The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Wouldst thou, O Scotland, have a King to reign over thee in justice, equity, and mercy? subject thou thy self to the Lord thy God, obey his commandments, and magnify thou that word that calleth unto thee, This is the way, ¹walk into it, and if thou wilt not, flatter not thy self, the same justice remaineth this day in God to punish thee Scotland, and thee Edinburgh in especial, that before punished the land of Judah, and the City of Jerusalem. Every Realm or Nation (saith the Prophet Jeremiah) that likewise offendeth,² shall be likewise punished. But if thou shalt see impiety placed in the seat of justice above thee, so that in the Throne of God (as Solomon doth complain) reigneth nothing but fraud,³ & violence, accuse thy own ingratitude and rebellion against God, for that is the only cause,⁴ why God taketh away (as the same Prophet in another place doth speak) the strong man and the man of war, the Judge and the Prophet, the prudent and the aged, the Captain and the honourable, the Counsellor and the cunning Artificer. And I will appoint, saith the Lord, children to be their Princes, and babes shall rule over them. Children are extortioners of my people, and women have rule over them.

Wouldst thou, O Scotland, have a King to raign over thee in justice, equity, and mercy? subject thou thy selfe to the Lord thy God, obey his commandments, and magnifie thou that word that calleth unto thee, This is the way, ¹walke into it, and if thou wilt not, flatter not thy self, the same justice remaineth this day in God to punish thee Scotland, and thee Edinburgh in especiall, that before punished the land of Iuda, and the City of Ierusalem. Every Realm or Nation (saith the Prophet Ieremy) that likewise offendeth,² shall be likewise punished. But if thou shalt see impiety placed in the seat of justice above thee, so that in the Throne of God (as Salomon doth complain) raigneth nothing but fraud,