The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

It will not excuse you (dear brethren) in the presence of God, neither yet will it avail you in the day of his visitation, to say, We were but simple subjects, we could not redress the faults and crimes of our Rulers, Bishops and Clergy: We called for Reformation, and wished for the same; but Lords brethren were Bishops, their sons were Abbots, and the friends of great men had the possession of the Church, and so were we compelled to give obedience to all that they demanded. These vain excuses, I say, will nothing avail you in the presence of God, who requireth no less of the subjects, then of their Rulers; That they decline from evil, and that they do good; that they abstain from Idolatry, Superstition, Blasphemy, Murder, and other such like horrible crimes which his Law forbiddeth, and yet nevertheless are openly committed and maliciously defended in that miserable Realm. And if ye think that ye are innocent, because ye are not the chief actors of such iniquity, ye are utterly deceived; for God doth not only punish the chief offenders, but with them doth he condemn the consenters to such iniquity; and all are judged to consent,¹ that knowing impiety committed, give no testimony that the same displeaseth them.² To speak this matter more plain, As your Princes and Rulers are criminal with your Bishops of all Idolatry committed, and of all the innocent blood that is shed for the testimony of Christs Truth;³ and that because they maintain them in their tyranny: so are you (I mean so many of you as give no plain confession to the contrary) criminal and guilty with your Princes and Rulers in the same crimes, because ye assist and maintain your Princes in their blind rage, and give no declaration that their tyranny displeaseth you.⁴ This Doctrine, I know, is strange to the blind world; but the verity of it hath been declared in all notable punishments from the beginning. When the original world perished by water; when Sodom and Gomorra were consumed by fire; and finally,⁵ when Jerusalem was horribly destroyed; Doth any man think that all were alike wicked before the world? Evident it is that they were not, if they be judged according to their external facts; for some were young, and could not be oppressors, neither yet could defile themselves with unnatural and beastly lusts: