Answers to the Replies of Aberdeen, Answer 9 – Answer 11
To the nynth.
FIrst, Wee are ashamed to draw the Rug-saw of Contention, to and fro, in a continuall Reciprocation, concerning the serbearance of Pearth Articles and therefore forbearing to doe so any more, wee referre the Reader to our former Answeres. 2. We doe not affirme that the only Reason, why Kn…eling was appointed, was because all memorie of Superstition was past. There be indeed other Reasons expressed in the Act, but such as the authors therof may bee ashamed of, as both perverting the Text. Psal. 93, as making Kneeling to bee necessarie, in everie part of GOD's Worship, and as giving matter to many Treatise…, proving kneeling before the Elements, to be idolatrie, according to the Act, unto which wee now referre you: but this wee say, (which is manifest by the Act it selfe) that in the case of present Superstition, or feare thereof, all other Reasons had not beene forcible, to enforce knee…ing then, nor can have force to continue kneeling now, This feare hath beene great, this yeere by past, throughout the kingdome, by reason of the manie Superstitions of the Service booke, which it may bee yee no more acknowledge, than yee doe the superstitious disposition of the people, because they are not that which they were at the time of Reformation. 3. Wee would heare what Malice it self can say against the words of the Protestation, That it shall bee lawfull uno us, to defend Religion, and the King… A…ritie, in defence thereof, and everie one of … of anot…, … that cause of maintaining Religion, and the Kings forsaid Authoritie, and to appoynt and hold Meetings to that end: lyke as our Proceedings have beene in themselves most necessarie, and orderly meanes, agreeable to the Lawes and p…ise of this Kirk and Kingdome, to be commended as Rea… Dueties of faythfull Christians, loyall Subjects, and sensible members of the bodie of the Kirke and Kingdome, and tend to no other ende, but to the preservation of Religion, and maintenance of the King's Authoritie.
To your Interrogator (which yee seeme to propone, rather to be snares to us, than for satisfaction to your selves) we an swere once for all in generall, That if this were the opportunitie to that Disputation, wee shall bee found to deny nothing unto Authoritie of that which the worde of GOD, the Law of Nature, and Nations, the Acts of Parliament, chiefe Royalists, sound Divines, and loyall Subj…s give unto Kinges and Princes, GOD'S Vi… … earth; and that not from respect to our selves, …t to …e Ordinance of GOD, by whom Kings reign…. But seeing so oft, & so instanly, you presse us in this point, yet force vsus mutually to propone to you such Questi…, … it may bee, yee will have no great delight to answere… We desire to understand of you, Whether yee allow, or disallow the Service booke, and booke of Canons? If ye disallow them as an innovation of Religion, why have ye not either ioyned in Supplication with the rest of the Kingdome, or made a Supplication of your owne, against them, or some other way testified your dislyke? Next; Whether it bee pertinent for men of your Place and Qualitie, to move Questions of State, touching the Power of Princes, and liberties of Subjects; after his Majesties Commissioner, & wise States-men have received satisfaction of the Subjects, for suppressing such motions as yours? 3. Whether doe the Subscribers more tender, his Majesties Honour, by supposing his constancie, in profession of Religion, and equitable disposition, in ministration of Iustice: or yee who suppose hee shall fall upon his religious and loyall Subjects, with force of Armes, contrarie to both? 4. Whether the joyning of the whole Kingdome, in the subscription of the Covenant, or the intertaining division, by your wrytting, preaching, and threatning of your people, otherwise willing to joyne, bee a more readie Meane to settle the present Co…tions of the Kirke, and Kingdome?. 5. If the Prelates and their Followers labouring to introduce Popery in the Land, make a Faction by themselves, or as the Guisians in France, did abuse his Majesties name, in execution of the bloodie Decrees of Trent. (which GOD forbid) wee aske, Whether in such a Case, the lawfull defence of the bodie of the Kingdome, against such a Faction, bee … … of the M…rate, and a taking A… … … …g? If ye …firme it to be is not this to take p…t with a …tion; seeking their owne endes, against the Commonwealth of …he Ki…ke, and Kingdome, and Honour of the …ing? If yee say …, Why then find you fault with our Pr… … of defending the Religion, Liberties, and … of the Kingdome, of the Kings Authoritie, in defence th…of, and everie one of us of another, in that cause, as if it were an unlawfull combination against Authoritie? 6. Whether doe yee thinke Christian Magistrates to bee of so absolute and undoubted power, notwithstanding of the Promise, or paction made with the Subjects at their Co…ion, or of any law made for the establishing their Religion, & Liberties, that there is nothing left but …ering of Martyrd…, in the c…se of publick …, of their Religion, and Liberties? If ye thinke, that any Defence, is lawfull, why …isconstrue yee the Subscribers of the Covenant? If not, how can you be free of flatterie, and of stirring up Princes against their loyall Subjects, for such ends as yourselves know be…? We …lie believe, that yee … … thankes, either of so good & just a King, or of so …uetiefull Subjects, for entering within these Lists. It is enough, that such Questions bee agit…ed in the Schooles, and that with as great prudencie, & …s circumspectly as may bee.
To the tenth.
FIrst, yee take us in our 4 Rep… to bee the penners of the Covenant, and yet will rather wrest the wordes of it, to your owne meaning, than receive the Interpretation thereof from us: for wee prejudge not your libertie of conception of that short Confession; but permit it to your selves; whatsoever may bee the private meaning of some who have subscribed; yet their is nothing in the late interpretation that condemneth the Articles of Pearth, and Episcopacie, as Popish Novations. Yee may voyce & reason in an Assembly as freelie concerning them; and give your judgement of them, without prejudice, notwithstanding of your Oath, according to your owne grounds, as you would have done at the Assembly of Perth. 2. We hope yee bee not so ignorant of the estate of the Kirke, neither will wee judge so uncharitablie; as to think you so corrupt, that in your opinion there is no thing hath entred in the Kirke, since that time designed by you, beside Episcopacie, and Articles of Pearth, which can bee thought prejudiciall to the libertie, and puritie of the Gospell.
To the eleaventh.
FIrst, yee finde fault with us, that wee have not upon this occasion, given you that testimonie which wee owe to you, of your sinceritie; and professing the Trueth, & therefore, to supplie our defects, have taken an ample Testimonie to your selves, of paines in Disputing, in wryting, and preaching against Poperie, in processing of Papists, and in doing all things which can bee expected from the … … of frequent prayer to GOD, of humbling your selves before Him, of your holinesse of Lyfe, and Conversation, &c. which have made us who were desirous to heare that Testimonie, rather at the mouthes of others, that wee might bee no more challenged as deficient in that kynde, but give unto you your deserved praise, to inquyre in matters; where upon, if wee would believe the report of others, wee heare, that for all your paynes, Papists, and persons popishly affected, are multiplyed, and Papistrie increased in your towne, more than, in any other towne of the Kingdome, and no lesse under your Ministrie, than any time before, since the Reformation; that there be in private houses Mosses, Crucifixes, and other monuments of Idolatrie; that yee had not manie convers from Poperie, that Iesuites, and Priests; are countenanced there, that your People at home, and your Magistrates abroad, complayne; that yee are but too sparing of your paines in preaching, and often fill your places with Novices: but this wee are sparing to believe, and wish, that the not imploying of your Tongues and Pennes, in defence of the Service booke, and Canons, which are so pestred with Poperie, (if the seedes of Romish Heresie Superstition, Ido latrie, and Papall tyrannie come under that censure) and your willingnesse to joyne with the Kirk and Kingdome, in Fasting an Humiliation, had beene also Testimonies of your sinceritie against Poperie. 2. The laudable meanes of preaching, praying, &c. which wee wish may be still in all faythfulnesse used by you, maye verie well agree with the renewing of our Covenant with God, aod both beeiug joyned, have, in a short time past, produced more powerfull effects, to the comfort of manie thousandss, than all our prayers and preaching have done for a long tyme before: which testifie, That as it is warranted by the Word of GOD; so the motion hath proceeded from GOD. All the Arguments and subtilities that can be devised, will never make a People, (who at this time have found GOD dwelling, and working in their hearts) to think the contrarie. 3. The naturall inclination of people to Poperie, and the perswasion of others of their disposition, maye make the people to conceive other wayes of the Service booke, and Canons, that ere it be long, they may bee brought in, in a fair and legall way: and therefore, it is necessarie, for preventing of those, and other Evills of that kynde, that the Subjects joyne in a Covenant, both for themselves, and their Posteritie.