in some to employ these men,
and make use of them, that we may be strengthened in this and in our
neighbour land, but God hath hitherto cursed all such counsels, and
blasted such resolutions, and if we shall again fall into this sin,
as our guilt shal be so much the greater by reasone of many promises
and ingadgments to the contrair, so we may expect ane heavier
judgment from the Lord upon it. Let us keep the Lord's way, and
though we be few and weake, the Lord shall be with us, and make us
to prosper and prevail. They are not fit for the work of God, and
for the glorious dispensations of his more than ordinary works of
power and providence in these times, who cannot beleive nor act any
thing beyonde what sense and reasone can make clear unto them from
the beginning unto ye end of their undertakings. Former experiences
and present straits call upon us that we should act and follow our
deutie in such a way as may magnify the Lord, and make it known to
others that we may live by Faith.'--'The Waters of Sihor,' or the
Lands Defectione, By Mr. James Guthrie, Minister of Stirling,"
Wodrow MSS vol. xvii. p. 41, in Bib. Ad.--_Ed._]

327 ["At Stirlinge, the 12 of Septem. 1650. A shorte declaration and
warninge to all the congregations of the Kirk of Scotland, from the
commissioners of the General Assembly.

"Albeit the Lord quhosse judgments are unsearchable, and quhosse
wayes past finding out, has brought the land werey low wnder the
hand of ane prewaillinge enemey, yet must we not forbeare to declair
the mynd of God, nor vthers refusse to hearken thereto. It wer
superfluous to give answer to the maney calumnies and reproches that
are blazed abroad, for albeit in every thing we cannot justify the
conducte of the armey, yet we hold it our deutie to desyre every one
not to beleive groundless reports, bot rather to eye the Lord, and
looke vpe to the hand that smytts them. And therfor, in the first
place, we exhort and warne all the inhabitants of the land, to
searche out ther iniquities, and to be deeplie humbled before the
Lord, that he may turn away his wraith from us. The Lord hath
wounded us and chasteissed us sore, wiche sayes that our iniquities
are muche, and that our sins are increessed. It concerneth the King
to mourne