Relation of the Sufferings of Ministers in Scotland Since 1660, Section 3
SECTION III.
The grounds of the sufferings, of such as were incarcerated by the Committy of Estates the 23 Day of Agust 1660. discovered.
AFter God had broken the yoke of the oppressours, & had restored their own governous, it might have been expected, that justice should have flowed down as a river; and when the committe of Estates which had been nominated Anno 1651. Were commanded by his Maj. to sit & order the affaires of the Kingdome untill the ensueing Parliament should meet, every one might have been in expectation of some good following their governement. But alas their little finger becometh heavier then the loyns of the former oppressours: A litle taste of which there is given on the very first day of their sitting downe; for upon the 23. Day of August. 1660. While there were some faithfull & Zealous servants of Christ, to the number of Ten Ministers, with one Gentleman, met in a private house (where they resolved to meet that they might give the lesse offence) for the drawing up of a supplication unto his Maj. wherein after their congratulating his Maj. returne, they in all humility, presse & exhort him, in the fear of the Lord, to minde his oaths unto, & covenants with God: a very necessary & seasonable work. The committee of Estates sent thither some of their number to apprehend those persones, & to take them to the castle of Edenburgh, where they abode for the space of some weeks, & were afterward (except Mr Guthry) confined to their chambers in the towne, for some considerable time. This was a terrible alarme unto the hearts of the godly, presaging sad & doolfull dayes to follow, when at the very first, there is so much cruelty, exerced against these faithfull & zealous servants of Christ, who were evidenceing their love & respect unto their Prince, in mindeing him of his vowes which he had made unto the most high, & of his duty which he did owe unto God, who had so wonderfully delivered him: for which no colourable pretence could be allaidged save one of those; Either that their meeting was not warranted by the lawes of the land, or that they were about a sinfull work. The first could not be allaidged with any colour of law, because there was no standing law then in force against such meetings; for whatever law ther was of that nature before, was made null & void by posterior acts of Parliament, which posterior acts were not as yet resci…ded: and further what great wrong was it, for so many ministers to meet together, in a privat chamber for such an end, when as many & moe prophane persones, will be suffered to meet dayly, to drink & debauch; and what could these worthies have suspected now, seing the like liberty was enjoyed while the land was under the feet of oppressours? might not they in reason have expected as good quarters, at the hands of their own governoursas they gote from stangers & enemies; But it is like the work they were about gave offence, it is true, they were pleased to brande it with the names of treason & sedition, but whether it was so or not the reader will be better able to judge, when he hath pondered & considered the true copy of their supplication which is here following.
Most gratious & dreed soveraigne.
We your Maj. most humble subjects, considering the duty which, as Christians, we owe to our Lord Iesus Christ, who is king of kings & Lord of Lords, and which as subjects, we owe unto your Maj. as our native & lawfull king under him: We do hold ourselves bound to tender unto your Maj. this most humble addresse & supplication. How hatefull the actings of the late usurped powers, in offering violence to the Parl. of Engl, in their unchristian & barbarous murthering of your royall father, in their insolent changeing of the ancient civill goverment of the kingdome of Engl. and by armed violence unjustly secluding your Maj. there from, In their most unjust invadeing of the kingdome of Scotland & inthralling of the same in subjection to themselves: and beyond all, their impious incroaching on the kingdome of (Iesus Christ) & the liberties thereof: and in promoteing & establishing a vast tolleration in things religious, throughout those nations, unto the perverting of the precious truthes of the Gospell & defaceing of the ordinances of (Iesus Christ) & opening a wide door to all sorts of evill, heresy, schisme, imprety & prophanenesse. How abhominable these things were to us the Lord who searcheth the heart, & tryeth the re…es doth know, against which we gave many publike testimonies before the world, to witnesse our abhorrence thereof. And the same Lord knoweth that as we did earnestly pray for, & breath after his appearing, to witnesse against those, so (saveing that Christian pity and compassion we owe to the persones of men, though our very enemies) we rejoyce in his putting down of them, that did set up themselves, & in staineing the pride of their glory, & in breaking the yoke of their power from off the necke of these Kingdomes. We hold our selves also bound thankfully to acknowledge, the Lord's signall preserving of your Maj. person in the middest of many fold dangers & designes threatening the same, these years past: And that after long Exile from your own house & people, he hath been pleased to bring you back to the same: And when the foundations of the ancient civill goverment were overthrown, againe to make way for repaireing of the ruines, building up the breaches thereof: & for establishing the same on right & sure foundations, in your Maj. person & family; and to do those things when they were so litle expected, in so quyet & peaceable a way, and without the effusion of Christian blood, & imbroyling the Kingdomes, in the misery & calamities, of a new war. And as we adore the wonderfull & wise hand of God, & blesse his name, who hath done these things, so it is not only our practice for the present: but our sincere resolution, for the time to come, to pou… forth the fervent desires & supplicatio… of our soull unto the most high by whom kings reigne, for the preservation, & saiftie of your Maj. person, & for the multiplication of his spirit & increase of it upon you: that you may imploy your power to his praise, & the comfort of his people; & for the Establishing of your just power & greatnesse; & in subordination to him to be faithfull & loyall, rendering all the dutyes of honour & subjection & obedience to your Maj. that are due from humble & loving subjects, unto their native & lawfull prince & soveraigne. And we desire to be perswaded, & with confidence to promise to ourselves, that your Maj. will accept of those our professions, as proceeding from loyall & honest hearts, & allow us the protection & countenance & incouragement in our station & callings, that may be expected from a gracious king: And considering the great happinesse that ariseth both to kirk and state, & all the members thereof, by the mutuall good understanding, betuixt the supreme Magistrat, & the faithfull of the land; when it pleaseth divine providence so to dispose; & the many calamities & miseries that in the holy justice, & just indignation of God, do attend the separating or violating of these only sure foundations of states and … kingdomes. We are bold in the integrity of our hearts, & in the zeal of the glory of the Lord, & of the good of his church, & of your Maj. honour & happinesse: & from the sense of manifold & great obligations that be upon us, before the Lord, so to do; & particularly that of the Covenant. That what lets, we are not able of our selves, to suppresse and overcome, we shall reveal and make known, that they may be prevented & remedied. Humbly to presente unto your Maj. and make known the great danger, that threateneth religion, and the work of reformation, in the churches of God, in these kingdomes, from the desires and endeavour; of the remanent of the popish prelaticall and malignant party therein, which is begining to lift up the head, & not only to render hatefull, but to bear downe many of your Maj. good subjects, who have been imployed as instruments in the work, & have keeped within the bounds of their duty, in promoveing & preserving the same, so far as humane frailty would permit; but also to overthrow that blessed work it self and to reintroduce prelacy & the ceremonies, & the service book, and all these corruptions which were formerly cast out, as inconsistent with that pure and spotelesse rule of church governement, discipline and divine worshipe delivered to us in the word of God, as a yoke of bondage that neither we nor our fathers were able to bear: and though we know that that Spirit will not want its specious pretences, & plausible insinuations for compassing these ends, yet, as there cannot readily be greater disservice to the church of God, to these Kingdoms, & to your Maj. honour & happinesse, then actings of that nature, so we cannot without horrour of Spirit & astonishment of heart, think upon what dreadfull guiltinesse King, Princes, Ministers & People, shall be involved into, & what fearfull wrath shall attend them from the face of an angry & jealous God, if after all the light that he hath made to shine in these kingdomes from his blessed word, for discovery of the error & Impiety of these things, & after his hand hath been lifted up so high, for casting out of the same; & after solemne vowes & engadgments taken upon themselves before God, angels & men, against them; if they should againe lick up the vomit thereof. God forbid that we should either hear or see such heart astonishing bitter things which would turne the mirth of the Lords people into mourning; & their songs into most sad lamentations. Neither are we lesse apprehensive of the endeavours of the spirit of errour that possesseth Sectaries in these Nations. which as it did at first promove a vast tolleration in things religious; and afterwards did proceed to the frameing of mischief into a law, so we doubt not, but it will still be active unto the promoving & procuring of the same, under the specious pretext of liberty to tender consciences; the effects whereof have in a few years past been so dreadfull, that we cannot think of the continuing thereof but with much trembling & fear. Therefore knowing that to Kings, Princes, Rulers, & Magistrats, appertaineth the purgation & preservation of religion, & that nothing can contribute more unto the preserving and promoveing of religion, & the work of reformation, then that all places of power & trust, be filled with men of a blamelesse & christian conversation, approven integrity, & known affection to the cause of God, We, your Maj. most humble supplicants & subjects, with bowed knees, & bended affections, humbly supplicat your Maj. that you would imploy your royall power unto the preservation of the reformed religion, in the church of Scotland in doctrine worship, discipline & governement, & for the reformation of Religion in the Kingdome of England & Irland, in doctrine worshipe, discipline & goverment; and to the carrying on of the work of uniformity of religion, in the church of God, in the three Kingdomes, in one confession of faith, forme of church goverment, directory of worshipe & catechis…ing: and to the extirpation of popery prelacy, superstition, heresy, schisme, prophanesse, & whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrine, & the power of Godlinesse: And that all places of trust, under your Majest, may be filled with such as have taken, the Covenant, & are of approven integrity, & known affection to the cause of God. If in a matter that so much concerneth the honour of God, the good of his Church, & your Maj. honour & happinesse, we be jealous with a godly jealousy, we know your Maj. wisdom & lenity to be such, as will easily pardon: And the sense of our duty to God, & to your Maj. & the fear of those kingdoms transgressions, by building up againe, the things that were destroyed, constraineth us to be petitioners against the same, & earnestly to intreat that any beginnings of stumbling which already have been given in those things, especially in the matter of Prelacy & ceremonies, & the Servicebook, in your Majesty chappell and family, and other places of your Dominions may be removed and taken away; And that there may be no furder proceeding in these things, which grieve the Spirit of God, and give offence to your Maj. good subjects, who are engadged with you in the same Covenant and work of reformation. And that your Maj. for establishing the hearts and strengthening the hands of these who are faithfull in the work of the Lord, & for quashing the hopes & endeavours of adversaries, would be pleased to give publick signification, of your approbation of the Covenant; And of your purpose to adhere unto the same, & to carry on the work of God in these Kingdoms according thereunto; & that your Maj. eyes may be upon the faithfull of the land that they may dwell with you. We hope your Maj. will not take offence, … we be the Lord's remembrancers to you; That you were pleased a little before your coming to this kingdom, & afterwards at the time of your coronation, to assure & declare, by your solemne Oath, under your hand & seal, in the presence o… Almighty God The searcher of hearts, your allowance & approbation of the Nationall Covenant, & the Solemne League & Covenant, faithfully obligeing your self to prosecute the ends thereof, in your station, & calling; & that your Maj. for your self & Successours should consent & agree to all acts of Parl. enjoyning the nationall Cov: & Solemne League & Cov. fully establishing Presbyteriall Gov: directory for Worship, confession of faith & Cathecismes in the Kingdom of Scotland, as they are approven by the Gen. Assemblies of this kirk. And Parliaments of this Kingdom; And that your Maj. should give your Royall assent to acts & ordinances of Parl. past or to be past enjoyning the same in your Maj. Dominions; & that yow should observe these in your practice & family & should never make opposition to any of those; Nor endeavour any change thereof. And we desire to be persuaded that no length of time hath made your Maj. forget. Or weakened in your Maj. heart the sense of the obligation of the great & solemne Oath of God in the Covenants; Yea that the afflictions where with God hath exercised your Maj. these years past, the great & wonderfull deliverance, that of late he hath granted unto you, hath fixed deeper Impressions upon your heart & spirit; & that among all the kings of the earth, Reformation of Religion shall have no greater friend then your Maj: Yea that as yee are more excellent then the kings of the Earth, in regaird of the purity of profession & solemne engadgments unto God, And long exercisednesse with manifold afflictions; & in the Lord's setting you over these Kingdomes which are not only thorow grace, the first fruites of the gentiles, But also are, among all we know in the World, the most eminent for the power & purity of the Gospel: So shall your Maj. in your Princely Station & dignity, excell them in the zeal of God & for the Kingdom of Iesus Christ: And that by how much more your Maj. by the constitution, & good hand of the Almighty, is lifted up above the sphere of your subjects; by so much more shall your motion be more vigorous & active, unto the carrying about by the influence of your royall Head, & by your example, all the Orbs of inferiour powers & persones, in these kingdomes, in subordination to God & your Maj. in the practice of godlinesse & vertue. It is the desire of our soul that your Maj. may be like unto David a man according to Gods own heart: Like unto Solomon, of an understanding heart, to judge the Lord's people, & to discerne betwixt good & bad: Like unto Iehosaphat, whose heart was lifted up in the wayes of the Lord: Like unto Hezekiah, eminent for godlinesse and integrity: Like unto Iosiah, who was of a tender heart & did humble himself before God, when he heard his word against Ierusalem, & the inhabitants of Iudah, and not only made a Covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and keep his commandements, with all his heart, and with all his soul to performe the Covenant, but also caused all that were in Ierusalem & Benjamin to stand to it; & took away the abomination out of all the countreyes that pertained to all the children of Israël; and made all that were present in Israël to serve, even to serve the Lord their God. So shall your Maj. inherite the honour & blessing of these kings upon the earth and their happinesse in heaven; So shall your Maj. person be preserved, & your government established over these kingdomes. Which is the unfeigned desire, and fervent supplication of your Maj. most humble & loyall subjects.
Now the Reader having considered this humble addresse and supplication may judge if there was any thing therin either treasonable or seditious reflecting on his Maj. & on the government of the kingdom of England, or the constitution of the present Committy of Estates, or any thing tending to the raiseing of new tumults and re-kindleing a civill warre among his Maj. good subjects as their enemies were pleased to give it out, o… which did deserve imprisonement; yea whether it was not their duty & the duty of all the Ministers of Scotland, to be thus faithfull in giving timeous warning and faithfull exhortation unto their Prince, that they might have prevented, as much as lay in them, the sad defection, which was then feared, & indeed followed thereafter. Nether let any say, that such things might well be gathered from their other letters; for they had nothing beside that letter, save some scrols of a letter and some instructions to one of their number, for no other purpose, then for the communicating of the supplication unto the Ministers of their judgment in severall Presbyteries within the Synod of Glasgow, & for desiring their approbation thereof & concurrence therein. This is one sad dispensation. But it is only the beginning of sorrow, & of much woe following.