Page:Last speech, and dying testimony, of the noble Marquiss of Argyle.pdf/4

 There was an expreion in thee papers preented by me to the parliament, of the contagion of thee times, which may by ome be miconstructed, as if I intended to lay an imputation upon the work of reformation: but I intended no uch thing, but only related to the corruptions and failings of men, occaioned by the prevailing of the uurping powers.— [At this he turned and took them all witnesses.]

Now, gentlemen, concerning the nation, I thinkthere are three orts of people that take up much of the world, and of this nation; there is, 1, the openly prophane: and truely I may ay, though I have been a prioner, I have not had my ears hut; I hear auredly that drinking, wearing and whoring, were never more common, never more countenanced than now they are. Truly if magitrates were here, I would ay to them, if they lay forth their power for glorifying of God, by retraining this, they would fare the better; if they continue in not retraining, they hall fare the wore: I ay no more, but either let people hun prophanity and magitrates retrain it, or auredly the wrath of God will follow on it. 2, Others are not openly prophane (everyone will not allow that) but yet they are Gallio’s in the matter, if matters go well as to their private interest, they care not whether the church of God ink or wim: But whatever they think, God hath laid engagements upon Scotland; we are tied by covenants to religion and reformation. Thee that were then unborn are yet engaged; and in our baptim we are engaged to it; and it paeth the power of all the magitrates under heaven to abolve them from the oath of God. They deceive themelves, and it may be, would deceive others, that think otherwie: but I would caveat this, people will be ready to think this a kind of intigation to rebellion in me; but they are very far wrong that think