prevailed and abounded exceedingly this year bygone , in €ourt,in 
 Country ,in Cities, in Judicatories, in the Army, and every where 
 throughout the Land ; ji man made an off'ender for a ivord, 
 and he that departed from anade himfelf a.prsj. It was 
 
 quarrel enough, not to have run with others to the fame cxcefs of 
 not; They who would not be difaffcdled and dlfolute , behooved 
 to be efteemed enemies to their Country; they who fludiedto 
 make confcience of holy Duties, and keep their integrity , were 
 flandcred as Sedfaries, and complycrs with Sectaries, and were not 
 only expofed to the fcourge of tongues,but alfo to the violence and 
 oppreffion of malignant,gracelefs and prophane mentijeithervvece 
 Magiftrates and Minifters free of this fin, but.even fyndry of thefc 
 who ought to have protected , encouraged and countenanced the 
 godly, were as pricks in their eyes, and thorns in their fides ^ not 
 only by withdrawing their countenance from them, giving way 
 to others, to revile, opprefs andperfecutethern, but by implpying 
 their own gifts and power in Judicatories, and Puipits, and othef- 
 waies, for keeping them down, and makipg th^m hateful and odi¬ 
 ous to others amongfl: whom they live. And whiled'wc are 
 fpeaking ofthefe things , We cannot but mention the gr.cat preju¬ 
 dice and enmity which many Minifters had,againft the exercifes of 
 godlinefs and duties of mutual edification , together with the great 
 blot brought upon piety , and the great blow given to theexercife 
 of godiinels by the Ad of the Affembly at Aberdeen , not repented 
 of by the Kirk of Scotland, nor repealed to this day : and the great 
 hcglcd of the duties of mutual edification amongft the Lords Mi¬ 
 nifters and People, after there was allowance given for the fame 
 by the following AfTemblies, and the fuftering of rfiany giftiefs and 
 unprofitable Minifters not giftedof God to edifie his People , to 
 continue in ibeMiniftry whereby it comes to pafs that paany gra¬ 
 cious People w'ere ncceffitated either to want edification in the 
 Fublick Ordinances, or to fall under the cenfure pf fuch Ads made 
 againft fuch as did ufually withdrawe from the Ordinances and 
 Miniftryofrheir own Parilh Churches. This fin of hating and bea¬ 
 ring down the power ofgodlinefs, and pcrficuting the godly,was 
 accompanied with another, which is mentioned aifoinf'he Article, 
 lowic, The countenancing and employing the ungodly and pro¬ 
 phane , a thing that the godly mans foul abhorred, Pfa.z6. 152,3,4. 
 
 ffadyor: 
 
r55;> 
 
 ypfdge iwi? , O Loaf’d, far / have Vfalkid intsimeintegrity ^ Ih^ve 
 trii(ied alfo in thtLord^*‘fhertfor€ 1 fhallwtjlide. Examrntnf yO 
 ttord^ and pr 6 vc me y try my heart my reitt$\- For thy loving, 
 kindne^e is kefori mme. fye^y and I have svaiked in thy trmh, / 
 have not fit with Vain perfons y neither will / go tvithdipfemblerSy 
 &c. Andfo'throughoiwrthe Pfalra. Pfaim 101.4, 5. <t^ froward 
 heartfhall depart from rite, I wUlriot kyiovp aWKhyd perfon. Whofe 
 privily fiandereth his neighbour y him mil 1 cm off \ Him thm hath 
 a proud heart, and an high look^will I notfuffer. Pfaim. ig,p. 21,, 
 ti. Do not 1 hate them y O LorUy that hate thee?. And am not 1 
 grieved with thefe that rife ttp -againfl thee ? I hate them with 
 perfebi hatred': 1 count them mine emmies, 23 .Search me, O 
 Eord y and htiow my heartr. try rite, and fnow my thoughts. And 
 yet, hath it not gotren great footing amc^ft us, arid made wicked 
 menget up the head , and wickcdneile to grow and abound every¬ 
 where ? The wicked walkpn^veryjide.y when the vilefi men are exal¬ 
 ted y Plalm i2.1aftverli. 
 
 . ' “ 5. i&Artiele. 
 
 fifth A rticle fpeaks of Coy otouCh.e (Te and O ppr e ificvn , the 
 one as the root, .the other, as the filiait and efeeft thereof, 
 need not to infift to fhew wJiat afin tbeloveofthe World 
 and Covetoufnefle is , the Scriptures hold it forth as Idolatry j Co/, 
 3. 5. tJMiortifie therefore yoitr members which are on the earth, 
 
 • formetttony uncleanneffe , inordinate afebiion, evil concupifcence, 
 and covetoufnejfe which is Idolatry y as the root ofall cvill. i Tim. 
 6 . lO. For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while fame 
 men have coveted after y they have erred from the faith, and pierced 
 themfelves through with many forrows: As that which is incemfi- 
 ftent with the love of God. 1 Joh. 2.15. Love not the World, 
 neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the World y 
 the love of the Father ts not in him. As that which makes the Lord 
 wroth with men.Ifal. For the tni<juity of his covetoufnes was I 
 
 wroth y and fmote him : 1 hid my felf and was wroth y andhewent on 
 frowardlj in the way of his heart. And to abhor them, Pl'alrn i o. 3. 
 The wicked boafieth Of his -heans defire , and bltjfeth the covetous 
 whom the Lord abhdrreth. As that which brings the curfe.of 
 God on them and ontheirfamilies, A/4 A 1. 9, 10, ri. Wotohim 
 that cQveHth an evil covetoufneffe To his houfe, that he may fet his 
 
 E z fteji 
 
no 
 
 nefl on high , that he may he delivered frdm the power of evil. Thou 
 haft conf’ 4 ted fhame to thine houf ?, hy Cfittmg off many people , and 
 haft finned again ft thy foul. Fortheftonesfhallcryoutofthewally 
 and the beam out of the timber J hall anfwer it. Andtho,iigh it have 
 in it all thefe and many other mifehtefs andevils-, yet bath it 
 taken hold on, and doth eleave clofely to many o£ all ranks in 
 the Land in their carriage and adlings: Do not the Body of the 
 People fpend their time in feeking after the things of a prefent 
 world; and according as they profper, or are croiled in thefe 
 things, accordingly do they think themlelves happy or miferable. 
 And there be Minifters not a few, that as they entetied, fo do they 
 follow the work ofthe Miniftcry for the things.ofa prefent world, 
 and are more for caring for thefe things^thenfar-the ioulscommirf 
 ted to their charge , and more eager in purfuingan encreafe and 
 augmentation in thefe things, then in purfuing the things that con^ 
 cern the beating down ofSatans Kingdom , and the promoyingof 
 the Kingdom of the Lord JESUS CHRIST., And hence alloit 
 is as froma main caufe that Minifters not a few, prove unfaithfull 
 in their duty, and unfutable in a day olteinptation,rather choofing 
 to forbear to reprove and cenfure the faults of thefe who may bring 
 prejudice to them in things worldly,ratherthen to offend them,and 
 rather choofing to become neutrail and indifferent,or comply with 
 evil! courfesjthen to hazardthe Ioffe of their jftipends,but especially 
 the fad and wofull fruit of this wofull evift appears in Mafters to 
 their fervants, Landlords to their Tenents, Magiftrats and Rulers 
 to thefe over whom they bear rule , Judges to thefe who come be¬ 
 fore them, Advocatsand Procurators to their ClientSiCl€rks,Coni.- 
 miftars and Gollcdors to thefe with whom they have to do ; Ofti- 
 cers and Souldiers in the Countrey where they bear charge, yea 
 and amongft the Commons themfelves, where they have any 
 power one over another; The Lord hath forbidden to oppreffe an 
 hired fervant, and hath commanded at his day to give him his 
 hire: Dcur. 24. 14, i 5. Thou[halt not oppreffe an hired fervant that 
 IS poor and needy ^ whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy ftr angers 
 that are in the land within thy gates,, at his day thou' fhalt five him 
 his hire.y neither fhall the fun go d%wn upon it', for he is poor and needy ^ 
 and fetteth his heart upon it, left he cry unto the Lord againftthe:, and 
 $t be fin unto thee. Yet behold, the hire of the labourer is by many 
 Mafters kceptd back violently fraudulently, and this cryeth 
 
 muo 
 
untoHeaverijand is entred into the eares of theLord of hods. r^;^. 5, 
 4. Behold^the hire of the labourer wbkh have reaped do7i>n jour fields-^ 
 vehich is ofyouk<^ptbackby fraud , cryeth ; andthe erjes ofthem which 
 have reaped, have entred into the ears of the Lord of fabbath. The 
 opprefluLon ofLandlords to their Tenents, are fo many and fo ex¬ 
 orbitant , that they cannot eafily be reckoned , the Lands for the 
 mod: part let by themat a dearer rate then the Tcnentscan pay the 
 Duty , and live in any tolierable condition themfelves; and there¬ 
 fore are they forced with their wives and children to drudge con¬ 
 tinually in the earth from morning till evening ^ byAvhich it comes 
 to palTe, that their lives is but a kind of lading bondage and flavery^ 
 and that they have neither time nor encouragement forlerving 
 and feeking God themfelves in their Families, or for breeding their 
 •children in knowledge, vertue and piety. Secondly,Befide the Rent 
 of theLandcondefeended on, they alfoiay on them many burdens 
 and taxations in an arbitrary way by their Bailiffs and Courts, and 
 otherwayes at their-pleafure, fuch as fervices of ail forts beyond 
 padlion and agreement, and quatteringsjand befide the putting cut 
 of the Foot, andthe burden thereof, fometime the burden of put¬ 
 ting out theHorfe, and the bearingofagreatpart, or the whole 
 Monethly Maintenance and SefTe. Thirdly, The giving of fhort 
 Laces of Lands, and removing them therefrom > and taking away 
 what they have when they grow poor, and are not able to pay, or 
 cife if they thrive, by heightening and augmenting their Farms and 
 B ent, by which means it hath in the righteous judgment of GOD, 
 occafioned that Tenents in many places prove undutifuli to their 
 MaRers, and deny to them thefe things which in confcience and 
 reafon they are obliged to perform. And for i he Ruiers;albeit we be 
 fgr from joining iflue with thefe who'from dif-affedion to theWoik 
 of GOD and the Inflrumcnts thereof,did traduce and fpeak evlil oi 
 thofe whom GOD fet over us in their charge, and even in the 
 impofing of the moff neceflary burdens, and in the moft moderate 
 and equail way , yet we cannot but acknowledge and bemoan tlie 
 great reproach that hath been brought on the chlefjudicatories of 
 the Land,and on the Work of God, by the felfslinefs and particula¬ 
 rity offome perfons ofnote therein , w'ho not only contrary to the 
 praftice of good Nehemiah , who would not eat the bread oft he 
 Governoiir, took large allowance for their attendance on Pubiick 
 Afiairs: and notwithdanJing that they.had fufricicnt efi'ates ot 
 
 E. 35 their 
 
,, . 
 
 their own, but alfo abufed their power and moyen for exatSingand 
 
 im ploying fumrties of Money for themfeives, and for their friends 
 and followers, while in the mean time fmall regard washed to the 
 condition of thefe from whom thefefummes were exafted, or to 
 the equal! fupplying of the condition of others, to whom as much 
 and poillbly more in defert and jtifticc was due, as to thefe to 
 whom thofe Moneyes were given. Wefhallnotinfiftonthebri- 
 bery that hath been amongfl Judges, the cunning , cozenage, and 
 exorbitant pilferings and taking that hath been amongld Acfvocats, 
 Pfocuratdrs,Commi(rars,Cl'crks and Colledorstmany of them have 
 made hafte to be rich , and have by the Bench, by the Purfe,by.the 
 tongue and by the Pen , heaped up much treafure, an'd fhade coiil. 
 quell: ofLands andEftates, but with an eViii cohfcidnte ,'becaufe it 
 hath been the gain of bribery and injuftice and lying and deceit, 
 violence and oppreflion j but amongfl no fort of perfohs hath 
 thefe fins of covctoufnefle and oppreffion more appeared and pre¬ 
 vailed then amongfl: many of the chief Officers and jSo'uldiers in 
 our Armies, infomuch that maUy of thefe who Were raffed for the 
 Lands proteOfion and defence, have been their intoHerab'le burden 
 and plague , Und hav e by their moll: exorbitant, violcrTt,tyrannicail 
 and infatiable exadtions, made the lives of the Inhabitants bitter, 
 and a burden to them: What intervertirig of Levies, whatfalfe 
 Mullers, what exorbitant exadions above the Law for meU'and 
 horfe and Arms; what Quartcrings and covetous fubtiieoppref- 
 fing devices of many forts for getting of Money have been amongfl: 
 Officers,and what plundering of Goodsjdeflroying of Corns,taking 
 and robbing of Moneyes, railing upon, and beating and wounding 
 the poor people : whatexceffiveeatingUnddrinking, andunpla- 
 cablenelle in their diet, not fatisfying themfeives with fuch fare as 
 people could afford to them, bur killing their Kine and Sheep, and 
 what ever came in their way : and how many other things of that 
 kind hath been amongfl: Souldier.';, and what exorbitancies andop- 
 preffions,whereof the negligence and over-fight of fome great ones 
 and officers in ourArmies,was not the leafl: caufedor they not being 
 able to fhake their hands of difhonefl: gain themfeives, did often¬ 
 times wink at,nay fometimes obflrudl: the purging our,and punifh- 
 ing oforhbrs; Amongfl: other effects of CovetoufnelTe, inffanceis 
 given in the clofe of the Article of the great Infolencies and op¬ 
 preffion of many in our Armies in England Ireland , and the 
 
 fearful 
 
(59) 
 
 fcarfull perjuries ofthe Land in the matter ofValuaiion andExcife, 
 both of which were dreadfull and horrible provocations: The firft 
 of them as it was a grievous burden to our Brethren in England and 
 Ireland^ and did exceedingly itumble them at this Nation and the 
 Work of G O 'D in their hands; fo we mahe no queltion but it 
 is one of the (Ins that GOD is-pointing at now in a fpeciall man- 
 .ncr in the rods wherewith he now chaliifethus. The other of 
 them though little adverted to, or laid to heart, or acknowledged 
 to this day , yet is a fearfull guilt which many in the Land ly un¬ 
 der : How many in the matter of Valuations, that Lands might be 
 valued at a low rate , did fwearfalfely ? And how many w'cre there 
 who were Inftrumentall to caufe others to fwearjfalfely,? And 
 fomc Judges for their own advantage and intereft, did connive 
 thereat: And many likewife did fwearfalfely in cxcifeable goods. 
 Before wc clofc what relates to this Article , we defire that thefe 
 Scriptures may be confidered, in reference to the fins mentioned^ 
 there, as the fruits ofthe love of the World and Cover oufnefie. 
 Job. 55. 9. Eg reafon of the r/ialtitude of opprejfions they maket^e 
 oppreffed to cry,, they .cry out hecaufe of the arm of the mighty , 
 •hut none faith, where ts Godt O'c. Pfal. 62.10. Traji not in 
 cpprejfwn, become not vain in robbery'. If riches encreafe, fet 
 not yofir hearts on them.. Pfal 82. 2. How longwillgejudgemjnjt- 
 ly , and accept the perfonofthe wicked ? Proverb. *4.5 dde tht^t 
 opprejfeth the poor, rcproacheth his maker', but he that honoureth 
 him, hath mercy on the poor. Proverb. 15. 27. EJe that is greedy 
 fif^ain, he troubleih his own houfc', hut he who batethgifts, fhall 
 live. Prov. 2,2. 16. He that oppreffeth the poor , to encreafe his ri¬ 
 ches , and he thatgiveth to the rich , fhal furely come to •want. Prpv. 
 28.3. ^ poor man that opprejf ah the poor , is hke a f veeping ram 
 that Icaveth no food. Verfc 8. Hewho by ufury.andunjujt gainen- 
 creafeth- his ftibfance, he fhall gather it for him that fhal pity the 
 poor. 20. Verfe. ^ faithfuU manjhal.aboundwithblefftngs', hut 
 he who maketh hajle to be nch > fhall not be innocent Lcclcf. 7. 7. 
 ■Surety opprcjfion maketh a wife man mad, and a gift defiroycth 
 fhe heart. Hai. 1.21,22,23,24. How is the faithjul city become 
 an harlot'i Jt was full of judgemejit, and righteou/nejf 'e lodged in 
 it', but now murderers: Thy finer ts became drofe, thy wine 
 mixt with water. Thy princes are rebellious , and companions of 
 theeves’. iwry one loveth gifts, and foilowethafter rewards'. they 
 
 judge- 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 .judge not the fatherlejfe, neither doth the caufe of the widow conie 
 ■unto them- Therefore faith the Lord-, the Lord of hojls, the mighty 
 one of Ifrael^hI will eafe me of mine ^■-dverfaries y and avenge 
 me of mine enemies, Ifai. 5. i 2,13,14, i J. As for my people, 'children 
 are their opprejfors ^ and women rule over them. O my people, they 
 which lead thee , caufe thee to erre , attd deflroy the way of thy paths. 
 The Lord (landeth up to plead , and flandeth to judge the people. 
 The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his. people y 
 and the Princes thereof; For ye have eaten up the vineyard, the 
 fpoil of the poor is in your houfes. What mean ye that ye beat my 
 people to pieces , and grind the faces of the poor, faith the Lord God 
 ‘ofhojls. ifai. 5, 7* fiA nd hi looked for judgment, but behold opprejfi'- 
 on-y and for r ghteoufnejfe y but behold a cry. 9. Verfe. Of a truth 
 faith the Lord of Hofls, many houfes fhall be dtfelate-y even great 
 and fair without Inhabitant, \’. 23. Which juflife the wicked for 
 reward, & take away the righteoufnes of the righteous from him. 
 iTa. 10. I, 5. Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that 
 write grievoufnefs which they have prejcribed: To turn afdethe 
 needy from judgment, and to takg away the right from the poor of 
 my People y that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob 
 the fat her lep. tAnd what wil ye do in the day of viptauon, and in 
 the defolation which fhal come from far 1 To whom wil ye fee far 
 help? and where wil you leave your glory'i Without me they fhal 
 bow down under the prifoners, and they fhal fall under the fain: 
 for all this his anger is not turned away , but his hand isflretched 
 out pill. Ifa. 33. 15. He that defpipth the gain of opprcjfion y th^.J 
 fhaketh his hands from boldin'^ of bribes, that floppcth his ears 
 from hearing- of blond y and fhutteth his eyes from feeing eviT. He 
 fhal dwell on high : his place of defence fhal be the munitions of rocky. 
 Jer. 6,6,7. For thus hath the Lord of Hops [aid. Hew ye down trees y 
 and cap a mount agaiip Jcrufalem: this is the City to be vipied: 
 fhe is wholly opprejfion in the midp of her. As a jountain cafeth 
 out her waters y fo fhe cafeth out her wickednefs: Violence and 
 fpoil is heard in her : before me continually is grief and wounds, 
 Jer. 5. 16. For amongp my Te-ople are found-wickedmenythey lay 
 wait as he that fetteth fnares , they fet a trap they catch men.Vzr\l, 
 1 7. As a cage is full of birds,Jo are their houfes ful of deceit; there¬ 
 fore are they become great, and waxen rich, Verf. 28. They are 
 waxen fat, they fhine yea , they overpajf the deeds of the wicked,: 
 
<' 4 ') 
 
 thej not the atufe of the fatherlefs ^ yet they profpcr t, and 
 
 the right of the needy do they not judge. Verf, 2,9. Shall 1 notvifyt 
 for thefe things , faith the Lerd'i fhal not my foul be avenged on 
 fuch A Nation as thist ]er. 22. 13. IVo to him that bnildeth his 
 honfe by unrighteonfnefs, and his chambers by wrong: that ufeth 
 his neighbours fervice without wages , and gives him not for his 
 work^ Verf. 14. That faith ^ I will build me a wide houfe^and large 
 chambers , and cutteth him out windows , and tt is deled with ce¬ 
 dar, and painted with vermilion. Verf. 15. Shalt thou reign be- 
 .caufe thou clofeji thy felf in c€(Lar ? ■ did not thy father eat and 
 drinks, and do judgment and juflice, andihen it was well with him\ 
 Verf 16. He judged the caufe of the poor and needy , then it yv as well 
 7 Vith him : was not this to kno w me , faith the Lord\ V. 17. But thine 
 eyes and thine heart are natbut forthy covetoufnes, and for to fbed 
 innocent bloud, and for opprejfjion, and for violence to do it. Ezek. 
 11. 15. Tehold therefore 1 have fmhten tnine hand at thy difhonef 
 qain which thou haft made, and at the bloud which hath becntn 
 the midft of thee. Verf 29. The Teople of the Landhave ufedop- 
 prejfion , and cxercifrd robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: 
 yea, they haveopprejfedtheftrangcr wrongfully. Hof. 7.1. When 1 
 would have- healed Widioi , then the iniquity of E'phivwi was difcove¬ 
 red, and thewiclzednefs 0/Samaria;/or they commit falfhood,andthe 
 thief cometh in , and the troups of robbers fpoil without. A mos 3. 
 10. For they know not to do right, faith the Lord, who ftoreup 
 robbery and violence in their palaces, ver. 1 1. Therefore thus faith the 
 LordGod. <iy 4 nadverfary there foal be , even round about the Land, 
 and he jhal bring down thy ftrength , from thee and thy pala¬ 
 ces fhal be fpoiled. ver. i 5. fydnd J willfmite the winter houje,with 
 the fummer houf1, and the houfes of lv6ry fhal I perifh, and the great 
 houfes [hall have an end, jaith the Lord. Mic. 3. ri. The Heads 
 thereof judge for reward, and the Pnejts thereof, teach for hire, and 
 the Prophets thereof divine for money, yet willthey lean on the Lord 
 and jay. Is not the Lord amongjl us, none evil can come upon us 
 ver. 12. Therefore fhall Sion for their fakes be plowed like a field, 
 and ]eruC2km foal become heaps, andthe ^sJ^pCountamof the I-Jouje 
 AS the high places of the Forreft -Zeph. 3.1, Wo to her that is filthy and 
 pulluted, to the opprejfing City. ver. 3. Her Princes within her 
 are roaring Lions, her Judges arc ravenous Wolves, they gnaw not 
 the bones til the morrow, verf. 8. Therefore watt yc upon me , faith 
 
 f the 
 
the 
 
 (42 )’ 
 
 Lerd, til 1 rife up to for the prey , my determination is to ga¬ 
 ther the Nations y that I may af emble the Kingdoms y that 1 may 
 pour out on them mine indignation y even almy fierce anger ; for ail 
 the Earth fhal be devoured with the free f [my jealoufie. 2 eph. r. 9. 
 In the fame day will 1 pmifh all them who I eap on the threfholdy ivh* 
 fill their mafiers houfes with violence and deceit. Exod. 22.21, 22v 
 25,24. Te fhal neither vex a fir anger y noropprefishim: foryewere 
 firavgers in the Land of E^ypt. Thou fhalt not afjiiBany widow y or 
 fatherlefs child ; if thou affliH them in any wayes , and they cry at al 
 unto me , I will furely hear- their cry , and my wrathfhalL wax hot'y 
 I will kjll you with the fword y and your wives fhall be widows y and 
 your childrenfatberlef f. 
 
 The Sixth Nr tide. 
 
 The fixth Article relates to the abufing and proftltuting the 
 Publick Faith of the Kingdom, in the way of borrowing of Mo¬ 
 nies and otherwife : which no queftion is not one ofthe lead-pro¬ 
 voking Publick fins in the Land. As private men ought fo far to 
 have their faith and credit in eftimation , for the love ot righteouf- 
 nefs and truth, as not to engage the fame but when they do fin- 
 cerely intend, and really endeavor to perform what they promife; 
 fo much moreought publickperfons,and thejudicatories ofaLand 
 have fuch regard to the Publick Faith of a Nation , as not to engage 
 the fame , but when there be fomerca! purpofcs,and honefi; endea¬ 
 vors to fulfil it: Becaiife the profiituting and breach of Publick- 
 Faith, as itis an high provocation beforeGod, fo it is a great deal 
 more pernicious, reproachful, flanderous, and injurious, and of a 
 worfe example amongfi: men , efpecially when it becomes common 
 and is uled asa fiatc engine, to draw in mens propriety from them, 
 under a vail and fhadow ofrighteoufnefs , and is attended with a 
 kind of confiraint upon men, to take the Publick Faith for fecurity, 
 as it was in this Land. Job 15.4. Tea, thou cafiefi off fear, and re- 
 firainefl prayer before God, Plalm 57. 21. The wicked borrowtth 
 and payeth not again: but the righteous fheweth mercy andgiveth, 
 lia. 59. 12, 15, 14. For our tranfgrefftons are multiplied before 
 thee y and our [ins teflifie agatnfl us : for our tranfigreffions are 
 With us y and as for our iniquities we kno w them. In tranfgreffiK<i^ 
 and lying again ft the Lord, and in departing away from our CJod; 
 /peaking oppreffion and revolty conceiving and uttering from the 
 heart words of falfhood. Nnd judgment is turned away badpi^ard , 
 
 and 
 
(43) 
 
 and jujiice flandeth a faa of: for'truth is fllen in the flreet, and 
 equity cannot enter. Tea^ truth faileth •, and he that departeth from 
 evil mdketh himfelf a prey, uind the Lord favj tt ^ andit dfpleafed 
 him that there was no judgment. 
 
 The Seventh Article, 
 
 The feventh Article mentions two ftns that many ofthis Land 
 are guilty of, in their firft taking of the National Covenant, and 
 folemn League and Covenant, and renewing thereof. Thsfiift 
 whereof is. The ignorancethatwasin many, or the want of the 
 necelfary knowledge of the things contained in the Covenants. The 
 Lord requires of al thofe that take an oath, That they do it in judg¬ 
 ment , fer. 4. 2. .Andthou[halt f v'gear , T he LordUveth in truth,in 
 righteoujhefs 1 and in judgment ^ and the Nations fhall hlcfs them- 
 felves in him. That is, That they take itwdthfucha meafure of 
 diferetion, judgment and underflanding, as is needful for men m 
 their ftation, in order to the Duty which by their Oath they tie 
 themfelves to. But it is beyond qucfticii that many in the Land 
 do (wear thefe Covenants w’irhout the knowledge and underllan-' 
 ding of the heads thereof, fo far as was needful for them in their 
 ftation; who when they were catechifedonthcparciculars, do 
 know little or nothing thereof: Whi: h, no doubt is one caufe why 
 they have fo little minded and followed, «iiddo lo little mind and 
 follow the duties contained therein. Jer. 5. 4. ^nd / faid^ f Sure¬ 
 ly thefe are poor ^ they are foolifh; for they know not the way of the 
 Lord ^ nor the judgment of their God. Theotheris, Thetakingof 
 thefe Covenants without reality and finccrity , in order to the per¬ 
 formance thereof: Which was to fwear not in truth , as the Lord 
 requireth. Jer. 4. 2. thou fhalt/wearThe Lordliveth , &c. 
 
 not falfty. Hof 10. 4. They have fpoken words, fweartnofalfy., 
 making a Covenant: thus judgment jWingeth up as hemlock^in the 
 furrows of the field. And with an heart that was not right, & ther- 
 foie have they not been ftedfaft in the Covenant. Pfal 78. 36, 37. 
 T^everthelefs, they did flatter him with their mouthy and did lye 
 to him tvith their tongues: for their heart was not right u'lthhim , 
 neither were they fledfafi in his Covenant. 1 he judgments therefore 
 mentioned to have been , in fome, example; in others, iear \ and in 
 not a few', principles of policy, for attaining their own ends. Other 
 bad principles certainly there were in (undry perfons, bdide thefe, 
 but thefe arc mentioned as the moft common, and which had (way 
 ‘ F 2 
 
( 44 ). 
 
 with moft of tkefe who were guilty either of ignorance, orof hy¬ 
 pocrite in the entering into thele Covenants, Many did take the 
 National Covenant, in example of others, it being counted praife- 
 worthy and commendable,after fuch a defedlion as was then in the 
 Land , to engage in fuch a duty, and to be reckoned araongil: the re¬ 
 pairers of the breach: Many did take the iolemn League and 
 Covenant, for fear ; becaufe the refufing to take it was attended 
 both with Ecciefiaftical and Civil Cenfures, and therefore did 
 they rather choofe to hazard on the Oath of GOD,- 
 then to run thefe hazards amongh Men; which doth not yet 
 condemn the injoyning the raking ofthefe Covenants upon a good 
 and warrantable principle. It is lawful! for the Judicatories ofa. 
 Kirk and State toiajoyn to men cohabitation with their wives; and 
 to children , obedience to their Parents; tofubjec^fs, obedience 
 to their Magiflrates , and fuchlike under fuch refl^edive relations: 
 Yet as thefe perfons fin againft God if they give obedience only- 
 from a principle of carnal fear; neither doth the influence that 
 thefe relations have on them make the commanding ofthefe things 
 under theferelations to be a fin , becaufe they are in themfelves du¬ 
 ties which are commanded of God, the ncglecfl; whereof may in re¬ 
 gard of fcandall be cenfured by the Kirk, and in regard of the pre¬ 
 judice that redounds to the honour of God,and good of our neigh¬ 
 bour, be punifhed by the civilMagiflrate. In raking of both Co¬ 
 venants though there were many whom a principle ofthc fear and 
 love of God did move, yet there were not afew, whomafter- 
 difeoveries have made manifeft, v/ho were aded thereto by carnall 
 wifedome and policie, for attaining their ov^n bale and corrupt 
 ends, fuch as riches, places of preferment, and lively hood, and 
 eafe; and hence mainly hath iflued that fin which foliowes in the 
 next Aiticle. The eighth ^ylrticle, 
 
 o 
 
 The following, of the Work of God, purfuing the endsof the 
 Covenant not in a holy and fpirituall way, fetting the Lord al- 
 wayes before our eyes, and acknowledginghim inall our paths 
 according to the diredion given us of God, which hath the promife 
 of the Blelfing, Pfalm 5 7. 5. Commit thj; waj to the Lord , trptfi alfo 
 iu him , and hi [hall bring it to pajfe. Prov. 5. y, 6 . Traji in the 
 Lord with allthme heart; and lean not to thy own underjianding^ 
 in all thj wages ackgowledgehim and he Jhal direbi thy paths. Butin 
 a carnall politick vx^ay abuflng Gods Interefl.for our own interefl: 
 
 and 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 and ends, is a fearfull tranlgrcffion, howfoever it isofen palliated 
 with fpecious pretences,as Jehn his zeal againft the houre of ^hab 
 z Kings lo. 16. Cense With me , andfee my z,ealforthe lORD-^ 
 fo they made him ride in his chariot. Yet the Lord doth not fuf- 
 fer it to go unpunifhed , Hcf. i. ,Kndths LORD fa:d unto him, 
 Call his Name fefreel,foryet a little while and I will avenge the hlotid 
 ef ]z(ttQ\onthe houfe o/Jehu , andwili cauje to ceafethe Kingdom cf 
 the hoHS of Ifrael. v. 5. Nndit fhall come to pajfe in that day that I 
 will break^thsbow of Ifraelinthe valley of 
 
 I. Cenfequent, Two Confequents of this carnal way are men¬ 
 tioned , the one is the walking in the way ofour own hearts, more 
 then in theCounfel ofGodtFor when mens hearts are not Tingle and 
 ftreight in reference to the glory of God, they love not to walk 
 according to the fimpiicity ofthe Word of God, but turns ahde to 
 their crooked ways, to chufe fuch carnal midfes as feem moft plau- 
 Tble to their carnal hearts, for comparing their corrupt ends: a Tn 
 that was confefTed inthcpublickfoiemn ConfeiTicnofTns, in the 
 year 1648. And yet never have thefe crooked paths been more 
 troden in, and thefe counfels of flefli and blood been more hear¬ 
 kened to, then Tnce that time*, which is one ofthe caufes, why 
 the /word doth abide in our cities ^ andconfume our branches and de. 
 vours-dPox this the Prophet threatens againft Ifrael, becaufeof their 
 owncounfels. The other, TruTingmore in thcarm offic(h,rhen in 
 the arm of the Lord,- which hath been a conftant and continued 
 lin in this Nation thefe years paft; in dotingon multitudes, skill, 
 and abilities of men, and numbers, andTrengthof horfes;whcnce 
 have ilTued the corrupt mixtures in our ArmicS:and theimpioying 
 of all ranks of perfons, how malignant and prophane foever: what 
 wonder then though our Armies have not profpered ? but have 
 oftentimes met with a curfe in Head of a blefhng. fcr. 17.5,6. 
 Dhus faith the Lord y Cur fed be the man that trujleth in man-, 
 and maketh flefh his arm , and whofe heart departethfrom the Lord , 
 for be fhall be Uhe the heath in the defart ^ and fhall not fee when' 
 good corneth , but fhall inhabit the parched places in the wilder- 
 nefs in a fait Land, and not inhabited. From this fame fountain 
 hath proceeded needlefs alienation of mind, and eflrangednefs o£ 
 heart, on the leaT difference in judgment amongrt Brethren,often 
 attended with palTion and fplecn. 'Which makes our affedion ra¬ 
 ther to favour our own image then the Image ofChriffin others: 
 
 F 3 . and • 
 
anJ our zeal awainft mali^nancie and error did divers times break 
 forth into bitrerneisand reproach againftthe perfoiis that did turn 
 afide, whereas it ought to have been accompanied with Chriftian 
 mccknefsand compaluon. 
 
 The Ni/jih Article. 
 
 TheNinth Article fpecifiesone of the greatefrand mofl: compre- 
 henfive and provoking fins in this Land, vItl. Backfliding and de¬ 
 fection from the Covenants, and our foleinn Vows and Engage¬ 
 ments. For attaining a right impreffion thereof, VVe defire , 1 hat 
 thefe and other Icruplesofthat kind , may belerioufly and imparti¬ 
 ally thoughcon and applied. Prov. 14.14. The haci^-Jlider in heart 
 fhdl be filed with his own ivajcs: and a ^ood man fhall be fat is fed 
 from himfelf. Jer.i^.zQ. Surely j as a'urfe treacheroufly departs!h 
 from her husband : fo have you dealt treacheroufy with me , O houf s 
 ofJjracl, fiith the Lord. Jer. 8.4. fJTT or cover thou fhalt funto 
 them , thus f nth the Lord , Shal they fa.lf and not arif e \fhal he turn 
 away ^ and not returni v. y. V/hj 'then is this People ofyerufaUm 
 fidenback^., by a perpetual b.tcffidlngl they hold fafi deceit ^ thty 
 refufe to return, v. 6. 1 hearkened and heard ^ but they fpak^e not 
 aright: no man repented hhn of his wiclzednefs , f.tying , W hat ha ye 1 
 done : everyone turncth to \ns courfe , as the horfe rufhethinto the bat¬ 
 tel. V. 7. Tea , thef origin the Heavens lysoweth her appointed trmes , 
 and the turtle and the crane, and the fwallow obferv'e the times of 
 their coming ; but my People know not the fudgment of the Lord. v. 8. 
 How do ye fay, We are wife , and the Law of the Lord is with us: le^ 
 certaddy iytvainmadeheit, the pen of the Scribe is in vain. v. 9. The 
 wife men are afhamed, they are difmaicd and taken-, lo, they have 
 rejc bled the Word of the Lord, and what wifiom is in them ? Hof. 1 i. 
 7. (JTCy People are bent to bacffidingfromme though they called 
 tbe?n to the moft high, none at all would exalt him. fer.y.6. Whe¬ 
 refore a Lion out oftheforref fihili fay them , and a Wolf of the even- 
 ing fhdl fpoil them: a Leopard fhall watch over their Cities: every 
 one that goeth out thence, fh.ill be torn in pieces: becaufe their tranf- 
 grefions are many , and their b icffidings are encreafed. Levit. 16. 
 15. Andifyefhalldefpife my Statutes, or if your foul abhor my jud¬ 
 gements , f 3 that ye will not do all my Commandements , but that ) e 
 break my Covenant'. v. 16. .1 alfo will do this unto you, Iwilleven 
 appoint over you te-rrour, confumption, and the burning-aoue , that 
 fhall confurne the eyes, andcaufeforrow of heart: and ye fhall fow 
 
(^ 7 ) 
 
 jour feed in vain^ for your enemies fh^tlleatit. v. 17. I iinll 
 
 fet my face again (i you y and je fhall be fain before your enemies ; and 
 they that hate you , fhall reign over you , and jefhall fee ivhen none 
 purfuethyou. v.35. cy^s long as it heth defolate, itfhalref; becaufe 
 it did not re fin your fabbaths, vehen ye dwelt upon it. Deut. 27. 23, 
 24,25. aind that the whol Landthereof is brtmfon y and fait y and 
 burning y that tt is not fowen y norbearetb y nor any graf groweth 
 thereon , like the overthrojv of Sodom & Gomorrah , ^Atimah , & 
 Zeboim , which the Lord overthrew in his anger O' in his wrath: Even 
 all Nationsfoall fay , Wherefore hath the Lord done this to this Land?, 
 what meaneth the heat of this great anger). Then men fhall fay y Jic~ 
 caufe they have forfaken the Covenant of the Lord God of their father Sy 
 which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the Land 
 of Egypt. I King. 11. II. Wljereforethe Lord faid to Solomon , For- 
 afmuch as this is done of thee , and thou haft not kept my Covenant and 
 my Statutes y which I have commanded thee, 1 will furely rent the 
 Kingdom from thee , and will give it to thyfwvant. 2 King. 1 7. i 5. 
 And they rejeSied his Statutes and his f'ovenant which he madewith 
 their fathers , and his Teftimonies which he teftified againft them , and 
 they followed vanity y and became vain y andwent after the heathen 
 that were round about them y concerniniwhomthehordhadcharaed 
 
 i> o 
 
 them y thatthey fhouidnot do like them. ?faLjZ 9. The children of 
 Ephraim being armed and carrying Bows , turned baclgin the day of 
 battel. V. lO. They kept not the Covenant of Gody and refufedto 
 walk-in his L.aw:v.ii.and forgathis works, and his wonders that he had 
 fhewed them. v. 36. Neverthelef, they did flatter himwith their 
 mouthes y and lyed to htm withtheir tongues, for their heart was not 
 right with him , neither were they ftedfafl in his Covenant. I fa. zy. 5. 
 The earth alfo is defied under the inhabitants thereof y becaufethey 
 have tranfgrejfid the haws , changed the Ordinances , and broken the 
 everlafling Covenant, v. 6 . Therefore hath the curfe devoured the 
 earth , and ehey that dwel therein are defl’slate-, therefore the inhabi¬ 
 tants of the earth are burned , and few men left. Pfalm.e^ 4. 17. yJll 
 this is come upontis -y yet havewenot forgotten thee y neither have we 
 dealt falfly in thy Covenant, v. 18. Our heart is not turned back.from 
 tbee'y neither have eurftepsdeclinedfromthy way. v. 19. hhough 
 thou hafl fore broken us in the place of Dragons y and covered us with 
 the fhadow of death, v. 20.- If wc haven forgotten the Name of our 
 God y or ftretched our bands to a flrangegod ; Shall not God Jsarch> 
 
 this 
 
( 4 ^) " 
 
 thin QMt} forhek>^owsththsfecretsofoHrhe(irts. Pfalm 50. Bat 
 to ths wicked.^ filth God , What ha(i then to do to declare fny Statu-- 
 tes , or that thou foouldefl take my Covenant in thjmouth ? Seeing 
 thou hatefi inflrutlion, and cafiefl my words behind thee. Jer. ii.p. 
 ^yfnd the Lord [aid to me , zyi confpiracy is found among the men of 
 yptdah , and amongfl the inhabitants ofjeruf dem. v. 1 o, They are 
 turned backjo the iniqpiities of their forefathers , ovhich refufed to hear 
 my Tvords ; and. thy went after other gods to ferve them : the houfe 
 of Ifraei and the houfe of fudah have broken my Covenant which I 
 made wish their fathers, fer^ 22.8. iy 4 nd many Nations fhallpaf 
 by this City , assd they fhall f ty every man to his neighbcr , Wherefore 
 hath the Lord done this to this great Cityl v. p. Then they fhall 
 anjiver., Tecaufe they have forpiken the Covenant of the Lord their 
 God.., and worfhiped other gods andfervedthem. For thus faith the 
 Lord God, I will even deal with thee as thou hal .1 done , which 
 hall; defpikd the Oath, in breaking the Covenant. Hof 6 .y.But 
 they Idee men have tranfgreffed the Covenantthey have dealt trea^ 
 cheroufy again/} me. Flof. 8. i. Set the Iritmpet to thy mouth', he 
 fhal come as an Eagle again/} the houfi of the Lord', becauf ? they have 
 tranfgreffed again/} my Covenant., and trefpajfed againfl my Law. 
 Hof. 10.4. They have fpoleen words ,fspearing faify in making a Cove¬ 
 nant : thus Judgement fpringeth up as Flcmlock^in the furrows of the 
 field Rev. 2.5. Remember therfor from whence thou art fallen , and re¬ 
 pent .anddo the firfi works-,or elfe 1 wiilcometo thee quickly,andremove 
 thy Candlefiick out of his place , except thou repent. 1 his hn is aggra¬ 
 vated by feveral circumftances mentioned in the Article, which are 
 clear in themfelves, and need not to be infiited on: therefore 
 palling thefe, we come to fpeak of the fpeciai Heads and Steps 
 that are condefeended on in the Paper. 
 
 I. Step. The firll is, declining from that purity ofconverfation, 
 that integrity of heart, that zeal ofGod that feemed to be in ma¬ 
 ny at their firfi: entry to the Covenant, and a falling offintoloofe 
 walking , felf-intereilandindificrency. About the time of the firfi: 
 renewing of the Covenant-, there was an fcnfible change to the bet¬ 
 ter in mens carriage and converfacion •, moftofall thefe who joy li¬ 
 ed in oppofing the defe(flim4not onely reforming themfelves from 
 common and grolTe fins, fuch asdrunkennefle,uncleanneflc,(wear¬ 
 ing, prophaningthe LORDS Day , flighting of the Ordinances, 
 felf-fecking, covctoufneile and oppreflion , 6cc. but giving them- 
 
 feives 
 
\ 49 ^ 
 
 felvcs to the Duties of Religion and Righteoufneire, fiich as To- 
 biiety , Edifying Difcourfe, Chaftc behaviour, halloving ofthc 
 LORDS Day , diligent feeking of the LORD in fecret and in their 
 Families,''attending on the preaching ofthc Word as often as op¬ 
 portunity is offered, liberality, love, charity one towards another, 
 a Publick fpirit and zeal for GOD; but all thefe things are now 
 decayed in many,and they are again growen as ill if not worfe then 
 before, which as it is an evidence of great unfoundnefl'e of hearr, 
 fo hath it brought many fad reproaches on the Work of G O D in 
 our hands, and hath proven a great Rumbling block to many in the 
 neighbour Land , to make them averfe therefrom, and hath given 
 them no fmall advantage to fpeak both againft us and it, though 
 thefe,^ who do rejed and fpcak ill of any part of the precious truth 
 of God be not to be juflified in fo doing,yet certainly they are much 
 to be condemned who by their untender and loofe walking mini- 
 fter occafion thereto : TVo to thefe hj whom off'enccs come. 
 
 z. Step. The fecond Step is the fitting up of many Profeffors 
 in the Land under the Gofpel, and becomming formal and remiffe, 
 not entertaining tenderneffc and foberneffe of minde, a fin that re¬ 
 lates efpecially ro the Godly in the Land, not a few of which have 
 much decayed in former tendernefie, and zeal, and diligent feeking 
 cfGod, and fober and exa£l walking, fiudying to root themfelves 
 in the folid knowledge and love of the truth, and invaluingand im¬ 
 proving the Gofpel & the means ofgracc unto a loathing and deny¬ 
 ing of themfelves, and a growing into and loving and imploying of 
 the Lord Jefus Chrift.By which, deadnefle of fpirit hath feized on 
 fome, and Uzinelfe of fpirit on others; whereby it hath come to 
 pafs, that they have been tempted to flep out of the way, and fome 
 to turn afide to the left hand, to imbrace Mak’gnantcourfes, and 
 fome to the right hand to imbracc errour, whefe fin is fo much the 
 greater then the fin of others, by how much their knowledge and 
 the LORDS loving kindnefs to them hath been greater then to 
 others; and this declining of Profeflors , and falling off from their 
 firft love , if it be not deeply mourned for,and if they do not time- 
 oulfy lament after the Lord, as it may proveafnare to many more 
 then yet it hath done, fo itisliketobeamongfithechiefcaures 
 that may provok the Lord to removehis Candlefiick from us, Rev. 
 z 4, Nevertheleffe I havefomewhata/rainfl thee ^ becitt^^fethQuhaji 
 
 G left 
 
■ /5o) 
 
 left thy frfl love: v. 5. Remember therefore from vehence thon an 
 fallen , and repent and do the frftivorks , or elfe I vpillcdmeto thee 
 qmcl{ly and remove thj Candleflick^oUi of hts place, except thoa 
 repent. 
 
 3. Step. The third is, the fecret falllrig off of fome, and 
 open falling off of many to the oppofitc party, after their en¬ 
 tering to the Covenant; efpccially the defeffion carried bn by 
 yames Graham 3 and his party, and that of the year, 1648. by 
 the authors and abettors of the unlawfull Engagement, which 
 particulars are fo well known, that we ffiall not need to day 
 upon them. Onely wedefire that it may be remembered, that 
 as they were early begun and long in ripning , that of yames 
 (graham 3 having begun in the year 1(559. and fipned till the 
 year 1(545. and that fome of the chiff Authors of the unlaw- 
 ^ full Engagement having begun in the year, 1644. and ripned 
 till the year 1(548. and did take hold ujaoh , and infeff very many 
 of all ranks throughout the Land, fo have they been really and un- 
 feinedly repented of by very few to this day: which we doubt not 
 is one of the reafonswhy fomanyof thefewho hadhandin thefe 
 bloudy and backiliding courfes have fallen by the (word, and are 
 gone into captivity. 
 
 4. Step. The fourth Step, is,The hegletTIng and condemning the 
 purging of Judicatories, andtheArmy, in the year 1649. and af¬ 
 terward, from fcandalous and difaffe( 9 :edraeh,and of conftitucing 
 the fame of men of known integrity and .affe( 51 :ion tothe Caufe, 
 .and of a blamelefs and Chrlflian Converfation: That it was a duty 
 fo to have conftituted and purged the Judicatories and Armies, 
 ought inreafontobequeflionedby none; it being a duty hdlden 
 forth in the Word of God , That the Rulers of thoufands, Ruler's 
 ofhundrcds, Rulers of fifties, and Rulers of tens (amongft the 
 PeoplcofGodJ fhould not only be able men , but fuch alfo as fear 
 God, men of truth , hating covetoufnefs.^jcoi. 18. ii.M^oreover^ 
 thott fhalt provide out of all the People able men 3 fuch as fear God , 
 men of truths hating Covetoufnef and place fuch over themto be 
 Rulers of thoufands. Rulers of hundreds , Rulers of fftics , and 
 Rulers of tens, zy^nd let them judge the People at all feafons^. Deut. i. 
 If. So J tool^the chief of your Tribes, wife men , and kpown 3 and 
 made them heads over you , Captains over thoufands , Captains over 
 
(sw 
 
 hfindreds i Captains over fifties ^ and Captains over tms ^ and 0 fit. 
 c,ers amdng your Tribes, y. i6, 1 charged your Judges at that 
 
 time fay mg i Hear the caufies between your brethren , and judge 
 righteoujly betwixt every man and his brother ^ and fhe (Iranger that 
 is with him. v, 17. Te fihall not ref^pebiperfonsin judgment , but you 
 fihall hear the fmal afwel as the great ;you fhall not fe afraid of the 
 face of man , for the judgment is Gods: i Sam. 2 3.3, 4. The Godof 
 Ifirael faid., The Rock^of Ifrael fpake to me: He that ruleth over 
 men mufi be jufi :, rulingin the fear ofGod-.^ and h'efhallbe as the light 
 in the morning , whenthe Sunrifefh ^ evenamorningwithout clouds\ 
 as the tender graff?fprfngeth out ofthe earth by cl ear [hining after rain* 
 2 Chr. ip.6,7, 8. Andhe faidto the JudgesTake heedwhat ye doy 
 for ye judge not for man’, but for the Lord, who is with you in the 
 judgment ; wherefore now , let the fear of the Lord be upon you take 
 heed and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor re- 
 fpeB of perfons , nor taJ^ng of gifts, v. 9. Hnd he charged them, 
 faying. Thus fhall ye do m the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and 
 •with a per febl heart', andD^ut, i l.sy.W hen the hoflgoeth forth againfi 
 thyn enemies then keep thee from every wtckjd thing, Therfore 
 were they unclean by Leprofie, by an IfTue, and by the Dead, 
 to be put out of the Camp. Num.y.i. Commandthe children, of 
 Ifrael, that they put out of the Camp every Leper , and every one 
 that hath an Iffue , and whofoever is defiled by the dead. Deut. 22. 
 .10, Thou fihalt not plow with an Oxe and an Hffetogether, v. 11. 
 Thou fihalt ney wear a garment of divers forts, asofiwoollenandlin- 
 nentogether becaufe the Lord their God did walk in themidefl: 
 of the Camp of his People, to deliver them, and to give up his ene¬ 
 mies before them 5 therefore was the Camp to be holy , that he 
 might fee no unclean thing in them, & turn away from them.D^^f. 
 2 3. 14. Lor the Lord thy God walkjth in the midfl ofithy Camp , 
 to deliver thee, and give up thine enemies before thee : therefore fhall 
 thy Camp be holy , that he may fee no unclean thing in thee, and turn 
 away from thee* 
 
 And becaufe this Nation had exceedingly negledled the purging 
 of Judicatories and Armies, and conftituting the fame of perfons 
 rightly qualified , which was the caufe of many evils ol fin and pu- 
 nilhment; therefore was this negledl publickly and folemnly con- 
 felled to GOD, and the contrary duty engaged unto, at the re new- 
 
 G 2 ing 
 
(5i) 
 
 mg of the Covenant toward the end of the year 1648 . as is to be 
 feen in thefolemn Publick Confeffion offins, and engagement to 
 duties. For rendering of the which effedual, the Commifiion of 
 the Generali AiTembly did prefent many Petitions, Remonftrances 
 and Warnings from time to time to the Committee of Eftates, and' 
 to the Parliament, who did make fundry Lawes both for the pur¬ 
 ging of the Judicatories and Armies which then were, and for 
 keeping them pure for the time to come, asistobefeen in their 
 Regiders and Ads, 1649. and 1650. And accordingly fome- 
 
 what was done in thatgreatandnecedary duty by tbemfelvcsand 
 others, to whom they did commit the truft, butnotwithllanding 
 of all thefe things, it did appear very foon after the Confelfingof 
 that fin, and engaging to that duty, that many did neither mind 
 repentance of the one, or performance of the other. Therefore as 
 the CommiiUon of the Generali Affembly w'ere neceffitated to 
 renew their defires in that particular very often, and from moneth 
 to moneth, fo were not thefe Lawes and Committees having 
 power to execute the fame, eftablifned withoutfomc wredling 
 and dilficultie: not a few labouring to obftrud and retard the 
 fame , and when it came to the execution, with what negledand 
 flownefs, and partiality,did they proceed rherernl And what impe¬ 
 diments did they (who were not’diligenr) calf in the way of c- 
 thers who were more diligent and faithful, and zealous in folio w- 
 ing of the duty I By which it came to palTe, that little could be got¬ 
 ten done in that matter, and what was done was not onely load- 
 ned with imputations and reproaches , buralfo was for moft part 
 madedneffeAuall: The perfonsappointed ro be removed, beingei- 
 thcr keeped Till, or fhorrly thereafter being brought again to their 
 own or fome other place, or elfe as evil! being put in their place. 
 Nay, after the defeat at Dumbar ^ thefe duties came not only to be 
 negleded, but| what formerly had beengotten done therein, was 
 looked and cryedout upon , asthe caufeofthe mine ofthe Army; 
 and therefore not only thefe who had been formerly purged, but 
 all others how maiignanc and Icofe foever, were brought to the 
 Judicatories and Army, and what had formerly been confciTed a 
 fin , was then followed and commendedas a duty. 
 
 5. Step-, The fifth is. The authorizing d'PCommifiioners to 
 dofe a Treaty witli the King, for the invelling him with the Go¬ 
 vernment 
 
. (5?) 
 
 vernment, upon his fubfcribing Cuch demands as were Tent to him, 
 after he had given many clear evidences of his dif-aftedlion and en¬ 
 mity to the Work and people of God , and was continuing in the 
 fame i and the admitting of him to the full exercife of his power, 
 and Crowning him notwirhffandingofnewdifcoveiiesofhis ad¬ 
 hering to his former Principles and way , and ofmany warnings to 
 the contrary. For thebetter un-derhandingand morcfullandclear 
 difeovery of this fin , we would confider tbefe things which are fee 
 down by the Generali Allerably of this Kirk, in their Declaration 
 of the date 27. 1649. to wit, that as Magiftrats and their 
 power are ortlaincd of GOD, fo are they in the exercife thereof, 
 not to walk according to their own will, but according to the Law 
 of equity and righteoufnelTe, as being the Miniflers of God for the 
 fafe ty of his people, &c. Secondly, That there is a continuall obli¬ 
 gation and flipulation betwixt theKingand the People, as both of 
 them are tyedto God, fo each of them are tycd each to other, for 
 the performance of mutuall and reciprocal!duties, accordingro 
 which it is flatutc and ordained in the 8. Adi of the Parliament of 
 King James the Sixt, That all Kings, Princes and Magiftrats what- 
 fomever, holding their place, which hereafter fhaJl happen ar any 
 time to reign and bear rule over this Realm , at the time of their 
 Coronation, the receipt of their Princely Authority, make their 
 faithfullPromifeby Oath , in the prefcnce of theErernaii GOD, 
 That during the whole courfe of their lives, they (hallferve the 
 fame Ltcrnall G O D to the utmoflof their power, according as 
 he hath required in his Holy Word, contained in the Old and New 
 Tcflament,and according to the fameWord fhall maintain the true 
 Religion of JESUS C H R 1 S T , the Preaching of his moft holy 
 Word, and due and right Adminiftration of the Sacrarnenrs now 
 received and prcachd within this Realm, and fhall abolifh and 
 gainftand all falfe Religion contrary to the fame, and fhall rule the 
 People of GOD committed to their charge , according to the will 
 and command of GOD revealed in his Word, and accordingto the 
 laudable Lawesand Conftitutions received within this Realm, C> c. 
 Thirdly, Ihat in the League and Covenant that had been folo- 
 Icmnly and publickly fworn and renewed by this Kingdom , the 
 duty of defending'and preferring the Kings Majeftics Perfon and 
 Authority', is joyned with, aiidfubordinateco ihcduty ofprclcr- 
 
 V 
 
 ving. 
 
ving and defending the true Religion and Liberty of the Kingdoms. 
 Fourthly, That an arbitrary Government and an illimicedPower 
 was the fountain of moft, if not ol all the corruptions,both of 
 Kirk and State : Andthatitwas forrefiraintofthis, and for their 
 own juft defenceagainfl;tyranny and.unjuft violence fwhichordi- 
 nariiyisthefruitandelfedoffucha power) that the Lords People 
 did joyn in Covenant, and have been at the expences of fo much 
 blood, travels and pains thefe years palt. Fifthly, That the King 
 being averfe from the Work otReformation, and thelnftruments 
 thereof, and compafled about with Malignant and difaffeded 
 men whom he hearkens to as his mpft faithfulLCounfellours, and 
 looks uponas his moft loyall and faiihfull Subjedls, being admit¬ 
 ted to the exercife of his power before fatisfadlion given , would 
 by thefe counfels, endeavour an over-turning of thefe things which 
 the Lord hath wrought amongft us, and labour to draw Publick 
 Ad minhirations concerning Religion and the Liberty of the Sub¬ 
 ject into that courfe and Channel, in which they did run under Pre- 
 lacic, & before the Work of Rcformation;.Which we had the more 
 caufe to fear, becaufe his Royall Father did often declare , That he 
 conceived himfelf bound to imploy all the.power that God had put 
 in his hands to the utmoft, for thefe ends, and that he adhered to his 
 Fathers principles, and walked in his way, anThadmade a peace 
 w'ith the Irifh Rebels, by which is granted to them the fullliberty 
 of Popery. From thefe Principles the Generali Aflcmbly did then 
 infer, That it would be the wifedome of every one who dwells in 
 this Land, to take heed to fuch a temptation andfnare, that they be 
 not acceffory to any fuch defignes and endeavours of bringing or 
 admitting the King to the exercife of his Power, without fatisfa- 
 dion given concerning the fecurity ofReligion ,and Liberty of the 
 Subjcds, as they would not bring upon themfelves, and on their 
 Families, the guilt of all the detriment that would undoubtedly 
 follow thereupon to Religion and the Covenant, and of all the mi- 
 feries^iid calamities that it would bring on his MajeftiesPerfon 
 and Throne, and on thefe Kingdoms. Such a thing (fay they) 
 would in all appearance be the under-minding and fhakiog off, if 
 not the over-throwing and deftroying the Work of Reformation , 
 and that therefore whofoever attempts the fame ,do oppofe them¬ 
 felves to the Caufe of GOD, and will at lad dafh againft the rock 
 
 of 
 
of the Lords Power, which hath broken in pieces many high and 
 lofty ones fince the beginning of this Workinthefe Kingciomes, 
 From all which it doth appear upon good grounds, that it was an 
 high provocation, to admit the King to the esercife of his Power, 
 or to intruft hirn with the Caufe and People of G O D, whilft he 
 was continuing in his former difaffedtion to,and enmity againft the 
 fame^ with which fin the Lord hath been fo difpleafed, that he 
 hath in a great meafure verified the fame things on the Land which 
 are holden forth by the Generali Aflembly, and which would be 
 the confequents thereof. 
 
 We know that it will be objedled by many, That the King did 
 defift from, and abandon that courfe of enmity againftthe Work 
 and People of God, before the clofe of the Treaty, and that he did 
 give fatisfadlion concerning the fecurity ofReligion, and Liberty of 
 the Subjects, by condefeending to, and fubferibing thefe demands, 
 which were Pent to him from the Parliament of this Kingdom, and 
 the Commifiion of the Generali Affembly. To which we reply , 
 Firft, that thefe demands were deficient,at Icafl: not fo plain and po- 
 fitive, and expreffe in the main and neceffary thing, to wit, a reall 
 abandoning offotmer malignant courfes and principles, and a real! 
 and cordiall cleaving to the Work and people of God, without 
 which there could not be a reall fecurity ; it was not afhadowof 
 fecurity for Religion and Liberty, or a paper and verball fecurity 
 oncly, but a reall lecurity which we were bound before the Lord to 
 have evdeavoured and obtained before theclofcof a Treaty with 
 the King, for intrufting him with the Government, and to autho¬ 
 rize Cornmlffioners to fettle with him upon fuch paper-fecuritics, 
 and accordingly to intruft him, was but to mock God, and to de¬ 
 ceive the World, and to betray and deftroy our felves, by giving 
 up all the precious Interefts of Religion and Liberty into the hands ■ 
 of one who Was in a courfe of enmity to thefe. Secondly, it is 
 certain, fif men will not deny clear and evident truths) that the 
 King had not only (before the authorizing ofthefe Commilfioners 
 to clofe a Treaty with him upon his condefeending to thefe De¬ 
 mands^ given evidence of his enmity to the Work and pcoplcof 
 God, but alfo was continuing in the fame , during the time of the 
 Treaty,and that he had not abandoned thefe Principles and courfes 
 at the clofe of thcTrcaty ,- And when he didfwear andfubfcribe 
 
 the 
 
the Nationall Covenant, and the Solemn League and Covenant; 
 Nay, the whole tcnour of his carriage,did then,and afterward con¬ 
 vincingly enough (to intelligent men) demonftrate him to be the 
 fame he was before. We fhall not need bring many inflances, 
 therefore palfing over thefe things which he did, before this King- 
 dome began to treat with him , Inch as the Declaration emitted by 
 him when he was Prince, againft the Caufe and People of God,and 
 his Printed Declaration at Jerfej^ as King, againP all who had been 
 inoppofition to his Father in thefe troubles: We fhail mention on¬ 
 ly a few particulars that fell out thereafter, to wit, theferfirfl-, he did 
 not only countenance and entertain thernoft Capital and known 
 Enemies of this Kingdom, (uz\\as fames Grab ame ^ and others, 
 who had Ihed much ofthe bloud thereof, butalfodidgiveCom- 
 milfion tothefaid^^iwa Grahame ro make war upon , and invade 
 the Inhabitants thereof, as Traitors and Rebels. Secondly , in the 
 whole progrefle of theTreaty, as he did communicate and take 
 counfeii with known diTafFeded and malignant men in all things 
 relating to the fame, and not movinga ftep , but according ro their 
 advice , fo did he procraftinat and delay to grant what wasdefired , 
 untill all other means of help had failed, and his own eflatcand 
 condition was now become defperat, and what he did grant, was 
 not all at once, and cheerfully , as if it had been a duty, but by little 
 and little,and by a kind ofcoadtion and merchandife.as if it had been - 
 a bargain (T buying and felling. Thirdly, after the Treaty was 
 brought to fomeclote , he did before his coming to Sea, receive the 
 Sacrament ofthe Lords Supper from one of the Prclatical Chap¬ 
 lains,and according to cheServi. e-Book notwithflanding theCom- 
 mifTioners of the Kirk did reprefent the evill thereof to him, and 
 did earneflly deal with him to the contrary. Fourthly, he brought 
 to Sea, and into S cot I and alrnofl the whole T rain of Ma¬ 
 lignant and dif-affeifed men , who had followed him in his former 
 cvill courrcs,3nd fled from the Juilice of both Kingdoms, and thefe 
 he did more familiarly <Sc intirely converfe with, then with others. 
 Fifthly , he was near the coaft of Scot land before he would condef- 
 cend to the fubferibing of thefe Demand which were fenc from the 
 Parliament, upon the report ofthe ciofe ofthe Treaty , as it was 
 firll clofed in Holland, and theCommifllonerswcrcfofaroutof 
 hopes of obtaining their defire , that even when they were come 
 
 near 
 

 (57) 
 
 near tlie flhore 5 tirey w.e^;e preparing Papers ofexoneratlon; and 
 when in an inft'anc on the luggeftionoi tome Malignants, he did 
 condefcend to fubfcribe the Demands, arid take the Covenant; it 
 was with a referve of a Declaration to be printed therewith, which 
 he did not pafs from until! the Commiffioncrs of the Church did 
 rerule to admit thereof. Sixthly, Within a few dayes of his com¬ 
 ing to Scotland^ when removingMalignantsfrom his Family and 
 Court was earnediy preffed by the Commiirioners both of Kirk 
 and State, at Falkland , he ihewed himfclf very averfe from the fa¬ 
 me , and did not only at that place, but at all places and times after¬ 
 wards countenance and entertain men ofthatftamp, who were in 
 his Family and Court land came to the fame. Seventhly, He did 
 for a long time refufe to fubfcribe the Declaration which was ten¬ 
 dered to him , for the ackncwledging of his own , and his Parents 
 guiltinefs fur the time palt, and according to his duty for the time 
 to come; and after that he had , with agreat ded of reludancy , 
 fubfciibed the fame , he did ofentinies txprefs, That he did not 
 th.nkhis Fan er gniitv fblcud, and that not withflanding he had 
 fo decia ed, he had iv.sown meaning thereof. ^Eigh hly, As he tiid 
 firft bv Letters auth.irize fun iry of the Malignant part, to rife in 
 Ar ms without the knowledge ofthc Committee of bllates, and 
 contrarv to the Handing Laws of ni-s Kingdom •, fo did hehimfelf 
 within a fhort time ihetc Her, deierrthe Put.ick Counccls<i the 
 Kingdom,and joyn with the Malignants Ninthlv,During the whole 
 time oftheTreaty , and after the eh le thereof, he had Cvirrefpon- 
 dence with all the Malignants of the three Nations, tofundryof 
 which he gave CommiHions. 1 hefe Inftanccs do cleat ly enough 
 prove what w as faid concerning the Kings continuing in a courfe 
 ofenmity to the Work and People of .God , which made it a Hn in 
 Us, whilcft he was in that condition, to entrufthim with the Intc- 
 relFsof both; neither was our cSji;riage here more faulty in the 
 matter, then it was rafh and preei|ilif ant in regard of the manner. 
 The news of the late Kirgs death, brought to Edinburgh on t\\t 
 Lord-, day at night, the Parliament did the next day before twelve 
 of the clock, proclaim thisKing withal! publickforemnitie, with¬ 
 out fetring any time apart to feek the Lord for Counfel and dire- 
 (Hion therein; which, as both Reafon and Religion might have 
 taught US* to have ufed more deliberation amongfl our Halves, and 
 
 H more 
 
C58) 
 
 more fupplication to God, before he (whofe Father and himfelf 
 had been engaged fo much in oppohtion to the Work and People 
 of God) had been proclaimed King, and within a (hort time there¬ 
 after,folemn Addrefs was made to him for offering him the Crown 
 and Kingdom upon fome verbal and paper fecurity, withoutany 
 previous Addrefs for informing his confcicnce, or taking notice 
 whether he did adhere to his former principles and way; and 
 when the Lord was pleafed to render thefe Applications ineffedtaal, 
 and to bring back the Commiffioners to this Kingdom and Kirk, 
 without any fatisfadlion to their defires; we didagainnolefs pre- 
 cipitantly then before, rufh on a fecond Addrefs, which was at one 
 and the fame day concluded and proponed in Parliament, not only 
 without any previous Con/ultation or Debate had there anenta- 
 niongft thefe who had been tender and faithful to the Work of' 
 God from the begining, but without their knowledge, and contrary 
 to their expedlation; and afterwards, in regard of the clofe and 
 difpatch of Commiffioners, which was fo paffionatly and violently 
 driven on, that many were impatient, evenofthemoftneceffary 
 delaies, and of the moft reafonable contradidion in any thing that 
 related thereto; anditisnottobepaftwithoutobfervation, that 
 whileft we were treading thefeflippery and finfulfteps, theLord 
 fuffered not us to want warning. We fhall not infill: on the fad 
 apprehenfions that were in the hearts of many of the godly in the 
 X.and in reference thereto : So albeit they durft not altogether de¬ 
 ny duty to be in making Application to the King, yet did the fence 
 of the Lords controvcrfic with him and his houfe, together with 
 his walking in his former way, lie heavy on their fpirits and made 
 them rather fear a curfe , then expedf a bleffing thereupon. Nor 
 fhall we rpeak of the paffionat inclination, defires andendeavors of 
 the Malignant party, and oftheirrejoycing herein, and of their 
 heightning of their hopes thereby. But we dcfireit may be remem- 
 hred , That whileft the fecond Addrefs was in preparing, not only 
 did the Lord give us warning of prefumptions, firft ofthe’King 
 his authorizing of to invade this Kingdom, and of 
 
 his encouraging him by Letters to go on in thatlnvaripn,evcnwhilft 
 he was in terms of a Treaty with Us; hxatdMiohy "fames Graham 
 his adual invafion a little thereafter by the Kings Commiffion, and 
 hy bringing to our h^nds the awthmti^ ^mmiffion it felf, and 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 fundry Letters under the Kings own hand, tcftifying his adherence 
 to his former principles, & his affedion to that great Enemy of this 
 Caufe and Kingdom. Andwhat were all thefeinflances which we 
 have formerly fpoken of in the Kings carriage, but warnings from 
 the Lord to have taught us wifdom in this thing ? We know that: 
 fome may think it unfatable for us to meddle in thefe things which 
 feems to have been otherwife determined by the General Aficm- 
 bly of this Kirk 1650. and that others may wonder that that Af- 
 fembly fhould have fo determined. We fhallnot now ftand to de¬ 
 bate how farthatAflembly did approve of thefe things which con¬ 
 cern the Treaty with the King, anent the fecurity of Religion: but 
 the Lord having declared fo much from Heaven agairift the whole 
 Land, it concerns us and all others impartially to learch into, and 
 to difeover the caufes thereof, fo far as he is pleafed to convince 
 and give light therein; and we do in charity, and not without 
 ground, prefume, ThatofallthepaffagesofprocedoroftheKin^s 
 carriage in the Treaty, and from the beginning in order to this 
 Kingdom, and the enemies thereof, had been impartially and free¬ 
 ly difeovered and made known to the A ffembly as they have been 
 fince, they had not gone the length which they went. 
 
 6 i Step. For underftanding of the lixth Step , which rela- 
 teth unto the rejecting the difeovery of guiltinefs and caufes of 
 the LORDS contending withnis; It willbeneedfulltofpeak 
 fome what for clearing of the matter offad in the inftances which 
 a^e given in the Article: The firfi inltancc is in the caufes of 
 humiliation, condefeended on by the Commiffion of the Generali 
 Affembly at Leith ^ and offered to theCommitteofEftates, by 
 whom they were rejeded; the ftory whereof as to the matter of 
 fad was thus: The next day after the Englifh forces came in view 
 of our Army, which was then intrenched betwixt Leith mi. 
 Edinburg: Some generall perfons in our Army ('whether from 
 any defire to approve themfelves to the King, who the night be¬ 
 fore was come to Leith from Sterlin , or from any other principle, 
 we know not^ did draw forth a great many of the Horfe to skir- 
 mifb with the Enhlilh, by whom they were with fome loife, 
 and much fhame beaten backagain to the trenches, which bred 
 fuchadifheartningand aftonifhment in the whole body of the Ar¬ 
 my y that had the Englifh then ftormed the Trenches , they had be« 
 
 Hz 'like 
 
f^o) 
 
 like gained them, and routed our Array. Upon this occafton, 
 the Commifhon of the Generali AlTembly gave themfdves to 
 fearch after the caufes of this ftroake and fpiritof confufionand 
 aftonifhment from the LORD, and after fome pains taken there¬ 
 in , found that therehad been a malignant defign for bringing in a- 
 gain the malignant party of a long time,hatching and carrying on by 
 fundry in the Judicatories and in the Army , and that it was far 
 promoted and advanced: Andfor the more convidion herein,they 
 did condefeend on fevcrall Inftances and Particulars of moment 
 and confequence : This they offered to the Committee of Eftates 
 as grounds of humiliation to be keeped by themandthc Army; 
 but the Committee, as they did refufe to take with any fuchguil- 
 tinefs, fo did they refufe to joyn in any humiliation to be keeped 
 for the fame* Upon the which the Commiffion did leaveic before 
 them with a Declaration, That they had exoncred themfelves, and 
 with a defire to the Committee of Eftates to do therein, as they 
 would be anfwerable to GOD, who was contending forthefe 
 things. The fecond IS the caufes of humiliation, condtfeended on 
 slI Sterlin immediacly after the defeat at Dumhar: caufes 
 
 which were firfl: condefeended on by the Presbytery with the 
 Army, and afterwards approven by. the Commilfidn of the 
 Generali Affcmbly did fpecifie fomewhac of the crooked courfes 
 which had been taken in carrying on the Treaty with the King:, 
 and of the obftrudtingthe purging of the Army, and of the [udi- 
 catories, and of the Kings Family, and ofthe not differencing of 
 inftruments imployed in Publick truft, and feverall other things 
 relating to the carriage of thefe in Publick truft in J udicatorks and 
 Armies, which though reall truths in themfelves, and juft matter 
 of humiliation before GOD , yet were rejeded and not fo much as 
 read or intimated by many Minifters in their Congregations, and 
 were refufed to be taken wirh , or acknowledged by fundry Stateft 
 men and Officers of the Army, and others, who were guilty of 
 them. The third Inftance is the Remonftrance of the Gentlemen, 
 Minifters and Forces in the "Weft, which thoughit was a teftimo- 
 ny given in reference to fin and Duty by a company of men who 
 had been ftraight from the beginning in the Work of GOD, in the 
 fimplicity of their hearts, anddidconrain inic manyfad truthes, 
 yet was not onclyrejeded, but condemned by theplurality of the 
 
 Cora- 
 
(6i) 
 
 CoBi’mittee ofEftates, and Commiilion ofthe General Aflembly, 
 hotwitftanding that many of the Members of both ihele Judica¬ 
 tories did dilTent from , and proteft againft thefe voices, and as if it 
 had not been enough, was again refumed by the Parliament and a 
 moll harfh cenfureputupoH it, andallfuchasdidnot difclameit 
 before fuch a day,appointed to be proceeded againlT: with Cenfures 
 of an high nature ^ other tcftimonies of Presbyteries and Synods 
 befide thefe are alfo mentioned, for diverfe fuch there was, as the 
 Letters from the Presbyteries of Sterlin , ^herdeen. GUfgow , 
 
 Jley , and feverail’other Presbyteries and Synods, which were wri- 
 ten to the Commiffion as teftimonies of their dif-fatisfadion with 
 the Publick Refolutions concerning the heavy, and were rejedred, 
 andfundryoftheauthorsthereoffharplyrebuked: nay, fomeof 
 them difeharged to fpeak their Confciences, and confined in places 
 far difiant from their charge for doing thereof. In the clofe of 
 this Article there is mention of the neglecfling of means tending to 
 peace,. and the preventing tbe effufion of more bloud, from pride 
 and biterneffc of fpirit, againft thefe who had invaded us. We 
 know that before this Kingdom was invaded by thefe who hath 
 now brought it low, there was a Letter writen by the Parliament 
 to the prelent power \n England , and duplicates thereof to the Ge¬ 
 neraliLiutenant Generali, and Generali Major oftheir Army, 
 uponthe 2z.ofy««e 1650. wherein they did fhew that as in their 
 Letter of the 6. of tyi^arch 1(549. acknowledge their (ob¬ 
 
 ligation, and declare their refolution, toobfervethe ruleof Re<" 
 monftrating ^ firft the breaches ofPeace for cravdng juft reparation, 
 of ufing all fair means of giving a preceding warning of three mo- 
 neths, before any Engagement of thefe Kingdoms in war, fo they 
 do again renew the fame, and accordingly renewed the Aits of 
 Pbfture and Leavy for puttingthis Kingd m in readinefte in cafe uf 
 
 invafion, which were made the former 0 ear when they wrote the 
 
 forefaid Letter of the 6 , of tJ^arch , all which they do profefie fo- 
 lemnly to be done by them in the finceriry of their hearts; not out 
 of any policy to catch advantages, nor for any other en(' or dvfign 
 whatfoever, but meerly for their own defence, which they do ac¬ 
 count alundantly fufficient to remove all grounds of jealoufies, 
 and mi' eporrs'of their intentions, and to take awa)/ail pretence 
 of nccellity of the marching of forces for defenciot the borders of 
 
 3 Englandy 
 
{6i) 
 
 England ; and on the other part being informed of a refolutlon in 
 England to fend an Army to Invade this Kingdom , they defired to 
 know whether thefc who have the prefent power in England do 
 acknowledge themfelves oblieged, or by their anfwcr will obliegc 
 themfelves and declare their Refolutios to obferve the forefaid 
 way and order upon their part to us, and plainly and clearly to de¬ 
 clare , whether their Forces do march for offence or defence, whe¬ 
 ther with intention for keeping oncly within the hoxd.txso^England 
 or comming within ours, which way of procedour for clearing each 
 others,and dealing plainly,is not onely agreablc to particular Trea¬ 
 ties, and to the many Tyes, Bonds and Declarations paft betwixt 
 thefe Kingdomes, but alfo to the LawofGod,andpradl;ifeof his 
 People in his Word, and to the common law and pradice, even of 
 heathen Nations, much more of Chriftian Covenanted Kingdoms, 
 and may prevent many evils & dangerous confequcnceSj which may 
 fall our,even beyond and contrary to the intentions of the Nations, 
 by their Armies lying near others upon their borders, although 
 meerly upon intended defence: This did indeed favour of a fpirit of 
 peace; but fince the comming of thefc men into the Land there 
 hath been fuch pride and bitternefl'e of fpirit, that not onely were 
 all effayes of peace neglcded, but every motion tending thereto, 
 whether made by any amongfl ourfelves, or hinted at by any a- 
 mongft them,were flighted and fome time entertained with difdain, 
 reproach and contempt; and albeit the invafion was unjuft, yet 
 certainly it was our duty to have followed and endeavoured peace 
 fo far as was poffible, Rom, iz. i8. If tt bepojftble, as much as 
 lieth in you y live peaceably with all men. Heb. 12.14. Follow 
 peace with all meny and holinejfcy without xvhich no man [hall 
 fee God. Pfalmizo. y. I am for peace y but when J fpeakjhey arc 
 for war, 
 
 7. Step. The feventh is , the PublickRefolutlonsof Kirkand 
 State , for bringing in the Malignant Party firfl: to the Army, and 
 then to the Judicatories, and the adluall intruding of them with 
 the power of the Kingdom both Military and Civill; We conceive 
 that thefe Publick B efolutions in the complex ofthem do (befidcs 
 other fins which may be mentioned j include thefe: Firft, acon- 
 jundion with the Enemies of God and his Caule , which is con¬ 
 demned by many dear Scriptures, 2 ^ Chron. ip, eAndJeho’- 
 
 fhaphat 
 
(^ 3 ; 
 
 fhaphat the King of y^dah returned to his houfe in peace to yeru^ 
 falem, and }ehu the [on of Hananithe feer y Vffcnt out to meet him y 
 and [aid to King fehofhaphat ^ Shouldfl thou helpthe ungodly y and 
 love them that hate the L O R D'i therefore is va rath on thee from 
 before the Lord. Ifa. 50. lyiy^. Wo to the rebellious children y faith 
 the LORDy that take comcel but not of me; and that cover with 
 a covering , but not of my fpirit , that they made adde Jin to fin : That 
 ^all^ to go doTvn to Egypt (and have not afked at my mouth) to 
 firengthen them/elves in the flrength of Pharaoh, and to trufi in 
 the fhadow of Egypt i Therefore fhall the flrength ofVharaoh be 
 your fhame y and the trufi in the fhadow of Egypt your confujion'. 
 Ifa. 31. T, 2, 5, Pf^'^o to them that go down to Eqgypt for help, and 
 fay on horfes y and trufi in chariots y becaufe they are many y and 
 in horfmeny becaufe they are very firong, but they look^not tothe 
 holy one of Ifraef neither feek^ the LORD; Tct he alfo is wife, 
 and will bring evilly and will net call back, his words: But will 
 arife againfi the houfe of the evill doers y and againfl the help of 
 them that work^ iniquity. Now the Egyptians are men and not 
 GOD y and their horfes flefh and not fpint; when the LORD fnall 
 jiretch out his handy both he that helpeth fhall fall y and hethatis 
 holpen fhall fall down , and they all fhall falltogether. Jer. 2. 18, 
 u 4 nd now what hafi thou to do in the way of Egypt , to drinks the 
 waters of Sihor ? or what hafi thou to do in thewayof ^ffyriay to 
 drink, the waters of the river i Jer. 13. 21. }^^at wilt thou fay 
 when he fhall punifh thee 1 (for thou hafi taught them to be cap¬ 
 tains y and as chief over thee) fhall not farrows take thee as a 
 woman in travaill 2. The laying of a foundation ofjortheefta- 
 blifhing of a rule for imploying and intruding men with the intereft 
 of theCaufe of GOD and of the Kingdom, who ought not to be 
 imployed nor inftrufted,ifrefpecfl be had to the qualifications requi¬ 
 red in the Word, wz,. That they be men fearing GOD , hating co- 
 vetoufnefTe and dealing truly, who are appointed to be rulers over 
 thoufands, hundreds, fifties and ttnsy Exod. i8. 21, ^^IToreover 
 thou fhalt provide out of all the people y able meuy Juch as fear 
 GOD y men of truth y hating covetoufneffe; and place fuch over 
 them; to he rulers of thoufands y and rulers of hundreds y rulers of 
 fifties and rulers of tens; and that they be juft, ruling in the fear 
 of God who rules over men, $• The COD of Ifrael 
 
 -- -- fmd,^ 
 
(< 4 ) 
 
 faid , the Rock, of Ifrael fpfike to me , Ue that rttleth over men mufi 
 hejujly ruling in the fear of God. 5. That there wai therein a breach 
 and violationof the fourth Article of thcCovenant, whichobli- 
 geth that we be fo far from giving truft to Malignants, that r hey 
 fnould endeavor to bring them to condign punifhment. 4. That 
 there was therein a manifed receding from the folemn publick con- 
 feflion of fins, and engagement to duties, and from tha conftant 
 tenor of our Declarations; Warnings, and Rcmonhrances and car- 
 fes of humiliation thefe years part. ler. 2. 35, 37. Tct thou 
 
 fajef} y ^ecaufe 1 aminnocent y furely h^s anger fh.Jturn from me: 
 Behold I will plead with thee y hecaufe tho uf '^yejl 1 have not finned. 
 Why gaddefl thou about fo much to change thy way i thou alfo fhalt 
 be afloamed of Egypt y as thouwafiafhamedof ^Jfyrla\ yea y thou 
 fhalt go foyth from him, aud thine hands upon tnine head', for the 
 Lord hath rejected thy confidences , and thou fhalt not profper in 
 them. 5. That there was a great deal of diffidence , and diflrufl‘n 
 the Arm of the LORD , and a feeking of help from, and a refting 
 on the armofflefh; Jer-ij. 5,6. Thus faiththc Lord y Curfedbe 
 the man that trufiethin man , andmaketh flejhhis arm , andwhofe 
 heart departeth from the LORD: for he [hall be like the heath 
 in the deferty and [hall not fee when good commetht but fhalluM 
 hablte the parched places inthewildernejfe, inafaltlandandnot inm 
 habited 6. That there was therein a great deal of prevarication 
 and deceitfull dealing by many, Jer. A'^dthough they fay 
 
 *The Lord liveth y furely they fwear falfely. O Lordy aremtthine 
 eyes upon the truth I thou h if flrkkenthsm y butthey have not grie¬ 
 ved, thou hafi confumed them, but they have refufed to receive 
 correElioHy they have made their faces harder then arockjt they 
 have refufed to return: Becaufe albeit the arguments that 
 were ufed, were taken from necefficy and other things of that kind, 
 yet the great wheel that moved in that bufineffie, wasadefign to 
 bring in that party into places of power and truft into the Army , 
 who had beenformcrly put out for their malignant and difaffedf^d 
 carriage, and thereafter, albeit in the beginningofthisbufinc-ffe 
 fo great hafte was pretended , that they could not wait fir a very 
 fewdayes, till the Commiffion might conveen, but made ufe of a 
 unfrequent and occafionall meeting, when not onely many of the 
 Metnbexs were abfent, but alfo not adYcrtifed; yetwhen that which 
 
 was 
 
.(h) 
 
 vrasaimcdatcoflccrningthcModeliingof the Army was obtained 
 the;’'did move but very flowly, and Aded nothing at all for many 
 months thcreafter;nay,not rill long after the Army was complcatly 
 Leav,*ed,and until they had gotten the A( 5 l ofClallis alfo refcindcdj 
 and that Party brought to the Parliament alwell as to the Army, 
 and untill the Generali Aflembly did lit down j that they might 
 have their approbation of thefe proceeding fo far as was fit for 
 them to meddle with. 7. There was in it a reall (tumbling and 
 offence to the moft part of the godly in the Land, whofehearts 
 Vere much grieved , and their hands exceedingly weakened there¬ 
 by j togeth er with the making glad and (trengthening the ungodly, 
 and difaffeded and prophane in the Land, yer. 23. 14. J h^tve 
 fein alfo in ths Prophets of yerufalem anhorrlhle thing-ithef commit 
 adnltery and walk^ in lies; they Jirengthen alf j the hands of evill 
 doers y hat none doth return from his wickpdnejf?-yhey are all to me as So^ 
 dom^and the inhabitants thereof as Commorrah. Ezek. 15.22. 'Becattf^ 
 with lies ye have made the hearts 0fthe righteous fad, whom have not 
 made [ad and flrengthened the hands of the wicked , t hat he fbould not 
 return from his wicked vaorfs by promiftng him Ufe, Laftly, the 
 (late of our Caufe was thereby upon the matter turned upfide- 
 down by intrufting the Work and people of God to the enemies 
 thereof, it being known and made manifelt that thefe men did re¬ 
 tain the fame principles, and did drive on the fame defigns which 
 could not but prove deftrudlive to Religion & the People of God. 
 
 8. Step. The next Step, is, The joyning of many of the People 
 ^who are engaged with God by Covenant to the contrary, no lelfe 
 then the Rulers) with the Forces ofthe Kingdom; after that by 
 the Refolutions there was a prevailing party ofmalignants brought 
 to the Army, who had the ftrength of Counfels and Adlings there¬ 
 in, and were carrying on a malignant intereft; what ever queftion 
 there may beof the aTociating offubjedls in war with the wicked 
 enemies of God, on the command of the Magifirate in alawfui 
 caufe , which feems to us to be condemned In the People of God , 
 Ifa. 8.11, 1 2, 15,14, » 5, I 6, 17, I 8. For the Lord fpakethasto me 
 with a flrong hand, and infruSled me, that JJhould not walk-in 
 tht way of this people, faying. Say ye not a Confederacy to all thefe 
 to wh’tn th.s People fhall fay, a Confederacy neither fear jc their 
 [ear, nor be afraid. SanSlife the Lord of Hojls Himfelf, and let 
 
 I Him 
 

 'Him be pur fearand let him be pur dread, j 4 nd he. f hall be fop a 
 fanblaaryi but for a flone of fumbling^ and for a rock^ of offence to 
 both the hoafes of Ifrael ^ for a gin , and for a fnare to the inhabi¬ 
 tants of yerufalem, and many among them fhal fumble and fall ^ 
 and be brokenand be fnared^ and be taken, ^ind up the Ttfli- 
 mony,, f^'tl the Law among my Di.fciples, zyfnd I will wait upon 
 the Lord that h’deth his face from the houfe of Jacob ^ and I veill 
 look, for him. Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath gi¬ 
 ven me, are for (igns, and \or wonder sin Ifrael, from the Lord of 
 h)fli whn h dwelleth rntykCount Sion. Afwel as in the Magiflratesi the 
 ground of the prohibition , to wit, learning of their works,and the 
 enfnaring of the People, having a more immediate connexion with- 
 the Peoples joyning,then with the Magiftrates commanding them 
 to joynj yet as the thing is laid down in the Paper w'c think there 
 will beno queftion about it, becaufe it includes thefe Particulars^ 
 
 1. The joyning of a People who with the confent and approbati¬ 
 on , nay by the commandement and authority of their Magidrates. 
 had covenanted with the LORD, not to joynwithhisEnemiesr 
 
 2. That it was when the rule of conftituting the Army was corrupt, 
 to wit, the Publick Refolutions, which made the cafe defperat 
 and left no place or remedy for purging of the Army. 3. That 
 it was when a party of Malignants who had the fway of Counfels 
 and Adlings were brought to the Army, which being added to the 
 former, not only made the purging of the Army in an ordinary 
 way impoRible, but alfo carried the llrcam and current of all their 
 Refolutions and Adings into a malignant Channell; that they 
 were the prevailing Party, is more maHifefl:,then that time needs to 
 be fpent in verifying thereof, q. That they were carrying on a 
 Malignant Interefl:, to wit, the eftablifhing the Kingin the exercife 
 of his Power in Scotland, and the re-invefting him with the Go¬ 
 vernment in England, when he had not yet abandoned his former 
 enmity to the Work and people of God; and thefecuring of 
 Power in their own handsTtnder him : And though none ofthefe 
 four had concurred (all which we believe will be acknowledged 
 by un-byaffed men) yet there was a fin in the Peoples joyning, be- 
 caufe few or none of thefe who did joyn, did give any teftimony 
 againR the Magiftrats employing ot the Malignant Party,but went 
 willingly after the commandment., Hofea y. n. Ephraim is op. 
 
prejfed and birol^n in judgment becaufe he vpilUnglj obeyed and 
 went after the commandment. It is acknowledged to have been 
 the Peoples duty, even by thefe who jiiftifietheirjoynlngwith 
 them upon the command of the Magiftrate, to have bemoaned it 
 before the Lord, and in their ftations to have teftified againft it 
 before men. 
 
 Step. The ninth Step is, the prelimiting and corrupting ot 
 the Generali AlTembly, in regard of the free and right confttitution 
 thereof. Generali AUemblies rightly conftitute in their liberties 
 and freedom , as they are oneof themoft precious Ordinances of 
 JESUS CHRIST , fo have they been mofi wholfome and profit¬ 
 able means in this Kirk, for the purging an d prefetving all the Or¬ 
 dinances of CHRIST in the Land j and therefore as it hath been 
 the care of all the faithfull fervants ofGod in the Land, to vindicat 
 and preferve their right conflitution and due liberty and freedom; 
 fo in the promoting ofanycourfe of defedlion hath Satan alwayes 
 fludied to intrench thereupon, and to corrupt the fame. That the 
 Generali Affembly was prelimited this year, Is evident by the Let¬ 
 ter written by the ComaufTion of the Generali Affembly to the 
 Presbyteries, with an Ad fent therewith, appointing, that all thefe 
 who remain unfatisfied in the Publick Refolutions, after Confe¬ 
 rence , and did continue to oppofe the fame , fhould be cited to the 
 Generali Affembly; Which Letter and Ad had fuch influence on 
 many Presbyteries , that though there were in them many able and 
 faithfull men who were unfatisfied with the Publick Refolutions, 
 yet very few ofthefe were chofen to be Commiffionersiand where 
 any fuch perfons were eleded , there was for the mofl part either 
 Proteftations againft it, or elfe another eledion of other perfons; 
 by which it came to paf8,that almoftall thefe were incapacitated to 
 fit in the Affembly, and the Meeting was almoft wholly made up- 
 only of thefe who had been inftrumentall in carrying on the for¬ 
 mer defedion,or were confenting thereto,and were approving the¬ 
 reof. A moregrofle prclimitationthen this could not readily be that 
 men intrufted by the Generali Affembly with the Publick Affairs, 
 and to preferve the liberty thereof, fhould firfl: (contrary to their 
 truft) open a door for bringing in the Malignant Party , and then 
 fhutthe door againft the fitting of all thefe in the Affembly , where 
 their proceedings were to be tryed, who did not before their com- 
 
 I i ming 
 
(6i) 
 
 ming there, approve of their opening the door to the Malignants; 
 '»'hich was not onely to make defedion thcmfelvcs, but to invol¬ 
 ve others therein, and to take away the remedy thereof. Betide 
 this grofle prelimitation , there wasalfo diverfe other particulars of 
 importance that fell out in the Meeting it fclf, in the conftituent 
 Members in the liberty & freedom of voicing,which were fet down 
 at length in the Proreftation made at St. Andrews againft that 
 Meeting, and the Reafons afterwards penned forftrengthening 
 thereof,and therefore wc fhali not need in this place to repeat thefe 
 things, but recommends the reading of them to fuch as defire more 
 fully to be informed in thefe particulars. It were tedious to fall on 
 the Adsofthat Aflembly, and Warnings ilTued by them. Theic 
 things we now leave, as a fubjed requiring a more large and dillind 
 confideration; defiring onely this one thing to be pondered and 
 confidered. That befidcs their ratifying and approving the Procee¬ 
 dings of the former Commiflion (which were in many things the 
 great grief of ail the godly in the Land ) in fuch ample manner, as 
 even (in way of expreffion) is not free of fome flattery and vanity; 
 and befides the cenfuring of fome honeft men for no other thingbut 
 only protefting againft them; and befi des, the emitting of Warnings 
 refleding exceedingly on former pious and warrantable proceed¬ 
 ings,they have laid a foundation for cenfuring allMiniftersandPro- 
 feffors, and for keeping fuch out ofthe Miniftery, who do not ap¬ 
 prove of all thefe proceedings, which have this laft year fo much 
 vexed andgrieved the godly, and fj much rejoycedand made glad 
 the Malignant Party and wicked ofthe Land : And if thefe things 
 ihall be accordingly executed and take eftedjwhat perfecution (hall 
 there be of many godly Minifters, Elders, Expeftants and Pro- 
 f'eflors; and what a Miniftery , and v/hat a Church fhali we have 
 in a few years ? 
 
 I o. Article. 
 
 The laft Head of the Lords controverfie that is mentioned, is 
 deep fecurity and obftinacic, impenitencie and incorrigiblnelfe 
 under all thefe, and under all the dreaJfull ftroaks ofGod, and to¬ 
 kens of his indignation againft us,becanfc ofthe lamcjfo that whilft 
 he continues to finite, we are fo £tr from humbling our fclves, that 
 
 we 
 
C'^9) 
 
 we grow wotfe and worfe, and fin more ^and more : t’nat It is. fa 
 with us, will not (vve fuppofe) be denied by any godly man a- 
 mongft usjwhoknowes andoblervcsthe Lands condition, and the 
 prefent temper and carriage of the Inhabitants; every man crying 
 out almoftfor his afflidion , but none almofl: mourning for his fin ; 
 We think it may be truly fiid,That Hn and iniquity of all kinds,and 
 amongfl all ranks of perlbns hath been more multiplied and encrea- 
 fed in Scotla-fid fince the defeat at Dumber, then in many years be- 
 fore, and that this Nation was not fo dull jhard hearted ,andiiTipe- 
 r'ltcnt under any of the former rods wherewith the Lord did fmite 
 us thefe years pad, as under thefe rods wherewith he now fmites 
 us; and that this doth much highten our iniquity, andfpeakfad 
 things to come, if not repented of, is evident from Ifay, i y. 
 Why fhould ye be Jlricken any more ? ye will revolt more and more .the 
 whole head is and the whole heart is faint. Ift.^.i^, For the 
 people tHTneth not unto himihat fmitteth them ^ neither dothey ftck^ 
 the Lord of hofls, v. 14. Therefore the Lord rviU cat off" from IfracL 
 head and tail, root & branch inane day. v. 15. The ayincient and 
 Honorable , he is the head \ and the Prophet that teacheth lyes ^ he is 
 thetail. V. 16. For the Leaders ofthis People caafe them to erreand 
 they that are led of them are defrayed, fer. y. 5. O Lord are 
 not thine eyes upon the truth ? thou haji flricks^ them , but they have 
 not grieved; thou haJl con fumed them , but tbey have refufed to re¬ 
 ceive correPiion : they have made their faces harder then a rocl^t they 
 have refufedto return, 8.4. ^JMloreover , thou fhalt fay unto 
 
 them, Thus faith the Lord, Shall they fall,and not arife} fhall he 
 turn away and not return} v. y. Why then is this People of Jerufa- 
 lem fiden bacl^ by a perpetual backjlidtng ? they holdfafl deceit , they 
 refufe to return, v. 6. 1 hearkened and heard, but they fpake not 
 aright -, no man repented him of his wickednef, faying , What have 
 I done} every one turneth to his courfe as thehorfe rufhethinto the 
 battel. V. 7. Tea, the Stork, m the Heaven knoweth her appointed 
 t.mes , and the Turtle, and the Crane, and the Swallow obferve the 
 time of their coming; but my People kyiow not the judgement of the 
 Lord. I fa. 42. 2 Who among you wtl give ear to this} whowil 
 hearken and hear for the time to come} v. 24 JVloo gave ‘Jacob for 
 a (poll and ifrael to the robbers} did not the Lord, He , ag.unf 
 u>h«m »ve have fnned} for they would not walk-in his ways, ncuher 
 
 I 3 were 
 
0 °) 
 
 were they obedient tohis Law v. 25. Lherfore hehath poured upon him 
 the fury of his anger i and the Jirength of battelandithath fethim 
 on fire round about , yet he knew not ; and it burned him yet he laid it 
 not to heart. Lev. z(> But if you wil not hearken to me, andwil 
 
 not do alltheje Commandements’y v. 15. tyLndtf ye fihaidefpifie my 
 Statutes i or if your foul abhor my ludgments , fothat yewillnot do 
 all my Commandements ^ but that ye break^my Covenant: v. 16. I 
 alfo wil do this unto y ou ^ I will even appoint over you terror ^ con- 
 fumption^ and the burning-ague \ that fhall confume the eyes ^ & 
 caUje fiorroiv of heart: and ye [hall fo\v your fie e din vain ^ for your 
 enemies fihal eat it. v. 17. tAnd I will fet my face againfl you ^ and 
 ye fhallbe fain before your enemies: they that hate you fhall reign over 
 jou^ andye fhall fee when none purfueth you. w 1%, eAndifyouwill 
 not yet for all this hearken untome , then I wH punifhyoufeventimes 
 more for your fins. i p. (iAnd I wil break, the pride of your 
 power] and I will make your Heaven as Iron and your Earth as 
 Brajfe: v. 20. ^nd your frength jhall be fpent invain-., for your 
 Land fhall notyeeld her increafe , neither fhall the Trees of the Land 
 yeeld their fruits, v. 21. And if ye walk^contrary unto me., and 
 Will not hearken unto me , / will bring fiven times more plagues upon 
 youy according to your fins. v. 22. 1 will alfo fend wilde beafls 
 among y ou f which fhall rob you of your children-, and defroy your 
 cattel, and make you few in number, and your high waies fhall be 
 defolate, v. 2 3. And if you will not be reformed by thefe things , but 
 will walk^ contrary unto me: v. 24. Then will / alfo walk contrary 
 unto you , and will pnnijh you yet [even times for your fins. v. 25. 
 And 1 will bring a fv ord upon you , that fhall avenge the quarrel of 
 my Covenant: and when you are gathered together within your (fities , 
 1 will fend the peflilcnce amongyou \ andye fb-ill be deliveredintothe 
 hand of the enemy, v. 26. Andwhen I have broken the faff of your 
 bread , ten women fhall bake your bread in one ovent and they fhall de¬ 
 liver you your bread again by weight ; a?id ye fhall eat and not be fatis^ 
 fed. V. 27. And if you will not for all this hearken untome, but 
 walk^contrary unto me\ v. 28. Then I willwalk^contr ary unto you 
 alfo in fury ] and J, even I, will chaffe you [even times for your 
 fins. V. 29. And ye fhall eat the fiefh of your fans , andthe fiefh of 
 your daughters fhall ye eat. v. 30. And 1 will defroy your high 
 places , and cut down your Ip^ages , 'and caf your carcafes upon the 
 
 car- 
 
 r 
 
(70 i 
 
 carcafes of your Idols ^ and my foul fioall AbhoryoH» v. 51. Andi 
 Will make your Cities wafi-, and bring your Sanllfiaries unto defala- 
 tiofiy and I will not fmell the favour of your fweet Odours* v. 32. 
 And I will bring the Land into defolation, and your enemies which 
 dwell therein fhali be ajlonifhed at it, v. 35. And 1 willfcatter you 
 among the Heathen , and will draw out a fword after you; and your 
 Land [hall be dejolate , and yonr Cities wafte. v. 34, Then [hall the 
 Land enjoy her Sabbaths as long as it lieih defolate 3 and ye be in 
 your enemies Land\ even then fhali the Land refl 3 and enjoy her 
 Sabbaths, v. 35. As long asitliethdefolate 3 itfhallrefli becaufe 
 it did not refl in your Sabbaths when ye dwelt upon it. 7. 36. Andupon 
 them that are left alive of you , 1 will fend a faintnejfe into their 
 hearts in the Lands of their enemies 5 and the f mnd of a fhaken leaf 
 fhali chafe them \ andthey fhali flee 3 as fleeing from a fword, and 
 they fhali fall when none purfueth them. v. 37. And they [hall fall 
 one upon another as it were before a fivord 3 ivhen none purfueth’3 and 
 ye fhali have no power to fland before your enemies, v. 38. Andye 
 fhali perifh amongthe Heathen, andthe Land of your enemies /halt 
 eat you up. v. 39. Andthey thatare leftofyou 3 fhallpineawaym 
 their iniquitie in your enemies Lands , and alf ? in the iniquities ofthebr 
 fathers fhali they pine away with them. 
 
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 9 
 

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( 75 ) 
 
 
 
 
 T H E 
 
 S I 'N S 
 
 Of The 
 
 M I N I S T E R Y. 
 
 Firji, fuch as are before their entry - 
 to the sIAdinifery. 
 
 r'"-» 
 
 I* 
 
 Ightenefs and prophanity in coiiveiTation, un- 
 fuitable to that holy Calling which theydic^ 
 intend , not throughly repented of. * 
 
 2. Corrupt education of fome in the Pre- 
 laticaJl and Arminian way* whereby their 
 corruptions and errors were drunken in , and 
 abilities improvcn, for ftrengthening and promoving the fame, 
 not repented of. 
 
 3. Not hudying to be in CHRIST, before they be in the 
 Miniftery ; nor to have the pradlicall knowledge and experience of 
 the Myftery of the Gofpel in themfelves, before they preach it to 
 others. 
 
 4. Negleding to fit themfelves for the WorkoftheMinifierie 
 in not improving prayer and fellowfhip with God , education at 
 Sc hools and opportunities of a lively Miniftery], and other means, 
 and not mourning for thefe neglects. 
 
 K 2. 5. Not 
 
('70 
 
 5. Not ftudykig fel£-dcnyall, nor rcroMng to take up the Croffe 
 of Christ. 
 
 6. Negligence to entertain fight and fenfeof fin and mifery, not 
 wreftling againft corruption,nor ftudying of mortification and ful>- 
 duedneffeoffpirit. 
 
 Secondly^ in entering^ 
 
 t. >^Arnall,corrupt and crooked wayes For entering totheMi- 
 
 V ^niftery, fuch as bribing in the time of Prelacie, foliciation 
 of friends and the like; whereby many have not entered by the 
 door, but did climb up another way. 
 
 i.Entcring to the Miniftery byanrmplicitc,execrable,CanonkaIt 
 Oath and fubfcription given to the Prclats for acknowledging, 
 them, and advancing their corruptions introduced and to be intro¬ 
 duced. 
 
 3. Entering to the Miniftery without tryals,and receiving ordina¬ 
 tion cjthcr from the Prclat, or by a recommendation from him to 
 the Presby terie, and fometimes without or againft the minde of the 
 Presbyterie. 
 
 4. Entering efther only by Prefentations, or by purchafed Suppli¬ 
 cations from the plurality of the Paroehiners,without or againft the 
 confent of the godly in the Parioch. 
 
 5. Entering to the Miniltery without refpedto a CommllTipn 
 from Jefus Chrift, by which it hath come to palTe ^ that many have 
 run unfent. 
 
 6. Entering to the Miniftery not from the love of Chrift,nor from 
 a defire to honour God ingainingoffouls, but for by-ends, fora 
 name, and for livelyhood in the World, notwithftanding folemne 
 declaration to the contrary at admiffion. 
 
 y.Some offering thcmfelves to try all without abilities, and ftudy¬ 
 ing to conceal and hide their weaknefte, by making ufe of the help 
 and pains offome friend and acquaintance, or other mens Papers, 
 in fcverall parts ofthe tryall; and fome authorized to preach , and 
 others admitted to the Miniftery, who have little or no ability for 
 performing the duties thereof. 
 
 8.T00 much weighed with inclination to be called to the Minifte- 
 ty te aplace'wNerc we have carnall relation. 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 Thirdly i ^fter tnterin^^ which is jirfl in their trivate 
 condition and converjation* 
 
 1. TGnoranceofGod, want of nearneffewith him, and ta¬ 
 lking up little ofGod in reading, meditating, and fpeaking 
 
 ofhim. 
 
 2. Exceeding great fclfilhneffe in all that we do, ailing from 
 our fclves, for our felves. 
 
 3 Not caring how unfaithfull and negligent others were, fo 
 being it might contribute a teftimony to our faithfulnefle and dili¬ 
 gence : but being rather content, if not rej oycing at their fault. 
 
 4. Leaft delight in thefe things wherein lyeth our neareft com¬ 
 munion with God, great inconftancie in our walk with God, and 
 negle<ft of acknowledging ofhim in all our wayes, 
 
 5. In going about dudes, leaft carefullofthefc which are mofl 
 remote from the eyes of men. 
 
 6. Seldome in lecrct prayer with God, except to fit for Publick 
 performances, and even that much negleded, or gone about very 
 fuperficially. 
 
 7. Glad to find excufes for the neglecft of duties. 
 
 8. Negleding the reading of Scriptures in fecret, for edifying 
 our fclves as Chriftians, only reading them in fo far as may fit us for 
 our duty as Minifters, and oft-times negleding that. 
 
 9. Not given to refledl upon our own wayes, nor fufferlng con- 
 viftion to have a through work upon us, deceiving our felves by 
 reftlng upon abftinence from, and abhorrencie of evils, from the 
 light of a naturall confcience, and looking upon the fame as an evi¬ 
 dence of a reall change. 
 
 10. Evill guarding of, and watching over the heart, and carelef- 
 neffe in felf-fearching, which makes much unacquaintedneffe 
 with our fclves, andeftrangedneffc from God. 
 
 11. Not guarding nor wreftling againft fecn and known ills, ef- 
 pecially our predominants. 
 
 12. A facilite to be drawn away with the temptations of the time, 
 and other particular temptations, according to our inclinations 
 andfellowfhip. 
 
 13. Inftability and wavering in the wayes of God through the 
 fears ofperfecution,hazard,or lofs ofefteem, and declining duties, 
 
 K 3 bccaufo 
 
( 78 ) 
 
 becaufe of the fear of jealoufies and reproaches. 
 
 14. Not efteeming the CrolTe of ChriftandfufFerlngs for his 
 Name honourable, but ratherihiftlng fufferingsfrom felf-love. 
 : 15. Deadneffe of fpirit after all the fore ftroaks of God upon the 
 Land. 
 
 16. Little confcience made of fecrct humiliation and fafling by 
 our felves apart, and in our Families; that we might mourn for 
 our own and the Lands guiltincfleand great back-flidings,and little 
 applying the Caufes of publick humiliation to our own hearts. 
 
 17. Finding of our own pleafures, when the Lord cals for hu¬ 
 miliation. 
 
 18. Not laying to heart the fad and heavy fulferings ofthe peo¬ 
 ple of God abroad, and the not thriving of the Kingdom of Jefus 
 Chrifl, and the power of godlinefsamong them. 
 
 1 p. Refined hypocrifie, defiring to appear what indeed w-e are 
 not, 
 
 2o.Studying more to learn the language of Gods people nor their 
 exercife. 
 
 21. Artificial! confefsing of fin without repentance, prof efsing 
 to declare iniquity, and not refolving to be fory for fin. 
 
 22. Confefsion in fecrct muchllighted j evenofthefethings 
 whereof we are convinced. 
 
 23. No Reformation after folemn acknowledgments and priva¬ 
 te Vows, thinking our felves exonered after Confefsion. 
 
 24. Readier to fearch out and cenfure faults in others, thento 
 fee or take with them in our felves. 
 
 25. Accountingofoureftateand way according to the eftima-* 
 tion that others have of us. 
 
 i 6 . Eftimation ofmen as they agree with or difagree from us, 
 
 27. Not fearing to meet with tryals, but prefuming in our own 
 flrength to gq through them unlhaken. 
 
 2 8.Not learning to fear by the falls of gracious men, nor mour¬ 
 ning and Praying for them. 
 
 29. Not obferving particular deliverances and rods, nor impro¬ 
 ving of them for the honor of God, and edification of our felves 
 and others. • 
 
 50, Little or no mourning for the corruption of our nature, 
 and lefs groaning under, and longing to be delivered from 
 
 that 
 
K79) 
 
 that body of death y the bitter root of all our other evils^ 
 
 Secondly j inour Cenverfatiofi and Walk^wltb and before thefe of 
 our Flocks and others. 
 
 I. T^ii.uItlers,converfing ordinarily with others for the worfe 
 JL* rather rhen for the better. 
 
 z. Foolifh-jefting away time with impertinent and ufelesdif- 
 Gourfe, veryunfeerning the Minifters oftheGofpel. 
 
 3. Spiricuall purpofes often dying in our hands , when they are 
 begun by others. 
 
 4. Carnal familiarity with naturall wicked and Malignant men; 
 whereby they are hardened, thePeople of God humbled, and we 
 our felves blunted. 
 
 y. Slighting fellowfhip with thefe by whom we might profit. 
 
 6 . Defiring more to converfe with thefe that might better us by 
 theirparts, then fuchas mightedifieus by their graces. 
 
 7. Not ftudy ing opportunities of doing good to others. 
 
 8. Shifting of prayer and other duties when.called thereto, 
 choofing rather to omit the fame, then we Ihouid be puttothem 
 our felves. 
 
 9. Abufingoftimein frequent recreation and paftimes, and 
 loving our pleafures more then God. 
 
 10. Taking little dr no time to Chriftian Difeourfe with young 
 men trained up for the Miniftery. 
 
 I I. Common and ordinary difeourfe on the Lords Day, 
 
 12. Slighting Chriflian A dmonition from any of our Flocks, or 
 others as being below us, and afhamed to take light and warning 
 from private Chriftians. 
 
 13. Diflike of, or bitternefle againfl fuch as deal freely with us 
 
 by admonition or reproof, and not dealing faithfully with others 
 who would welcome it offour hands. . 
 
 14. Not making confcience to take pains on thc^yignorant and 
 prophane for their good. 
 
 15. Our not mourning for the ignorance, unbelief, andmifear- 
 riages of the Flocks committed unto us. 
 
 id. Impatient bearing of the infirmities of others, rafhly brea¬ 
 king out againfl: their perfons, more then fludying to gain them 
 from their finsi * 7 - 
 
(8o) 
 
 I y. Not ufing freedom with thefe of our charge, and for mofl: 
 part fpending our time with them in common difcourfes, not 
 tending to Edification. 
 
 18. Negleding Admonition to friends and others in an evil 
 Gourfe. 
 
 1 p. Refervednefle in laying out our condition to others. 
 
 2 0. Not praying for men of a contrary judgment, but ufing re- 
 fervednefie and diftance from them, being more ready to fpcak of 
 them then to them, or to God for them. 
 
 2 I. Not weighed with the fallings and mifearriages of others, 
 bat rather taking advantage thereof for ] uftil y ing our fei ves. 
 
 22. Talking of, andfporting at the faults of others, rather 
 
 then compafiionating of them. 
 
 23. No pains taken in religious ordering of our families, nor 
 fiudying to be Paterns to other Families in the governement of 
 ours. 
 
 2 4. Hafty anger and palfion in our Families and converfation 
 with others. 
 
 2 y.Covetoufnefle,worldly mindednefre,and an inordinate defi- 
 re after the things of thislife,upon which folio weth a negledr of the 
 Duties of onr Calling, and our being taken up for the moftpart 
 with the things of the World, 
 
 26. Want ofHofpitality and Charity to the Members of Chrifi, 
 
 27. Not cherifhing Godlinefle in the People, and fome being 
 afraid of it, and hating the people of God for Piety, andfiudying 
 to bear down and quench the work of the (pirit amonglt them. 
 
 'Thirdly in the difeharge of Adiniferial Duties. Which is jirjl in 
 regard of laboming in the Word and DoBrine* 
 
 1. "VT Ot entertaining that edge of fpirit in Minifteriall Du- 
 
 ties, which we found at the firft entry to the Miniftcry, 
 
 2. Great negled: of reading and other preparation , or prepara¬ 
 tion mccrly Literalandbookilb, making an idol! of a book, which 
 hindereth Communion with God, or prefuming on bygone af^ 
 sifiance, and praying little. 
 
 3. Trufting to gifts, parts and pains taken for preparation, whe¬ 
 
 reby God is provoked, to blaftc good matter well ordered and 
 worded, 3, Car- 
 
4", CarelefTe in imploying Christ, and dra^’lng vertuc out 
 of him for inabling us to preach in the Spirit and in power. 
 
 In prayer for afsiftance, pray more forafsiftenceto the' 
 
 Meffenger then to the Meifage which we carry , not caring what 
 become of the W ord, if v/e be wich fome meafure of afsiftance car¬ 
 ried on in the Duty. 
 
 6 . The matter we bring forth is not ferioufly recommended to 
 God by Prayer to be quickened to his People. 
 
 7. Negled of Prayer after the Word is Preached, that it may res. 
 ccive the firft and latter rain ; and that the Lord would put in the 
 hearts of his People what we fpeak to them in his Name.-^ ' 
 
 8. Neglecl; to warn in Preaching offnares and fin in Publick af¬ 
 fairs by fome, and too much frequent and unneceifary (peaking by 
 thers ofPublickbuiineiffeandTranradions. . 
 
 5). Exceeding great ncgled and unskiifulnefTe to fet forth the 
 excellencies and ufefulnefs of Jefus Chrif:, and the New Covenant 
 which ought to be the great fubjed of a Minifters Study and 
 Preaching. 
 
 lo. Speaking of Christ more by hear-fay thgnfrom know'- 
 kedge and experience, or any real! imprefsicn of him upon the 
 heart. . ' 
 
 11 .The way of mofl: MiniEers Preaching too Lcgall. 
 
 12. Want of fobricty in Preaching the Gofpcl, not fav’^ouring 
 
 any thing but what is new, fo that the Subflantials of Religion 
 bear but little bulk. ^ 
 
 13. Not Preaching Chrift in the fimpllcity oftheGcfpel,nor our 
 felves the Peoples fervants for Chrifl: fake. 
 
 14. Preaching of Chrifl: not that the People may know Him, 
 but that they may think we know much of him. 
 
 15. Preaching anent Chrifts leaving the Land without broken- 
 neffe of heart, or up ftirring of our felrcs to take hold of him. 
 
 1 6. Not Preaching with bowels ofcompafllon to them who arc 
 in hazard to perifh. 
 
 17. Preaclilng againfl: Publick fins, neither in fuch a way nor for 
 fuch an end as wc ought for the gaining of fouls, and drawing men 
 
 . out of their fins, but rather becaufc it is of our concernment to fay 
 fomething of thefe evils. 
 
 18. Bitterncffein Lead of zeal, in fpeaking againfl Mahgnants, 
 
 L ^ Secla- 
 
-...idunmlne/Te 
 
 Setoies , and other fcandC^S)^ , 
 
 therein. - 
 
 19. Not ftiidying to know the particular condition of the fouls 
 oFthe people, that we may fpeak to them accordingly, nor keeping 
 a particular record thereof, though convinced of the ufefulnefTe of 
 this. 
 
 20. Not wealing what may be moft profitable and Edifying, 
 
 and want of wifedome in application to the feverall conditions of 
 Touls, not focarefull to bring home the point by application as to 
 finde out the Dodrine, nor fpeaking the fame with that reverence 
 which becomes his Word and Meffage. 
 
 21. Choofing texts whereon we have fomething to fay rather 
 then futing to the condition of fouls and times, and frequent pre¬ 
 aching of the fame things that we may not be put to the pains of 
 new ifudic. 
 
 22. Such a way of Reading, Preaching and Prayer as puts us in 
 ShefeDuties further from God. 
 
 2 Too foonfatisfied in the difeharge of Duties, and holding off 
 chall enges withexcufes. 
 
 24. Indulging the bodie, andwaffing much time idlely. 
 
 25. Too much eying our owncredlteand applaufe, and being 
 taken with jt, when we get it, and unfatisfied when it is 
 wanting. 
 
 26. TimoroufnefTe in delivering Gods Meffage, letting people 
 dye in reigning fins without warning. 
 
 2 7. Voguineffe and pride of heart becaufe the Lord fulfilled our 
 word in the year ■ 
 
 28. Ra(h fpeaking in the Name of the Lord In reference to the 
 fucceffe of our Armies of late. 
 
 29. Studying the difeharge of Duties, rather to free our felves 
 fromcenfure, then to approve our felves to God, 
 
 3 o. Shifting to preach in places where we were for the time for 
 fear of difpicaling, in this time of Publick backfliding and triall. 
 
 51. Not making all the Counfell of God known to his People, 
 and particularly not giving tefiiraony in times ofdefedion, 
 
 5 2. N<it ftiidying toprofice by our own dodrine, nor the doc- 
 drine of others. 
 
 3 3. For moft part preaching, as we our felves were not 
 
 con- 
 
(* 5 ) 
 
 Con''<?rned m the IVIefsage we carry to tfie Peoplei^ 
 
 5^, Not rejoycing at the coDverfion of finners, but content 
 •with the untbriving of me Lords Work amongfl: his people as 
 futeingbeftwithoui minds, fearing if they fholuldthrive better, 
 wc fnouldbemore puttoit, andiefs effeeined of by them. 
 
 5 j. Many in Preaching and pradtice , bear Ing down the power 
 ofgodlinefs. 
 
 56. Unfaithfull difcharge ofMinifteriall Duties in attending the 
 Armies. 
 
 37. We Preach not as before God , but as to men , as doth ap¬ 
 pear by the different pains in our preparation to fpeak to our or¬ 
 dinary heares, and to others to whom would approve our 
 felves. 
 
 38. Not making the Miniflery a workinearneftasathingto 
 be accounted for in every duty,which makes much lazinefs and un- 
 fruitfulnefs, doing duties ex o^cio, not ex con fete ntia offeu i ra¬ 
 ther to difcharge our Calling nor our confcience. 
 
 Secondly^ Inthe Admimflrationof Sacraments, 
 
 I, In Baptijme, 
 
 L ittle minding in our felves, orftirring up',ofothers to mindc 
 the obligation that lyes onus and them, by the Covenant 
 made with God in Baptifme. 
 
 I 2. Not inftrudling Parents In their duty, not charging them 
 with their promife given at the Baptizing of their Children, nor 
 trying what pains they have taken to perform the fame. 
 
 3. Being very fuperficiail and formall in the adminiffratlon of 
 this Ordinance, 
 
 Thirdly^ In the Adminijiration of the Lords Supper. 
 
 A Dmittlng ofmixt multitudes to the Lords Table, not fepara- 
 ting betwixtthe pretious and the vile. 
 
 . 2. Unequall dealing with poor and rich, in admitting to, or fuf- 
 pending and debarring from the Lords Table. 
 
 3. Great negled to prepare for that adion, preparing for it mo¬ 
 re as Miniffers, then as Chriftians. 
 
 4. Carnall and unworthy carriage of Miniflers at the Commu_ 
 
 L 2 nioH, 
 
(§ 4 ) 
 
 nion, being more dcfirous to have that adion by our hands, witl^ 
 credit CO our felves, then with profit to the people. 
 
 5. Thinking when th at aiUon is by-hand, that wehavcavacan- 
 
 cie from ocher Minifteriail duties for atime. < 
 
 6 . Littie wrediing ^(7ith God to have the People prepared for 
 it, or the guilt of prophaning of it by our felves and others taken 
 away. 
 
 Fourthlj-iin Vifiting. 
 
 Egligent, lazlcand partiall vifitingthe fick; ifthey bepoor, 
 we go once , and only when fent for *, Ifthey be rich and of 
 better note, we go oftner, and unfent for. 
 
 2. Not knowing how to fpcak with the tongue of the Learned a 
 word in feafon to the weary and exercifed in confciencc , nor to 
 fuchasare under the lode of husband^ wife, children, friends or 
 goods, for the improving of thefetryals to their fpiritiali advan¬ 
 tage, nor to dying perfons. 
 
 3. In vifiting, wearying, orlhunning togo to fuch as we ef- 
 teem gracelelTe. 
 
 4. Not vifiting the People from houfc to houfe, nor praying 
 with them at fit opportunities. 
 
 4 , In Catechijing, 
 
 I. “I" Azle and negligent in Cacechifing. 
 
 JLff 2. Not preparing our hearts before, nor wrefiling 
 withGodforablefiingtoit, becaufe ofche ordinarinefs, and ap¬ 
 prehended eafinefs ofit; whereby the Lords Name is much taken 
 in vain, and the People little profited. 
 
 3. Looking on that Exercifeas aworkbclowus,andnotcon- 
 
 defeending tofiudy a right and profitabl way of infirudling the 
 Lords People. . 
 
 4 . Partial in Catechlfing, pafiing by tbefe that arc rich and of 
 better quality, though many offuch (landordinarly in great need 
 ofinfirusdion. 
 
 5,., Not waiting upon and following the ignorant,but paffionat- 
 ly upbraiding of them often. 
 
 5 . In RnU-ng 4 nd Dif :ipUne. 
 
 %.TOt making ulc of this Ordinajice of Church-Cenfures 
 
 for gaining of fouls, but turning it in ameer Civil pu- 
 
 nlL 
 
cBj;) 
 
 nilhement; and in the adminiftration thereef becoming either 
 coldrifc , or without a fpirit ofmecknefs, and uling a way either 
 meerly rational by wordly vvirdom., or nicerly aiuhoritativ c, mo¬ 
 re then by motives drawn from the love of Chrifi: j and by our 
 carriage in judicatories putting a humane fhape upon the Ordinan¬ 
 ces of jefus Chrht, carrying our feives in too ftatcly a way, like the 
 men of this world, 
 
 2. Partiality in adminidtation of Cenfures with refpeiff of per- 
 fons, not ufing the like faithful! freedom towards high and low, fib 
 and fremd. 
 
 3. Rafh tailing on us to open and fhut Chrlflis door. 
 
 4. By our pradlice, teaching (as it were J formality in Repentan¬ 
 ce to offenders, hardening them in their fins, by accepting bare 
 forms without an^y evidence of Repentance, and loofing when wc 
 were perfwaded Chrifl; did not loofe: and of late turning profef- 
 fion of Repentance into a State engine for men to ftep unto prefer¬ 
 ment and publick employments. 
 
 . y. Following fcandalous perfons with the higheft Cenfures of 
 the Kirk, with little or no care to hold them up to God. 
 
 6. Want of compaffion to thefe on whom Difcipline is exerci- 
 fed, not laboring to convince themoffin, but imperioufly and 
 withpaffioninllead ofzcal threatning them, thinking it fuffici- 
 ent if we be obeyed,though they be not gained to Chriit. 
 
 7. Superficial, finful, and flight cenfuring one another, 
 at times appointed for that end in Presbyteries and Synods, 
 and negled of faithful freedom and love in performing that 
 duty. 
 
 8. Admitting of men to the Miniflry who were not qualified 
 with Grace afizel as Gifts, not wichftanding the Word of God and 
 Conftitutions of this Kirk do require the one, afwcl as the other j 
 which hath been the fountain of many evils. 
 
 p. Great unfaithfulnefs in bringing in,and holding in,unworthy 
 perfons in the Minifiry, and keeping Ccn/urcs cfFunfaithful men. 
 
 10. Unfaithfulnefs in giving Teffimonials and Recommenda¬ 
 tions , and receiving perfons upon Tefiiraonials meerly negative, 
 cfpccialiy Expectants and Students ofDivinity. 
 
 11. ConflitutingEldcrlhipsoffuchmcnas arcknov/’n to be {- 
 
 onorant prophanc and difaffedfed to the Work of God, and being 
 ^ L z care- 
 
 ^ J 
 
(80 
 
 carelefsto hav6 them coni(iil:ing .of the raofl: able and godly men 
 v^Ithin the Congregation , a great caufe of much ignorance, pro- 
 phane and fcandalous carriage among the People. 
 
 12. Negleding to remove'froin the Elderlhips fuch as are igno¬ 
 rant and fcandalous. 
 
 15. Negleding to hold out the neceffary qualifications and du¬ 
 ties of Ruling Elders, and to ftir them up to their duty. 
 
 14. Not carrying our felves in Judicatories and other wayes to- 
 v^^ard Ruling Elders as towards Brethren, anijoynt Overfeers in 
 the work of the Lord. 
 
 15. Not makingconfcience ofkeeping Kirk Judicatories, but 
 wearying oftheexpences and attendance , whereby diverfe things 
 hath beenhaflert and mifcaried therein: willing deferring of them, 
 and fhcinning to give teftimony in thcm,for fear ofinconveniences. 
 
 16. Not ftouping to a gaining way in Debates, nor making ap¬ 
 plication to God for knowledge of his mind in things debated , be¬ 
 fore they pafs in a concluflon. 
 
 \j. Wearying to hear men fully who reprefent their doubts, 
 and to weigh all the Arguments that can be reprefentcd for the ne¬ 
 gative, before the affirmative be concluded. 
 
 , 18. ToogreatanimoGties in Judicatories, even about matters 
 
 of fmall weight. 
 
 ip. Pride,impatience and peremptorinefs offpirir, notfJaying 
 on others clearnefsin our debatesandconcluffons, through which 
 it comes to pafs that we judge rafhly of precious men; and alienati- 
 tion of aff edions fleals in and is entertained. 
 
 20. Hafty concluding of Atfls & prefling obedience thereto 
 without convincing grounds holden forth from Scripture for fatis- 
 fying the confciences of the Loids People. 
 
 2 I. Silence in Affemblies when unlatisfied, being carried by 
 the authority of men , and too much following other mens light 
 and fupprefling their own. 
 
 22. Making Votes fubfervient to the humors ofmen and huma¬ 
 ne interefts. 
 
 25. Some altogether ncgleaingwholfome Adis and Conflitu. 
 tions of Affemblies, and others,receiving their Ads too implicity. 
 
 24. Too bitter expreffions againll Adverfaries in Publick Pa¬ 
 pers and Sermons, for efhewing reproaches, whereof there is no 
 Lukbutirritation. 2y. A- 
 
2K» Abufing tranrpoftations by making them too'freqnenta 
 and almoft the ordinary way of Planting places of any eminency; 
 fomctimes enading them when there is no prcffing neceffity , and 
 without tender endeavouring the fatisfadion of the Paople inter- 
 efted and without care of providing them thereafter. 
 
 In relation to the T^ublick* 
 
 Otftudylngthecontroverlies ofthe time, that wc might 
 be enabled to hold forth light, and convince gain-fayers 
 of the truth. 
 
 2. Not fearing to meddle in matters too high for us, and defir- 
 ing to be taken notice of, more then to be fledable in the Pubiick, 
 
 3. Following of Pubiick budinefs, with too much negled of 
 cur Flocks, 
 
 4. Following of Pubiick bulTinefs with much pride and padion, 
 and lofrinefs of ipirit upon camel principles and defire tobeedee- 
 medof, rather then true zeal to]efus Chrid and his matters , and 
 with little or no pray er. 
 
 5. Superficial admitting of all to the Covenanrs jandfolemn 
 Acknowledgment, without taking fufficient pains toindrudand 
 inform them in the knowledge of the things contained therein. . 
 
 C. Being too inftrumental for bringing difaffed perfons to trud. 
 
 7. Unequal zeal againdenemies,cooling in our zeal againd one 
 enemy as it is increaft againd another. 
 
 8. Much repining at the judgments of God upon the Land from 
 carnal refpeds, and transferring the caufes of the wrath off our fd- 
 ves upon others. 
 
 p. Too eafiefatisfied in fuch things as might tend to the preju¬ 
 dice ofChridsinteaed, weighing the confequenccs of great Revo¬ 
 lutions more by refped to ourfelves, then to his honor. 
 
 10. Agreeing to receive the King to the Covenant braclyupon 
 wilting, without any apparent evidences of a real change of Prin¬ 
 ciples. 
 
 11. Notufingfreedom Infiiewing what w’e were convinced, 
 was finfulin reference to the late Treaty with the King, but going 
 on therein when we v/cre not fatisfied in our confciences for fear 
 of reproach and of being midaken, 
 
 12. Si* 
 
1 i. Silence In Publlck, and not giving Teflimony after a difco- 
 very of the Kings Commiffion given iojames Graham; for inva¬ 
 ding the Kingdom- ' 
 
 13. Preiling the King to make a Declaration to the world, whi- 
 leil we knew by clear evidences that he had no real convidion of 
 the things contained therein. 
 
 14. Too much dchring to lurk upon by-ends, when called to 
 give a Teflimony. 
 
 15. Not bearing Teflimony againfl Publick Defedlons in a 
 right and fpiritual way. 
 
 1(5. Unfaichfulnels in bearing burden with them, whom the 
 Lord raifed up to be his witncfTcs againh: the publlck backHidings, 
 omitting to bear Teflimony our feives uponfcarnal refpeds andlu- 
 kewannnefs in adhering to publick Teflimonies formerly given. 
 
 A Poflfcripr. 
 
 which could not hs gotten printed. 
 
 foregoing caiifesofGods wrath being on feveralldaycs of 
 JL folemne Humiliation laid out & confefied before the Lofd, 
 vve thoughtfit tofubjoine here fome othercaufes of our late Hu¬ 
 miliation } as 
 
 1. The late declining of the Land by confenting & engaging 
 unto the publick adings of the prefent Powers, fo contrary to the 
 Covenants, & fo much prejudicial to Iveligion dc liberties. 
 
 2. Thedefedionofdiverfcjwhoarcaccountedrcligious, from 
 their former principles, unto Separation, 6c other Errours of the ti¬ 
 me. 
 
 5. The Ufurpation & Carriage of the prefent pretended AlTem- 
 bly. 
 
 4. The Englifh their great Encroachments ’ upon the Liberties of 
 this Church. 
 
 y. That the promlfed Convcrfion of His Ancient people of the 
 jewes may be haficned. 
 
 < 5 . ThattheLordmay make our prefent rcfolutions for reforr 
 raingour fclves, ourElderfhips 6c people eitcdual, andmay blefs 
 our Endeavours to this purpofe. 
 
 F I 21 1 S.