The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

But you, guilty in the same offences, hath he fostered and preserved, as it were in his own bosom, during the time of that most miserable thraldom, of that professed enemy of God, mischievous Mary: And now hath set you at such liberty, as the fury of Gods enemies cannot hurt you, except that willingly against his honour, you take pleasure to conspire with them. As this benefit which you have received is great, so must Gods Justice require of you a thankful heart; For seeing that his Mercy hath spared you, being Traitor to his Majesty; Seeing further, That amongst your enemies he hath preserved you; And last, seeing, although worthy of hell, he hath promoted you to honour and dignity; of you must he require (because he is just) earnest repentance for your former defection; and heart mindful of his merciful providence, and a will so ready to advance his glory, That evidently it may appear,¹ that in vain you have not received these graces of God; to performance whereof, of necessity it is, That carnal wisdom and worldly policy (to the which both, you are bruited too much inclined) give place to Gods simple and naked Trueth: very love compels me to say, That except the Spirit of God purge your heart from that venom, which your eyes have seen to have been destruction to others, that you shall not long escape the reward of dissemblers. Call to mind what your ears heard Proclaimed, in the Chapel of S. James, when this Verse of the first Psalm was handled, Not so, O wicked, not so, but as the dust which the wind tosseth, &c. And consider, that now you travel in the same way which then they did occupy, to speak plainly, now you are in that estate and credit, in the which you shall either comfort the sorrowful and afflicted, for righteousness sake, or else you shall molest or oppugn the Spirit of God speaking in his Messengers; the Comforters of the afflicted for godliness, hath promise of comfort, in their greatest necessities: but the troubles of Gods servants (how contemned that ever they appear before the world) are threatened to have their Names in execration to the posterities following. The examples of the one and of the other, are not only evident in Scriptures, but also have been lately manifested in England.

But you, guilty in the same offences, hath he fostered and preserved, as it were in his owne bosome, during the time of that most miserable thraldome, of that professed enemy of God, mischievous Mary: And now hath set you at such liberty, as the fury of Gods enemies cannot hurt you, except that willingly against his honour, you take pleasure to conspire with them. As this benefit which you have received is great, so must Gods Justice require of you a thankfull heart; For seeing that his Mercie hath spared you, being Traitour to his Majestie; Seeing further, That amongst your enemies he hath preserved you; And last, seeing, although worthy of hell, he hath promoted you to honour and dignity; of you must he require (because he is just) earnest repentance for your former defection; and heart mindfull of his mercifull providence, and a will so ready to advance his glory, That evidently it may appeare,