[1] IF the eminencie of the danger and the neces­sitie of the dutie did not constrain us, wee had rather chose to bee silent then to emit anie publick warning to the land within so few daies of the meeting of the General Assemblie; but wee should not onely run the hazard of just blame from them, but also bee conscious to guiltiness in our selvs, if wee did not in a time of so great streight, give warning to the Lords people both of their danger, and of their dude.

[1] If you had well considered your danger, before it was imminent, and how necessarie it was for you to have prevented it, by an ingenuous acknowledgment of your National guilt and just demerit, by your perfidious and unprovoked Invasion of England, against all the Treaties which were then in force, but thereby dissolved; and by a just satisfaction for the spoils and devastations your own Armie made where it came, un­til it was destroyed; and for the charge this Nation was at [Page 2]by occasion of it. You might perhaps have now been silent, and wee at quiet. How just our War against you is, and how clearly wee are necessitated to it, the Parlament hath sufficient­ly evidenced in their Declaration. And though wee cannot exspect you should acknowledg it (it beeing not usual with you to speak truth to your own disadvantage) yet the evi­dence is such as must needs convince you, as wee are confi­dent it will satisfie all others. And if the conscientiousness you speak of bee a tenderness resulting from a cleer and pure light not tinctured with the dye and mixture of an Interest work­ing a prejudice, it might have put your reflections upon an other guilt, and you might have thought your selvs wor­thie of blame, that you had not given warning to your Par­lament and People, of somthing els to bee don besides your condemning men to the stool of hypocrisie, that might have gi­ven the Common-wealth of England a better satisfaction, and fuller reparation for and of the effects of your perfidie, then that was like to do; and might have proved a more ef­fectual means to have prevented that danger which your own injustice and wickedness have involved you in.

[2] The insolent and strange actings of that prevailing partie of Sectaries in England these yeers past, Warning. in reference to Religion and Government, are so well known, and have been so often and fully laid open in the former Warnings, Remonstrances, and Declarati­ons of this Kirk, that wee need not now take up much time in repre­senting the same. Albeit the Reformation of the Church of Eng­land, and the advancing of the work of uniformitie there, in Do­ctrine, Worship, Discipline and Government, was the great dutie that the Lord called that Land unto, and which all the people of God in these three Kingdoms did ingage themselvs in Covenant to endea­vor to the utmost of their power; yet doth that work so much desi­red and longed for by all the lovers of Sion in these Nations, and all that concern's Religion, lie in the dust altogether forgotten and despi­sed by those men; and in stead of the beautie and order that should bee in the hous of God, a vast toleration of manie gross errors is al­lowed, whereby so manie and so monstrous blasphemies and strange opi­nions in Religion have been broached and are vented in England, [Page 3] as the like hath not been heard of almost in anie generation: And though Monarchie and the power of Parlaments was the ancient and long continued Government of that Kingdom; yet have those men u­surped above the Parlament, whose servants they were; and by open violence driven away manie, and imprisoned som of the Members thereof, and have not onely taken away the Hous of Lords, and de­stroyed the late King, but also subverted Monarchie it self, and turn­ed the Foundations upside down, and labor to wreath the yoke of their oppression upon the necks of our brethren in England, not onely in regard of that which concern's their bodies and estates, but also in regard of that which concern's their souls and consciences, whereof that Ingagement that is now pressed in England is a pre­sent and publick testimonie, being a sore bondage under which manie in that land now groan; whose case and sufferings for the work of God, wee desire not onely to remember daily before the Lord in our praiers and supplications, but in everie thing to regard it as if it were our own: being confident that such as love the truth, and cleav to the Covenant in these Lands, shall obtein mercie of God to bee faithfull in the midst of temptations, and that the Lord will not suf­fer them to bee tempted above that they are able to bear, but will give unto them the issue with the temptation.

[2] The wonderful and even miraculous goings forth of the most wise and merciful providence of our good God towards us in England, Answer. for these divers years past, in this great work of delivering us from Tyrannie, and setling us in a just Libertie, notwithstanding all those strong fetters in which wee were imprisoned under it, have been evidently written with the verie beams of the sun, and exposed to the view of the world; that there are scarce anie that have not acknowledged, it is his work. And for our parts, wee desire to observ those glorious actings of his, and with all humili­tie to rejoyce in them. God see's not as man see's, and there­fore act's not as man act's, nor rule's the determinations of his wisdom, nor the efficiencie of his power, by anie of the conceptions or apprehensions of men. That which you call The insolent and strange actings of the prevailing partie of Secta­ries &c might better perhaps bee called his work, his strange [Page 4]work: And though perhaps manie in this age, whose parti­cular concernments have been touched by this just hand of God, the flowings of whose gall, by their rebellious strug­lings under their chastizements, hath disabled their Icterical eyes to see clearly his hand, may, as you do, blaspheme that Providence, and asscribe its glorious and harmonious work­ing to the anomalous extravagancies of whom you pleas; yet when the pangs of this birth shall bee over, and the di­stempered humors com again to a just ballance, even you, as well as others, shall see that it is his doing. And after-ages will saie concerning these times, What bath God wrought? Wee cannot denie, but you have been verie frequent in your War­nings, and Remonstrances, and Declarations, which you have filled with impertinencies, calumnies, and slanders against the people of this Nation, obtruding, without blushing, obje­ctions formerly answered, to abuse the simple, and draw them into capital danger. And indeed you should have don well to have spared this time from such imploiment, and bestowed it upon that in which at present you are more con­cern'd.

And whereas you say, The reformation of the Kirk of Eng­land (wee suppose you mean it in your own sens) the work of uniformitie &c. was the great dutie that God called this Land unto &c. Wee cannot but lament to see how miserably you are enchanted, and imprisoned within your circle of forms, so as you can neither speak nor think of anie thing, but this nauseated stuff; how great is the judgment of God upon your hypocritical formalitie, that hee hath taken from you the sens of everie thing els. Can you think that Presbyteries, whether in Kirk-Sessions, Classes, or Provincial or General Assemblies, is the great Work of Reformation that God call's men to? and to the exercise of your effectless Discipline, as to all true Reformation? What is the uniformitie of Do­ctrine and Discipline you speak of? is it that conteined in your Catechism and Directorie? can you persuade us to be­liev there is such a perfection in these, as there is no possible discoverie beyond, or may none adventure to make it, unless [Page 5]you bee the Pilots? Wee like better S^t Paul's profession of his judgment and practice, hee forgat what was behinde, and pressed forward to what was before, and did not think hee had yet atteined. And upon that ground wee dare not think you have. But you quarrel the light which you cannot com­prehend; and press for an Ʋniformitie of vvhich your selvs vvill bee the Measure, and set the Rules; lest if anie should presume to knovv more, and hold it forth to the vvorld, the appearance and Coruscation of these clearer Beams should demonstrate the light that is in you to bee Comparative darkness.

Wee rather believ the great Work that God call's everie Man unto, is, to bee holie, as hee is holie, in all manner of conver­sation. And for an atteinment of it, by a full and unreser­ved self-denial, to go out of himself, and all self-value, and by a most intimate retirement into himself, and impartial search of his own heart, to take a view of his own corrupti­ons, and bee humbled at that sight, and seek for pardon in the blood of that one sacrifice of Expiation, and to bee clen­sed from filth by the sanctification of his spirit; To have no further a vvill of his own; but with an unrelucting Liques­cencie to melt it down into the vvill of God, mainteining still a filial implicit resolution to conform to all the revela­tions of that vvill: searching the Scriptures vvith praier and humilitie, for a discoverie of that will from those full and divine Treasuries, and keeping the soul ever open, and without prejudice for recieving in the divine Illuminations of the infinite Spirit to vvhatsoever measure of light, and taking heed of clouding that light by indulging of Lust; but vvith a resolved strife against all opposition walk up to that Light, in all holiness of Conversation, accord­ing to the Word of God. This vvee think to bee the dutie of a Man, and this is his happiness; And hee that thus hath, to him shall bee given, and hee shall have abundance, his ta­lents shall bee multiplied, and so shall his joie. There are dis­coveries in divine things, which the Eagles eie hath not yet made. The divine and infinite goodness, from whom are [Page 6]perpetual Emanations, hath no where limited the shinings of his glorious Light. It shine's in darkness, though the dark­ness comprehend it not. There may bee a veil upon the heart even of great Rahbies, and that in reading the Lavv. Light and Truth is received by a principle of Light from the Spirit of Truth. And vvho dare's saie hee hath clearly, and without aenigma, seen all the Treasures laid up in the Sacred Scriptures? Doth not one daie add to another in the know­ledg of particular men? doth not this daie teach us even from the Scriptures the things that yesterday wee knew not? Hee take's little notice of his own Progress, or make's but little, that dare at anie time of his life saie, hee know's all, or that som other may not communicate to him a light which hee hath not received: wee could therefore wish you would once forbear these unsavorie words of Ʋniformitie, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Governments, as beeing things not edifyng in these times, especially to men whom the gra­cious flowing out of the Spirit of Light and Holiness hath qualisied as above. If these things bee profitable in Scotland; wee envie not your enjoiments though wee wish you better. Truely wee have reason to suspect you have not the best waie of spiritual edification, your people are generously so bar­barously brutish in all moralitie, and in so unthriving a condition in spiritual things: theit leanness wherein make's it probable you feed them with shells and husks, and deceiv them with formalities and Covenants, and such outside-stuff, and endea­vor not to discover the Divine Beauties shining forth in the face of Jesus Christ, and the glorious garments which they wear, that are clothed with a Spirit of holiness, who wor­ship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in the Lord JESƲS, and have no confidence in the flesh, and who make no provision to fulfil the lusts of it. If this Beautie were discovered, it would irresistably draw a love: for faculties are ever stronglyest carried to their more excellent objects: they would then loath your Onions and Garlick after their relish of Manna in a spiritualized taste. onely the danger is, perhaps they would not so dreadfully adore you, but look at you as their deceivers, rather then [Page 7]their teachers, while you have put your own Dixi in the place of the Scriptures, or of the self-evidencing discoveries of the Spirit of God.

But you heavily complain, that these your formalities (which you say are so much desired and longed for by all the lovers of Sion) and all that concern's Religion lie's in the dust alto­gether forgotten and despised by these men. Wee know not well whom you mean by the Lovers of Sion; but it seem's by your description, they should bee som that are in love with your outside Worship: nor what you mean by that Religi­on which lie's so forgotten and in the dust. Wee desire to bless God, that through his goodness and free discoveries of him­self, there are great numbers among us that are lovers of the beautie of holiness, and by the power of that love carried out to the contemplation of that glorie of him who is glorious in holiness, shining forth in the face of Jesus Christ, so as they are transform'd into the Image of▪ it, from glorie to glorie, by the Spirit of the Lord; and by this means they give up themselvs to a willing subjection to the power of Religion and godliness; and are not indeed much taken with your forms, which, in competition with power, they think may bee little esteem'd; and do believ they are much to bee pittied, whose most spiritual contemplations have no sublimer ob­ject. Wee acknowledg with you, there should bee beautie and order in the Hous of God; and so there will bee, where none but stones elect and precious are built upon the foundati­on; and when those are formed and fitted, by that Spirit who onely hath the clear view of that Archetypal Idea, the pattern in the mount, according to which the Hous you speak of is to bee modell'd. And certainly if you had not taken a vast libertie to affirm boldly of what you know not, and to accuse upon hear-say those with whose conversation you were never acquainted, you would not thus lash out in­to these exorbitant generalities, by which you get little credit to your selvs, or to your caus, unless with those who dare not say, they believ you not, least they should incur the Churches Censure, the consequence whereof is more then [Page 8]they are willing to lose. But wee cannot let you pass thus with this calumnie; why did you not assign a catalogue of these errors, or at least som of the grossest? for your gene­rals signifie nothing; till then wee may, with much more charitie, suspect you are of those that call the good evil, and the evil good; that put light for darkness, and darkness for light. If you did believ them errors, why did you not name them? perhaps other men would not have been full of your minds; but if wee conceiv them to bee errors, wee shall confess them such, and bee verie willing to bee convinced; for wee profess Our selvs to bee lovers and followers of truth; onely wee can take nothing for such upon your word; that is onely your prerogative on the other side of Tweed, where the people be­liev you possess the infallible chair. Wee shall not impute it to the tenderness of your charitie, that you spare us the par­ticulars, while you load us with your generals, interpretable to whatever your credulous Reader pleaseth, which cannot bee small matters, when they are called gross errors, monstrous blasphemies, and strange opinions in Religion, such as hath not been heard of almost in anie generation. Wee think it strange none of them are named; certainly you might have spared a line for it, from som of your following impertinencies, if you had not thought this cours would have served your turn better. But that you may not mistake us, wee denie not there may bee, and doubtless there arc errors among us; wee are not perfectists, wee see but in part; much truth may bee be­side our observation, and beyond our measure; and what is affirmed that is not truth, is error; error being nothing els but a deviation from truth: But where is the toleration for this all this while? what mean you by the allowance of them? If you mean wee do not hang up all that do not believ as the Kirk of Scotland believ, wee confess wee do not so pra­ctise, and think wee ought not; and are content they stig­matize this for one of our errors, and let it lead the Van in the Catalogue: Wee think wee ought not to punish men, becaus they are no wiser then God hath made them, and for that they do not profess they know and believ things which [Page 9]flesh and blood cannot reveal unto them? But is this to tole­rate them? Wee profess all fit means should bee used to give them light, by holding forth the truth in love, and in evi­dence and demonstration of the Spirit, and wait with pati­ence till God shall reveal the truth to them: But wee conceiv that neither the gallows, nor the whip, nor a mulct, nor their Church-censure, are instituted Ordinances, or sanctified means for conveying and evidencing of truth, and convincing and eradicating of strange opinions. But for the blasphemies, wee know not what they mean by them; If that cursed wicked­ness of prophane swearing bee the thing they mean, wee have certainly Laws for the punishment of that, which if they were in force in Scotland, and daily executed, where Oaths and Execrations are the Schemes and Elegancies of their Idiome, it would bring a good part of the Revenues of most among them into the Exchequer of the poor mans box, who would bee better relieved by their blasphemies, then by their charities; you cannot but take notice that this wicked cu­stom is among you, and that there are verie few free; re­member what the searcher of hearts said, Thou hypocrite, first pull out the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see more clearly to full out the mote out of thy brothers eye.

But for what follow's, the Commissioners of the Kirk would bee asked, if they bee not beside their Commission? 'Tis verie much doubted whether these things bee cognosci­ble at their Tribunal, or whether they com under the po­wer of the keys. What hath the Kirk of Scotland, or the people of Scotland to do with the Civil Government of Eng­land? And certainly, as to them, this piece of their book might pass without anie further answer, but onely to unde­ceiv som among our selvs, and to discover the tendencie of this their hypocritical Paper, wherein they would espous the quarrel of all the discontents; and with their emptie blown bladders offer their assistance to buoy up everie sink­ing interest: They will bee the defenders of Monarchie, com­plain of the removal of the Hous of Lords, of the pretended injurie don to the secluded Members, take upon them to deter­mine [Page 10]what are foundations, and bewail their renversment; Tender they are also and sensible of the yoak of oppression up­on the necks of their Brethren in England, by the Engage­ment. By all this they hope to draw all these parties to join with them for recoverie of what they have been justly de­vested of, and to have a partie corresponding with their mo­tions, the better to effect their design upon us. But all these points have been so largely handled, and objections answe­red in several Tracts, that wee shall not here epitomize, or recapitulate: Onely wee must ask whether they bee fit to object these things, if they were otherwise of their cogni­zance. Wee shall ask them a few questions anent these parti­culars, and by their answers (if they will make anie) see how much of this is practised in Scotland; and whether they do not condemn in us what they allow and approve of in them­selvs: Wee shall first ask them, how much the late King was a Monarch among them after the beginning of these troubles? how far his commands had place among them? whether Par­lament and General Assemblies were not called without his Autoritie, and held without the presence of his Commis­sioner? whether this were wont to bee so with them? whe­ther this bee not an innovation? and where is their Charter of privilege, that they onely of all other Nations, when they finde it good and necessarie for them, may change their form of administration in Government? and exclude all o­thers, who have intrinsecally a power in nature, to choos and establish such a Government as they judg most condu­cing to the end of its ordination, the good of the people; and to change it in whose or in part, when it shall degene­rate, and not serv the end of its institution: or when an­other shall bee discovered that will do it better. They have don so in part, and wee have don so (as to Monarchie) in the whole. Wee are not bound to take from them the measure of our change; and wee are confident wee shall not follow their example in their returning to their vomit. And it seem's they were not so satisfied of their King, that they durst trust him without a Treatie, and a previous Agreement, limiting [Page 11]his power; but with us hee must bee absolute; a Duke of Ve­nice will serv them, but here hee must bee a grand Signior, a Sophie, or a Mogull: But wee know the meaning, good offi­ces, profuse gifts, and an accountles privie purs are fine things, not to bee had by Scots in England, and they may set their hearts at rest for having the like anie more. Wee know Kings too vvell to bee troubled vvith them any more: Wee knovv Princes are not such either conscientious or tame things, as to bee bound by Treaties, or to value any of their mis-called con­cessions longer than they serv their ovvn profit, which they al­waies contra-distinguish from that of the people. Wee vvould also ask these Commissioners of the Kirk, vvhether they have not an inspection into all their Kings actions? Whether hee bee a sheep without their fold? and without their care? If hee go astray must not hee bee brought home with a wholsome cen­sure? Whether any of his most publick actions will not com under your consideration, as they are his dutie to God, as a Christian Magistrate, of which you onely will bee the Jud­ges? And upon that ground controle, direct, and censure him? And certainly from this your paper, wee have reason to suppose these will bee your actings: for why should you bee more modest at home, then you are abroad? for with us you take upon you to determine of all things, as if you had learned from Pius Quintus to mis-applie to your selvs that Text of Jeremiah, I have set thee up over Nations, to pluck up, and to plant: But to return to such a Monarchie, as you will allow, will not serv your young Monarchs turn, and that you will finde if ever hee get quiet footing amongst you. You complain of taking away the Hous of Lords, and hope by that to engage all those to take your parts; wee conceiv most of the Lords in England (except som few that are mannaged by by your conspiring fellows, the Presbyterian Ministers) are more generous then to accept of a restitution by your means: their remembrance of the Impudence, Avarice, and Ambition of the Court-harpies, and Hors-leeches of your Nation, make them abhor the thought of any more of your companie, who are never welcom but where you are not known.

But you have som reason to bee tender for them, as beeing Martyrs for your own caus; for though that Hous was found by manie experiences to bee dangerous to the just liberties of the people, and verie often to obstruct necessarie and profitable things; yet 'tis like they might have stood longer, had they not been found to bee in your Cabal for the Invasion of England; and in order to it had cast out an Ordi­nance that was sent up by the Commons for putting things in a posture of defence; they liked it better the people should be unarmed, that you might destroy them with the more eas and safetie. And when your Armie had invaded us (according to the Covenant, no doubt) did they not deny to pass anie Votes either against you, or those among our selvs, that as Traytors did, or should adhere unto you? Was it not time to take away this Enemie of the Common-wealth out of its power to do hurt, when it was so dangerously disposed to make use of it to that end? 'Tis true, there were a verie few of their number that protested against the perfidiousness & malice of the rest; but they were able to effect nothing, and the best remedie against like evils for the future, was judged to bee its taking away. Wee must hereupon ask you one question a­bout this, Whether had you not once Lords of the Articles among you, who had a previous negative upon all things that were to bee consulted in your Parlament, without whose approbation nothing could bee brought into debate? These you judged a prejudice to your just liberties, and you re­moved them Did wee trouble our selvs to ask why you did it? You thought them dangerous to your libertie and safetie; and the Commons of England judged the Lords hous so, and so remo­ved them. Why not wee, as well as you? May wee do nothing but in the verie same kinde and degree that you act before us? How came wee into this pupillage to your prescriptions?

But why do the Scots talk so much of Hous of Lords in England, when they know they have no such thing in Scot­land? They indeed meet in the Bodies, as they call them; that is, the Noble-men by themselvs, the Commissioners of Shires by themselvs, and the Commissioners of Burghs by [Page 13]themselvs, in these they propone and debate things as well originally, as by reference; which are determined by the ma­jor part of all collectlivè and conjunctly in their Hous of Par­lament, where the Lords have no distinct conjunct negative, but are involved in, and concluded by the number of Votes of the whole: Therefore if the Lords have any advantage, 'tis by their reason in debate, to convince; not by their suffrage which is no more then any Commissioner of a Burgh; Yet, these men will bee Proctors for an Hous of Lords here; It may bee imputed to their gratitude, if you pleas (though it bee a thing they seldom use) several of that House were verie much their servants.

The next fault is, they have driven away manie, and imprisoned som of the Members of Parlament. Here indeed is the thing that grieve's you; your partie is cast out, by whom you were wont to act all your fine things amongst us; and you have no more hopes to effect any thing in Parlament, as formerly: But let me tell you a Mysterie; you have no such reason to plead the caus of som of them, who were not perfectly your Proselytes; but were at close guard with you; they intended to make use of your Faction, for oppression of the faithful), and good Patri­ots under the name of Independents; which if they could have effected, they would have cared as much for your Religion, when they had serv'd their turns on't, as you do your selvs, when you have made such uses of it. Wee, who know the men, know well their Religion, though to serv themselvs of you, they vvould bee Presbyterians: In the mean time en­tertaining you in their thoughts (expressed in plain lan­guage among their confederates) vvith a perfect hatred and scorn. 'Tis true, the vvay, they vvere excluded by, vvas ex­traordinarie, and the cure Emperical, but yet necessarie; those votes of darkness, vvhen they setup all night to ruine them­selvs and the Nation, vvere a sufficient Diagnostick of so pre­vailing a corruption in the vvhole mass beyond the power of nature to reduce a right complexion and temper; and a clear indication of the necessitie of a present and extrordinarie re­medie, vvithout vvhich, both vvee, and you too, notwith­standing [Page 14]your ambition bred credulitie of the contrarie, had long before this time been destroyed by that partie, which is still the common Enemie (what ever they make you believ to the contrarie) and posteritie reduced to as bad a slaverie under the late Tyrant, as that which is exercised by you over the poor blinde people who have given up them­selvs to the impositions of your Consistorialor Classical mercies.

And now wee must ask you, whether somthing more than this hath not been don in Scotland? Whether was not that Parlament which decreed the Invasion of England by Hamilton a true Parlament? (if not, give us som rule by which wee may distinguish one from another) Whether that Parlament was not still in beeing after your Armie was destroyed in England? Whether were not som forces raised against that Parlament? and they driven from Edinburgh while they were yet a Parlament or Committee of Estates by the power of that Parlament, and had a power of conveneing it again up­on any Emergencies? Whether when a part of the English Forces, which had destroyed your Armie in England, was marched into Scotland, did you not by their countenance and assistance dissipate and disband the remaining▪ part of your Parlaments Armie? And did you not then, while your other Parlament was in beeing, call another Parlament? and orde­red the Elections by previous rules given by your Armie, for the seclusion or exclusion from Elections for that ensuing Parlament, all which as you thought fit to describe and cha­racterize? And was not your present Parlament thus elected? Now let's see how this action in Scotland agree's with, or differ's from this in England.

In England here was an Armie raised by Autoritie of Parla­ment, and Commissionated to destroie all the forces of the late Ty­rant: These understood of a sort of men adhering to that Tyrant, and labouring, though without Arms, to re-inthrone him. They prevent it, they dissipate the Conspirators: a­gainst whom, becaus they found them not in Arms, they proceeded not to blood, they took away the corrupt part, and left that which was found to serv the Common-wealth, and [Page 15]this is their Crime; and for this they are complained of, and as much nois made about it, as David made for his Absolom, against whose rebellion, the Generals own execution of him (and without a Councell of War too) had put his Master whom he served, in safetie. They, who quarrell this Act of the Armie, may do well to read Joabs answer to David, per­haps it may satisfie them. Indeed it's true, it fell out in this case as in all Emperical Cures, that som were secluded, and some have thereupon absented themselves, as beeing unsatis­fied of it, which it were much to bee wished were in the ser­vice of the Commonwealth; and that those to whom that work was committed had been better informed of particu­lars, which was scarce possible for them to bee in that short time wherein 'twas necessarie for the life of our liberties, that somthing extraordinarie must bee done for cure: And wee doubt not but they now see a necessitie of what was don, though they approved not the doing; and will again contri­bute their services faithsully to the Common-wealth. In England the same Parlament continu's and act's, though som Members be secluded.

In Scotland Forces are raised by private persons, drive away their Committee of Estates, in whom was the power of the Parlament, as to most things; disband the Armie of their Par­lament; do not onely seclude som Members, but seclude their whole Parlament, and set it by, and call another by the power of that Armie by private hand raised and commanded; and in that call seclude, as was said, à parte antè making whom they pleas uncapable of Election, or of sitting in Parlament; secluding what Lords they pleas also from sitting in their Hous: And this Parlament, thus called, is that which hath treated with their King by their Commissioners, and so humbly besought him to vouchsafe to put his yoak upon their necks.

This is the brief of both the Cases, and now let any but themselvs judg. But ô yee Commissioners of the Kirk, why did you not tell the vvhose truth? Were not an ingenu­ous confession better then a Conviction? O that you could [Page 16]blush a little that vvee might have some hope of you! Judg your selvs for once, and do thus no more; do not thus dance in a net, and think to impose upon the ignorant; those, that are knovving vvill discover your nakedness, and men shall see your shame: Thou hypocrite first pluck out the beam out of thine own eye, &c.

Wee shal break proportion in this Paragraph; but how­ever wee must have one word more to what follow's about the Engagement, about which they are grievously afflicted; for that it is an oppression, not onely upon the bodies and Estates, but upon the consciences also of their brethren. What is it trouble's them? they would not have people pro­mise to bee true and faithful to that power, under whose pro­tection, through the mercie of God, they live and enjoie (or might do, if it were not for these their fals Brethren, and their seduced adherents) as full and secure a peace, and all the consequences of it, as can bee enjoyed here below. What trouble's them in the present Government? are not the same Laws still in force that were? Is not Westminster-Hall still open, and the Courts there both of Equitie and Law sit­ting in their times as formerly? Is not Justice in all Cases, both Civil and Criminal, brought to the peoples doors, as freely as in the best times part? Are not manie grievances of the former Tyrannie heretofore complained of taken off? and that great one which remain's, viz. the necessarie Levies of Money, is it not their own fault? might not that also bee taken off, if the people would see their true Interest, and keep to it? if they would cordially keep this quarrel'd En­gagement, in beeing true and faithful to the Power that pro­tect's them, and not bee fool'd by the Scots, and the partizans of their King, into a disobedience, which will certainly ru­ine them, not more by just punishment for it, then by the na­tural productions of it, if they could bee so unhapple as to bring their endeavors into act. But what is it in this that lie's so heavie upon their consciences? is not Custodes liherta­tis Angliae as Canonical as Carolus, or Jacobus Dei gratiâ, and as effective of peace and justice? Is there anie thing in it like [Page 17]your Covenant? there is nothing in the declare's a judgment, there is onely a promise of practice of what is in the power of the partie promising; and hee that will not promise to bee true and faithfull to the power under which hee live's, will not bee extremely persecuted if hee bee denied the benefit of that Autoritie, which hee will not ac­knowledg. But let us ask, whether your Covenant was not a greater imposition, was there nothing in that which came neer conscience? Wee have not time to enlarge, onely let us en­quire, as to Estates; what the sweet and meek proceedings a­mongst us were upon that thing the Covenant, worthie to bee had in everlasting detestation; wherein the great Name of God, who is goodness, and sweetness, and love, must ush­er in an ugly persecution: How manie were turn'd out of Fellowships in the Universitie of Cambridg, and out of Li­vings in the Countrie, for no other fault but refusing the Covenant? men of great learning, and unreprovable life, were removed, and men of signal duncerie and ignorance and som sufficiently debauched put in; denie not this for your friends sakes, least I give you a Catalogue both of them, and who prefer'd them, whom at present I will spare. It was put on by your Commissioners, when here, and pressed by them on all occasions, as earnestly as the mark of the Beast, no man might have command here nor in Ireland, might keep anie Office, exercise anie Magistracie, unless hee had subscri­bed that Covenant; of a far other nature, both in regard of its doubtfulness, and its tendencie, then this Engagement. And certainly with such violence was this thing carried on, that, had not the good providence of God discovered to our good Patriots here the foul hypocrisie of the Scots Commis­sioners, and their designs, to the execution whereof they went furiously on, under the veil of this stalking-hors the Cove­nant, it had been imposed with as much Autoritie as the said mark of the Beast, that no man should either buy, or sell, or live, who had not taken the Covenant; and 'tis a mercie worth all it cost, that their Invasion delivered us out of that snare. And yet these hypocrites complain of offering the [Page 18]Engagement; compare them and see the difference. And once again remember Thou hypocrite to pull out the beam out of thine own eie, &c. And for a close of this Paragraph, bee per­suaded to remember daily before the Lord in your praiers that hee would deliver you from the fascinations of Interest, that hee would give you single hearts and fill them with can­dor, and free you from this gross hypocrisie, and from those temptations that are suggested to you from the pride of your own spirits, and impotent desires of Domination, that hee would discover to you the extreme ignorance and darkness you lie under, and that hee would give you hearts to love the truth, and embrace it by whatsoever means it bee offered to your apprehension:

And if you will do this, and do it with humilitie and re­signation, The Lord (who is long suffering and verie ready to forgive, full of goodness, and mercie, and love, and that wait's that hee may bee gracious) may pardon the Errors of your blinde zeal, and all those things that you have don in ignorance and unbelief, and deliver you from these tempta­tions of darkness.

The Warn­ing.[3] This partie, after that they have acted such things in Eng­land, and also sore afflicted and oppressed our brethren in Ireland, now conceiving that they cannot bee established, and that they can­not eat the fruit of their own devices without contradiction, as long as the Kirk and Kingdom of Scotland stand's in their waie, threa­ten us with a War, by drawing their Forces Northward, and sending them in smal parties towards the Border, that it may the less bee dis­cerned what they intend to do: And if the Lord in his righteous and wise dispensation shall suffer them to invade this Land, as it is to bee feared, that the Gangrene of their errors may take hold upon men of ignorant and unstable mindes, who have not received the love of Truth; so may wee, if they prevail, look for confusion and desolation, and that the Pillars both of Religion and Government shall bee ruined and razed in this, as well as in our neighbor-land. It doth therefore in the first place concern all the Inhabitants of this Nation to draw near to God, and to mourn for their own iniquities, and for all the ignorance and prophanitie and backsliding that is in the [Page 19]land, and to studie to make peace with God in Jesus Christ: The con­tinuance and increase of many of those sins, for which formerly wee seemed to have been humbled, doth doutless greiv the spirit of God, and may, if they bee not speedily and sincerely repented of, and for­saken, provoke him to give us over to the lust of our adversaries; Our King, our Princes, our Nobles, our Pastors, teachers, and peo­ple have sinned; Let us therefore search and trie our waies, and turn again to the Lord: Let us lift up our hearts with our hands to God in the heavens, that hee may spare and save his people, that they bee not a prey to the enemie.

The Answer.[3] What the things are that wee have acted in England, wee hold out to all the world; and with humilitie rejoice that God hath owned us in them, and given success to our endeavors, and made us the Instrument in his hand even as a threshing Instrument, having teeth, whereby hee hath cast down Tyrannie, and established to us the just libertie of the Sons of Adam; And hath shewed us so far his face and favor in it, as wee are confident, that hee will not onely, not pull down what hee hath begun to build, but given therein a specimen of that libertie, which his goodness will bless the world withall, as a fit state, wherein that Justice and Righteousnes shall ex­cuse it self, which shall bee set up as a triumphal Arch, through which the King of glorie, and the King of peace shall enter into: The administrations of the Kingdoms of the world which wee exspect shall becom the Lords and his Christs in the which hee shall reign, while the earth shall bee full of the knowledg of the Lord, as the waters cover the Sea; while you object those things, wee glorie in them, and shall wear them as our Crown: As for the affliction and oppression of their Brethren in Ireland, wee know of no such oppression. Wee have indeed endeavored to reduce that Island, as having a just claim to it, and to chastize the Irish Rebels whom wee think they will not call Brethren. And wee have also made som of the Scottish Rebels to taste of the fruit of their doings, in rebelling against this Common-wealth, in whose pay some of them were, at the instigation of their wo­fully ignorant and petulant Presbyterie at Belfast, whose re­pentance [Page 20]& saisfaction have not yet satisfied for their guilt, but a further account remain's for them to pass: for though neither you, nor they are pleased to own us for a lawful power, yet they shall finde that wee bear not the sword in vain, but that it shall bee for the punishment of such evil doers, and for the protection of all the good people of England and Ire­land, both against them and you. But seeing wee see our Re­bels in Ireland are your Brethren, it will teach us what to think of your devotion here, who shall do well to take early warn­ing, lest neither the hypocritical prosecution of the ends of the Covenant, nor all their good meaning bee able to pre­serv them from the hand of Justice. The rules of good Go­vernment will not now allow connivence.

That our Armie march Northward is verie true; but your intelligence is bad, if you conceiv it to bee in small parties; It is in a bodie, and with intention to enter into Scotland: the JƲSTICE, NECESSITIE and ENDS of which action is at large set forth in the Parlament's-Declara­tion, and wee shall here repeat nothing: If you like it not, you might have prevented it; you have had fair overtures, and a long exspectation: Next your Hypocrisie, your causeless Pride is predominate; it is that which hath gathered and bound up the rod of your Castigation.

But your are more sensible of the Gangreen of our Errors, then of our Sword; 'tis indeed most to bee feared, becaus the Sword may bee put up after satisfaction, but these Errors (which wee suspect you mean to bee som opinions against the power and government of the Kirk of Scotland) are like to prevail as beeing the appearances of the truth of God, be­fore which your Dagon that proud Idol must fal, and break its neck; therefore trouble not your selvs for that; the times are coming you must fall as well as your Mother: The word is gone forth long since that Babylon is faln, and this remain of her power in Scotland must fal also. The confusion and desola­tion you speak of would bee your beautie and you happiness, if your guilt and provocations did not hinder your beeing instrumental to it. Your Religion (as you call it) and your [Page 21]Government might both bee changed into better, if you were fit for it, and you com to enjoy the same freedom and happiness, that by the blessing of God is like to flourish in your neighbours Land. Your next passage give's your selvs good counsel, which wee heartily praie to the Father of all mercies, that hee will give you grace to take, onely when you com to draw neer to God, and to mourn for your ini­quities, forget not to adde to your Catalogue, which you have here made a verie brief one, your sins of hypocrisie and pride, of which all the world beside your selvs conceiv you exceedingly guiltie. That most simple, most pure, and all-pe­netrating Spirit, who is centrally everie where, (pardon this later expression, it sound's heretically no doubt in your ears, wee know you understand it not in our sens, and 'tis used for them that do) is in nothing more provoked then by the pra­ctises of men walking in darkness, and conceiving they im­pose upon his all-discovering light. This hath been your constant way, and you have given no such clear evidence, as all who run maie read, that you have sincerely repented of it; search and trie your waies, and turn in good earnest, and God will so far receiv you, as, though hee doth not deliver you from the overflowed scourge, which hee in righteousness hath decreed to bring upon you, and of which his wisdom see's you stand in need enough; yet hee will correct you in mea­sure, and amend you by it, and then you will bee gainers.

[4] In the next place, Warning. As the Parlament of this Kingdom have taken care for putting the Land in a Posture of defence, so wee hope that none shall bee so negligent of their dutie, and so insensible of their danger, as not to give cheerful obedience to the lawful commands of their superiours, in those things that concern the securitie of Re­ligion, and peace of the Kingdom, and that are necessarie for the de­fence of the Caus and of their native Countrie; but that everie man in his station and calling will willingly and cheerfully acquit himself in the diligent and faithful performance of all the duties that relate unto those ends.

[4] If you had been as careful heretofore to warn your people to bee just,Answer. as here you are to bid them bee diligent, [Page 22]you might have spared this Paragraph, to the great advantage of the people of your Land; remember what hath been re­quired and denied by you; had you alwaies been upon your defence onely, you should not have needed to bee so now, with so much charge and danger.

If wee could have believed you had anie such meaning as you here hold out, it might have saved us a verie great charge; a small Armie would have been sufficient to have atteined our ends, if none who are tainted with Malignancy or dis-affection to the work of God, should bee permitted to bear Arms among you, or that you would not associate with such. But sure this Paragraph, with som other, is cal­culated to the elevation of such among us who are honest and conscientious, whose own simplicitie of spirit, and can­dor, have made credulous enough to bee abused over unto your side; it got no faith with us, who know well enough the complexion of Scotland. As to malignancie, certainly there are not the fortieth part of the people of Scotland who are not Malignants, and not dis-affected to that which they call the work of God. And wee know they had 6000 Hors and Foot standing, before their new Levie; are none of these Malignants? why then was the question renewed not long before your emitting this Warning, that the Armie might again bee purged, but it hath not been don since: And 'tis not like but som of your new Levies may have a little touch of it: Have you none of Orkney or Cathness? You know there when Montross was among them, the verie Presbyterie were Cavalierish; wee believ the people were not much bet­ter; for often times, 'tis like Priest like People; and though hee made trial of more (the fate of his Master arresting the cours of his victories) yet wee shall take the libertie to be­liev, that there may bee manie more of your heathenish moun­taniers, that may bee alike instructed; your Paper confesse's you have manie of them; and wee conceiv, notwithstanding all this fair imposture, there may bee a great number among those of your Armies not cleerly instructed in, nor much affected to the work of God: But even such kinde of stuff [Page 23]as your Armies tent into England formerly were composed, of whose qualifications wee understand as well as your selvs, therefore wee shall not lessen our Forces for all your good words; which if wee were sure you meant to keep, wee might believ your musters would not exceed in numbers Gi­deon's lapping Armie; and one Regiment of Hors and one of Foot might serv our turns. If the minde of God bee so clear unto you in this point, take heed of going against it; this book of yours will bee a witness against you before the world, as your consciences will bee before God; take heed of your apostacie after your so solemn engagement; hazard not your selvs, and bee not desperately pervers. You confess the Malignants have often fallen before the Sectaries, and you would not give them (viz. the Sectaries) encouragement by your junction; deceiv not your selvs, hypocrisie provoke's the all-seeing Majestie, as much as open profaneness; and per­haps the Sectaries may receiv in their spirits a great encou­ragement, that they are sent by God against an hypocritical Nation. Deceiv not your selvs with the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord; manie so exclaim and boast who are not that Temple. Your selvs in this paragraph confess you have a great scarcitie of men rightly qualified, and can hard­ly expect a blessing in the fellowship of anie other; take heed you do not as well procure as proclaim a judgment against the Land, which shall consume it without remedie.

Wee earnestly wish the Estates of Parlament would bee ru­led by you, and purge your Armie of all scandalous men; sure you would have verie thin Troops and Companies. Wee would ask you if manie have not given scandal by their drunken-healthing thanks-givings, for your Kings arrival? or whether drunkenness bee not a scandal there? in the Sectarian Armie 'tis counted one; and, through the mercie of God, is not frequently committed; and when it is, is duly punish­ed. The close of your paragraph is verie orthodox, which wee close with, and embrace as a savorie truth. But before wee leav you, seeing you are so tender of closing with Malig­nants, let us ask you how came you to woo the King so ear­nestly? [Page 24]to agree with him, and bring him among you, and make such great demonstration of jole at his arrival, with more drunken bone-fiers then ever were seen there before? Is not hee a Malignant? sure hee was one, when hee gave Mon­tross his Commission to subdue you his Rebels of Scotland, wrote his Letters of special favor, and gave him that Order of the Garter; how corn's hee to bee purified since? can you persuade your selvs the taking of the Covenant will do it? have you not found by great experience it doth hot cure, but palliate; why els such frequent Recidivations? It is not well understood why yee should with so much furie and indigna­tion execute Montross, the servant, and that (becoming your selvs) somthing barbarously for making a war upon you, and then immediately embrace him for your King, by whose Commission hee did it. There is som mysterie in this, if you would tell us what; but perhaps it lie's deeper then your own knowledg; why may it not bee, that your own hypo­crisie growing ripe for judgment, providence hath ordered, that by his permitting you one signal act of it more, you should thereby espous the Interest and fate of that familie, which lies under the wrath of God, and which you will needs take upon you to defend, though you see none have prospered that do so; that even by your hypocrisie your hy­pocrisie might bee punished, from the just hand of him who searcheth the heart, and take's pleasure in uprightness: Though you are, yet hee is not a respecter of persons; no difference of degrees is anie thing to him, who set's up and debaseth whom hee pleaseth; hee somtimes give's a King in wrath; and perhaps when you well consider all things, you may have som strange opinion, that hee hath don so to you; you have wooed and married an Interest attended with a Curs, which will undo you.

It is no great trouble to us to hear from you the name of Sectarie, having been long acquainted with the Titles and Attributes which the civilitie of your language hath been pleased to honor us with; and wee bear it with the greater glorie, for that it seem's there are few of them of your [Page 25]Nation; and so may serv for a distinguishing Character that vvhere wee are not known, vvee may not bee mistaken for Sots: The Sectarie therefore wee take up for a glorie, as im­posed by you, and shall labor to bring the Name beyond re­proach, not by masking under a veil of seeming holiness, (which wee wonder by what special guift they have discove­red, especially in those vvhom their consciences have com­pelled to confess that they walk circumspectly) but by put­ting on the Lord JESUS CHRIST and beeing made conformable to the Will of GOD through the sanctifica­tion of the SPIRIT, living in that Spirit wee desire to vvalk in it, approving our hearts to God, and our waies to Men; desiring you would not go beyond your line, and step into the Throne of God, and judg hearts, vvhere you can­not blame actions.

And wee must again desire you to laie down that your Antichristian practice of propounding your selvs as the Rule of Truth and judg of Error. How com you to know truth better then other men? to the Law and to the Testimonie; for that Rule is common to us and you; you must take a little more pains to satisfie us, then you do your Scots; you shall put it among our Errors that vvee hold, if you will, that wee ought to trie all things, that wee may keep that which is good: you are not sure, but som of those things that you count Error, may bee the Truth: and why may not som among us have had the boldness or the happiness to know that to bee true, which is not the opinion of the Church of Scotland. And least you should claim a privilege for the vanitie of boasting, give us leav to use it for once, as well as you; and to tell you that wee have reason to believ that there are som on this side Tweed, to whom the Father of Lights, by the Word and Spirit of Truth, hath made as full and glorious manifestati­ons of himself, as hee hath don to you, who dwell beyond. And though you are pleased in your wonted usurpation of the Throne of God, (wherein you will sit and judg our affections to tell us wee love to walk in the imaginations of our own hearts, and in the light of our own fires, and the rest [Page 26]that follow's: wee tell you, you should do better to leav our hearts to God, but withal wee must walk according to the light that God is pleased to give us; as it is in us, it is our own light; and if wee should go from that to follow your light, becaus it is yours, wee should sin against our light, and against God, and this wee are content you shall note for another of our Errors, That wee dare not believ that either the dictate of anie of your Ministers, or ours either, nor the determination of the whose Kirk of Scotland, or of anie els, ought to bee the ground of anie man's judgment, bee the thing determined never so true, until hee hath received the same truth into his own intellect, and that it becom one with it. And wee are of opinion there is no error wee hold that trouble's you wors then this. Wee denie not but there may bee manie among us in the Nation, and in the Armie too that may bee more loos then wee desire they should: It were to bee put among the wonders of the Age that there should bee an Armie so numerous as ours, consisting all of men fearing God and walking accurately, or to saie less, fully-Civil; yet this wee tell you, they that are loos shall not bee en­couraged in it by those who command them; but where is your blushing all this while, that you dare in this manner speak of the loosness of manie among us, when all men know there are few among your selvs that are not so? Did not you suppose that som of your books might com to bee read of those that have felt your Armies? and conversed with your people? and that know them as well as your selvs; wee desire not to give you these close returns, but wee may not hold our peace, least wee bee thought to have nothing to replie, and least you should deceiv conscientious people a­mongst us, and make them believ you are the Lord's In­heritance, his peculiar people, a holie Nation, and an Armie of Saints, and all becaus the Commissioners of the Gene­ral Assemblie have Cannonized them. Will you saie your almost general drunkenness and healthing for the welcom of your King is not loosness? or hath loosness another signi­fication in Scotland then it hath in England? What think you [Page 27]by that Action of som of your people, that having taken som of our Mariners ashore going for water they were detein'd prisoners till they would drink your King's health on their knees: is this the received Form of praying for your King among you, do you think our Mariners were much edified with this holy conversation of your people? wee hope your Directorie of vvorship hath no prescription of this kinde of praying. Pen your things hereafter a little more circumspectly, and do not necessitate us to stir your dunghil vvhich vvill make you stink in the nostrils of all good men. You imprison and restrein the spreading of truth, and com­pel the poor people to your Forms in which there is nothing of the power of Godliness; your people are still slaves to profaneness, becaus the truth is not held out to them which should make them free. They are nourished in an opinion that the Kirk of Scotland know's all things, whom they may consult upon occasion, and never endeavor to store themselvs with principles that would effect their Reforma­tion; they have onely heard of God by the hearing of the Ear, but if their Eie might see him they would repent and abhor themselvs in dust and ashes. There is a learning and knowledg which is kept in memorie and this may well bee called other men's learning, this act's but little upon the possessor: There is a knowledg in the understanding that is given by the shining in of the beams of light from the Spirit of God (for it is the spirit of the Lord that give's understanding) & this act's according to its proportion by vertue of its union with the Intellect, & produce's necessarie effects: if you would dispose your people into the waie of those Noëtical recepti­ons, you would finde their profaneness by little and little wear away; but perhaps then also that dreadful reverence toward you their Oracles (which while they practise, all lookers on laugh at) vvould decaie too: if the Samaritans once hear Christ (who vouchsafe's his secret teachings to all who have ears to hear) they have not much more need of the discourses of the woman: You tell us also of approving of errors in our selvs. Wee would wish you to mend the expression, let your [Page 28]unsanctified zeal to multiply heads and common-places of calumnie against us, run you out into such ignorant expres­sions; certainly Approving in English use is an act of the practical intellect; do wee approve them as errors? If not, you say nothing; wee denie not but great darkness in manie things remaine's upon us, and you verie manifestly discover it doth so upon you too. Wee may, and you do approve manie things that are perhaps errors in themselvs, but apparent truths to us and you. No man approve's of an error quatenus; they are little acquainted with the proportion of the intellect to truth that will say it receiv's anie thing under other notion. Indeed in practice Interest sometimes swaye's profession and practice against judgment. But the single and intrinsecal act of the understanding in giving the judgment is alwaies for truth according to the degree of its appearance, and the measure of its own apprehension. As you, when you make a single judgment of your King, do verily believe him to bee a Malignant, notwithstanding his Covenanting (as you have reason having seen manie o­thers so before, as your selvs tacitly insinuate in this Paper, of which wee shall remember you in due place) yet in the mean time you offer him to the people as a Convert, becaus you hope in time to draw some advantage from him in order to England. Here you apprehend right, that hee is a Malignant; yet you practise, as if hee were not; you are not deceived in your judgement made in your understanding, you under­stand him right enough; and though you hold out to the people that hee is converted, which you know to bee an error, yet wee shall not say you approve this error, that is, receive it in your judgments for a truth; for you perfectly judg the thing is fals, and an error. You proceed with your heavie charge generally & Magisterially enough, that wee altogether neglect those things that concern the honor of God, and the Kingdom of his Son Jesus Christ. What? altogether. Wee confess wee have neglected those things too much, and have our frailties, which wee do not approve; wee are but men, and may have too much looked after our outward safetie, [Page 29]as you have done after a Carnal domination under pretence of a spiritualitie; yet wee conceiv there is more in your charge, then will bee in your evidence. And if wee com to examine the matter, wee believ there will bee a difference in interpre­tation: What is meant by the Honor of Gold, and the King­dom of Jesus Christ? Wee suspect wee may not have the same opinion of them here on the other side of Twede; where wee have heard the meaning is, to give power to the several Kirk-Tribunals in Parishes, Classes Provincial, and General As­semblies, to dominere over their Brethren at their pleasure; that it is the honor of God, that the Gods-men bee honored; indeed thus wee have not, and are confident never shall do anie thing for this honor, and for this Kingdom. According as wee have been taught of God, wee believ that herein is our heavenlie Father glorified, that wee bear much fruit, and become the Disciples of our Lord Jesus; and for that purspose that wee nourish the springings up from that root of life, which of his Free grace by the Spirit hee hath planted in our souls, and ever keep them open to receiv in those divine influ­ences and emanations of life and light that flow forth from him, for the irrigation of that root of life when once planted, whereby hee prepare's further communications of truth and light, in which everie soul is capable of an increas, and ought not to bee stinted by anie humanely imposed forms.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ which hee exerciseth in this state of things (for of that which is to com, there is no oc­casion here to speak) is not of this world, nor after the pattern or manner of administration of the Kingdoms of the World, which lye in the evil one, and are acted by the prince of the power of darkness; but it is altogether spiritual, managed by the irresistible power of his Spirit in the hearts of men, ac­cording to his manifold wisdom, and the various proporti­ons in several subjects that hee hath conceived in the eternal Idea's, according to which that work proceed's by his own efficiencie, even according to that way of working, in which hee invisibly effect's and work's all things in the visible Phy­sicall world; which is a thing known onely to a few of the [Page 30]children of wisdom, unknown to you, and therefore you will blaspheme it, and put that also into the Catalogue of Errors, as you use to do all things that either pass your un­derstanding, or cross your carnal Interest. But those, who are thus made the subjects of Christs Kingdom are enabled with a principle to walk worthie of it in all wel-pleasing. They have received an unction, even the falling down of that Spirit which was shed upon their head abundantlie, for hee received not the Spirit by measure, & this annointing teacheth them all things, even all things necessarie for everie calling, degree, state of life, or condition whatsoever, either as single men, or as they con­stitute Common-wealths, or Governments. And when they meet quatenus Christians, which are called Churches; in all these conditions, they who are subjected to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, are instructed how to walk in the beautie of ho­liness. The first lesson taught them by this annointing is to de­nie themselvs, and not seek their own things, but those of Jesus Christ, and to walk in love, becaus God is love. This is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, to which wee desire to subject our selvs, and wee long for a further manifestation of the power of it appearing in all fruitfull productions in the eyes of men, to the prais of God: Wee hope there are manie who propound this end, and press on to this mark, and through mercie wee hope wee may say manie among us have atteined som weak degrees of it: But indeed wee confess wee do not strive to advance your forms in which wee can dis­cover no beautie, but everie day doth more and more disco­ver to us your gross hypocrisie under them, and their rank sa­vor of the flesh, and carnalitie: And wee doubt not, but the Lord will go on to perfect both what hee hath begun to do in us, and work by us; and to make a more full discoverie of the unprofitableness of your Forms, by the dailie increas of new light to those who have been nuzl'd in darkness, and shortlie abolish them all at the brightness of his coming.

And indeed though wee dare not denie, but several a­mong you have the seed of God in you, and a foundation laid through grace, whereby you are in a salveable state; yet [Page 31]you have built so much hay, and straw, and stubble upon that foundation, and so choaked the work of God by your self-superstructions, and exaltations, and so grieved that good Spirit of God by which you were to bee built up, by your pride and hateful hypocrisie, that the effects thereof do not very beautifully appear in you, so as those who shall compare your proceedings with the word of God (for your ensnaring and Apocryphal Covenant wee shall not admit to fit on the same seat as a co-judg with the sacred Scriptures) and look to the effects that thereupon have followed, especially as to the souls of men, must needs, notwithstanding anie of your pre­tences, abhor and abominate your hypocritical formalitie. And God will execute his judgments too upon those who imprison and obstruct the free passage of truth, as wel as upon those which corrupt it. How far som of you have been hereto­fore Seducers in England, wee well remember; & know also the tendencie of this your seasonable warning that way▪ Remem­ber too when men will not love truth, becaus it crosseth their carnal Interest, they are given up to the worst practice; and certainly the practical abominations of Antichrist, as you call it, (I would rather say that the state of the Apocalyptical Bea­stianism) are among them by them by just judgment of God for a punishment of their persecution of truth for Interest sake. God branding them to all the world for none of his, because holiness is not written in their fore-heads, and engraven up­on the palms of their hands, and held out to the world in profession and practice; but they have a spot which is not the spot of his children; Hee that saith hee remaineth in him ought so walk even as hee hath walked.

And indeed wee must tell you, you are justly subject to a jealousie, that there is somthing of Antichrist among you, there is such an universal wickedness among you; prophane swearing is your dialect, and lying hath put you into a Proverb, uncleanness blusheth not in your Stools of Repentance, per­haps an ill remedie for that sin to expose them to view, that unclean and wicked persons may know and learn where to finde one another; have not the spuings of your Bacchanals [Page 32]lately flowed in your streets? And whether they do not yet run down, wee know not. But 'tis like there will bee a Coro­nation-Torrent, as well as an arrival-puddle. Your Armie had one other singular good qualitie when they were in England, by virtue of the Covenant, that nothing could escape their fingers at the remove of a march, but what was too hot to handle, or too heavie or troublesom to carrie or drive away: For your telling us of the manie Antichrists in England, wee shall return you this; Wee have in England som new lights concerning Antichrist which you are not acquainted with; there are several things in which you know vvondrous little, becaus you shut all nevv light out of Scotland; it's too large to bee told you in a digression, and wee shall not go so far out of our cours to make you at present that discoverie; onely let us give you a seasonable warning to look well to your selvs, and see if there bee not a great deal of that same thing among you that you take not notice of; certainly 'tis not confined to Rome and Romane vvorship; 'tis everie where more or less, and grosly and formally, where 'tis little taken notice of; Wee denie not but much of it is in England, but you have taken your marks about it much amiss, and know not at all wherein.

[7] The success of that partie provs not the goodness of their caus, or that they shall prosper still; Warning. The Lord who it wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working, hath been pleased to put the rod of his anger, and the staff of his indignation in their hand, for executing of his wrath against Malignant, becaus of the enmitie and opposition of that generation unto the caus and people of God: But if they shall in­vade this land, and exalt themselvs against the Lords inheritance, and the people that are in Covenant with him, For whose sake the Lord did cloath them with power for a time, for taking vengeance upon his ene­mies, Then shall they stumble and fall, and bee broken in pieces: Though the host of Senacherib did prevail against Samaria, yet did they fall in Judah, and hee did return with shame, and was slain with the sword in his own land. That partie hath as yet no caus to boast that God bath prospered them in Arms against the Covenant, or against a praying people stedfast in the Lords caus, following his way, [Page 33]and waiting upon him for help and success: All their encounters have hitherto been against Malignants; and now the Lord having per­formed so much of his work against that generation, who know's but the Sectaries day may also be coming, and that when the state of the question shall bee changed, God may turn his hand upon them, and bring upon them the judgments of a broken Covenant, as hee hath ever don to all that look that way.

[7] Wee acknowledg that greatness of success neither evi­dence's the goodness of a Caus,Answer. nor give's assurance of its own continuance. What success the merciful providence of God hath given to the Armies of this Nation, we desire humbly and thankfully to acknowledg and rejoice in, and rejoice not an our selvs, or arrogate anie thing of prais or honor, which is onely due to the Lord of hosts, in whose hand wee were Instruments, and of our selvs are nothing. The Lord who is in­deed wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working, hath been pleased to execute his wrath by us against Tyrannie, and against that caus which you have now espoused: And having now called our Armies also to go against an hypo­critical Nation, Wee shall proceed with confidence that wee shall also bee inabled to chastize their breach of Treaties, and most wicked and perfidious Invasion of this Nation. And do not think your distinguishing your selvs from Malignants, will bee your shield against Divine justice, as if there were none but that generation against whom his wrath were kindled: And indeed should they prevail onely against, and destroy that sort of people among you, it would leav your poor land verie much unpeopled; for wee verie well know you have fortie Malignants to one that is devoted to your Kirk. You say that partie hath not yet prospered in Arms a­gainst the Covenant. Wee need not fight with the Covenant, it is com to nothing without it; it was brought a little too near the Ark, and 'tis faln like Dagon, and there let it lye: But were there no Covenanters in Hamiltons Armie? Was not that Parlament that sent them a Covenanting Parlament? Can there bee such a thing in Scotland, as a Parlament not Covenanting? yet Dagon was then faln, and had neither [Page 34]head nor hands, it could neither advise, nor help. which hath Divine Ordination, and Institution, when it shall bee idolized, provokes to jealousie him, that will not give his glorie to another. The Brazen Serpent was set up by Divine command, and more wonderful effects wrought by looking upon it at Gods command, then wee ever yet saw your hu­mane invention of the Covenant produce, where it hath been imposed; yet when 'twas made an Idol, hee is commen­ded that brake it in pieces, and called it Nehushtam.

The Temple was astructure of Gods own contrivance and prescription, and built and furnished with no small charge, and there was in it greater mysteries then are perhaps of all men understood; yet when the people made an Idol of it, and put their confidence in it, crying out, The Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord, while they committed all abomination, God gave up to destruction both it and them. You have too much cryed up the Covenant, and the Kirk of Scotland, and taught the people to trust too much in them, for the conti­nuance or safetie of either of them. And while you talk of a praying people, wee are not much scar'd at it; consider whether your prayers have not been your provocations; wee mean not those onely which were offered up with your drink-offerings for the health of your King, when you kindled so manie fires all over your streets, if not to the Host of Heaven, yet to Liber Pater, and for the Heathenish celebration of those Lyaean My­steries: But wee mean also even those hypocritical houlings of your ignorant crouds when they keep time to your passion, and the ebullitions of your dark zeal, invoking vengeance from Heaven (with a spirit of love and meekness, no doubt becoming Gospel-administrations) against the Sectaries, who are men you know not, onely your selvs have painted them black, that you might with the more intention of heat and malice hate them.

These your horrible mis-carrings have quite lost you with all wise and good men; onely with such Papers as these you still baffle your own people, and keep them under slaverie, and subject them to a danger which is by everie compassionate [Page 35]spirit to bee much pittied. If you bee angrie at this plain dealing, you may thank your selvs; if you care not what you say to delude the people, wee must tell ours the truth to un­deceiv them. And let not those few in Scotland who truly fear God (for wee have heard there bee a few such, though but a verie few) bee kindled at this plain dealing, which the pride & hypocrisie of this Paper hath necessitated, not least they should still bee wise, not onely in their own conceits (for of that cure wee have no hope) but least they should still appear what they are not to the judgments of others, and thereby dangerously deceiv them.

[8] Wee desire that not onely others, Warning. but the Sectaries themselvs may consider, that when England was verie low, and well nigh brought under the feet of the Popish, Prelatical, and Malignant Partie, That this Nation was then much solicited for their assistance and relief, and even by som of these who have since that time been verie active and instrumental for the partie which now prevail's in that land: The Kirk and Kingdom of Scotland were then so compassionate of their bretbrens condition, that they were willing to join in a League and Co­venant with them, which both Kingdoms, even manie of those who are now in the Armie, did solemnly swear and subscribe: In prose­cution of the ends thereof, this Kingdom did send into England a considerable Armie, by whose assistance the power of the Malignant Partie was broken and brought low, and the Parlament and Armie of England put into such a condition, that they needed no more fear the strength of their enemies. This League and Covenant, which was the foundation of England's and the Armies deliverance and safetie, the Armie hath now forgotten and trodden under foot, and walk in all their proceedings no less contrarie thereto, then darkness is unto light: Neither doth it satisfie them to do so in their own Land, but they threaten us also with war, for no other reason, but because wee cleav to our dutie in these things, to which England stand's no less obliged unto by Covenant before the Lord then wee do. Wee may con­fidently assert and profess before the world, that the Lord's people in this Land are not conscious to themselvs of anie wrong don to that prevailing partie in England: The engagement in the year I648. was no less abhorred, and testified against by the Kirk of Scotland, [Page 36] and by these that are how in place and power in the State, and by all the godly in the land, then it was by that partie themselvs; Which did so far convince the Hous of Commons, that in their Letter to the General Assemblie of this Kirk in the same year, they profess that they are assured, that these impious and unwarrantable actions cannot bee don with the approbation and assent of the religious and well-affected people of the Kingdom of Scotland, and that they do understand, that there are verie few amongst these who were in the engagement against them, that first engaged with them in the Covenant and Caus, but such as are professed enemies to them, however they were then con­tent to proceed thereunto, that they might the better deceiv the people of England; And that therefore they are unwilling to impute such evils to this Nation in general. It is known how manie fervent praiers and supplications were poured out in this Land before the Lord against that engagement; and wee think wee may without boast­ing say, that those praiers had as much influence upon the defeat there­of, as all the power of that Armie: And since that time that engage­ment hath been publickly disavowed, disclaimed, and repealed by the Parlament of this Kingdom. Neither hath that partie anie thing to challenge us concerning Malignants, both Kirk and State having constantly followed, and beeing still about their duties against them, without conniving at, or complying with them in their courses. It is true, that this Kingdom and Kirk have protested and testified against the proceedings of Sectaries in reference to Religion and Govern­ment; Which wee could not but do, unless wee had forgotten our du­tie, and the Christian mutual ties that lie upon us, not onely as sister-Churches, but as covenanted Churches; and so make our selvs par­takers of their sins, and expose our selvs to the hazard of their plagues. Wee in this Land beeing therefore conscious to our selvs of nothing but dutie; If they shall invade us for following the same, shall not God look upon it and avenge it?

[8] If wee shall answer this Paragraph at large,Answer wee shall draw out this Paper to such a length, as maie swell it beyond the price of som, and the leisure of others; wee shall there­fore let it here keep proportion, and in another tract, which is begun, give the world a full and true representation and character of all their candor and fair dealing, in all the trans­actions [Page 37]and affairs that have been between the Nations since these last troubles, which shall proceed as fast as leisure will serv; and give but som touches the while.

The Sectaries do verie well consider, and remember too, that England was verie low brought under the foot of the po­pish and prelatical partie, which were the Armies which that late King used to subdue us, whose quarrel you espoused not­withstanding the Covenant, and pleaded his caus, and whom you would have brought in again upon such terms, as had not providence prevented the effect of your endeavors, you had ruined your selvs and us too. And wee remember also, that though you were as much concerned as wee in the dan­ger, and priviledged onely with one stop of a greater remoti­on, yet wee were inforc'd verie much to solicite you by the parties you mention, whom God hath since made verie in­strumental for the good of this Land, before wee could pre­vail with the Kirk and Kingdom of Scotland, notwithstanding our great need, and their own evident danger, either to com­passionate us, or bee careful of themselvs, until they had brought us into the snare of a Covenant; of which the de­signing Church knew they should bee afterward able to make som other good uses besides the Reformation of Religion; and however our dangers were imminent, yet they would not com in to our assistance till wee had furnished them with 50000 l. a sum of no small difficultie for us to rais at that time, when our quarters were so streight, and our occasions so multiplied; but yet, when they had a minde to invade us under Hamilton, they could do it without anie Levie-monie advanced. What assistance they gave, and how much they contributed to the bringing us to that condition, wherein wee needed not to fear the strength of our enemies, wee shall more fully set out in that other mentioned Tract. Onely now they proved a broken reed, from whom wee had but a weak support; but it ran into our hands, and pierced us sufficiently, as all places, where they came, can bear sensible witness, and which the world shall shortly know. Briefly, they took our money, and helped us little, being specially careful [Page 38]to keep out of the waie of danger; they did like right mer­cinaries pursue their own interest, which was verie opposite to ours; wee desired to end the war, and they to lengthen it, that they might lengthen their emploiment, hoping they should never bee necessitated again to return to their own poor Countrie: Yet this advantage wee had, that while they took our paie for a great while, they did not take our Ene­mies part; and our monie produced with them as good ef­fect as the worship of that Numen at Calecut doth there, you know who, and what.

The League and Covenant, you say, was the foundation of Eng­land's and the Armies deliverance: Wee, that know better, denie it, and say, 'twas a foundation, upon which was endeavor­ed to bee built our ruine, if God had not mercifully preven­ted the bringing forth and hatching of that Cockatrice egg, which your Cabals and conspiracies had laid among us; wee shall not now tell you with whom. But if anie thing hu­mane may bee put among the foundations of our deliverance, it must bee the new modelling of the Armie, and putting it under a new Command, who verie well understood you, but could never bee brought to understand and entertain anie of your Cabals; they shamed your sloth, and did our work without you, and put us into a condition to bee able to require such an useless charge to bee gon; This is the great sin of this Ar­mie, to have thus wipe't your mouth of all the sweet morsels your designs had cut out, and your hopes had alreadie swal­lowed. They awaked you out of your dream, and you found your selvs hungry still, and this you will never forgive them. As for the reasons for which wee now make war upon you, the Parlament, who better know their own motives, have in their Declaration told you both them and their ends. And for the obligation by Covenant, you have been often told there is no such thing in beeing, and shall add no more to it.

But to the next, were it not that you have an evasion in the expression (the Lord's people) wee should ask what is be­com of all your little remnants of shame or ingenuitie; and wee shall ask you so still, if you take this expression in your [Page 39]usual acception, viz. for all your covenanted people, were not your Parlament a covenanting People, or were not they the Lords People? give us a Criterion, by which wee may bee able to judg and distinguish them: Your Parlament decreed our Invasion; and your whole crowd of wretched ignorant Covenanters, that swallow whatever you propine, invaded us in pursuance of that Act. Wee grant, you of the Kirk and your devoti did profess to abhor it, when you saw the Com­mand fallen into hands you could not manage, and from whom you should bee able to draw no advantage to your partie. Do not wee know, and all men know, that had anie intelligence of the affairs of Scotland at that time, and dare you denie it, That that Invasion was put on by all your Pul­pits, and all your Kirk-men unanimously; and the quarrel grew among your selvs, not upon, Whether there shall bee an in­vasion, but, Who shall invade, and have the conduct? Are not all the pulpits of Edinburg witness of this? and are there not di­vers among us now that were ear-witnesses? was not the work of your pulpits then to make the Sectaries odious to all your people, who knew no more of them but what you told them? and you never cared what you said of them, so it might stir up the people. When you saw that Hamiltons partie had carri­ed it, and that you had conjured up a devil you could not command, and doubted, if hee should succeed in England, it would not go well with you; then you began to have re­cours to your Balaanism, and fall to cursing. Wee believ you did not approve the Invasion when it was made; but wee know verie well, and you know it too, and must confess, if your con­sciences had power enough to make you speak a truth, that if Hamilton's Partie had not invaded, the Kirks Partie had. And do you think wee are so simple to believ that the con­tradictions of your Envie are the productions of your good affe­ction? And that particular disavowings can compensate your National Parlamentarie Enmitie. For shame do not thus discover your ignorance in the Law of Nations, and common reason; by which 'tis evident, when one partie break's a Treatie, the other is free; can you plaie fast and loos at pleasure and keep us bound? was there anie such claus in the Treatie that you should have libertie to break it, [Page 40]if you saw advantage; and wee bee s but yours, could obtrude these things. Suppose your pre­sent Parlament should disavow it, what's that to us? What justice, beyond the Kirk's foolish Stool, hath been inflicted on anie of the guiltie? or, what reparation hath there been made for all the blood and spoil? nay your present Par­lament (forsooth in good time) will not own the Parlament of the Common-wealth of England, Nor Treat about repara­tion, till wee adnul our selvs. Certainly the Civilitie you quote of the Hous of Commons to your General Assemblie, if anie such were, was ill bestowed, and as well requited; how­ever, since it was with you but the Hous of Commons, it seem's it was not the Letter or the Parlament, and therefore binde's them not. If there had been more in the Letter, then your selvs urge, it might yet bee reckoned among manie other of those causless complements cast away upon an ingrateful people, which you never deserved either before or after. You that stood nearer your selvs, and knew clearly the truth of things, surely laught in your sleevs at those mistakes. There are great Errors in the world about Praier, and it's efficacie; take heed of mistakes about it: you would seem to intimate as if the world and the affairs thereof were managed by a power onely, without a wisdom to direct it, which could not tell how to do well to the good, or punish the evil, but as your praiers, as proceeding from a principle of greater light, and more goodness, should direct or impel. It was the going out of the mightie power of God, Ordered by his Omniscient Pro­vidence, and flowing from an infinite goodness and love to his people, and a just indignation against such proud and hy­pocritical men, which wrought their destruction; as for the aestuations of your unsanctified anger, which you call Praier, wee cannot allow them a place in that work.

When the Sectaries interpose with your Religion and Government in Scotland, as you do with ours, you may then testifie against them, and laie what weight you will upon your Covenant; but wee have not yet don it, and your care not to partake of the Sectaries sins, would bee commenda­ble (unless you mean Sectarianism it self in your sens) so as you would bee as careful to reform and repent of your [Page 41]own. Wee Invade you, not for doing your dutie, but upon grounds of clearest JƲSTICE and absolute NECES­SITIE, and recommend our Caus to the blessing of the just God.

[9] Whil'st wee incite men to their dutie in the defence of the Kingdom against invasion, Warning. and encourage them in performance of the same, Wee desire not to bee mistaken, or that anie should so far misconstrue our meaning as though wee did thereby intend to stir up un­to, or approve of an Invasion of the Kingdom of England, or an En­gagement in War against the same. In relation to peace or war in these Nations, wee cannot but verie much commend and approve the resolutions of the Parlament of this Kingdom, exprest in their Let­ter of the 6^th of March to the Speaker of the Hous of Commons, and Instructions sent therewith to their Commissioners 1649, and now again renewed in another Letter to the same Speaker of the Hous of Commons, wherein they acknowledg their obligations, and declare their resolutions to observ the rule of Remonstrating first the breaches of peace, of craving just reparations, of using all fair means, of gi­ving a preceding warning of three moneths before anie engagement in these Kingdoms in war, and do hold forth this waie gf procedour in clearing each others, and dealing plainly, as agreeable, not onely to particular Treaties, and to the manie Ties, Bonds, and De­clarations past betwixt the Kingdoms, but also to the Law of God, and practice of his people in his Word, and to the common law and practice of Heathen Nations, much more of Christian Cove­anted Kingdoms: And plainly profess their confidence, that the Covenanted GOD of these Kingdoms, who did take order with these of this Nation, who did unlawfully engage against England, doth still live and reign, and will bring shame and ruine upon what­soever partie in either of these Nations, that without a necessarie caus, and clear calling, and without observance of the aforesaid rules and order, shall offend and invade the other Nation: In all which wee do agree with them in our judgments and resolutions, and conceiv that the whole Land is bound to tread the same steps, and to walk ac­cording to the same rules.

[9] This your 9^th Paragraph is so fully answered in the Paper this week published. Intituled,The Answer. Colonel Grey's Portman­teau opened, that wee shall not add a line of it more, but refer the Reader thither, this beeing but the recapitulation and Epitome of that Letter.

[Page 42][10] Albeit wee bee diligently to take heed af the danger that threaten's from Sectaries, Warning. and faithfully to bestir our selvs in our places and stations in the use of all lawful and necessarie means for preventing of the same: Yet are wee not to forget, but also with the same diligence and care to take heed of these dangers and snares that threaten the work and people of God from Malignants. Mali­gnancie though a verie evil weed, yet is not pluck't up, but still con­tinue's to bee one of the raging sins of this Land, it beeing the snare wherewith loos hearts, who cannot endure Christ's yoke, are most readily taken. Hence it is that there bee still manie of that stamp in all the three Kingdoms, who drawing encouragements to themselvs, from the influence they have upon the King's Counsels, and hard­ning themselvs in their waie, by the proceedings of Sectaries, do still follow their former designs, and wait for their daie, and would re­joice in the ruine or halting of these who adhere to the Covenant: And experience prov'es, that manie of these, who have seem'd to re­pent of, and abandon that waie, yet do not really shake off that sin that hang's so fast on, but upon new temptations fall again upon that same wickedness, and prove wors then before; which may bee a caution to us not suddenly to trust them. Wee make no doubt, but that Malignants will by all means endeavor that there may bee room left for them to undermine the work and people of God, and engage the Kingdom in a new War, upon terms of their devising, destructive to Religion and the Covenant.

In reference to dangers upon the right hand and upon the left, be­sides anie dutie alreadie represented to us; Wee conceiv it incumbent to us, seriously to recommend the following particulars to all the Land, especially to these that are in trust, either in Judicatories or Armies.

1. First to watch and praie that in nothing they bee deceived, or com short of the dutie, whereunto the Lord call's them in a time of so manie temptations and great difficulties.

2. Everie one would labor not onely for the knowledg of the Truth, but to have the power and love thereof engraven on their hearts, that they may from an in ward principle of grace and spiritual life avoid Error, and all the snares which lead thereunto, and bee encouraged to contend earnestly for the Faith which God hath been pleased to de­liver to his Kirk in this Land.

3 Not onely is open Malignancie to bee avoided, but men would watch that enmitie against the work and people of GOD, which or­dinarily is the birth of jealousie and discontent and of familiar con­versing [Page 43]with such as are dis-affected to, or lukewarm in the caus of GOD, steal not into their hearts, and gain not upon their affections by degrees; Experience almost of all back-sliding times and persons hath proved, that the fellowship of men of a dis-affected or lukewarm temper, blunt's the edg of tenderness and zeal, and steal's away the heart, first from honest instru­ments, and then from the caus it self: There have bin, & are still som in the Land, who in a cunning way of insinuation foment jealousies, and act di­visions, whilst they seem to bee friends to the Caus, and by this means do more harm then others by open violence; These wee would mark and avoid them, that wee may neither endanger our selvs, nor give offence unto o­thers, nor prejudice the Caus of GOD.

4 Wee would take diligent heed, that in nothing wee recede from the just and necessarie desires of this Kirk and Kingdom, propounded to his Majestie, for securing of Religion, and setling the peace of the Kingdom; But that wee cleav closely to our former resolutions in those things: If wee remit and grow slack, and yield in anie of them, as it shall increas the hopes and endeavors of carnal and dis-affected men, so shall it provoke GOD against us to leav us to our selvs, till we be plunged in a pit of backsliding.

5 It concern's us to take heed that wee do not tread the steps of those, who carried on the late unlawful engagement against the Kingdom of England in anie thing alreadie condemned by the Kirk and Kingdom, especially to beware of changing the state of our Caus, or altering the mat­ter of our quarrel, either by laying aside of GOD's interest & taking up of man's, or by preferring or equalling man's interest unto GODS; This were to turn upside down the whole tenor of our Principles and Proce­dours, and not onely to spoil us of all the comfort wee can look for from our Covenant, but also to bring upon our selvs the guilt and reproach of all the sin of those, who carried on that engagement, so much condemned and born testimonie against in this Land.

6 Wee would beware of losing the advantage of defenders, seeing our strength most consist's in the equitie and clearness of the Caus, and the holie and righteous way in pursuing of the same: It shall be better for us, rather to endure straits for a time, then by precipitating and making haste in the dark, to rush against the wall and spoil our selvs of that peace and com­fort, which wee may have in waiting till GOD go before us.

7 Wee desire that all the Land may bee still pouring out their praiers and supplications before GOD, that the King's Majestie may really and wholly abandon all Malignant principles and counsels, and join cor­dially in the Covenant and Caus of GOD.

8 As all the people of GOD throughout the Land would bee careful [Page 44]to discern of dangers and avoid snares from, and compliances with both Sectaries and Malignants, so would Ministers bee diligent and faithful in pressing of these duties, and that in a solid and convincing way, and labor to make it appear that they speak not against the one or the other from passion or interest, but upon the grounds of divine reason, and from the light & autoritie of Gods Word; that so they may make themselvs ma­nifest to the consciences of their hearers, & stop the mouth of gain-sayers.

Finally, all the inhabitants of the Land should beware of pride and carnal confidence, and in an humble way should wait upon the LORD, and tread the steps of holiness and righteousness, and hee who hath don great things for us, shall yet save us. A. KER.

[10] You judg rightlie, that there bee store of Malignants, it may thank you and your Cabals, The Answer. that wee have so manie a­mong us, your joyning with them and espousing their Interest hath more strengthened their hands, than anie proceedings of the Sectaries. Hath not your receiving the head of Malignants for your King, who hath been bred up in no other companie, nor followed other counsels, and whose heart is with them, though hee came to you to serv turns upon you; more hardened their hearts in their way, and animated them in their proceedings than anie thing that the Sectaries have ever don toward them. Wee com now to the particulars of your recommendation.

1. And to this first wee have nothing to say; but desire that you, and wee also, may, without hypocrisie, do the thing you advise unto.

2. To the second; if you mean by contending earnestly for the faith, not anie use of outward carnal strife, but an earnest strife of the soul in it self, in the spirit with God, for his gracious ma­nifestation of the matter of our faith, wee agree for so much; onely wee must expunge your there last words, conteining a li­mitation to your Land; for you maie no more make your selvs a Catholick rule then Rome maie do.

3. Wee desire you impartially to examine your hearts, and see if there bee not in you a great deal of enmitie against the work and people of God; which is ordinarily the work of an Anti­christian pride; whereby you are apt to think, that you are, and that there are no other the people of God but your selvs; And this causeth your jealousie of, and discontent and enmitie a­gainst anie other that laie claim to that priviledg, if they bee not also of the same complexion with you: with whom you will [Page 45]not convers, least you should bee unprejudiced, and so run in danger of a Kirk-censure, by having a better opinion perhaps of a Sectarie, and thereby have your zeal brought to a Christian temper, and directed to move rationally, according to its object. Wee must tell you too, that there are som of your faction in this Land, Malignants jure divino, who by their insinuations and secret infusions, do foment faction, and sow division and diso­bedience to the Government of this Common-wealth; and while they will pretend a conscientiousness, do more harm to the Peace of the Land, then the worst of the old Malignants. These wee shall mark, and caus them to avoid, or otherwise put them into a condition not much capable of doing us mischief.

4. It had been much more your wisdom, and your happiness, if you had taken diligent heed to have had nothing to do with your King, who is not like to bee much bound up by the desires of your Kirk, though you recede nothing from them; or will your Religion bee verie secure by it? As for the peace of your Kingdom, lookers on think you have, by espousing his quarrel, made it verie difficult to establish and settle. Wee in England think you have, more waies then one, provoked God, and you are like enough to bee plunged into a deep pit of a lasting miserie.

5. Wee have onely here with sad and tender hearts to lament the woful blindness and unsavouriness that your formalitie and hypocrisie, by the just judgment of God, hath brought upon you: That upon so serious an occasion, as this is, you should have no other rule to direct your actings and forbearings by, but the condemnations of your Kirk, and your Covenant: Wee blush and mourn while wee read these passages. Wee Sectaries are scan­dalized at it; 'tis not your waie to make us your Proselytes; For wee believ and hold forth, that the sacred Scriptures are the rule of all things to bee believed, and to bee don. Obtrude not your Cove­nant, nor the Kirk upon us; wee shall condemn them both, if they either bee, or do anie thing that is contrarie to that sacred rule. Are these expressions becoming these times of light? wee thought them times of darkness, when the Scriptures were for­gotten; and the sentences, the decrees, the decretals and extrava­gants, were made the rule of a Christian faith and practice: How come's your Church to have gotten such credit, that it should bee emulous with Rome for infallibilitie? Accustom your selvs therefore to Canonical language; and talk not of Gods inte­rest, [Page 46]while you measure it not by God's Word; though by the waie wee must tell you, that word Interest sounded with God, is hardly concord in our ears.

6. You lost your advantage and defence, when you became Invaders; you should have needed no defence against us, if you had not begun to invade, and proceed in such waies as declare you still enemies. If you had been righteous, it had been well for your selvs and us too; and when you are brought to a conditi­on to bee so unrighteous no more, and that wee have such an assurance of it, as you cannot break, wee shall not desire longer to pursue you; and if this tenderness of not moving till God goe's before you, had possessed your Parlament in 1648, wee are confident you had never invaded England.

7. By this it seem's, you are not sure of your King; your selvs doubt, whether hee bee real or not, and free from malignant principles? What meant you to bee troubled with him upon these uncertain terms? here was somthing at the bottom wil finde you out at last: You were in the beginning of you paper verie tender of joining with Malignants, or having anie in your Ar­mie; why not so, as well as have an Armie for a Malignant? for it seem's your selvs dare not undertake hee is not one.

8 Wee wholy like your Counsel to your Ministers, and wish you would take the same Cours the next Papers you Emit; then perhaps wee might receiv som information or conviction; for wee profess our selvs readie to receiv it, when from those grounds and principles; and wee would have you define or describe a Seclarie, and tell us wherein is the poyson of their opinions, and practice; for the name hath no harm in it. And wee begin to take it up and wear it verie contentedly: it seem's to us also that manie of those men you so call are of the best among us, God hath honor'd them to do great service to this Na­tion, for that caus wee both love and honor them, and think wee have greater reason to do so, becaus you hate them, for wee know you pursue an interest quite contrarie to ours.

9. In this you are short, you should have added hypocrisie to your pride and carnal confidence. And truly if they would leav off their swearing, uncleanness and drunkenness among you, which is so verie ge­neral, it would do well. And if in a deep and true humilitie they would retire into themselvs, and search their hearts, and turn from all their evil waies and walk in the waies of righteousness, and holiness (a thing much spoken of, and arrogated by manie that neither have it, nor un­derstand what 'tis) and meet the Lord in the waie of his judgments, and endeavor to agree with their adversarie while hee is in the way, yee may vet bee safe, which would bee verie desirable, so wee may bee satisfied and safe also.