Kingdom to the King and the form of the Invitation given him upon satisfaction in terminis to these demands which form of Invitation Declaration made therewith did exclude all engagement to make war upon England yet was there a Party in the Land and some in the Parliament whose designes and endeavors did still tend to engage us in a War against England On the other hand there was cause to fear an Invasion from England by reason of the preparations made the former year by those in power in that Nation upon the report of an Agreement betwixt the King and Commissioners sent from this Kingdome to Holland in the year 1649. The great difficulty was how to steer an even course in reference to both these extreams both to prevent a sinfull Invasion from this Land upon England and from England upon this Nation The Parliament having seriously pondered both the dangers took this course They sent to their Commissioners then in Holland renewed Instructions together with a Declaration wherein they made known their dissatisfaction with severall things in the Treaty in which the Commissioners had varied from their Instructions particularly they declared that nothing agreed on should import an obligation to make War against England and gave expresse direction that none of the Malignant Party should be permitted to come to Scotland and this Instruction was forthwith turned into a Law and published in Print by Proclamation at the Market Crosse of Edinburgh And the Earl of Calendar who had adventured to come from Holland to Scotland upon hopes of the approbation of that Treaty was presently commanded to go aboard a ship within twenty four hours and forthwith to depart the Kingdom under the pain of imprisonment and the fine of a hundred thousand merks These Instructions and the Declaration of the Parliament were delivered to the Commissioners in Holland before the King came away together also with Letters to the same purpose from the Commission of the Kirk to their Commissioners To prevent the danger of an Invasion from England the Parliament did without so much as the least question or objection made to the contrary by any Member thereof renew the Acts of Posture and Leavie which were made the year preceding for putting the Kingdom in readinesse in case of Invasion and upon the 22. of June 1650. they wrote Letters directed to Mr. Lenthall Speaker of the House of Commons the Lord Fairfax then Lord Generall Lieut. Generall Cromwell Major Generall Lambert and the Governour of New-Castle in which Lettes they shew that as in their Letter of the 6. March 1649. they did both acknowledge their obligation and did declare their resolution to observe the rule of remonstrating first the breaches of Peace of craving just reparation of using all fair means of giving a preceding Warning of three moneths before any engagement of these Kingdoms in War so they do again renew the same and do solemnly professe that they do it in the sincerity of their hearts not out of any policy to catch advantages for any other end or designe but meerly for their own defence which they do accompt abundantly sufficient to remove all grounds of jealousies and mis-reports of their intentions and to take away all pretence of necessity of the marching of Forces for defence of the Borders of England And being informed of a resolution in England to send an Army to invade this Kingdom they desired to know whether these who have the present power in England do acknowledge themselves obliged or by their answer will oblige themselves and declare their resolutions to observe the foresaid way and order upon their part to us and plainly and clearly to declare whether their Forces do march for defence or offence for keeping onely within the Borders of England or coming within ours which way of proceaor in clearing each other and dealing plainly is not onely agreeable to particular Treaties and to the many Bonds and Declarations past betwixt these Kingdoms but also to the Law of God and practice of his people in his Word and to the Common Law and practice even of Heathen Nations much more of Christian covenanted Kingdomes c. When the Forces appointed to be raised for defence of the Kingdom together with the old standing Forces that were before on foot were to be formed and drawn together in a Body there were some differences in Parliament one was Whether the Malignant Party and persons grossely scandalous should be excluded from the Army or not There were none in Parliament that had the countenance to plead for it directly our constant Principles being known to be so expresse against it and the Kirk having so often pressed upon the Parliament by many Petitions Remonstrances and Declarations the purging of their Forces but diverse would have had the Act for making up the Army to passe without appointing any Committee having power to remove such from the Army Another difference was Whether the Committee of Estates should have power to command the Army to invade England as was done in the year 1648 or if there should be a limitation of their power onely to stand for the defence of the Land within our Borders In this question likewise there were none that pleaded expressely for such a power in the Committee but they opposed the limitation Some time was spent in conference and debate about these but they were so few in Parliament that were either against the exclusion or limitation that when the sense of the Parliament came to be known their number was no wayes considerable so that what is here represented by the Authors of that Declaration against the Protesters as the first step of declining is in effect an evidence of their own declining from the former principles of State and Kirk for both were then unanimous for exclusion of the Malignant Party and grossely scandalous persons from the Army and against the invading of England which were the two questions in Parliament that did retard for some days the bringing forth the new levied Forces for so soon as these two questions were ended it was evidently seen there were none more forward in Parliament and Committees to hasten them to the fields then these who are unsatisfied with the late â—uolick Resolutions and there was together at Leith before the English Army marched into Scotland so considerable a number of Horse and Foot that they were double the number of the English Surely no other thing but the change of principles or groundlesse prejudice could lead men to quarrell thus for want of an Army to defend the Land the great number whereof made the stroâ—e at Dumbar the more unexpected doleful dreadful This is the truth concerning what is laid to the charge of that faithful Parliament which met at Edinburgh in the year 1650 and whose endeavours to prevent extreams were answered with disappointment on both hands which I trust doth sufficiently answer what is said anent the first step DECLARATION THe second
that it was approved and accepted by the Lord as a necessary duty that gracious men who by the tentations of the time and the perswasions of some whose judgements they respected being drawn into a snare at Sterline to disclaim the Remonstrance they were within very few dayes after so challenged in conscience that they had no peace of mind till they acknowledged their fault and resolved to walk softly all their years in the bitternesse of soul The first thing that they challenge in the Remonstrance is That the owning of the Kings just Interest agreed unto by the Generall Assembly and the Parliament was expressely laid aside and his removall from the exercise of his Royall Power and Government advised to the Committee of Estates but in this they do not deal fairly not onely because they leave out the Reasons upon which this is offered to be considered by the Committee which are very weighty and important but also because they omit to tell that the Gentlemen Ministers and Forces of the West had no other meaning in the Remonstrance as to the Kings Interest then what was expressed in the Declaration at the West Kirk of the 12. August in the year 1650. In which the Committee of Estates the Commission of the Kirk and the Army did unanimously joyn in their severall stations and capacities in testimony whereof they were willing and did often offer accordingly to clear and explain the same if so be the Commission should forbear to give any sense upon it and let un-byassed men judge if it was unseasonable to remonstrate this upon the Kings deserting the Councels of State and Kirk and joyning with the Malignant Party contrary to the Covenant and Treaty The next thing challenged is That the authority of the Committee of Estates is thereby weakened but it is not told how belike it is meaned because of the freedom that is therein used in laying before them the sins and mis-carriages of sundry of these who were then in place and power but the discovering and taking with of sin doth not weaken but strengthen authority that which hath provoked the Lord to dash our Judicatories in pieces and to bring them to nothing is Because they have refused to take with their guiltinesse and to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God If the freedome that was used in the Remonstrance in reference to Members of the Committee of Estates offend any these four things would be remembred 1. That what is therein represented is known and undeniable truth 2. That the Lord was calling thereto by his most dreadful stroaks 3. That many were hardning and habâ—tuating themselves in sin 4. That the men who spoke were about to lay down their lives and therefore took liberty to speak all their hearts that they might exoner themselves and leave it as their testimony with others The third is that a way of holding up a constant division from State and Kirk is therein moulded but nothing is said to make out this and though some of the Remonstrators be judged and called subtile and designing men yet as they did intend no such thing so do I doubt exceedâ—ngly if they be so quick-sighted as to see the strength of this inference that is made upon it for my part I see it not and am content to be â—gnorant of it untill it shall be discovered unto me DECLARATION THe fifth step is When notwithstanding of this perillous practice all means of union of Forces and healing of the breach was endeavoured by Church and State yet union could not be had except upon such conditions as the State and Church could neither in honour nor in conscience grant whereby and through the dissipation of these Forces which aahered to the Remonstrance at Hamilton the State and Church were necessitated either to render all up to the present rage of a perfidious and prevalent Enemy or to make use of such as had been formerly received to repentance for their sinfull courses and admit others to repentance from whom satisfaction might be gotten agreeable to the Rules of the Generall Assembly that all togother might be employed for the just and necessary defence of the Cause and Kingdom their naturall interest obligations and solemnâ— tyes by Covenant calling for the same DEFENCE LEt it be considered what these conditions were which the Church and State could neither in honour nor conscience grant As for the Kings exercising of his power the Remonstrators did declare that they had in humility propounded their judgment and the reasons thereof unto the Committee of Estates but it was in their power to hearken unto them and to do so yea or no as they thought fit and that if they should not be pleased still to debar the King from the exercise of his power as he had been formerly they would not refuse to live peaceably under him as the Magistrat of the Land only two things they did desire in order to their uniting with the Forces of the Kingdom 1. That the quarrell upon which they fought might be stated as in the Declaration of the 13. of Aug. 1650. 2. That there might be one to command the Forces qualified according to the solemn Engagement unto duties to wit of a blameless and Christian conversation and of known integrity and constant affection to the Cause of God both which conditions were refused Now I would fain know a reason why these things might not be condescended unto in honor and conscience Was it lesse honour or conscience to state the quarrel in November 1650. according to the foresaid Declaration then it-was to state it in August immediatly preceding Had any thing occurred in order to the King for altering the state of the quarrell and making it more favourable as to him or rather was there not something to the contrary to wit his deserting of the Judicatories giving of Commissions to the Malignants and joyning with them Or was it contrary to honour and conscience to satisfie them in the other Or did not both honour and conscience binde them to it As to the imploying of the Malignant Party there is so much said in a particular Treatise to demonstrate the sinfulness of it as also that there was no necessity for it that I shall not now insist upon it only I desire that to be taken notice of which they say of making use of such as had been formerly received to repentance for their sinfull courses and admitting others to repentance from whom satisfaction might be gotten agreeable to the Rules of the Generall Assembly that all together might be imployed Which words import that as they did require repentance in all these who were formerly excluded and were now to be imployed so also that care was taken to receive none but such as satisfied according to the Rules of the Generall Assembly both which are spoken gratis and without ground The first because in answer to the Quere and in the Warning penned for the strengthening of it
Kings proceedings and were resolved to prosecute and maintain his present Majesties Interest before and without acknowledgment of the sins of his House and former wayes and satisfaction to Gods People in both Kingdoms The omitting of which Clauses doth so sar as I can discern either from the Assemblies own words or from the judgments and expressions of these who had chief hand therein or from comparing things with things indeed import an altering of the state of the question and brings it to that which was so much pleaded for by the opposers of Reformation from the very beginning of our differences with the Kings father especially by some of the Authors of the crosse Petition in 1643. and of the unlawfull Engagement in the year 1648. to wit that though the King did not disclaim his former opposition to the Work of God and to the Covenant and likewise all the enemies thereof and own and prosecute the Cause of God yet we ought to owne his Kingly Interest by admitting him to the exercise of his Royall Power and obeying him in al things lawful which how far it reacheth as to the casting loose and condemning of the former proceedings of this Church and Kingdom with the King and his Father and making a new state of the question hath been often heretofore shewen by this Church and cannot but be obvious to every intelligent man Two Acts of the Assembly at Dundee and one Act of the Assembly at Edinburgh which relates unto censures DUNDEE Julii 31. 1651. antemer Sess 19. Act for censuring of those who do not acknowledge this present Assembly and do not acquiesce to the Acts thereof c. THe General Assembly considering that all persons who protest against and decline the authority of the General Assembly are censurable by the Acts and Constitutions of this Kirk with the highest censures thereof and that by the Act of the solemne General Assembly of Glasgow 20. Decemb. 1638. Sess 26. Presbyteries and Provincials are ordained to cite and censure all such as would not acknowledge the said Assembly And the Assembly being very sensible of the prejudice this Kirk may suffer in her Liberties and Priviledges by the beginnings of such practices if they be not timeously prevented and restrained Therefore according to the practice and example of the said Assembly They ordain Presbyteries and Provinciall Assemblies to call before them all persons that do not acknowledge this present Assembly and to censure them according to the degree of their contempt and obstinacie to the Acts of this Kirk And the Assembly having also considered that by the afore-mentioned Act of the Assembly of Glasgow and another Act of the said Assembly Decemb. 18. Sess 24. Presbyteries are ordained to proceed against these that do not acquiesce to the Acts of the said Assembly and that refuse themselves or draw others from the obedience of the Act of the General Assembly in manner mentioned in the said Act. Therefore do ratifie and approve the said Acts and declare that they are to be extended against Ministers censured by this Assembly and all those that oppose the Publick Resolutions thereof Ordaining also Presbyteries and Provincial Assemblies To call before them all persons that shall not acquiesce to the Acts and Constitutions of this present Assembly and to deal with them by conference for their satisfaction And if in their conference with them they shall still oppose the Acts and Conclusions of this Assembly That they censure them according to the degree of their offence and obstinacie to the Acts of this Assembly And where Presbyteries are negligent or wanting herein the Assembly appoints the Commission appointed for Publick Affairs to proceed against the said offenders respective and to censure them in manner abovespecified giving unto them full power for that effect Eodem die at Dundee Ses 19. antemerid Act against Expectants who oppose the Publick Resolutions THe General Assembly understanding the scandall and prejudice of practices and carriage of some Expectants and students attenders of families for performance of religious duties by their private or publick opposing Publick Resolutions For removing whereof they do extend the Act of the Assembly 1640. Sess 10. against expectants refusing to subscribe the Covenant and the censure therein specified against all expectants students in Divinity and attenders upon families for religious duties that shal not acknowledge the General Assemblies of this Kirk and this present General Assembly and that shal not acquiesce to the Acts and Constitutions thereof and do ordain them to be removed from Bursaries and to be discharged from publick preaching and catechising in Congregations and families and from all other priviledges and liberties allowed to expectants appointing Presbyteries and Provincials to proceed against them accordingly Edinburgh 3. Aug. 1652. antemer Sess 19. Act concerning admitting Expectants to their tryals and Ruling Elders to act in Presbyteries and Synods THe General Assembly having out of their earnest desire of the Peace and Vnity of this Kirk condescended upon an Overture of Peace and not onely propounded it to some Brethren who were here opposite to the Publick Judicatories of this Kirk But also in pursuance of that end Ordained the said Overture to be presented and offered by the several Presbyteries or Synods to all in their respective bounds who have Protested against and Declined or consented or adhered unto the Protestations and Declinatours made against this and the preceding General Assembly and the conditions therein contained to be required of them And considering the great prejudice like to arise to this Kirk by encreasing of our unhappy Differences and Distractions if young men shal be admitted into the Ministery which shal still blow the fire of contention and continue in avowed opposition to and contempt of the Publick Judicatories Therefore Ordains Presbyteries to take special care that upon the calling of any Expectant to a particular charge of the Ministery before they admit him to his trials they require him under his hand to passe from the Protestations and Declinatours against this and the preceding General Assembly if he hath been accessory to the same and to promise and give assurance that he shal abstain from holding up Debates and Controversies about matters of Differences in this Kirk since the Assembly 1650 in Preaching Writing or other wayes Vpon the performance whereof the Presbyterie shal proceed to his trials if not in that case the Presbyterie shal foebear to proceed until the next General Assembly leaving liberty to the Presbyterie and Congregation for planting of the place otherwise And the Assembly Ordains and requires that Presbyteries be not sudden to lay by such young men as at first refuses or scruples to perform these conditions mentioned but that pains be taken upon them to convince them of the reasonablenesse thereof and to perswade them to embrace them and to give them a competent time for that effect Likeas the Assembly considering the prejudice of Elders coming to Presbyteries for
AN ANSWER TO THE DECLARATION Of the Pretended ASSEMBLY at DVNDEE AND TO A PRINTED PAPER INTITVLED The PROTESTATION given in by the Dissenting Brethren to the GENERAL ASSEMBLY July 21. 1652. Reviewed and refuted c. In which ANSVVER are set down Ten Steps of their defection who follow the way of the Publick Resolutions Together with OBSERVATIONS upon some of the Acts of the P. Assemblies at Dundee and Edinburgh and some PAPERS concerning the endeavors of the PROTESTERS for Union with their Brethren who differ from them in Judgement Printed in Anno 1653. GOOD READER BE pleased to understand that when that Paper Intituled The Protestation given in by the dissenting Brethren to the Gen. Assembly July 21. 1652. Reviewed and refuted c. came abroad in Print there were differing thoughts about it amongst these who are concerned to answer it Some said that it was not worth an answer others knowing that it did indeed more abound with calumnies and reproaches then with arguments yet did judge it fit to he answered because in this corrupt age calumnies passe for truths among the generality of people without any serious disquisition and examination Within very few dayes after that Paper was published an Answer was drawn by one who favoureth the Cause of the Protesters and was by him intended presently for the Presse But there it was delayed and upon good grounds the Review of the Vindication of the pretended Assembly at St. Andrews and Dundee had the precedency in the Presse for the validity of the Protestation lately made at Edinburgh doth much depend upon the nullity of that Assembly which was asserted and well proved in that Review And the Writer of that Paper I mean the Review of the Protestation made at Edinburgh to which the Answer was intended did so hyperbolically commend that Vindication of the Assembly at St. Andrews and Dundee as a Nervous Piece not yet answered nor easily answerable beside diverse other expressions about it and did so often refer unto it in his Review that it was easie to perceive that no answer would be accounted satisfactory if that Vindication were not first answered and published that sober and judicious men might see whether there was so great cause of boasting of that Vindication or not and to give such Publick provocations in Print calling for an Answer to it beside that there was information that a course was taken by some of those that maintain the Publick Resolutions for Printing the Vindication of that Assembly at London which was very true for it was Printed there in the year 1652. After the Review of the Vindication was Printed this Answer was a while stopped at the Presse for want of licence to Print it and as some things which were in the Copy which was at first intended for the Presse were left out so other things emergent were added The Reviewer of the Protestation doth in the beginning of his Paper refer to a Declaration made at the pretended Assembly at Dundee which you will find to be first answered here and because it abounds with reproaches and mis-informations therefore there was a necessity to insist the more largely in matters of fact You have next the steps of their defection who follow the way of the Publicâ— R solutions and then the Answer to the Review of the Protestation and lastly some things about the Union endeavoured by the Protesters together with observations upon some Acts of the said pretended Assemblies In all which you have their own Papers that it may be seen that no wrong is done to their cause in repeating their Reasons and Arguments except it be done by themselves I desire not to prejudice the Reader by a Preface onely this much I would say further that whereas this Reviewer boastes that the gray headed and aged men for the most part are on their side to which there is enough answered in this Treatise Yet I would have it remembered that the same Argument is used by Eliphaz the Temanite against Job chap. 15. v. 9 10. What knowest thou that we know not What understandest thou which is not in us With us are both the gray-headed and very aged men much elder then thy father But this is better considered by Elihu Job 32.7.8 9. I said dayes should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom But there is a spirit in man and the Inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding great men are not alwayes wise neither do the aged understand judgement Farewell good Reader read and consider and the Lord give thee understanding in all things so I rest Thine in the LORD JESUS The PROTESTATION Reviewed and refuted Briefly shewing the insufficiencie of the Reasons thereof and consequently the justice of the Assemblies sentence condemning it HOw wel this Reviewer and Refuter hath performed what this his Title seems to promise against the Protestation and for the sentence of the Assembly condemning it will appear to these to whom the Lord gives an hearing ear and a seeing eye by comparing what is said in defence of the Protestation in Answer to this Review Therefore beseeching the LORD who is no respecter of persons to make what is here said unsavourie or acceptable unto the Reader as it contributes for destruction or edification for darkening or clearing of the truth in this hour of temptation and day of blasphemie and rebuke I come to the matter it self REVIEW of the PROTESTATION AMongst the many sad judgments wherewith the holy blessed God is pleased to exercise this sinfull Land staining the pride of all our glory there is none more terrible then that he threatneth to remove our Candlestick DEFENCE of the PROTESTATION ALbeit the Generation of the righteous in the Land who are instructed with a strong hand are preserved in hope that the thoughts of the Lord towards this poor Church are thoughts of peace and not of evill to give us an expected end yet that there be many things which threaten that most dreadfull judgment of removing the Candlestick he that runâ— may read the shadowes of the evening are grown long and the wilde beasts are come out of their dens our Battlements are broken down and the Adversary hath stretched forth his hand upon all our pleasant things we see not ouâ— signs there is no more any Prophet neither is there amongst us that knoweth how long the Lord is become as a stranger and as a way faring man in the Land that turns aside to tarry for a night he hath covered himself with a cloud in his anger and prayer is restrained before him the anger of the Lord hath divided us and he seems no more to regard us But that which is most dreadfull in it self and doth most imbitter so sad a condition is that we have fallen from our first love we have forgotten the Lord and dealt falsly in his Covenant our hearts are turned back and our steps have declined from his way we have forsaken the fountain
they will not deny that this was a dangerous motion and they cannot say that any of these suspected men had a hand therein Concerning the last words of that second step let it be this day examined and considered what hath been the carriage of these suspected men and of their unsuspected men the Malignant Party and it will at least be found very evident that this Reviewer his suspition is calculated to a wrong Meridian DECLARATION THe third step is in these words When after that sad stroke at Dumbar the Lords dispensation did call for wayes of union and healing iâ—stead of these subtile courses were taken to engage a great part of the well-affected in the West to separate from the Forces of the Kingdom whereby instead of joint concurring for acting against the Enemy jealousies were begotten and so far encreased that there was no small danger feared lest the one part of our Forces should have fallen upon the other DEFENCE THe plainest things and which are acted with the greatest simplicity and integrity are often branded with the name of subtile devices by maintainers of an ill cause who no sooner depart from their former principles but they give to their opposers the very name which were theâ—r eyes opened of the Lord to see their own wayes they should take to themselves What subtile device could there be here The Committee of Estates hearing before the defeat at Dumbar that Forces were leving in the North of England which were to come into Scotland by the way of Carlile they wrote Letters to the Western Shires to meet and correspond among themselves and to be in readinesse for their own defence This put them in some forwardnesse to rise in Arms when they heard of the defeat which being on the third of Sept. the Gentlemen of the Committees met upon the fifth and had some of their number at Sterlin upon the sixth who made offer to raise speedily a double proportion of the ordinary Levie which was well accepted by the Committee of Estates and Commission of the Kirk and Letters of encouragement written from both which are yet extant and the Committee of Estates sent such Officers to conduct these Forces as they knew to be most acceptable to the Western Shires The Forces were raised by authority of the Committee of Estates and were obedient to their Orders sent from time to time under the Lord Chancellours hand which yet remain uncancelled to witnesse against such calumnies And there was never any command sent to them to come and joyn with the rest of the Forces untill agreement was made by the State with the Malignant Party and then Colonell Montgomerie was appointed to march towards them with some Forces under his command to require their conjunction but before he came the length of Sterlin Major Generall Lambert with a strong Body of horse had come to Hamilton where he was fought against by the Western Forces though they were far inferiour in number and many were killed of the Enemy on the place but with the losse of the Day and dissipation of the Western Forces which put an end to many groundlesse jealousies DECLARATION THe fourth step they set it down in these words And to heighten differences yet more and more under fair pretences of exonering their own consciences and obtaining more clearnesse in the quarrell against the enemy many whose intentions were honest were abused and drawn in the snare of a Remonstrance whereby the owning of the Kings just Interest agreed unto by the Generall Assembly and the Parliament was expresly laid aside and his removall from the exercise of his Royall Power and Government advised to the Committee of Estates the authority of the Committee of Estates much weakened and a way of holding up a constant division from State and Kirk therein moulded DEFENCE IT is strange that these who maintain the Publick Resolutions should judge it want of charity to accompt some men Malignants notwithstanding their actions do evidently declare it and yet do think it no breach of charity in themselves to judge other mens hearts and thoughts contrary to their declared intentions and whole tenour of their actions If these men pretend to exoner their consciences and seek more clearnesse in the state of the quarrell when yet they did intend no such thing but their reall purpose was to advance the Adversaries Cause Surely it was a grievous and intollerable provocation before rhe Lord which he will finde out that he may take vengeance of such hypocriticall inventions and gross dissimulation but if their hearts were straight before him in all these things of which they have a witness in Heaven a Record in their own breasts and their actions in adventuring their lives against the Enemy as a testimony before the world they do them wrong who speak so of them which is the more piercing because it proceeds from some of these who were once as their guide their acquaintance with whom they took sweet counsell together in the Work of God and walked into the house of God in company and yet do now allow them lesse charity and give them lesse trust in their solemn and publick Professions in these things that relate to their consciences and the publick Work then they do to the greatest Malignants in the Land and the bloodie murderers who followed James Grahame for they will have these upon their verbal professions to be accompted true penitents and are filled with indâ—gnation against any who speak or write otherwise of them but to mend the matter and that they may not provoke too many of their old friends at once they tell us that the intentions of many who were honest were abused and drawn in the snare They would do a great favour to the whole Land especially to simple ones if they would be pleased once to condescend by name and surname upon the subtile ensnaring men that do abuse others that they might be known and avoided For these who were at the compiling of that Remonstrance I know many of them to be men of great and good parts but I know none of them that are very skilfull in drawing circles in the dark and conjuring other men unawares within the compasse thereof they are open ingenuous men whose hearts and designes have alwayes been read in their professions and expressions and these whom they call the abused and ensnared ones are more intelligent and discerning men then to be easily deceived they are many of them eminent for grace and abilities and such as have approved themselves in special trusts and employments relating to the Cause and Kingdome It is true that since the presenting of that Remonstrance some of them did slip in a day of temptation by passing from the same but it is as true that it is the matter of their humiliation for which they mourn before God and some of them so much that hardly can they be comforted It is to me a great confirmation of the Remonstrance
which two were the foundations of imploying these men there is no word of repentance or satisfaction as necessary requisites in these who were to be imployed in the defence of the Kingdom and of the Cause but the exceptions in the Answer exclude onely excommunicated persons forefaulted notoriously profane or flagitious and such as have been from the beginning and continue still or are at this time obstinate and professed enemies and opposers of the Covenant and Cause of GOD and most if not all the Arguments in the Warning run for imploying all men who are Subjects without any such qualification The last because the order prescribed by the Gen. Assembly was not keeped in receiving of them That Order as is evident from the Act of the Assembly 49. concerning the receiving of Engagers is That because many heretofore have made shew and profession of their Repentance who were not convinced of their guiltinesse nor humbled for the same but did thereafter return with the dog to the vomite and with the sow to the puddle unto the mocking of GOD and the exceeding great reproach and detriment of his Cause Therefore for the better determining the truth sincerity of the repentance of those who desire to be admitted to the Covenant and Communion It is appointed ordained that none of those persons who are debarred from the Covenant and CoÌ„munion shal be admitted and received thereto but such as after exact tryal shall be found for some competent time before or after the offer of their repentance according to the discretion of the respective Judicatories to have in their ordinary conversations given reall testimony of their dislike of the late unlawful Engagement and of the courses and wayes of Malignants and of their sorrow for their accession to the same and to live soberly righteously and godly and if any shall be found who after the defeating of the Engagers have uttered any malignant speeches tending to the approbation of the late unlawfull Engagement or the bloudshed within the Kingdom for promoving of the ends of the said Engagement or any other projects or practises within or without the Kingdom prejudicial to Religion and the Covenant or tending to the reproach of the Ministery or the Civill Government of the Kingdom or who have unnecessarily or ordinarily conversed with malignants and dis-affected persons or who have had hand in or accession to or compliance with or have any wayes countenanced or promoved any malignant design prejudiciall to Religion and the Covenant that these notwithstanding their profession of repentance be not suddenly received but a competent time according to the discretion of the Judicatory be assigned to them for tryal of the evidence of their repentance according to the qualifications above-mentioned Now let Consciences speak whether this order in receiving these men was observed yea or not yea it was so far from it that they were received without such evidences in a very rash and precipitant way unto the most manifest mocking of Repentance that hath been heard or seen in any Church in the world many of them flouting and jeering at the Judicatories of the Kirk and one at another and making sports of their Confessions amongst their companions and giving as much evidence of their malignancy and prophanity and hating of godliness in their speeches and carriage as of before Did not the Commission make such hast to receive these who had broken out in Rebellion and risen in Arms against the Cause and Kingdom after Dumbar that notwithstanding they had once by an Act remitted them all for censure to the Gen. Assembly and intimated the same to Presbyteries that they might not be admitted to the renewing of the Covenant or Communion till the Assembly should judge of their case yet they did after the Answer to the Quere make a new Act for receiving them to the great offence of the godly and exposing of their own Authority to contempt and reproach DECLARATION THe 6. Step is set down thus Notwithstanding some men had thus occasioned the making up of our Forces as they now are yet not only did they themselves refuse to joyn with them but opposed by all means possible the raising of the Army according to Publick Resolutions what by preaching what by writing what by branding hoâ—â—st men many of whom did bear the burden and heaâ— of the day when others were not with the odious imputations of back-sliding Covenant-breaking and what not Publick Fasts were separated from and contemned Factions drawn amongst the People in a word no means were left unessayed to make Publick Resolutions in order to the raising of the Army ineffectual without holding forth any possible or probable means for the relief of the Kingdom All which what ever have been the intentions of men do of their own nature contribute no lesse effectually to the delivering up of all to the will of the Enemy without stroke of sword then if it had been purposely intended DEFENCE PRejudice stretcheth far to reach a blow Albeit it is here asserted that some men did by all means possible oppose the raising of the Army according to the Publick Resolutions and that they left no means unessayed to make these Resolutions ineffectual for raising of the Army yet they must be the men who thus occasioned the making up of the Army as it was How this should be I do not well know unless it was by an Antiperistasis as heat sometimes occasions cold and cold heat or as the preaching of the Gospel occasions war upon the earth It is like enough that the Testimony which was born against that way did instate mens corruptions and make them more violent and head-strong in the prosecution of the same But their meaning happily is That these men did oppose the union of the Forces or would not suffer others to rise for the defence of the Kingdom and Cause and so put the Committee of Estates upon a necessity of employing of these To joyning of the Forces we have spoke before and shewed upon what terms they were willing to have joyned and that there never came to them any Order or Command from the State for conjunction and for the other until there was stumbling-blocks put in their way by the Publick Resolutions they were so far from hindring any against whom there was not just exception that they were willing to employ themselves to the utmost in defence of the Cause and Kingdom and gave abundant proof thereof from the time they first took up Arms until the month of December that the Lord was pleased in his wiâ—e dispensation to break them at Hamilton The Publick Resolutions being contrary to the Word of God and to the Covenant and to the Actings and Proceedings of both Kirk and State in the Cause these many years past and involving so sudden and gross a change both of Principles and Practice gave occasion to many gracious ones throughout the Land to stumble and to many Ministers to bear Testimony
had carryed on a course of defection and it being offered to verifie the same and thereupon desired that these Commissioners might not be admitted to sit as Members in the Assembly till that matter were tryed it was refused and notwithstanding of the except on timeously propounded and offered to be instructed they were before the taking try all thereof allowed to sit which was in effect to reject the exception either as irrelevat in Law or as false in fact and so to approve them before try all yea they were admitted to â—iâ—â—s Judges in their own cause for the Protestation being particularly founded on the sinfulness and unwarrantableness of their proceedings yet they were allowed to sit as Judges and to condemne the Protestation as destructive to the Government and Liberties of this Kirk and censurable with the highest censure thereof Upon the 23 of July 1651. notwithstanding their proceedings were not approven till the day after which was the 24. That others of them did absolutely decline the authority of that Assembly and protest against it as null was a practice that hath many commendable and praise-worthy parallels in this Church and therefore they do speak more from their own spirit then from the spirit of truth who cry out that it hath no paraâ—el but that of the perfidious Prelats The Declinatours of the â—relats against the Assembly at Glasgow 1638. as any who pleaseth to read the same will find that it doth strike at the root of Presbyteriall Government and General Assemblies in regard of the essentials of their constitution but the Protestation doth acknowledge and plead for the Government and for the due liberty and freedom and right constitution of Assemblies according to the ruâ—e of the Word of God and Acts of this Kirk and doth only bear testimony against and decline that Assembly because of unwarrantable prelimiting of the Elections admitting of persons under scandall before trying oâ— them admitting of the same men to be both Judges and Parties want of frâ—â— accesse and recesse absence of many Commissioners want of freedom in voicing denying to hear what was offered for holding forth of light whereby â—t appears that there is little conscience and ingenuitie and lesse charity in making of that parallel But the History and Acts of our Church do furnish us many just and true parallels of this practice in the carriage of the faithfull witnesses of our Lord in our own and our fathers dayes who have stood to plead for the Doctrine Government Worship and Discipline of this Kirk I shall onely name a few The first is in the year 1597. at which time the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly having contrary to the trust committed to them in these intervalls betwixt Assemblies petitioned and obtained from the King and Estates of the Kingdom that Ministers should sit in Parliament as the third Estate which was the foundation of our Pâ—elaâ—iâ— their proceedings in that Petition and the thing relating thereto being approven in the Assembly by the prevalling influence of the King and these Commissioners notwithstanding of the reasons propounded against the same by sundry of the Ministeâ—ie M. John Davidson a most worthy and pious Minister of this Church indued with the spirit of Prophecie in many things and as anti-prelaticall and truly tender of Presbyteriall Government and of the authoritie of Assemblies as any this Church hath brought forth did solemnly protest against that Assembly as not free and lawfull to which Protestation Mr. David Calâ—erwood a â—tâ—eâ—uous maintainer of the Government of this Church and a constant adversary to Prelats an unsuspect witnes in this present controversie declareth in his Story his own adherence the adherence of many of the most sincere Pastors and Professors of this Kirk as seeing the beginning and fearing the grouth of that defection Likeas he did often from that experience expresse his fears and thereupon his opinion against putting too much power in the hands of a Commission and prognosticated a defection to ensue thereupon whensoever the King and the Court should have influence upon the leading men thereof concerning which he hath not been mistaken 2. Did not many worthie Pastors and Professors of this Church protest against the corrupt Assemblies annulled by the Assembly at Glasgow sundry of which Protestations are to be seen in the Book called The course of Conformity Let our Predecessours Supplications Reasons Admonitions Protestations presented to the Parliament 1617 and 1621 be considered wherein they assert the Assemblies then controverted to be unlawfully constituted and to be but pretended Assemblies though no authority had declared the same See also the Observations Printed 1635 with the grievances given in by the Ministers to the Parliament 1633 It is here well said that the safety of Religion dependeth not upon Assemblies of whatsomever kind but upon the liberty of free and right constitute Assemblies aâ— in the Commonweal he were not to be thought a faithful Patriot who would not stand as much for the liberty of a Parliament as his own possessions because the safetie of all other liberties standeth in the preservation of that main Liberty 3. did not these whose spirits the Lord stirred up to appear against the Prelates and to set on foot the Work of Reformation in the year 16â—7 expresly declare theiâ— adherence to all these Protestations made by their Fathers and Predecessors declaring the nullity of these corrupt Assemblies and thereby establishing the Declinatours against the same before the Assembly at Glasgow which practice was as strangely looked upon and as muâ—h spoken against then as the practice of the Protâ—sters in the year 1651. 4. Our Nationall Covenant doth both mention and allow these Protestations against that whole course of Defection whence it appears that that practice at Dâ—â—dee hath many both very worthy Precedents and Parallels and that to protest against corrupt Assemblies such as that was hath been so far from being looked upon by discerring faithfull and godly men in this Kirk as the throwing down of the hedge of Discipline and making way for every beast of the forrest to break in as this Reviewer alleadgeth that they have used it as one of the best means for preventing and remedying of these evils and so it is indeed because as it is well observed and truly Asserted in the great Act of the Assembly concerning the by gone evils of this Church and the Remedies thereof that the keeeping or authorizing of corrupt Generall Assemblies hath been one of the main causes of our evils by these it was that the Prelates and all the train of superstitious Ceremonies did enter and having had such worthy precedents in opposing of such and such doolful and dear bought experiences of the wrong they have done to this poor Church there is the greater reason to take heed to stand fast in the liberty wherewith CHRIST hath made us free and not to be again entangled with the yoke of bondage of corrupt Assemblies It
be admitted judges to Pious men and true Pâ—ety I fear all that arrive beyond a meer formality shal be condemned for Hypocrites I would not appeal to the generality of the Land in the matter of judging what is right and wrong in jure betwâ—xt those that are for the Publick Rosolutions and the Protestets but I dâ—re freely hazard to the vote of the major parton the Land the matter of fact which is the thing in contest betwixt these that are for the Publick Resolutions and the Protesters that is to say whether the Assembly at Dundee and Edinburgh be keeping their former Principles yea or not If you will ask any even of the Malignant party at least all that ever I could speak with my self or hear of from any other they will tell you the Kirk was wrong before but now is become right since the King came to Scotland and these who are most grossly prophane and wicked in all the Land are now become great Zealots and stout patriots for the late Assemblies though before they were haters of all Kirk Judicatories PROTESTATION Reviewed NExt they speak of a party of insufficient scandalous il-affected Ministers c. complying with the times expressing their dis-affection to the Work of Reformation as they found opportunity as in the time of James Graham and the unlawfull Engagement who got greater advantage by the Publick Actings for bringing in of Malignants to places of trust And who perceiving they wore not able to endure tryall and purging began the last year to lift up their heads and being encouraged by the Acts and Censures of Dundee have so strengthened themselves as to carry on Publick Determinations to their own ends from whom say they what can be expected but to favour every evill course to persecute such as seek the Lord in sincerity suppresse the power of Godlinesse and open the door of the Ministery to such as for insufficiency scandals or dis-affection have been justly deposed in regard whereof they think there is too great cause to make use of the Prophets words Jer. 23.14 15. There be many things here deserve animadversion I. Although we deny not but that in every Order there may be some out of Order as Judas among the Apostles and Saul among the Prophets yet know we not of any such party as they speak of nor did so much as any person of that kinde sooner appear among us then according to the measure of his offence he found the severity of Discipline It would be seriously considered whether or not by this Party they mean the Body of the Ministery represented at Dundee whom thus they would cast an odium upon but what favour the Party that was truly such as they describe found at that venerable Assembly let their Acts and Declarations speak which Declaration of theirs mentioneth another Party that hath alas too long lurked among us and under specious pretexts brought their design to that pass we now see These men should according to the common rule first have purged themselves and taken this beam out of their own eye PROTESTATION Defended I Wish the corrupt party amongst the Ministery were as thin sowen as he would insinuat by telling there was a Juâ—at among the Apostles and a Saul among the Prophets But the many Acts of Assemblie for purging the Ministery by ordinary Judicatories and because of their negligence the Commissions appointed for Visitation and the great work they had where they came Visitations in other parts of the Land where as much if not more work of that kinde was to be expected being interrupted by the troubles of the time and other impediments the grosse ignorance not only of the People but even of the Elders in many Congregations where their present Ministers have been living amongst them some twenty some thirty years and have not so much as taken pains to instruct them in the necessary grounds of Religion together with the neglect of Discipline during that time and yet such suffered to remain in the Ministery the scandals of many Ministers for drunkennesse and other common vices together with their godless carriage at home and abroad are more then abundant proof of what is alleaged in the Protestation And though this Reviewer is pleased to say they knew not of any such Party yet alas it is more palpable to the mourners in Zion then that they need any further proof thereof then to be conversant amongst many of them but a very few dayes and I know that some who concur with the late Assemblies will not deny it but I trust do make conscience to mourn for it in secret before the Lord. The Protestation doth not speak of the Body of the Ministery but a corrupt Party which had too great influence at the Assembly in Dundee Whereas he referret his Readers to the Acts made at Dundee to know what favour the Party that was truly such found there no such Acts are ordinarily to be seen I am sure but such as are made against the Protesters and the Dissenters from the Publick Resolutions are to be readily found in all hands If the thing he meaneth be the slight Act made against the divisive Supplication what hath followed thereupon for execution lesse ur more If he mean that the Supplications of Ministers formerly deposed for grosse faults were not granted he may remember the Politick argument used at Dundee and renewed at Edinburgh upon the same occasion viz. That it was good to abstain from present reponing them because of the odium it would bring upon them and for that Declaration he yet again mentioneth I have told him it hath been answered PROTESTATION Reviewed IT is true indeed and I trust the Kirk of this Nation hath no reason to repent that she still hath some who during the prevailing of the Prelats were carryed down with the tide of the times even to give subscriptions according to the then way of entry and being weighted therewith do comfort themselves with Paul that God will be mercifull unto them in that which they did ignorantly But for those horrid Oaths they speak of nothing is known but the common subscription and if ought concern the Kirk to know more it should neither have been so long concealed by those who appropriat to themselves the title of the Godly nor now revealed at such a time and in such a way As for their subscriptions they were generally known yet notwithstanding thereof were the subscribers even at first invited to the Covenant and some of them with the first appeared against the Service-Book and many of them have not to this day fallen from their stedfastnesse neither were all that have fallen of that number But for further and full clearing of this I offer these things 1. Some of the prime of their number are also if not more grossely guilty of the ill then any of ours 2. There are of our number ten for one of theirs who in that hour and power of
up and spread in their bald-head that certainly should be accompted a double guilt As for those which he saith are free from new out-breakings all that I know of that kind will hardly exceed that which we could only call a perfect number their Repentance is very rare it is too manifest that many of them have according to their mutable principles gone from one extream to another For his boasts of what he can speak of any of the Protesters they fear him not only let him speak no more hereafter then he can make good which is the best way to bring himself into credit again The other thing which he denyeth in this place is The subjecting of the liberty of the Word in the mouth of Christs Embassadors to the immediate judicial cognizance restraint and censure of the Civil Magistrate This is so fully cleared in the Review of the Vindication as I need say nothing in answer to the Relation here made only I observe this difference betwixt the Vindication and this Reviewer that the Vindication denieth that the Magistrate confined the Ministers of Sterlin being starred up thereunto by the Commissioners of the Assembly and the Writer of this Paper to avoid the inference that may be made upon the Magistrates judging them in prima instantia saith That the Magistrate did conveen them upon a Representation made by the Commissioners to the Committee of Estates but he knoweth that the Commission of the Kirk had passed no judgment against these Ministers nor indeed could they walking within the bounds of their Commission yet did they approve the Proceedings of the State without so much as hearing the Defence of these Ministers though present in the same town where they were sitting PROTESTATION Reviewed AS for their purging humor which time with these sad dispensations might have purged out of them but belike it will never leave them We grant indeed the Kirk should be careful to purge out the old Leaven All our Question is anent the manner how And I shall desire them in the fear of God to consider whether their practise in this hath been in every thing squared to the Apostles Rules 1 Tim. 5.19 Tit. 3.10 Gal. 6.1 Jud. 22.23 And whether or not they made it a politick screw to wind themselves into all places of power and Authority Civil and Ecclesiastical and a mean of revenge exercing it uncharitably and unseasonably PROTESTATION Defended HOw offensive must this needs be both in the ears of God and good men that one who pretends to be a Patron of an Assembly of the Kirk should so publickly and scornfully reproach that necessary and covenanted duty which the Assemblies of the Kirk and their Commission in their Declarations Warnings and Remonstrances above the number of Twenty have pressed upon the Parliament and Committee of Estates from the Word of God and our Covenants as they would avoid the Lords eternal wrath on themselves and a curse upon the Land and still challenged them as negligent and defective in all which the men of most deserved estimation in their Assemblies had a very great hand The Causes of Humiliation presented to the State before Dumbar at Leith and the Causes after Dumbar at Sterlin shew and acknowledge the notpurging the Judicatories and Armies according to our Vows and Professions to be a great cause of the Lords wrath upon the Land afterward he would seem not altogether to condemn the duty and would state the disterence upon the manner and by the words he speaks and texts hinteth he seems to desiderat justice prudence charity and what not It would please such a Master far better to sit idle then to work but such to whose hearts the Lord hath made the language of His Words to speak though they do readly acknowledge a great mixture of humane infirmities in their performance of all duties yet they are so far from thoughts of repenting what they have done in that matter as they desire to mourn before the Lord that the work of purging hath been so much slighted in all Judicatories both Ecclesiastical and Civil Sometime he undervalues the Protesters as a company of young men of small accompt and at other times he holds them forth as men who had a great sway in Judicatories of Kirk and State He saith Purging was made a politick screw to wind into Power and Authority in Kirk and State To which I answer in his own words That such hainous accusations must not be taken upon trust when nothing is said to make them appear especially when they are spoken by a person who takes more pleasure to reproach then to reason I am sure if it was before acceptable in Judicatories to speak for purging it is now more acceptable to speak against it and I think I may in the fear of the Lord desire good men who were very industrious and zealous for purging the House of God the Judicatories and Armies and now are engaged in the way of the Publick Resolutions to consider the boldness of this man whom they do well enough know and either to take with the thing he charges upon their former actings and to let the world know that then they were wrong but now are right together with the Reasons of their change or else to be sensible of their lifting up the head of such men by declining to their way and to remember whence they are fallen and to repent PROTESTASION Reviewed AS for any power in any to carry Publick Determinations to any wrong ends we can and do bless God the contrary is known to be true and all the Assemblies Determinations speak the same language to the whole world yea I hope to their consciences also when the heat of their passions is a little allayed PROTESTATION Defended THe Acts made in their Assembly at Dundee and at Edinburgh against faithful Ministers Elders and Expectants from which some of best esteem dissented do evidence That Publick Determinations are carried to wrong ends which made a worthy Brother a Member of the late Assembly at Edinburgh gravely to tell them when these Acts and Overtures passed That the words of the Prophet Micah against the Prophets in his dayes might be applied to them chap. 3. ver 5. They bite with their teeth and cry Peace He saith That the Assemblies Determinations speak the same language their late Assembly at Edinburgh speaks the same language with that of Dundee but neither of them speak the language of former Assemblies since our Reformation as the Papers sent to them from the Keeper of the Registers of the Assembly which they refused to reade do fully shew Their language is the same with that of the Parliament and Committee of Estates 1648. pleading for the Unlawful Engagement It doth also well agree with the Kings Declarations and the Oxfordian Doctors Arguments from the light of Nature and practise of Nations for employing Papists to defend his Person and the Protestant Religion as their Arguments are for
be indeed of the opinion that difference of judgment in these things should be no prejudice to joynt acting in Publick Judicatories then it concernes them for their own vindication and for reconciling their practice with their opinion to tell us why their Assembly at S. Andrews did not onely approve of the Act of Commission appointing those who oppose the Publick Resolutions to be censured but also made Acts of their own for censuring of such and why the Assembly at Edinburgh did ordain That Elders and Expectants who will not engage themselves under their hands to abstain from holding up this difference are to be excluded from sitting in Presbyteries and being received as Ministers sure if this difference need be no prejudice to joynt acting in Publick Judicatories the maintaining thereof is without ground made a cause of censure which must incapacitat men to act or of exclusion which must bar them from joynt acting in Judicatories what shal be said to this I do not know unlesse it be alleaged that it is not simply difference of judgment that is made a ground of censure or exclusion but difference of judgment kythed in opposing the Publick Resolutions or holding up debates and controversies in preaching or writing about these things but first if it be meant of that difference of judgment that is inward onely it is to small purpose because that being latent and not known to me cannot be made a ground for my with-drawing from joynt acting with these who thus differ from me and if it be known and professed how shall there be any known difference of judgment without some opposition to the adverse judgment especially if it be established in a Law he who professes and declares the difference of his judgement from the Law and dis-satisfaction therewith is he not in so far a weakner gainsayer and opposer thereof 2. If they mean it thus they have not measured the same measure unto themselves and to others they will have others to passe from their Protestations under their hands and to engage themselves not to hold up debates otherwise they will not act joyntly with them in the Judicatories nor allow them the legall capacity to act at all and yet while they will do no such things themselves in reference to their Assemblies and the Acts thereof yea will have these Assemblies to stand as free and lawfull and all the Acts thereof wherein their judgment is involved as binding and obligatory they desire that their Brethren may be dealt with not to let this hinder them from a joynt acting in the Publick Judicatories 3. If it be onely the opposing of Publick Resolutions and the holding up of debates that they quarrell with how is it that in Presbyteries they will have young men who have hitherto been silent publickly to declare themselves anent these things or else refuse to admit them to their tryals or to stop them being admitted or to refuse them Testimonials being approven Act for putting in execution former Acts and Constitutions of Generall Assemblies anent trying admitting removing and deposing of Church Officers censuring of scandalous persons receiving of penitents and debarring of persons from the LORDS Table Edinburgh 3. August 1652. Postmeridiem Sess 20. THe Generall Assembly considering the obligations that lyes upon all Ecclesiastick Judicatories and Ministers within this Land by the commandment of GOD and our Covenants and Engagements taken upon us before GOD and the World whereunto they resolve in the power of the LORD'S might constantly to adhere and to shew themselves faithfull and zealous in all their administrations for the LORD and for advancing the Work of Reformation and particularly considering that the condition of this time doth require in speciall wayes that in trying admitting removing and deposing of Church-Officers censuring of scandalous persons dispensing of Ordinances receiving of penitents the Rules of the Word of GOD and Constitutions of this Kirk be diligently put in execution and accuratly observed Therefore The Assembly Ordains That Presbyteries and Synods in admitting of Persons to the Ministery be accurate in their tryals according to the Order prescribed in this Church that none be admitted to the holy and high function but such as are qualified according as is required in the Word of GOD and Constitutions of this Kirk both for knowledge in the mystery of godlinesse and abilities to teach and convince the gain-sayers as also in conversation and godlinesse that they lay hands suddenly on no man nor be partaker of other mens sin and for this end that every Presbyterie be careful to have gathered together such Acts of Assemblies as concerneth the triall of Ministers and have them before them whensoever any person is called to any place of the Ministery and is upon his trials 2. Ordains that Preshyteries and Synods in their respective bounds make conscience that such Ministers as are found either ignorant and not apt to feed the people of God with knowledge and understanding or erroneous in their judgment in matters of Religion or are scandalous in their life and conversation and are not examples unto their flocks in godly and holy walking or disaffected to the work of Reformation be centured according to the degree of their offence and Acts of Assemblies And for this end that they be frequent and acurate in visitation of Kirke and therein make consciencious use of the rules prescribed for visitations and of such Acts of former Assemblies as holds forth the duties of Ministers and the grounds and causes of censure 3. Ordains that where Ministers lawfully deposed are unlawfully admitted and not according to the Order prescribed in the Acts of Generall Assemblies or intrudes themselves into places Presbyteries and Synods make use of that power and Authority which Christ hath put in their hands to remedy the same and to censure such disorders and enormities as they deserve And that people be not accestory unto or concurring with any Ministers that are deposed in intruding themselves into places nor give them any countenance that does so as they would not draw upon themselves the wrath of God by contemning and despising Christs Ordinance of Discipline And that no Presbyteries or Synods proceed to open the mouths of or re-admit unto the Ministery any deposed Ministers but according to the Order prescribed in the Acts of Generall Assemblies As they will be answerable unto the General Assembly 4. Ordains that Sessions be carefull that none be admitted to be Elders in Congregations but such as are in some competent measure able and qual fied with knowledge of Religion and understanding of the duties of their Calling for discharging the duties of that Office and of a blameless Christian and godly conversation And that before any be admitted to be an Elder the Persons name that is designed be publickly intimate to the Congregation the Lords day before that if any have any thing to object against him they may present the same to the Session or to the