Page:The Laws and Acts of Parliament of Scotland.djvu/593

 A3: 1 7. King CH ARLES^ II. i6or. . % His Majefty will be careful to promote the power of Godlineffe, to encourage the exereifes 'of Ret ligion,both publick and private, and to fuppreffeall prophanenefle, and diforderly walking. And for that end will give all due countenance and protection to the Miniilers of the Gofpel, they containing rhemfelves within the Bounds and Limits of their Miniflerial Calling, and behaving themielves With that fubmiilion and obedience to Mis Majefties Authority and Commands, that is fuitable to the Al- legiance and Duty of good Subjects. And as to the Government of the Church, His Majefty Will make it His care, to fettle and fecure the fame, in fnch a frame as fhall be moil .agreeable to the word of GOD, moft fuitable to- Monarchical Government, and moft complying with the publick peace and quiet of the Kingdom. And in the mean time, His Majefty, with advice and content fore- said, Doth allow the prefent Adminiftration by Seflions, Presbytries and Synods, (they keeping within bounds and behaving themfelves as laid is} and that notwithftanding of the preceeding Act, refciffory of all pretended Parliaments, fince the year one thoufand fix hundred and thirty eight. XVII. , Aft for a Solemn Anniversary Thanksgiving for His .Majefties Reftauration to the Royal Government of His Kingdoms. THe Eftates of Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland, taking to their confideration the fad Condition, Slavery and Bondage, this ancient Kingdom hath groaned under , during thcie twenty three years Troubles: In which, under the fpecious pretences of Reformation, a niblick Rebellion hath been, by the Treachery of fome, and mif-perfwafion of others, violently carried on againft Sacred Authority, to the ruine and deftrudtion, lo far as was poffible, of Re- ligion, the Kings Majefty, and His Royal Government, the Laws, Liberties and Property of the People, and ah the publick and private Interefts of the Kingdom ; So that Religion it felf, which holds the right of Kings to be Sacred, hath been proftitute for die warrand of all thefe treafonable invafions made upon the Royal Authority, and difloyal limitations put upon the Alleagi- smce of the Subjects. And hath it not alfo been pretended unto, for the warrand of all thofe vile and bloody Murthers, which in high contempt of Almighty GOD and of His Majefties Authority and Laws, were under colour of Juftice commited upon His Majefiies good Subjects, mecrly for the difcharge of their Duty to GOD, and Loyalty to the /ving? Hath not that Royal Govern- ment, under whofe Protection this Nation hath, to the envy 'of the World, been fo fa- mous for many ages, been of late troden under foot, and new Governments and Governours eftabliih- ed and kept up without His Majefties Authority, and againft His exprelTe Commands ? Hath not Law, which is the Birtl>rigbt and Inheritance of the Subjects, and the Security of their lives and fortunes, been laid in the duft, and new and unjuft Edicts and Orders pall and pubJilhed, foriub- jecting both life and fortune, and what elfe was dear unto any of His Majefties good Subjects, to the Cruel and Ambitious Lufts of fome ufurping Rulers ? Hath not Religion and Loyalty been the only objects of their Rapine and Cruelty ? And hath not their new and arbitrary Exactions and Burdens upon the People, exceeded in one moneth what ever had been formerly in many years paid to any of the Kings of this Kingdom ? And when the belt of men and the moft Excellent of the Kings of the earth, had in anunufuaiway of confidence rendred HisPerfonto theTruft and Loyalty of His Native Subjects* was not the fecurity of Religion pretended unto by fome, who then governed in Church and State tor the ground of that bafe (and never enough to be abhorred) tranfaction, in leaving fuch a Prince their Native and Dread Soveraign, to the will of thefe who were in open Re- bellion, and for the time had their fwords in their hands againft Him ; And that when by thefe and many fuch like undutifull carriages, the Kings Majefty was removed from His Kingdoms, the foundations of this ancient and well conflkute Government was overturned, the Liberties and Pro- perty of the people inverted ; And this Kingdom expofed to be Captives and Slaves to Strangers, and nothing left unto them but the fad meditation of their increafing miferies, and the bitter remembrance of their by-paft difloyalties 1 Yet even then it pleaied Almighty GOD to compaffionat their low condition, and by the power of His own right-hand, meft miraculoufly to reftore the Kings moft Sacred Majefty to the Royal Government of His King- doms; And thereby to Redeem this Kingdom from its former Slavery and Bondage, and to re= ilore it to its ancient and juft Priviledges and Freedom. And the Kings Majefty acknowledging, with all humility and thankfulnefs, the Goodnefs, Wifdom and power of GOD, in this Signal Act of His mercy to Him and His people, Doth, with advice and confent of His Eftates of Par- liament, Statute and Ordain, That in all time comming there be a Solemn yearly Commemoration of the, fame : And for that end, the twenty ninth of May, (which day GOD Almighty hath fpecialiy honoured and rendred aufpicious to this Kingdom, both by His Majefties Rcyal Birth/ and by His bleffed Reftauration to His Government) be forever fetapartasa Holy day unto the LORD, and that in all the Churches of the Kingdom, it be I im ployed in publick Prayers; Piteachi%/