Chapter XXIV: Act 131: , Par. 8, K. Ja. 6, and the subjects’ liberties, who ought (21)

Moderatour said—I thinke there is no question; but if the question had been made to the Generall Assembly when the Confession of Faith was subscryved, Whither they shall observe Kneilling, Pasche, Zuill, &c., but many would have declaired negativelie; and if ever they had thought that they should have bein introduced upon this Kirk, they would have bein more particular in it, albeit the generall is cleare enough, as it is cleare by the interpretation of the Confession of Faith according to the Acts of the Kirk, that they are abjured, and therefore to be removed. And, truelie, considering the great woe they have brought in this Kirk, we have verie great reason to rejoyce in God, and to give his Majestie heartie thankes that hes brought us to this comfortable conclusion; and ye may see how comfortable a thing it is for brethren to meit togither thus in ane Assembly, whereof we have bein depryved thir many yeares, and that these Articles hath bein the caus of this division. It is notour how many honest and faithfull servands of Christ hes bein put from the ministrie, to verie hard shifts, and are not yet admitted, of whom I thinke notice should now be taken; ffor in all halcion tymes, when sore troubles were blowen over the head of Gods Kirk, there hes bein still notice taken of these whom God made sufferers; and ye know how many of ourselves hes bein threatened to have bein put from our places; and if they had gotten their will, there had bein few honest ministers left in the land; and therefore we have caus to blesse God that we are delivered from these corruptions.

Then there was a letter produced from the Bishop of Cathnes, declairing that the caus of his not coming to the Assembly was his bodilie sicknes and his extreame disease, wherein he acknowledged the lawfulnes of the Assembly, and declaires that willinglie he had subscryved the Covenant; and it was found that he had not subscryvit the Bishops Declinatour.

My Lord Weymes declaired—That he had bein at the Bishop of Glasgow; and he said that the Bishop regrated that he had put his hand to the Declinatour, and told that he had intention to come to the Assembly, but the Commissioner diswaded him; for Declinatour, sayes he, they urgit him with it, and he did it in great suddentie, and repents it; and said he would take his hand from it were it not that it would be disgraceful to him; and when I desyred him to give two lynes under his hand declairing his submission to the Assembly, he said he had not his wittis about him, and desyred the Assembly that he should be dealt with as those who had submitted themselves. And the Assembly answered, that since he was amongst the subscryvers of the Declinatour, he behoved to have his owne place.

* * * * *

[_Bishop of Edinburgh._]

Then there was Articles of Accusation given in against Mr David Lindsay, pretendit Bishop of Edinburgh; and he was called upon and his procurator, and his proces red, and probations thereof.

Then Mr Androw Jaffray and Sir John MᶜKenzie declaired that they saw him bow to the altar. Mr Andro Kerr and [George] Dundas saw him dedicat a kirk after the Popishe maner.

Then the Rolles wer called.

Mr Alexʳ Kerse said—He is a violent brecker doune of the hedge whereof I spacke the last day; and, seeing he continowes obstinat, let the sentence of excommunication byte him.

And the whole Assembly in one voyce voited to his deposition and excommunication.

Then the Moderatour said—Ye see the Assembly agries, without a contrare voit, that he shall be deposed from his present office of Episcopacie, and from all function of the ministrie. I am perswadit that this Assembly is seeking their salvation allanarlie; and we know no other remeadie for gaining their soules but this only; therefore let us doe it out of compassion to the Kirk of God and him also.

* * * * *

[_Bishop of Aberdeen._]

Then the Bishop of Aberdeines proces was red, and the probation thereof.

Mr John Row declaired, that he subscryved the Protestation given in to the Parliament 1606, and that there was no man more against Bishops in the toune of Stirling nor he; and he was mightilie offendit at Mr John Grahame, who was taking a bishoprick; and, since that, all the brethren here present were in mynd he should be given to the Divell for betraying the liberties of the Kirk; yet nevertheless, he was the man that tooke out the bishoprick out of Mr John Grahames hand. I remember when he subscryvit the Protestation, he subscryvit verie neir the end of the paper, and it began to weare; when he began to get the bishoprick, we said he was going to loupe the dyke.

The Moderatour said—Mr Patrick Symsone said to me, he never lyked Mr Wᵐ Coupar, and Mr Adam Ballantyne; for they were too violent against Bishops, without any light, or good reasons; and, therefore, he feared that they should never be constant.

Auldbar and Mr David Lyndsay declaired that they, being in the Bishops house, when Auldbar said, “The only meane to take away abuses and disorders in this Church was a free General Assembly,” he arose in a great flame and passion, and said, “The first article that he would make then will be to pull the crowne off King Charles head.”

Moderatour said—Though his hand be not at the Declinatour, yet he has not submitted himselfe to the Assembly, and this would be considered beyond the rest, (I may call it so,) his apostacie; for the being once of our opinion, and now so far degenerat, that he is become _osor sui facti_.

Mr Androw Cant said—There entered a contest betwixt Craigievar and this Mr Ballantyne, concerning the patronage of the Kirk of Kinghorne, and was long agitat before the Lords. Alwayes Craigievar presented a Cusing of his, and the Bishop impedit him, pretending that the King had the right, and, consequentlie, the Bishop of Aberdeine. At last, the Bishop gave Craigievar 160 merks to desist, to the end that the Bishops sone might get the place.

Mr Thomas Mitchell declaired that he was present by accident when he did consecrat a chappell, the chappell being richlie hung, and all the rest of it. The lady came in, and gave him a catalogue of the things that are within, which she had wrought with her owne hands, and desyred that they might be dedicat to God, and so delyvered the key to the Bishop, who went in and preached a sermon of consecration, and baptized a child, and then went to their feisting. His text was upon Solomons dedication of the temple.

Then the rolles were called.

Mr Alexʳ Kerse said—Besyde that he is guiltie of the breake of the Caveats, there are many grosse faults proven against him; and therefore, albeit he hes not subscryvit the declinatour, he deserves deposition and excommunication. And the whole Assembly voited the samine, except Mr Richard Inglis, and two or three more, who voited onlie to his deposition.

* * * * *

[_Bishop of Ross._]

Then the Bishop of Ross was called on, and his procurator, and proces red and the probation thereof.

The Provest of Dumfries said—That when he was in their toune on the Sabbath day, they expected his comeing to the kirk, and layd cushoons for him; yet he came not, but went to a excommunicat Papists house, and stayed all day.

Lowdoun said—He was sent up to Court by the Counsell of the Bishops for the Kirk, that order might be tane for Papists; and, instead of that, he brought doune Articles from them, and newis came to this toune to give in the Bishops Declinatour.

Then the rolles were called.

Mr Alexʳ Kerse said—He is the vive example and perfyte paterne of a proud Prelat, and enters in composition with the Pope himselfe; and, therefore, let him have his due deposition and excommunication. And the whole Assemblie, in ane voice, voited the same.

* * * * *

[_Bishop of Dumblane._]

Then the proces against Mr Ballantyne, pretendit Bishop of Dumblane, and the probatione thereof, was red. The rolles were called.

Mr Alexʳ Kerse said—I heard, of late, a notable sermon by a brother in Edinburgh, wherein he sent him to the land of Nod: and let him be sent there and arreasted there, with deposition and excommunication. And the whole Assembly, in ane voyce, except Keir, voited the same.

Then the complaint agᵗ Mr James Forsyth, minister of Kilpatrick, was given in; and, efter the reading of the proces, and probation thereof,

The Moderatour said—I think there is two great faults in that proces; that, upon the Saturday before the Communion, (at night,) the Sunday morning, he was writting of summonds to send athart his paroche; and, upon the Sabbath day efter the first sermone, when the tables were going to serve, he brought ane Officer at Armes to the end of the communion table, in Presence of 1600 communicants, and caused him reid Letters of Horning. And lykewayes he hes both declyned the Presbitrie and the Assemblie. He is alreadie suspendit; and, therefore, ye are to give your judgement whither he merits deposition or not?

Then the rolles were called, and the whole Assemblie voited to his deposition.

Moderatour said—We hope God shall give him repentance, that he may make use of his gifts afterward; but, for the present, I, in name of the Assemblie, discharge him from all function in the ministerie, and declaires his place to be vacant.

* * * * *

Sess. 18.—Decʳ ij, 1638.

After in calling upon the name of God,

The Modʳ nominat some for clearing of the proces against the Bishop of Cathnes: Alexʳ Monro, Mr Wᵐ Gray, Mr George Gray, Mr [George] Leslie, Mr John Murray of Pennyland, to conveine at my Lord Eglintouns lodging.

* * * * *

[_Bishop of Orkney._]

The Moderatour said—There are heir two writes come in my hand concerning the Bishop of Orkney. The ane may be proven by witnes in this house, and the uther is more large, punctuallie deduced and subscryved be 12 ministers of Orkney. If the generall satisfie you not, ye shall heare the particular.

Then Mr George Grahame, pretendit Bishop of Orkney, was called on, and his proces red, and probatione thereof. After the reading thereof,

The Moderatour said—Ye see what he hath committed against all the Caveats, and what tyrranicall usurpation he hath exercised above the ministrie, and many uther particulars which ye heare in the proces; and, notwithstanding of all this, he hath be his letter offered a kynd of submission to the Assembly, in saying, if God spair his lyfe, he will be readie to doe and answer whatever the Assembly shall impose and requyre; and, lykewayes, he hes not subscryved the declinatour, and, therefore, it would seeme that he deserves not such a sentence as some uthers.

Mr Walter Stewart objected that there was nothing in his letter which could import a formall submission; but was rather to be understood of his intention to answer to what was to be layed against him.

It was answered by my Lord Lowdoun, that it was a materiall submission, howbeit not formall; and to this answer the Assembly applaudit.

Furthermore, Mr Walter Stewart declaired, that he had gotten information, under the clerks hand writt of Leith, that there was a gentlewoman there present delivered of a childe, and she declaired that Mr Patrick Oliphant, minister at Scheitland, sister sone to the forsaid Bishop, was father to the chyld, and this the Bishop knew before Lambes, and, notwithstanding, tooke no order therewith.

Then the Moderatour answered—Whither or not the pretendit Bishop of Orkney, (not having subscryved the declinatour, and given in a materiall submission to this Generall Assembly,) should be deposed, or have any further censure? To the which, after calling of the rolles, the Assemblie did agree; and, farder, if he did continow obstinat, he should be excommunicat.

* * * * *

[_Bishop of Murray._]

Then there was given in a proces against Mr John Guthrie, pretendit Bishop of Murray, wherein it was found that he had transgressed all the Caveats. It was objected that the Assembly could not proceed against him, in respect he was not personallie summondit. The clerk answered that he had summonded him at the Kirk of Edinburgh and Leith, the ordinarie places of citatione in ecclesiasticall causes. 2ᵈˡⁱᵉ, That he was personallie summonded; but the executions of the summonds was not produced; 3ᵈˡⁱᵉ, It was answered, that the 2 Caveats obleissed every ane of them to compeir before everie Assemblie, to make accompt of their doings; 4, That the protestatione was sufficient, protesting that it might be instead of summonds for them.

Mr Androw Cant said that he knew him to be a common ryder on the Sabbath day, and lykewayes that he was a prettie dancer, as Mr Thomas Abernethie can testifie. At his daughters brydell, he danced in his shirt. Lykewayes, Mr Androw said, that he conveyed some gentlewoman to a chappell, to make a pennance, all hair footed. This Mr Thomas Abernethie declaired to be of trueth.

Mr Frederick Carmichaell said, that the Bishop being, by occasion, ryding from the church on the Sunday morning, he was desyred to stay all the night, becaus it was the Sabbath day. He answered, he would borrow that piece of the day from God, and be as good to him some uther gate.

The Moderatour said—I think, though he hes not subscryvit the declinatour, yet deposition should passe against him, if the Assemblie thinks it good; and, if he declair his contumacie afterward, when the sentence of the Assemblie comes to his hearing, they will declair that he shall be worthie of excommunication.

Then the rolles were called.

Mr Alexʳ Kerse said—His not subscryving the declinatour deserves some mitigating consideration. Therefore, I think he should be deposed for the present, not exeeming him from excommunication, if he continow obstinat; for he deserveth both; and the rest of the Assembly voited the same. Some voited that he should make his repentance in the church of Edinburgh, where, he said, he wᵈ be more vyld in the eyes of uncals, for the pleasure of his king. Twelfe did voite he should presentlie be excommunicat.

* * * * *

[_Bishop of Glasgow._]

Then the Bishop of Glasgow was called on, and his proces red.

Mr David Lindsay said—I and Doctor Guild went in to him, and we represented unto him the fearfull caice he was in till that he did submitt himselfe to the Generall Assembly, and pas from his declinatour. He began to make a numeration of the good turnes he had done in favours of this Kirk against Papists, and requeasted the Assembly, for Gods caus, that the sentence of excommunication might not be given out against him till the latter pairt of the Assembly.

The Moderatour said—It would seem that, notwithstanding the Assembly shall find him worthie of excommunication, yet, if betwixt the decreit and pronouncing of the sentence, he shall give his submission, the sentence of excommunication shall be suspendit.

Mr George Young declaired—That my Lord Lindsay Sinclair, Mr Androw Ramsay, and himselfe, had bein presentlie in at the said Bishop, and whillas, by your Lordships advyce, he was condescending upon some doctrines for satisfaction of the Assemblie, the said Mr George Young declaired that he drew up a writt what he was speaking and gave it to himselfe to read, and, as he was reading it, he swarfed; and, after that, he protested that he could not take it to his consideration for that tyme, and therefore besought the Assemblie, for Gods caus, to delay the sentence for the tyme, and desyred that his former lyfe would be tane notice of, and that he was never violent in urging the novations; and, for the declinatour, he said it was not only offered unto him, but he was commandit to subscryve it.

The Ministers of Glasgow answered—That there was no man more violent in urging the Service Booke, &c.

Mr Alexʳ Spittall declaired that the said Bishop did transport two Ministers at his oune hand, without the advyce of the Presbitrie or Paroches. Then the rolles were called.

Mr Alexʳ Kerse said—It is a heavie matter that ane of his age should choose to die under a vaine title of honour, and to cast him under the danger of such a unhappie viaticum, and not rather to joyne himselfe with this honourable Assemblie. My opinion is, that he be presentlie deposed, and, if he did not submitt himselfe to the Assemblie before it end, let him be excommunicat.

Then the rest of the Assemblie voited that he was worthie of deposition and excommunication, but that his excommunication should be delayed, to try if he would submitt himselfe.

* * * * *

_Bishop of Argyle._

Then the pretendit Bishop of Argyle, Mr James Fairlie, was called on, and the Articles proven, before the Committie, wer red: whereon it was found that he had broken the Caveats, and uther guiltinesse beside.

Moderatour said—There are diverse degries of guiltinesse, and, proportionallie, there should be degries of censures; and, if the Assemblie thinke good, let these be deposed, and, upon their repentance, let them be receaved to the Ministerie. Then the rolles were called.

Mr Alexʳ Kerse said—It is said of one that he was so vigilant a Consul that he sleeped nane all his tyme, for he was entered in the morning and put from it ere night. So was it with this Prelat; for he sleipit but few nights in his Episcopall nest, and was not weill warmed in his Cathedrall chyre, whill both chyre and cuschane was taken from him. Therefore, depose him only; and, if he obey not the sentence of the Assemblie, let him be excommunicat. The Assemblie voited the same.

* * * * *

_Bishop of the Isles, &c._

Then was the Bishop of the Isles called on, and his proces red. The rolles being called, the Assemblie did all agrie to his deposition; and, concerning the order of his repentance or excommunication, let it be thought upon afterward.

The Assemblie concludit that the Billes should come in only according to the order of the rolles. A reverend Father, Mr William Livingston, Minister at Lanark, gave in his excuse to the Assemblie. Because of his sicknes he behooved to retire hame, and cravit leave of the Assembly, whilk was granted.

Then the Complaint was given in against D. Andro Lawmont; was remitted to the Presbitrie of Kirkcaldie, and the Commissioners of Coupar and Sᵗ Androwes were joyned to them.

Then there was a proces given in against Mr John MᶜNaught, Minister at Chirnsyde; and, after the calling of the rolles, the Assemblie voited that, for deserting of his Paroche, declining his Presbitrie, and preaching of Arminian doctrine, he absolutelie should be deposed, and his kirk declaired to be vacant.

The proces against Mr Francis Harvie was referred to the Commission at Edinburgh. Then Mr Thomas Fosters proces was given in, containeing many grosse and blasphemous poynts; and, after the calling of the rolles, the Assemblie voited that such a minister as he should be put off in a singular manner, and deposed from the ministerie.

* * * * *

Sess. 19.—12 Decʳ 1638.

_Bishop of Dunkell._

After prayer to God, there was a letter red, from Mr Alexʳ Lindsay, Bishop of Dunkell, wherein he had declaired, that he had subscryved their Covenant—that the Assemblie was lawfull—and that he submitted himselfe to it, and supplicat the Assemblie that he might die a Minister at Lyneydors. After that his proces was red,

The Moderatour said—Ye heare what is said against him—the common Episcopall transgressions, and many grosse thinges besyde; and it would seeme verie hard that he should be continowed in the Ministerie, except he make his publict repentance, and make some discourse of the Corruptions of the Kirk; and, if he be not able to come to the kirk, let some brethren of the Ministerie, of the gravest number, be sent to him to be witnesses of his recantation and repentance.

Then it was questioned whether the foresaid Bishop should be deposed from the Bishoprick, and all functions in the Ministerie, or whether he should be deposed from his Prelacy only, and, according to his desyre, continowed Minister at Lyneydors?

Mr Androw Cant said—I lyke the Bishops notion weill, that desyres to die a Minister; but it is to be feared that he have respect to his owne credit and meanes, as in former tymes, and so many poore saules disappoynted.

Mr David Dick said—If we believe that Episcopacie is such a wrang to the Crowne of Christ Jesus, and to this Kirk of Scotland, and we believe that the making of so many saules to starve yon way, it is a bloodie sin before God. We must have a speciall cair of restoiring God to his honour; and, therefore, how sicke soever he be, he can write a letter of his full dimission and repentance, utherwayes let him be deposed and excommunicat.

Lowdown said—Howbeit he had sent a formall dimission to the Assembly, it is necessar to use deposition, and, I thinke, what is done heir should be drawen up and sent to him, that he may make his dimission formall, and may restoir what he hes wrongouslie detained pertaining to the Kirk.

After much reasoning to and fro,

The Moderatour stated the question—Whether or not upon his dimission, which is singular, he shall be deposed, not only from his Prelacie, but from all function of the Ministerie? Then all the rolles were called, and all the Assemblie except 20, resolves upon this—That he shall be deposed from his Episcopacie; yea, and from the exercise of all Ministeriall function, till such tyme as he satisfie by his paines these who are sent unto him by the Assembly, whose names follow:—Mr Robert Murray, Mr John Robertsone, Mr Alexʳ Petrie, Mr George Muschet, Mr Wᵐ Menzies, Mr George Symmer, Mr John Robisone; the quorum fyve. The provyding of the kirk of Lyneydors, and a competent allowance for it was referred to the Presbitrie.

* * * * *

[_Bishop of Cathnes._]

Then the Articles against the pretended Bishop of Cathnes was given in. After the reading thereof, there was some of his noble friends desyred that he might be continowed in the functione of the Ministerie since he hes acknowledgit the Assembly and subscyvit the Covenant.

Lowdoun said—He behooved to be deposed and suspendit from any function of the Ministerie, till he take him to a particular flock.

The Shirreff of Teviotdaile said—That he was willing to have tane him to the Ministerie, but the High Commission put him from it, and would either have him keip his Bishoprick or quyte them both. Lykewayes, within this short tyme, there was a fast indicted for the good of the same caus, and Mr James Burnett, the Minister of the Paroche, would not keip the fast. He keipit it in his house, and a number of the Paroche resorted to him, and he may doe good in that Paroche, for the people hes a love to him, and a great detest to their Minister.

Moderatour said—There is a difficultie in it. We cannot for the present interpret him to be a Minister, becaus he hes not a particular flock; and so it would seeme the greatest favour the Assemblie can do to him is this—that upon his repentance they may admitt him to a particular flock.

Lowdoun declaired that when the High Commission put him from the Ministrie, he gave in ane protestation against Mr James ________, whom they put in his place; and there is 50 in Jedburgh that subscryvit the protestation.

The Moderatour said—The question is concerning his deposition; for I thinke ye doubt not of his Episcopall office; but whether he shall be deposed from all function of the Ministerie?

Then the rolles were called, and the whole Assemblie agried upon his deposition from his Episcopall office; and, upon his repentance, to be admitted to the Ministerie.

Mr Androw Rollock, Minister at Dunce, declaired that he had ignorantlie subscryved the Bishops declinatour; and now, having gotten light, he was content to pass from it.

Moderatour said—There are a number of the Bishops who are ordained to be excommunicat, and now we are to consider the tyme when it shall be done—the persones that shall pronounce the sentence—the place where—and the maner how it shall be done; or whether the sentence shall be delayed any longer or not?

Lowdoun said—The delaying of the sentence would seeme to be verie prejudiciall. For these that are absent out of this toun, there is no appearance that we shall get them to deall with; neither is there any appeirance of their repentance as yet who hes subscrivet the declinatour: And becaus we know not what interruptions may be shortlie, it is good to make use of the occasion which God, of his great mercie, offers to red his Church of them; and it is the justice of God recompenceing their pride, on the ane hand, and the trumpet of his mercie to recall them to repentance, if it be possible, on the uther hand; and so the delay of such a good worke seemes to be verie dangerous. As for the place, where ye are seemes to be verie fitt; and for the persone, doubtlesse it must be yourselfe who is the mouth of this Assembly, to pronounce the Judgement of the Assembly against them, that this Kirk may be delyvered from the thraldome it was in.

The Moderatour said—There was no practice of the Kirk for that, and that Bishop Adamsone was not excommunicat by the Moderatour of the Assembly.

Nevertheless, the Assembly desyred that the Moderatour himselfe would take it upon him, and that he should delyver a Sermon in the same church the morne at Ten hours, and let them be excommunicat. This was concludit be the consent of the whole Assemblie.

Mr James Cunninghame, Minister at Sum ... oke, gave in a Bill to the Assembly, desyreing earnestlie that he might be transported, for many weightie reasones, such as his age and unabilitie to travell throw that paroche, being 9 or 10 myles boundes, and having small meanes of provision; that for thir thrie yeares he gat no stipend, and many uther pressing difficulties which the Assemblie fand to be true, and granted him libertie of transportatioun, by advyce of the Presbytrie, when God sends occasion.

* * * * *

Sess. 20—Decʳ 13, 1638.

[_Deposition of the Prelates._]

[In the MS. from which this report is transcribed, the Sermon by the Moderator and Act of Deposition of the Bishops, appointed at the former sederunt, are entirely omitted. As, however, that was one of the most solemn and important proceedings of the Assembly 1638, we deem it incumbent on us to supply the void; and we have been so fortunate as to become possessed of the means for doing so. In the year 1762, Alexander Henderson’s Sermon, including the Act of Deposition, was published in a small pamphlet, entitled, “_The Bishops’ Doom_,” of which the whole title and a prefatory note are subjoined;[139] and although the particular record from whence that publication was taken is not specified in the note, we find its tenor corroborated by Mr David Laing’s MS. Report, formerly referred to (p. 128), in which the Sermon is given. These two copies we have accordingly collated, and what follows, therefore, may be considered as substantially correct.]

SERMON.

Psalm cx. 1.

“The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”

For taking up the meaning of this text, we need only have recourse to a commentary that the Lord himself makes upon it in the gospel, Mark, xii. 36: for he asked of the Pharisees concerning the Messiaa, _Whose son is he?_—they answered, _The son of David._ He replies, If he be the son of David, _How is it, then, that David, by the Holy Ghost, calls him his Lord?_ And so we have here a testimony of the Spirit speaking in David, a thousand years before Christ came in the flesh, that the Word would be _made flesh_, and that he would set up his tent and tabernacle amongst us; for so is _the word_ that is used in the 1st of the gospel according to St John rendered; and that amongst the children of men he should drink of the brook, _i. e._, stiff, bitter things, as is expressed afterward in the psalm; and that he having done so, would be exalted above all creatures in heaven, and, in the fulness of his glory and majesty, sit down at the right hand of the Father, and should from thence rule and dispose upon the affairs of his Church magnificently and mightily, according to the worthiness and excellency of so great a king and so glorious a majesty, till at last all his enemies, both foreign and intestine or domestic, should be brought low, and made his footstool; and as they had trodden upon the holy blood of the Son of God, he should tread upon them, and pour shame and confusion upon them, and utter banishment from his face for ever.

Right honourable and well-beloved, we are but short-sighted naturally; we look upon persons and things that are present, and cannot look afar off to things that are past, neither have we a very great prospect to look forward to things that are to come. And as our sight is short, so it is weak also: if we but look upon things here below, our eyes are soon dazzled with the splendour of them, although, when all is done, their lustre be not great; we cannot get in with our sight to things that are above. But if we will take the right view of this text, it would help us both in the one and in the other; for you see it leads from that which is past to that which is to come.

“The Lord said.” This hath an eye to the time to come. There is a time coming when all the enemies of God, the most proud and insolent of them, shall be made the footstool of God, shall be brought low, and made base and contemptible. And it helps us to lift up our eyes from things on earth to things above, especially to Christ himself, who is in the highest heavens, at the top of glory and majesty, the right hand of the Father. “The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand,” &c.

In these words, beloved, we may see three parts, which determine our method of speaking. The _first_ is the calling and ordination of Christ unto his kingdom: “The Lord said unto my Lord.” The _second_ is the dignity and glory to which he is exalted in his kingdom: “Sit thou at my right hand.” The _third_ is that glory and triumph that shall be manifested in him at last: “And his enemies shall be made his footstool.” I shall speak very shortly of these, because ye know preaching is not this day’s principal exercise.

We begin with the _first_, the calling and ordination of Christ unto his kingdom: “The Lord said unto my Lord.” Here ye would look first unto the saying and then unto the persons: “The Lord said unto my Lord.” Ye know we used to observe, that there be two sorts of speech or sayings: one that is secret within our breasts, and which we keep in silence within ourselves, as long as we think convenient; another is the expression of our thoughts, when we think meet to make them known. Ye know there is one uses to be called λογος ενδιαθεκος προφορικος. Like unto these two, there is in the Lord, (1.) His purpose, counsel, and decree, kept secret within himself. (2.) There is the expression, or the manifestation and proclamation of his purposes and decrees unto the children of men, after what manner and in what measure it seems good unto his wisdom. Of the _first_, the second psalm speaks, “I have anointed him to be King;” and there the reason is given—“Thou art my son,” &c.; then there is the revelation of it—“I have declared the decree.” Many times was this said before Christ’s coming in the flesh, and the prophets are full of it. I need not spend time on it, especially in such an audience as this. Now, this is laid down as the ground, “The Lord hath said:” his decree, prophecy, and predictions are laid down as a ground of this princely office of the kingdom of Christ, and of that high glory and dignity to which he is exalted; for what the Lord has said, it must be done of necessity.

There is a very great difference between the sayings of men and the sayings of God; for man’s sayings are nothing else but the expression of his thoughts and affections of his mind; but, when the Lord speaks, he not only expresses what he will have done, but also there is an effectual power accompanies his saying, that cannot be resisted, but must of necessity come to pass. Again, when we speak, we must speak to them that are, and that have ears to hear, and understanding to conceive, or else our speech is in vain. But, when the Lord speaks, it is otherwise; he speaks to them that are not, and makes them to be; he speaks to them that have nothing of the second creation, and, by his Spirit, he creates it in them; by his speech, he makes darkness to be light, he speaks to them that are dead in sin, and by his Spirit puts life in them, new sense and understanding. _Thirdly_, Our speeches and sayings have need to be confirmed by reasons and arguments; and, therefore, we support them as strongly as we can. But when it pleases God to speak, he speaks so as he needs no argument: he bids a man leave his trade, and follow him; and the man will never ask the reason, because he convinces him fully, and persuades him irresistibly. _Fourthly_, It is in vain for us to speak to any that have no ability or power to do what we desire. But the Lord will bid them do that has no power, because, with the commandment, he infuses strength for the performance of it.

It is a good ground that is brought here of the exaltation, dominion, and dignity of Christ—“The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou,” &c.—for he having said it, who can say against it? who can resist it? The powers of hell, nor any powers in heaven, or in earth, suppose they were all joined together, cannot obstruct him. If the Lord hath said it, it must come to pass. Christ must be exalted, and his Kirk established also. Ye know that in the 2d of Daniel, the prophet, speaking of the kings of the earth, prophecies of another kingdom that Jesus will set up; and he sets it up with this promise and quality, “that it shall never be destroyed;” he that sets it up, shall uphold it; as sure as it is once exalted and set up, it shall never be destroyed, albeit the devil, and all his accomplices and sophisters, with all their wit, were against it. Dan. vii., 13, 14:—“I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like unto the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days; and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Luke i. 33:—“He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” And, Acts ii. 36:—“He hath made him both Lord and Christ.” Then, beloved, let us build upon this ground against all the devices, stratagems, and conspiracies of the world. Certainly he is Lord and King, and he shall endure so world without end.

It were a good thing for us, if we could learn to take up the conjunction that is between God and his Son Jesus Christ in his kingdom. I speak it, beloved, for this cause, that there is a kind of natural theology that men pride themselves in, that they gather partly from the works of God, which a natural man may observe and consider, and partly from natural reason. But this is not all; we must take heed, that although it cannot be denied that there is a natural sort of theology, yet we must advert that there is no natural kind of Christianity; for the natural man, by looking on all the works of God, and blowing up the sparks of nature all that he can, shall never be able to know Christ, or receive him, before it be revealed and proclaimed in the gospel; nay, when he hears it, he will condemn it for the greatest foolishness in the world. Therefore we would not please ourselves with this natural knowledge of God, but seek to know God in Christ. This is true Christianity. He that knows not Christ knows not God; he that resists Christ fights against God; he that believes not in Christ—please himself as he will—he believes not in God; and he that obeys the voice of Christ obeys the voice of God. I am assured many men, both in church and commonwealth, and many that preach theology, and perhaps Christianity, to others, consider not this, but please themselves in a natural sort of knowledge; and they go easily through with their forms; and all because there is nothing in nature to oppose the work they are about; but the children of God find a great difficulty—the infidelity of their heart, and other-like ills, fight against it.

Had the men who are to be censured and excommunicated the knowledge of Jesus Christ—notwithstanding that some of them preached him often, and all of them sometimes—I verily believe they could not have gone on so long in this course, and stood it out with such obstinacy and contumacy. Therefore let us learn, by their example, to search for the knowledge of God through Christ; for they are so joined together, as there can be no separation; and as they are joined betwixt themselves so they must be joined in our knowledge. It is not possible for you to know God but by the knowledge of his Son; and if we know not the consolation, virtue, and power of Christ, we cannot know the comforts, power, and virtue of God himself, but must remain strangers to the knowledge of God; for there is no comfort, virtue, nor power for life everlasting, but only through Christ himself.

“The Lord said unto my Lord.” You see here again, that the ground of the calling of Christ unto his princely office is from the saying of God—“The Lord said unto my Lord.” As he was called of God to be a prophet and a priest, so it was God that called him also to be a King. These three offices are all lawful offices in themselves. And likewise he was lawfully called unto it; for the Lord said it. And these two things, beloved, are necessary for a man that undertakes a calling. One is, that the office itself be lawful, and have warrant from God that the Lord has said, I will be served in such a place, and in such a function and calling. 2. When the office itself is lawful, a man must be lawfully called unto it. For ye know there is a difference between these two: sometimes the office may be lawful, and the man not lawfully called to that lawful office; and sometimes it comes to pass that men are called to unlawful offices; not that any man can be lawfully called to an unlawful office—and this is especially true in churchmen and the office-bearers of the Church. God hath permitted greater diversity of offices, and administration of these offices, to be in the commonwealth, than in his Kirk; because in the government of a state or commonwealth, there may be sundry forms of government and administration of justice, and all lawful. Kings may have governors and others acting under them; but it must not be so in the house of God. All the offices in God’s house, from the highest to the lowest, if I may lawfully say highest and lowest, must have a warrant from God; and men cannot say they are called of God, except their calling be from God, and have warrant from divine authority.

Beloved, I put no question but there are divers amongst us that have had no such warrant for our entry to the Ministry as were to be wished. And although the calling itself be not only lawful, but laudable, necessary, and commanded of God, yet, alas! how many of us have rather sought the kirk, than the kirk has sought us? how many have rather gotten the kirk given to them, than they have been given to the kirk for the good thereof? And yet there must be a great difference put between these that have lived many years in an unlawful office without warrant of God, and therefore must be abominable in the sight of God; and these who, in some respects, have entered unlawfully, and with an ill conscience, and afterwards have come to see the evil of this, and to do what in them lies to repair the injury. The one is like a marriage altogether unlawful, and null in itself; the other is like a marriage in some respects unlawful and inexpedient, but that may be mended by the diligence and fidelity of the parties in doing their duty afterward; so should it be with us who entered lately into the calling of the Ministry: if there were any faults or wrong steps in our entry—as who of us are free?—acknowledge the Lord’s calling of us, if we have since got a seal from heaven of our Ministry, and let us labour with diligence and faithfulness in our office, and particularly to be faithful in this, to get them expelled and put out of the Church whose office is not from God, such as these men against whom we are to proceed with the censures of the Kirk.

Now I come to speak of the persons. “The Lord said unto my Lord.” If ye will cast your eyes upon the words, ye will perceive that there are three ranks of persons here. There is, 1. THE LORD; he that was, and is, and shall be for ever. 2. There is my Lord Jesus Christ, who, after a special manner, is the King and Sovereign Lord of his Kirk, whom he has redeemed with his own blood. 3. There is a king here, David, who calls him _my Lord:_ “The Lord said unto my Lord.” David calls Christ his Lord. And I may add a fourth, which may be understood by analogy, and that is the people of God under David. And thus ye shall draw out the line the full length, and make the subordination perfect, consisting, 1. Of the Lord above, to whom there is no match or equal, whose will is an absolute law unto all. And although men curiously dispute, if there be any cause, ground, or reason of the will of God, there is no question but in God himself there is a reason; but looking downward to us, the highest reason is the will of God—he who is divine and unsearchable Wisdom, is a rule for himself of his own commandments; but for us there is not another reason but his will; for he stands absolute in his sovereignty, none above, nor any equal to him. 2. Then the next degree comes: he who is here called my Lord, Jesus Christ the Son of God, whose will is full and perfect, conform to the supreme will of God; and there can be no more a division between the will of Christ and the will of God, than there can be a division of two natures in the person of Jesus Christ. Now, as these two are sure, _1st_, The sovereignty of God in his will; and, _2dly_, The Son of God perfectly conform to him; were it not a happy thing if kings, and princes, and superior powers would all strive to have their laws and actions, especially and principally in the worship of God, conform to the will of Jesus Christ, and these to stand in their own place of subordination under Jesus Christ, and then the fourth will come in very well—to wit, the people of God: first, the Lord; then Jesus Christ, his son; next, the king, prince, or supreme magistrate; and the people under them submitting themselves to their king and prince. And thus ye may perceive the right line in the course of government, and the right way of subordination; and there is no other right way beside this. And whenever men begin to go out of line, and forget their own subordination, then these that are under them become no way subject to them, because they go out of the right order; but they must look to them that are above them, and hold their eye on these, and so they will keep the right line. “He that follows me,” says Christ, “must forsake father and mother;” then, when the father and mother go out of line, we must not follow them, because we are bound to subordination unto God. In like manner, if a prince or a magistrate, who had such subordination from God, depart out of the line, and command things unlawful, shall the people obey them, and go out likewise from under the line? No, no; whoever departs out of this line, cannot have peace and protection of God, and the sweet influences that comes down alongst to all that keep themselves under this line; for the blessing of God comes down the straight line of subordination, and they keeping the line are sure to get a blessing. So did Daniel, he held his eye upon this line; and when Darius the king goes out of the line, he is forbidden by the God of heaven to follow the king, but directs his eye upon the line to Jesus Christ. Beloved, it is now counted jarring contention, and a turbulent humour, for men to refuse subjection to every thing that superiors please to command: but ye may see clearly what is obedience, and what is disobedience: it is not obedience to follow the humours of men, that goes out of this line; but this is obedience, when they obey them that are above them in the line. Therefore we should look to two things, when we hold our eye on this vista—1. We should consider whether these that are above us have their calling from God or not, and if they be our lawful superiors; and if not, then have they no place in this line; for there is here God, Christ, king, and the people; and so unlawful superiors have no place here. 2. If they be our lawful superiors, look if their commandments be lawful: for in so far as their office is unlawful, they go out of the line; and if they be unlawful superiors, we owe them no obedience: and this day’s work is to delete the names of such superiors out of this line. Again, when our lawful superiors, to whom we owe obedience, command what is unlawful, we are not bound to obey them. Therefore, let all and every one of us, as we would that the drops of the sweet influences of God’s spirit should come down upon us, hold ourselves under the line, otherwise the blessing shall fall upon them that keep the line, but never a drop upon these that are trangressors, or goes out of it.

We come, in the next place, to speak unto the dignity and dominion unto which our Lord Jesus is exalted—“Sit thou at my right hand.” As I told you before, it is not my purpose to enter upon any large discourse, especially on this, which is so amply expressed in the Scripture—viz., the sitting of Christ at the right hand of God. Only a word or two, so far as concerns the present purpose. 1. You see it is said here, “Sit thou at my right hand,” or, as is expressed in the fifth verse, “is at thy right hand;” which seems to be opposite—for here Christ is at the right hand of God, but there God promises to be at the right hand of Christ. And this is very comfortable to consider, if we take it up right; for man is in a twofold condition that is very different. Sometimes he is at peace and quietness, rest and ease, and in glory and honour; and then, in this case, the right hand is the best place. I need not clear this; for I think many here understand it perfectly. Sometimes, again, man is in trouble and distress, in great danger and fear, and then it is otherwise; he has need of one to be at his right hand to help him, as in the 5th verse. And this is very comfortable, that, in the time of trouble and distress, the Lord is at thy right hand to keep thee, and guard thee with his right hand. But when the time of honour, reward, and recompense comes, then the Lord, as he sets down his Son at his right hand, so he will give every one their own degree, honour, and glory. And this was it that God promised to Abraham—“I will be thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward, to defend thee, and be at thy right hand in the time of all thy troubles and distress, and will not desert thee.” Again, on the other part, when the time of honour and recompense comes, “I will be thy rich reward, and will set thee on my right hand as sheep, when the goats are left.” This is not the ambition and pride of churchmen, in striving at the right hand of kings, &c. No, no; and yet this hath been the ground of meikle woe and mischief to the Church of God. Ye will find, and it is worthie of observation, that seldom or never almost does our Lord speak of his Cross, and of his sufferings in the gospel, unto his apostles and disciples, telling them that he is to suffer, but his disciples propone this question, “What place shall we have in thy kingdom?” imagining an earthly kingdom; which surely was a prognostication that the ambition and pride of kirkmen should be the greatest enemies that ever the Cross of Christ should have. And it is not possible for men, when the pride of their heart and ambition are seeking their own greatness, and wealth, and honour in the world, and how to make their houses great after them, and how to make their children live in delight and wealth—I say it is not possible they can esteem of the Cross of Christ as they ought to do. Such churchmen as these, if Christ were in the flesh again, would think they would be rather his masters than his servants, because they aspire after dominion and dignity, and have only a natural sort of theology, whereof I did speak before, but are ignorant of Christianity. Therefore let us strive in all our troubles to have the Lord on our right hand, as in the 5th verse of this psalm, that he may guard us against troubles.