WAS there ever any Realme since Christs Incarnation professed Christian religion so universally through all the parts thereof, even to the utmost corners, in such puritie, both for doctrine, discipline, and publick worship, with such libertie, and for so many yeares together, as our realme hath done? In the Apostles dayes we read not of whole cities, let be kingdōes, to have professed the name of Christ. Soone after the departure of the Apostles, sundrie corruptions entred into the Church, and the mysterie of iniqui­tie which was working under ground in their time, was advanced by little and little, till it came to the full ripenesse. Neither was there any Nation free from the open profession of Paganisme the first 300 years. Since Constantines time, that Christianitie began to prevaile above Gentilisme, there hath been no Church, which hath not been defiled with much superstition, & corrupted with many errors, till the dayes of late Reformation. From the first time of reformation to this houre, no reformed Church hath spred it self so universally through any Kingdome, with such puritie of profession, but either their profession is not so universall, being intermingled with Papists, Anabaptists, Lutherians, or not so poore, as in our neighbour Church.

WAS there ever any Nation which sealed their profession with Oaths, Covenants and Subscriptions, so universally, and so oft, as our Church hath done? How often hath the Con­fession of Faith, called the Kings Confession been subscribed by persons of all Estates through the Realme, or by particular persons from time to time, as occasion was offred to require their sub­scription? A more fearfull oath cannot be concea­ved, then is taken in the end of that Confession, in these words: Promising and swearing by the great name of the Lord our God, That we shall continue in the obedi­ence of the doctrine and discipline of this Church, & shall defend the same according to our vocation and power, all the dayes of our lives, under the paines conteined in the Law and danger both of Body and Soule, in the day of Gods fearfull judgement. This is the Promissorie oath. The Assertorie oath, where upon it is grounded, is this: We, therefore willing to take away all su­spition of hypocrisie, and of such double dealing with God, and his Church, protest and call the Searcher of all hearts for witnesse, That our mindes and hearts do fully agree with this our Confession, Promise, Oath, and Subscription. So that we are not moved for any worldly respect, but are per­swaded only in our consciences, through the know­ledge and love of Gods true Religion, printed in our hearts by the holy Spirit, as we shall answere to him in the day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed. To underly the paines conteined in the Law, and danger both of Body and Soule [Page 5] in the day of Gods fearful judgement, and to an­swere to him in the day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, are not lightlie to be con­sidered, but to be pondered deeply, and ever to be remembred, specially when we have to do with this our Confession.

I Appeale to every mans conscience, Whe­ther we have adhered to all the generall and particular clauses of this our Confession, or not? When we say in this Confession, that we detest and abhor the Antichrist, his five bastard Sacraments, with all his Rites, Ceremonies, and false Doctrine added to the ministration of the true Sacraments, without the word of God, his cruell judgement against Infants departing without the Sacrament, his absolute necessity of baptizing: do we not protest that we will abhor and detest, confirmation one of the five bastard Sacraments, kneeling, which is a Rite added to the ministration of the Supper, without the warrand of Gods Word, and invented by the Antichrist, private Baptisme, which is grounded upon the necessity of baptisme and doubting of the Salvation of all Infants dying unbaptized; When we protest we abhorre and detest his dedicating of dayes, do we not condemn observation of aniversary holy dayes? And when wee protest wee detest and abhor not only his own worldly Monarchie, but also his wicked hie­rarchie, Do we not condemne the degrees of Bishops and Archbishops? When wee say, we abhor and detest all contrarie religion and do­ctrine, [Page 6] (to wit, to the former Confession mentio­ned immediately before, and the Christian faith receaved, beleived, and defended by the Church of Scotland) but chiefly all kinde of Papistrie in generall, and particular heads, even as they are now damned and confuted by the word of God; and Kirk of Scotland. Doe wee not condemne Arch­bishops, Bishops, Holy dayes, kneeling, Con­firmation, private Baptisme, seeing all these par­ticular heads were damned by our Church either in the former Confession, the first or second Book of Discipline, and Acts of generall Assemblies be­fore the said Confession was sworne to and subscri­bed, and if any preased to practise them after they were damned, the censures of the church was in­flicted upon them. Have we not of late failed in all these particulars, and consequently violated our oathes, promises, and subscriptions, underlying the danger both of body and soule in the day of Gods fearfull judgement, unlesse we repent, which we cannot seriouslie do, except we recover, so far as in us lyeth, what is lost, to the losse of any tem­porall thing whatsoever, to the spending of the least drop of our blood, and defend what is yet reserved whole and sound, with the same hazard? For what is that hazard or losse in comparison of all the paines conteined in the Law, and danger both of body and soule, in the day of Gods fear­full judgement. Let no man deceive himselfe, thinkeing to deceave God with evasions and shifts. The Searcher of all hearts knoweth what was thy [Page 7] meaning, when thou saydest. We call the Searcher of all hearts to witnesse, that our mindes and hearts do fully agree with this our Confession, Promise, Oath and Subscrip­tion: And what was the meaning of the Church of Scotland, with which thou protested thou would not use double dealing, was too manifest both in practise, preaching, and the authentick Records aboue mentioned. And put the case the particular heads above specified, had been a matter indifferēt, howbeit they were not so esteemed by our church▪ yet who can deny but thus far at least was intended to eschew all occasions and provocations to tyran­nie, and superstition and therefore the oath, how­beit in a matter indifferent, was lawfull, and so re­maineth, as long as they remaine occasions and pro­vocations to tyrannie, and corruption; yea, as long as the forbearance of them is not proved to be a sinne. For great regard should be had even to a rash oath if it be not or prove not unlawfull, for the reverence we ought to carry to the great name of God. Remember of the breach of the oath made unto the Gibeonites.

IOyning all the three former Quaeres to­gether, I aske, If ever a Realme pro­fessing Christian Religion so universally, in such puritie, with such Libertie, for so many years toge­ther, and sealing their profession with such solemne promises, oathes, and subscriptions (if there were any such to be found in any Historie) that did make such defection, as if they did, if the heavie judgement of God did not overtake them? Or se­cluding [Page 8] the consideration of our oathes, subscrip­tions, and solemne Covenants, I aske, If any of the Reformed Churches in any realme, or Pro­vince, professing the Gospell in the same puritie, and so many yeares, as we have done, hath made so great defection as many of us have done, Have they returned to their vomit, taken up that which they rejected and condemned, remaining still a reformed Church, and not overturned with force of armes? If not, then suppose we had never sealed our pro­fession with such solemne seales, our defection is singular and our punishment will be examplarie, unlesse we repent, recover what is lost, and defend what remaineth uncorrupted.

WHereunto doth this defection tend? Doth it not tend first to perfite con­formitie with the English Church, then at last will it not end in full conformitie with the Romane Kirk▪ The intent of the first is professed by his Majestie in expresse termes extant in print: and therefore be not deceaved with the promises and protestations of our usurping and pretended Pre­lats. As for example, They will say to you, his Ma­jestie careth neither for He Saint nor Shee Saint, but for dayes dedicat to Christ. They lie: For his Maje­stie observeth both he and She Saints dayes, as well as dayes dedicat to Christ. So howbeit you could digest both a Christmas Preaching & a Christmas Pye, which once ye lothed, ye must and shall ere it be long, do as much for Saint Bartholomew, Virgin Mary the Innocents, & all the rest of their Saints, & [Page 9] for five Ceremonies ye shall have fiftie, yea, a hun­dred. All the Relicts of Rome, which are lying like stincking filth in their Church, shall be com­municated to us, the paterne of their altar, their Ser­vice, their Hierachie, and Romish policie, shall be set up in our Church. This defection tendeth yet further, to wit, to conformitie with Rome. What meaneth the Bishop of Spalato, in the Pre­face before his fifth Book, to exhort his Majestie to proceed as he hath alreadie begunne, to restore the Christian church to unitie: Papist, Lutherian, formalist, and Calvinist, must then be all reconci­led together, & united in one. How I pray you are we united to the English Church? We must yeeld all to them, they would not yeeld any thing at all to us, no not a hoofe, sayd Whitgift, Bishop of Can­terberrie, neither are they urged to yeeld any thing unto us. But we are unmercifully dealt with to yeeld unto them. Shall we for conformitie with the Lutherian the next day except of his monstrous opinions, and other fond ceremonies, after the same manner, and the third year for reconciliation with Rome, drink of the diep of her abhominations? Or, how shall that great worke come to passe? neither England nor Rome giveth the least token of their comming towards us. Yea wee must play the fooles, and turne our face to them, and take our journey first to England, then to Rome. The Bishop of Spalato hath not ridden all the foordes of Tweed well, whatsoever is intended, this our con­formitie will of it self tend in the end to full Pope­rie. [Page 10] For, suppose wee should give place to these disturbers of our church, who for their own gaine and glorie, have laide aside all respect to Gods glo­rie, the gaining of soules, and the well of their Brethren, yet Poperie should increase more migh­tilie, as it hath done in our neighbour Church.

WHether our conformitie end at last in conformitie with Rome or not? What reason have we to leave our conformitie with the poore Apostolicall churches, or the best reformed Churches in forraine Nations? Brightman compa­reth our church, and the rest of the best reformed, to the godly church of Philadelphia; the English to the glorious and luke warme church of Laodicea. Shall we cast off our conformity with Philadelphi­ans, and conforme to Laodiceans? Is not their church government the same that it was this day 100. years, since in time of the grossest darkenesse and blindedesse. Archbishops Bishops, Arch­deacons, Chancelours, Officials, Commissaries, exercising Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction in their spiri­tuall courts, as they did in time of Poperie, exclu­ding both Preaching and ruleing Elders from the Governement of their owne Parishes, and the joynt governement of the church, excommunica­ting, suspending, depryving, by their owne sole authoritie, medling with Testamentarie, and other causes, not belonging to Ecclesiasticall Consisto­ries; the Bishop taking to himself the sole admini­stration of spirituall Iurisdiction over many hun­dreth churches; yea, deputing the same to Civili­ans, [Page 11] Chancelours and Officialls, and medling with the administration of civill Affaires, as best be­seeming his Grandeur. This Bishop is not Pauls Bishop, nor yet the Bishop which was first erected in the Ancient Church; He differeth as far from him as the Consull in a Senate doth from a King or Monarch. So, seeing he is neither the divine, nor humane Bishop, He must be that Satanicall, brought in by the Antichrist. It were wearisome to goe through the calling and functions of their Suffraganes, Deanes, Canons and Prebanderies, Organists, Singing boyes, Pistlets, Gospellers, Preists, Deacons, who are halfe Priests: their Fasts, their Eawes, their Feast-dayes, their crossing, Kneeling, Bishopping, Houseling of the sicke, Baptisme by supposition; private Baptisme, copes, capes, Tipets, Surplices, Rochets, Churching of women, Marriage, toyes, Funerall rites, the ge­stures waried superstisiously at Service, the forme of their Prayers, and the rest of their Ceremonies. It sufficeth, that the best & worthiest among them, hath continually pleaded against them, that they had never quyet possession in their own church: that they were disused in many Congregations in the latter years of Queen Elizabeth, of worthie memorie, till they got strength againe, immediatly after the Kings Coronation; that they are obtru­ded onely by authoritie, not liked off by many of the Formalists themselves, who do temporise only, with a bad conscience, how shall wee then con­forme to a church enthraled, and under bondage? [Page 12] How many times have the Godlie among them put up their Prayers to God, and prefered petition to King and Parlament for the church policie of Scotland, and the libertie of that pure Profession, which we have enjoyed many years; and shall that our glorious Garland be stamped underfoot: The morning clouds which eclipsed the beginning of their Reformation remaine unscattered to this day: and shall they be suffred to come within our ho­rizon: Not in our morning, but after many years, at the noone tyde of our day, to obscure the glo­rious Gospell, which hath shined to us in as cleare and pure brightnesse, as ever to any nation. Con­sider the charges which must be bestowed upon these idle functions, and supestitious Ceremonies; If the Abbeyes be recovered out of Noblemens hands, I perswade my selfe, they will eyther bee converted to the maintenance of Deanes, Canons and Prebendaries, Organs, Copes, and other un­lawfull uses; orels in time be restored to the old Crowes to builde their nests in againe.

IF there were a time of Conformitie to bee graunted, which wee will never graunt; yet, is this a fit time? when the reformed Churches abroad are in so great hazard, and some presently under the fiery tryall. When the Anti­christ, and all his adherents, hath resumed fresh courage to prosecute their bloudy designes, hoping wholy to extirpate true Religion out of Europe: is it time to conforme to them, to take on the bad­ges of their profession? Will not this encourage [Page 13] the enemie and discourage our friends?

IF the Antichristian governement, be­fore described, and the many supersti­tions be not matters of weight, but trifles; which they shall never be able to prove with sound and solid arguments, why are we persecuted for them? Is it a small matter to turne a Minister out of his Office, wherein hee hath served many years, to send him and his familie, wife & children, to begge their Bread, so farre as in them lyeth. For, ha­ving dedicated themselves to the service of GOD, and spent their former time in studies, they are unable to make shifts, as Artizans and Tradesmen can doe. Was there ever a persecutor since the dayes of Christ, who with one breath did both per­secute, and pronunce the cause wherefore he did persecute to be a trifle. Our persecutors then are worse by many degrees, then the Ethnicke, Here­ticall, or Popish persecutors, and consequently the worst that ever were. Our case is yet the more to be pitied, that we are denyed the protection of Law: when we would flie to the Sanctuarie of Iustice, we are shut backe, like unworthie beasts, and no more pitied, then if we were dogges, left or redelivered, into the hands of mercilesse Ty­ants, who have given testimonie out of their own mouthes, of the loyaltie, and good behaviour of those whom they have persecuted.

AFter so many Quaeres, and expostulati­ons, in all humility and reverence, to the honorable, the true, and native estates of Parla­ment, [Page 14] Nobles, Barronnes, and Burgesses: not regarding that bastard estate of Prelates, I would demand two things: First, Why they suffer the high Commission, a court not established by the Statutes of the realme, thus to tyrannise over the church, over dutifull and loyall Subjects, fyning, confyning, suspending, depriving, warding, and directing the Lords of Secret Counsell, to banish, or to give our letters of horning, against Ministers or other Professors, for not conforming to Popish ceremonies against their conscience. The Parla­ment is the highest court of the realme, and there­fore should provide that no strange court be set up to oppresse the Subjects, without their approba­tion and consent, and therefore it is, not only our Quaere, why it is not, but our request, that it may be put downe. For it is the strangest, the most tyrannicall, and lawlesse court, that ever came in this Land, lyker to nothing, then to the Spanish Inquisition, where unto it will turne in the end to the full, as Papistrie increaseth. That one or two Archbishops, with two or three associats, Eccle­siasticall, or civill persons, such as they please to assume to themselves, being nominate in the Kings Letters Pattents, should judge in all Ecclesiasticall causes, and inflict both temporall and spirituall censures, and punishments, according to their pleasures, is contrarie and repugnant to the word of God. For spirituall power, neither Prinees nor Parlaments, may give to Ecclesiasticall, or civill persones neither are Ecclesiasticall persons capable [Page 15] of the power of the Temporall Sword. Seeing then, neither the one, nor the other can be law­fully done, this high Commission, so much grie­ved at in our neighbour church, should not be suf­fered to have place amongst us. Next, I demand in all humility & reverence, Why acts of pretended and null assemblies, are ratified in Parlament, and Statutes made, where with our pretended Prelats, make snares to entrap their brethen, & where with they countenance their tyranny: Was ever the ge­nerall Assemblie convocat in time of Parlament, or their advice and information sought, since these alterations began. In England, howbeit the Pre­lats sit in the upper House as Barrons, yet they have besides, a convention of the Clergie, which is cal­led the convocation House, which representeth al­most our generall Assemblie (for they have no o­ther) whose advice was never neglected, no not in time of Poperie. What hath our church deser­ved, as thus to be neglected and misregarded, and the report, advice, consent and vote of Prelats to be taken, who are both judge and partie in this cause; The Acts of that corrupt, and pretended assembly at Glasgow, were not only ratified, and confirmed, but also under name of explanation en­larged, and Bishops exeemed from the judgement and censures of the generall assemblie. Shall the like be done now for that pretended & null assem­blie holden last at Perth, God forbid that the ho­norable Estates should make so light account of their own credits among the reformed churches.