These things are the more grievous to us, because (beside many other wofull evils brought forth by them) they have interrupted the building of the Lords House in England; the foundation whereof was laid by Oath and Covenant with the most High God, and followed for some years with many Declarations and Protestations of Faithfull adhering thereto, and with great expense of blood and Treasure: Which things were to all the godly in these Nations a branch of hope, that the Lord would bring to perfection the Work of Uniformity (so far advanced in all the parts thereof) in these three Kingdoms.
But the great obstructions and sad interruptions that have been made therein, by the strange and unexpected practises of many now in place and power in England, are to all the welaffected in both Kingdoms, and in all the Churches abroad, the matter of their sorrow and humiliation. And if there be any place left for admonition, we Warn such as have forgotten the Covenant, and despised the Oath of God, and turned aside to lies and errour, to consider whence they are fallen, and to repent. Prosperity and success for a time are no warrantable evidences of a good Cause, nor sufficient guards against the wrath of God; It is no good use of the Lords mercy for such men under pretext of Liberty to make both themselves and others slaves to corruption, and to make all men both in Church and State like the fishes of the Sea, or the creeping things that have no Ruler over them. Are these things according to the Word of God, and the pattern of the best Reformed Churches? Or is that the endeavour to bring the three Kingdoms to the nearest uniformity that may be in Doctrine, Worship, Government, and Discipline; Or is that the maintaining of the union betwixt the three Kingdomes, when the straitest bond thereof is utterly dissolved and quite taken away, and the fundamentall Government by King and Parliament wholly overturned? The just God who is of pure eyes beholds these things, and shall with no lesse fury and indignation break the horn of these men, then he hath broken the power, and brought down the pride of Malignants before them, if repentance prevent not.
Amidst those fears and griefes, it is unto us matter of rejoycing, that there be many in England who mourn for all these abominations, and labour to keep their garments pure by refusing to comply with that course of backsliding, and by bearing testimony against the same. And we hope the expectation of such, shall not be disappointed, but that the Lord will open to them a doore of hope for carrying on of his work, and making the lying spirit to passe out of that land.
And albeit many think no otherwise of the Covenant and work of Reformation, then as a mean to further their own ends; yet we are confident, that none who holds fast their integrity, have so learned Christ, but are carefull to make conscience of the oath of God lying on them; And we are sure (whatever be the base thoughts and expressions of backsliders from the Covenant) it wants not many to own it in these Kingdomes, who (being called thereto) would seale the same with their blood.
Although there were none in the one Kingdome who did adhere to the Covenant, yet thereby were not the other Kingdom nor any person in either of them absolved from the bond thereof, since in it we have not only sworne by the Lord, but also covenanted with him. It is not the failing of one or more that can absolve others from their duty or tye to him; Besides, the duties therein contained, being in themselves lawfull, and the grounds of our tye thereunto moral, though others do forget their duty, yet doth not their defection free us from that obligation which lyes upon us by the Covenant in our places and stations. And the Covenant being intended and entred into by these Kingdoms, as one of the best means of stedfastnesse, for guarding against declining times; It were strange to say that the back-sliding of any should absolve others from the tye thereof, especially seeing our engagement therein is not only nationall, but also personall, every one with uplifted hands swearing by himselfe, as it is evident by the tennor of the Covenant.
From these and other important reasons, it may appear that all these Kingdomes joyning together to abolish that oath by law, yet could they not dispense therewith; Much lesse can any one of them, or any part in either of them doe the same. The dispensing with oathes hath hitherto been abhorred as Antichristian, and never practised and avowed by any, but by that man of sin; therefore those who take the same upon them, as they joyn with him in his sin, so must they expect to partake of his plagues.
As we shall ever (God willing) be mindfull of our duty to the faithfull that adhere to the Covenant in England, having them alwayes in our hearts before the Lord, so we desire to be refreshed with their singlenesse and boldnesse in the cause of God, according to their places. This is the time of their triall, and the houre of tentation among them; blessed shall they be who shall be found following the Lamb, and shall not be ashamed of his testimony. We know in such dark houres, many are drawne away with the multitude, whom the Lord will again purge and make white; And we doubt not but many such are in England, whom the bold and clear preaching of Christ may reclaim; Much therefore lieth upon the Watch-men at this time, that their Trumpet may give a certain and distinct sound, warning and exhorting every one, as those that must give account; And blessed shall those servants be, who shall be found faithfull in their Lords house, distributing to his houshold what is meet for this season, and can say they are free of the blood of all men, having shewen them the whole Counsell of God, being in nothing terrified of the threats of their adversaries; And blessed and happy shall that people be, that walk in the light holden forth by them, and staye upon the Lord in this dark time, harkning to the voyce of his servants, and walking in the light of his word and not in the sparks of their owne kindlings, which will end in sorrow. How inexcusable will England be, having so foulie revolted against so many faire testimonies, which the Lord Christ hath entred as Protestations to preserve his right, in these ends of the earth long since given unto him for his possession, and of late confirmed by Solemne Covenant. Christs right to these Kingdomes is surer then that he should be pleaded out of it by pretended liberty of Conscience, and his begun possession is more pretious to him, then to be satisfied with a dishonourable toleration. All that yet we have seen, doth not weaken our confidence of the Lords glorifying the house of his glory in these lands, and of his sonnes taking unto him his great power, and reigning in the beauty and power of his Ordinances in this Island. His name is wonderfull, and so also are his workes, we ought not therefore to square them according to our line, but leave them to him, who hath the government laid upon his shoulder, all whose wayes are judgement, and whose ruling these Kingdoms had never yet reason to decline. It is good for us to [be] stedfast in our duty, and therein quietly to wait and hope for the salvation of God. The word of promise is sure, (and hath an appointed time) that he that will come shall come and will not tarry. There is none hath cause to distrust the Lords word to his people; It hath often to our experience been tryed in the fire, and hath ever come forth with a more glorious lustre. Let not therefore these that suffer in England cast away their confidence, they are not the first who have needed patience after that they had done the Lords will. But let them strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees, and say to the fearfull in heart, be strong, fear not, behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence, he will come and save you. Now the just shall live by faith, whereas these that draweth back, or become lukewarm in the Lords work, his soul shall ahhorre them, and he shall spue them out of his mouth. But we perswade our selves of better things of these our brethren in England, and prayeth that the God of Peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepheard of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, may make them perfect in every good work to doe his will, working in them that which is well-pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be Glory for ever. Amen.
Act for a Collection for entertaining High-land Boyes at Schooles.
THE Generall Assembly Considering that the contribution of fourty shillings for entertaining of Highland boyes at Schools, in respect of the penury and great indigence of those parts hath not taken the intended effect, Therefore in respect of the necessity and profitablenesse of so pious a Work The Assembly in lieu of the said fourty shillings Do Appoint and Ordain that there be an extraordinary collection at the Kirk doors for that use one Sabbath in the year: And to that effect, that a certain Sabbath yearly be appointed and designed whereupon that collection shall be gathered, intimation being made by the Minister the Sabbath before to prepare for such a collection, and the necessity and usefulnesse thereof being laid out to the people for that end. And if the collection in any little private Congregation shall be lesse then fourty shillings, The Session shall make up what wants of fourty shillings; And where the collection is more, it is hereby specially inhibited and discharged that any part thereof be retained or interverted to any other use whatsomever; And these Collections shall be sent to the persons formerly appointed to receive the fourty shillings, that they may see the right distribution and employment thereof; Recommending to Presbyteries to see this punctually performed. And accompt thereof shall be craved at Synods and Generall Assemblies. It is alwayes to be remembred that the Congregations exeemed from the fourty shillings are also exeemed from this Collection.