A Reexamination of the Five Articles Enacted at Perth in 1618, Title page – To the reader
A re-examination of the five articles enacted at Perth anno 1618.
To wit.
Concerning
The communicants gesture in the act of receaving.
The observation of festivall dayes.
Episcopall confirmation or bishopping.
The administration of baptisme in privat places.
And The supper of the Lord in privat places.
Printed anno 1636.
To the Reader.
YOu know (good Reader) if a man have a pretious Iewel, hee will bee exceeding carefull to keep it from any tash. True religion is more pretious then the most pretious jewel, it should be the breath of our nosthrils, and the …oy of our hearts. Wee finde that in all ages the preservation of religion in puritie hath beene dearer to the godly then their very lives. As the preservation of religion in puritie hath been maintained, so hath the restauration to puritie beene purchased with the bloud of Martyres, and grievous troubles of many confessors. The reformation of the Church within this realm was not obtained without the martyrdome of some, and the hazard of the lives and estates of many other of our worthie predecessours. The temple was throughly built, and the headstone brought foorth, with the acclamation of other reformed Churches, (the Church of England, which as Bucerus observed in histime, standeth in the midst betwixt the Romane and reformed, only excepted) crying Grace grace unto it. No where was the doctrine sounder, the divine worship purer, the government fitter for the building of Gods house. But of late yeares the doctrine is leavened with Arminianisme and poperie, the worship of God defiled with superstition and idolatrie, the joint government of Pastors in presbyteries, synodall and generall assemblies, with subordination of presbyteries to synods, and synods to generall assemblies, is changed into tyrannicall oligarchie: So that it may bee observed in our times to bee true, which was noted by Aventinus, to have beene done among the Popes in his time, that the same deedes are at one time branded with the mark of superstition; and at another time set out with the glorious title of pietie, at one time attributed to Antichrist, at another time to Christ: at one time judged tyrannicall and unjust, at another time just and righteous. That which before we rejected as superstitious or idolatrous, is now called truely religious: that which before was called Antichristian and tyrannicall, is receaved now as ancient, and Apostolicall.
Is it not lamentable to see that government which maintained the kingdome of Antichrist in former times, and with much paines thrown foorth, to bee reestablished. Some idle ministers, deserting their owne particular flocks, have taken upon them to bee diocesan pastors, the principall and only pastors of all the congregations within an whole diocie, to plant and transplant Ministers without consent of presbyteries, to stay their proceedings against hainous offenders, to sit as Princes amongst priests at their diocesan synods, to suspend and deprive Ministers by the power of the high Commission, without the consent of any lawfull, let bee pretended assemblie of the Church, to fine, confine, imprison Ministers, or other professours, without consent of the estates, to sit in the Checker, Counsell, Session, and to bear offices of estate, to vote in Parliament in name of the Church, without consent of the Church, many of the Ministrie repyning, and none consenting, but upon conditions and cautions which are not regarded, to send Commissioners to Court, as directed from the Clergie or Church, who return with articles in favours of Papists, or for advancement of their estate: is not the office of Deane, and election of bishops by deane and chapter, rejected as Popish by our generall assemblies, recalled again, without consent of the Church, or so much as a pretended assemblie? Are not the best qualified exspectants debarred from entrie to the Ministrie, unlesse they subscrive such articles as the pretended bishops have devised, and others obtruded upon congregations to their great grief. Ministers are troubled by them with the acts of pretended assemblies, whereas themselves transgresse the acts of many laudable assemblie. Ministers are become dissolute, and erroneus doctrine is taught without controlement. We have cause to fear ere it be long, that sound and faithfull Ministers shall become as rare as wedges of gold.
Consider further, that soone after the government was changed, idolatrous, superstitious, and ridiculous ceremonies were introduced into the worship of GOD with the five famous articles, of which we are now to treat. Moe are intended in the cannos lately …blished, and yet moe expected with the liturgle not yet printed: neither can wee look for an end, till the whole worship of God be defiled. And yet these ceremonies are either commended as ancient, or slighted as matters indifferent.
It is called in question, if not altogether denyed, whether the Pope bee the great Antichrist or not: the possibilitie of reconciliation with Rome is maintained, and to this end erroneous points of doctrine delivered in publick, or defended in p…ivate, or our differences from the Romish church slighted as not fundamentall. Bookes of this kinde are printed with priviledge in our neighbour church, and in private commended by such amongst us, as apprehend the maintainance of this course to bee the easiest way to preferment. Doctor Francis White in his treatise of the Sabbath ranketh among the traditions of the church, the baptisme of infants, religious observation of the Lords day, the administration of baptisme, and the Lords supper in publick assemblies and congregations, the deliverie of the elements of the holy communion in both kindes, the service of the church in a known language. The Reader may finde more of this stuffe in Coz…ns devotions, in Montagues Gagg and Appeal, and in Shelfords sermons. Have wee not need to f…ar the burning of our owne house, when our neighbours house is in fire? Have wee not greater cause to fear and bestirre our selves, when the fire hath seased upon the thack of our own house, and poysonable errours are vented amongst our selves,
Do wee then complain without iust cause, or for matters of no importance? The reconcilers cry peace, peace, but mean to peace, till wee bee at peace with Rome. The Prelates charge us with shisme and sedition, but they mean to peace without peaceable possession of their places, and obedience to their directions. They call us shismaticks, and yet cannot endure generall assemblies, the ordinarie remedie of division and shismes, as was acknowledged by the Kings Commissioners, and such as were acquainted with his Maiesties minde at Linlithgow, anno 1606. To what end was it enacted with their owne consent at Glasgow, 1610. that those who were called bishops, should be lyable to the triall and censure of the generall assemblie, for their office and benefice, life and conversation, if we have not yearly or set generall assemblies, to try them, or censure us, if we shall be found guiltie of shisme. Grievances presented by Ministers to parliam…nts, which should be the chief sanctuaries of refuge to all distressed subiects, are suppressed, and not suffered to be read in publick before the Estates: yea lawes are made in parliament concerning matters Ecclesiasticall, without the knowledge or consent of the generall assemblie, and acts of pretended assemblies are ratified, sometime made worse with omissions, additions, alterations. We want our assemblies to direct commissioners with articles, grievances, and petitions, to parliaments, conventions, court and counsell, and to treat of all the affaires of the Church: what wonder is it then that all be out of frame?
But wee are still charged with frowardnesse, that wee ever except against assemblies when wee have them. So did the Ubiquitars the Theologues in the Palatinat, Synodum appellatis, said they, & synodum detrectatis. The Theologues answered in their admonition, Hinc istae lachrymae, quod synodum ejusmodi vellent, qualem principibus praescripscrunt, in qui ipsi fuissent accusatores, ipsi judices, ipsi saltarent, …c spectarent suam fabulam, & ipsi sibi plausum d…ent. So do wee answere to our Prelats, if they will suffer no assemblies, but such as they themselves overrule at pleasure, they can not pretend desire of peace. Wee call for no other assemblies then such as shall bee constitute according to the order agreed upon with his Majesties owne consent, in the generall assembly holden, anno 1598, such as shall have libertie to conveen yearly, or at set times, and to treat of all affaires belonging to the Church, such as shall have freedome in their proceedings. It were dangerous to acknowledge every meeting, which claimeth to it self the name and authoritie of a generall assemblie.
Can wee acknowledge that convention at Perth, anno 1618. for one of our lawfull generall assemblies? The pretended pri…at occupied the place of the Moderator, without the election of the assembly, which was contrare to the order ever observedi… …ur Church, even when wee had Superintendents, and contrare to the cautions agreed upon at Montross, anno 1600, and at Linlithgow, anno 1606. These who were entituled bishops; wanting commission from presbyteries, where they should make residence, had place to vote contrare to the cautions agreed upon at Montrose, and notwithstanding they had put in practice before kneeling, and observation of festivall dayes. Mo… ministers then three out of a presbyterie were admitted, or rather drawn to that meeting to give their voice. Some moderators of presbyteries being the bishops substituts, were admitted without commission. No Baron ought to vote according to the act made at Dundie, anno 1598, but one out of the bounds of a presbyterie having commission. But a number were present at this assemblie, being only required by his Majesties missives' and their voices were numbred with the rest Some minister… were the Kings pensioners, or looked for augmentation of stipends, or were threatned in privat by their diocesan bishop with deposition, or were circumveened with promises, that they should not be urged with practice. Necessitie of yeelding was urged, under no lesse danger then of the wrath of authoritie, and utter subversion of the order and state of our Church. Such as had courage to oppose, were checked, interrupted, threatned: yea, it was plainly professed, that neither reasoning nor voting should carie the matter: All the five articles were put to once voting, with this certificat, Hee that denied one should be reputed to have denied all. Much more might bee said to this purpose, but these few particulars are sufficient to justifie our exceptions against that assembly, as null in it self.
Because many are desirous of information concerning these five articles enacted at this assembly, and treatises formerl… printed are become scarce, we were moved to prease throug… many difficulties to the publishing of this Re-examinatio… Here you shall finde the ab…idgement of what was w…i…ten be…fore, with a more particular reply to Doctor Lindseyes defence, than that which is in Altare …, or to any objection of moment moved by Doctor Burges, or Master Pa…bodie. Doctor Forbes hath nothing but what he hath borrowed from our Doctours defence.
I beseech you (good Reader) read and ponder without a minde preoccupied, either with fear of trouble, or hope of preferment, and submit your iudgement to the light of the truth. For that is the way to apostasie to seek for shifts and fig-tree leafes, when the truth is born in upon us. What hath made so many so unsetled in religion this day, and prone to receave Pop…ie, as the defence of the late novations with frivolous cavillation? Men glorie now to dispute like Scepticks upon the very articles of our faith, so that they are like to lose the sense of all religion. The detaining of the truth of God in unrighteousnesse bringeth men at last to a reprobat sense. Pitie the case of our Church, which is more pitifull then in forraign parts, where the blo…de: sword rageth. For howbeit their externall peace bee troubled, yet they hold fast without backsliding. If the Lord will spew the luckwarm out of his mouth, what may backsliders look for? Remember the words delivered by M. George Wishart, which he uttered a little before his martyrdome, God shall send you comfort after mee, This realme shall bee illuminated with the light of the gospel, als dearly as ever was any realme sines the dayes of the Apostles: the house of God shall bee builded in it, yea it shall not lack, whatsoever the enemie imagine in the contrare, the kaipstone, meaning, that it should once bee brought to the full perfection: Neither (said hee) shall the time bee long, till that the glory of God shall evidently appear, and once triumph in despite of Sathan: there shall many not suffer after mee. But, alace, if the people shall prove unthankefull, fearfull and terrible shall the plagues bee, that shell follow.
By our Doctour, or L. or D. L. I mean Doctor Lindsey: by B. or D. B. Doctor Burges. by P. or M. P. Master Paybodie.