History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 3 · Floating text 5
Thankesgiving for our deliverance with Prayers.
O Eternall and everlasting God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath not onelyonly commanded us to Pray, and promised to hear us; but also willest us to magnifie thy mercies, and to glorifie thy Name, when thou shewest thy selfe pitifull, and favourable unto us, especially when thou deliverest us from desperate dangers: for so did thy servants, Abraham, David, Iehosaphat, and Ezechias, yea, the whole people of Israel omitted not the same, when thou by thy mighty hand didst confound their enemies, and didst deliver them from feare and danger of death intended. We ought not, nor can we forget, O Lord, in how miserable estate stood this poore Countrey, and we the just inhabitants of the same, not many dayes past; When Idolatry was maintained; When cruell strangers did bear rule; When Virgins were defloured, Matrones corrupted, Mens Wives violently and villanously oppressed, The blood of innocents shed without mercy. And finally, when the unjust commandments of proud tyrants were obeyed as Law. Out of these miseries (O Lord) could neither our wit, policie nor strength deliver us, yea, thou didst shew to us how vain was the help of man, where thy blessing giveth not victory. In these our anguishes, O Lord, we sobbed unto thee, we cried for thy help, and we reclaimed thy Name, as thy troubled flock persecuted for thy Trueths sake. Mercifully hast thou heard us (O Lord) mercifully, we say, because that neither in us, neither yet in our confederates was there any cause why that thou shouldst have given unto us so joyfull and sudden a deliverance. For neither of us both ceased to do wickedly, even in the midst of our greatest troubles, and yet hast thou looked upon us so pitifully, as that we had given unto thee most perfect obedience. For thou hast disappointed the counsels of the craftie; Thou hast bridled the rage of the cruell; and thou hast of thy mercy set this our perishing Realm, at a reasonable liberty. Oh give us hearts (thou Lord, that onelyonly givest all good gifts) with reverence and fear to meditate thy wondrous works late wrought in our eyes. Let not the remembrance of the same unthankfully to slip from our wavering mindes. We grant and acknowledge, O Lord, That whatsoever we have received, shall fall into oblivion with us, and so turn to our condemnation; unlesse thou by the power of thy Spirit keep and retain us in recent and perpetuall memory of the same. We beseech thee therefore, O father of mercies, that as of thy undeserved grace, thou hast partly removed our darknesse; suppressed Idolatry; and taken from above our heads the devouring sword of mercilesse strangers, that so it would please thee to proceed with us in this thy grace begun. And albeit that in us there is nothing that may move thy Majestie, to shew us this favour; yet for Christ Jesus, thy onelyonly welbeloved Sons sake, whose Name we bear, and whose Doctrine we professe; we beseech thee never to suffer us to forsake or deny this Verity which now we professe. But seeing that thou hast mercifully heard us, and hast caused thy Veritie to triumph in us; so we crave of thee continuance to the end, that thy godly Name may be glorified in us thy creatures. And seeing that nothing is more odious in thy presence (O Lord) then is ingratitude and violation of an Oath and Covenant made in thy Name. And seeing thou hast made our Confederates of England the Instrument by whom we are now set at this libertie,Note a Covenant betwixt England and Scotland. and to whom in thy Name we have promised mutuall faith againe. Let us never fall to that unkindnesse (O Lord) that either we declare our selves unthankfull unto them,1560. or prophaners of thy holy Name. Confound thou the Counsell of those, that goe about to break that most godly League contracted in thy Name, and retaine thou us so firmly together by the power of thy holy Spirit, that Sathan have never power to set us again at variance nor discord. Give us thy grace to live in that Christian charitie, which thy Sonne our Lord Jesus hath so earnestly commended to all the members of his body, that other Nations provoked by our example, may set aside all ungodly warre, contention and strife, and studie to live in tranquilitie and peace, as it becometh the Sheepe of thy Pasture, and the people that daily look for our finall deliverance by the coming again of our Lord Jesus. To whom with thee and the Holy Spirit be all honour, glory and praise now and ever. Amen.
Hereafter were the Commissioners of Boroughs, with some of the Nobility and Barons, appointed to see the equall distribution of Ministers to change and transport, as the most part should think expedient. And so was Iohn Knox appointed to Edinburgh, Christopher Goodman (who the most part of the troubles had remained in Ayre) was appointed to Saint Andrews, Adam Heriot to Aberdeene, Master Iohn Row to Saint Iohnston, Paul Meaffen (to whom was no infamie then knowne) to Iedburgh, William Christison to Dundie, David Fargeson to Dunfermelin, and Master David Lindsay to Leith. There were nominated for Superintendents, and Overseers, that all things in the Church should be carried with Order, and well, Master Iohn Spottiswood for Lowthian, Master Iohn Wyram for Fyfe, Master Iohn Willock for Glasgow, the Laird of Dun for Angus and Mearnes, Master Iohn Carswell for Argyle and the Isles. These to be elected at the dayes appointed; unlesse that the Countreys whereto they were to be appointed, could in the mean time finde out men more able and sufficient, or else shew such causes as might disable them from that imployment.
The Parliament approaching, due advertisement was made by the Councell, to all such as by Law and ancient Custome had, or might claime to have Title therein. The assembly was great, notwithstanding some, as well of those that be called Spirituall as Temporall Lords, contemptuously did absent themselves. And yet the chief Pillars of the Papisticall Church gave their presence, such as the Bishops of Saint Andrews, Dumblane, and Dunkell, with others of the inferiour sort, beside those that had renounced Papisterie,Some Prelats left Antichrist, and did adher… unto Christ. and openly professed Jesus Christ with us, such as the Bishop of Galloway, the Abbots of Lindrosse, Culrosse, Saint Colmes Inch, New-battell, Halyrud-house, the Priour of Saint Andrews, Coldinghame, Saint-Mary Ile, the Sub-priour of S. Andrews, and divers others, whom we observed not. At the same time of Parliament Iohn Knox publikely Preached upon some Texts of the Prophet Haggai, the Doctrine was proper for the time. In application whereof he was so speciall and so vehement, that some (having greater respect to the world then to Gods glory) feeling themselves pricked,William M…itlands mockage of God. said in mockage, We may now forget our selves, and beare the Barrow to build the house of God. God be mercifull to the speaker, for we fear yet he shall have experience, That the building of his own house (the house of God being despised) shall not be so prosperous, and of such firmitie as we desire it were. And albeit some mocked, yet others were godly moved, who did assemble themselves together, to consult what things were to be proposed to that present Parliament: And after deliberation, was this subsequent supplication offered.