THe Word of GOD, the example of the People of GOD, and of the Kirk of Christ, since the beginning, and our own late, but very notable and never to be forgotten experience, may abundantly teach us, that the motions, resolutions and endeavours of the Godly, for the advancement of the Kingdome of the Son of GOD, by establishing or pro­pagating the Reformation of Religion, must meet with a world of opposition and hinderances, which might make their hearts to faint, and their hands to faile, if upon the same grounds and documents they were not taught to acquit themselues, in doing the duty required of them by the necessity of their callings, and for the successe to depend upon the unsearchable wisedome, and invincible power of GOD, which are made perfect in the simplicity and weaknesse of his servants: The zeale of the Lord of hosts will performe it.

There hath ever been in the Kirk of Christ, and shall be to the end, a generation which maketh more account of the World, then of the Faith of Christ, doth conceive that differences about Religion are but the contentions of Kirk-men, that therefore there is no necessity of the Re­formation of Religion, and that to know nothing of this kind, is the surest Faith, and seeketh in their service to Kings and Princes civilly to supererogate at their hands, beyond the deservings others, and above the expressed desires and commands of Princes themselves, that the re­wards of their singular zeale may be the greater, & there­fore have proven, and daily do prove the most pernicious and dangerous enemies of the true Religion: against this [Page 2]generation, which saith, Let us deale wisely with them, we have this comfort and advantage, and we know amongst all the Enemies of the Truth, they least of all thinke that they doe God service.

We who are intrusted for the time, to be the Com­missioners of the late Generall Assembly, sitting at Edin­burgh for the Affaires of the Kirk committed to our care and diligence, specially for preserving of our owne Re­formation, and peace against all sorts of Enemies, and according to the interest of this Kirk for unity in Reli­gion and Uniformity of Government with the Kirk of England, which was no new motion of ours, but a pro­position made by the Commissioners of the Treaty, which then received from the Kings Majesty and Parlia­ment of England, such an Answer as hath beene the ground of many Consultations, Declarations, and pub­lique Letters since, and of a renewed supplication at this time to the Kings Majesty, and of a Declaration to the Parliament of England for the same effect. While wee are thus exercised, we are desired by some Noblemen, Barons, and Burgesses, occasionally met at Edinburgh, to send some of our number to joyne with them in a Petiti­on, representing to the Right Honourable the Lords and other Commissioners of Parliament for the conservation of peace, their humble thoughts and feares that the print­ing of His Majesties Letter of the date, December 5. by Warrant and Command of the Right Honourable the Lords of His Majesties Privy Councell, and the not printing of the Declaration of both Houses of Parlia­ment, unto which the printed Letter was an Answer, might be taken by the Kingdome of England, as an ap­probation of the whole matter, and all the particulars which it did expresse, and thereby to animate and pro­voke this Nation against them as Rebels and Traitours [Page 3]We finding that the Petition did homologate both in the end and meanes with our Commission, and the matter of our present deliberations did willingly satisfie the de­sire of the Petitioners, and therefore from our tender and dutifull respect to His Majesties Honour, for preventing and removing of all occasion of jealousies and suspitions betwixt the two Kingdomes, for preservation both of our owne peace at home, and our common peace with Eng­land, and for promoving the so much desired Unity of Religion, a meane of all other most conducing to the conservation of both, did with them (conforme to the order observed in such cases since the beginning of our late Reformation) humbly supplicate, that the meaning of the publication of his Majesties Letter might be clea­red, and that the Declaration of both Houses of Parlia­ment to their Brethren of Scotland might be printed and published, &c.

But behold, after a few daies a contrary Petition is pre­sented to the Lords of His Majesties Privie Councell, by some private Noblemen, Barons, and Gentlemen, which comming to our hands, we found after due examination to be nothing else but a secret plot and subtle under-mi­ning of all the present designes of this Kirk and Kingdom, for Unity of Religion, and of all the work of God in this Land: And therefore we made upon it the Observations and Animadversions following.

I The private persons knowing that the Commissio­ners of the Generall Assemblie were sitting at this time about such matters as they meddle with in their Petiti­on, and that we had joyned in presenting a Petition to the Commissioners for conserving of Peace, much about the same particulars, whereof they could not be ignorant by reason of the Act of the late Assembly, they did not so much as acquaint us with their intentions, that we might [Page 4]either have petitioned with them, or have advised them to desist: which although it may seem to be but an erro [...] in the manner of their doing, yet doth it imply contempt, usurpation and division; and being winked at may be the cause of much disturbance and confusion in these times, especially they professing that they desire to cleare them­selves and their intentions, not onely to the Lords of Councell, but to the Kings Majesty, to the Kingdome of England, and to all the World, which is nothing else but under the colour of a Petition to make a publique Decla­ration, contrary to the proceedings, not onely of the Ge­nerall Assembly and their Commissioners, but also to the desires and diligence of the Commissioners of the Treaty of the Honourable Lords of Councell, and of the Conser­vators of Peace, who have all concurred, and doe still concurre in their joynt desires of Unity of Religion in His Majesties Dominions, resolving to presse this Unity to the uttermost of their endeavours as a necessary pre­servative of our own Reformation and Peace, which without it cannot long subsist; and much crossing that clause of our Covenant wherein we sweare, that we shall not cast in any let or impediment that may stay or hinder any such resolution, as by common consent shall be found to conduce for so good ends.

Although the Petitioners professe with us that they desire the Union of this Iland in Religion and Kirk-Government, yet their Petition doth too plainely and palpably tend to the contrary, as is apparent by this three­fold consideration: 1. For remedy of the divisions and distractions in England, the Petition desireth onely the suppression of insolent Papists, malignant schismatickes, and disloyall Brownists and Separatists, the speciall, if not sole pro­movers and fomenters of these unhappy mis-understandings: and thus doth passe by the Prelates, and balketh the [Page 5]Bishops, who have bin the most restlesse sticklers in this businesse, and the prime authors of all these tragedies since the beginning, and thereby would take us off our right and straight course of pressing uniformitie in Kirk-government, in the Treatie, in our Declarations, and in the Generall Assembly: The Apologists for the petiti­on would have reduced the Prelates either to Papists, or to Sectaries; but the Authors of the Petition intended better service, by sending the Petition to England, with­out trenching upon the Lordly Prelacy, or touching the Prelates at all; which from strangers is an high provoca­tion against the Kingdome and Parliament of England, and no small prejudice against the proceedings of this Kirk and Kingdome for Reformation. 2 This Petition doth indirectly cast foule aspertions upon those who are most zealous for the reformation in England, and doth very much symbolize with the language of the Popish and Prelaticall party in England; calling the Parliament, and all that seek after Reformation, Brownists, Separa­tists, Authors of tumultuary conventions, &c. 3 It hint­eth at our zeal and forwardnesse in the matter of the Re­formation of the Kirk of England: which may appeare thus; The Petitioners declare, That since the duty of cha­rity doth oblige all Christians to pray and professe their de­sires, that all others were of the same Religion with them­selves, etc. Therefore they represent their wishes for uni­ty of Religion and Kirk-government, as an expression and testimonie of their affection to the good of their brethren in England: Declaring further, That they desire this work to be prosecuted without presuming or usurping to prescribe [...]wes and rules of Reformation to their Neighbours. And a­gain they repeat, that by their wishes and desires they intend [...]o wayes to passe their bounds, in prescribing or setting downe rules and limits to his Majestie and Houses of Parliament [Page 6]their wisdome and authoritie, in the way of prosecution hereof. And why do they so plentifull purge, and carefully cleare themselves concerning this particular, if their intention were not to leave some aspersion upon this Kirk and State, as if we were passing our bounds, by presuming to pre­scribe rules and limits to His Majesty and Houses of Par­liament? For further evidence whereof, it is to be re­membred, that in the first part of their Petition they plainly professe, that they are clearing themselves and their intentions, lest they should be thought to be invol­ved with us in the same desires, judgements, and opini­ons: So that all which they say by way of clearing of themselves and their intentions, ariseth from this ground, that they will not be thought involved with us in our de­sires, Judgements, and opinions, and so condemne us in these particulars in which chiefly they justifie themselves: neither can wee knit together their words, or interpret their apologie to another meaning. Now what is this else but to overturne the very foundation of all our endea­vours for this work of Reformation, which was the Arti­cle of the Treatie for union in Religion, and uniformity in Kirk government? Not as a matter nakedly desired and wished for, but as a principall demand, and necessary mean, without which neither truth nor peace could be secured unto us. The importance and necessitie whereof hath bin since that time so deeply laid to heart by this Kirk and Kingdome, that as the Generall Assembly, and we for our part representing the same, so the Lords of Counsell, and the Commissioners of Parliament for con­servation of the peace, concurring with us, have been, and are most serious and solicitous in the importunate and ear­nest pressing of this union in Religion and Kirk govern­ment, resolving to use our uttermost endeavours in the prosecuting and effectuating of such a blessed and [Page 7]necessary work, as being dearer to us then all our lives and Fortunes: neither did the Generall Assembly spare to represent their humble advice concerning the way of prosecuting that work to the Houses of Parliament, and to others seeking after Reformation in England.

III Their Petition doth tend to a dangerous division in this Kirk and Kingdom; for as it doth reflect upon us for our joyning in the Peti­tion concerning His Majesties printed Letter presented to the Com. of Parliament, for conservation of the Peace, upon a pretext (as it saith) of the not sitting of the Privy Councell at that time; so it insi­nuateth, that we did presume to question or seek of the Lords of Councell an account of their Actions; both which are foule and groundlesse aspersions: yea, it declareth, that the Petitioners do so far dislike our Petition, that they conceive they were wanting in their dutie and allegeance to the Kings Majestie, if by their silence they should suffer themselves to be involved with us in the like de­sires, judgements and opinions: thus plainly professing a division and separation, aswell from us, as from other Noblemen, Gentlemen, Burgesses, and Ministers, here occasionally met, with whom we joy­ned in the foresaid Petition. And not content to withdraw them­selves from being involved with us, the Petition doth also insinuate, that in their opinion we are involved in the breach of dutie and al­legeance to the Kings Majestie; and not we onely, but the Commis­sioners for conserving the Peace, who did hearken and assent to our Petition, and did seriously recommend to the Lords of His Maje­sties Privie Councell, that part of the Petition which did concerne their Lordships clearing of their meaning in the publication of His Majesties Letter, by their causing print the Declaration of the Par­liament of England. The Lords of Councell are likewise involved in the same breach of allegeance, by reason of their grant of our de­sire in causing print the Declaration of both Houses of Parliament, upon the warrant of another Letter from His Majestie, and there­with declaring, that their Lordships publication of any Paper, doth not import their approbation of the contents thereof.

IV The Petition above-mentioned doth import no small prejudice to the happie Union and late Treaty of Peace betwixt the King­doms, insinuating to the Lords of His Majesties Privie Councell, that their Lordships in answering our Petition concerning the clear­ing of their meaning in the publication of His Majesties Letter, [Page 8]might do no act which might give His Majestie occasion to repent him of that trust for aid and assistance, which He was pleased to de­clare in his Letter December 5. that he reposeth in us His Subjects of this His ancient and native Kingdom; whereby the Petitioners do in [...]mate their desires, that the Lords of Councell might not de­clare that for which we did supplicate, but to declare by their not printing the Declaration of the Parliament, that their Lordships publication of His Majesties Letter did import their approbation of the contents thereof, and so acknowledge their willingnesse to take Arms against the Parliament of England, upon the grounds con­tained in that Letter, when His Majesty shall require them so to do. And for their own part they declare, that they think themselves ob­liged in every cause which may concern His Majesties honour to concurre with their friends and followers in quiet manner, or in Arms, as they shall be required of His Majestie, his Councell, or any having his authoritie. Which if understood and applyed aright, no loyall Subject can de­nie, but it is meant and expressed in their Petition, as in opposition to our Petition▪ So in contemplation of the Differences betwixt His Majestie, and the Parliament of England, unto which their words relate. For they professe to represent such particulars as they are con­fident will much conduce to the removing of all the mistakes be­twixt His Majestie, and the Parliament: of which particulars, that is the first, That according to His Majesties trust expressed in His Let­ter December 5. the Subjects of this Kingdom declare themselves willing and ready to take Arms in every cause which may concerne His Majesties honour, being required by His Majestie, or any ha­ving His Authoritie. And is not this to make void the Treaty, rati­fied by the publick Faith of this Kingdom, and Act of Parliament, discharging all taking up of Arms against the Kingdom or Subjects of England, upon any pretence whatsoever, without consent of Par­liament, declaring the breach of Peace; and that after three moneths warning? Which treaty the Estates of Parliament did sweare to ob­serve inviolably, in the same very oath in which they did swear al­legeance to the Kings Majestie; thereby declaring, that the obser­vation of the conclusions of the treaty may well consist with our du­ty and allegeance to our Soveraigne, whereas the Petition doth in­directly put some aspersion of Laesmajestie upon the Parliament for confirming and swearing to observe the Articles of the Treatie, [Page 9]which in the opinion of the Petitioners are consistent with our oath of allegeance. If they say that their Petition did onely insinuate that we may not take Arms to assist the Parliament against the King, they put upon it a sense which it cannot be ar, both because they knew that the supplication of the Noblemen, Barons, & others assisted by us, did not directly nor indirectly contain any such thing, And because His Majesties trust expressed in that Letter (which they desire His Majestie may not have occasion from us to repent) is not onely a negative trust, that we will not take arms against him, but a positive trust and confidence, that we will be readie to assist him. And finally, because the clause of the Supplication of the Gene­rall Assembly which they mention as containing our obligation to our Soveraigne, and that in reference to the present distractions in England, is positive, and not negative.

V Lastly, the Petitioners for their own private ends doe very much wrest and mis-apply our Nationall Covenant, about which the whole Nation, and all the Members of the Kirk of Scotland have as great iea­son, as by the mind of man can be conceived, to be most tender and cau­telous; and which every one amongst us, according to his place and calling, is obliged to vindicate from every violation; and namely, from sinister glosses, and false interpretations, which may be the fountaine and cause (the Covenant being one principall rule of our actions and undertakings) of many scruples, transgressions, and disturbances. Wee acknowledge before God, and professe before the World, that by our Covenant we are bound to the utmost of our power, with our meanes and lives, to stand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne the Kings Ma­jestie, his Person and Authoritie, in the defence and preservation of the true Religion, Lawes and Liberties of this Kirk and Kingdome; like­wise in every cause which may concerne his Majesties honour, accord­ing to the Lawes of this Kingdome, and the duty of good Subjects, to concurre with our friends and followers in quiet manner, and in arms, as we shall be required of His Majestie, his Councell, or any having his authoritie. We know, that he who wilfully transgresseth one Article of the Covenant, it being copulative, is by interpretation guiltie of all. And therefore under the greatest paines expressed in the Covenant, we resolve for our selves, all the dayes of our lives, and doe exhort, all o­thers to that duty which they have sworne and subscribed to performe to the Kings Majestie: But we desire to know of the Petitioners, who [Page 10]are so ready at this time to make their own conclusions out of the Co­venant, which was never intended by it, nor thought upon at the first or last time at the swearing and subscribing thereof, how it commeth to passe that they never took the Covenant in their mouth, but in this one Article? Are they not bound by their Covenant, and the same clause of the supplication, cited by them, to their mutuall concurrence and assistance for the cause of Religion? and to stand, with their means and lives, to the defence thereof, in the doctrine and discipline of the Kirk of Scotland? and to live godly, soberly, and righteously in this present world? True Conscience of duty and sincerity in keeping the Cove­nant, will make the obedience universall. Secondly, seeing the Petitio­ners would onely have unitie in Religion, and uniformitie in Kirk-Go­vernment advanced by Christian wishes and faire meanes, and yet insi­nuateth their offer by armes to decide the municipall debates of Eng­land, anent Civill matters, while the Civill and Ecclesiastick Judicato­ries, and the rest of this Kirk and Kingdome are desiring an Assembly, and a Parliament, to consider their interest and duty, and to contribute their best endeavours (in what is above the power of their Commissio­ners) to further this unitie of Religion, and remove these distractions in England, we aske, whether they presume that they alone keepe the Covenant, and would render unto Christ which is Christs, and unto Caesar which is Caesars, and that all others are Covenant-breakers? Thirdly, doe they not know that the Covenant was subscribed in the years, 1581. and 1591. before King James was King of England? and that in the particular Heads and Articles, it is qualified by expresse limitations and restrictions to this Kirk and Kingdome, to the Religion, Lawes and Liberties of Scotland? therefore can no more be extended to municipall debates, and to the Lawes and Liberties of England, unto which we are strangers, then the Kingdome of England can judge of our Lawes, and determine our differences, the two Kingdomes being still independent, and not subordinate one to another, but parallell, which is more at large expressed in the beginning of the treaty of Peace: Nor is the sending of our Forces into Ireland a necessary duty of our Cove­nant, but a voluntary testimony of our high respects to our King, and of our brotherly kindnesse to the Kingdome of England, as was expres­sed by the Estates in the last Parliament. Fourthly, doe not the Petitio­ners observe the limitations expresly contained in the words cited by themselves, according to the Lawes of this Kingdome, and duty of good Sub­jects? [Page 11]which some of them may remember was interpreted in the As­sembly, as if it had been said within this Kingdome; nor was there ever any law of this Kingdom of further extent: A law and Treaty there is, we know, sorbidding it. Fifty, may they not learne from the printed Letter, that the Kings Majestie expresseth not his confidence of assistance from Scotland, upon any ground or article of the Covenant, which his Majestie knoweth to be so obligatory among us, but from the obedi­ence, duty and affection of His Subjects of Scotland, without any men­tion of our Covenant? But such is the supererogation of some of the Petitioners above what His Majestie requires, that they will put a tye of the Covenant upon us, where GOD and the King hath lest us free. Thus have we related the interpretation of the Covenant made by the Assembly, and vindicate that clause of the Covenant, which is so farre perverted by this Petition.

The Petitioners hearing that their Petition had given offence to the Commissioners of the Assembly, and that we were about the ex­amination and censuring thereof, did direct foure of their number with another Petition to give satisfaction to the exceptions that might be taken against them, as is contained in their Remonstrance which they exhibite for that end: But when in a calme and quiet conference, al the particular reasons above-written, were represented unto them, and all meanes used to move them to part from their Petition, they could not be induced, neither in the name of others that had sent them, nor for themselves, to acknowledge the smallest errour either in the matter of their Petition, or in the manner of their petitioning; only they made offor to joyne with us the Com­missioners of the Assembly in a new Petition for Unitie of Religi­on, and gave such glosses and interpretations upon the clauses of their Petition, which were most excepted against, as could neither con­sist with the words nor scope of the contrivers and authors. And therefore being desired and carnestly dealt with, they not only re­fused to declare under their hands that no other thing was meant in the Petition, then they had by word expressed, but also did shun to allow or permit us, the Commissioners of the Assembly, to declare so much in their names, as was contained in their own verball ex­pressions, intending that the Petition should go through this and the neighbouring Kingdomes for the ends for which it was devised, and especially into England, for frustrating all that hath been done, [Page 12]or is now in doing by this Kirk and Kingdome, out of their pious intention, and by their publick endeavours for Unitie of Religion, and the Peace of the two Kingdomes: And in the mean time that nothing should be extant from them or their confessions and inter­pretations in the contrary.

In this case we Judge it necessary, and find it incumbent to us to emit this Declaration, for vindicating our present and by-past pro­ceedings: For our silence and connivence were a breach of our du­ty to GOD, a neglect of the charge and trust committed unto us by the Generall Assembly, an occasion as well of divisions at home, as of jealousies and mis-understandings betwixt the Kingdomes, a con­firmation of Petitioners in their errour, and an indirect approbati­on of their Petition; as likewise a cause of stumbling and doubting to others who shall read or heare of such a Petition, especially to those, who through want of discerning, are not able to prove things that are different, might be easily deceived by their pretexts and sophistications. We are not ignorant that this Petition doth ve­ry much reflect upon the Parliament, Privy Councell, and the Conservators of Peace; but this we leave to the wise considera­tion of these civill Judicatories, as they shall finde themselves con­cerned: We have contained our selves within our proper Spheare, not daring to neglect our own duty, while wee forbeare to meddle with that which pertaines to others.

The Petitioners are not all of one kinde and disposition of heart, but are unequally voked against the Worke of God. Some of them are knowne, and some of them have been conceived to bee Maglig­nants and Incendiares from the beginning: but God forbid that they should now by opposing untie in Religion and Peace, prove ene­mies to all Religion and Righteousnesse; for then will it bee both thought and spoken, that all this time past they have been lying in wait for the season, when their malignancie might appear; and it will be observed, that they who were of late at distance amongst themselves, are now at agreement; and that like Samsons soxe, they turne taile to taille with fire-brands in the midst, to burne up the husbandrie of GOD, when now the fields are white for the har­vest. It cannot be the cause of God which is not either secretly or openly opposed by men of perverse minds; nor can blinded minds and hardned hearts till God touch them by his power, choose but [Page 13]secretly or openly oppose the truth and cause of God. And there­fore it is very necessary that such men take heed unto themselves, least by their fulnesse of all subtletie and mischiefe, and their not cea­sing to pervert the right wayes of the Lord, they bee found to bee fighting against God which will prove bitternesse in the end: Others there be who have joyned in this Petition (to judge charitably) not from opposition to the unitie of Religion, they having done and suffered so much, and hazarded all for the Reformation of Religion at home, but partly out of unwillingnesse to refuse or displease their friends to whom they are obliged by naturall or other particular bands and partly by reason of the specious pretences in the Petition, not considering the bad intentions of the contrivers, or the dange­rous importance and consequence of the Petition it selfe: Let such men, to whom the Commissioners of the Assembly wish all true happinesse, seriously thinke as well upon the condition of the worke, and the quallitie of the company with whom they joyne, as upon their owne intentions, least they wrong both themselves, and the cause of God, contrary to their desires, and more then they are aware of; and let them remember how dangerous it is to walke in the counsell of the ungodly, for their soules to come into their secret, and their glory to be joynd with that Assembly If counsell be like the principall agent, consent is like the instrument; and to be instruments of, or accessorie unto the hindrance of the intended, and so much desired unitie of Religion, which maketh so fair a way for the Kingdome of Christ through the earth, how great a sin is it? and how great a sorrow shall it be?

All this we have thought good to expresse concerning that divisive Petition, and those who are joyned together in it, be­ing cast in our way as a stumbling block and rock of offence, for hinderance of the work of God, both at home and abroad. And as Wee exhort and warne all the people of God in this Land to observe them who cause divisions and offences, and to avoid them; So we hope assuredly, that no such courses, nor counsels shall prosper, as do tend directly or indirectly, to the stopping of the course of the Gospell, or to the sup­pression of Religion and Reformation, and that God Almigh­ty [Page 14]shall against al impediments carry forward this his blessed and glorious Work, to the glory of his great Name, to the ad­vancement of the Kingdom of his Son Jesus Christ, to the de­struction of Antichrist, to the firme Peace and happy Union of all His Majesties Dominions in Religion, and to His Maje­sties Honour and Happinesse: Whom GOD preserve to raign long and prosperously over us.