The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The understanding whereof, albeit it be unpleasant to the flesh, yet to us it is most profitable, lest that we seeing the cruel entreatings of Gods servants, begin to forsake the Spouse of Jesus Christ, because that she is not so dealt withal in this unthankful world, as the just and upright dealing of Gods Children do deserve: But contrariwise, for mercy they receive cruelty; for doing good to many, ⟨p. 120⟩of all the reprobate they receive evil: And this is decreed in Gods eternal Council, that the members may follow the trace of the head, to the end that God in his just judgement should finally condemn the wicked; for how should he punish the inhabitants of the earth, if their iniquity deserved it not? How should the earth disclose our blood, if it should not be unjustly spilt? We must then commit our selves into the hands of our God, and lay down our necks, yea, and patiently suffer our blood to be shed, that the righteous Judge may require account, as most assuredly he shall, of all the blood that hath been shed, from the blood of Abel the just, till the day that the earth shall disclose the same; I say, every one that sheddeth, or consenteth to shed the blood of Gods Children, shall be guilty of the whole:¹ So that all the blood of Gods children shall cry vengeance, not only in general, but also in particular, upon every one that hath shed the blood of any that unjustly suffered.

The understanding whereof, albeit it be unpleasant to the flesh, yet to us it is most profitable, lest that we seeing the cruell entreatings of Gods servants, begin to forsake the Spouse of Jesus Christ, because that she is not so dealt withall in this unthankfull world, as the just and upright dealing of Gods Children do deserve: But contrariwise, for mercy they receive crueltie; for doing good to many, ⟨p. 120⟩of all the reprobate they receive evill: And this is decreed in Gods eternall Councell, that the members may follow the trace of the head, to the end that God in his just judgement should finally condemne the wicked; for how should he punish the inhabitants of the earth, if their iniquitie deserved it not? How should the earth disclose our blood, if it should not bee unjustly spilt? Wee must then commit our selves into the hands of our God, and lay downe our neckes, yea, and patiently suffer our blood to bee shed, that the righteous Judge may require account, as most assuredly hee shall, of all the blood that hath been shed, from the blood of Abel the just, till the day that the earth shall disclose the same; I say, every one that sheddeth, or consenteth to shed the blood of Gods Children, shall be guilty of the whole: