ALthough it be more easie, especially in a time of many corrup­tions and great difficulties, to complaine of diseases and dan­gers, than to find out the right cure and remedies. Yet from our conscience of duty in the charge committed unto us at this time, from our confidence in God, whose providence hath discovered the dangers, and will in his owne time provide sufficient remedies, by the example of the generall Assemblies of this Kirke, and in obedience to your Lordships commands: We find a necessity laid on us, and are most willing according to our knowledge, to shew what we con­ceive to be the best remedies, leaving the further consideration of them to your Lordships wisdome.

Politicke and worldly men are indifferently disposed towards every Re­ligion, and doe conceive that the knowledge of a few Principles joyned with the Profession of Religion, is sufficient for salvation, without dis­cending into particular differences and controversies. But this cannot be a remedy; for we know that Heresies and Sects have bin of old and must still be, that those who are approved may be made knowne.

Reconcilers, who under the specious pretext of pacification betwixt Protestants and Papists, intend no other thing, but in a subtill and crafty way to reduce the Protestant Kirks into Antichristian servitude, and in the golden cup of the whoore of Babell to propine againe unto us all the abominations and filthinesse; these are also to be rejected and abhorred, as presenting us with deadly poison in stead of remedies.

A third there is, but, an unsufficient remedy, we doe with all thankful­nesse and reverence, as becommeth good Subjects, receive the Kings Ma­jesties [Page 3] Declaration of his intentions, for maintaining our Religion, and e­steeme it no small happinesse to live under a Prince, Orthodox in the faith, and a nurse father of the Kirke; But his Majesties disposition to Religion, can neither obliedge his Royall Successours, as the frequent change of Re­ligion in England and other Kingdomes, what the change of the Princes, hath taught us; nor can it preserve us from the Plots and power of Papists, as we have even now learned by the conspiracy of the Irish, English, and Scottish Papists: If they have bin devising mischiefe against us in the very time of his Majesties Declarations; what may be in all reason expected af­terward from the immortall hatred and uncessant working, and what may we looke for presently, if while they are now in armes, their fury shall have successe, and they suffered to prevaile, as they have done in Ireland: We pray God save the King: but we may say, Cursed be their anger for it is fierce, and their wrath for it is cruell.

The first true remedy, which Christian piety and prudence ministers un­to us, is to receive the love of the truth, and to labour for the power of godlinesse. It is never enough observed, that Papistry, Arminianisme and diversity of Sects, or the just judgement of God upon many in the Refor­med Kirks for their formality in Religion: without this one remedy all o­ther remedies will want the blessing of God, and prove unprofitable.

A second remedy is to abhorre and detest Popery, not upon conceit or common opinion, but from the particular and distinct knowledge of the grosse Heresies, in doctrine, manifold Idolatry in worship and cruell ty­ranny in government, which it teacheth, defendeth and practiseth: from which the Lord in a wonderfull mercy hath delivered us: against which so many thousands of the holy and faithfull Martyrs of Christ have borne re­cord of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and wa­shed their robes in the blood of the Lambe, and by which the Lord suffe­reth us and other reformed Kirks, this day to be threatned againe, because we have bin unthankfull for our deliverance, not knowing the greatnesse of the ill from which we have bin delivered, nor considering the heavines of that Antichristian yoake, if it shall be again wreathed upon our neckes which would to God all Kings, Princes, Republikes, and people would take to heart.

The third is, that all true Patriots and professours of the reformed Re­ligion may learne to discerne and know the enemies of the Kirke, which will be found not to be Papists only, but malignants also, who under co­lour of the same profession with us, oppose themselves to the preservation of religion here unto the reformation of Religion in England, no lesse than Papists, who make bands contrary or prejudiciall to our Nationall Cove­nant, [Page 4] who frame and present Petitions, crossing the Petitions of the Com­missioners of the generall Assembly, give information to the Kings Maje­sty, contrary to the Information of the Kirk and Kingdome, doe oppose the publishing of the necessary Declarations of the Kirk, reade papers in the Assemblies of Gods people without warrant from the Kirk, and offer to Presbiters in all the Quarters of the Kingdome, papers contrary to the Declarations of the Commissioners of the Assembly, doe hold their mee­tings against the convention of estates, and if they could find Ministers to joyne with them, would keep Ecclesiasticall Assemblies against the As­semblies of the Kirk, which is the most factious, the most scandalous and the most dangerous way of division and separation that hath bin heard of in any Kirk or Kingdome. And therefore by ecclesiasticall censures and civill punishments to be speedily and powerfully supprest, as a most perni­cious practice tending to the destruction both of religion and peace of this Kingdom, and directly opposite to the propagation of the Gospell and Re­formation of other Kirks, which God by his providence is bringing to passe, and is ardently desired and constantly hoped for by all the godly.

The fourth is, if after all good meanes are used to reduce the enemies of Religion, whether Papists or Malignants to repentance and obedience; the Kirk be constrained by their obstinacy to proceed to the sentence of Ex­communication, some solid course may be taken that the civil punishment, which is according to Law, may be really and timously inflicted, that neither the law be eluded, nor any Delinquent for his greatnes or any o­ther respect be exempted or spared.

The fift is, because through want of sure and timous intelligence, a great part of the people are either left to uncertaine rumours, or sleighted by the negligence of common-bearers, or abused with malignant informations, that they neither know their owne danger, nor the danger of Religion and Country. A solid order would be set downe, thereby intelligence may goe forth from order to every shiere, and so to every Presbitery and particular pastor that the people may be informed both of their danger and duty. And an account taken of the faithfullnesse of men to their matters of so necessary and publike concernment shall be committed, and of parti­cular Ministers, how they acquaint themselves in matters of so great trust.

The sixt is, That for the more speciall applying of some clauses of our Nationall Covenant against the present evils, certaine Articles may be framed to be subscribed and consented unto by all the wel-affected, that we may be more strongly united amongst our selves in the cause of God, and yet all Malignants and secret enemies, who hide themselves under the sub­scription of the Covenant may be discerned and discovered.

The 7^th is, That a Remonstrance may be sent to the Kings Majesty from the Honourable Convention of Estates, expressing the present dangers of the Kirk and Kingdome with a renewed supplication for unity in Religi­on and uniformity of Kirk government, for disbanding of all Popish forces, and for using of means for the Queens conversion.

The 8^th is, Although wee be very well assured of the wisdome and good affection of this Honourable Convention, for which as a meane of great happinesse to this Kirk and Kingdom at this time, we heartily blesse the Lord: yet from the necessity of our duty which enforceth us to ex­hort civill powers to all vigilancy and faithfullnesse, and according to the laudable example of the generall Assemblies of this Kirk in former times of publike danger; we must crave leave to intreat and excite your Lordships, speedily to thinke and resolve upon the best wayes for the safety and secu­rity of the Kingdome against insurrection of Papists and Malignants from within and invasion from without, which may also be a meane to try and discover the minds of the disaffected. And to commit so great trust to none, but to such as are knowne to be zealous of the safety of Religion, of the Kings honour and peace of the Kingdome.

The 9^th is, Because the hearts of people are secure and slow in appre­hending of danger, and the enemies suggest, that there is not any great cause of feare: Whensoever any letters of negotiation and traffique be­twixt Papists or Malignants here, and in other places are intercepted, or a­ny plots or conspiracies discovered, the same without respect to any per­sons whatsoever, may be published in print and sent through the Kingdom, that all may be warned of the danger, and be in readinesse to use the best meanes for their safety, and that such wicked instruments may be censured and punished.

The 10^th is, That for the credit of the Gospell, for keeping the publike faith of the Kingdome, and for promoving the desired and intended unity in Religion and uniformity in Kirk government. All the Articles of the Treaty of Peace betwixt the two Kingdomes be inviolably observed, and justice done without partiality upon the contraveners. And for as much as at the time of the Reformation, and in our late Declarations and Remon­strances in the time of our troubles and since, the expressions of our de­sires of unity and amity with the Kingdome of England have been many and large. And we have many times from our feeling and feares made o­pen profession. That the not reforming or the endangering of Religion there, hath an influence upon our Religion, and the mutuall peace of the Kingdomes; We do humbly intreat, according to the example of the ge­nerall Assemblies of this Kirk, that this Honourable Convention may be [Page 6] pleas'd to take into their gravest consideration, the renewing of the league and association with England for defence of Religion, against the com­mon enemy, and how farre the same may be extended against Prelacy and Popish Ceremonies, for uniformity in externall worship and Church governement.

Thus have we pointed at the principall remedies, which we humbly present to be more particularly resolved upon by this Honourable Conven­tion, as a matter worthy of the gravest deliberation, and the greatest care and diligence, wherein as we shall be required, we shall most willing­ly according to our place and calling, contribute our counsells and endea­vours; beseeching God who never forsaketh his people, when trouble drawes neere; first, to direct, and next to fulfill all your Counsells to his owne glory and the publike good.

THE Convention of the ESTATES of the KINGDOME, having more particularly perused the Remonstrance and desires of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly, doe acknowledg and with great care and solidity of heart, resent the dangers of the reformed Religion: partly from the Rebellious attempts of Papists in Ireland, from their power in England, where they are so long in Armes: and partly from their hopes in this Kingdome, where they have their Plots and correspondence amongst themselves and with their confe­derates abroad. And all these the greater and the more to be taken to heart at this time, that they have the pretence of the Kings service and autho­rity, the confidence of the Queenes zeale to their Profession, and her power to promote their designes; And the assistance of the Prelaticall party, and of Malignants and many others, whom upon naturall and worldly respects, they have drawne against the Oath of the Covenant into their secret, and have united into their combination.

These and the like dangers expressed more fully in the Remonstrance, may be more then sufficient to awake and stirre up this Kirk and King­dome to provide for the preservation of Religion, the safety of the King, and security of the Kingdome, which at this time in reality can no more be seperated and divorced, then in former times when it was professed both by King and people, that the dangers of one were the dangers of all, that they had the same Common friends and Enemies, and did stand and fall together: But while the Estates are thinking upon that which is re­monstranted unto them, many other dangers and distresses, which more directly and immediately threaten and presse this Countrey and Kingdom, offer themselvs to be considered and are necessary to be universally known, That all men, even such as all this time have never taken Religion to heart, may be made sensible of the present danger of their native Countrey, wherein the private danger of every mans life, liberty, Estate and meanes is included.

The Lords of privie Counsell, and the Commssioners for conserving the peace, have already declared that a treacherous and damnable plot of the Irish, English and Scottish Papists, was begun to be discovered by Letters found with the Earle of Antrim, and by the deposition of one of his ser­vants at his death: Now the depositions of the Earle himselfe, and of ano­ther of his servants both upon their oathes, have beene read in face of the Convention, confirming what was written before, of sending Ammunition to the North, and leavying of forces in this Kingdom, and hearing that the Earle had Instructions for making peace betwixt the English and Irish in Ireland. Like as divers Letters are sent hither concerning a Cessation of Armes in Ireland, and the joyning of the English and Irish forces upon oath to goe for England to assist the King as is pretended, but indeed to streng­then and aide the Papists and Prelaticall party.

Our Merchants and Marriners are not only stopped and discouraged in their trade, by Ships, Frigots and Flie-boates of Dunkirk and of Ireland, having Irish Commanders and Souldiers, but their Ships either taken or burnt, they spoiled of their goods and moneyes, and their persons torter'd, kept captives, or sent away quite naked, wherby his Majesties subjects have suffered more by Sea upon the sudden, and in a short time, then they did suffer all the time of our late troubles. And no other cause of all this violence and cruelty pretended, but a Commission and Warrant from Au­thority.

The Earle of New-Castles Forces, Horse and Foote in great Numbers lying at the borders, and ready when they shall be commanded, to make incursion upon the South parts of the Kingdome, as many ill affected are no [Page 8] lesse willing to make trouble in the North.

If the unhappy differences betweene his Majesty and his Parliament, shall not be determined in a Parliamentarie way, but by the sword; Not only, shall the Armie in Ireland be in danger to be lost, but the whole Kingdome will be involved in the common calamity.

Nor is it wisedome against the continuall rumours and threatnings of forraine invasion, to be so negligent and secure, as if there were no ap­pearance or possibility of danger from without. Experience hath proved the contrary in former times; And although there were no other ground. Reason doth teach, that Princes and States use to observe the opportunities of division and breaches amongst their Neighbours.

Although the causes of calling a convention at this time were urgent e­nough, yet the providence of God watching over this Kirk & Kingdom for good, hath discovered divers of the dangers of Religion and of the King­dome, and brought them to light in this opportunity, while the Conven­tion of Estates are sitting, as if they had beene called together to be infor­med of them and to provide remedies against them. And therefore as the Convention is resolved to take this matter which is of so publick and deep concernement into their serious considerations; So doe they desire and re­quire, that the Commissioners of the Assembly, who according to their duty, and the laudable example of the Assemblies of this Kirk in former times, have represented the dangers of Religion, will also with diligence, thinke upon the best and most powerfull remedies and remonstrate them unto the Convention; That by the blessing of God upon their joynt endeavours, so many approaching and imminent miseries may be turned away, and the Religion and peace which God Almighty of his singular mercy, hath granted to this Kirk and Kingdome, may be preserved and transmitted unto the after generations, which shall be honour to God, safety to the King and his Posterity, and happinesse to his people.