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 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
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DECLARATION 
 
 AND 
 
 WARNING 
 
 Unto all the UH embers of this 
 
 KIRK 
 
 KINGDOME 
 
 Inanfwerto a Paper intituled and reputed the 
 Declaration of fames Cjrabame. 
 
 By the Commission of the Generdl Affcmbly of the Kirk of 
 
 SCOTLAND 
 
 , 
 
 E 7) I N BU R 6 H, 
 
 Printed by EvWTyler, Printer to the Kings moft Excellent j 
 \ Maiefty, i6so* ■ ' .. :.; - ^ , 
 
EDINBURGH. 2* January 1650. iAnHmeridim* 
 
 The Declaration and Warning dj the Commiffion of the General! Aflem- 
 bly unto all the members oj this Kirk and Kingdom, in anfjver to a paper 
 intituled and reputed T\\t Declaration of JAMES G&AHAME. 
 
 Lbcit the carriage of thofe who are engaged in the 
 work of Reformation in this Land hath been from 
 the beginning io agreeable to the rule of the Word 
 of God and of found reafon,and lo eminently own- 
 ed and blefled by the Lord in all the tenour and 
 procedour thereof, as may f ufficiently refute a 11 the 
 calumnies of enemies, and ftrengthen his people 
 againfl all their flanders and attempts for undoing of the fame h Yet 
 lead ourfilence in this day of blafphemy and rebuke fhould be con- 
 ftrued either as a negled of our duty, or as weakneffe through the 
 fenfe of the guilt, to wipe off the afperfionS that arc vented to the 
 world in the name of that excomunicatc & forfeited traytor 
 James Graham t wt have refolved till there may beopportunitie for a 
 larger Declaration, fhortlie to touch the revy lings contained in that 
 paper, and to declare unto men their dutie in reference to fuch pur- 
 poles and defires as are holden forth therein. 
 
 In the firft place the inftruments of the worke of Reformation 
 
 ! are charged as an horrid and infamous faction of rebellsjvho did hack 
 
 , a rebellion againji his late LMajeJly : But to lay nothing that that 
 
 < wretched man was accefforie unto the laying of the foundation of 
 
 that blefled work,which no w in the blindnefs of his minde andhard- 
 
 nefle of his heart, as being given up of God, as Pharaoh was, hecalles 
 
 rebellion. This is no other then the common calumnie that hath 
 
 been caft upon the fervants of God from the beginning of the world 
 
 in all their indevours and attempts for reformation of religion: Was 
 
 it rebellion to ftand to our defence, when in ftead of an anfwer to all 
 
 1 the earneft and reiterated f upplications and defires of this land a- 
 
 jainft the corruptions of do&rine, worfhip , difcipline and govern^ 
 
 — — ■ - - ' ' meft* 
 
meiu,we were mvaoea wimanariny ootn Dy sea ana iana,inai a yuair 
 might be wreathed about our necks by oppreflion and violence. 
 Not onlie had we the Lords word, and the pra&ife of the reformed 
 Churches abroad, and of our own Church at home in the dayes of 
 our Fathers.tojuftifieusinthis, butalfothe King himfe]fc> who up- 
 on informacion did retrad the Declaration let lorth againft us, and 
 grant what we had defired. 
 
 Next it is charged upon this Na r ion that they did foitcite a partie in 
 the Kingdome of England to begirme where they had left off, and that 
 finding their rebell brood there beginning to leffen, They dtd^ contra* 
 rieto all JF 'ait h 9 Covenants , Oathes y &c. enter with a ftrong armytht 
 Kingdome^pf England , per/ecute their Prince in a forreigne Ndtiw, 
 and affifi a company of fir angers rcbells againft their native King y 
 ire. What was the grounds and firft rife ot the war betwixt the King 
 and the Parliament of England^ needs not now to be repeated,bemg 
 fo well known every where -, But this Nation were (o far from fo- 
 menting of the fame, that for a long time they did mediate a peace-, 
 and focontinued,untill£#£/^ by their earned invitation, did for 
 the prefervationand reformation of Religion, the honour and hap- 
 pinefle of the King, the peace and good of thefe Kingdoms, crave 
 their affiftance againft the Popifli, Prel3ticall and Malignant party 
 then in armes, who were like to have deftroyed all.-For which end, 
 when they had entred in a f olemn League and Covenant with thas 
 Nation, as they did oblige themfelves for the defence and preferva- 
 tion of his Majefties Perlon and juft greatneffe and Authority in the 
 defence and preservation of Religion, fo they did never defift to fo- 
 Urithis Majefty for fatisfa&ion to the juft defires of both King* 
 doms, and were alwayes, upon his Majefties granting of the fame, 
 willing to admit him to the exercife of his Roy all Power. 
 
 Thirdly, it is alleadged, that after all manner of ajfur antes given] 
 to MstJWajetfy before his comming to the Scetifb x^Armte^ notwitk- J 
 {landing of affurances, fee was fold unto the Englijh : But wejj 
 ate confident that albeit all the generation of Malignantsof the ' 
 three Kingdoms have now for three years together filled this and J 
 
 th» 
 
 ] 
 
' day never any of them did, nor could bring any evidence of fuch 
 aflurance given, or iuch bargane made by this Kingdom^ nay 
 fuch aflurances were alwayes refufed, and when the King did caft 
 himfelf upon the Scotifli Army, this Kingdom was fo far from 
 making any fale of him, that they did not condefcend to leave 
 him with his Subje&s in England , untill fufficient furety was 
 given by both Houfes of Parliament concerning the fafety and 
 prefervation of his Majefties Perfon. It is great malice to fay, 
 that becaufe the Scocifh Army, about the time of his Majefties 
 living at New-Cafiie^did receive fome part of thofe arrears due 
 unto thero for their painfull and faithfull fervice in England, ihzt 
 therefore this Kingdom did fell their King* The arrears which 
 were then received were due before the King came unto our Army, 
 And in all probability had been more timoufly and cheerfully 
 paid if he had not come thither at all. 
 
 Fourthly, they are flandered as comflotters $f the Kings dc- 
 flruftion by fecret intercourses both before \, in the time , and \ fince 
 bis CMajefties horrid murther: If thofe things be evident, why 
 were not the proofs brought forth and produced before the world 
 for convincing the authors and abetters thereof, and gaining cre- 
 dit to the caufe of thole that make fo bold alleagance t The 
 publkk endeayours and Teftimonies of this Kirk and Kingdom 
 againft the taking of his Majefties life, do fufficiently refute all 
 
 i fuch fecret and private whifperings. 
 
 Laftly , they are charged as robbers of the King who now is 
 cf all right, becaufe of their declaring him King with frovifoes; 
 Butarethefeprovifoes or conditions any other then fuch as have 
 been in the time of his piedeceffors^nd whereunto bytheLawes 
 and conftitutions of this Kingdom he is obliged, and without 
 which, Religion and the peace of the Kingdom cannot be fecured. 
 Thefe and the like (landers are made a ground of invitation unto 
 the people of this Land to abandon the caufe, and work of re- 
 formation , and to rife in Armes againft the Parliament and 
 
 Kingdom, 
 
/ fter of men and his complices fhall make ufe of for invading of this 
 Land-, to which he labours to perfwade a promifeof pardon for 
 whatispaft,andof hisMajefties refolu:ionft> be ever ready to ra^ 
 tifie y ft foen as it [hall pleafe God to put it in bis power according 
 to the advice of the fupream judicatories of this Kingdome , all 
 what has been done by his Roy all Father in order to our peace. 
 Though we fhould be filent and fay nothing, we are perfwaded that 
 there be none in the Land who has any regard to truth or righteouf- 
 neffe,or in whom any fponk of the love of the Lords work, or of 
 this couQtrey does refide, but as they abhominate and abhor the ve- 
 ry name of that excommunicate wretch,and think thefe lies worthy 
 of no other entertainment then is to be allowed to the devices of the 
 father of !ies,unto whole hands he is delivered $ fo we are confident 
 thatihey willdeteft and avoid all fuch defperateand wicked defigns 
 attempted whether by him or by any others Shall men, after fo 
 many folemnvowes and prom ifes before the Lord, and his hand 
 lifted up fo high in making plain before them the way wherein they 
 fliould walk* be fo blind and bafe as to be charmed into a moft 
 godleffe courfe againft Religion and the blood of the Lords peo- 
 ple by the offer of a pardon, where there has been no tranfgreffion 
 but a following of duty * or fhall any be cheated into delufion by 
 a flourifh of moft ambiguous words of hisMajefties refolution to 
 be ev er ready to ratify, fo foon as it fh ill pleafe God to put him 
 in his power according to the advice of the fupream Judicatories, 
 of this Kingdom, all what has been done by his royail Father in 
 order to our peace.? To fay nothing that the League and Covenan' 
 and the Union betwixt the Kingdoms, and the whole work <f : \ 
 Uniformity is here cutoff at one clap, though yet we truft thi. 
 thefe things will be dearer to all the Lords people in the Land 
 then their Eftates or lives: The words are fo emptie and doubtfull 
 as may fuffer any interpretation men lift to put upon them, and may 
 confift with the utter undoing of all that has been done in this 
 Land for aflerting the puritie of Religion and the libertie of the 
 
 fubje&j 
 
 1&£r 
 
A bubjett. hss rviajeity mult hrll be put in powerroerore ne engage 
 I himfelfe to do any thing at all, and when in power, no obligation 
 j upon him,unlefTe thefupream Judicatories ,ot the Kingdom {hill 
 (o advife • neither is it determined what thefe Judicatories are, whi* 
 ther his Majefty fliall be obliged to follow the advice, and which is 
 more ftrange, Religion is not to much as named in all the concefli* 
 on, but all is wrapped under the notion of the fe things which the 
 King his Royall Father granted in order to our peace : which may 
 be fo expounded as to take in things Civill only that concern the 
 peace of the Kingdom, or atchebeft, infinuates themotiveof all 
 that his Majefty granted concerning Religion to this Kingdom to 
 have been only a defireof peace, and not any thing in Religion is 
 felf 5 And fo drawes alongs with it a fecret reflexion upon the Natio- 
 nail Covenant and all the work of God relating thereto, and con- 
 eludes them alterable as the change may produce peace orwarre. 
 We think we need notdefire any man to confider what could be 
 the cafe of Religion and ^of all that love it in this Land, if it were 
 in the power of that perfidious and proud Atheift to modell the fu- 
 pream Iudicatories of the Kingdom according to his tninde: hee 
 who hath fo far forgotten his Covenant and Oath, in which he en- 
 tred in lo publick and folemnaway, as to call all that is contained 
 therein, and has flowed therefrom violent and moft unjuft defires, 
 and the work of Reformation from the beginning rebellion, will not 
 fparethe overturning and deftroying thereof, and the bringing back 
 ^ this poor Nation to the licking up ot the vomit of Prelacie, the cere- 
 monies and the Service Book, forming way to a fuller com- 
 I pliance with the Church of Rome: Which we have the more caufe 
 } to fear,forthat the free exercife and full liberty of popjfli Reli- 
 gion is granted by his Majefty to thofe bloody rebels in Ireland. 
 To us it is above queftion, that as the alteration of Religion, and the 
 leftabltfliing of an aibrtarie and illimited power for bringing the 
 Tame about,was the defigne from the beginning,^ that the fame 
 \ is (till promoted by the popifh, Prelaticall and malignant partie, and 
 I (hall (U they prevailed be the fruit of their workes. 
 
 v J r Therefore 
 
Therefore, as the fervants of the living God, we warn and ob- 
 teft all the Lords people throughout the Land, that as they would 
 not draw on themfelves the wrath of the moft high God by breach 
 of Covenant and grols backfliding, that they do not hearken to 
 any fuch calumnies and flanders, nor fuffer themfelves by the 
 power thereof to be drawn from their ftedfaftnefTe, or to give any 
 connivance, lee be countenance or affiftancc unco any who fhall in- 
 vade this Kingdom or raife war therein under pretence of Com- 
 miflion from his Majeftie,and putting him in the exercife of his 
 Royall power before fatisfadion had from him to the juft and ne- 
 ceflarie defires of this- Kirk and Kingdome concerning Religion 
 and the.. Covenant, The late Generall AfTembly in their De- 
 claration did by many grave and undenyable reafons demonfhate 
 the unlawfulneffe and tinfulneffe of any (uch attempt- and it fhall 
 be nowfeaionableforanyman,whodoubts to make ufe of thefe 
 things for fatif fying his Judgement, and convincing him in the point 
 ofconfcience,that he may not daih hirafelfe againft the rock of 
 the Lords power, which fhall certainly break in pieces all thofe 
 that oppofe themfelves to his work, and lead forth with the 
 workers of iniquitie all thofe that turn afide to their crooked 
 wayes. 
 
 Albeit, the avenging hand of the moft high, hath purfued and 
 followed with vengance, many of thofe who affifted that unna- 
 turall man in the fhedding of the blood of his Countrey, and that 
 many of them have tafted of the bitter fruits both of civill and ec~ ] 
 clefiaftick cenfures, and that a temptation to fo great a wickedneffe , 
 from fuch a one %$$amesGrAbame, feemeto be fo groffe as may 
 fcarre moft of the Malignant party themfelves, who yerconti-j 
 nue in oppofition to the work of God, let be thofe who havf ', 
 humbled themfelves for their former complyances with evill cour 
 fes 5 or have kept their integrity without fwarving-, Yet it fhall 
 be the wiidom of all within the Land to guard their hearts by jj» 
 prayer and fuppBcation, and to arme themfelves with the ftrenthp 
 of the Lord againft defection. Experience hath proven through-M 
 
 ©utti 
 
out all the tra<3: of the work of God, that many hath fallen off from 
 day to day, and that new trials have produced new difcoveries of the 
 hollownefle of the hearts of fome, concerning whom many did 
 promife to themfclves better thinges-, none can be ftedfaft in the co- 
 venant, but thefe whole hearts are rightwith God: We wifli there- 
 fore everie man to fearch and trye his wayes, and as to repent of 
 all his former provocations, fo in the ftrength of the Mediator Jefus 
 Chrift, toftudie to walk with God, and to order his converfation 
 aright 5 Then may we be confident that the Lord fhall eftablifh 
 us, and that no weapon that is formcd%gainft us fliall profper, and 
 that everie tongue that rifeth againft us in Judgment we fhall con- 
 demn. 
 
' 
 
MN3