WHen we consider the usuall way of Gods wise dispensation toward his people, in exercising them with one trouble after another, and call to minde the inveterate malice of Sa­tan and his instruments, and their incessant practises to pervert the straight wayes of the Lord; We do not think it strange, while we are still wrestling with former difficulties, and under hope of prevailing by the mighty help of Gods right hand, that we are infested with new assaults, from which he who hath delivered us from so great troubles, and doth deliver us, in him we trust that he will deliver us: Yet perceiving by a Paper come to our hands, carrying the Title of An humble Remonstrance, &c. the indeavours of some to deceive the simple, [Page 4] and to insinuate wicked counsels and courses under the cover of specious pretences, We judge our selves oblieged, out of conscience of the trust committed unto us, according to the constant and commendable practise of the Commissioners of the Generall As­sembly in the like exigences, To unmask the face of disguised impiety, to discover the mysterie of Iniqui­tie, and to bring to light the hidden things of dishonesty, that they who through ignorance or inadvertencie have been drawn away into the errour of the wicked, may be reduced, the simple preserved from seducti­on, the weak strengthened, the strong confirmed, and the wicked, if possible, made ashamed of their wayes.

It is ordinary in the Title of Remonstrances, to designe the persons to whom they are directed, but this doth altogether abstain from all designation of that kind, though the Remonstrants knew that there were Judicatories both Civil and Ecclesiasticall ap­pointed by Parliament and Generall Assemblie, to whose consideration belonged matters of such pub­like concernment for Kirk and State; whereby they evidence their neglect and contempt of these, and their warinesse to offend them who are in open Re­bellion, unto whom it is likely they labour to apply themselves; since there is nothing in the whole Paper excluding them, but by the contrary clear insinuati­ons of their desire and designe to have them parta­kers of the publike Peace.

The flourish of the fair description they arrogate to themselves, as being such who wish Religion to flou­rish, &c. is not sufficient to free them from the socie­ty [Page 5] of those who by their barbarous and bloody cour­ses have bin subverting Religion, & the Kings lawful authority, destroying the Subjects and their lawfull Liberties, and fomenting the unhappy differences between the King and his people; for James Grahame himself is a pretender to all these as well as they: And we know that some, who are prime Leaders in the businesse, had not onely their hand at that Band which did make the first breach upon the Unity made by our Nationall Covenant, and was condem­ned as unlawfull by the Generall Assembly holden at Edinburgh 1641. Sess. 17. But also after the for­feiture and Excommunication of the before-named Traitour, did in the yeer 1645 subscribe a Band of Union with him and others, as his Majesties faithfull Subjects, without mention of, or relation to any of the Covenants, whether Nationall, or of the three Kingdomes; wherein the power and Commission granted to the said James Grahame, there designed James Marquesse of Montrose, his Majesties Lieute­nant-Generall, is acknowledged and approven; and the publike resolutions of Kirk and Kingdome are blasphemed, as the horrid courses of a Rebellious fa­ction raging within this Kingdome, as most wicked and Traiterous, unjust and unnaturall, and as of a per­verse faction of desperate Rebels, in fury against the King; Oblieging themselves to use all their best and most vigorous opposition against the Actors and In­struments thereof, as of abominable and monstrous crimes, and mutually to assist one another, as they shall be desired, or the occasion require. Which are enough to render their by-wayes hatefull to the [Page 6] well-affected, though they be strawed with the pre­tences of Pietie and publike good.

Because the Nationall Assembly hath found and declared, that the Band forementioned, and all Bands of that and the like nature, may not lawfully be made: And the Estates of Parliament Parl. 3. of King Charles, Act 4. findes that persons guilty of taking up Armes against the Kingdome and Estates of the Countrey, are punishable by forfeiture of Life, lands, goods, or any other censure the Parliament shall please to inflict. These Remonstrants, lest people should be scarred from accession to their combina­tion, by the authority of Parliament and Generall Assembly, have laboured to cover the nature of this Paper, under the name of An humble Remonstrance; which nevertheles is so transparent, that every ordi­nary eye may see it in the end, a Band oblieging them each to others, and that by an Oath, To hazard Lives and Fortunes against all deadly for performing all the contents; whereby the Subscribers thereof become lyable to the censures and punishments which the Kirk and State may inflict upon them for unlawfull Banding and raising Arms against the Kingdom.

Although they mention the Nationall Covenant, and declare their resolution of paying the debt they owe to the individuals (which we conceive to be the par­ticulars, or severall Articles) therein contained; yet we cannot but affirme, that their charity is too too common who beleeve at all their deceitfull profes­sion, since the whole strain of their Remonstrance is an evident Demonstration of their monstrous defection. For, 1. Their altering of the words of the Cove­nant, [Page 7] argues their purpose to swerve from the true meaning of it. The Covenant bindes to the defence of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Kirk; they say they purpose to do what may most tend for the propaga­tion of the Protestant Religion in purity, a phrase used in the Kings Declarations, wherein he professeth the maintenance of Episcopacie: The Covenant speaks of the defence of the Kings Majesties person and au­thority, in the defence and preservation of the true Religion, Liberties, and Lawes of this Kingdome; they, of the defence of the Kings Majesties just Right and Property, and that simply and absolutely, without any such relation to Religion, Liberties, & Laws; The Covenant, of the Laws and Liberties of the King­dome; they, of the lawfull proper Freedoms and Li­berties of the Subjects. 2. Among other Individuals of the Covenant, this is one, That neither directly nor indirectly shall we suffer our selves to be divided or withdrawn, by whatsoever suggestion, combina­tion, allurement, or terrour, from that blessed and loyall conjunction: But they have directly divided and withdrawn themselves from that blessed and loyall conjunction, wherein the Kirk and Kingdom continue constant, by a cleer combination in writ un­der their hands. 3. Another particular in the Cove­nant is, 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 [...]o good ends: But they obliege themselves to hinder resolutions found by common consent of the Estates of Parliament, to conduce for the ends mentioned in the Covenant, such as the keeping on foot Armies [Page 8] at home and abroad, and all means for their necessary maintenance.

The solemne League and Covenant, unanimously approven by the Generall Assemblies of this Kirk, ratified by the authoritie of the Parliament of this Kingdome, and universally sworn and subscribed through the Kirks of this Kingdome, is not so much as once remembred in this Remonstrance; yea clear­ly enough to a perceiving beholder, though warily and closely they exclude the same, while they call the Nationall Covenant Approven, as if the other were not approven, and while they deny a desire of dissolving the link of fraternitie betwixt us and our Brethren of England, insinuating their disavowing of a League and Covenant of fraternitie; Otherwise they would not have shunned the mention of the League and Covenant, when they had so fair an oc­casion offered of expressing their approbation there­of, as a tye of our unitie with our Brethren in Eng­land: So that the subscription of this Band brings with it a fearfull breach of the League and Cove­nant.

Unitie and Uniformitie in Religion and Kirk go­vernment, so much pressed by our Commissioners, as a speciall means for conserving the Peace betwixt the two Kingdomes, upon the grounds and reasons contained in their Paper of the 10. of March 1641. and given in to the Treatie and Parliament of Eng­land; so much promoved by the continued labours of the following Generall Assemblies, and their Commissioners from time to time, both at home, and at London; to the endeavouring whereof we are [Page 9] so strongly engaged by the League and Covenant of the Kingdome, and which is so far advanced in the Directory for Worship, agreed upon by the As­semblies, and ratified by the Parliaments in both Kingdomes, is utterly neglected, and not so much as mentioned in this seditious Band.

What is here offered by them to the view of the world, if it be looked upon with the eye of any, but such as have given themselves to a detestable indif­ferencie & neutralitie in this cause, wherein the Kirk and Kingdom are engaged, shall be found fraughted with the Characters, set down in the solemne and seasonable Warning of the Generall Assembly, holden at Edinburgh 1645. whereby secret Malig­nants and dis-covenanters may be known, such are, Their slighting and censuring of the Publick Reso­lutions of this Kirk and State Art. 3. and 4. Their la­bouring to raise jealousies and divisions, to retard or hinder the execution of what is ordered by publick Judicatories, Art. 5. Their censuring and slandering these whom GOD hath honoured as his chief In­struments in this Work, Art. 2. and 3. Their draw­ing of Parties and Factions, to the weakning of the Common Union in their conclusion; Their endea­vours, Informations, and Solicitations, tending to weaken the hearts and hands of others, and to make them with-hold their assistance from this Work, which is the very scope of their 6. Article.

The Article of Inviting the Kings Majestie into this his Native Kingdom, though it seem plausible a [...] the first hearing, and for that cause first placed: Yet let it be pondered by second thoughts (which [Page 10] are the wisest) in the scales of reason, and the preju­dice thereof shall clearly appear. For 1. he who considereth that much innocent blood of his Maje­sties good Subjects hath been shed by his Majesties Commands and Commissions, Irish Rebels have been brought over into both Kingdomes, and en­deavours to bring over more; as also Forces from forreigne parts; That his Majesty is in open hostili­ty against the Parliament of England, Forces on foot by his Majesties Commission, against the King­dome of Scotland, under the leading of that accursed and forfaulted Traitour, and the Warre in Ireland fomented and prolonged by his Majesty; whereby the three Kingdomes are brought neer to utter ruine and destruction, Shall perceive, that untill satisfa­ction and securitie be first given to both Kingdoms, his Majesties coming hither cannot be convenient, nor called for. Upon which ground, the Parliament of England, and the Commissioners of the Parlia­ment of Scotland, in their Letter to his Majesty; Ja­nuary 13. 1646. refuse the personall Treaty desi­red by his Majesty, and declare, That Propositions from both Kingdomes are to be sent to his Majesty, which they conceive (far otherwayes, and upon su­rer ground then these Banders do) to be the onely way for attaining a happy and wel-grounded Peace. 2. Such an invitation for making Peace, may not proceed from this Kingdome, without the advice and consent of our neighbour Kingdom, with which we are entred in League and Covenant (far lesse from a few private persons, banded in this Remon­strance) unlesse we will directly break the 8. Article [Page 11] of the Treaty, ratified in the 3. Parl. of King Charles, Act 5. wherein it is agreed and concluded, That no cessation, nor pacification, or agreement for Peace whatsomever, shall be made by either Kingdome, or the Armies of either Kingdomes, without the mu­tuall advice and consent of both Kingdomes, or their Committees in that behalf appointed, who are to have full power for the same, in case the Parliament or Convention of the Estates of Scotland, or the Hou­ses of Parliament of England shall not sit. 3. This In­vitation and incoming of the Kings Majesty, while he is still in terms of Hostility against his Parliament of England, is so far from setling a solid Peace (as they confidently conceive) that it will undoubtedly pro­long these unnaturall Warres, and draw upon this Land the heaviest weight, and deepest dint of them.

These Judicatories, the re-establishment whereof is desired by their third Article, have neither been al­together silent, For some of them have sit and kept their diets of meeting; Neither yet have bin si­lenced by men (as they do insinuate) but have been necessarily interrupted through the Invasion of the barbarous Irishes, and Insurrection of dis-natured Countrymen, and through the spreading and raging of the fearful Plague of Pestilence, and now by ordi­nance of Parliament they are to meet again at the ordinary times, if the like causes do not necessitate an unexpected vacation. In the mean time it is to be remembred, that Judicatories authorised by Parlia­ment with such power as the condition of affairs, & the necessity of these present times required, were [Page 12] not silent, though some of these Remonstrants would not hearken to them; Or else they had been more active against the publike Enemies, which had made a fairer way for opening the Ordinary Judica­tories, than the strengthening of the bloodie hands of the Rebels unto the works of violence, by con­triving a Band.

The danger of weakning the Kingdome, and ren­dring it a prey to forraigners represented in the third Article, is increased by this course which they have taken; The Kingdome being thereby made the more unable, not onely to resist forraigne Invasion, but also to suppresse the Intestine Rebellion, while it doth not onely want their assistance, but findeth their resistance. The best way of strengthening and securing the Kingdome, is, To joyne unanimously and actively, in pursuit of the Rebels within the same, whose garments have been dyed in the blood of the People of GOD; To entertain a firm Peace and Union between the two Kingdomes, for prose­cuting the ends of our League and Covenant; But above all, To turn every man from his evill wayes, and to return unto him that hath smitten us, who can heale us, and humble our Adversaries, and turn his hand against our Enemies: Our help is in the Name of the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, With whom it is nothing to help with many, or with them that have no power; through him we shall do valiantly, and he shall tread down our enemies: Which are the precious words of GOD, and not the specious phrases of men.

The fourth Article. 1. Laboureth by reproach­full [Page 13] expressions, To make odious unto the people the best wayes and means that the Estates of Parliament and Committees thereof could think upon, for the necessary maintenance of Warre against the wicked Rebels; Whereby they cast in a let and impediment to hinder publike Resolutions (though some of these have of all others least cause to complaine) and dis­claime the necessity of maintaining an Army against James Grahame, which will affoord him and his com­plices leave to gather strength; For the Enemy can­not be suppressed without a competent number of Forces, and Forces cannot be kept together without maintenance, and maintenance cannot be had with­out such publike burdens. 2. Mentioneth the exact­ing of great Fines and Intromissions with mens For­tunes and Rents, whereby they evidence their favour to, and indeavour to conciliat the favour and follow­ing of such as have been so dealt with by the Estates, for being accessory, lesse or more, unto the unnaturall and bloody Rebellion: And, 3. Maketh a lie a­gainst the Estates, as if they had received great sums of money from other Kingdoms or Common­wealths than England.

If these who have been most active in this Com­bination had been present in Parliament, they would have been witnesses of the care taken by the Estates to give full satisfaction to every one who desired to be informed of the publike expences & disbursments, by appointing a particular Committee for examina­tion of the publike Compts, and thereafter causing keep the Book of Accounts in a publike Chamber, with intimation of free accesse to all that pleased: [Page 14] But they are willingly if not wilfully ignorant, and bewray their disaffection, by apprehending all pro­bable appearance to raise and foment Jealousies be­tween the Parliament and the Countrey and Soul­diers, which is the drift of the 5. Article.

The large laying forth of the distressed condition of this Kingdome, insisted upon in the 6. Article, aimes at the discouraging and weakning of the hearts and hands of the well-affected, and tends to perswade the disbanding our Forces imployed against the Re­bels, which exposeth what is reserved from the fury of the Enemy, to be preyed upon by them without opposition: But if they, as becomes Covenanters and Countreymen, had considered that the most of those calamities have been caused by the cruelty of the Irish crew, and the rest of that Traiterous Company, and by the lukewarmnesse, temporizing, and double dealing of hollow-hearted men, they would have re­solved against all difficulties to cleave unto the King­dom, in the pursuit and suppressing of these children of Belial, as a compendious way to the removall of distresses. Shall they have Lives and Fortunes to hazard against all deadly, for rescuing these Rebells from their deserved punishment? And is there no­thing left unto the Kingdome to hazard for its own defence, and bringing Malignants unto their due cen­sure, according to our League and Covenant? And if the condition of our affaires crave assistance from our Brethren in England, we are confident they will be mindful of our mutuall ingagements, though these Banders like bad husband-men, labour to sow the seeds of Jealousies amongst us.

In the 7. they covertly calumniate the prime managers of affairs, as men indisposed to Peace, who have abundantly evidenced their earnest desire of Peace, by Supplications, Remonstrances, Declarati­ons, Treaties for Peace, Propositions of Peace. And we further declare and professe, in the sight of him who searcheth the heart, That nothing is more in the desire of us all, then that Reformed Religion may be enjoyed, with a happy and well-grounded Peace, through all his Majesties Dominions: And from the beginning of these troubles, we have been cloathed with, and yet will not put off a resolution to use (as we have been ever using) all possible and lawfull means to procure the same. And for this effect we beseech all men, who love the Cause of God, and their Countreys good, to divest themselves of pri­vate quarrels and particular interests, that with the greater unanimitie and hope of successe, they may pursue the troublers of our Peace. But we do inge­nuously acknowledge, That our souls abhor to enter into the secret, and our glory to be joyned with the assembly of them who sue for such a Peace as com­prehends the prime authors of all our troubles, and would suffer these who have shed the blood of War in Peace to go in peace into the grave.

As in the entry, so toward the end, that the hook of the Band may the better take with well-meaning men, they busk it with great variety of fair colours; and like the harlot, they deck the bed with coverings of tapistry, carved works, and fine linnen; they per­fume it with myrrhe and cynamon, and with impu­dent face, they speak of Peace-offerings and paying [Page 16] their Vows; that with much fair speech they may cause the simple ones to yeeld, and with the flatte­rings of their lips, force them: But he that hath un­derstanding will discern that this their Profession is contrary to their intent formerly discovered, will learn not to be credulous unto them, who speak lies in hypocrisie, and not suffer his heart to decline to their wayes, and go astray in their paths which go down to the chambers of death; The repetition of their intention here, giveth them not one grain weight of truth and realitie more than they had be­fore.

These Banders are not all of the same kind and disposition of heart: Some of them have joyned in actuall and open Rebellion, and embrued their hands in the blood of their Countreymen: These if they had truely forsaken that unhappy conjunction, would have ere now, or will now at length forsaking this combination apply themselves to Kirk and State for reconciliation; which if they do not spee­dily go about, they manifest to the world, that they still persist in their former Rebellion, and prosecute the same wicked practices. Some there be, who have by some acts, and by some omissions of action when opportunitie was offered, brought themselves under the suspition of Malignancie: And these if they continue in this b [...]nded course make it evident, that they have been lying in wait for the season when they might vent their malignant designes, and do involve themselves under the displeasure of God, and censures of the Kirk. Others there are, who have joyned in this Remonstrance (to judge charitably) [Page 17] not out of a minde to oppose the Cause of GOD, having done and suffered so much, and hazarded all for the same: But partly out of their respect to their friends, to whom they have naturall and particular tyes; partly pressed with the apprehension of some present perill, or greater evill conceived to ensue up­on refusall; and partly deceived by the specious pretences in the Remonstrance, not considering the bad intentions of the Contrivers, nor the dangerous importance and consequence of it in it self. These, we expect, when they consider the condition of the Work (laid forth before them in this our Declara­tion) and the quality of the Company with whom they joyne, lest they wrong themselves and the Work of GOD, contrary to their desires, and more than they are aware of, will without longer deliberation or delay, renounce that banding Re­monstrance, and with all convenient diligence, ac­quaint the Kirk and State with their sense of that escape, and with their resolution not to suffer them­selves hereafter to be divided or with-drawn, by whatsomever suggestion, combination, perswasion, or terrour, from the Nationall Covenant, and from the solemne League and Covenant of the three Kingdomes; Which will bring peace to their own mindes, and joy to the hearts of the Godly, and re­store them to the place which they have had in the esteem of all that love the welfare of Zion.

Having thus declared our thoughts concerning that divisive Band, and these who are joyned toge­ther in it, We exhort and warn all the people of God [Page 18] in this Land, and these especially who have it in Commission to reveal his arm to this generation, To observe them who cause divisions and offences, and to avoid them; To keep themselves free from appro­ving of, or adhering to this Remonstrance, the wic­kednesse whereof is now so plainely pointed forth; and as one man, with one minde, according to both our Covenants, unto the utmost of their power to oppose the spreading of it, and the endeavours of such as pertinaciously persist therein. Let us all follow on to seek the Lord, and let the Watch­men of Israel rouze up themselves and others, and strive to get their own, and their Peoples hearts deeply affected under the feeling of the great burden both of the Sins of the Land, and of the wrath upon it. Let every one turne from the evill of his wayes, and crying mightily to GOD, give him no rest, till he repent of the evill, smell a savour of rest, and say, It is enough. And we are confident in him, who hath done all our Works for us, That no such courses or counsell shall prosper, as tend directly or indirectly to the breach of both, or either Covenants, to the stopping of the course of the Gospell, to the strengthening of the hands of the Wicked, or to the suppression of Religion and Reformation; And that GOD all-sufficient, against all impe­diments, shall carry forward and perfect the blessed and glorious Work which he hath be­gun, to the glory of his great Name, to the ad­vancement of the Kingdome of his Son JESUS [Page 19] CHRIST, to the destruction of Antichrist, to the confusion of all desperate and irrecoverable Malignants, and to the firme Peace and happy Union in Religion of all the Dominions of his Majesty; For whom wee shall still continue our Prayers, That GOD would graciously incline his heart to the counsels of Truth and Peace, that we may live under him a peace­able and quiet life, in all god­linesse and honestie.