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the_o godly_a of_o the_o land_n more_o offend_v and_o our_o breach_n make_v wide_a and_o our_o wound_n more_o incurable_a if_o both_o you_o and_o we_o may_v obtain_v mercy_n of_o the_o lord_n to_o know_v our_o trespass_n and_o why_o he_o contend_v and_o to_o accept_v the_o punishment_n of_o our_o iniquity_n and_o humble_v ourselves_o before_o hime_n who_o know_v but_o that_o he_o may_v yet_o have_v compassion_n upon_o we_o and_o pardon_v our_o sin_n and_o heal_v our_o land_n july_n the_o 28._o antemerid_fw-la 1652._o mr._n andrew_n cant_n mr_n samuel_n rutherford_n mr_n james_n guthry_n my_o lord_n waristoun_n mr_n robert_n trail_n mr_n john_n nevay_n mr_n james_n nasmith_n be_v nominate_v to_o meet_v &_o confer_v with_o some_o brethren_n member_n of_o the_o present_a pretend_a assembly_n the_o instruction_n follow_v be_v give_v they_o and_o the_o meeting_n do_v require_v and_o expect_v that_o they_o will_v walk_v according_a thereto_o i._o that_o they_o shall_v declare_v to_o the_o 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1652._o subscribe_v in_o the_o name_n of_o many_o minister_n elder_n and_o professor_n throughout_o the_o land_n who_o desire_v truth_n and_o peace_n direct_v for_o the_o reverend_a brother_n mr._n david_n dickson_n professor_n of_o divinity_n in_o the_o college_n of_o edinburgh_n proposition_n which_o be_v offer_v to_o the_o meeting_n of_o minister_n and_o other_o appoint_v to_o be_v keep_v at_o edinburgh_n july_n 21._o 1652._o whereas_o we_o and_o many_o of_o the_o godly_a in_o the_o land_n have_v be_v real_o scandalize_v and_o stumble_v at_o their_o late_a act_n and_o proceed_n relate_v to_o public_a resolution_n concern_v the_o same_o in_o the_o nature_n and_o intention_n of_o the_o work_n to_o have_v obstruct_v and_o shake_v the_o work_n of_o reformation_n although_o we_o think_v honourable_o of_o diverse_a godly_a and_o learned_a man_n who_o have_v be_v concur_v in_o the_o same_o and_o dare_v not_o judge_v their_o intention_n to_o be_v such_o as_o we_o think_v their_o work_n 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dundee_n and_o the_o act_n thereof_o finis_fw-la
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provocation_n they_o know_v also_o how_o to_o distinguish_v and_o have_v distinguish_v betwixt_o the_o condition_n of_o the_o work_n and_o the_o intention_n of_o the_o worker_n and_o think_v charitable_o of_o the_o one_o while_o they_o condemn_v the_o other_o yet_o these_o thing_n hinder_v they_o not_o to_o discern_v betwixt_o the_o righteous_a and_o the_o wicked_a he_o that_o serve_v god_n and_o he_o that_o serve_v he_o not_o the_o lord_n have_v teach_v we_o that_o false_a prophet_n may_v be_v know_v by_o their_o fruit_n and_o that_o man_n do_v not_o gather_v grape_n of_o thorn_n nor_o fig_n of_o thistle_n matth._n 7.16.20_o the_o transgression_n of_o the_o wicked_a say_v within_o my_o heart_n that_o there_o be_v no_o fear_n of_o god_n before_o his_o eye_n psa_n 36.1_o as_o i_o dare_v not_o judge_v of_o any_o man_n everlasting_a estate_n but_o leave_v it_o unto_o he_o with_o who_o the_o book_n be_v so_o have_v i_o not_o so_o learned_a christ_n as_o some_o man_n will_v have_v it_o to_o 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the_o gentleman_n who_o now_o have_v cite_v it_o and_o all_o other_o to_o consider_v these_o few_o thing_n 1._o that_o not_o long_o ago_o there_o be_v a_o time_n that_o some_o of_o the_o best_a and_o most_o precious_a of_o these_o who_o now_o charge_v the_o protester_n with_o these_o harsh_a imputation_n of_o have_v a_o spirit_n stir_v in_o their_o work_n that_o have_v be_v and_o be_v most_o effectual_a for_o carry_v on_o of_o the_o design_n of_o the_o adversary_n of_o our_o cause_n be_v liable_a no_o less_o than_o the_o protester_n now_o be_v to_o the_o same_o imputation_n from_o these_o by_o who_o they_o now_o be_v cry_v up_o and_o commend_v and_o with_o who_o they_o now_o join_v issue_n in_o cast_v they_o upon_o their_o brethren_n it_o concern_v they_o to_o think_v whence_o these_o change_n be_v and_o
that_o it_o be_v approve_v and_o accept_v by_o the_o lord_n as_o a_o necessary_a duty_n that_o gracious_a man_n who_o by_o the_o tentation_n of_o the_o time_n and_o the_o persuasion_n of_o some_o who_o judgement_n they_o respect_v be_v draw_v into_o a_o snare_n at_o sterline_n to_o disclaim_v the_o remonstrance_n they_o be_v within_o very_o few_o day_n after_o so_o challenge_v in_o conscience_n that_o they_o have_v no_o peace_n of_o mind_n till_o they_o acknowledge_v their_o fault_n and_o resolve_v to_o walk_v soft_o all_o their_o year_n in_o the_o bitterness_n of_o soul_n the_o first_o thing_n that_o they_o challenge_v in_o the_o remonstrance_n be_v that_o the_o own_n of_o the_o king_n just_a interest_n agree_v unto_o by_o the_o general_n assembly_n and_o the_o parliament_n be_v express_o lay_v aside_o and_o his_o removal_n from_o the_o exercise_n of_o his_o royal_a power_n and_o government_n advise_v to_o the_o committee_n of_o estate_n but_o in_o this_o they_o do_v not_o deal_v 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doubt_v excee_o if_o they_o be_v so_o quick-sighted_a as_o to_o see_v the_o strength_n of_o this_o inference_n that_o be_v make_v upon_o it_o for_o my_o part_n i_o see_v it_o not_o and_o be_o content_a to_o be_v ignorant_a of_o it_o until_o it_o shall_v be_v discover_v unto_o i_o declaration_n the_o five_o step_n be_v when_o notwithstanding_o of_o this_o perilous_a practice_n all_o mean_n of_o union_n of_o force_n and_o heal_v of_o the_o breach_n be_v endeavour_v by_o church_n and_o state_n yet_o union_n can_v not_o be_v have_v except_o upon_o such_o condition_n as_o the_o state_n and_o church_n can_v neither_o in_o honour_n nor_o in_o conscience_n grant_v whereby_o and_o through_o the_o dissipation_n of_o these_o force_n which_o aaher_v to_o the_o remonstrance_n at_o hamilton_n the_o state_n and_o church_n be_v necessitate_v either_o to_o render_v all_o up_o to_o the_o present_a rage_n of_o a_o perfidious_a and_o prevalent_a enemy_n or_o to_o make_v use_n of_o such_o as_o have_v be_v 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not_o be_v please_v still_o to_o debar_v the_o king_n from_o the_o exercise_n of_o his_o power_n as_o he_o have_v be_v former_o they_o will_v not_o refuse_v to_o live_v peaceable_o under_o he_o as_o the_o magistrate_n of_o the_o land_n only_o two_o thing_n they_o do_v desire_n in_o order_n to_o their_o unite_n with_o the_o force_n of_o the_o kingdom_n 1._o that_o the_o quarrel_n upon_o which_o they_o fight_v may_v be_v state_v as_o in_o the_o declaration_n of_o the_o 13._o of_o aug._n 1650._o 2._o that_o there_o may_v be_v one_o to_o command_v the_o force_n qualify_v according_a to_o the_o solemn_a engagement_n unto_o duty_n to_o wit_n of_o a_o blameless_a and_o christian_a conversation_n and_o of_o know_a integrity_n and_o constant_a affection_n to_o the_o cause_n of_o god_n both_o which_o condition_n be_v refuse_v now_o i_o will_v fain_o know_v a_o reason_n why_o these_o thing_n may_v not_o be_v condescend_v unto_o in_o honour_n and_o conscience_n be_v it_o less_o honour_n or_o conscience_n to_o state_n the_o quarrel_n in_o november_n 1650._o according_o to_o the_o foresay_a declaration_n then_o it-was_a to_o state_n it_o in_o august_n immediate_o precede_v have_v any_o thing_n occur_v in_o order_n to_o the_o king_n for_o alter_v the_o state_n of_o the_o quarrel_n and_o make_v it_o more_o favourable_a as_o to_o he_o or_o rather_o be_v there_o not_o something_o to_o the_o contrary_a to_o wit_n his_o desert_v of_o the_o judicatories_n give_v of_o commission_n to_o the_o malignant_n and_o join_v with_o they_o or_o be_v it_o contrary_a to_o honour_n and_o conscience_n to_o satisfy_v they_o in_o the_o other_o or_o do_v not_o both_o honour_n and_o conscience_n bind_v they_o to_o it_o as_o to_o the_o employ_v of_o the_o malignant_a party_n there_o be_v so_o much_o say_v in_o a_o particular_a treatise_n to_o demonstrate_v the_o sinfulness_n of_o it_o as_o also_o that_o there_o be_v no_o necessity_n for_o it_o that_o i_o shall_v not_o now_o insist_v upon_o it_o only_o i_o desire_v that_o to_o be_v take_v notice_n of_o which_o they_o say_v of_o make_v use_n of_o such_o as_o have_v be_v former_o receive_v to_o repentance_n for_o their_o sinful_a course_n and_o admit_v other_o to_o repentance_n from_o who_o satisfaction_n may_v be_v get_v agreeable_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o general_n assembly_n that_o all_o together_o may_v be_v employ_v which_o word_n import_v that_o as_o they_o do_v require_v repentance_n in_o all_o these_o who_o be_v former_o exclude_v and_o be_v now_o to_o be_v employ_v so_o also_o that_o care_n be_v take_v to_o receive_v none_o but_o such_o as_o satisfy_v according_a to_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o general_n assembly_n both_o which_o be_v speak_v gratis_o and_o without_o ground_n the_o first_o because_o in_o answer_n to_o the_o quere_z and_o in_o the_o warn_v pen_v for_o the_o strengthen_n of_o it_o
public_a resolution_n be_v admit_v or_o not_o subsequent_a assembly_n be_v still_o questionable_a therefore_o there_o be_v a_o necessity_n to_o protest_v or_o else_o to_o give_v way_n to_o a_o corrupt_a constitution_n of_o assembly_n hereafter_o which_o be_v as_o poison_v in_o the_o fountain_n a_o defect_n in_o the_o cause_n a_o error_n in_o the_o principle_n and_o foundation_n and_o have_v a_o universal_a influence_n in_o the_o stream_n effect_n and_o superstructure_n he_o affirm_v that_o these_o presbytery_n which_o refuse_v to_o send_v commissioner_n be_v legal_o warn_v but_o there_o can_v be_v no_o legal_a warning_n where_o there_o be_v no_o authority_n to_o give_v a_o warning_n he_o grant_v there_o be_v dissent_n but_o deni_v in_o his_o answer_n to_o the_o second_o consideration_n that_o there_o be_v any_o protestation_n make_v in_o presbytery_n but_o protestation_n be_v only_o needful_a in_o those_o presbytery_n which_o refuse_v to_o put_v dissent_n upon_o record_n to_o the_o rest_n of_o what_o he_o say_v there_o i_o say_v no_o more_o but_o if_o he_o have_v know_v that_o several_a presbytery_n do_v send_v two_o or_o three_o of_o their_o number_n warrant_v by_o commission_n to_o protest_v he_o may_v have_v spare_v his_o censure_n of_o a_o suppose_a tautology_n protestation_n reviewed_n where_o presbytery_n have_v send_v commissioner_n the_o election_n be_v general_o controvert_v there_o be_v protestation_n make_v at_o least_o dissent_v enter_v against_o most_o of_o their_o election_n upon_o good_a ground_n but_o here_o i_o think_v a_o special_a providence_n have_v rule_v that_o there_o be_v no_o protestation_n in_o most_o presbytery_n there_o be_v no_o dissent_n at_o all_o and_o all_o that_o we_o hear_v of_o be_v simple_o against_o the_o election_n not_o against_o the_o person_n elect_v beside_o that_o they_o be_v not_o prosecute_v nor_o bring_v in_o to_o be_v discuss_v and_o a_o dissent_n infer_v not_o by_o the_o act_n of_o the_o assembly_n a_o suspending_a 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christ_n cause_n amen_o protestation_n defend_v as_o for_o the_o five_o that_o term_n of_o the_o generality_n of_o the_o godly_a have_v be_v clear_v before_o and_o the_o argument_n be_v use_v by_o this_o kirk_n diverse_a time_n likewise_o if_o he_o please_v he_o may_v first_o quarrel_n with_o the_o general_n assembly_n 1648._o for_o the_o expression_n anâ—_n argument_n both_o the_o ground_n upon_o which_o the_o protester_n have_v make_v use_n of_o that_o reason_n be_v this_o at_o the_o meeting_n in_o st._n andrews_n the_o protester_n deliver_v in_o a_o representation_n notwithstanding_o whereof_o the_o meeting_n do_v proceed_v to_o constitute_v themselves_o into_o a_o assembly_n and_o thereafter_o do_v approve_v of_o the_o public_a resolution_n and_o enact_v severe_a censure_n against_o all_o minister_n and_o professor_n in_o the_o land_n that_o be_v of_o a_o different_a judgement_n which_o give_v a_o occasion_n to_o many_o minister_n and_o professor_n
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