Reply Against Gilbert Brown, To the reader
VntoUnto the godly and Chriſtian Reader in this land, Grace, merciemercy and peace, from God the Father, and Ieſus Chriſt his Sonne our Lord and onelie Sauiour. Amen.
WHen I thinke, Chriſtian Reader, of the vnſearchable mercies, (for ſo I may call them) whilk the Lord, according to his rich grace, whereby he hes bene aboundant towards vsus, (if euer towardes any) hes vouchſaued vponupon vsus: and of our great ingratitude and manifold iniquities wherewith we hauehave recompenſed him againe: I cannot but tremble to think of theſe moſt fearfull iudgements of God, whilk we hauehave moſt iuſtly deſerued, and whilk cannot but moſt aſſuredly fall vponupon vsus, vnleſſe with moſte ſpeedie and earneſt repentance of al ſortes, they be preuented and auerted. Eph. ….8.For vntounto what kingdome or nation vnderunder heauen, hes God beene more liberall in communicating, the Inſearchable riches of his deare ſon in his Goſpel, as vntounto vsus in this nation. Nay, vntounto what one kingdome vnderunder heauen hes God beene ſo rich and ſuperaboundant in mercy, as vntounto this? There are but fewe kingdomes vponupon whome the Lord hes cauſed the glorious light of his Goſpel to ſhine vponupon, a groſſe darkneſſe couering the moſte part of the kingdomes of the earth: and yet Scotland hes found this fauour in the eies of the moſte high God. So that, that may be moſt truely ſaid of vsus, whilk is written of the land of Zebulon and Naphtali, (a)Math. 4.1….A people that ſate in darkneſſe ſawe great light, and vntounto them whilk ſate in the region of death, light is riſen vp. Many kingdomes vponupon whome this light is riſen, are but in parte deliuered from the bondage of that (b)Reu. 13.11. & 17.4.ſecond beaſt, and from that abhomination of Babel, a part worſhipping the Lord, and a part worſhipping Baal, I meane the Idole of the Maſſe, and their idoles of ſtock and ſtone. But our deliuerance was full, from that bondage: for that was fulfilled in vsus whilk was promiſed and prophecied of olde, (c)Zach. 14.9.That the Lord ſhould be but one, and his name one And in theſe kingdomes where the Lord is but one, and his name one, that is, where he only is worſhipped, ſome of them hes embraced him but as a Prophet, to teach them, and as a Prieſt to ſatisfie for their ſinnes, and to interceede for them: but not as a ſoueraigne king to rule them, and gouern them by that forme of gouernement, whilk he hes preſcriued in his word, with his owne Lawes, offices, and officers, retayning yet a part of that hierarchie of Babel, with ſome of her Lawes, offices, and officers. But the Lord was riche in mercy towards vsus, in beſtowing himſelf vponupon vsus, not only as a Prophet to teach vsus, & as a Prieſt to ſatisfie for our ſinnes, and to interceede for vsus, but alſo as a ſoueraigne King, to gouerne vsus with that ſelfe ſame forme of gouernement, whilk he hes commanded in his worde, and vntounto the whilk only he hes annexed the promiſes of his bliſſin… and preſence, with his owne Lawes, offices, and officers. So that as the Prophet ſayes, (d)Zach. 14…he was not only one in vsus, and his name one: but alſo a ſoueraigne King in our land.
O Scotland, what nation was like vntounto thee, that had the Goſpel ſo freely preached, his Sacraments ſo purely miniſtred, his cenſures and all the priuiledges of his kingdome, in ſik liberty executed, as thou had? for what one nation vnderunder heauen, hes God done ſo great things, as for thee? What one kingdome is to be found in the whole earth, where Idolatry was ſo fully rooted out, wherein all the meanes of his glory, and all the priuiledges of his kingdome, was ſo fully reſtored to their owne integrity and perfection, as they were firſt inſtituted, wherein all theſe meanes of the word, ſacraments, and diſcipline, hes continued for ſo long a ſpace in ſik peace, in ſik purity, in ſik libertie, without hereſie or ſchiſme, as in thee, O Scotland. So that thy day hes bene like the day of Ioſhua, (e)Ioſua 10.12.When the Sunne ſtoode in Gibeon, & the Moone in Aialon. For I know not if euer nation or kingdome hes had ſo long a day of the Goſpell, in ſik peace, purity, and liberty, as thou hes had? or if euer nation after vsus, ſhall hauehave ſo long a day, after ſik a manner againe. And it ſeemes to me, that as the Lord confirmed EZechiah of his promiſe, by cauſing (f)2. Reg. 20.the Sunne to returne back againe miraculouſly, by the degrees whereby it went downe: So the Lord hes confirmed his ſuperaboundant louelove towards vsus, in cauſing the light of the Goſpell to returne againe, (as it were) oft times and that moſt wonderfullie and miraculouſly by the degrees wherby our iniquities in the righteous iudgment of God did haſten it to goe downe vponupon vsus. Yea the bleſſing of Abraham hes commed vponupon vsus. For hee hes bleſſed them that bliſſed vsus, and hes curſed them who hes curſed vsus, he hes ſtriuen againſt them who hes ſtriuen againſt vsus, and hes made our oppreſſors to eate their owne fleſh and to drinke their owne blood: no inſtrument formed againſt thee, (O Kirk of Scotland) hes euer proſpered: and the tongue that hes riſen againſt thee, the Lord hes condemned, that all fleſh might know that God was thy Sauiour, and the ſtrong God of Iacob thy auenger. And certainly, if euer people might hauehave ben called (g)Eſai 62.6Iephzibas, that is, the lords delite, or their land, and Beula, that is married vntounto him, the Kirk and kingdome of Scotland might hauehave bene ſo called. For the Lord had delite in vsus, and our land had a husband, euen the Lord our redeemer, he was (h)Eſa 60.1…a ornament vntounto vsus, he ſet (i)Ezech. 16.14.his bewtie on vsus, he (k)Eſai. 62crowned vsus with glory, and a Diademe by the hand of our God, was ſet vponupon our heades. And true is that of vsus, whilk our Sauiour ſpake to his diſciples, (l)Luc. 10.24.Many Kings and Prophets hes deſired to ſee the things that we hauehave ſeene, and heare the things that we hauehave heard, and hes not ſeene them, nor heard them. So who are ſo ladened with mercy and kindneſſe as we hauehave bene? for we hauehave bene made (m)Deut. 28.13the head and not the taile, as the Lord promiſed. And ſurely if euer people ſhuld hauehave ben (n)Deut. 32.15to ſhurim, that is, vpright & ſtreight in the eies of the Lord, we ſhould hauehave bene ſo. No, who ſhould hauehave bene ſo holy as we, who ſo (o)Coloſ. 2.7ſtrong in Chriſt, and rooted and grounded in him, as we? who ſo riche in all grace, and frutefull in all good workes, as we? For who had ſo manye and ſo glorious meanes, to hauehave made vsus to hauehave abounded in all grace, as we had? What could the Lord (p)Eſai 5.4hauehave done more to vsus, then he hes done? For we wanted no meane, that euer the lord cōmanded in his word, either to hauehave bred grace in vsus, or to hauehave preſerued it and encreaſed it? But they to whome meikle is giuen, meikle ſhall be requyred at their hands againe. For as the Lorde made vsus a ſpectacle of his mercy, wherein he did demonſtrate the riches of his free grace in Chriſt Ieſus, vntounto all the kingdomes of the earth, and aboue them al. So it had bene our part proportionably, to hauehave met him with thankfulneſſe againe: and to hauehave bene examples of all grace, godlineſſe, righteouſneſſe, and of all good works, vntounto all others, and aboue all others. Eſai 1.4But allace ſinfull nation laden with iniquit…es, who is ſo ſinfull as thou art? What nation ſo polluted with all abhomination and wickedneſſe, as thou art? thy iniquities are moe then the ſand of the ſea, they are grown vp ſo high, Hoſea 9.7.that the top of them teaches vp to the very heauēs: & the cry of them is like, yea beyonde the cry of Sodome: there is ſik a burthen of iniquity vponupon this lande, that (conſidering all circumſtances both of the meanes, and of the time and ſpace the Lord hes giuen vsus to repent) I know not if euer natiō, was ſo great in the eies of the Lord, as this land is. Ezechiel 22For may not that whilk the Prophete ſpak of Iuda, be moſt iuſtly ſaid of thee, O Scotland: For art thou not repleniſhed with blood, from corner to corner, ſo that blood touches blood. Are not thy Nobles in thee, eueryevery one ready to ſhed blood? In thee the father and the mother are deſpiſed: in the middes of thee, the widowe and the fatherleſſe are oppreſſed: In thee, the very abhominations of the Gentiles ar committed. The diſcouering of the Fathers ſhame, and adultery with thy neighbours wife: thou art ſo laden with adulteries, inceſts, & whoredomes that the land grones vnderunder thee: thou haſt prophaned his Sabboths, deſpiſed his Lawe, contemned his Goſpell, withholden from him the fruits of his kingdome, and hes ſtramped vnderunder foote the blood of Chriſt, and hes grieued that ſpirite of grace. Matth. 21.41.So that when I think of the number and greatneſſe of our ſinnes, I cannot but wonder that the Lord ſhould not hauehave with drawne his Kingdome long ſince from vsus, and hauehave giuen it vntounto others, that would hauehave brought foorth the frutes thereof. Yea, I wonder, that he hes not cauſed the Land to vomite vsus out, for the abhominations and ſinnes wherewith we hauehave defiled it, in ſo great a light. And ſurely, when I think of the ſeueritie of the juſtice of God, in puniſhing other nations and kingdomes, for the contempt of his Goſpel, & the withholding of the fruits of his kingdome from him, my ſoule trembles. For, wherfore did the Lord reject the naturall branches, that choſen generation, of whome the Fathers was, and of whome Chriſt was according to the fleſhe, and gaue them and their poſterity ouer to the hardneſſe of their hearts this 1500. Rom. 11.21. & 9.5yeare and more, to be damned for euer and euer in that euerlaſting darkneſſe? and yet his wrath is not turned back: but becauſe they would not be gathered, & know not in that their day, the things that belonged to their peace, and woulde not rander to him the frutes of his kingdome in due ſeaſon. Mat. 23.37. Luc. 19.42 43. Mat 21 41. Reu. 2 5 2. Theſ. 2.10.12. Reu 13.11. & 9 1. 2. Theſ. ….12.And wherefore did the Lord remooue his Candleſtick from a great many of the Kirks, both of the Eaſt and the Weſt, who was planted by the Apoſtles, and was once lanterns of light, and hes giuen them ouer to ſtrong deluſions to beleeue lies: the one to the impiety of Mahomet, and the ſauadge tyrrant of the Kirk: the other to the bondage of that ſecond beaſt, and fearefull darkneſſe of that bottomleſse pit. But becauſe they receaued not the louelove of the trueth, but had pleaſure in vnrighteouſnes as the Apoſtle ſayes. Now if God ſpared not them, but gaue them ouer to a moſt fearefull bondage both of ſoule and body, both ſpirituall and corporall, temporall and eternall: how ſhould we not feare, as great, or rather greater iudgements? ſeing we had al theſe as examples before vsus, to hauehave ſore warned vsus, and to hauehave made vsus to feare. For we are not to thinke, as our Sauiour ſayes to the Ga…ileans, that they were greater ſinners then we, but vnleſſe we all repent, Luc. 13we ſhall likewiſe periſhe. And as though all our former ſins were too light to pull downe and to haſten the Lords fearefull departing frō vsus, Reu. 9.1.this darkeneſſe of the bottomleſſe pit, whilk is ſpreading the ſelfe againe in this nu…k of the countrie, and this abhomination of deſolation, the Idole of the Maſſe, whilk is ſet vp in the priuate families of this countrie, is added vntounto all the reſt, and aboue all the reſt. So that it is to be feared, vnleſſe it be preuented by a moſt ſpeedy and earneſt repentance of all ſorts in this lande, Math, 11.23that as wee hauehave beene lifted vp to heauen through his Goſpell, ſo ſhall we be throwne downe in the bottomleſſe gulfe of the Lords fearfull wrath & vengeance: and as we hauehave bene made a ſpectacle of his mercy vntounto all nations and aboue all other: ſo we ſhall bee made a moſte fearfull ſpectacle of his wrath vntounto all other nations, and aboue all other. O therefore that th… Lord would powre vponupon vsus that Spirit of grace and deprecation, that euen from the houſe of Dauid to the houſe of Leui: that is, from the Kings houſe to the Miniſtrie, … 12.10.11.12and from them to the people, from man to wiſe, that we might al looke vp to him, whome we hauehave pearced through with our iniquities: and murne vponupon him, as or our firſte for onelyonly begotten ſonne; and that wee might murne publikly and priuately, together, and a parte, eueryevery congregation by them ſelfe, and eueryevery family by themſelues, and eueryevery perſon by him ſelfe. Oh that we had hearts to repent, at the leaſt, in the euening of this our day, before the Sunne went downe altogether vponupon vsus: and then there is no queſtion the Lord would not remooue his Candleſtick from vsus, nor make his glory to departe, Reu. 2.5 …. Sam. 4.22but woulde continue his couenaunt with vsus and our poſterity, and would couer all our enemies faces with ſhame, as with a garment: yea, he would ſcatter that darkneſſe that is beginning to ouerſpread this land againe, 1. Sam. 5.3.4.and Dagon ſhould fall before the arke of the Lord: and his laſt fall ſhould be worſe then his firſt. Let me therefore be bolde with you, to beſeech you: yea to charge you in the bowels of Ieſus Chriſt, by the price of his blood, and by his glorious appearing to judgement, as ye would hauehave it comfortable to you, and as ye would hauehave his glory to remaine wi…h vsus and our poſteritie: yea as ye would not be arraigned guilty, in that great day, of the Lords banniſhment, and remoouing of his glorious preſence out of this land. (For, if we repent not, the Lord as he hes begun to depart from a great part of this countrye, ſo ſhall he moſte aſſuredly depart from the reſt of this land) I ſay, let me beſeech you that eueryevery one of you would try and ſearch your ſinnes, by the light of his ſpirite in his word, both the ſinnes of our perſons and callings, that we would humble our hearts for them, Ezec. 9.4,and powre them out as water in his boſome, murning for them, and for the ſinnes of the land: and that we would turne our feete to walk in all his precepts and commandements. And let vsus who are the Watch men ouer the houſe of Iſrael, begin firſt. For the iudgement of God will begin at his owne houſe, Ezec. 3.2. & 33.and at the Sanctuary. For if we that are the lights of our people be darkeneſſe, how great muſt their darkneſſe be? & if we that is the ſalt of the earth to ſeaſon them with grace, become vnſauerie: Mat 5.14. & 6.23wherewith ſhall either they or we be ſeaſoned. And if that we that is the ſtomack and the heart, as it were, be come ſenſeleſſe, and dead? is it any wonder in ſuppoſe al the reſt of the members be dead and ſenſleſſe? Let vsus therefore firſt convert our ſelues, and then let vsus with teares and murning, Cry aloude to our Congregations, Luc. 22.32.& ſpare not. Let vsus lift vp our voices as a Trumpet, that the deafeſt & deadeſt may heare. Let vsus ſhewe them their ſinnes and defections, that at the leaſt, Ezec, 3.3.4.5.they periſhe not for want of warning, and ſo their blood be craued at our hands. Let vsus be inſtant in ſeaſon, & out of ſeaſon, to preach the word, improue, rebuke, exhorte, with all doctrine and long ſuffering, as we are moſt grauely charged by the ſpirit of God. Let vsus admoniſh eueryevery man, & inſtruct eueryevery man publictly, and priuately: Col. 1 28.2.1.2.that we may doe our endeuour at the leaſt to preſent eueryevery man perfect, as a pure Virgine to Ieſus Chriſt. And if they will not heare, let vsus ſay to the earth, Earth, earth heare the word of the Lord, let vsus riſe vp and contend with the mountaines, and let vsus make the hilles to heare our voice, and take them as witneſſes againſt them. And then ſhall we hauehave this comfort in the daies of our afflictions, Iob 6.10that we hauehave not kept backe the word of the holy one. And then ſhall we bee a ſweete ſmelling fauour in Chriſt, as well in them that periſheth, as in them that are ſaued. Let you that are the people walke worthy of that great ſaluation that is brought vntounto you, and be frutefull in all good works, denying al vngodlineſſe, 1. Theſ 2 12. Heb. 2.3 Tit. 2.11.12.and worldly luſtes, liuing godly, ſoberly, and righteouſly, wayt…ng for that bleſſed hope, and glorious appearing of that great God, our Sauiour, the Lord Ieſus. And you that are the Princes of the land, and magiſtrat…s of the countrey Remooue iniquity from your tents, and let not your fami…i…s be h…uſes of iniquitye. Shyne before your tennants, ſerrand…, and houſholdes, as lanterns of light, for ſik maiſter, ſik ſeruand. Be exemplers to them of godlineſſe, ſobriety, Iob. 11.14 Mica. 6.10. Matt. 5.16. Phil. 2.15.& righteouſneſſe, Clenge youth h…a…tes and handes from blood, oppreſſions, whoredomes, Iob, 29.15.16 Eſai. 58.7. Rom. 13.3.4.adulteries. Be an eye to the blinde, and a foote to the lame, and a ſtaffe of comfort to the oppreſſed. Deale your bread to the hungrie, & hide not your eies from your owne fleſhe, maintaine the godly, and be a terrour to the wicked. That your faces may chaſe away iniquitie, and ſinne may hide the ſelfe from your preſence. Take vengeance on all euill doers, and ſpare not where the Lord bids ſtrike. And becauſe a great manye of you, through your moſte cruell and barbarous couetouſneſſe and ſacriledge, Matth. 3.8.9.(the like whereof, I thinke, hes not bene heard of, no not amongſt the Turkes & barbarous Americanes, that they ſpoile their God, and lets their worſhip decay for want of maintenance as ye doe in Scotland:) are the cauſes of the euerlaſting damnation of a great part of the poore people, for want of the preaching of the word of ſaluation vntounto them. Ierem. 2.34.For their blood are ſound vnderunder your wings: and their blood cryes more ſtrongly from the low helles, to the high heauens againſt you, for wrath and vengeance, then euer Abels blood did againſt his brother Cain.
Geneſ. 4.10Nowe therefore at the laſt, repent you of it. Purge your hands of it: and at the leaſt vouchſafe ſo meikle vponupon eueryevery Kirk, as may ſuſtaine a Paſtor to breake the breade of life vntounto them and thinke the damnation of ſo many millions of ſoules of your pure brethren, who might hauehave bene ſaued for ought that ye knowe, if they had had the Goſpell of ſaluation preached vntounto them: too great guiltineſſe, ſuppoſe ye had not blood vponupon blood. Otherwiſe, Deuter. 30.19.if ye will not, I call heauen and earth to witneſſe againſt you, that the indignation of the Lord, ſhall roote you and your poſterities out of the land of the liuing: and their blood that periſh for want of teaching, ſhalbe laide to your charge, and ye ſhalbe arraigned as murtherers of their ſoules, in that great day. Deut. 27.23.18And not onelyonly that curſe ſhall fal vponupon you, whilk was commanded to be pronounced vponupon Mount Hebal, for cauſing the blind to goe out of the way, whereunto all the people ſhould ſay, Amen: But alſo, that moſt fearfull and irrevocable ſentence ſhalbe pronounced, and executed vponupon you in that great day, (by the iudge of the whole earth,) Departe from me ye curſed, Matth. 25.…1in that euerlaſting fire of hell, to be damned with the Diuell and his Angels for euermore. Lay it therefore to your hearts, and flatter not your ſelues in a carnall and vaine preſumption. Be not cruell to your owne ſoules, and to the ſoules of the poore people any more: otherwiſe yee ſhall moſt aſſuredly drinke of the wine of the wrath of God, and be caſten in the great winefate of his wrath, where there ye ſhalbe tormented day & night Let eueryevery one of vsus therefore in the conſcience of ſo great and ſingular mercies, whilk the Lorde hes vouchſaued vponupon vsus, in ſik a plentifull meaſure, harden not our hearts while it is called to day: …eb. 4.5. Ioel. 2.13but let vsus rent them, & turne them vntounto the Lord our God. and let vsus not delay it, while he calles vponupon vsus by his worde, and ſpreades out his armes vntounto vsus. Otherwiſe, if we will not, but deſpyſes the day of our ſalvation, then I proteſt vntounto you in the name of the great God, that he wil heare the cry of our ſinnes, and will abhorre vsus greatly as he did Iſrael that he ſhall forſake his glorious Tents and Tabernacles in this land: Pſal. 78.49.60.61 &c.and firſt giuegive ouer his ſtrength to captiuitie, and his glory to the hands of our enemies: and then accounting no more of vsus, then of the myre in the ſtreete, he ſhall deliuer vsus ouer, both olde and young, Paſtor & people, to the ſworde of the enemie. For this I dare ſay, Matth. 11.43.if he take his kingdome from vsus, he ſhall not let Scotland be a free kingdome, as it hes beene before. For true is he who hes ſaide it, The nation and kingdome that wil not ſerue thee, ſhall periſhe, and theſe nations ſhalbe vtterly deſtroyed. Eſai. 60 12. And if he ſpare not his owne ſtrength and glory, I meane his glorious Goſpel, but deliuer it ouer into captiuitie, into the hand; of his enemies, he ſhal hauehave no compaſſion of vsus, but ſhall ſurrender vsus ouer to the edge of the ſworde to be conſumed thereby: and as the Lorde hes beene more aboundant in his mercy towards vsus, then towards any others: Math. 11.21 22.ſo ſhall his wrath be accordingly. For if other kingdomes or nations, yea if Tyrus or Sidon, Sodom or Gomorrha: yea, if the Turkes or barbarous Americanes had heard the things that we hauehave heard, they would hauehave repēted long ſince in ſackeloth and aſhes and therefore our condemnation ſhalbe heauier, then any condemnation vnderunder heauen. Philip. 2.1Nowe therefore if there be any conſolation in Chriſt, if anye comfort of louelove, if any fellowſhip of the Spirite, if any louelove to his glorie, to his blood, to his Goſpell, and if there be any compaſſion and mercy in your hearts, to this poore and ſinfull land, and his poore Kirk and kingdome therein: repent you of your ſinnes, Reve 17.14reconcile you to God, take holde of his blood, waſhe you and cleanſe you in it, vntill ye be white and bright in his eies. Bring him into the chalmers of your hearts, Epheſ, 3, 17 Galat, 6, 14 Coloſ, 2, 12, 13 Epheſ. 2.5.6& make him to dwell in you, that he may crucifie your ſinnes, and burie them in the graue with him, and may quicken and raiſe you vp together with him: and may ſet you in thoſe heauenly places with himſelfe. And then hauing rooted and grounded your hearts in him, Coloſ, 2, 7and hauing filled your ſoules with the aboundance of his preſence, bring him out firſt to your families, & then to your tennants, ſeruands, neighbours and people. According to your callings inſtruct them, rebuke them, admoniſh them, correct them, and reforme them, and reſt not till ye hauehave ſet him vp as a Lord, & a King in their hearts, or at the leaſt, till you hauehave obtayned this aſſurance in your conſcience, that ye hauehave bene ſo faithfull and ſincere in your callings, that if Chriſt be hid from any, to whome your callings or occaſions hes reached: he is hid from ſik onelyonly as periſhes.
Now, oh that the Lord would giuegive vsus theſe hearts, and ſo purge vsus, that we might be thus fruitfull to the praiſe of his glorie: then aſſuredly would he repent him of all the euill, that he hes thought againſt vsus: then ſhould he hauehave delite in vsus and in our poſterity: and then theſe Cananites (I mean the relickes of that curſed generation of Babel, the Kirk of Rome) whilk is yet left vn-rooted out of this land, to try vsus, and tempt vsus, if we will ſerue the Lord our God: and to be prickes and thornes in our ſide, ſhould not bring vsus in bondage again, but ſhould be made tributaries to Ieſus Chriſt: yea our latter eſtate, ſhould be more glorious then the former. Now let vsus finde this fauour in thy eies, O Lorde our redeemer: and glorifie thy great name amongſt vsus, by conuerting our hearts at the leaſt the heartes of all thy children, in merciemercy rather, then by confounding and conſuming of vsus in thy wra…h & indignation. For wherefore ſhould thy enemies ſay, Take vp their God and their Goſpell. Wherefore ſhould they, O Lord our God, blaſpheme thy holy Name, when they ſhall ſee thee angrie with thy owne inheritance and redeemed ones. Oh turne vsus vntounto thee, and put vsus not away from thy face: and let not thoſe that are thy enemies, triumph ouer vsus. Purchaſe thy ſelf an euerlaſting name, through our converſion and repentance, that the enemie and the avenger may be ſtill: and our hearts may be inlarged, & our mouthes may be opened, to proclaime thy euerlaſting mercies, and to ſhout forth thy praiſes. Turne you vntounto him you that are his children, & delites in his Tents. You that louelove the beautie of Sion, and the glorious preſence of his Redeemer, fill your priuie chambers with ſtrong cries and many teares. Cauſe heauen and earth to be filled with grones and ſighes of his owne ſpirite in you: and take a claught of that Prince of life, ere he remoue altogether: and before he hauehave ſtollen himſelf ſo far away, that he cannot be foūd againe. And wraſtle with him as Iacob did, and let him not departe out of your hearts: entreat him, yea enforce him, as it were, by your teares, and ſorrowfull cries, not to leaue his owne Tents, and Tabernacle in this land: not to giuegive ouer his glorious Goſpell, whilk is his ſtrength and glorie, into captiuitie, in the hands of their enemies. Remember that he cannot abyde the interceſſion of his owne Spirit in his owne. He cannot hide his eies from his owne fleſh and blood, he can deny nothing to his owne beloued Son, that makes interceſſion for his Saints. Let vsus therefore ſtep vp to that Throne of grace with all confidence: and aſſuredly, as he is true who hes promiſed, we ſhall find grace and mercy in the time of this our need: both comfort to our owne hearts, and it may be peace in our daies, that our eies ſhall not ſee the euils that are to come: and at that bright appearing of our Lorde of life, all teares ſhalbe wypt away from our eies. We ſhalbe clothed with thoſe long white robes, and ſhalbe ſed with the fatneſſe of his houſe, and ſhall drinke of the riuers of his pleaſures, whilk is at his right hand for euermore. For Sions ſake in this land Chriſtian reader, hauehave I thus written vntounto thee, and for Ieruſalems cauſe, hauehave I not kept ſilence at this time: that her glory and wonted brightneſſe may be renued, and that the Kirk of Scotland whilk was the bewtie of Europe, and the praiſe of the whole earth for her liberty purity, and diſcipline: might be eſtabliſhed in the ſame, and her ſaluation and righteouſneſſe, might break foorth as a burning lampe, to all the nations of the earth: and that other Kirks in other kingdomes, whilk deſired to ſee our bewty and ſpirituall glory, and accounted them bliſſed whilk might hauehave had the occaſion to hauehave dwelt in our Tents, to hauehave ſeene and enjoyed the ſame: yea who would hauehave beene contented to hauehave bought it with the price of their blood to their poſterities: that they, I ſay, may ſee the continuance thereof, and may reioice. Turne thou O Lord our God, our hearts vntounto thee, that thy glorious preſence may be continued with vsus for euer, for Ieſus Chriſts ſake our Lord and redeemer, to whome be al praiſe and glory, for euer and euer. Amen.
Nowe I come to this matter in hande: the occaſion of it was this. There was one who was ſometimes an hearer of the word with me, who ſhewe me that he had bene in conference with a Papiſt, and he had broght him thus far, that if I would ſhewe him of any that profeſſed our religion before Martine Luther, he would renounce his Papiſtry: and therefore deſired mee to ſet them downe in writ. The whilk I did: and ſet it downe in this forme, as thou ſees it heir. So this being carried to Maiſter Gilbert Browne, he writes an anſwere to it, and ſends it to me. VntoUnto the whilk I hauehave made this reply. Thou hes them all three their: firſt, that whilk I did write, then his anſwere to it, and then my reply to his anſwere.
Indeed it is true, chriſtian reader, that there was many thinges that did hinder me, and withdraw me from this reſolution, either to make anye anſwer to it at all, or yet to let it goe forth to the light. As firſt, that ſo many thinges hes bene written alredie by the lightes and lanterns of this age againſt that ruinous Babell, that all further conuictions ſeemeth to be ſuperfluous. Next, the conſcience of my own tenuitie and weakneſſe, together with a continuall burden of a fourfolde teaching eueryevery weeke in my ordinary charge, beſide others both priuate and publick duties, whilk not only my owne people, but alſo this deſolate countrye craued, whereby I was letted to afforde that time and ſtudie vntounto it, as the grauitie of ſik a matter required. And laſt of all, the conſideration both of the perſon and worke of of the aduerſary, that neither the one nor the other woulde bee accounted worthy of any anſwere at all, himſelf being both reiected and excommunicated according to the expreſſe commandement of the holie Ghoſte, as an heretick being peruerted and damned in his owne conſcience, and deliuered ouer vntounto ſathan, that he might learne if it were poſſible not to blaſpheme the euerlaſting trueth of God any more. And alſo denounced his rebell, Tit. 3.10.11.1… 1. Cor. 5.5. 1. Timot. 1.2….for his treſonable attempts, both againſt this Kirk and Kingdome his worke alſo being ſo fooliſh in the ſelfe, as both I hard his Maieſtie affirme, that he was a fooliſh reaſoner in it: and alſo I hope, the indifferent reader ſhall ſee the ſame: his reaſons & arguments being alſo ſo of anſwered vntounto by the learned of our ſide, ſo that it ſemed but actum agere, to make anye further anſwer thervnto: yet notwithſtāding of al theſe impediments, theſe motions and reaſons preuailed with me at the laſt, both to anſwer it, & alſo to let it go forth to the open viewe and ſight of all men: to wit, the conſcience of that dutie whilk lowe vntounto the trueth of God, being ſo highly blaſphemed & euill ſpoken of: the vnfained louelove of the ſaluation of my countrie men, who for the moſt part, are blinded with the ſmoake of the darkneſſe of that bottomleſſe pit: the railling and thraſonicall bragging of the aduerſarye, both by word and writ, that it would neuer be anſwered: and that the miniſtry woulde neuer ſuffer an anſwer to come to light, becauſe they knewe the anſwere to be vnworthie, and none other was able to anſwer to it: the moſt earneſt preiſſing of a great many of my bretheren, who knewe the lamentable eſtate of this blinded countrye: the conſtant deſire of all men in this countrie to ſee the ſame: together, with his Maieſties moſt gratious acceptation of my endeuour, and moſt fauorable iudgment of this my labour and moſt humaine councel to publiſhe the ſame, whilk did not a little incourage me: and laſt of all the expreſſe commandement of the holy Ghoſt Anſwer a foole according to his follie, leaſt he ſeeme wiſe in his owne eies, the whilk if it hauehave place in any thing, it muſt hauehave place here, where not onlie this ſeming wiſe in his owne eies, woulde vndoubtedly followe vponupon my ſilence, but alſo a ſeming wiſe in the eies of all, this nuik of the countrie almoſt: both to the preiudice of the euerlaſting trueth of God, and alſo to the ſtumbling of the weake, Lib. de Trinitate cap. 3. & lib. cont. Mend. cap. 6the further obduring of the obſtinate, and the wounding of the hartes of al the godlye therein. Auguſtine hes a notable ſentēce to this purpoſe. It is to be wiſhed ſaies he, where hereſie flouriſhes that all theſe who hes any gift of writting, that they all write ſuppoſe they ſhoulde write not only of the ſelfſame matters or queſtions, but alſo the ſelf ſame things or argumentes, ſuppoſe perchance in other wordes. For, ſaies he, it is …up…dien… that hereticks vnderſtand that there are not onelyonly one or two, but many in the campes of the Catholickes, who dare with open face meete them. And he ſayes there is another commodity that commes by the wryting of many: to wit, that by this meanes, the Catholick bookes themſelues are more ſhortly and eaſily brought vntounto the hands of al men, ſo that while as ſome falles vponupon one, and ſome falles vponupon others: yet notwithſtanding they are all inſtructed to vſe the ſame weapons in their common dangers. The whilk how ſitly it aggrees vntounto this purpoſe of mine, I leaue it to the judgement of all men, who knowes the eſtate of this blinded countrie, wherein that darkneſſe of the Antichriſtian kingdome, is ſo far ſpred, the confident brags of the aduerſary are ſo vniuerſally credited, the people ſcattered as ſheep without ſhepheards, lying wide open to all the aſſaults of the Diuell: …atth. 9, 36and the deceates of theſe rauenons wolfes, and their hands ſo ful of Papiſtical bookes, the deadly weapons of their own deſtruction, without any one booke, almoſt, for ought that I know, wherby either theſe that are peruerted, may be reuoked frō their errors, or theſe that are aſſaulted, may be ſuſtained from yeelding to the aduerſary, or thoſe that are weake may be confirmed. Not vnlike the miſerable eſtate wherein the Hebrewes were brought vntounto, throgh the tyranny of the Philiſtims, wanting both ſword and ſpeare in the time of their warfare, hauing no ſmithes in their whole land, 1 Sam. 13 19.20.22.whereby they were compelled to go to their enemies to ſharpen their Cowter, and ſok, and other inſtruments Now as for the worke it ſelf, I ſay nothing of it, but only recommends it to the bliſſing of God in all your hearts and conſciences. The whilk alſo hes bene my earneſt deſire to God, from the firſt time that I put my hād to the pen cōtinually, that his effectual preſence might be ioyned therewith, both to convict the contrary minded, & to cō firme the godly Read ye it therefore with that affection of heart, wherewith it was written, and deſire ye that bliſſing in the reading of it, as I did in the writing of it: and then I hope through Gods bliſſing, ye ſhall reape ſome profite by it. Now the God of all mercy, and the Father of all light, illuminate all our eies more and more: and cauſe the light of his glorious Goſpell to ſhine in our hearts, and bleſſe all the meanes thereof, that we may be the children of light heir, and may be partakers of that euerlaſting waight of glory heira…ter in Chriſt Ieſus. Amen. From Aire the 18. Decemb. 1602.
Yours in the Lord, M. Iohn We ſche Preacher of Chriſts Goſpell.