The Gen: Assembly it self at Edinburgh, in July thereafter, did, upon the 19 of that moneth, publish a Declaratione, in which they give warning concerning Malignants thus:—“We exhort all these who are in publick trust, in yᵉ Comitee of Estates, or otherwise, not only to take good head of their private walking, that it be suitable to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and of their families and followers, that they bee void of offence, but also be straight in the cause and Covenant, and not to seek themselves, nor befriend any who have been enemies to the Lords work, self seeking, and conniving at, and complying with, and pleading for Malignants, having been publick sins that have been often complained of; and we wish to God yʳ were no cause to complain of these things still, notwithstanding of the solemne Confession of them, and ingadging against them. God forbid that any mocke the Lord. He is a severe avenger of all such things; and there is the more reason at this time not to own Malignants, because it is ordinary with men so to be taken with the sense of the dangers qᶜʰ is before them, as not to look back to that which is behind them. There may be inclinations in some to employ these men, and make use of them, that we may be strengthned in this and in our neighbour land; but God hath hitherto cursed all such counsels, and blasted such resolutions; and if we shall again fall into this sin, as our guilt shal be so much the greater by reasone of many promises and ingadgments to the contrair, so may we expect ane heavier judgment from the Lord upon it. Let us keep the Lords way, and, though we be few and weake, the Lord shall be with us, and make us to prosper and prevail. They are not fit for the work of God, and for the glorious dispensations of his more than ordinary works of power and providence in these times, who cannot beleive nor act any thing beyond what sense and reasone can make clear unto them from the begining unto yᵉ end of their undertakings. Former experiences and present straits call upon us that we should act and follow our deutie in such a way as may magnify the Lord, and make it known to others that we may live by Faith.”

About the same time, the Comitee of Estates in their Declaratione, in answer to the English Declaratione concerning their Invasione, speak thus:—“If wee shall keep Malignancy out of our quarel and Malignant instruments out of our counsels and forces, and our selves free from every thing which may provoke the Lord, and doe every deutie qᶜʰ may ingadge him for us, the case of the Ammonites against Jephtah and Israel, the case of Jeroboam against Abijah, the case of Amaziah against Joab, the case of Zenachrib against Hezekia, the case of Moab against Jehosaphat, and the judgment which came upon the invaders, speake terror to our adversaryes yᵗ come against us, and comfort to the necessary defenders.”

Immediatly after the defeat at Dumbar, Causes of Humiliatione and Fast were cendescended upon at Sterline, to be keept through the whole land.[440]

[Page 42.]

A litle thareafter, to wit, Septemb: 12, 1650, the Comissioners of the Gen: Assem: did write to the severall Presbytries in the land; in qᶜʰ letter they doe relate to these causes, and, in speciall, doe recomend to them, “that they would carefully and instantly warne their people agˢᵗ snares, and not to be dismayed, but sanctifie the Lord God in their hearts, that he may be their fear and their dread, soe that they doe not for their safty choose the course of flesh and blood, tending either to compliance with Sectaries, one the one hand, or Malignants, one the other hand, but yᵗ the work of God may be carried on, and his people may follow and adhere unto it in their stations, according to the Covenants and former grounds and principles. We conceive (say they) that these who fear the Lord and make conscience of duety, and desire to be faithfull, will be so far from slacking their hands in their deuty and in a straight way of pursuance thereof for any thing that hath befalen now, that they will rather looke upon themselves as called and obliged to their deuties in a more speciall way of strictnes and watchfulnes than formerly, and that the present difficulties and dangers of the time be not abused for flattering of men in any way that may tend to turning aside to crooked courses.”

With this letter they sent a short Declaratione and Warning, to be read in all the congregationes of the Kirk of Scotl:[441]....

Upon the 24 of Octob: [1650] the Comissione upon occasione of the rising of many of the Malignants in the North, in a tumultous and rebellious way, did emit another Warning, in qᶜʰ, (after the laying open of these mens gross miscarriages, and their breaking of all bonds, promises, and oaths,) they doe give warning against complyance with them in these words:—“It shall be wisdome to these that are in authority to walk with Malignants according to the rule of the word of God and the bond of the Covenant, to take good head of trusting and taking in of such that have been opposit to the work of God, so many experiences teaching the unsoundnes of the most of these from year to year.”

In the moneth of Octob: thereafter, or thereabouts, the King (being then at Pearth) did, by the suggestione of some, write two Letters, one to the Commitee of Estates, another to the Comiss: of the Gen: Assem: both qᶜʰ were then sitting at Stirline, in qᶜʰ he did directly propound it to their consideratione, and ask their judgment concerning yᵉ imploying of these men who were yⁿ excluded from power and trust, and in his letter did propound the consideratione of the lands necessity, and of the advantages that would accress by intrusting of them; yet the Comitee of Estates, (according to my informatione,) and sure I am the Commiss: of the Kirk did return a negative answer to him in this particular, declairing that it would be both dangerous and scandalous to make use of these men.

In the end of Novemb: the Comiss: did give in to the Parliment at Pearth, a Remonstrance concerning the search of their guiltines in the matter of the treaty in the Act of Indemnitie given to the rebels in the north, who had risen in arms after the defeat at Dumbar, in neglecting to purge the Kings family and in their personall carriage. In which Remonst: I find these two passages:—

1. “As we humblie desire your Lo: to be exceedingly watchfull over your hearts, and to bewar of harburing any prejudices or relenting in your affections to the Godly in the land, whom God hes honoured to be instrumentall in his work, so to searche if there hes been at this time among you any purpose or resolutione tending to a sinfull complyance with the enemies of the cause of God; and what upon serious search shall be found of this to ly low before the Lord for it; and withall to guard for the future against all inclinatione of making use of any scandalous, malignant, and disaffected persons for publick trust, or for admiting any to employment in your counsels or armys, except in the way agreed upon by the Publick Resolutiones of Kirk and State.”