Chapter 26

These things premised, we come to the true language of this heavy judgement, and to the reall procuring causes thereof. _For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel._ God is hereby shewing to great and smal in this Land their work and their transgression, that they have exceeded. _He openeth also their eare to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity._ We leave every Congregation in the Land, every Family in every Congregation, & every Person in every Family to examine their own hearts and wayes, & to mourn for Congregationall, Domesticall, and Personall sinnes: Cursed shall they be who have added fuell to the fire, and now bring no water to extinguish it, who had a great hand in the provocation, and bear no part in the humiliation.

Let every one commune with his own conscience, and repent of his own wickednesse, and say, _What have I done_? Wee shall here touch onely the Nationall sinnes, or at least more publick ones, then those of a Family or Congregation, which we also intend for chief causes of a publick Fast and Humiliation. If among our Nobles, Gentrie and Barons, there have been some studying their own private interests more then the publick, and _Seeking their own things more then the things of Christ, or oppressing and defrauding the poore sort and the needie, because it was in the power of their hand_: and if among our Ministrie there have been divers Time-servers, _Who have not renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, whose hearts have not been right before God, nor stedfast in his Covenant,_ who have been secretly haters of the _Power of Godlinesse_, and of Mortification; shall not GOD search all this out? _who will bring to light the hidden things of darknesse, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts._ In these also leaving all men to a judging and searching of themselves, there are many other provocations which are apparent in all or many of this Nation, from which, _though they wash with nitre, and take much sope_, yet they cannot make themselves clean: Because of these _the Land mourneth_, and at these the Sword striketh.

As first, the contempt, neglect, and dis-esteem of the glorious Gospel; our unbelief, unfruitfulnesse, luke-warmnesse, formality, and hardnesse of heart, under all the means of Grace; our not receiving of Christ in our hearts, nor seeking to know him, and glorifie him in all his Offices. The power of Godlinesse is hated and mocked by many to this day, and by the better sort too much neglected, and many Christian duties are not minded: as, _The not speaking of our own words, nor finding of our own pleasure upon the Lords day_: Holy and edifying conference both on that day, and at other occasions: The instructing, admonishing, comforting, and rebuking one another, as Divine Providence ministreth occasion. In many Families almost no knowledge nor worship of GOD to be found: yea, there are among the Ministers who have strenghtened the hearts and hands of the profane more then of the godly, and have not taken _heed to the ministrie which they have received of the Lord to fulfill it._

Next, GOD hath sent the Sword to avenge the quarrel of his broken Covenant: For besides the defection of many of this Nation under the Prelats from our first Nationall Covenant, a sinne not forgotten by GOD, if not repented by men as well as forsaken, our latter Vows and Covenants have been also foully violated, by not contributing our uttermost assistance to this Cause, with our Estates and Lives; by not endeavouring with all faithfulnesse, the discovery, triall, and condigne punishment of Malignants, and evil Instruments; yea, by complying too much with those, who have not onely born Armes, and given their personall presence and assistance, but also drawn and led on others after them in the shedding of our Brethrens blood: Therefore is our sinne made our punishment, and _We are filled with the fruit of our own wayes. These horns now push the sides of Judah and Jerusalem, because the Carpenters when they ought and might, did not cut them off_: And yet so this day the course of Justice is obstructed: The Lord himself will execute justice if men will not. But above all, let it bee deeply and seriously thought of, that our Covenant is broken by the neglect of a reall Reformation of our selves and others under our power: let every one ask his own heart what lust is mortified in him, or what change wrought in his life since, more then before the Covenant? Swearing, Cursing, Profanation of the Lords day, Fornication, and other uncleannesse, Drunkennesse, Injustice, Lying, Oppression, Murmuring, Repining, and other sorts of Prophanenesse still abound too much both in the Countrey & in our Armies: yea, there is no Reformation of some Members of publick Judicatories, which is a great dishonour to God, and foul scandall to the whole Nation.

Thirdly, we have not glorified God according to the great things which he hath done for us, nor made the right use of former mercies: Since he loved us (_a Nation not worthy to be beloved_) he hath made us precious and honourable, but we have not walked worthy of this love: _We waxed fat and kicked, forsaking God who made us, and lightly __ esteeming the Rock of our salvation._ And this great unthankfulnesse filleth up our Cup.

Forthly, Notwithstanding of so much guiltinesse, we did send forth our Armies, and undertake great services presumptuously, without repentance, and making our peace with God, like the Children of Israel, who trusting to the goodnesse of their cause, minded no more, but _Which of us shall goe up first._

It is now high time, under the feeling of so great a burden both of sinne and wrath to humble our uncircumcised heart, _to put our mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope, to wallow our selves in ashes, to clothe our selves with our shame as with a garment_, to justifie Gods righteous judgements, to acknowledge our iniquitie, to make our supplication to our Judge, and to _seek his face_, that he may _pardon our sinne, and heal our Land_. The Lord roareth, and shall not his children tremble? The God of glory thundereth, and _the Highest uttereth his voice, hailstones and coales of fire_, who will not fall down and fear before him? The fire waxeth hot, and burneth round about us, and shall any sit still and be secure? The storm bloweth hard, & shall any sluggard be still asleep? This is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy; who will not take up a lamentation? Let the Watchmen rouze up themselves and others, and strive to get their own, and their peoples hearts deeply affected, and even melted before the Lord: Let every one turn from his evill way, and cry mightily to God, and give him no rest till he repent of the evill, and smell a savour of rest, and say, _It is enough._ He hath not said to the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. _Wee do not mourne as they that have no hope, but we will bear the indignation of the Lord, because wee have sinned against him, untill he plead our cause, and execute judgement for us._ And what though our Candles be put out? So that our Sun shine: What though our honour be laid in the dust? So that GOD work out his own honour, yea, our happinesse out of our shame. In vain have we trusted to the arm of flesh: In the Lord our GOD is the _Salvation of Israel._ No flesh must glory before him, _but he that glorieth, must glory in the Lord._

These duties of Humiliation, Repentance, Faith, Amendment of life, and Fervent Prayer, though the principal, yet are not all which are required at the hands of this Nation, but men of all sorts and degrees, must timely apply themselves to such other Resolutions and Actions as are most suteable and necessary at this time: Which that all may the better understand, and bee excited and encouraged to act accordingly, let it be well observed, that the present state of the Controversie and Cause is no other but what hath been formerly professed before GOD and the world, that is, The Reformation and Preservation of Religion, The Defence of the Honour and Happinesse of the King, and of the authority of the Parliament, together with the maintenance of our Lawes, Liberties, Lives, and Estates. We are not changed from our former principles and intentions, but these who did fall off from us to the contrary party, have now made it manifest, that these were not their ends when they seemed to joyn with us: _Therefore are they gone out from us, because they were not of us._ And as our Cause is the fame, so the danger thereof is not lesse, but greater then before, and that from two sorts of Enemies. First, from open Enemies, we mean those of the Popish, Prelatical, and Malignant Faction, who have displayed a Banner against the Lord, and against his Christ, in all the three Kingdoms, being _set on fire of Hell_, and by the special inspiration of Satan, who is full of fury; because he knowes he hath but a short time to reigne. The Cockatrice before hatched, is now broken forth into a Viper. The danger was before feared, now it is felt; before imminent, now incumbent; before our division, now our destruction is endeavoured; before the Sword was fourbished and made ready; now the _Sword is made fat with Flesh, and drunk with Bloud_, and yet it hungreth and thirsteth for more. The Queen is most active abroad, using all means for strengthening the Popish, and suppressing the Protestant party; insomuch that Malignants have insolently expressed their confidence, that her journey to France shall prove a successeful Counsel, and that this Island, and particularly this Kingdome, shall have a greater power to grapple with before the next Summer, then any which yet we have encountred with. The Irish Rebels have offered to the King to fend over a greater number into both the Kingdomes: The hostile intentions of the King of Denmark, if God be not pleased still to divert and disable him, do plainly enough appear from his own Letters, sent not long since to the Estates of this Kingdome. In the mean time, the hellish crue under the conduct of the excommunicate and forefaulted _Earle of Montrose_, and of _Alaster Mac-Donald_, a Papist and an Outlaw, doth exercise such barbarous, unnaturall, horrid, and unheard of cruelty, as is above expression: And (if not repressed) what better usage can others not yet touched expect from them, being now hardened and animated by the successe which God hath for our humiliation and correction, permitted unto them: and if they shall now get leave to secure the High-Lands for themselves, they will not onely from thence infest the rest of this Countrey, but endeavour a diversion of our Forces in England, from the prosecution of the ends expressed in the Covenant of the three Kingdoms, toward which ends, as their service hath already advantageous, so their continuance is most necessary.

The second sort of Enemies, from which our present dangers arise, are secret Malignants and Dis-covenanters, who may be known by these and the like Characters: Their slighting or censuring of the publick Resolutions of this Kirk and State: Their consulting and labouring to raise Jealousies and Divisions, to retard or hinder the execution of what is ordered by the publick Judicatories: Their slandering of the Covenant of the three Kingdomes and expedition into England, as not necessary for the good of Religion, or safety of this Kingdome, or as tending to the diminution of the Kings just power and greatnesse: Their confounding of the Kings Honour and Authority, with the abuse and pretense thereof, and with Commissions, Warrants, and Letters, procured from the King, by the Enemies of this Cause and Covenant, as if we could not oppose the latter, without encroaching upon the former: Their whetting of their tongues, to censure and slander those whom GOD hath honoured as his chief Instruments in this Work: Their commending, justifying, or excusing the proceedings of _James Grahame_, sometime _Earle of Montrose_, and his Complices: Their conversing or intercommuning by word of writ, with him, or other excommunicate Lords, contrary to the nature of that Ordinance of Christ, and to the old Acts of General Assemblies: Their making merry, and their insolent carriage, at the News of any prosperous successe of the Popish and Malignant Armies in any of these Kingdomes: Their drawing of Parties and Factions, to the weakning of the common Union: Their spreading of Informations, That Uniformitie in Religion, and the Presbyterial Government, is not intended by the Parliament of England: Their Endeavours, Informations, & Sollicitations, tending to weaken the hearts & hands of others and to make them withold their assistance from this Work.

Let this sort of bosome Enemies, and dis-affected Persons, be well marked, timely discovered, and carefully avoided, lest they infuse the poison of their seducing counsels into the mindes of others: Wherein let Ministers be faithful, and Presbyteries vigilant and unpartial, as they will answer the contrary to GOD, and to the General Assembly, or their Commissioners.

The cause and the dangers thereof being thus evidenced, unlesse men will blot out of their hearts the love of Religion, and the Cause of GOD, and cast of all care of their Countrey, Lawes, Liberties, and Estates, yea, all naturall affection to the preservation of themselves, their Wives, Children, and Friends, and whosoever is dearest to them under the Sun (all these being in the visible danger of a present ruine and destruction) they must now or never appear actively, each one stretching himself to, yea beyond his power. It is not time to dally, nor go about the businesse by halfes, nor by _almost_, but _altogether_ zealous: _Cursed be he that doth the Work of the Lord negligently, or dealeth falsly in the Covenant of God._ If we have been so forward to assist our Neighbour Kingdomes, shall we neglect to defend our own? Or shall the Enemies of GOD be more active against his Cause: than his People for it? GOD forbid. If the Work being so far carried on, shall now mis-carry, and fail in our hands, our own consciences shall condemne us, and posterity shall curse us: But if wee stand stoutly and stedfastly to it, the _pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in our hands, and all Generations shall call us blessed._

Let Ministers stir up others by free and faithful preaching, and by admonishing every one of his duty, as there shall be occasion: And if it shall be the lot of any of them to fall under the power of the Enemy, let them through the strength of Christ, persevere in their integrity, choosing affliction rather then sin, glorifying GOD, and not fearing what Flesh can do unto them.

Let our Armies beware of ungodlinesse, and worldly lusts, living godly, soberly, and righteously, avoiding all scandalous carriage, which may give occasion to others to think the worse of their Cause and Covenant, and remembring that the eyes of GOD, Angels, and Men are upon them: Finally, renouncing all confidence in their own strength, skill, valour, and number, and trusting only to the _God of the Armies of Israel_, who hath fought, and will fight for them.

Let all sorts both of high and low degree in this Kingdome, call to minde their Solemne Covenants, and pay their vows to the most High; and namely, that Article of our first Covenant, which obligeth us not to stay nor hinder any such Resolution, as by common consent shall be found to conduce for the ends of the Covenant, but by all lawfull means to further and promove the same; Which lyeth as a Bond upon peoples consciences, readily to obey such orders, and willingly to under go such burdens, as by the publick and common resolution of the Estates of Parliament, are found necessary for the prosecution of the War; considering that the Enemy cannot bee suppressed without a competent number of Forces, and Forces cannot be kept together without maintenance, and maintenance cannot be had without such publick Burdens; Which however for the present, not joyous, but grievous, yet it shall be no grief of heart afterwards, even unto the common fort, that they have given some part of their necessary livelyhood, for assisting so good a work. It is far from our thoughts, that the pinching of some, should make others superfluously to abound: It is rather to bee expected of the richer sort, that they will spare and defalk, not onely the pride and superfluity, both of apparel and diet, but also a part of their lawful allowance in these things, to contribute the same as a free will offering, beside what they are obliged to, by Law or publick Order, after the example of godly _Nehemiah_, who for the space of twelve years, while the walls of Jerusalem were a building, did not eat the bread of the Governour, that hee might ease by so much the Peoples Burthens and Bondage.

In our last Covenant, there is another Article which (without the oblivion or neglect of any of the rest) we wish may be well remembred at this time; namely, That we shall assist and defend all that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining and pursuing thereof and shall not suffer our selves, directly or indirectly, by whatsoever Combination, Perswasion, or Terror, to be divided and withdrawne from this blessed Union and Conjunction, whether to make defection to the contrary part, or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this Cause: According to which Article, mens Reality and integrity in the Covenant, will be manifest and demonstrable as well by their omissions, as by their commissions; as well by their not doing good, as by their doing of evil; _He that is not with us, is against us, and he that gathereth not with us, scattereth._ Whoever he be that will not, according to publick order and appointment, adventure his person, or send out these that are under his power, or pay the Contributions imposed for the maintenance of the Forces, must be taken for an Enemie, Malignant, and Covenant-breaker, and so involved both into the displeasure of GOD, and Censures of the Kirk, and no doubt into civil punishments also to be inflicted by the State.

And if any shall prove so untoward and perfidious, their iniquitie shall be upon themselves, and they _shall bear their punishment_: Deliverance and good successe shall follow those who with purpose of heart cleave unto the Lord, and whose hearts are upright toward his glory. When wee look back upon the great things which GOD hath done for us, and our former deliverances out of several dangers and difficulties which appeared to us insuperable, _experience breeds hope_: And when we consider how in the midst of all our sorrows and pressures, the _Lord our God hath given us a naile in his holy place_, and hath lightned our eyes with the desireable and beautiful sight of his own glory in his Temple, we take it for an argument that he hath yet _thoughts of peace_, and a purpose of mercy toward us; _Though for a small moment he hath forsaken us, yet with great mercies he will gather us_ as Hee hath lifted up our Enemies, that their fall may be the greater, and that he may cast them downe into desolation for ever. _Arise, and let us be doing; The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our Refuge._

_Act against Lykwakes._

Whereas the corrupt Custome of Lykwakes hath fostered both Superstition and Profanitie through the Land, This present Assembly Discharges the same intime comming, And appoints Presbyteries To take speciall care for trying and censuring the Transgressors of this Act within their several Bounds.

_Act recommending to Sessions To have the Printed Acts of Assemblie._

The General Assembly, considering how necessar it is, That every Session in a Parish have the Acts of the Assembly for their use, Doth therefore seriously recommend to every Parish and Session To buy the Printed Acts of the Assembly; and Ordains Presbyteries To crave account hereof from every Minister, before their going to Provinciall Assemblies: And likewise, That every Provinciall Assembly, crave account from Presbyteries in their trials, if every Session be so provided, and that they try the diligence, of Presbyteries and Ministers used for that effect.

13. _Februar. 1645. Postmeridiem._ Sess. Ult.

_Act for censuring the Observers of Yule-day, and other superstitious dayes, especially if they be Schollars._

The General Assembly taking to their consideration, The manifold Abuses, Profanitie, and Superstitions, committed on Yule-day and some other superstitions dayes following, Have unanimously concluded, and hereby Ordains, That whatsoever Person or Persons hereafter shall be found guilty in keeping of the foresaid superstitious dayes, shall be proceeded against by Kirk Censures, and shall make their publick Repentance therefore in the face of the Congregation where the offence is committed: And that Presbyteries and Provinciall Synods Take particular notice how Ministers try and censure Delinquents of this kinde, within the severall Parochines. And because Schollars and Students give great scandal and offence in this, That they (being found guilty) be severely disciplined and chastised therefore by their Masters: And in case the Masters of Schools or Colledges be accessorie to the said superstitious profanitie, by their connivence, granting of liberty of Vacance to their Schollars at that time, or any time thereafter, in compensation thereof, That the Masters be summoned by the Ministers of the Place to compeir before the next ensuing Generall Assembly, there to be censured according to their trespasse; And if Schollars (being guilty) refuse to subject themselves to Correction, or be Fugitives from Discipline, That they be not received in any other Schoole or Colledge within the Kingdom.

_Act for encouragement of Schollars to Professions in Schooles._

In respect of the paucitie of men, fit and willing to professe Divinitie in the Schooles, by reason that few frame their studies that way, The Generall Assembly thinks it fit, That the Provincials diligently consider and try who within their Bounds most probably may bee for a Profession in the Schooles, And report their names to the following Generall Assembly, that such may be stirred up and encouraged by the General Assembly, to compose and frame their studies, that they may be fit for such places.

_Act for restraining Abuses at Pennie Brydals._

The Generall Assembly, considering the great profanitie and severall Abuses which usually fal forth at Pennie-Brydals proving fruitful Seminaries of all lasciviousnesse and debausherie, as well by the excessive number of people conveened thereto, as by the extortion of them therein, and licentiousnesse thereat, To the great dishonour of God, the scandall of our Christian Profession, and prejudice of the Countreys welfare; Therefore they Ordain every Presbyterie in this Kingdome, To take such special care for restraining these Abuses flowing from the causes foresaid, as they shall think fit in their severall bounds _respectivè_: And to take a strict accompt of every Minister and Session of their obedience to the Ordinance of the Presbyteria theyeanent, at the Visitation of every Parish Kirk in their Bounds.

_Act Discharging deposed Ministers to be reponed to their former Places._

The Generall Assembly, considering the manifold prejudices redounding to the Kirk in Generall, and private Congregations in particnlar; through the restoring of Ministers once deposed to the same places wherein formerly they served: As also, how derogatorie it would prove to the weight of that sentence of Deposition; Do therefore ordain, that no Minister deposed, shall be restored again into that place where formerly he served.

_Renovation of the Commission for the publick Affairs of the Kirk._