Lecture Preached at Distinckorn-Hill, Sermon 1
SOME NOTES OR HEADS OF A PREFACE AND OF A LECTURE.
PREACHED AT DISTINCKORN-HILL:
IN THE PARISH OF GAASTOƲN, April 25 1688.
By Maſter Alexander Shields Preacher of the Goſpel.
Pſalm, … Samuel …. Cha… ▪ from the … Verſe to the …
April 25, 1688. Some Notes or Heads of a PREFACE Preached at Distinckor… Hill, in the Pariſh of Gaaſtoun, by Mr. Alexander Shields, Preacher of the Goſpel.
The 79 Pſalm being Sung.
ALL our Songs this Day may be Sad Lamentation, for if we underſtood the Place where we are: It is, by the Rivers of Babylon, and we ought to hang our Harps on the Willows, and our Songs ought to be Songs of Mourning, and our Voice the Voice of Weeping. And this is a very pertinent Song of Lamentation which we have bee…ſinging (Pſalm 79.) and very appoſtle and proper for the Caſe of our Day, when the Heathens have entred into onr Sanctuary, and laid Jeruſalem on Heaps; and the Gentiles are treading down our outer Courts And this will always hold true, ſo long as bloody Papiſts do ſo much prevail, and the Blood of the Lord's Servants (that aim at Faithfulneſs and contends for GOD) is ſhed like water, and runs down like a River about our Jeruſalem▪ We are become a Reproach to our Neighbours, and made a corn and a Deriſion to them that are round about us. And this may be matter of Lamentation to us, but if it were only ſo with us, the matter were …. But not only we are made a Reproach and a Deriſion, but the Word of GOD, and the Cauſe of CHRIST, and the Covenanted Work of Reformation is Reproached, and made a Lud…brium and a Laughing ſtock to the Heathen round about us: To Papiſts, Atheiſts, Prelats and Malignants, and Enemies one all hands. And when we look on the cruelty of Papiſts and Malignants, and upon our daſtardly Yeildings, our fooliſh Yeildings: Turn which way we will, look before us, look behind us, look on every hand, we ſee matter of ſad Lamentation, and lad Significations of the Lord's Diſpleasure againſt us: And this we muſt make mention and take notice of when we come before His Preſence, Who is this day, not only a Holy GOD, but an Angry GGD, who is ſh…wing His Wra…h in Characters of Blood. Ye may Remember the laſt time I was in this Country, we did hear a very ſad Subj…ct ſuitable to Reflect upon. Which was, our ſears did then come upon us, and are come upon us ſince. I had News to tell you then, and if a right uſe hath not been made thereof, they will be ſadder, and ſadder ſtill. We ſay▪ … … have not been affected rightly, and concerned with them, but have been …ghting and not taking it to heart, they will be ſadder ſtill: Then we were Alarmed with the ſad and ſudden ſurpriſing Report of the Apprehending and taking of two Faithful Servants of JESUS CHRIST who were contending for the Prerogatives of the Prince of the Kings of the Earth, and the Concerns of all the Churches, and the Depoſitum of the Church of Scotland, who were let fall into the Enemies hands, and given up into the Holy all-overruling Providence of GOD, to the Power of their murdering Enemies, One thereof his Blood has been ſhed like Water ſince, which make this Song that we have been ſinging very pertinent, and which may make all our Songs, Songs of Mourning. For his Blood hath a crying Language, and I fear that many hath forgotten it, that ſeemed to be affected with it then, and many is even deſpiſing it. But I ſay that the Blood of that Faithful Servant of JESUS CHRIST, Mr. James Renwick, hath a Cry to the H…avens againſt this Generation. And we ſhall ſhew ſome things that is the Language of it: For we ought not to forge… it, for it is precious in the …ight of GOD, and it ought to to be ſo in our …ight alſo: For if we forget it, it will Cry againſt us as well as others; we o…ght to enquire into the Language of ſuch a Diſpenſation, for it hath a very loud Cry to op…n Ears, and w…akened Conſciences. And
Firſt, It crys to us, That there is a dreadful day comingon this Generation, when the Godly man periſheth, and when the Righteous and Merciful Men are taken away; it is always an Inſallible Symptom of Wra…h to come, Iſa. 57. 1. We have all the Symp…oms of approaching Wrath, that ever a Generation had, for there are many Righteous Men taken away by bloody Violent Men, who we…e Righteous in th…ir ſtate, Righteous in their courſe, and Righteous in their Cauſe: Many alſo merciful Men are taken away merciful Men who would …ain have had the Generation brought off from the evils of the Generation, and did ſpend their time and ſtrength for them that did not pity themſelves, thoſe were merciful Men; and it's ſo much the more a Symptom of Wrath, that thoſe Tokens are not taken notice of, but are deſpiſed and made light of, and this does ſpeak out a ſurp…iſing ſtroak, and the near approach of it, when People are crying Peace, then behold ſudden deſtruction, according 1 Theſſ. 5. 3. And are not the generality crying peace and ſafety, and what may we expect, but ſudden Deſtruction! For, O! it's an unhappy Peace, unhappy it's nature, and unhappy in it's effects; For it's peace with the Enemies of God; yea, we have all the procu…ing cauſes that ever brought down the Wrath of God on any Generation.
2dly. I'll tell you what the blood of that Martyr crys, and it is this, that there is not only Wrath and Anger, impendent and hanging over our heads, but it is alſo incumbent and lying on us already, and that his anger is not turned away but his hand is ſtretched out ſtill, and it is even againſt us in particular, who are the perſecuted party; and this calls us to ſearch and try our ways, that we may know what it is that the Lord contends with us for: And indeed we may find in a very ſlight and overly ſearch and enquiry, many procuring cauſes of it on our part, O it ſays, we have ſlighted many Warnings The Lord hath been ſending his Servants, riſing up …aily, and ſending them, and many of them have ſpent their blood, and for the moſt part, it ſeems to have been in vain as to us, he hath ſent one ſtill after another, but we d…d not receive th…ir Meſſage as we ſhould hav… d…ne, and we may fear, that he will ceaſe to contend any more with us, but will ſay to us, they are joined to their Idols, let them alone. For many to this day have diſcove…ed a grea… deal of their incorrigibl…neſs, as the Lord before the Flood gave Warning to the Old World by the Preaching of N…ah; He ſet a day to their Repentance (One Hundred and Twenty Years) and after that they ſhould get no more time to repent: It c…m…s to this at leng…h, that he ſays, I will no more ſtrive with them, I'll ſay no more to them let them not away in their iniquities; and it ſeems to ſay this, that the Lord hath ſet a Day to Scotland's R…pentance and I … it be … than many are looking for: The Lord is even ſaying, They ſhall have that time and no longe…! H… hath ſuffered long, but now he is w…a…ed with Repenting: The…fore the t…me is coming that he will ſay to Scotland as he ſaid to theſe in the 15 of Jer. 1, and 2 Verſes, ſuch as are for Death to Death, and ſuch as are for the Sword to the Sword; and ſuch as are for the Famine to the Famine, and ſuch as are for the Captivity to the Captivity, and theſe that are for Maſſacres to M…ſſacres and theſe that are for Martyrdom to Martyrdom. But I fear there ſhall be but few that ſhall be honoured with Marty…dom, O! It ſays, We have undervalued his Meſſage and M…ſſenger, and the Lord would not always let him be contemned, but he hath been provoked to take away Meſſage and Meſſenger, and altogether.
Thirdly, As it C…yes for Vengeance againſt all theſe that have had any Acceſſion to the ſhedding of it di…ctly or indirectly: So i… hath another Cry and they are D… and D…ad that w…ll not take notice of it, and … it. And it's this, That thoſe who are now ſpeaking ſo fair to this Generation, they have Murder in their hearts: And it proclaims th… Cruel…y of Bloody Pap…sts who had …he chiefeſt hand in it. And that tho many be crying up the Clemency of the Tyrant on the Throne, yet it ſays, we have to do with Men that have Murder in their Hearts, altho they be now ſpeaking fair, …leechingly and Flatteringly to this Generation; Yet when they ſpeak fair, believe them not, for there are ſeven Abominations in their Hearts. Tho' many be crying up the Leuity of the Mutdering Enemies. The Lord was pleaſed to Alarm us with this Diſpenſation, though to us very coſtly; Which ſayes, that they have not changed their Nature, they have the ſame Nature ſtill: they have the ſame end, and Deſign ſtill, though they have changed their Methods and Meaſures a little, yet wherever they find any Aſſerting the Teſtimony of the day, their Rage and Fury is as great againſt them as ever: And it ſays, it is no time now to fall Aſleep, and to cry peace, and Safety: For the Lord is calling us to awaken, and when, the Lyon Roars, who will not fear? and when the Lord God hath ſpoken, who can but P…opheſie? But we by this pa…ticular ſee, that we have to do with Bloody Papiſt…, altho' they be now ſpeaking fair, alter all the Blood they have ſhed both on Fie…ds, and on Scaffolds, and in the Seas; yet they have the ſame Nature ſtill they … ſame Captain, and they are Proſecuting the ſame Wa… ſtill againſt the Prince of the Kings of the Earth. The Drag…n and his Angels is ma…ging and carrying on the ſame War ſtill againſt Michael and his Ang…ls that he did forme…ly, though he had chauged his Method a little. O Scotland, who hath bewitched you? have you not had the Experi…nce of the Dreadfulneſs of the Tre…chery and Cruelty of Papiſts before? and will ye believe them at their fi…ſt Word, Eſpecially with a Tolleration; when the moſt part of the P…oteſtant Churches of Europe have had a Taſt of their Falſhood, and have been Cheated by ſuch a method. Was not the Protestants in France Cheated by ſuch a Tolleration granted to them by the Tyrant there? which when he ſaw ſit, he took away; and made them either to Renounce and Abjure their Religion, or then endure great Sufferings. Was not the Proteſtants in the Value of Pi…dmont Ruined by making Peace and Conſederacy with the Duke of Savoy? And will nothing awaken us? O poor Scotland, awaken ye and …eep not now in Peace and Eaſe, for you have to do with thoſe that are intending nothing but Maſſacres, nothing but the Subverſion of Religion, and the utter Ruine and Overthrow of the Cove…anted Reformation, and all that adhere to it. And they ar… beguiled that thought the Devil was grown better in his Old Age: For many thought (ſo to ſpeak) that the Devil and Antichriſt were grown better i… their Old Age by granting this Toleration. Therefore hath the Lord Allarmed us by this Diſpenſation: He would take one of his Jewels and let him fall into their Hands, and ſuffer them to diſcover their Bloodineſs upon him and thereby let us ſee whom we have to do with. It hath this Language with it; and wo to them that will not hear it.
Fourthly, It hath another Cry, for as little as ye may think of it: Yet it hath this Language with it, that there is a very ſad Defection this day, and that there are few Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth. We may ſay as Jeremiah ſays, Chap. 9 He Complains ſadly in ſuch a Caſe, and ſays, Oh! that my head were Waters, and mine Eyes a Fountain of Tears, that I might Weep day and Night for the Slain of the Daughter of my People. Oh! that I had in the Wilderneſs a lodging-place of way: faring-men, that I might leave my People, and go from them. For they be all Adulterers, an Aſſembly of Treacherous men: And they Bend their Tongues like their Bows for Lies: But they are not Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth. What way does it ſig…ifie this ye'll ſay? Then I'll tell You, none can be Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth, and Faithful for Chriſt, but he will be expoſed to the Cruelty and Rage of His Bloodies Antichriſtian Enemies; it hath been ſo always, and will be ſo. For Michael and the Dragon are two Parties; and there muſt be a War kept up by all the Lord's Called, and Choſen, and Faithful, againſt the Dragon and Antichriſt, without any Ceſſation, Truce or Tranſaction with them; And if any will diſcover any meaſure of Valiantneſs for the Cauſe, or will be Zealous for Chriſt; then he muſt exp…ct for the Fury of all the World. He may look for the Rage of the Devil and of Antichriſt of Papiſts, Prelats and Malignants to be againſt him: For where Satan hath his Seat on the Throne of the Kingdom, the poor Antipas muſt ſ…ffer Martyrdom (Rev. 2, 14.) I ſay it ſpeaks out much Deſection, when thoſe that pretend to be for the Truth on the Earth, and thoſe that ſhould contend for the Truth, gets leave to enjoy all their Liberties from Enemies.
For it cannot be, neither was it ever ſeen, but all that were Valiant for the Truth, and Zealous for the Cauſe of Chriſt, but they had all the Enemies of Truth upon their Top. And theſe that now have peace, it ſays they are not ſo now, for the Covenants are not only broken and burnt, but Declared Criminal to be owned; and the Covenanted Reformation like to be Ruined and razed: And when there is ſo much peace with Antichriſt, it is a Wrath-prefaging thing, a Wrath procuring thing. And his Blood crys for Vengeance againſt all thoſe who have been ſeeking to have peace with the Enemies of GOD, that have encroached on all His Prerogatives. For thoſe who would be Zealous in Adhering to, and contending for thoſe things, muſt expect to have all Truths Euemies againſt them. And now when an Abſolute Power (which is the incommunicable Prerogative of JEHOVAH) is arrogate by the Tyrant now upon the Throne, a Vaſſal of Antichrist: And this Power Recognoſced, by the accepting and embracing of the Toleration which flows from it, and when Popery is like to come in at this Gap, and be eſtabliſhed, any who would be Faithful in Witneſſing againſt thoſe things, and would be Zealous in contending for the Prerogatives of CHRIST, and the Privileges of His Church, may look and expect to have the Fury and Rage of all Chriſt's Enemies bent againſt them. But now when there is ſo much ſilence as to thoſe things, and ſo great enjoying of Peace and Quietneſs: it ſays, there is a great Delection, and that there is few Valiant for the Truth upon the Earth. Nay, many have bought Eaſe at the rate of Selling the Truth.
Fifthly, I'll tell you what it proclaims, and it is that, that Jeremiah complains of in his day, Chap. 9. 3. That many hath bent their Tongues like their Bows for Lies: But they were not valiant for the Truth. Yet there was a great deal of Zeal in the Witneſſes of God in that day; So it cryes for Vengeance againſt the Shedders; alſo it proclaims ſhame and ignominy on lying Tongues that reproaches Truths Sufferers. And it proclaims ſad things to thoſe who were guilty of reproaching him; and if this had been among Enemies, the matter had been leſs: For we would think it a Reproach not to be Reproached by the Enemies of God. But to be reproached by theſe who are not only Proteſtants, but Covenanted Presbyterians, it is very ſad: Yet thoſe who are now above the reach of reproaching Tongues have met with it firſt and laſt. For from the Death of Mr. James Guthrie, till Mr. James Renwick ſuffered, all the faithful and Zealous Miniſters of Chriſt were reproached: Was not Mr: James Guthrie called a Fool? Was not Mr. Kid and Mr. King called Jeſuites? And was not Mr. Donald Cargil and Mr. Richard Cameron called the ſame? And what Reproaches and Calumnies that could be broached out of Hell, was not caſt on Mr. James Renwick? He was ſeen at Maſſes, and in League with the Enemies, and they would not ſtir not trouble him, I cannot rehearſe the one hall of them, but the Lord hath Vindicated his Servant of them all, though dear to us. But his blood Cryes aloud againſt thoſe Reproaches, ye would take notice of it, and not think it a light matter to reproach the Servants of the Living God: For there is no part of the preſent Teſtimony that we have Witneſſed for, and that we do own, but it is ſounded upon the word of God, the Confeſſion of Faith, and the Conſtitution of the Covenanted Church of Scotland, we are able to make this out. Wherefore in Reproaching us, ye Reproach the Living God, the Cauſe of Chri… and the Covenanted Reformation of the Church of Scotland. But, O it is ſad, that thoſe that are Presbyterians have ſuch Arguments againſt us, for all their Arguments are ſuch as Papiſts have; all have the ſame Arguments againſt us, and caſt the ſame Reproaches upon us: For not only all the Papiſts, Prelats, and Malignants of the Land, but alſo our Declining Brethren Miniſters and Profeſſors, uſe one and the ſame Arguments againſt us, and caſts the ſame reproaches upon us: But we have this Advantage by it, that all our Enemies are on the one hand, which makes it the eaſier to deal with them. What can any ſay againſt us? But all the Papiſts and Malignants in the Lord will ſay ſo too: So we have them all upon the left hand, and none upon the Right, I ſay, there is very much to be learned by this bloody Diſpenſation. For the Papiſts are begun to their bloody Pract…c…s; from which it is to be Learned … they will not be reſtrained, untill they do ſtrange bloody Works, for it is their nature; and they cannot be reſtrained from it, and it ought to have a dreadful cry in our Ears.
Sixthly, It hath another Cry, which is this, as it c…ys for Vengeance againſt all the Shedders, and all that have any acc…ſſion to the ſhe…ing of it: So it calls aloud to us, to enquire into the Heads for which he ſuffered; leaſt we be found Trample…s on his Blood. The Teſtimony againſt this Antichriſtian Tolleration is now Sealed with Blood. The Teſtimony againſt this preſent Tyrrannical Government of this Duke of York is now Sealed with Blood. The Teſtimony of the Goſpel Ordinances diſpenſed by Chriſt's Faithful Servants in the perſecuted Field-Meetings, is now Sealed with Blood. The teſtimony for Defenſive Arms is now Sealed with Blood He teſtified againſt that Land deſtroying fin, the paying of the Ceſs and the Locality, for bearing down the Free Preaching of the Goſpel (which was never Settled before) And let me tell you, O ye Ceſs Payers, for I know that there are many of you here: I have ſad News to tell you, and whether you will hear or forbear, I muſt tell you it: but I would counſel you to hear and forbear the Pr…ctice of paying it… I ſay, I muſt tell you from the Lord, that ye are Guilty of the Murder of the Lord's People, and of this Martyr's blood amongſt the reſt, which teſtified againſt it, and Sealed it with his Blood: Nay, Let me tell you more, ye are guilty of the ſheding of the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, and Crucifieing of Him afreſh: For ye have given your concurrence and your helping hand to the Crucifyiug Chriſt afreſh again in Scotland, for Chriſt has been as really Crucified in Scotland, as He was upon Mount Calvary without the Gates of Jeruſalem, and ye are as gui…y of his Blood as the Souldiers who did it. Ye may think this ſtrange, but it is true, for there is ſuch a thing as the Crucifieing of Chriſt afreſh, Heb. 6. 9. And Chriſt may be crucified again Myſtically in his Truths, Cauſe, and Members, when his Truth and Cauſe are Oppoſed, Contradicted and Reproached, and his Members Murdered by wicked bloody Enemies, then is He Myſtically crucified afreſh, and put to open ſhame. And in Scotland, is not his Truths and Cauſe oppoſed, Contradicted and Reproached, and his Members Murdered? Did not the wicked Convention and Parliament who laid on the Ceſs tell you in the Narrative of their Acts, that it was for ſuppreſſing of Field Meetings, called by them the Randevouzes of Rebellion! So term they the Meetings of the Lords People for Goſpel Ordinances: So that they have not leſt you ignorant of that wherefore they required it; which was, to Baniſh Chriſt and his Goſpel out of the Land, and to Murder all his Servants and People who would avow and avouch their Adherance to the ſame: And they required your help and ſupply to get this wicked turn done. which I dare aver in the ſight of Heaven, ye are Chriſts Murderers, and the Murderers of all the Saints that has been Murdered ſince: For you have bought the Swords that did it; and you have bought the Ropes that hanged them, and if you had not been the Hangmen your ſelves, you could have done no more, for it was told you, that it was for that end.
Then again in the Paying of it▪ it hath this Aggravation, that it is againſt Light; Ye are convinced it is a Sin: For many of you, if we come to you and ſpeak about it, ye will confeſs it is a Sin, and yet ye go on in the Paying of it without any Excuſe: O that is dreadful! will Ye but conſider the ſinfulneſs of it? You dare not deny but it is a Breach of Covenant, and that it is againſt the Acts of our Aſſ…mblies; and the Word of GOD condemns it: And yet Ye pay it, that Ye might keep Your Houſes and enjoy Your Land. O there ſhall be a Curſe lying on Houſes and that have preferred them to the Bleſſed and Glorious Goſp…l, the Cauſe of a Ma…llings, broken Covenant, the Blood of his Murdered Servants, and the Guilt of crucifieing of CHRIST afreſh ſhall ly on You; and the Blood of this Martyr that Suffered laſt, who Teſtified againſt that ſin; cryes for Vengeance againſt You, for it was never before Sealed with Blood, and that gives us to Mark it the more. And if You will not hear and forbear it, an Europe ſhall hear of the Terrible Judgements that ſhall come upon You, for the promoting, Maintaining and Helping forward this Heaven-daring-revolt againſt the SON of the Moſt HIGH. Now I would have You to conſider what his Blood cries to You for; and ſay it to Hear…; for it call… You to Eſteem, Love, and conteud for thoſe Truth… which he Sealed with his Blood: For they are worthie of the Lives of Thouſands. Yea, ev…n of all the Wo…ld: The leaſt of Chriſt's Truths, is worth the Lives of all the World; much more ſuch great Truths.
I thought I would tell You this in the Entrie. Now let us compoſe our ſelves, and … our ſelves in the Sig…t of this Great GOD, and beg His Preſence and Aſſiſtance to what we are about. Let us pray.