History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Commentary 6 – Quotation 7
Additon.
THe wise and facund Democritus had sometimes a familiar sentence, that,Stob. ser. 12. Honest it was to commend such works as were worthy of praise, but to praise things that were wicked, could not proceed but from a deceivable minde;Niceph. Calist. Histor. Eccl…s. Lib 10. cap. 42. and Themistius a Philosopher of great fame, seeing the Hall of Iovinian the Romane Emperour replenished with flatterers, said, Of their manners it may be espied, that more they worship the Scepter and the purple,Note. then God; signifying that they little regarded whether the Emperour were godly or ungodly, so that they might retain themselves in favour with him. Albeit that those were Ethnicks, and neither had the knowledge of God, as we pretend, neither had given so plain a confession to declare themselves enemies to all iniquity (as we have done by Baptisme, and by our whole profession of Christianity) yet do their words condemne no small number of us, and chiefly such as be conversant with Princes; for who in these miserable dayes judgeth himself to have offended, albeit he praise, allow and maintain, whatsoever the Princes and upper powers devise: yea, although it bee to oppresse, and to spoil the poor, to pull from them their very skins, and as the Prophet sayeth, To break their bones, and to cut them in pieces, as flesh for the Caldron or Pot.Mich. 3. Yet I say, That the Princes shall not lack Judges to cry,Note. It is right, It is for the Common-wealth, for the defence of the Realm, and ease of the Subjects; so that the state of times is even now such, as when the Prophet complained, saying: The Princes ask, and the Judge is ready to give, not his own, but the life and blood of the poor. How soon a great man hath spoken the corruption of his minde, he hath his flatterers ready to applaud and confirm whatsoever he speaketh. And let the Princes be of what Religion they please, that is all one to the most part of men; so that with abnegation of God, of his honour, and Religion, they may retain the friendship of the Court.Flatterers▪ contagious stilence. But alas, how miserable be Princes that so are abused, and how contageous a pestilence be such flatterers to Common-Wealths, Empires, and Realms, God hath declared even from the beginning, to paint out the mischief, which from them proceedeth to such as give ear unto them. The ancient Writers compare them to Harlots, to Ravens, and to most ravenous Beasts, and not without cause. For as Harlots can never abide, that their lovers should return to repentance and sobernesse of minde, so cannot flatterers sustain, that such as they deceive, shall come to right judgement. And as Ravens pike out the eyes of dead carions, and as ravenous Beasts devour the same, so do flatterers (being more cruell) pike at the eyes of living men, and blinding the eyes of their understanding, and judgement, do expose them to be devoured in body and soul, to Satan. This we have by prophane Writers onelyonly, but the holy Spirit teacheth us this infallible Trueth, That where iniquitie reigneth in a Common-wealth, and none is found boldly and openly to reprehend the same, that there shall sudden vengeance and destruction follow. For thus it is written and pronounced by the Prophet Ezekiel. Ezek. 22.Shalt thou not judge the Citie of blood, which hath made Idols? Whose Rulers shed blood to the uttermost of their power? They have despised my holy things, they have devised iniquitie, and have performed the same. The conjuration of Prophets, hath gathered up the riches, and whatsoever is precious within the same. The Priests violently have torn and rent my Law. The people of the Land hath wrought deceitfully. They have oppressed the poor, and have done violence to the stranger without judgement, Note.and I have sought of them a man to repair the hedge, and to stand in the gap before me, but I have found none. Therefore have I poured forth my wrath upon them, and in the fire of my hote displeasure, I have consumed them. Advert Madam, for these are not the words of mortall man, but of the eternall God, and were not spoken against Ierusalem onelyonly, but against every Realm and Nation, that so offendeth. The sins that here be named, are Idolatry in all, avarice and crueltie in the Princes and Rulers, conjuration of the Prophets to defend the wicked, deceit, fraud, and violence in the common people; and finally, an universall silence of all men, none being found to reprehend these enormities. Would to God that I might with safetie of conscience excuse you, your Counsell, and the Idolaters of that Realm from any of these crimes aforenamed. The Idolatry which is committed, is more evident then that it can be denyed, the avarice and crueltie as well of your self, as of such as be in authority, may be known by the facts; For fame carrieth the voices of the poor (oppressed by intolerable taxes) not onelyonly to us here, in a strange Country; but I am assured, to the ears of the God of hostes. The conspiracy and conjuration of your false Prophets is known to the world, and yet is none found so faithfull to God, nor mercifull to your Majestie, that freely will and dare admonish you to repent before that God rise himself in judgement. When I name repentance, I mean no outward shew of holinesse, which commonly is found in Hypocrites, but I mean a true conversion to the Lord God from your whole heart, with a damning of all superstition and idolatry. In which ye have been nourished, which with your presence ye have decored, and to your power maintained and defended. Unlesse I say, that this poyson be purged from your heart, (be your outward life never so glistering before the world) yet in the presence of God, it is but abominable. Yea further, I say, that where this venome of the Serpent (idolatry I mean) lurketh in the heart,Idolatry is mother to all …ice. it is impossible, but that at one time or other, it shall produce pestilent fruits; albeit peradventure not openly before men, yet before God no lesse odious, then the facts of Murtherers, Publicanes, and Harlots; and therefore in my former Letter, I said, that superfluous it was to require Reformation of manners, where the Religion is corrupted. Which yet again I repeat to the end, that your Majestie more deeply may weigh the matter. But now to the rest of the same my former Letter.
Letter.
I Am not ignorant how dangerous a thing it appeareth to the naturall man, to innovate any thing in matters of Religion; and partly I consider, That your power Madam is not so free, as a publike Reformation perchance would require. But if your Majestie shall consider the danger and damnation perpetuall, which inevitable hangeth upon all maintainers of a false Religion,Matth 6. Rom. 8. … Reg. 18. then shall the greatest danger easily devour and swallow up the smaller. If you shall consider, That either ye must serve God to life everlasting, or else serve the World to death and damnation, then albeit,John 17. that man and angel should disswade you, ye will chose life and refuse death. And if further ye shall consider, that the very life consisteth in the knowledge of the onelyonly true God, and of his Son Christ Iesus, and that true knowledge hath annexed with it, Gods true worship and honour, which requireth a testimony of his own Will, expressed by his Word, That such honour doth please him, if you do earnestly meditate these things aforesaid; then albeit ye cannot do saddenly what ye would, yet shall ye not cease to do what ye may. Your Majestie cannot hastily abolish Superstition,Ezek. 34. and remove from offices unprofitable Pastours, of whom speaketh Ezekiel the Prophet, which to a publike Reformation, is requisite and necessary. But if the zeal of Gods glory be fervent in your Majesties heart▪ ye will not by wicked Laws maintain Idolatry, neither will ye suffer the fury of Bishops to murther and devour the poor Members of Christs body, as in times past they have been accustomed; which thing, if either by blind ignorance ye do, or yet for pleasure of others within this Realm, permit to be done, then except you speedily repent, ye and your posteritie shall suddenly feel the depressing hand of him, who hath exalted you.Note this for our time. Ye shall be compelled, will ye or not, to know that he is eternall, against whom ye addresse the Battell, and that it is he, that moderateth the times,Daniel 2. and disposeth Kingdoms, ejecting from authoritie such as be inobedient, and placing others according to his good pleasure:1 Reg. 2. Job 12. Psal. 107. Daniel 2. That it is he that glorifieth them, that do glorifie him, and powreth forth contempt upon Princes that rebell against his graces offered.