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'A Short 
 
 DECLARATION 
 
 To the whole 
 
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 KINGDO 
 
 CONCERNING^ 
 
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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/shortdeclarationOOchur 
 
A ftiort Declaration to the whole 
 Kirk and Kingdom,concerningpre- 
 fenc Dangers and Duties** 
 
 Edinb.p. September 1648. Antemerldiem] 
 
 Lbeit the (ad and dangerous condition 
 * wherein this Kirk and Kingdom is 
 
 nowcAtt, by the public kRdolutionS 
 and praitifes of thefe who have inga- 
 ged in War againft the Kingdom of 
 England , do proclaim unto all the lo- 
 vers ot Religion and the Countrey, 
 what is needf ull to be done in this day of dsftreffe : YeE 
 for the better information of the Lords people, we i on- 
 ce, ve it neccfhry , (h oitly for the prdtnt to declare 
 what we hold incumbent in duty to all thefe who 
 Would not betray the <auie of God, and render them- 
 felves flivesto the Tyannie and luft of ungodly and 
 Malignant men, hoping in a (hurt time to make known 
 Our thoughts of thele particulars more fully. 
 
 When the dif-iftecled and prevailing party in the Par- 
 liament of this Kingdom did manifeft heac-ltrorgrelo- 
 lutionstoroake War upon England, under apreecxt of 
 lupprefling Sectaries^ But in effect,to diilolve the union 
 
 A $ betwixt 
 
oecwixtiucivingaums, ana toreitore the King to the 
 cxcrcilc of his Arbitrary Government, and make way 
 for promoving of the Defignesof the Malignant party 
 in both Nations: Juft and neceflary defires relating unto 
 the grounds of an ingagement, and unto the fecurins 
 of Religion, were prefented unto their Lordfhips by 
 the Commifsion ot the former Generall Affembly - 
 Butthefe defires were altogether flighted,and an ingage- 
 ment refolved upon fuch grounds as are contrary to the 
 Word of God, and do infer the breach of all the Ar- 
 ticles of the Solemn League and Covenant, as is clear- 
 ly holden forth in the Declaration of the laft Generall 
 AUemblyj wherein alfo may be feen the great incroach- 
 ments that are made upon the Liberties of the Kirk : 
 Neither was there any regard had unto the diflent and 
 Proteftation of a confiderable number of Members©! 
 Parliament, who had been moft adiveand (freight in 
 the Caufe from the beginning 5 nor unto the Petitions 
 and Supplications of many Synods and Presbyteries 
 and of the wel- affected people of the Land, who were 
 feeking fatisfaclion to their conferences : But inftead 
 of a fatisfa<5toiy anfwer, the ingagement whilk was 
 wickedly refolved , was violently carried on by moft 
 ftrange plundering andcruellopprefsion, efpecially of 
 thefe who did declare it upon no other ground then out 
 of fear to fin againft God : And as though it had been 
 too little to force obedience unto their unlawfull Refo- 
 lutions and Ads, the Committee of Eftates have urged 
 and preffed >he fubferibing of a Band and Declaration of 
 Parliament, wherein men are obliged to acknowledge 
 ibe juftice & equity pfall the Atfs,ConcMons & Refo- 
 
 Jusions 
 
liiEiOflS thereof, or if they reiufe, are tb he efteeftied enei 
 mies toReligion $c their Country-, And after that thcCo- 
 micteof Eftates had lent fuch an Army unto England^ 
 as by the leaders thereof, was profeffed to befoconfi- 
 derable, as was fufficient to prof ecute their refolutions 
 fa that Kingdorae, without any further fupply of forces 
 from this-, Yet they have refolved upon, and profecuted 
 a new levie, with no lefle violence, then the former that 
 they may wreith the yoke of their oppreflion upon the 
 necks of the Lords people, and bring the whole King- 
 dome in flavery and bondage. And though the Lord 
 hath declared his wrath from heaven againft thefe their 
 refolutions and proceedings, by bringing their Army to 
 fo fudden and fhamefull an overthrow •, Yet do «fhey 
 ftill adhere unto, and perfue the fame defignes,and have 
 not onely brought within the bowells of this King- 
 dome, the remnant of that godlefle and prophane Ar- 
 my., but have given Comiffion alfo to clafled incendia- 
 ries and Rebels who ferved under the conduct of fames' 
 Grahame to raife forces, and by the whole tenour of 
 their carriage, do make it appear to all who have eyes to 
 fee, that they do intend rather to involve the King- 
 dome in blood, then to be reftrained in the perfuitc of 
 their former wicked refolutions. 
 
 Therefore albeit the thoughts of peace be pretious 
 unto us, and that we wi<h 'and exhort every one to fol- 
 low Peace with all men, as much as is pofsibie,Yee 
 looking upon the eminent dangers that threaten Religi- 
 on, the grievous oppressions that lies upon the Lords 
 peoplein their conference*, perfons, and eftates, and the 
 many fearful! evils, that threatens both Kirk and King- 
 dom 
 
dome, if the remnant of thefe mens wrath be not re- 
 trained •, We conceive that all the people of God are 
 ob! iged and ingaged by Covenant, with their lives and 
 eftates, co endeavour and perfue thefe following ends, 
 and to oppofe all the enemies and adverfaries thereof - 
 i .Because Religion isof all things the moft excellent & 
 precious, the Securing thereof is to be moft in our 
 thoughts, and in theendeavou s of all men, that it may 
 be prel'erved unto us, 5f cranlmitced unto our pofteritie, 
 in puricie. Secondly, Ail a e bound to defend and 
 maintain the liberties of the Kirk, which is the houfe of 
 God, and the ground and pillar of truth. Thirdly, all 
 are bound to vindicate the liberties of the fubjects, in all 
 thefe things which concern their confciences,perfons, 
 and efhtes. F ourthly, there is no Idle obi igation, care- 
 fully to maintain the union t etwixt the Kingdomes,and 
 to avoid every thing that may weaken the lame, or in- 
 volve us in i ny meafure of accefsion unto the guilt of 
 thefe who have invaded the Kingdome of England. 
 Fifthly, all are to indeavour the Kings Majefties refti- 
 tucion to the exercife or his Royall power, as fo m as he 
 flu 11 givefecurity for Religion, in the m mnerexprefied 
 in the defires of the late Comifsion o\ the Kt k, and 
 fhall give fatisfadion in 1 uch other things as are necefla- 
 ry for the peace andtafetyof the Kingdom. Sixthly, 
 all are to take a more eflfe&ual l our fe then beretcfo efor 
 punifhrng and fuppreiTmg of all Malignancy, injufti. e, 
 iniquity, prophanencfTc and impiety, and to endeavour, 
 that the beft and fieteft remedies be applied for taking 
 ajvjy thecaufesof thefe evils, and advancing Religion 
 and Righteoumeile in the Land, and that thofe men 
 
 who 
 
i -U1 :_. 
 
 fvho have been formerly inftrumentall in our prefenc 
 aniferies and calamities be not again admitted unto any 
 fuch truft or power as may enable them to involve the 
 Land in the fame or the like evils. 
 
 Thefe things are of fuch importance and confequence 
 as that we know not what can be expected without 
 them but a continuance and increafe of our prefent mife* 
 rics and calamities ♦ And therefore feeing the Lord hath 
 now put into the hands lot his people fuch an opportu- 
 nitie, and made many willing in this day of his power. 
 We do exhort and befeech all men throughout the land 
 by the mercies of God who hath not given us over un- 
 to death, but left us a naili in his holy place, that they 
 would ferioufly mind, and to the utmoft of their power 
 prefer thefe ends againft all lets and impediments what- 
 ioever, and oppofe all thefe who ftand for the engage- 
 ment. In the beginning of this work the Lord ftirred 
 up the fpiritsof his people to joyne together and defend 
 themfeives againft tyranny and opprefiion in thefe 
 things which concerned their confciences and liberties^ 
 and albeit their power was but fmall, and the ftrength 
 of adverfaries great, yet becaufe they did their duty in - 
 the fimplicity of their hearts, and trufted in the name 
 of the Lord,ne was pleafed to make the enemies melt as 
 wax before the fire, and tovanifhas fmoke before the 
 wind: And if after fo many rich experiences of his afli- 
 ftance and rare teftimonies of his loving kindneffe, and 
 great deliverances out of trubles andiolemne ingage- 
 mentsbyvows and Covenants, we mould fit (till, or 
 comply with thofe who have carried on the ingagemenc 
 in a time that threatens fo mnch danger unto Religion, 
 
 and 
 
 i 
 
CO- • 
 
 and fo im'ment ruin to our liberties,perfons,and cftatesj 
 we could not but be exceedingly guilty before the 
 Lord, and deferve to be plagued as betrayers of the 
 caufe of God, and of the fafety both of Kirk and State : 
 Let us therefore ariie, and do our duty , and the Lord of 
 hofts who hath alreadie broken the power, and pride 
 of our adversaries, (ball be with us, , 
 
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