The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Upon those two parts he gave these Notes. First, That the felicity of Gods people may not be measured by any external appearance; for often it is, That the same people to whom God becometh not only Creator, but Pastor and Protector, is more severely dealt with, then those Nations where very ignorance and contempt of God reigneth. Secondly, That God never made his acquaintance and league with one people by his Word,¹ but that there he had some of his elect, who albeit they suffered for a time in the midst of the wicked, yet in the end they found comfort, and felt in very experience, that Gods promises are not vain. Thirdly, That those prayers were dyted unto the people by the holy Ghost, before they came to the uttermost of trouble, to assure them that God, by whose Spirit the Prayer was dyted, would not contemn the same in the midst of their calamities. The third part, containing the lamenable complaint, he treated on in Stirling, in presence of the Duke, and of the whole Council. In the exposition thereof, he declared wherefore God in wisdom sometimes suffered his chosen Flock to be exposed to mockage and dangers, and to appearing destruction; to wit, That they may feel the vehemency of Gods indignation,² That they may know how little strength is in themselves, That they may leave a testimony to the Generations following, as ⟨p. 208⟩well of the malice of the Devil against Gods people, as of the marvellous work of God in preserving his little flock by far other means than man can espy. In explaining these words, How long shalt thou be angry, O Lord, against the prayer of thy people; he declared how dolorous and fearful it was to fight against that temptation, that God turned away his face from our prayers, for that was nothing else than to comprehend and conceive God to be armed to our destruction: which temptation no flesh can abide nor overcome, unless the mighty Spirit of God interpose himself suddenly. The example he gave, The impatience of Saul, when God would not hear his prayers. The difference betwixt the Elect and Reprobate in that Temptation, he plainly declared to be, that the Elect sustained by the secret power of Gods Spirit, did still call upon God, albeit he appeared to contemn their prayers:

Upon those two parts he gave these Notes. First, That the felicity of Gods people may not be measured by any externall appearance; for often it is, That the same people to whom God becometh not onely Creator, but Pastor and Protector, is more severely dealt with, then those Nations where very ignorance and contempt of God raigneth. Secondly, That God never made his acquaintance and league with one people by his Word,