n a most
doleful security, induration, blindness, and backsliding: so now, in the
most ordinary course of God's justice, we are certainly to expect, that
after so many mercies, so great long-suffering, and such a long day of
grace, all despised, he is to send upon us such judgments as should not be
believed though they were told. O Scotland! understand and turn again, or
else, as God lives, most terrible judgments are abiding thee.

But if you lay these things to heart,--if you be humbled before God for the
provocation of your defection, and turn back from the same,--if with all
your hearts and according to all your power, you bestow your best
endeavours for making help to the wounded church of Christ, and for
vindicating the cause of pure religion, yea, though it were with the loss
of all that you have in the world, (_augetur enim religio Dei, quo magis
premitur_(_44_)--God's true religion is enlarged the more it is pressed
down), then shall you not only escape the evils which shall come upon this
generation, but likewise be recompensed a hundred fold with the sweet
consolations of God's Spirit here, and with the immortal crown of never
fading glory hence. Now, our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our
Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and
good hope through grace, stablish you and keep you from evil, that ye may
be presented before his throne. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with
you all, Amen.

PROLOGUE.

How good reason those wise men had for them who did not allow of the
English popish ceremonies at the first introducing of these novations into
the Church of Scotland, foreseeing the bad effects and dangerous evils
which might ensue thereupon, and how greatly the other sort were mistaken
who did then yield to the same, apprehending no danger in them, it is this
day too too apparent to us whose thoughts concerning the event of this
course cannot be holden in suspense betwixt the apprehensions of fear and
expectations of hope, because doleful experience hath made us feel that
which the wiser sort before did fear. Since, then, this church, which was
once a praise in the earth, is now brought to a most deplorable and daily
increasing desolation by the means of these ceremonies, which have been
both the sparkles to kindle, and the bellows to blow up, the consuming
fire of intestine dissensions among us, it concerneth all her children,
not only to cry out Ah! and