A Historical Vindication of the Government of the Church of Scotland, Table of contents
The Contents of the firſt Treatiſe.
Iſſachars Burden will ſtumble no ſolid and adviſed mind, p. 1.
The Author of it is an excommunicate Prelat and Incendiary, obstinate in wickedneſſe, p. 2. The moſt malicious enemy to the Parliament of England that ever yet has written, p. 3.
A favourer of groſſe Popery and Arminianiſme, p. 4, 5, 6.
Scotlands old Obligations to England, p. 7. Englands late Obligations to Scotland, p. 8, 9. The Independents and Erastians in publiſhing this Book are many wayes faulty, p. 10.
The Title Iſſachars Burden, is a doltiſh reproach of this preſent Parliament, p. 11. the groundleſſe calumnies of the title Page, p. 12. the diſcordall concord of Prelats, Erastians and Independents in the point of Supremacy, ibid. the publiſhing of this Book is a grievous injury to the Parliament, p. 13. a falſe and mad propheſie, p. 14. the whole Treatiſe is but an extract of the moſt falſe and venomous parts of Spotſwoods Story, Ibid.
The Church of Scotland, gives no more power to Congregationall Elderſhips then the Independents and Erastians doe allow, p. 15. the Prelats give much more eccleſiasticall power to Lay-men then we to ruling Elders, p. 16
We give to Deacons no power of juriſdiction, we wiſh there were Doctors in all populous Congregations, Elders in ſome few Congregations for a time have a Diſpenſation, p. 17.
No Elderſhip inflicts any civill puniſhment, Ibid. the Prelats confound miſerably the ſpirituall and civill Offices, p. 18.
Princes plead not for exemption from Eccleſiastick juriſdiction, p. 19. No Presbytery did ever enter in any proceſſe with the ſupreame Magistrate, p. 20. the Moderators of our Aſſembly are Preachers, p. 21.
Our expectants are not Lay-Preachers, p. 22. the Presbytery of Edinborough uſurps no power over any other, Ibid. King James averſion from Presbytery, and affection to Epiſcopacy, makes not this the better, nor that the worſe, Ibid. No Presbytery did ever keep any State with the King, p. 23
The Presbytery doth not enquire in ſecret faults, but knowne crimes it does not paſſe by, p. 24.
The Presbytery meddles not with matter of trade or debt, or any thing civill, p. 25. they never did dilapidat any Benefice, p. 26. nor favour Gentlemen in their wickedneſſe, they never did countenance any feud, all theſe were the Prelats crimes, p. 26, 27.
Ministers generally were ever and ſtill are, honoured more in Scotland then anywhere elſe, p. 29.
Master Robert Bruce vindicated, p. 30, 31.
The reaſon of the Authors malice againſt the generall Aſſembly, p. 32. His falſe and railing ſlanders againſt it, p. 33.
The generall Aſſembly exerciſes no power, but what the King and the Lawes have authorized, Ibid. the Commiſſioners of Burroughs and Ʋniverſities are Elders, Ibid. we a cribe to the King ſo much power in the Aſſembly as the Laws allow, p. 34. the Aſſembly alters no Law, onelyonly it ſupplicates the King and Parliament to alter ſuch Lawes as confirme evident errors, p. 35. the Prelats quarrelling againſt ruling Elders is abſurd, Ibid.
The Aſſembly and Parliament in Scotland uſe not to differ, p. 36.
The vindication of J. Knox & the firſt reformers from baſe calumnies, p. 37
The ſuſpention of the Queen Regents authority was an Act meerly of the State which did nothing prejudge the Soveraignty, p. 38.
The Presbyterians have often ſupported, but never hurt royalty, p. 39.
John Knox did never preach for the pulling downe of any Church, p. 40.
The armes of Scotland againſt the tyranny of the French were neceſſary and juſt, p. 41. the Author very wicked and popiſh, Ibid.
Cardinall Beton by all Law and reaſon deſerved death, p. 42.
An account of the tumult at Edinborough for the Service-book, p. 43, 44.
Our Aſſemblies did ever defer all loyall ſubjection to the King, p. 45.
Master Henderſon was ever free from all diſloyall and Papall humours, Ibid.
Our firſt reformation was authorized by Parliament, p. 46.
Epiſcopacy was never approved by any lawfull Aſſembly in Scotland, p. 47. the ſhort confeſſion of faith was ſubſcribed by King James in the yeer 1580 the Presbyterial Government was fully agreed unto before that time, ibid. the King and his Counſell did ſet up the Presbyteries over all the Land at the ſame time, p. 48.
The generall Aſſembly did never approve of Abbots and Pryors, ibid.
The Ministers of Scotland were wont to preach to the King and State free and ſeaſonable Doctrine, but in all wiſdome and humility, p. 49.
Preachers of treaſon are cenſurable both by the Church and State, p, 50.
The Erastian and Prelaticall principles brought great trouble on the Miniſters of Scotland, p. 51.
The caſe of James Gibson, p. 52. Mr. David Black his caſe, ibid.
A cleer vindication of the Aſſembly at Aberdeen in the yeer 1605. p. 53, 54, 55.
Mr. Welſh and Mr. Forbes pittifully oppreſſed, p. 56.
Bancroft a perſecutor of the Scottiſh Presbyterians, ibid.
Mr. Andrew and Mr. James Melvils oppreſſed, p. 57.
The Scottiſh Diſcipline is far from all rigour and tyranny. p. 58.
A Narration of the Roads of Ruthen and Stirling, p. 60.
The Aſſembly meddles not with Lawes, nor with any civill Courts, p. 61. Mr. John Graham his caſe, p. 62, 63.
The great controverſie betwixt the Church and the King was the infinite extent of the Prerogative, p. 64. the Presbytery is a great bar to keep out Democracy and tyranny both from Church and State; it is a ſingular help both to Kings and Parliaments, p. 65. Mr. Catherwoods vindication, p. 66.
The Commiſſioners of the generall aſſembly unjuſtly ſlandered, p. 67. A full account of the 17. day of December, p. 68, 69, 70, 71. Mr. James Melvile vindicated from aſſisting of Bothwell againſt the King, p. 72.
A Declaration upon all the twelve Articles imputed to us, p. 73, 74, 75, 76.
No ſhadow of Epiſcopacy remaines in any well reformed Church, p. 77, 78.
The Dutch Superintendents are very far from the Engliſh Biſhps, p. 79.
The Contents of the ſecond Treatiſe.
THe Oppoſites of Presbytery blinded with malice, have hurt themſelves and no other by the reprinting of this falſe Declaration, p. 1.
Adamſon confeſſeth himſelf to be the Author thereof, but King James did diſclaime it, p. 2. whatever in it is contrary to Presbytery, is condemned by the Parliament of Scotland, p. 3.
It is hazardous for a Prince to take upon himſelfe the faults of his Officers, p. 4. the indignation of the people in Scotland was never againſt King James, but oft againſt his Court, and that upon juſt grounds, p. 5.
King James was far from Erastianiſme, p. 7.
Cleer grounds for Mr. Melvils justification, p. 9. his flight no argument of guiltineſſe, p. 11. A great cauſe of the rooting out of Epiſcopacy, ibid. Mr. Melvils Declinator and Protestation cleered, p. 12.
What ſupremacy is lawfull, p. 13. the Erastian ſupremacy is more then a Turkiſh tyranny, p. 14. if either King or Parliament admit of it, it will overthrow both, and the whole Nation with them, p. 15.
King James revoked what here is publiſhed, and King Charles alſo, p. 17.
The Presbyteriall Government was establiſhed in Scotland on a divine right, with the allowance of K. James and K. Charles in divers Parliaments, p. 18
The reprinters of this Declaration ſeem to be contemners of Oaths, Lawes and all rights divine and bumane, p. 20.
A full account of the French Banquet, p. 21.
The Prelats and Erastians extreamly unjuſt againſt the Presbytery, p. 24.
The general Aſſemblies approbation of the Road of Ruthven very innocent, p. 25
The Road of Stirling cleered, p. 27.
Epiſcopacy was not establiſhed at the Conference of Leeth, 1572. p. 16.
It was lawfull for the Aſſemblies to call to fasting, p. 28.
The reprinters of this Declaration make no conſcience of their Covenant; p. 29.
King James his full and honeſt Declaration againſt Erastianiſme, p. 31.
The pretended intentions were not the Kings but the Prelats, p. 32.
The reprinters of this Writ are either hypocrits or Apostates, ibid.
Caeſaro papiſme is an Antichristianiſme, worſe then that of the Pope, p. 33.
Prelats and Erastians their Sympathy and Antipathy, p. 34.
King James againſt all toleration of hereſies or ſchiſmes, p. 35. Alſo much contrary to our preſent Anarchy, p. 36.
The retarders of government are enemies to themſelves and to the welfare of England p. 37.
The Recanta…ion of Patrick Adamſon pretended Archbi. of St. Andrews, p. 37
Mr. Patrick Adamſon's owne Anſwer and refutation of the Booke falſly called The Kings Declaration, p. 41.
Two pious and propheticall Letters of Mr. Jo. Welſh, which he wrote out of his priſon after the ſentence of death was pronounced againſt him and other gracious Ministers for their testimony againſt Erastianiſme & Prelacy, p. 45.
The Authors out of which the chiefe teſtimonies of the ſubſequent Vindication are taken.
The Acts of Parliament printed at Edinborough by Robert Walgrave in the yeer 1597.
The Acts of the ſecond Parliament of King Charles printed at Edinborough by Robert Young, 1641.
The Acts of the generall Aſſembly at Edinborough 1632. printed at Edinborough by Evan Tyler 1642.
One of the Registers of the Church of Scotland, Manuſcript.
A collection out of the Registers of the Church of Scotland by Mr. David Catherwood, wherein, beſide other things, are Mr. Andrew Melvils proceſſe, the Animadverſions of the Commiſſioners of the generall Aſſembly upon Adamſons Declaration delivered to the King; Alſo a Reverend Divines cenſure at that time upon the ſame Declaration; Alſo King James his true Declaration.
Knox History.
Altare Damaſcenum.
Adamſons Recantation.
Mr. Welſh his Letters.
The Eccleſiaſtick Hiſtory of Scotland written by John Spotſwood, pretended Archbiſhop of St. Andrewes, licenſed for the Preſſe under the hands of Secretary Stirling and Windebank.
Iſſachars Burden, under the name of an Anſwer to a Letter, &c. Alſo Sacr… Sancta Regum Majeſtas, both printed at Oxford 1644. by Mr. John Max well pretended Biſhop of Roſſe.