Page:Life and prophecies of that faithful minister of God's word, Mr. Donald Cargill.pdf/4

4 great covenanted work of reformation, wherein the "right hand of the Lord, that does ever valiantly," was and is remarkable to be ſeen, in the beginning and carrying on thro' all the periods of this Church; not only from Paganiſm and Popery, but alſo abjuring of Prelacy, both in the laſt articles of the National Covenant; but more expreſly in the ſecond article of the Solemn League and Covenant betwixt the three nations, wherein all ranks were and are ſolemnly and perpetually bound, in their places and ſtations, to extirpate that old Strumpet Mother, and eldeſt beautiful Daughter of Antichriſt, with which the blinded nations have been and are ſadly bewitched; but vile, loathſome and hateful in the eyes of all the zealous, ſerious godly in Scotland, ever ſince the Lord made light to ariſe to ſee her abominations. And it hath been, is, and may be confirming and comforting to all the Lord's people, that our reformation, in all the ſteps thereof, hath been of and for the Lord, in that he raiſed up and continued ſuch a ſucceſſion of earneſt contenders and faithful witneſſes through ſo many ages, that none have exceeded them ſince the Apoſtles went off the ſtage. Accordingly the Popiſh, Prelatical, and Malignant Faction, enemies of God and godlineſs, began their undermining work (in the year 1650) of our covenanted reformation, that had flouriſhed in a wonderful manner from 1638, eleven years, in their public reſolutions, as they were then called, in getting all places of power and truſt, filled with men of wicked and corrupt principles and practices, to make way for the getting their chief Head Charles IId. upon the throne of Britain, which proved effectual, and got their helliſh deſigns accompliſhed; which was forſeen, foretold and contended againſt by a handful of worthy miniſters and Chriſtians, in theſe days called Proteſtors or Remonſtrators. Then, in the 6th year, Cromwell, the Engliſh general with his ten thouſand men were called home, who came to Scotland in the end of July,