The Wrestlings of the Church of Scotland, Declaration – Errata
A Solemn Acknowledgement of publick Sins and Breaches of the Covenant; AND A Solemn Engagement to all the Duties contained therein, namely th…ſe which do in a more ſpeciall way relate unto the dangers of theſe times: ANNO 1648.
WE Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgeſſes, Miniſters of the Goſpel, and Commons of all ſorts within this Kingdom, by the good hand of GOD upon us, taking in ſerious conſideration the many ſad afflictions and deep diſtreſſes wherewith we have been exerciſed for a long time paſt, and that the Land after it hath been ſore waſted with the Sword and the Peſtilence, and threatened with Famine, and that shame and contempt hath been poured out from the Lord againſt many thouſands of our Nation, who did in a ſinful way make War upon the Kingdom of England, contrary to the Teſtimony of his Servants and deſires of his People, and that the remnant of that Army returning to this Land have ſpoiled and oppreſſed many of our Brethren, and that the Malignant party is ſtill numerous, & retaining their former principles, wait for an opportunity to raiſe a new and dangerous War, not only unto the rending of the bowells of this Kingdom, but unto the dividing of us from England, & overturning of the work of God in all the three Kingdoms: And conſidering alſo that a cloud of calamities doth ſtill hang over our heads, & threaten us with ſad things to come, We cannot but look upon theſe things as from the Lord, who is righteous in all his wayes, feeding us with the bread of tears, and making us to drink the waters of affliction, untill we be taught to know how evil and bitter a thing it is to depart away from him, by breaking the Oath and Covenant which we have made with him, and that we may be humbled before him by confeſſing our ſinne, and forſaking the evil of our way.
Therefore being preſſed with ſo great neceſſities and ſtraits, and warranted by the word of God, and having the example of Gods people of old, who in the time of their troubles, and when they were to ſeek delivery and a right way for themſelves, that the Lord might be with them to proſper them, did humble themſelves before him, and make a free and particular confeſſion of the ſins of their Princes, their Rulers, their Captains, their Prieſts and their people, and did engage themſelves to do no more ſo, but to reform their wayes and be ſtedfaſt in his Covenant; And remembring the practiſe of our predeceſſours in the year 1596. Wherein the General Aſſembly, and all the Kirk-judicatories, with the concurrence of many of the Nobily, Gentry, and Burgeſſes, did with many tears acknowledge before God the breach of the National Covenant, and engaged themſelves to a Reformation, even as our predeceſſors and theirs had before done in the Generall Aſſembly and convention of Eſtates in the year 1567. And perceiving that this duty, when gone about out of conſcience and in ſincerity, hath alwayes been attended with a reviving out of troubles, and with a bleſſing and ſucceſſe from Heaven; We do humbly and ſincerely in his ſight, who is the ſearcher of hearts, acknowledge the many ſins and great tranſgreſſions of the Land; We have done wickedly, our Kings, our Princes, our Nobles, our Judges, our Officers, our Teachers, and our People: Albeit the Lord hath long and clearly ſpoken unto us, we have not hearkened to his voice; Albeit he hath followed us with tender mercies, we have not been allured to wait upon him and walk in his way; And though he hath ſtricken us, yet we have not grieved; Nay though he hath conſumed us, we have refuſed to receive correction; We have not remembred to render unto the Lord according to his goodneſſe and according to our own vows and promiſes, but have gone away backward by a continued courſe of backſliding, and have broken all the Articles of that ſolemn League and Covenant which we ſwore before God, Angels and men.
Albeit there be in the land many of all ranks, who be for a Teſtimony unto the Truth, and for a name of joy and praiſe unto the Lord, by living godly, ſtudying to keep their garments pure, and being ſtedfaſt in the Covenant and Cauſe of God; Yet we have reaſon to acknowledge that moſt of us have not endeavoured with that reality, ſincerity and conſtancy, that did become us, to preſerve the work of Reformation in the Kirk of Scotland; Many have ſatisfied themſes with the purity of the Ordinances neglecting the power thereof; yea, ſome have turned aſide to crooked wayes deſtructive to both. The prophane, looſe and inſolent carriage of many in our Armies, who went to the Aſſiſtance of our BRETHREN in ENGLAND, And the tamperings and unſtraight dealing of ſome of our Commiſſioners and others of our Nation in London, the Iſle of Wight, & other places of that Kingdom, have proved great lets to the work of Reformation, and ſetling of Kirk-Government there, wherby Errour and Schiſm in that Land have been encreaſed, and Sectaries hardened in their way. We have been ſo far from endeavouring the extirpation of Prophanneſſe, and what is contrary to the power of godlineſſe, that prophanity hath been much winked at, and Prophane perſons much countenanced & many times employed, until iniquity and ungodlineſſe hath gone over the face of the land as a flood; Nay, ſufficient care hath not been had to ſeparate betwixt the precious and the vile, by debarring from the Sacrament all ignorant and ſcandalous perſons according to the Ordinances of this Kirk.
Neither have the Priviledges of the Parliaments and Liberties of the Subject been duly tendered, But ſome amongſt our ſelves have labored to put into the hands of our King an arbitrary and unlimited power deſtructive to both, And many of us have been acceſſory of late to thoſe means and ways, whereby the freedom and priviledges of Parliaments have been encroached upon and the Subjects oppreſſed in their Conſciences, perſons and Eſtates: Neither hath it been our care to avoid theſe things which might harden the King in his evill way; But upon the contrary he hath not onelyonly been permitted, but many of us have been inſtrumentall to make him exerciſe his power in many things tending to the prejudice of Religion and of the Covenant, and of the Peace and ſafety of theſe Kingdoms; Which is ſo farre from the right way of preſerving his Majeſty's Perſon and Authority, that it cannot but provoke the Lord againſt him unto the hazard of both, Nay under a pretence of relieving and doing for the King whilſt he refuſes to do what was neceſſary for the houſe of God, ſome have ranverſed and violated moſt of all the Articles of the Covenant.
Our own Conſciences within, and Gods judgements upon us without do convince us, of the manifold willfull renewed breaches of that Article, which concerneth the diſcovery and punishment of Malignants, whoſe crimes have not onelyonly been connived at but diſpenſed with and pardoned, and themſelves received unto intimate fellowship with our ſelves, and entruſted with our Counſels, admitted unto our Parliaments, and put in places of Power and Authority, for managing the publick affaires of the Kingdome, Whereby in Gods juſtice they got at laſt into their hands the whole power and ſtrength of the Kingdome, both in judicatories and Armies, And did imploy the ſame unto the enacting and proſecuting an unlawful Engagement in warre againſt the Kingdome of England, Notwithſtanding of the diſſent of many conſiderable members of Parliament, who had given conſtant proof of their integrity in the cauſe from the beginning, of many faithful teſtimonies and free warnings of the ſervants of God, of the Supplications of many Synods, Presbyteries and Shyres, and of the Declarations of the Generall Aſſembly and their Commiſſioners to the contrary: Which ingagement as it hath been the cauſe of much ſinne, ſo alſo of much miſery and calamity unto this Land, and holds forth to us, the grievouſneſſe of our ſinne of complying with Malignants, in the greatneſſe of our judgement, that we may be taught never to ſplit again upon the ſame rock, upon which the Lord hath ſet ſo remarkable a Beacon. And after all that is come to paſſe unto us becauſe of this our treſpaſſe, and after that grace hath been shewed unto us from the Lord our God, by breaking theſe mens yoke from of our necks, and putting us again into a capacity to act for the good of Religion, our own ſafety, and the Peace and ſafety of this Kingdowe, should we again-break his Commandment and Covenant, by joyning once more with the people of theſe abominations, and taking into our boſome thoſe Serpents which had formerly ſtung us almoſt unto death: This as it would argue great madneſſe and folly upon our part, So no doubt, if it be not avoided. will provoke the Lord againſt us to conſume us untill there be no remnant nor eſcaping in the Land.
And albeit the Peace and Union betwivt the Kingdoms be a great bleſſing of God unto both and a Bond which we are obliged to preſerve unviolated, And to endeavour that juſtice may be done upon the oppoſers thereof; Yet ſome in this Land, who have come under the Bond of the Covenant, have made it their great ſtudy how to diſſolve this Union, and few or no endeavours have been uſed by any of us for punishing of ſuch.
We have ſuffered many of our Brethren in ſeverall parts of the Land to be oppreſſed of the common Enemy without compaſſion or relief; There hath been great murmuring and repining becauſe of expenſe of means and pains in doing of our duty; Many by perſwaſion or terror have ſuffered themſelves to be divided and withdrawn to make defection to the contrary part; Many have turned off to a deteſtable indifferency and neutrality in this cauſe, which ſo much concerneth the glory of God and the good of theſe Kingdoms; Nay many have made it their ſtudy to walk ſo, as they might comply with all times and all the revolutions thereof. It hath not been our care to countenance, encourage, intruſt and employ ſuch onelyonly, as from their hearts did affect and mind Gods Work; But the hearts of ſuch many times have been diſcouraged, and their hands weakened, their ſufferings neglected, and themſelves ſlighted, and many who were once open enemies and alwayes ſecret underminers contenanced and employed; Nay even thoſe who had been looked upon as Incendiaries, and upon whom the Lord had ſet marks of deſperate Malignancy, falshood & deceat were brought in, as fit to manage publick affaires; Many have been the lets and Impediments that have been caſt in the way to retard and obſtruct the Lords work, and ſome have keeped ſecret, what of themſelves they were not able to ſuppreſſe and overcome.
Beſides theſe and many other breaches of the Articles of the Covenant in the matter thereof, which it concerneth every one of us to ſearch out and acknowledge before the Lord, as we would wish his wrath to be turned away from us; So have many of us failed exceedingly in the manner of our following and purſuing the duties contained therein, not onelyonly ſeeking great things for our ſelves, and mixing of private intereſts and ends concerning our ſelves and friends and followers, with thoſe things which concern the publick good, but many times preferring ſuch to the Honour of God and good of his cauſe, and retarding Gods work until we might carry alongs with us our own intereſts and deſignes. It hath been our way to truſt in the means and to rely upon the arm of flesh for ſucceſſe, Albeit the Lord hath many times made us meet with diſpointment therein, and ſtained the pride of all our Glory, by blaſting every carnall confidence unto us: We have followed for the moſt part the counſels of flesh and blood, and walked more by the rules of policy then Piety, and have hearkened more unto men then unto God.
Albeit we made ſolemn publick profeſſion before the World of our unfained deſires to be humbled before the Lord for our own ſinnes, and the ſinnes of theſe Kingdoms, eſpecially for our undervaluing of the ineſtimable benefit of the Goſpel, and that we have not laboured for the power thereof, and received Chriſt into our hearts, and walked worthy of him in our lives, and of our true and unfained purpoſe, deſire and endeavour for our ſelves, and all other under our power and charge both in publick and private, in all dutyes which we owe to God and man to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a reall Reformation, that the Lord might turn away his wrath and heavy indignation, and eſtablish theſe Kirks and Kingdoms in truth and peace, Yet we have refuſed to be reformed, and have walked proudly and obſtinatly againſt the Lord, not v…lueing his Goſpel, nor ſubmitting our ſelves unto the obedience thereof, not ſeeking after Chriſt, nor ſtudying to honour him in the excellency of his perſon, nor employ him in the vertue of his offices, not making conſcience of publick Ordinances, nor private nor ſecret duties, nor ſtudying to edify one another in love. The ignorance of God and of his Son Jeſus Chriſt prevailes exceedingly in the Land; The greateſt part of Maſters of families amongſt Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgeſſes and Commons neglect to ſeek God in their families, and to endeavour the the Reformation thereof; And albeit it hath been much preſſed, yet few of our Nobles and great ones ever to his day could be perſwaded to perform family duties themſelves and in their own perſons; which makes ſo neceſſary and uſeful a duty to be miſregarded by others of inferior rank; Nay many of the Nobility, Gentry, and Burrows who should have been examples of Godlineſſe and ſober walking unto others, have been ring-leaders of exceſſe and rioting. Albeit we be the Lords people engaged to him in a ſolemn way, yet to this day we have not made it our ſtudy that judicatories & Armies should conſiſt of, and places of power and truſt be filled with men of a blameleſſe and Chriſtian converſation, and of known integrity and approven fidelity, affection and Zeal unto the cauſe of God, but not onelyonly thoſe who have been neutrall and indifferent but diſaffected and Malignant, and others who have been prophane and ſcandalous have been intruſted; By which it hath come to paſſe that judicatories have been the ſeats of injuſtice and iniquity, aad many in our Armies by their miſcarriages have become our plague, unto the great prejudice of the cauſe of God, the great ſcandall of the Goſpel, and the great increaſe of looſeneſſe & prophanity throughout all the Land. It were impoſſible to reckon up all the abominations that are in the Land, but the Blaſpheming of the name of God, ſwearing by the Creatures, prophanation of the Lords Day, uncleanneſſe, drunkenneſſe, exceſſe and rioting, vanity of apparrel, lying and deceit, railing and curſing, arbitrary and uncontrolled oppreſſion, and grinding of the faces of the poor, by Landlords and others in place and power, are become ordinary and common ſinnes; And beſides all theſe things, there be many other tranſgreſſions, whereof the Land wherein we live are guilty: All which we deſire to acknowledge and to be humbled for, that the world may bear witneſſe with us, that Righteouſneſſe belongeth unto God, and shame & confuſion of face unto us as appears this day.
And becauſe it is needfull for theſe who find mercy not onelyonly to confeſſe but alſo to forſake their ſinne, Therefore that the reality and ſincerity of our repentance may appear, We do Reſolve and ſolemnly ingage our ſelves before the Lord, carefully to avoid for the time to come all theſe offences, whereof we have now made ſolemn publick acknowledgement, and all the ſnares and tentations which tend thereunto: And to teſtifie the integrity of our reſolution herein, and that we may be the better enabled in the power of the Lords ſtrength to perform the ſame, We do again Renue our Solemn League and Covenant, Promiſing hereafter to make conſcience of all the duties whereunto we are obliged in all the heads and Articles thereof, particularly of theſe which follow.
1. Becauſe Religion is of all things the moſt excellent and precious, The advancing and promoving the power thereof againſt all ungodlineſſe and profanity, The ſecuring and preſerving the purity thereof againſt all error, hereſy and ſchiſme, and namely Independency, Anabatiſme, Antinomianiſme, Arminianiſme, Socinianiſme, Familiſme, Libertiniſme, Scepticiſme, and Eraſtianiſme, and the carrying on the work of uniformity shall be ſtudied & endeavoured by us before all worldly intereſts, whether concerning the King or our ſelves, or any other whatſomever. 2: Becauſe many have of late laboured to ſupplant the liberties of the Kirk, we shall maintain and defend the Kirk of Scotland, in all her liberties and priviledges, againſt all who shall oppoſe or undermine the ſame, or encroach thereupon under any pretext whatſomever. 3. We shall vindicat and maintain the liberties of the Subjects, in all theſe things which concern their conſciences, perſons and Eſtates. 4. We shall carefully maintain and defend the Union betwixt the Kingdoms, and avoid every thing that may weaken the ſame, or involve us in any meaſure of acceſſion unto the guilt of thoſe who have invaded the Kingdom of England. 5. As we have been always Loyall to our King, ſo we shall ſtill endeavour to give unto God that which is Gods, and to Caeſar the things which are Ceſars. 6. We shall be ſo farre from conniving at, complying with, or contenancing of Malignancy, injuſtice, iniquity, prophanity and impiety, that we shall not onelyonly avoid, and diſcountenance thoſe things, and cherish and encourage theſe perſons, who are zealous for the Cauſe of God, and walk according to the Goſpel; But alſo shall take a more effectuall courſe then heretofore in our reſpective Places and Callings, for punishing and ſuppreſſing theſe evils, and faithfully endeavour that the beſt and fitteſt remedies may be applyed for taking away the cauſes thereof, and advancing the knowledge of God, and Holineſſe and Righteouſneſſe in the Land: And therefore in the laſt place, as we shall earneſtly pray unto God that he would give us able men fearing God, men of truth and hating covetouſneſſe to judge and bear charge among his people, ſo we shall according to our Places and Callings Endeavour that Judicatories and all places of power and truſt both in Kirk and State may conſiſt of, and be filled with ſuch men as are of known good affection to the cauſe of God, and of a blameleſſe and Chriſtian converſation.
And becauſe there be many, who heretofore have not made conſcience of the oath of God, but ſome through fear, others by perſwaſion and upon baſe ends and humane intereſts have entered thereinto, who have afterwards diſcovered themſelves to have dealt deceitfully with the Lord, in ſwearing falſly by his name, Therefore we, who do now renew our Covenant in reference to theſe duties, and all other duties contained therein, Do in the ſight of him who is the ſearcher of hearts, ſolemnly Profeſſe that it is not upon any politique advantage or private intereſt or by-end, or becauſe of any terror or perſwaſion from men, or hypocritically and deceitfully, that we do again take upon us the oath of God, But honeſtly and ſincerely and from the ſence of our duty, And that therefore denying our ſelves and our own things and laying aſide all ſelf intereſt and ends, We shall above all things ſeek the honour of God, the good of his Cauſe and the wealth of his people, and that forſaking the counſels of flesh and blood, and not leaning upon carnall confidences, we shall depend upon the Lord, walk by the rule of his word, and hearken to the voice of his ſervants: In all which profeſſing our own weakneſſe We do earneſtly pray to God who is the father of mercies through his Son Jeſus Chriſt, to be merciful unto us, and to enable us by the power of his might, that we may do our duty unto the praiſe of his Grace in the Churches. Amen.
The occaſion of this Acknowledgment and Engagement was this;
THE Commiſſion of the General Aſſembly 1648. conſidering the many breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant (and particularly by the Engagement in War that Year againſt England) The Slackneſs of many in following the duties therein, And that many, (being under age when it was firſt ſworn) had not been receaved into the ſame, did, by their Act October 6. ordain it to be renewed with this Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins & breaches, and Engagement to duties, And to that effect, appointed two ſolemn Faſts to be keeped in all the Congregations of the Land, for the Cauſes contained in the Acknowledgment of Sins, And that intimation thereof should be made to the people upon the Sabbath before, & that the Covenant, together with the former Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to duties, should be read publickly to the People, upon the day of the Intimation, and the laſt Faſt day when the Covenant was to be ſworn. This reſolution of the Commiſſion, upon the ſame grounds was unanimouſly approven by the Committee of Eſtats then ſitting, and by their Act October 14. Ordained to be put in Execution, in all things according to the directions of the Commiſſion: And accordingly in the monethmonth of December, it was for the ſecond time ſworn in all the Congregations of the Kingdome, upon the ſame day, (except where vacancy or the Miniſters being under ſcandal or proceſs did occaſion a delay till another day, that the place was ſupplyed by another Miniſter) with great Solemnity, and ſuch mixture of Joy & Sorrow as became people entering in Covenant with the Lord, And was thereafter Subſcribed by all the Swearers. After ward, the Parliament Conveening, in January 1649 by their very firſt Act except the Election of their Preſident, upon the ſame grounds, Reſolved to keep a Faſt by themſelves, for the Cauſes contained in the Acknowlegment, and to Renew the Covenant according to the Order of the Commiſſion, which was alſo moſt ſolemnly done. And laſt of all the Generall Aſſembly 1649. by their Act, July 7. did unanimouſly and expreſly Ratify the Proceedings of the Commiſſion, as to the Acknowledgment of Sins, Engagement to dueties, the Faſts, and Renewing of the Covenant by Swearing and Subſcribing thereof. Hence, as the Covenant it ſelf, ſo the Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins & Engagement to duties became National Authoriſed by the Supream Judicatures of Church and State and are ſtill obliging by Oath. Oh! that the Lord had kept theſe things in the Imagination of the thought of our hearts for ever.
ERRATA.
WHilſt this was upon the Preſs, ſome Errors which eſcaped in ſome sheets, were corrected in others, ſo that thou muſt not ſtumble though ſome Copies be more correct then others. Beſides other literal eſcapes which will not marr the ſenſe, before thou read the Book, correct with thy pen th…ſe following.
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