20 August, 1647. Ante Meridiem. Sess. XV.
A Declaration, and Brotherly Exhortation of the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland, to their Brethren of England.
THE conscience of our dutie to God obliging us to give a testimony to his Trueth, and to the Kingdom of his Sonne Jesus Christ, now so much resisted and opposed by many, and so little owned by others: The laudable custome and example of correspondency between Neighbouring Churches, exhorting, encouraging, and (in case of publike scandall) admonishing in love one another, as well as single Brethren ought to admonish one another in love, in the case of private offence: Our nearer relation and more speciall affection to our Brethren of England, making us to sympathize with them in their danger and affliction as our own, both Kingdomes being united as one entire Body in one Covenant, for pursuing the common cause and ends therein expressed: Yea, common reason and experience it self teaching us that wee have no cause to conceive our Religion, the liberties of this Church, or our selves to be in a condition of safety, when ever the enemies of our Religion and Liberties are growing to a prevalency in the Neighbour Kingdom. Any one of these considerations, much more all of them together, cry aloud upon us to break our silence in this present Juncture of Affaires; yet wee hope to expresse our selves both concerning the present Dangers and present Dueties, as in a conscionable and Brotherly freedome, so in a fair and inoffensive way; for wee have no pleasure nor purpose to provoke any Person or Party whatsoever, nor to encrease, but to endeavour the allaying and composing of the present unhappy differences. If any shall offend at our discharging our conscience and doing our duty, yet wee shall rather choose to take our hazard of that, then of displeasing God by neglect of duty. But we hope better things, then to be mis-understood, or mis-interpreted by such as desire a candide interpretation of their owne actions or expressions.
First of all, whatsoever the present discouragements, difficulties or dangers are, or whatsoever for the future they may bee, we cannot but commemorate to the glory of God, and we doubt not it shall be remembred to his glory in the Church throughout all ages, How great a salvation his Mighty Hand and Outstretched Arme hath wrought for these three Kingdomes; How he stirred up the Spirits of his People in this Kingdome ten yeares agoe, to begin to shake off the Yoke of Prelaticall tyrannie, and of Popish Ceremonies obtruded upon us, contrary to the Lawes of God and Men; How he led us on from so small beginnings, and from one degree to another, till wee were United in a Nationall Covenant; How he gave us a Banner to bee displayed for the Truth, and so blessed us in the prosecution of that Covenant, that the Kings Majesty was graciously pleased upon the humble Petitions of his Loyall Subjects in this Nation, to indict a Generall Assembly and Parliament for healing the grievances of Church and State respectively, As likewise to grant his Royall consent for Confirming and Ratifying by Acts of Parliament our Nationall Covenant, and the Government and Liberties of this Church. After which the new Troubles raised against us by the malice and treachery of our enemies, did occasion the first expedition of this Nation into England, (upon which followed the calling of the Parliament there, and the large Treaty) and in the issue, the return of that Army was with an Olive branch of Peace, and not without the beginnings of a Reformation in England: In which work while the Parliament was interrupted and opposed, and a bloody War begun with great successe on that side which opposed the Parliament and the begun Reformation, from whence also did accrew great advantage to the Popish Party (whereof the Cessation of Arms concluded in Ireland may be in stead of many testimonies;) Commissioners were sent hither from both Houses, earnestly inviting and perswading to a nearer Union of the Kingdomes, and desiring Assistance from this Nation to their Brethren in that their great distresse; And this by the good Hand of God produced the Solemne League and Covenant of the three Kingdomes, to the terrour of the Popish and Prelaticall party our common Enemies, and to the great comfort of such as were wishing and waiting for the Reformation of Religion, and the recovery of just Liberties. And although for the conjunction of the Kingdomes in Covenant, and Armes (being a speciall means tending to the extirpation of Popery, and strengthening the true Reformed Religion) this Kingdome hath been invaded and infested by the bloody Irish Rebels, aided and strengthened by some degenerate and perfidious Countrey-men of our owne: Although also in England there were not wanting incendiaries, who hating and envying nothing more then the Union of the Kingdomes in such a Covenant, were very vigilant to catch, and active to improve all occasions of making divisive motions, and creating Nationall Differences; Yet God hath been graciously pleased to break our Enemies strength at Home when it was greatest, and to guide us through these Jealousies and Differences fomented by disaffected Persons between the Kingdomes; So that in stead of a splitting upon these Rocks (the thing hoped for by our Enemies) there was a peaceable and friendly parting: Since which time God hath further blessed our Army at Home, to the expelling of the Enemie out of our own Borders. Nor can we passe in silence the happy progresse which hath been made in the Reformation of the Church of England; He that hath brought the Children to the birth, can also give strength to come forth; And hee whose hand did cast out Prelacie and the Book of Common Prayer (although strongly rooted in standing Lawes;) and who enclined the Parliament of England to Owne no other Church Government but the Presbyteriall, (Though it bee not yet fully settled according to the Word of God, and the example of the best Reformed Churches) can as easily encline when hee thinks good both the King and them, and the body of that Kingdome to a thorow and perfect Reformation. He that made the Assemblies and Parliaments of both Kingdomes to agree upon one Directory for the Publike Worship of God, can also when he will make an agreement in the other Parts of Uniformitie, Confession of Faith, form of Church Government, and Catechisme; In all which there hath beene also a good progresse made in the Reverend and Learned Assembly of Divines through the good hand of God so long upon them.
Having now seen so much of God both in the beginning and progresse of this his great Work; And his Hand having done so wondrous things for his People in their greatest extremities of danger, and having discovered and defeate the plots of Enemies, making them fall even by their own Counsels; These things wee resolve to keep still fixed in our hearts, and as memorials before our eyes, that remembring the Works of the Lord, and the Years of the Right Hand of the most High, wee may neither want matter of Praises and Thanksgivings, nor experience to breed hope. Although the building of the House of the Lord in England be not yet, after so long expectation, finished, and now also the Work ceaseth; Yet wee doe from our hearts blesse the Lord for the laying of the Foundation, and for so much progresse as hath been made in the Work; Having still confidence in the Almighty, to whom nothing is impossible or too hard, that every Mountaine which doeth or shall stand in the way shall become a plaine, and that the Head-Stone shall bee brought forth with shoutings of Joy, Grace, Grace unto it.
Nevertheless, we are also very sensible of the great and imminent dangers into which this Common Cause of Religion is now brought by the growing and spreading of most dangerous errours in England, to the obstructing and hindering of the begun Reformation, as namely (beside many others) Socinianisme, Arminianisme, Anabaptisme, Antinomianisme, Brownisme, Erastianisme, Independency, and that which is called (by abuse of the word) Liberty of Conscience, being indeed Liberty of Errour, Scandall, Schisme, Heresie, dishonouring God, opposing the Truth, hindering Reformation, and seducing others; Whereunto we adde those Nullifidians, or men of no Religion, commonly called Seekers: Yea, wee cannot but look upon the Dangers of the true Reformed Religion in this Island, as greater now then before; Not onely for that those very principles and fundamentals of Faith which under Prelacy, yea, under Popery it self, were generally received as uncontroverted, are now by the Scepticisme of many Sectaries of this time either oppugned, or called in question; But also, because in stead of carrying on the Reformation towards perfection, that which hath beene already built is in part cast down, and in danger to be wholly overthrowne through the endeavours of Sectaries to comply with many of the Prelaticall and Malignant, and even the Popish party; and their joyning hand in hand, and casting in their lots, and interweaving their interests together in way of Combination, against the Covenant and Presbyteriall Government; Yea, the unclean spirit which was cast out, is about to enter againe with seven other spirits worse than himselfe, and so the latter end like to be worse then the beginning.
We are extremely sorry that we have cause to aggravate these evils from the crying sin of breach of Covenant: Whereof if we should hold our peace, yet according to the Word of the Lord, other Nations will say, and many among them do say, Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this People? and what meaneth the heat of this great anger? And they answer one another, Because they have forsaken the Covenant of the Lord their God. We would not be understood as if we meant either to Justifie this Nation, or to charge such a sin upon all in that Nation. We know the Covenant hath been in divers particulars broken by many in both Kingdomes, the Lord pardon it, and accept a Sacrifice; and wee doe not doubt but there are many seven thousands in England who have not onely kept themselves unspotted, and retained their integrity in that businesse, but doe also mourne and groane before the Lord for that sin of others. Yet we should but deny our own sence and betray the Truth, if we should not resent so great a sinne and danger, as is the breach of a Solemne Covenant, sworn with hands lifted up to the most High God: Which breach however varnished over with some colourable and handsome pretexts, one whereof is the Liberty and Common Right of the free People of England, as one Saul brake a Covenant with the Gibeonites, In his Zeal to the Children of Israel and Judah: Yet God could not then, and cannot now be mocked; Yea, it is too apparent and undeniable, that among those who did take the Covenant of the three Kingdomes, as there are many who have given themselves to a detestable indifferency or neutralitie, so there is a Generation which hath made defection to the contrary Part; Persecuting as far as they could that true Reformed Religion, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, which by the Covenant they ought to preserve against the common Enemies; hindering and resisting that Reformation and Uniformity, which by the Covenant ought to bee endeavoured; preserving and tolerating those cursed things which by the Covenant ought to be extirpate; especially Heresie and Schisme, encroaching upon, yea offering violence unto the Rights, Privileges, and Authority of Magistracie; Protecting and assisting such as by the Covenant ought to have been brought to condigne triall and punishment, and persecuting those who by the Covenant ought to be assisted and defended; Endeavouring also a breach in stead of a firme Peace and Union between the Kingdomes: So that there is not any one Article of the Solemne League and Covenant which hath not been sinfully and dangerously violated before God, Angels, and Men. Now if a Covenant for the Preservation and Reformation of Religion, the Maintenance and Defence of Liberties was justly thought a fit and excellent means, not only to strengthen and fortifie the Kingdomes against the common Enemie of the true Reformed Religion, publike Peace and Prosperity, But also, to acquire the favour of Almightie God towards the three Kingdomes, of England, Scotland, and Ireland, as is expressed in the Ordinance of the Lords and Commons for the taking of the Covenant, dated February 2, 1643. Surely then the Authors and chief Instruments of the breach of that Covenant, are to be looked upon as those who strengthen the hands of the common Enemie, and provoke the wrath of Almighty God against these Kingdomes. Yea, if this Covenant was the Soveraigne and onely meanes of the recovery of those embroiled bleeding Kingdoms, as is expressed in the exhortation of the Assembly of Divines to the taking of the Covenant, approved and ordered to be Printed by the House of Commons; The despising, refusing, and casting aside of that remedy, must needs render the disease much more desperate. And if by the Declaration of both Kingdomes joyned in Arms, Anno 1643, such as would not take the Covenant were declared to bee publike Enemies to their Religion and Countrey, and that they are to be censured and punished as professed Adversaries and Malignants. Who seeth not now a strange falling away from these first Principles and Professions, among these who either magnifie and cry up, or at least connive at and comply with such as have not taken the Covenant, yea, are known Enemies to it, and cry down such as are most zealous for it?
In this case, while in the Neighbour Kingdom, the staves of Beauty and Bands, Covenant and Brother-hood are broken by many, the home of Malignants and Sectaries exalted, the best affected born down, Reformation ebbing, Heresie and Schisme flowing; It can hardly be marvelled at by any Person of prudence and discretion, if we be full of such feares and apprehensions as use to be in those who dwell near a House set on fire, or a Family infected, especially being taught by the sad experience of the Prelaticall times, how easily a Gangrene in the one half of this Island may spread through the whole; Knowing also the inveterate and insatiable malice of the Enemies of this Cause and Covenant against this Church and Kingdome; which we cannot be ignorant of, unlesse we would shut our eyes and stop our ears.
Our present purpose leadeth us to touch somewhat of the proceedings of the Army in England this Summer, so far as Religion is therein concerned; As wee are confident, divers have gone along with them in the simplicity of their hearts, and we presume not to judge the thoughts and intentions of any, it being Gods owne prerogative, to bring to light the hidden things of darknes, and to make manifest the counsels of the hearts; So it cannot be denied, that upon these passages and proceedings hath followed the interrupting of the so much longed for Reformation of Religion, of the setling of Presbyteriall government, and of the suppressing of heresies and dangerous errors, (which works the Parliament had taken in hand) the retarding and delaying the relief of Ireland, the sowing of the seeds of another War in England, the strengthning of the hands of the Malignant and Episcopall party, the weakning and wounding both of Magistracy and Ministery: In all which, whether the Army be blamelesse and innocent, from ministring occasion to so great evils, or whether there be not cause for them to repent and do the first works, and to practise more of that love, moderation, and meeknesse of Spirit, and of that zeal against Malignants and Prelaticall persons, which they have from the beginning professed, and the want whereof (when suspected in others) they did so much censure; or whether there be such a thing among them, as adjoyning with those against whom, and against those with whom the Covenant was taken; We leave them in all these to the search and examination of their own consciences, that they may stand or fall unto God. For our part, we cannot conceive how the late Proposals of that Army for setling of a Peace, do in point of Religion consist with the Solemn League and Covenant, or with the Propositions of Peace, formerly agreed upon by both Kingdomes; there being so considerable omissions of divers materiall desires contained in those former Propositions, concerning the abolition of Prelacy; concerning the injoyning of the taking of the Covenant by all his Majesties Subjects, under such penalties as the Parliaments should agree upon; concerning the setling of religion in England and Ireland, according to the Covenant, in such manner as both Houses of Parliament shall agree on, after advice had with the Assembly of Divines; concerning the setling of uniformity between the Churches of God in both Kingdomes, according to the Covenant, in such manner as shall be agreed on by both Houses of the Parliament of England, and by the Church, and Kingdome of Scotland, after advice had with the Divines of both Kingdomes; Also concerning an Act of Parliament to confirm the calling and sitting of the Assembly of Divines: All which, with some other particulars concerning Religion, expressed in the former Propositions, if they should now be omitted in the setling of a Peace, the progresse already made, not only in the Assembly of Divines, but in the Houses of Parliament in setling Presbyteriall Government, with the Confession of Faith, yea the Directory of publike Worship (though agreed upon by the Assemblies and Parliaments of both Kingdomes) shall bee but so much lost labour. But beside these omissions it may bee justly doubted whether there be not in these Proposals of the Army, somewhat for Episcopacy, and against the Covenant; For wee cannot understand the eleventh Proposall, in any other sense, but that it supposeth the continuance of the Ecclesiasticall office of Bishops or Prelats, as well as of any other Church Officers, and taketh no more from the Prelats, but coercive power or jurisdiction extending to civill penalties, which indeed belongeth to no Ecclesiasticall Officers. In the twelfth Proposall, we do not see, how it can avoid or shun the toleration of Popery, Superstition, Heresie, Schisme, Profannesse, or whatsoever works of darknesse shall be practised by such as despise the publike Worship of God in the Church, and have the most unlawfull and wicked meetings elsewhere under a profession of Religious duties, exercises or ordinances. From the thirteenth Proposall, wee can make no other result, but that in stead of enjoyning the taking of the Covenant, under such penalties as the Parliaments in their wisdome shall agree upon, the former ordinance of Parliament enjoyning the taking of it, is desired to be repealed: and then what may bee the danger of those that have taken, or shall take an oath of that kinde, not enjoyned nor ratified by authority, wee leave it to bee judged by those who know best the Lawes of that Kingdome.
One thing more wee cannot passe, that whereas in the Armies Declaration, or Representation to the Parliament, dated June 14, 1647, they mention their Brethren of Scotland, as having proceeded in the vindication and defence of their just rights and liberties, much higher than that Army hath done; Wee are necessitated to say this much for clearing of these proceedings in this Nation reflected upon: They of this Church and Kingdom who joyned together and associated themselves in this Cause, first by humble Petitions, and afterwards by Covenant, were so far from slighting or breaking that Covenant which was taken, that it was the special visible character by which the friends of the Cause were distinguished from the enemies thereof; and they were so far either from crying down the Ministery and Ecclesiasticall Assemblies, or from disobeying any Orders or Commands of Parliament, that a Generall Assembly of the Church, and a Parliament, were two chief Heads of their Petitions and desires, at that time when they had neither; And when they had obtained a Generall Assembly and Parliament, they chearfully submitted to both respectively.
And now the dangers of Religion in this Island being so great, as there hath been lately a Solemne Humiliation throughout this Land, upon occasion of these great and growing dangers; so we cannot but still look upon them as matters of frequent Prayer and Humiliation to our selves as well as our Brethren in England; there being much sin in both Kingdomes procuring all this evill, and justly deserving these, and heavier judgements. And as wee desire in the first place to be humbled for our own sins, and the sins of this Nation, so we trust, our Brethren will bee willing to be put in minde of the necessity of their Humiliation and Repentance for the Nationall sins of that Kingdome; which wee shall wish rather to be sadly considered by them, then expressed by us. One thing we are confident of, that God hath had a speciall controversie against his People of old for the sin of a broken Covenant, and unwillingnesse to bee Reformed and Purged according to the Word of the Lord; and that till these sinnes were acknowledged and repented, his controversie did not take an end. We are no lesse confident that the godly and well affected will in tendernesse of conscience timely search out, weigh well, mourn for, and study to remove all the causes of the Lords present controversie against that Nation. What the honourable Houses of Parliament have to bee humbled for, and to reform or amend, they have been (and we trust still are) put in minde by such as are Ambassadours to them in Christs stead at their solemn humiliations. For our part, as we have alwayes mentioned them in our prayers, with thanksgivings also in their behalfe, so we now most humbly beseech the Lord, to direct and blesse them, and in their present difficulties to keep them by his Grace from all sinfull compliance, especially from establishing iniquity by a Law; to shew them why he contendeth with them, that the true cause of his controversie may be removed, and that the glory of his Name, the Kingdome, Crown, and Scepter of his Son Jesus Christ, with his Word, Lawes, Ordinances, Trueth, Ministers, may be yet more set by in their eyes, that they also may finde a further performance of the Word of the Lord: Exalt her and she shall promote thee. And, them that honour mee, I will honour.