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
whether they have given diligent heed to that word of exhortation that saith Let them come to thee but go not thou to them 2. That the Protesters have studied to take hold of every oportunity to declare and make known their approbation of and adherence unto the Work of Reformation and to bear testimony against all injuries done thereunto and encroachments made thereupon and have endeavoured to the utmost of their power to prevent and remedy the same 3. That the Authors and Abettors of the Publick Resolutions have now met several times in their Assemblies and Commissions yet to this day have we had no word of testimony from them against these adversaries of our Cause with the promoting of whose design they do so much charge the Protesters but their spirit and zeal hath been spent another way As to what they have done at their late Assembly with closed doors none being present but themselves that cannot be looked on as a testimony to the Cause of Christ and at the best it will amount to no higher then the profession of Nicodemus in private Why have they not made it a testimony indeed and appointed some of their number to present own and avow it before some of these against whom they testifie as the Protesters did seasonably and with the first oportunity Or why did they remove all others out of their meeting Were they afraid that some should have born witnesse and testified what they had done If they looked on themselves as an Assembly of this Kirk they cannot be ignorant that the transactions of Generall Assemblies ought and use to be publick and especially their testimonies Or why did they not communicate the same to Synods Presbyteries and Congregations but let it ly in the dark to this day If they desire to be accompted faithfull they would either give a more distinct and certain sound concerning these adversaries or else speak lesse against the Protesters lest they bewray more passion then piety and more of the zeal of themselves then of the true zeal of God 4. Where hath that spirit lodged which this last year past hath been most effectuall for carrying on the design of the adversaries whether among the Protesters or amongst the Authors and Abettors of the Publick Resolutions let themselves speak But because he is pleased from that Warning and Declaration of the Assembly at Dundee to mention seven steps of progresse whereby they labour to prove what they do assert in the former passage acted by him therefore seeing that Declaration which is fraughted with much ill-grounded charity to Malignants and with a great deal of causelesse prejudice and mistaken zeal against many of the precious and godly in the Land begins again to be digged up out of its grave wherein sad dispensations of Providence did once seem to bury it before it could be heard speak in many of the Congregations of the Land therefore though he do insist on the last Step. yet for truths sake and for clearing of these who are traduced without cause I shall speak shortly to all the seven The DECLARATION at Dundee THe first step is expressed thus The credulity of some believing the hypocriticall pretences of this now prevailing faction of Sectaries mixed apparently with the crafty designe of others would not so much as admit the suspition of this enemies purpose to invade us and thereupon did resist and retard the lifting of an Army for the defence of the Cause and Kingdom untill the Enemy was very near our Borders and had emitted a Declaration of their resolution to invade us so that all means of defence was like to be utterly marred DEFENCE TWo things are charged here upon the Protesters and their adherents as the principle of their actings credulity in some and designe in others As to the first it is indeed ordinary to gracious men to be credulous of these who have the shew of godlinesse until they see them deny the power thereof and I think this fault if it be a fault may be easily pardoned by these who allow so large charity to Malignants upon bare and naked Professions now and then when they come before the Judicatories of the Kirk notwithstanding of their many former breaches and relapses and known dissimulatio contrary cariages in the tenor of their speeches actings but what ever be these mens credulity yet seing they walked in the simplicity of their hearts the Lord hath to this day keeped them out of snares and given them as to the main of their carriage to keep the straight way declining extreams on both hands As to the second to wit a crafty designe in others it is alleadged to be apparently so but no evidence is brought of that neither can any evidence be brought of it it being a meer alleadgeance without all ground of truth such things have been spoken and written and preached by some now for a good while past it is now high time since it hath been so often called for for their own credits sake to bring some proof of what they say I beseech the Author if these words and of all such expressions as before the Lord and as they would not wrong themselves nor their brethren nor delude and do injury to others by filling their hearts with thoughts of jealousie and rancour against innocent men if they know any thing of this kind to bring it forth and if they know nothing to forbear such reproches which thogh for the present they be bitter to these whom they asperse yet in the end the shame wil return upon the heads of these who have broached and vented them It nay be remembred that reproaches of this kind were cast upon the most eminent and faithfull in the year 1648 by the Authors of the unlawfull Engagement because of their opposing thereof and bearing testimony against the same but passing these I come to that which is alleadged to be their work and that was that they did resist and retard the lifting of an Army for defence of the Cause and Kingdom for clearing and confuting of which it would be remembred that as in resolving and condescending upon the Instructions given to the Commissioners of this Kingdom for Treating with the King there were some who too much favouring the Malignant party would have had it put in Instruction that this Kingdom would engage in a War against England for restoring the King to his Throne upon condition of his giving satisfaction in the Demands propounded to him which when they could not obtain their next endeavour was that the transaction at Bredah might be so carried as that the King and his Party might have some probable assurance of this and therefore was the first invitation given to the King there contrived in such words expressions as seemed to import the same which being sent home to this Kingdom was censured corrected by the Parl. 〈◊〉 new Instructions sent back to Holland containing the express demands of this
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
against them both by preaching and by writing their minds to the Commission of the Kirk and to others of their Brethren as they had opportunity Upon which occasion also it was that many were necessitated to withdraw from such Fasts as did involve an approbation of these Resolutions and what was in all this but duty May not yea ought not the servants of God Ministers and People bear testimony against declining and backsliding and study to keep their own garments pure and refuse to say a confederacy to wicked men in the Interests and Cause of God It is a shrewd insinuation that is made of their drawing factions amongst the People as if they had stirred the People to sedition or to tumults The utmost length which Ministers went was to hold forth the sinfulnesse of that course how contrary it was to our former Principles how it would help to hasten on more wrath or if it did seem to prosper how dangerous it would prove to the Cause and People of God by setting up of such as had been and still were adversaries to both and the greatest length which People went was To profess their dislike thereof and without tumult or faction to withdraw or in a sober and modest way to refuse to concur because they had no clearness nor satisfaction in their consciences concerning these Resolutions withal they did clearly declare their judgments against the Invasion and for the defence of the Cause and their Country and their readiness to concur in all lawful means according to the Word and former Principles for that end If any who had been formerly honest and born any part of the burden and heat of the day were branded as back-sliders it was not so much by Dissenters from the Publick Resolutions as by the multitude of that generation with whom they did associat I mean the Malignants who did not spare openly and every where to say That these honest men were now come to them as for others though they cannot so vindicate themselves as to say that there is none amongst them who doth at any time speak rashly or unadvisedly with his lips yet the Lord knows it was the grief of their hearts that honest men should have fallen from their integrity and though they could not chuse but bear Testimony against their sin yet they did it as afflicted in spirit keeping reverence respect and affection unto the men themselves and had the iniquity been private they would most willingly have covered the shame thereof but it was publick and such as did relate to the publick Cause and wherein their conâ—ent and concurrence was desired and therefore they were forced to speak and not to suffer sin upon themselves nor upon their Brethren There is yet one thing remains That whilst no means were left unesâ—ayed for making of Publick Resolutions ineffectual that no possible nor probable mean was holden forth for tâ—e relief of the Kingdom if it be meant as to the time when these Resolutions were first taken by the Commissions Answer to the Parliaments Quaere there could nothing of that kind be then holden forth by such a are dissatisfied with these Resolutions because few or none of them were present advertisments not being so much as sent to many of them and the time being so short that others could not come upon the advertisments which wâ—re sent to them The advertisment came to Sterline upon the Tuesday to be dispatched unto all the Presbyteries in the West that their Commissioners might keep at Perth upon the Thursday immediately following which day could not probably be but past before the advertisment came at most of them it being in the depth of the winter-season when the day was at the shortest and by such bearers as was not fixed or sent of purpose but by such as were occasionally going to those places for other business yea suppose the utmost diligence imaginable had been used it had not been possible to send these Advertisments from Sterlin to the Commissioners of these Presbyteries in the West in so short a time and these Commissioners thereupon to have kept the Diet at Perth as any who knows the distance of these places will easily acknowledge it being above fourty miles betwixt Perth and Glasgow which is the nearest of the Presbyteries of the West the rest of them being a good deal more remote some of them three or fourscore miles And if it be meant that after the taking of these Resolutions no possible nor probable mean was holden forth by these who did object against them it was to no purpose then to do it the Authors and Abetters of them being so zealous for them that they would admit of no obiection to the contrary much less be content to wave these Resolutions and go to a calm and peaceable enquiry about other possible or probable means of defence and yet as before the taking of these Resolutions the possibility and probability of other means had been often holden forth so was it also holden forth after the taking of these Resolutions To say nothing of Treaty and Conference which was moved by some but peremptorily and bitterly rejected by others the possibility and probability of getting an Army without employing and entrusting of the Malignant party was holden forth and they who did assert otherwise did a great deal of wrong to the Kingdom and Kirk of Scotland and make them too much malignant It is true they were considerable for number power and policie who were and ought to have been excluded yet were there as many besides as might have been means competent in rational prudence for defence of the Kingdom and Cause especially in a Nation covenanted with God which ought to be tender in all their wayes and to stay themselves not upon Horses and Chariots but upon the Name of the Lord. After the setting down of all these things they are pleased to assert That they do of their own nature contribute no less effectually to the delivering up of all to the will of the Enâ—mâ—e without stroke of sword then if it had been purposely intended As no evil cause can of it self produce any good effect so neither can any good cause of it self produce an evil effect good and evil being contrary in their natures and the one not natively arising out of the other What was done in these was duty and good in it self and therfore had no connexion in it self with any evil thing that is charged upon it when I reade this chargeâ— I remembered the challenge of the Pripets of Judâ—h against the Prophet Jeremiah That he weakened the hands of the men of war that remained in the City and the hands of all the People and that he sought not the welfare of the People but their hurt Jer. 38.4 DECLARATION THe last step is set down in this answer to the Protestation but because it is uâ—hered in with a large Preface that is not mentioned in this Answer therefore I shall speak
darkness bare the heat and hard of the day 3. Scarce twenty of them are yet of six years standing in the Ministery but about five only of them were Ministers when the Nationall Covenant was sucscribed 4. And generally all the old Ministers and those that were admitted before the Episcopall encroachments are for the Assembly 5. And lastly would we speak of those that suffered under the Prelats the Assembly will be found to have three for it where one is against it PROTESTATION Defended VVHat the Writer of this Paper doth mean by the common subscription I do not well know if by common he mean that to which most of the Conformists did subscribe I say that was an horrid oath as doth appear from the Records of their subscriptions If by common he mean the lesser oath and accompt the matter of that oath common I shall set down the true Copy both of the greater and lesser Oath the Conformists did subscribe and let the Reader judge if the least of the two may not be accompted horrid enough for a Minister of Jesus Christ to swear at his entry to such an holy Calling the greater Oath sweateth to practize all the corruptions of the time and implicite obedience for what should be after concluded under the pain of deprivation infamie and perjury The lesser Oath sweareth solemnly to the practice of the corruptions of the time and particularly for Episcopacy and the five Articles of Perth and what should be lawfully concluded thereafter by the Church as then constituted of Archbishops Bishops c. under the pain of deposition and perjury The Protestation doth acknowledge that the Lord was graciously pleased to give repentance to not a-few who were involved in that defection and concerning that which he saith that it should neither have been so long concealed nor now revealed at such a time and in such a way It is not long since it was made known to these who have joyned in the Protestation neither had it been revealed now unlesse men since their seeming to repent thereof at the taking of the Nationall Covenant had by their after-carriage discovered their hypocrisie and rottenness of their way beside it hath only been revealed in the generall and the Protesters have not published their names Their subscriptions saith he were generally known I grant their conformity was known but not their subscriptions at least that it was to an Oath and so horrid an Oath I do verily suppose and not without ground that some who have subscribed as aforesaid have forgotten that the Oath was so gross otherwise why would they deny it when the subscription is in Record under their hand He saith some of them appeared with the first against the Service-Book I think few but semi-Papists or Atheists would have willingly embraced that Book though fear might prevail with some for complyance but how few of them appeared at first against Episcopacy and the five Articles of Perth to which they had sworn He offers five things to clear the matter further but two of them are coiucident As to the first for any thing I know or can learn he can instance but one of the number of Protesters who complyed with the Prelats which hath beâ—n matter of humiliation and a mean sanctified of the Lord to fit him the more for opposing these and the like corruptions he hath now for fifteen years given large proof of the sincerity of his repentance and hath been very usefull in his station for promoting the Work of Reformation beyond others of whom more was expected And as for the number of those that stand for the Publick Resolutions who subscribed Oaths or at least practised the corruptions of that time he will finde their number no smaller then some hundreds The second thing which he propones to consideration is coincident with the fifth for who did bear the heat and hard of the day in that hour and power of darkness but these who suffered under the Prelats yet in the second he saith that these of their number were ten for one with these that are Protesters but upon better consideration in the fifth he falls down to three for one and though he had said onely that their number which suffered under the Prelats was equall to the number of Protesters that suffered he should upon a just computation have found difficulty to make it good but because he is accustomed to speak big words I shall pass this as a brag to beguile simple Readers though I think I might say the sufferings of the Protesters were greater but blessed be the Lord for the faithfulnesse of all that suffered As to the third I do so far differ from him in my computation and I suppose I know the Protesters near as well as he that I can scarcely find twenty of them under six years standing in the Ministery which then concurred in the Protestation though blessed be the Lord their number increaseth If he can help my memory in two or three that will be the most he saith that about five of them only were Ministers when the Nationall Covenant was subscribed which is about fifteen years since I can find him about five times five who were then Ministers that joyn in the Protestation and there be diverse more who are unsatisfied with the Publick Resolutions though they adhere not to the Protestation And what great advantage is this I pray you that he so earnestly hunts after Whether is it more commendation for severall of the Protesters that were ready to have entered into the Ministery to forbear to enter by subscribing to such sinfull Oaths or for many of these that are for the Publick Resolutions that they entered by such a corrupt way and so were Ministers when the National Covenant was subscribed would this argument have any weight with judicious men against Mr. George Gillespies testimonies for the Cause of God because he entered not into the Ministery till after the Reformation began 4. He saith that generally all the old Ministers and these that were admitted before the Episcopall encroachments are for the Assembly The defection began in 1597. and upon King James his entry to England which is about fifty years since the Episcopall incroachments began and all opposers of the defection were discountenanced and such as were for it favoured and encouraged by the King State Bishops and corrupt Assemblies for my own part I know few that can be of that standing in the Ministery but I know some who have been about that time in the room of the Ministery who are not long since deposed for insufficiencie and scandals and like enough there be more of that sort Let this Reviewer do the worst he can to cast aspersions and reproaches upon the Protesters I do believe that in no time of the defection of the Assemblies of this Kirk there can be produced so great a number of faithfull witnesses that adventured to give in Protestations against the corruptions of the
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
Publick Resolutions be admitted or not subsequent Assemblies are still questionable therefore there was a necessity to protest or else to give way to a corrupt Constitution of Assemblies hereafter which is as poison in the fountain a defect in the cause an error in the principles and foundation and hath an universal influence in the streams effect and superstructure He affirmeth that these Presbyteries which refused to send Commissioners were legally warned But there can be no legal warning where there was no Authority to give a warning He granteth there were dissents but denieth in his Answer to the second Consideration that there were any Protestations made in Presbyteries but Protestations were only needful in those Presbyteries which refused to put Dissents upon record To the rest of what he saith there I say no more but if he had known that several Presbyteries did send two or three of their number warranted by Commission to protest he might have spared his censure of a supposed tautology PROTESTATION Reviewed WHere Presbyteries have sent Commissioners the Elections are generally controverted there being Protestations made at least dissents entered against most of their Elections upon good grounds But here I think a special providence hath ruled that there was no Protestation In most Presbyteries there were no dissents at all and all that we heard of were simply against the Elections not against the persons elected besides that they were not prosecute nor brought in to be discussed And a dissent inferreth not by the Act of the Assembly a suspending let be a repealing of the Act of the Judicatory Only it maketh the Judges liable to the censure of their Superiors for what they have done which if it be amiss the dissenter is not involved in their guilt or censure but if not he is censurable himself And if it were otherwayes we should absurdedly be forced to confess that every Member of a Judicatory hath a negative voice which will open a door whereby every faction may elide all General Assemblies for ever PROTESTATION Defended FOr his answer to the third it is replyed That there were dissents or otherwise no Commissioners sent in more then most part of Presbyteries as was found upon tryall by the Protesters in the very time of that Assembly Where there was no Election there needed not a dissent and where dissents were entered there needed not Protestation and if the dissents were against the election it doth necessarily infer a not election of the persons and for the prosecution of these dissents they were timeously objected against in their Assembly at the reading of the Commissions and an offer made to prosecute them if according to the constant practice of this Kirk the Commissions should be laid aside untill they were tryed but this was rejected contrary to the known rules acknowledged even by the Assembly and the so much cryed up Vindication to wit that a dissent entered in the Presbyterie and timeously proponed in the Assembly and offered to be prosecuted should be a ground to lay aside contraverted Commissions untill the relevancie of the reasons of dissent be examined and proof made of what is alleaged sed ubi semel deerratum est in praeceps ruitur PROTESTATION Reviewed THere be wanting Commissioners from Burghs in respect of their present incapacity We need say no more to this since themselves answer it that they are in an incapacity and suppose they were not yet have they not a negative voice Besides that all were not absent PROTESTATION Defended TO his fourth Answer I say that he knoweth that the Assembly at Glasgow made use of this joyntly with other reasons for nullifying the Pretended Assemblies and their being in an incapacity ought to have carryed its own weight for suspending the constituting themselves into an Assembly especially when so many other things did concur He saith further that all were not absent but all of them that were present for ought I can learn if they were dualis yet they were not pluralis numeri PROTESTATION Reviewed THe generality of the Godly in the Land go along with us say they and approve our protesting against this meeting A strange assertion and of dangerous consequence This Protestation was given in at the very beginning of the Assembly ere ever it was constitute and that upon the delay of taking in their first Paper and is it probable they could gather all their consents in so short a time Or had they them before But that smelleth of a prae-meditate Faction Or go their resolutions along with whatsoever these Protesters do But that is not suitable to them that are truly godly to have their faith pinned to the slieves of any how high soever they hold their head Or is it that they will allow none to be of the number of the godly who go not along with them in every thing This I suspect be the marrow of the matter But who gave them that power to put out and put in into the Roll of the Godly whom they please And as we doubt of their authority so to do even so also of their power can they reach the heart or are they quicker sighted then Elias who saw not one of the seven thousund God had reserved to himself Will they condemn all for ungodly that are not of their way How suiteth that with their professions elswhere I am sure we have here reason to dissent and appeal from such an uncharitable censure of them that have no power to the righteous Trihunall of the Lord to whom we stand There may be somewhat more yet of dangerous consequence in it in that they seem to subject the Publick Ministeriall authority to the People and amongst them to such onely as are visible Saints where if there be any mystery they will do well to unfold it And now for the solemn words of the Protestation the grounds and reasons thereof being houghed we need say no more but if those Principles from which they say they do it viz. the Zeal they owe to the glory of God c. were rightly weighed they would inferre and have produced the qutte contrary conclusion Which the Lord out of his tender mercy to this poor bleeding Church and Countrey imprint upon their spirits for Christs cause AMEN PROTESTATION Defended AS for the fifth that term of the generality of the godly hath been cleared before and the Argument was used by this Kirk diverse times Likewise if he please he may first quarrell with the Generall Assembly 1648. for the expression anâ— argument both The ground upon which the Protesters have made use of that reason is this At the meeting in St. Andrews the Protesters delivered in a Representation notwithstanding whereof the Meeting did proceed to constitute themselves into an Assembly and thereafter did approve of the Publick Resolutions and enact severe censures against all Ministers and Professors in the Land that were of a different judgment which gave an occasion to many Ministers and Professors
contained in the Act at Glasgow Dec. 18. Sess 28. 1638. Thus all the Ministers Elders and Expectants in the Church of Scotland who do not acknowledge that Assembly or oppose the Resolutions thereof or do not acquiesce to the Acts and Constitutions thereof are to be laid aside discharged silenced suspended or deposed yea all the Ministers Elders Expectants and Professors in the Church of Scotland who do not acknowledge that Assembly or who do oppose the Resolutions thereof or who do not acquiesce to the Acts and Constitutions thereof are made lyable to excommunication if after conference they do not receive satisfaction From what is already said it doth appear who are the persons as to the matter of their supposed offence are to be censured I shall onely adde that as to their reall qualification and carriage that they are not such who have been enemies or dis-affected to the Work of Reformation or scandalous or loose in their conversation but such as have been zealous thereof and faithfull therein from the beginning and blamelesse in their conversation and cannot acknowledge that Assembly nor acquiesce to the Acts and Constitutions thereof for conscience sake having a well-warranted perswasion in themselves that they do herein walk according to former sound principles to depart from which were but to involve themselves in the common defection with others And as these persons are so qualified in their carriage to the Publick Work and in their conversation so for their number they make up a very great part of the godly in the Land whether Ministers Elders Expectants or Professors An Act and Overture of the Generall Assembly for the Peace and Vnion of the Kirk Edinburgh 2. August 1652. Postmeridiem Sess 18. THe Generall Assembly being deeply affected with sense of the many and sad evils calamities that have already arisen both to Kirk and State within this Land by the lamentable divisions and distractions amongst Ministers and others of the People of God in this Kirk and apprehensive of greater evils which may yet follow to the over-throwing of the blessed Work of Reformation which the Lord in his great and speciall mercy was pleased to set up amongst us having carryed it through many difficulties and oppositions and to the laying of the Kirk of God waste and desolat if these divisions and distractions shal continue And being most desirous as the Servants of Jesus Christ who is the Prince of Peace to use all necessary and lawfull means so far as their knowledge and power can reach for preventing the encrease of these divisions and making up of the breaches And being firmly resolved for obtaining of this desirable end in all meeknesse gentlenesse and moderation to condescend so far as they can without violation of Truth and of the just authority of the Government and Courts of Jesus Christ in his Kirk unto their Brethren of the Ministery and others of the People of God who have been this late time by-past and are at difference with the Judicatories of the Kirk for bringing them to an happy conjunction with their Brethren in unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace Therefore for giving an evidence and demonstration of their real intentions sincere purpose about the premisses as they have already by some of their number commissionated for that effect Declared and made offer to some of these their Dissenting Brethren who were here in the time of the Assembly so now again do Declare and make offer by this present Act That the four Brethren who by the preceding General Assembly at S. Andrews and Dundee were upon speciall consideration justly censured for protesting against and declining the Authority thereof shal have the censures inflicted on them by that Assembly for the cause foresaid taken off them And further that no censure shall be inflicted on them for not submitting to the foresaid censures yea and that no censure shal be inflicted for their Protesting against and declining of this present Gen. Ass Providing 1. that they do passe from the said two Protestations against and declinators of the two foresaid Assemblies judicially under their hand between and the second Wednesday of November next ensuing in their several Presbyteries or Synods respectivè 2. That they also give assurance in manner foresaid that they shall forbear holding up divisions by debates about matters of our late differences since the Assembly 1650. in preaching writing or any otherwise Likeas the Assembly doth Declare and make offer that all such as did concur in or have been accessory unto the Protestation and Declinatour against the Assembly at S. Andrews and Dundee and were not censured shall be free from whatsoever censure might have been inflicted by any Act of the said Assembly and that no such Act shall have any force against them hereafter in any Judicatory of this Kirk and that no censure shall be inflicted on them for their accession unto the late Protestation and Declinatour against the present Assembly Providing they shall perform the foresaid provisions within the time and after the manner therein specified And for prosecution of this purpose the Generall Assembly ordains the several Presbyteries or Synods of this Kirk to present this offer with the Provisions therein contained unto all such persons as are before-mentioned within their bounds respectivè And incase the plurality of Presbyteries or Synods shal refuse to propound the same the Assembly doth warrand such Brethren as acknowledge the Authority of these Assemblies to propound them and having made report of their diligence and successe therein to the next ensuing Quarterly Meeting of the Commission of the Kirk if they be then sitting thereafter to do as they finde by the Rule of the Word of GOD and the Acts and Constitutions of Generall Assemblies of this Kirk to be most necessary and conducible for preservation of truth for procuring the Peace and welfare of the Kirk and maintenance of the Authority of the Assemblies thereof as they will be answerable to the next Generall Assembly And recommends unto them to take advice of the Commission of the Kirk for their proceeding in any matter of importance of this kinde And now the Generall Assembly having out of tender affection toward their Brethren and sincere desire of unity and concord with them in the Lord and for the Lord condescended unto this moderation and meeknesse do obtest all and every one of them in the Name of Jesus Christ and expect as they tender the preservation of the Government of this Kirk which adversaries without and within taking advantage of our divisions and distractions are labouring to subvert and as they love the establishing and promoving of the Kingdom of Christ in this Land and will be answerable to him in the great Day that they would accepting of this offer of love return unto unity with their Brethren in their severall respective places and Judicatories and concur in an unanimous way for preserving and promoving the Work of Reformation in
an Act of meet favour and grace upon your part unto Delinquents upon their repentance And though we hope that we shall never be ashamed but esteem it our mercy and glory to acknowledge any thing whereby we have provoked the Lord or offended others yet being more and more convinced in our consciences that what we did in these things was a necessary duty we dare not purchase immunity and exemption from Censures at so dear a rate as to deny the same we shall rather choose still to be sufferers and to wait upon the issue that the Lord shall give then to provoke the eyes of his Glory grieve the spirits of his People and would our own Consciences by so unsatisfying and so sinful a transaction And conceiving that we shall not have the opportunity to speak unto you hereafter as being now about to dissolve our Meeting We do from the zeal that we owe to the honour of God and from the tender respect we owe to you as Brethren and for exonering our own Conscience most earnestly beseech and obtest you by your appearing before the Lord Jesus Christ to give your selves unto Prayer and searching of your own hearts and way in Order to Publick Resolutions and Actions untill each of you finde out wherein ye have turned aside from the straight way of the Lord and imployed your gifts and power not for Edification but for grieving the spirits of many of the Godly and strengthening of the hands of the wicked and to Repent thereof and to do no more so least wrath be increased from the LORD the Godly of the Land more offended and our breach made wider and our wound more incurable If both you and we might obtain mercy of the Lord to know our trespasse and why he contends and to accept the punishment of our iniquity and humble our selves before hime who knoweth but that he might yet have compassion upon us and pardon our sins and heal our Land July the 28. Antemerid 1652. Mr. Andrew Cant Mr Samuel Rutherford Mr James Guthry My Lord Waristoun Mr Robert Trail Mr John Nevay Mr James Nasmith being nominated to meet confer with some Brethren Members of the present pretended Assembly the Instructions following were given them and the Meeting doth require and expect that they will walk according thereto I. That they shall declare to the Brethren with whom they are to meet That as they do adhere to the Protestations formerly and lately given in so they do protest that they do not meet nor confer with them nor receive any Papers from them as being in the capacity of Commissioners of a General Assembly but onely as sent from a meeting of Ministers and Elders wanting any such Authority II. That whatever be offered by the Brethren with whom they do confer they desire to get it in writing from them as the mind of the Meeting whereof they are Members That it being communicated to us Answer may be given thereunto by our whole Meeting III. That they do not engage in Conference with them at first about the matter of Censures It being neither the chief nor only ground of our grievance and because with us things of that nature and any thing of personal concernment ought to be of the smallest value while there are many things in question betwixt them and us of far higher consequence to the Kingdom of Christ and his Interest as anent the causes of Gods controversie with the Land and the way of remedy and cure of the former and late defection and the way of preventing the like in time coming The establishing and promoving the Work of Reformation and the purging of the Kirk and the like as are laid before them in our Propositions given in to their Meeting And that they do intimate to the Brethren foresaid that we cannot look upon an offer relating onely to the Censures upon some of our number as satisfaction to them or us and that besides what we have said for other reasons to be communicated in due time to their Meeting And that therefore they shall offer to these Brethren and desire of them that if there be any Conference at all the subject matter of it may be upon the whole Propositions in the order as they stand IV. That in case of their refusing the latter part of the former Article they shall require and demand from the Brethren of the other Meeting That they would declare whether we may expect that these from whom they were sent will either by the said Brethren or any other way give answer and satisfaction to us anent the Propositions and what is their sense and meaning of the Publick Resolutions and anent the Constitution Acts and Proceedings of the Meeting at Dundee and of this at Edinburgh and what they minde to do in reference to the same V. That in case there be not satisfaction obtained in these so just and necessary things They do professe their own and our dissatisfaction with any thing that hath been offered by them to us or answered to our desires first or last And that they protest for themselves and us That as we have sought Peace and pursued it by all lawfull and possible means though much in vain on their part So we are henceforth free from the guilt and blame of the sad prejudices and evil consequences whatsomever which may follow upon their present way and their former and future actings of that nature so contrary and destructive to Edification and Peace Right Reverend WE have now for these fourteen dayes past been imployed in using our best endeavours and waited for Overtures from you for healing the breach and removing the differences that are amongst us And now there being no ground of hope given us nor any desire made unto us for continuing the Conference whereby a better understanding might be attained We have thought good before our parting from this place to send unto you this inclosed Paper together with the Instructions given in writing to these who were sent from us to the Conference the Copy whereof was offered by them to these who were sent from your number and left with them Both which Papers we desire you to communicate to those of your meeting And so we rest Your very loving Brethren in the Lord. Edinb 29. July 1652. Subscribed in the name of many Ministers Elders and Professors throughout the Land who desire truth and peace Directed For the Reverend Brother Mr. David Dickson Professor of Divinity in the Colledge of Edinburgh PROPOSITIONS which were offered to the Meeting of Ministers and others appointed to be keeped at Edinburgh July 21. 1652. WHereas we and many of the godly in the Land have been really scandalized and stumbled at their late Acts and Proceedings relating to Publick Resolutions concerning the same in the nature and Intention of the Work to have obstructed and shaken the Work of Reformation although we think honourably of diverse Godly and Learned men who have been concurring in the same and dare not judge their Intentions to be such as we think their Work hath bee and do allow charity to others Therefore for satisfaction of or conscience and for securing the Work of Reformation for purging the Church and for prâ—moving the power of godlinesse and for removing of these sad differences and for attaining and preserving a good understanding We desire That they give evidence and assurance that they approve of and will adhere unto the solemn Publick Confession of sins and engagement to duties and all the Acts of the uncontroverted Assemblies of this Church concerning the Work of Reformation in the literal and genuine sense and meaning thereof And that in dispensing of the Ordinances censuring of scandalous persons receiving of Penitents trying admitting removing and deposing of Church-Officers they will walk according to the same That it be laid seriously to heart before the LORD how after such a defection and so sad judgments for it the LORD may be restored to his honor the Land to his favor and the like defection prevented in time coming That as we are ready in our station to follow all religious and conscionable means and Overtures for securing and guarding the Cause and Work of GOD against Error Heresie and Schisme on the one hand so they would hold out to us a solid way for securing the same against dangers from Malignancy on the other And we would know what shall be the Characters in time coming by which Malignancy may be known and judged That a reall and effectuall course be taken according to the established rules of this Kirk for purging out and holding out all such Church-Officers as have not the Position and qualifications required in the Word of God Acts of this Kirk partiularly where Ministers deposed by lawfull Assemblies have intruded themselves or have been unwarrantably restored by Synods and Presbyteries to their Charges contrary to the form and order prescribed in the Acts of Assemblies be romoved and condign censures inflicted and that sufficient Provision be made for preventing the like in time coming That after means be fallen upon and followed for censuring of all scandals and scandalous persons and casting out of these who shall be found grosly and obstinatly scandalous or ignorant after they are made inexcusable by sufficient means and pains taken for their instructing and reclaiming That some course more effectuall than any hath been fallen upon hitherto may be condescended upon for putting in execution the Acts of this Kirk anent debarring from the Lord's Table such persons who are found not to walk suteably to the Gospel and have not knowledge to examine themselves and to discerne the Lord's Body That in the receiving of Penitents care may be had that none be admitted to the publick Profession of repentance or reconciled to the Church but these who are found to give such evidence of their repentance as is exprest in the Acts of the Assemblies concerning the receiving of Penitents That an effectual course may be taken for securing of the Work and People of GOD from the harm and evill consequences which hath already and may further ensue from the late pretended Assemblies at S. Andrews and Dundee and the Acts thereof FINIS