Standing Firm

For Mr Zachary Boyd

We are too intimate that this present Engagement as it is stated in the Parliament's Declaration is holden by the Kirk to be unlawful upon these three gounds especially:-

1. That the end of it is to bring the king to London with honour, freedom, and safety, without so much as craving from him any security for Religion, though he still declares himself as much for episcopacy, and averse from our Covenant as ever.

2. Because all the malignants in England and Ireland are permitted to rise as many armies as they can, and we refuse to take them as before for enemies, except they profess to oppose us or the covenant; this quickly makes our former enemies our masters.

3. The managing of this war is put in the hands principally of these men, whose bygone life and known professions declare they mind not religion; and they who have hitherto, in our bygone troubles, been most eminent instruments of God and the country, for the advancement of the work of religion, and the liberty of the land, are shuffled by, and all power lplucked out of their hands.

There are many more reasons make us, (who are most cordial for a War, against the secretaries of England and there adherents for the vindication of our covenant, for the deliverance of our oppressed brethren than in England, for the rescuing of our King from his unjust imprisonment, and restoring of him to the exercise of his royal power, upon his performance of these necessary duties which the Parliaments of both Kingdoms did require from him; and for the preservation of our church and state from the violence of that evil faction of secretaries, whose principal Drive at the everting of the foundations of all government both of church and state of the whole life: we are hindered notwithstanding) that we cannot join in the present Engagement, which is said to be against them, since it's evident that the course now taken is either not truly against them, but will tend to their establishment, as many fear, or else for setting up in their place our former enemies, for the overthrow of all we have been doing these eleven years. So in our judgement none who will seriously mind religion and a good conscience, will join either in person, goods, or counsel, in this undertaking; and if by violence they be drawn to give any assistance, they must be content presently to suffer what may be put upon them, rather than to act anything that may promote that which they esteem unlawful

Nothing new under the Sun

Doubtless to our first parents the darkness of the first night was somewhat strange; persons who had never seen anything but the light of the day, when the shadows of the night first did encompass them, could not be without some apprehension: yet when at the back of a number of nights they had seen the day-spring of the morning light constantly to arise; the darkenss of the blackest nights was passed over without fear, and in as great security, as the light of the fairest days. to men who have always lived upon land when first they set to sea, the winds, waves, and storms are exceedingly terrible; but when they are a little beaten with the experience of tempests, their fears do change into resolution and courage. It is of no small use to remember that those things which vex most our spirit, are not new, but have already been in times before our days. [Robert Ballie's sermon before the House of Commons. 1643]

Posted on May 29, 2008@00:26 by Deejay

Posted on april 22 2008

[To Mr. Andrew Ker, clerk of the general assembly.]

Andrew,
these are thanks for your last kind long letter. I delivered all the papers, and followed all the directions you sent me. I pray you let me know who drew the answer to the Presbytery at Ayr: I like the hand, be who he will, exceedingly well. How all goes here my long letter to Mr. Robert Douglas will show you. I have oft desired, and now again he's sent this express, to wait on you, if you appoint, for two or three days; and now if you can not, to entreat you so soon as you can, to send me the full extracts of what passed concerning our college and its visitation in the last assembly, especially the visitors act about our stipends and filling our vacant places; also two acts about Mr. Durham. I pray you for your own advice, and the brethren's about you. Mr. James Durham is pressing himself in a fair way, directly and at once, I fear many shall press it for him in a boisterous way, to be admitted to actual service in the College presently. We are here in a great strait: I pray you fail not with the bearer, to send us full and free advice. We conceive Mr. Durham's settling in the College is so passionately craved, while as peaceably he might have a good place in the town, for this end chiefly, that by him the mind of our youth may be framed to the temper some would be at. We fear his deserting the King hurt his Majesty; and his coming hither increase our divisions, and comforts and strengthens much the faction that profess difference from the public resolutions, though he has yet profess none. We believe, and still must do, till your extracts or advise put us off it, that the general assembly did truly transport him from Glasgow to be the minister of the Kings family; and that the place in the College, to which he was only designed but never entered, was truly vaikeing, to which we did elect Mr. Robert Ramsay; and in many sharp debates with the magistrates and Mr Patrick Gillespie, have hitherto stood to this election. But now, when Mr James himself is come to plead, that he was not fully transported, but by a posterior act of the assembly, wants to have his place recognized in the next assembly; and in the meantime desires us to admit him according to his election, we know not what to do. To wrong Mr. Ramsay, ourselves, and the King, and the public, we are loathe to resist Mr James Durham's own desires and he is powerful solicitors: we will find it hard enough. But if they would have patience till the assembly, or be content to be directed by the commission, all might be satisfied; but we've fear though precipitancie of some will not let us rest for long. We beg your advice. [Letters and journal of Robert Ballie]

April 4, 1651.

Posted on April 20, 2008@20:36

Glasgow, this 28th of March 1648.

I have oft proposed to you, which yet I repeat, that it would be a good service to scholars, and profitable for printers, if you could, by yourself and friends there, stir up some of your Amsterdam and Leiden stationers to print by the alone, the Chaldee Bible with a Latin version interlinear, or otherwise in one or two volumes; Buxstorph's Bible, and the new Paris one would furnish good help for the right printing; also an Arabic Bible and a Syriac Bible interlinear, and well printed would not fail to sell; and the Paris Bible which few do or may buy, would furnish a good prototype. It would likewise do much good if young Buxstorph would print over his father's Rabbin commenteries, in one book, in common Hebrew letters, with the points and Latin exposition. Give me an account if anything may be gotten done of this kind. [From the letters and journal of Robert Ballie]

For Mr. James Blair, March11, 1651

James,

your kind letter to me was very welcome,and always what comes from you shall be welcome to me; read the enclosed. Mr. James Guthrie and Mr. Patrick Gillepsie are going on with their work to destroy our state and rent our kirk, but we hope it shall not lie in their power. Mr. Robert Douglas, Mr. Robert Blair, and Mr. David Dick, stand very right and zealous against their evil way.The most of the brethren of the west are are fallen off them, and more daily will, for their pride and schism, will appear daily more and more intolerable; their only confidence is in Cromwell's victory, which God avert, or it should be God's pleasure to try us yet further; honest men will get from their good God, patience and courage to be ready to suffer the most which tyrants malice can impose--these things to yourself. Use all diligence by yourself or any of the gentry and ministry you know faithful and active, to hold your country right, and above all to get the ministry of Ireland well informed. Try if James Wallace, younger Achans be to to Ireland. He has left the king I fear, no good offices, he is poisoned. For our new schism, Mr John Park lay it on him to get all papers. These that are good, are Mr. James Wood, Mr. David Dicks, Mr. James Ferguson; have you care to get them copied and sent to Ireland. Be not slack as you love God, the King, the poor Kirk and the Kingdoms of the three dominions which are like to be cast in a new danger by our brethren, by the imprudence of some and the maliciousness of others. Send me an account both of your diligence in Galoway and Ireland, and the condition of both countries. Your knowledge of truth hereof, may do good.

or Mr R Wilkie

16th January 1638

Right Reverend,

I am longer your debtor than I promised; your long stay in Edinburgh made me slacker in my performance. Always for this delay of time I have sent you a large usury; my papers much enlarged beyond what they were before. I hope ye shall be comforted by them and encouraged to go on in your disposition by the strength of God to oppose those who now in their publik avowed writs condemns almost all the most fundamental truths of our profession, of manifest error if not heresy. I think their were very few who will be pleased to take pains to try the writs which the Canterburians has published their last nine years, but they will be forced to justify those who are most forward among us to oppose with all their might what innovations comes from their sacred hands. If ye be encouraged, I have all with by performance of my promise, which ye did draw from me by your request at your last parting; so I rest your loving and much obliged.

To Mr William Wilkie

The Proclamation of our Liturgie is the matter of my greatest affliction. I pray you, if you can comamand any copy, by your money or moyen, let me have on[e], and it were but for two or three days with this bearer. I am mynded to cast my studies for disposing of my mind to such a course as I may be answerable to God for my carriage. Whosoever, I am greatly afraid that this apple of contention has banished peace from our poor church hereafter for ever. In england, to this house, as sundry Episcopal books lastly printed does testify, this fire is yet rekindled and ready upon occasion to break out for the trouble of that church harder than ever. As we so modest spirits, and so toward handle this matter, that their is appearance we will embrace in a clap such a mass of novelties. I find Andreus himself, the semigod of the new faction, preaching before King James, in a writ dedicated to King Charles by this from canterbuy showing that all Church laws that all cannons Ecclesiastical have always been made in Church Assemblies, and not elsewhere. In England it was so ever; the lost cermony never appointed but in the convocation; though Andreus were silent, the constant practice of the Church, both universal and particular does envince this. It is to me a matter above marvel, who ever miniute to move our Prince to begin a new practice so late on our poor church. Had we been truly as once we were alleged, but a pendicle of the diocese of York, yet more than a missive letter would have been unfit to have moved us embrace a whole book of the new canons, and more than an Act of Councel to have made us recieve a new Form in the whole worship of God prayer, sacraments, marraige, burial, preaching and all. For myself, I am resolved, what I can digest any ways tolderable with peace of consicence, not only in due time to receive myself but to dispose others also, so far as I can by word and write, to receive quietly the same; but whatever be my mind, yet I am afraid, for there is a storm raised which will not calm down in my days. Its a pity that we shold have none to give our gracious Prince, due information. They are dear cost which at the price of our poor country and church peace and liberty, betrayed to the lust and set under the seat fo some new foreign prelates, if not one alone. I may vent this much of my greived mind in thy bosom.

I think readily the two vacant bishoporics shall be occasion of thy provision; but God make the better one than too many among us are. Bishops I love; but pride, greed, luxury, opression, immersion in secular affairs, was the bane of romise prelates, and can not have long good sucess in the Reformed.

Thy Brother,

Kilw[winning] Jan 2, 1637

R.Ballie.

TO MY LORD, ARCHIPBISHOP OF GLASGOW

Please your Lordship your Lordship's letter of the 7the of this inst. I received the 13th late, wherein I am desired to preach the last Wednesday of this instant before the Assembly, and to frame my sermon to incite my hearers to the obedience and practice of the Canons of our Church of our Church Service-Book, published and established by the authoritie. I am much oblidged to your Lordship's estimation of my poor giftes, and does humbly thank your Lordship for intending to honour me with so great a service; but, withall, am sorry that my present dispositione neccessitates me to decline the charge. I will confesse myself to your Lordship freely, for I have found ever such acquitie in your Lordship, and so favourable a respect towards me in all my affaires, that I am imboldened, without all dissimulation, to speak what is on my minde; the truth is, that as yit I have not studied the matters contained in the bookes of our Canons and Common Prayer; only I have taken a slight view of them, whereby, for the present, my minde is in no wayes satisfied; yea, the little pleasure I have in these bookes, and the great pleasure I find in the most part, both or pastours and people wherever I come, to have coneaved against them, has filled my minde with such a measure of grief, that I am scarce able to preach to my own flock; but to speak in another congregation, let be in so famous a meeting, and that upon these matters, I am at this tyme altogether unable. Your Lordship, I put no question, is so acquitable as to take in good part this my ingenuous confession of the true cause why I am unable to accept that honourable employment which your Lordship's more than ordinar respect would have laid upon me; for for this and many more favours receaved, farr above my deserving. I pray God to blisse your Lordship, and to continue your many yeares to be our overseer; for be persuaded that many thousands here where I live are gritly afraid, that whenever your Lordship, shall goe, their peace and quietness shall goe away with you. This is,
Your Lordship's very loving Friend, and obedient Servant,
R. BAYLIE

Kilwinning August 14, 1637

More to be added.