WAS there ever any Realme since Christs Incarnation professed Christian religion so universally through all the parts thereof , even to the utmost corners , in such puritie , both for doctrine , discipline , and publick worship , with such libertie , and for so many yeares together , as our realme hath done ? In the Apostles dayes we read not of whole cities , let be kingdomes , to have professed the name of Christ . Soone after the departure of the Apostles , sundrie corruptions entred into the Church , and the mysterie of iniquitie which was working under ground in their time , was advanced by little and little , till it came to the full ripenesse . Neither was there any Nation free from the open profession of Paganisme the first 300 years . Since Constantines time , that Christianitie began to prevaile above Gentilisme , there hath been no Church , which hath not been defiled with much superstition , & corrupted with many errors , till the dayes of late Reformation . From the first time of reformation to this houre , no reformed Church hath spred it self so universally through any Kingdome , with such puritie of profession , but either their profession is not so universall , being intermingled with Papists , Anabaptists , Lutherians , or not so poore , as in our neighbour Church .

I Appeale to every mans conscience , Whether we have adhered to all the generall and particular clauses of this our Confession , or not ? When we say in this Confession , that we detest and abhor the Antichrist , his five bastard Sacraments , with all his Rites , Ceremonies , and false Doctrine added to the ministration of the true Sacraments , without the word of God , his cruell judgement against Infants departing without the Sacrament , his absolute necessity of baptizing : do we not protest that we will abhor and detest , confirmation one of the five bastard Sacraments , kneeling , which is a Rite added to the ministration of the Supper , without the warrand of Gods Word , and invented by the Antichrist , private Baptisme , which is grounded upon the necessity of baptisme and doubting of the Salvation of all Infants dying unbaptized ; When we protest we abhorre and detest his dedicating of dayes , do we not condemn observation of aniversary holy dayes ? And when wee protest wee detest and abhor not only his own worldly Monarchie , but also his wicked hierarchie , Do we not condemne the degrees of Bishops and Archbishops ? When wee say , we abhor and detest all contrarie religion and doctrine , ( to wit , to the former Confession mentioned immediately before , and the Christian faith receaved , beleived , and defended by the Church of Scotland ) but chiefly all kinde of Papistrie in generall , and particular heads , even as they are now damned and confuted by the word of God ; and Kirk of Scotland . Doe wee not condemne Archbishops , Bishops , Holy dayes , kneeling , Confirmation , private Baptisme , seeing all these particular heads were damned by our Church either in the former Confession , the first or second Book of Discipline , and Acts of generall Assemblies before the said Confession was sworne to and subscribed , and if any preased to practise them after they were damned , the censures of the church was inflicted upon them . Have we not of late failed in all these particulars , and consequently violated our oathes , promises , and subscriptions , underlying the danger both of body and soule in the day of Gods fearfull judgement , unlesse we repent , which we cannot seriouslie do , except we recover , so far as in us lyeth , what is lost , to the losse of any temporall thing whatsoever , to the spending of the least drop of our blood , and defend what is yet reserved whole and sound , with the same hazard ? For what is that hazard or losse in comparison of all the paines conteined in the Law , and danger both of body and soule , in the day of Gods fearfull judgement . Let no man deceive himselfe , thinkeing to deceave God with evasions and shifts . The Searcher of all hearts knoweth what was thy meaning , when thou saydest . We call the Searcher of all hearts to witnesse , that our mindes and hearts do fully agree with this our Confession , Promise , Oath and Subscription : And what was the meaning of the Church of Scotland , with which thou protested thou would not use double dealing , was too manifest both in practise , preaching , and the authentick Records aboue mentioned . And put the case the particular heads above specified , had been a matter indifferent , howbeit they were not so esteemed by our church ▪ yet who can deny but thus far at least was intended to eschew all occasions and provocations to tyrannie , and superstition and therefore the oath , howbeit in a matter indifferent , was lawfull , and so remaineth , as long as they remaine occasions and provocations to tyrannie , and corruption ; yea , as long as the forbearance of them is not proved to be a sinne . For great regard should be had even to a rash oath if it be not or prove not unlawfull , for the reverence we ought to carry to the great name of God . Remember of the breach of the oath made unto the Gibeonites .

IOyning all the three former Quaeres together , I aske , If ever a Realme professing Christian Religion so universally , in such puritie , with such Libertie , for so many years together , and sealing their profession with such solemne promises , oathes , and subscriptions ( if there were any such to be found in any Historie ) that did make such defection , as if they did , if the heavie judgement of God did not overtake them ? Or secluding the consideration of our oathes , subscriptions , and solemne Covenants , I aske , If any of the Reformed Churches in any realme , or Province , professing the Gospell in the same puritie , and so many yeares , as we have done , hath made so great defection as many of us have done , Have they returned to their vomit , taken up that which they rejected and condemned , remaining still a reformed Church , and not overturned with force of armes ? If not , then suppose we had never sealed our profession with such solemne seales , our defection is singular and our punishment will be examplarie , unlesse we repent , recover what is lost , and defend what remaineth uncorrupted .

WHereunto doth this defection tend ? Doth it not tend first to perfite conformitie with the English Church , then at last will it not end in full conformitie with the Romane Kirk ▪ The intent of the first is professed by his Majestie in expresse termes extant in print : and therefore be not deceaved with the promises and protestations of our usurping and pretended Prelats . As for example , They will say to you , his Majestie careth neither for He Saint nor Shee Saint , but for dayes dedicat to Christ . They lie : For his Majestie observeth both he and She Saints dayes , as well as dayes dedicat to Christ . So howbeit you could digest both a Christmas Preaching & a Christmas Pye , which once ye lothed , ye must and shall ere it be long , do as much for Saint Bartholomew , Virgin Mary the Innocents , & all the rest of their Saints , & for five Ceremonies ye shall have fiftie , yea , a hundred . All the Relicts of Rome , which are lying like stincking filth in their Church , shall be communicated to us , the paterne of their altar , their Service , their Hierachie , and Romish policie , shall be set up in our Church . This defection tendeth yet further , to wit , to conformitie with Rome . What meaneth the Bishop of Spalato , in the Preface before his fifth Book , to exhort his Majestie to proceed as he hath alreadie begunne , to restore the Christian church to unitie : Papist , Lutherian , formalist , and Calvinist , must then be all reconciled together , & united in one . How I pray you are we united to the English Church ? We must yeeld all to them , they would not yeeld any thing at all to us , no not a hoofe , sayd Whitgift , Bishop of Canterberrie , neither are they urged to yeeld any thing unto us . But we are unmercifully dealt with to yeeld unto them . Shall we for conformitie with the Lutherian the next day except of his monstrous opinions , and other fond ceremonies , after the same manner , and the third year for reconciliation with Rome , drink of the diep of her abhominations ? Or , how shall that great worke come to passe ? neither England nor Rome giveth the least token of their comming towards us . Yea wee must play the fooles , and turne our face to them , and take our journey first to England , then to Rome . The Bishop of Spalato hath not ridden all the foordes of Tweed well , whatsoever is intended , this our conformitie will of it self tend in the end to full Poperie . For , suppose wee should give place to these disturbers of our church , who for their own gaine and glorie , have laide aside all respect to Gods glorie , the gaining of soules , and the well of their Brethren , yet Poperie should increase more mightilie , as it hath done in our neighbour Church .

WHether our conformitie end at last in conformitie with Rome or not ? What reason have we to leave our conformitie with the poore Apostolicall churches , or the best reformed Churches in forraine Nations ? Brightman compareth our church , and the rest of the best reformed , to the godly church of Philadelphia ; the English to the glorious and luke warme church of Laodicea . Shall we cast off our conformity with Philadelphians , and conforme to Laodiceans ? Is not their church government the same that it was this day 100. years , since in time of the grossest darkenesse and blindedesse . Archbishops Bishops , Archdeacons , Chancelours , Officials , Commissaries , exercising Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction in their spirituall courts , as they did in time of Poperie , excluding both Preaching and ruleing Elders from the Governement of their owne Parishes , and the joynt governement of the church , excommunicating , suspending , depryving , by their owne sole authoritie , medling with Testamentarie , and other causes , not belonging to Ecclesiasticall Consistories ; the Bishop taking to himself the sole administration of spirituall Iurisdiction over many hundreth churches ; yea , deputing the same to Civilians , Chancelours and Officialls , and medling with the administration of civill Affaires , as best beseeming his Grandeur . This Bishop is not Pauls Bishop , nor yet the Bishop which was first erected in the Ancient Church ; He differeth as far from him as the Consull in a Senate doth from a King or Monarch . So , seeing he is neither the divine , nor humane Bishop , He must be that Satanicall , brought in by the Antichrist . It were wearisome to goe through the calling and functions of their Suffraganes , Deanes , Canons and Prebanderies , Organists , Singing boyes , Pistlets , Gospellers , Preists , Deacons , who are halfe Priests : their Fasts , their Eawes , their Feast-dayes , their crossing , Kneeling , Bishopping , Houseling of the sicke , Baptisme by supposition ; private Baptisme , copes , capes , Tipets , Surplices , Rochets , Churching of women , Marriage , toyes , Funerall rites , the gestures waried superstisiously at Service , the forme of their Prayers , and the rest of their Ceremonies . It sufficeth , that the best & worthiest among them , hath continually pleaded against them , that they had never quyet possession in their own church : that they were disused in many Congregations in the latter years of Queen Elizabeth , of worthie memorie , till they got strength againe , immediatly after the Kings Coronation ; that they are obtruded onely by authoritie , not liked off by many of the Formalists themselves , who do temporise only , with a bad conscience , how shall wee then conforme to a church enthraled , and under bondage ? How many times have the Godlie among them put up their Prayers to God , and prefered petition to King and Parlament for the church policie of Scotland , and the libertie of that pure Profession , which we have enjoyed many years ; and shall that our glorious Garland be stamped underfoot : The morning clouds which eclipsed the beginning of their Reformation remaine unscattered to this day : and shall they be suffred to come within our horizon : Not in our morning , but after many years , at the noone tyde of our day , to obscure the glorious Gospell , which hath shined to us in as cleare and pure brightnesse , as ever to any nation . Consider the charges which must be bestowed upon these idle functions , and supestitious Ceremonies ; If the Abbeyes be recovered out of Noblemens hands , I perswade my selfe , they will eyther bee converted to the maintenance of Deanes , Canons and Prebendaries , Organs , Copes , and other unlawfull uses ; orels in time be restored to the old Crowes to builde their nests in againe .