A Hind Let Loose, To the reader – Quotations
The Preface to the Reader.
Christian Reader,
PResuming it is thy desire, to answer the holy & honourable designation I accost thee with, I shall take the Confidence to assure thee, it is my design to answer in some measure the expectation, which the Title of this Treatise would offer; in the hope, that, wherein I come short (as I indeed confess not only my jealous fears, but my sensible conviction of my insufficiency for such a great undertaking) thy Christian tenderness will impute it to my weakness, and not to any want of worth in the Cause I manage; which is truly worthy, weighty, noble, & honourable, in the esteem of all the Lovers of Christ, that have Zeal for his Honour in exercise: And therefore as it gives me all the encouragement I have, in dependance on his furniture, whose Cause it is, to make such an Essay; So it animates my ambition, albeit I cannot manage it with any proportion to its merit, yet to move the Christian Reader to make enquiry about it, and then sure I am he will find it is Truth I plead for, though my plea be weak. All I shall further say by way of Preface is to declare the Reason of the Title and the design of the work.
Though Books use not to be required to render a reason of their names, which often are arbitrarly imposed, more for the Authors fancy, and the times fashion than for the readers Instruction: yet, seing the times injuries do oblige the Author to conceal his name, the Title will not obscurely notify it to some, for whose satisfaction this is mainly intended, and signify also the Scope of the subject; which aims at giving goodly words, not suggared with Parasitick sweetness, nor painted with affected pedantry, but fairly brought forth in unhampered freedom, for the beauty of the blessing of humane & Christian Liberty, in its due & true boundaries. This was the subject of a discourse, as some may remember, on that Text whence this Title is taken Gen. 49. 21. Naphtali is a hind let loose: In prosecuting of which, the Speaker with several others, falling at the same time into the hands of the hunters, to learn the worth of that interrupted subject from the experience of the want of it; an occasion was given, and interpreted by the Author to be a Call, to study more the preciousness of that priviledge predicated of Naphtali, which is the right an… property of the wrestling Tribe of Israel, the persecuted witnesses of Christ now every where preyed upon: And now, providence having opened a door, for delivering himself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, he thought it his duty, and as necessary a piece of service as he could do to the Generation, to bring to light his Lucubrations thereupon: With an endeavour to discover, to all that are free born, and are not contented slaves mancipated in a stupid subjection to Tyrants absoluteness; that, this Character of Naphtali, satisfied with favour and full with the blessing of the Lord, that he is a hind let loose from the yoke of Tyrannical slaverie, is far preferable, in the account of all that understand to be Christians or men, to that infamous Stigma of Issachar (the sin, shame, & miserie of this age) to be a strong Ass couching under two burdens, and he saw that rest was good, and the Land that it was pleasant, and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. But to all that are not altogether strangers in our Israel it will appear, that this Title is not ineptly applied to the subject and design of this Treatise. The party, whose Case and Cause and Contendings are here treated of, being known to have the same situation of residence in Scotland, that Naphtali had in Israel, viz. the West and the South (Deut. 33. 23.) will be found, among all our Tribes, most appositely to bear the signature of Naphtali, who, in their wrestlings for the Interest of Christ and the Liberties of his Israel, have mostly jeoparded their lives in the high places of the fields; and chiefly to deserve his Elogy, being a hind (called wild by nick-name in the scorn of them that are at ease, but) truly weak in their present wilderness Condition, to wrestle against the force & fraud of their Cruel & cunning hunters, who cease not (when they have now got the rest of the Roes and hinds of the field made fast asleep, under the bondage of the Lions dens & Mountains of Leopards, by a pretence of a falsely so called Liberty of Conscience) to seek and pursue the chase of them for a prey; Yet, really they are let loose, and not only suffered to run loose, as a prey to the hunters by the unwatchfullness of their keepers, but made to escape loose, by the mercy of the Mighty one of Iacob, from the nets of the hunters, and snares of the foulers, and from the yoke of the bondage of these beasts of prey, to whose Authority they will not oune a willing subjection: And being such hinds, so let loose, they make it their work, to give goodly words, for the worth and honour and Royalties of their Princely Master, and for the precious Liberties wherewith he hath endoted and entrusted his Spouse and Children, and to keep the goodly words of his patience, untill he return as a Roe or a young Hart upon the Mountains of Bether. This being the party, who are represented as the Wild folk of Scotland, the design of this Treatise is to hold forth the History of their manifold Chases, the Craft, keenness, & Cruelty of their hunters, and the goodlyness of the words of their Testimony: Which, by reason of the likeness of the Testimony of former Periods with the present, and that the latter may be vindicated by the former, is resumed from the beginning of the Church of Scotlands wrestlings against the Enemies of Christ, and deduced through all the most signal steps of this long propagated and hereditary War. And lest my words should not be goodly enough, nor my notions grateful to the Criticks of this age, who cast every thing as new and nice, which is someway singular and not suited to their sentiments; that it may appear the Cause here cleared and vindicated is not of yesterday, but older than their Grandfathers who oppose it, I dare avouch without vanity, there is nothing here but what is confirmed by Authors of greatest note & repute in our Church, both ancient & modern, namely, Buchanan, Knox, Calderwood, Acts of General Assemblies, Cawses of Wrath, Lex Rex, Apologetical Relation, Napthali, Ius Populi, History of the Indulgence, Banders disbanded, Rectius Instruendum, and some other Authors much respected: whose Authority, more alwayes repelled by rage than ever yet resisted by reason, though I value more, than all the vain oblatrations of the Opposers of this Testimony, and think it sufficient to confute all imputations of its Novelty, and to counterballance the weight that may be laid on the Contradictions of the greatest that treat on this subject: Yet I do not lay so much stress on the reason of their Authority, as on the Authority of their reason; which is here represented with that Candor and Care, that, lest any should cavil that they are wrested or wronged, when made to speak so patly to the present Controversies, I have chosen rather to transcribe their words, than to borrow their matter dressed up in my own; except where the prolixity & multiplicity of their Arguments, as clearly demonstrating that which I adduce them for as that for which they were primarly intended, did impose the necessity of abridging them; which yet is mostly in their oun words, though reduced into a Syllogistical forme. But this obloquie of Novelty being anticipated, when I reflect on the helps I have collected from so many hands, I am rather afraid, the Truths here delivered be comtemned as obsolete and antiquate, than cast at for new speculations. However I am content, yea it is my ambition that nothing here be looked upon as mine, but that it may appear, this is an old Plea; and that the party here pleaded for, who are stigmatized with many singularities, are a people, who ask the old paths and the good way, that they may walk therein; and though their paths be not now much paved, by the frequency of passengers, and multitude of Professors walking therein; and albeit it must indeed be confessed, the word of their Testimony is some way singular, that the same things were never the word of Christs patience, stated as heads of suffering before; yet they are not untroden paths, but the same way of Truth, which hath been maintained by the witnesses of Christ in all the Periods of our Church, and asserted by the greatest Confessors, though never before sealed by Martyrs. As for the Arguments I bring to clear & confirm them, whether they be accounted mine or borrowed from others, I am very indifferent; if they prove the point they are brought for, which I hope they will be sound to do: But of this … am confident, there is nothing here can be condemned, untill some one or more of those grave Authors be confuted, and when that is done (which will be ad Calendas Graecas, or against the 30. of February) there is something besides here which will challenge Consideration.
The design then of this work is of great importance: even no less than to essay, the discussing the difficulties of all our Conflicts with open Enemies, about the present state of the Testimony; the vindicating of all the heads of sufferings sustained thereupon, these 27 years past; the proposing of the right state of the Testimony for the Interest of Christ, not only of this but of all former Periods; with an account of the propagation & prosecution of the witnessings, wrestlings, and sufferings for it from time to time; to the end it may appear, not only how great the sufferings have been, since this fatal Catastrophe and overturning of the Covenanted Reformation, and unhappie restauration of Tyrannie and Prelacie; but that the grounds, upon which they have been stated, are not niceties and novelties (as they are reproached and reputed by many) but worthie and weighty Truths of great value and validity, and of near affinity unto & Conformity with the continued series and succession of the Testimonies in all former Periods. So that in this litle Treatise must be contained, a Compendious Historie of the Church of Scotland her Testimony in all ages, a vindication of the present state of it, yea in effect a short Epitome of the substance of those famous forecited Authors, as far as we need to consult them concerning the Controversies of the present time with Adversaries: Which is much, and perhaps too much, to be undertaken in so small a volume. But considering, that many who are concerned in this Cause, yea the most part who concern themselves about it, are such who have neither access nor time nor capacity to revolve the voluminous Labours of these Learned men, for light in this Case; I have done my best, to bring them into one body of a portable bulk, with as great brevity as could consist well with any measure of perspicuity; Not medling with any thing, but what I thought might some way conduce to clear some part of the present Testimony.
Every undertaking of this nature, cannot but be lyable to several disadvantages that are unavoidable, this hath many discouraging and difficult. One is, that it shall be exposed to the Common fate of such representations, to be stigmatized as a seditious Libel, and so may be sent to the flames to be confuted; and to enflame the fury of these firebrands, already hell-hot, into the utmost extremity of rage against the Author, that ever Cruelty it self at its fullest freedom did exert, against Truth and reason arraigned and cast for Sedition and Treason: The only Sanctuary in such a Case is, in prospect of this, to have the greater care, that nothing be spoken, but what the Speaker may dare to affirm in the face of Cruelty it self. A Second common disadvantage is obvious from the Consideration of the humor of the Age, wherein fancy hath greater force than faith, and nothing is pleasing but what is parasitical, or attempered to the palat of the Greatest not of the best; And naked Truth, without the fairdings of flatterie, or paintings of that pâkiness which is commonly applauded as prudence now adayes, is either bogled at or exposed to scorn & Contempt; and reason, if roundly written, except it meet with an honest heart, is commonly read with a stammering mouth, which puts a T before it, and then it is stumbled at as Treason: This Essay does expect no Entertainment from any, but such who resolve to harbour Truth be the hazard what will, even when the world raises the Hue & Cry after it, and from such who are really groaning, either by suffering or Sympathie, under the same grievances here represented. There is a Third which makes it not a litle difficult, the quality, quantity, & intricacy of the matter, here to be confined to such a Compend. All which together considered, do infer a fourth difficulty, that hardly can it get a pass through the Press; which is blocked up against all such books, that may offer a manifestation of the innocency of that people, and the injustice & inhumanity of their enemies; which is their only hope of preventing the worlds knowledge & condemnation of their actings. Yea there is a fifth, that wants not its own difficulty, that though the Press were patent, yet an empty Purse, from a poor impoverished people, will as readily preclude all access to it, as if it were locked up by Law; but both together make it hard. But there is a sixth disadvantage yet more discouraging, that the man as well as the money is wanting to manage the business: And this needs no other proof, than the necessity of my poor pen to undertake it, instead of a better. It must needs be very low with that people, that stand in need of such a pitiful patrociny as mine is. Our persecuted brethren elsewhere, have this advantage of us, that they have Champions to espouse their quarrel, which we have not; but only such, who, as they are reputed in the world, so in their own sense, owne themselves to be very unaccomplished for such work; and under this invincible disadvantage also, that, being forced to a wandering and unsetled life, they have no conveniency, nor can be accommodated with time nor helps to performe it; and so circumstantiated, that either it must be done at this time, and in this manner, or not at all. In the seventh place, we are at a greater loss than any suffering people, in that among all other bitter ingredients we have this Gall also in our Cup, that they that suffer most among us have not the comfort & benefit of the Sympathie of others, that sufferers use to have from good people. The reason of this makes an Eight discouragement, besides what is said above; that not only is the Case & Cause of that poor persecuted & wasted Witnessing Remnant obscure in it self, and not known in the world, nay not so much as in the very neighbouring Churches of England & Ireland; but also more obscured by the malice of Enemies, traducing, calumniating, & reproaching that righteous Remnant whom they intend to ruine; not indeed as Hereticks (which is the case of other suffering Churches, wherein they have the advantage of us also, that thô the name be more odious, yet it makes the notion of their Cause and the nature of their enemies more notour, and is more effectual to conciliate Sympathie from all that know, that Protestants are persecuted by Papists under the notion of Hereticks; But we are at a loss in this, that our Persecuters, at least the most part of the Executioners of the Persecution, will not as yet avouch that Protestanism is Heresie, though we want not this Nick-name likewise from the Chief of them, that are professed Papists) but as Schismaticks, Seditious, Rebells, Traitors, Murderers, holding Principles inconsistent with Government (to wit, their Tyranny) and the peace of humane Society (to wit, their Association against Religion and liberty) and therefore to be exterminated out of the world. And this Imposture covering all their mischiefs, hath prevailed so far with the blinded world, that under this brand the Consideration of their Case & Cause is buried, without farther inquirie. This were yet more tolerable from open enemies; if there were not another more pressing discouragement in the Ninth place, peculiar to them in Scotland; that having to do with treacherous as well as Truculent Enemies, as they have been much destroyed by open force, so much more by fraud: while by ensnaring favours some have been flattered from the Testimony, others disdaining & suspecting, as well as deprived of and secluded from, these favours, have s…uck to it; hence Defection brought on Division, and Division Confusion, which hath reduced the Reformation to a ruinous heap. In the next place, as the Consequent of the former, while the purer Remnant have been resolutely prosecuting the Testimony, and not only keeping themselves free of, and standing at the surthest distance from, all degrees of Complyance, but also witnessing against their Brethren involved in them, and thinking it their duty to discountenance them in these Corruptions & backslidings; they have been therefore reproached and misrepresented very industriously, as Ignorant, imprudent, transported with blind Zeal, Extravagant, wild, Separatists, espousing new & nice notions, Rejecters of the Ministry, Imposers on the Ministry, Denyers of all Government, Usurpers of an imaginary Government of their oun, that died as fools, and as guilty of their oun blood. By which odious & invidious obloquies, they have easily prevailed with many, both at home & abroad, that are more credulous than considerate, to beleeve these things of them: Hence, with prejudicate people a contrary Representation will find difficult acceptance. However this Moreover is another great disadvantage, and renders an Essay to vindicate their sufferings very uneasie, that they are thrust at & tosted on both hands, by Enemies & professed friends: And by Enemies, that are not all Papists: but professed Protestants, ouning the same fundamentalls in opinion, though in practice not holding the same Head: And by friends, that not only are Protestants, but Presbyterians, under the bonds of the same Solemn & Sacred Covenants, the obligation whereof they still oune; And not only so, but such, whose Piety & Godliness cannot be doubted. This is a Gravamen grievous to bear, & greatly aggravates the difficultie. Finally, the greatest of all is, that not only their Cause is rendered odious, but must be confessed truly to be odd & someway singular; and therefore will seem strange & surprising to Strangers, to hear an account of extraordinary sufferings for & upon extraordinary Causes, which never were formerly stated as heads of suffering. For now it is the Dragons chiefest stratagem with us, like to be the most subtil, ensnaring, & successful of any, that ever he set on work since ever he began this War with the Lamb, (which yet I hope will prove as fatal to his Interest as the former) to bring the sufferings of Christs witnesses to such a state, that may seem to spectators litle or nothing relative to Religion, that so he may destroy both them and their Testimony unlamented, and by that Trick divert others from concerting that same necessary witness in the season thereof. And for this end he will change both matter & manner, in managing the War. He will not now persecute for the old Controverted heads of Poperie, with fire & faggot as formerly, for refusing to worship Our Lady, or the blessed Sacrament of the Altar. These weapons & Engines are so worn out of use, that they will not work now as they did before. And that old Baud of Babylon is become so ugly and out of date, that he does not believe her beauty can be so bewitching, except she put on a new busk. But her Eldest Daughter, the Prelatical Church, of the same Complexion with herself, except that she is coloured with Protestant paint, is fitter for his service, to allure our Land into fornication; And who will not be entyced, must be forced to Communion with her, by finings, confynings, exactions, extortions, & impositions of Oaths &c. Religion must be litle concerned here: for there is Preaching enough, and of Protestant Doctrine too, and without the Monkie-Tricks, & Montebank showes, & fopperies of English-Popish Ceremonies, & Lyturgical services: What would they be at? Is it not better to yeeld to this, than to fall into the hand of the Scotish-Spanish-Inquisition, that will rack the Purse, the Body, & Conscience, and all? This is one Complex head of suffering, and thought a very small one by many. But now finding this would not do his business yet, it looked too like Religion still: He hath therefore invented a new Machin: He will not now Persecute, nor force the Conscience at all (so good natur'd is the Devil and his Lievetenant grown, in their old age) for matters of meer Religion. Nay (if we may believe him, who when he speaketh a lie speaketh it of his own) he hath not done it this long time, but only, in all the violent Courses exercised against these Sufferers, he hath been Magistratically chastising the disobedience & rebellion, of a few turbulent Traitors, who would not oune the Government. And thus under the notion of Rebellion, & disouning Authority, he hath had access & success to destroy almost an innumerable number of honest & innocent, faithful & fruitful, lovers of Christ; who though indeed they have had their sufferings stated upon those points, yet I doubt not shall be found among the followers of the Lamb, and Confessors and Martyrs of Christ, who hauehave overcome by the blood of the Lamb & the word of their Testimony, not loving their lives unto the Death, whose blood is crying for vengeance against the shedders thereof, And He will make inquisition for it, when He comes to overturn, overturn, & take His own right, for which they have been Contending. Nevertheless this is a prejudice too prevalent with many, to misregard the Case & Cause of these Contenders, or any thing that can be said to represent them favourablie. And all these disadvantages, difficulties, & discouragements together considered, would soon cool my Courage, and at first blush make me leave off before I begin, were I not persuaded that it is the Cause of Christ these reproached people are suffering for, and that their great sufferings & reproaches are both alike unjust, from both which the Lord vvill vindicate them, & bring forth their righteousness as the light & their judgment as the noon day, …n His oun time. In confidence of vvhichwhich, depending on his Conduct, I shall undertake, as briefly as is possible for me, to represent their case, and clear the Cause, so far at least as concerns their Contest vvith their pesecuting Enemies, vvi…h vvhom I only deal at present; it not being my purpose to descend particularly into their necessitated Contendings vvith Complying Brethren, partly because they vvould make the volume to excresce unto too great a bulk, & because they are to be seen elsevvhere; yet in effect these also are not only here narratively deduced, but vvhatever is odious in them is vindicated, & vvhat is difficult in some measure enodated.
But it may be expected and desiderated, that I should give a distinct deduction of all the Steps of this woful defection, against which a great part of the Testimony hath been stated: but I would have the Reader advertised, I touch only that part of the Testimony which hath been sealed by severe sufferings from enemies. It were a Task transcending my Capacity, and a Theme wherein I have no pleasure, besides that it is inconsistent with my Leasure, to inlarge upon such a sad and shameful subject: Though the world indeed is at a loss, that they that would do it cannot, and they that would & should do it will not; And it is a greater loss, not only to Scotland, but also to the whole Christian world, that what hath been done in this kind already cannot see the light, or rather that the Church of Christ is deprived of its light, which through the injury of the times, & the disingenuous Prudence of some, who suffer themselves to be imposed upon by the Patrons of Defection, is embezilled & suppressed. I mean that excellent & faithful History of Defection, the posthumous work of famous Mr. M'ward, whose praise is in the Churches: which if they that have it in keeping, would do themselves the honour, and the world the happiness, of publishing it, there would be no more need to discover, from whence, to what, and how, that Church hath fallen & degenerate; nor so great dissicultie in that indisputable & indispensable duty that such a day calls for, in searching & trying our wayes to the end we may turn again to the Lord; Nor any necessity for my poor essay, to invite & incite the people of the lord to take Cognizance & Compassion of poor perishing Scotland. I wish that they who have it, may consult more their oun duty and credit, and what they owe to the memory of the dead, the Churches edification, the dayes Testimony, and the honour of Christ, than to continue robbing the world of such a Treasure; wich I doubt not to call Treason against Christ, & Sacriledge against the Church, & stick not to tell them, if they will not publish it, the world must knovv there was such a thing done. But it not being my design now, to detect or reflect upon all the defections of that declining, & by declensions divided, & by divisions almost (only not) destroyed Church; I shall medle with them no further, than what is necessary to clear the cause; refering the knowledge and account of them, either to the Notoriety of the grossest of them, or to the more particular enarration of them, to be found in papers emitted & published by the Contenders against them: Of vvhichwhich one is of this same years edition, entituled, The Informatory vindication of a poor, wasted, misrepresented Remnant, &c. In vvhichwhich may be evident, that notvvithstanding of all this darkness & distress, defection & division, under vvhichwhich the Church of Scotland hath been so long & is still labouring, there is yet a poor vvasted, vvounded, rent & almost ruined, but still vvrestling & vvitnessing Remnant, of Professors & Confessors of Christ there, vvho though they have not only had their soulls exceedingly filled vvith the scorning of those that are at ease & vvith the contempt of the proud, but their bodies also killed all day long and counted as sheep for the slaughter, have yet through grace endeavoured to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the vvord of their Testimony, & have not loved their lives dear unto the death, & have continued to this day contending both against Professed Enemies, & also declining friends, sustaining from both the utmost of rage & reproach. And since that litle book gives an account, vvhat their Conten…ings have been against their backdravving brethren on the right & left hand, I shall spare labour to offer a discussion of them, only endeavour to make it not difficult to decide & determine, on vvhose side Truth lies, by vvhat is here hinted.
I shall conclude, vvith advertising the Reader of one thing further; that, as this Reproached people, for vvhose Testimony I am pleading, is novv the only party that is persecuted in Scotland (some fevv excepted; vvho are exempted from the pretended favour of the current Indemnities) & their persecution still continues, notvvithstanding of the impudent as wel as insnaring Declarations of Universal Liberty to all Dissenters, vvhichwhich they look upon as their honour & happiness, to be thought incapable of Tyrannical & Antichristian favours; So their past & present oppressions & sufferings are only here in general agregated described as to their kinds, & vindicated as to their causes: the particular deduction of their number, vveight, & measure; of their names that have been martyred & murdered, both by formality of Lavv & vvithout all formality of Lavv, by Sea & Land, City & Countrey, on Scaffolds & in the fields; of the manner of their sufferings; & of the forme of their Trialls & Testimonies, being intended shortly (if the Lord vvill) to be emitted & published in a book by it self; vvhichwhich vvil discover to the vvorld as rare instances of the injustice, illegality, & inhumanity of the Scotish Inquisition, & of the innocency, zeal, ingenuity, & patience of the vvitnesses of Christ, as readily can be instanced in these latter ages. Only here is a taste till more come: vvhichwhich if the Lord shall bless for its designed end, the Glory of God, the vindication of Truth, the information & satisfaction of all Serious Sympathisers vvith Zions sorrovves, & the Conviction or Confutation of Reproachers, so far at least as to make them surcease from their invidious charges of things vvhereof the innocency is here vindicated, I have obtained all my design, & shall desire to give the Lord the praise.
To fill up the vacancy of this page, it will not be unprofitable for the Reader, to cast his eye upon these Sentences of Great Authors, which relate to some heads of the following discourse.
Erasm. Ut Atagen, aliás vocalis, captus obiuutescit, ita quibusdam servitus adimit vocem, qui liberi loquuntur libere.
Nazianzen. Melius est pro pietate dissidium, quam concordia fucata.
Bernard. Si autem de veritate sumitur scandalum, utilius est ut scandalum oriatur, quam veritas relinquatur.
Bracton. Rex est qui bene regit, Tyramius qui populum opprimit.
Cicero. Amittit is omne imperii jus, qui e… imperio Rempublicam oppugnat.
Aristot. Qui legi paret, is Deo & legi paret; qui Regi, homini & belluae.
Sweton. Sub paena perjurii non tenentur fidem fervare Regi degeneri.
Ambros. Qui non repellit a socio injuriam, si potest, tam est in vitio quam ille qui facit.
Chamier. At Cives omnes jus habent insurgendi contra Tyrannos, qui vi aperta regna occupant.
Barclai. Contra Monarchom. Tyrannos, ut hostes publicos, non solum ab universo populo, sed à singulis etiam, impeti caedique, jure optimo posse, tota Antiquitas censuit.