The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

She complaineth that we will not suffer provision to be made for her house: In very deed we unfeignedly repent that before this we took not better order that these murderers and oppressors whom she pretendeth to nourish for our destruction, had not been disappointed of their great provision of Victuals which she and they have gathered, to the great hurt of the whole Country: But as God shall assist us in times coming, we shall do diligence somewhat to frustrate their devilish purpose. What both ⟨p. 190⟩what she and we pretend, we doubt not but God (who cannot suffer the abuse of his own Name long to be unpunished) shall one day declare, and unto him we fear not to commit our Cause.¹ Neither yet fear we in this present day, that against us she maketh a malicious lye, where that she saith, That it is not Religion that. we go about, but a plain usurpation of Authority. God forbid that such impiety should enter in our hearts, that we should make his holy Religion a cloak and covertour of our iniquity: From the beginning of this controversy, it is evidently known what have been our requests; which if the rest of the Nobility and Commonalty of Scotland will cause to be performed unto us, if then in us appear any sign of Rebellion, let us be reputed and punished as traitors. But while strangers are brought in to suppress us, our common wealth and posterity;² while Idolatry is maintained, and Christ Jesus his true Religion despised, while idle bellies, and bloody tyrants the Bishops are maintained, and Christs true Messengers persecuted; while finally, virtue is contemned, and vice extolled; while that we a great part of the Nobility and Commonalty of this Realm are most unjustly persecuted, What godly man can be offended that we shall seek Reformation of these enormities (yea, even by force of Arms, seeing that otherwayes it is denied unto us) we are assured that neither God,³ neither nature, neither any just Law forbiddeth us. God hath made us Councillors by birth of this Realm, Nature bindeth us to love our own Country, and just Laws command us to support our brethren unjustly pursued, yea, the Oath that we have made to be true to this Common-wealth compelled us to hazard whatsoever God hath given us, before that we see the miserable ruin of the same.