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dundee_n and_o the_o act_n thereof_o finis_fw-la
a_o answer_n to_o the_o declaration_n of_o the_o pretend_a assembly_n at_o dundee_n and_o to_o a_o print_v paper_n entitle_v the_o protestation_n give_v in_o by_o the_o dissent_v brethren_n to_o the_o general_z assembly_n july_n 21._o 1652._o reviewed_n and_o refute_v etc._n etc._n in_o which_o answer_n be_v set_v down_o ten_o step_n of_o their_o defection_n who_o follow_v the_o way_n of_o the_o public_a resolution_n together_o with_o observation_n upon_o some_o of_o the_o act_n of_o the_o p._n assembly_n at_o dundee_n and_o edinburgh_n and_o some_o paper_n concern_v the_o endeavour_n of_o the_o protester_n for_o union_n with_o their_o brethren_n who_o differ_v from_o they_o in_o judgement_n print_a in_o anno_fw-la 1653._o good_a reader_n be_v please_v to_o understand_v that_o when_o that_o paper_n entitle_v the_o protestation_n give_v in_o by_o the_o dissent_v brethren_n to_o the_o gen._n assembly_n july_n 21._o 1652._o reviewed_n and_o refute_v etc._n etc._n come_v abroad_o in_o print_n there_o be_v differ_v thought_n about_o it_o among_o these_o who_o be_v concern_v to_o answer_v it_o some_o say_v that_o it_o be_v not_o worth_a a_o answer_n other_o know_v that_o it_o do_v indeed_o more_o abound_v with_o calumny_n and_o reproach_n then_o with_o argument_n yet_o do_v judge_v it_o fit_a to_o he_o answer_v because_o in_o this_o corrupt_a age_n calumny_n pass_v for_o truth_n among_o the_o generality_n of_o people_n without_o any_o serious_a disquisition_n and_o examination_n within_o very_o few_o day_n after_o that_o paper_n be_v publish_v a_o answer_n be_v draw_v by_o one_o who_o favour_v the_o cause_n of_o the_o protester_n and_o be_v by_o he_o intend_v present_o for_o the_o press_n but_o there_o it_o be_v delay_v and_o upon_o good_a ground_n the_o review_n of_o the_o vindication_n of_o the_o pretend_a assembly_n at_o st._n andrews_n and_o dundee_n have_v the_o precedency_n in_o the_o press_n for_o the_o validity_n of_o the_o protestation_n late_o make_v at_o 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answer_n to_o it_o beside_o that_o there_o be_v information_n that_o a_o course_n be_v take_v by_o some_o of_o those_o that_o maintain_v the_o public_a resolution_n for_o print_v the_o vindication_n of_o that_o assembly_n at_o london_n which_o be_v very_o true_a for_o it_o be_v print_v there_o in_o the_o year_n 1652._o after_o the_o review_n of_o the_o vindication_n be_v print_v this_o answer_n be_v a_o while_n stop_v at_o the_o press_n for_o want_v of_o licence_n to_o print_v it_o and_o as_o some_o thing_n which_o be_v in_o the_o copy_n which_o be_v at_o first_o intend_v for_o the_o press_n be_v leave_v out_o so_o other_o thing_n emergent_a be_v add_v the_o reviewer_n of_o the_o protestation_n do_v in_o the_o begin_n of_o his_o paper_n refer_v to_o a_o declaration_n make_v at_o the_o pretend_a assembly_n at_o dundee_n which_o you_o will_v find_v to_o be_v first_o answer_v here_o and_o because_o it_o abound_v with_o reproach_n and_o misinformation_n therefore_o there_o be_v a_o necessity_n to_o insist_v the_o more_o large_o in_o matter_n of_o fact_n you_o have_v next_o the_o step_n of_o their_o defection_n who_o follow_v the_o way_n of_o the_o publicâ—_fw-la r_n solution_n and_o then_o the_o answer_n to_o the_o review_n of_o the_o protestation_n and_o last_o some_o thing_n about_o the_o union_n endeavour_v by_o the_o protester_n together_o with_o observation_n upon_o some_o act_n of_o the_o say_v pretend_a assembly_n in_o all_o which_o you_o have_v their_o own_o paper_n that_o it_o may_v be_v see_v that_o no_o wrong_n be_v do_v to_o their_o cause_n in_o repeat_v their_o reason_n and_o argument_n except_o it_o be_v do_v by_o themselves_o i_o desire_v not_o to_o prejudice_v the_o reader_n by_o a_o preface_n only_o this_o much_o i_o will_v say_v further_o that_o whereas_o this_o reviewer_n boast_v that_o the_o gray_a head_a and_o age_a man_n for_o the_o most_o part_n be_v on_o their_o side_n to_o which_o there_o be_v enough_o answer_v in_o this_o treatise_n 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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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dispensation_n of_o their_o ruin_n be_v in_o the_o begin_n thereof_o at_o innerkithen_n in_o providence_n try_v with_o the_o begin_n of_o that_o assembly_n and_o afterward_o more_o full_o accomplish_v and_o perfect_v at_o other_o place_n as_o they_o and_o their_o comm_n ssion_n go_v on_o in_o ratify_v of_o these_o resolution_n and_o censure_v the_o opposer_n of_o the_o same_o and_o issue_v warning_n and_o declaration_n in_o reference_n to_o these_o thing_n 2._o because_o that_o assembly_n be_v so_o far_o from_o rejoice_v the_o heart_n or_o approve_v themselves_o unto_o the_o conscience_n of_o most_o of_o the_o godly_a in_o the_o land_n or_o from_o leave_v this_o seal_n and_o impression_n upon_o their_o heart_n that_o they_o have_v the_o image_n and_o authority_n of_o jesus_n christ_n and_o do_v proceed_v according_a to_o the_o law_n and_o the_o testimony_n and_o employ_v their_o power_n unto_o edification_n and_o promote_a of_o godliness_n that_o upon_o the_o contrary_n they_o do_v exceed_o sadden_fw-mi their_o spirit_n and_o leave_v a_o deep_a and_o strong_a conviction_n thereupon_o that_o they_o do_v add_v unto_o the_o land_n provocation_n and_o increase_n wrath_n and_o that_o in_o most_o of_o all_o their_o act_n they_o do_v walk_v not_o unto_o edification_n but_o unto_o destruct_v on_o 3._o because_o their_o act_n do_v rejoice_v the_o heart_n and_o strengthen_v the_o hand_n of_o these_o in_o the_o land_n who_o be_v void_a of_o grace_n and_o of_o the_o knowledge_n of_o jesus_n christ_n and_o adversary_n to_o the_o cause_n and_o people_n of_o god_n and_o mocker_n and_o hater_n of_o piety_n and_o godliness_n be_v not_o that_o assembly_n countenance_v and_o plead_v for_o and_o be_v it_o not_o to_o this_o day_n countenance_v and_o plead_v for_o by_o all_o the_o generation_n of_o malignant_a and_o profane_a person_n throughout_o the_o land_n and_o sure_a if_o it_o have_v be_v so_o much_o countenance_v and_o own_v of_o god_n it_o be_v not_o like_a that_o it_o shall_v 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cause_n and_o former_a principle_n of_o the_o reform_a party_n in_o this_o land_n set_v down_o in_o their_o public_a paper_n and_o that_o they_o may_v not_o partake_v of_o other_o man_n sin_n do_v not_o concur_v with_o but_o bear_v testimony_n against_o the_o carnal_a counsel_n of_o man_n own_o heart_n because_o of_o which_o the_o sword_n do_v abide_v in_o our_o city_n and_o consume_v our_o branch_n and_o devour_v they_o hos_n 11.6_o and_o the_o spirit_n that_o have_v be_v stir_v in_o they_o in_o these_o act_n i_o trust_v be_v no_o other_o than_o the_o good_a spirit_n of_o god_n the_o spirit_n of_o truth_n and_o holiness_n the_o voice_n behind_o they_o that_o speak_v in_o the_o ear_n of_o the_o lord_n people_n this_o be_v the_o way_n walk_v you_o in_o it_o when_o they_o turn_v to_o the_o right_a hand_n and_o when_o they_o turn_v to_o the_o left_a hand_n isa_n 30.21_o in_o order_n to_o this_o passage_n of_o the_o warn_v at_o dundee_n i_o wish_v the_o first_o penner_n thereof_o and_o 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
have_v carry_v on_o a_o course_n of_o defection_n and_o it_o be_v offer_v to_o verify_v the_o same_o and_o thereupon_o desire_v that_o these_o commissioner_n may_v not_o be_v admit_v to_o sit_v as_o member_n in_o the_o assembly_n till_o that_o matter_n be_v try_v it_o be_v refuse_v and_o notwithstanding_o of_o the_o except_o on_o timeous_o propound_v and_o offer_v to_o be_v instruct_v they_o be_v before_o the_o take_n try_v all_o thereof_o allow_v to_o sit_v which_o be_v in_o effect_n to_o reject_v the_o exception_n either_o as_o irrelevat_a in_o law_n or_o as_o false_a in_o fact_n and_o so_o to_o approve_v they_o before_o try_v all_o yea_o they_o be_v admit_v to_o â—iâ—â—s_a judge_n in_o their_o own_o cause_n for_o the_o protestation_n be_v particular_o found_v on_o the_o sinfulness_n and_o unwarrantableness_n of_o their_o proceed_n yet_o they_o be_v allow_v to_o sit_v as_o judge_n and_o to_o condemn_v the_o protestation_n as_o destructive_a to_o the_o government_n and_o liberty_n of_o this_o kirk_n and_o censurable_a with_o the_o high_a censure_n thereof_o upon_o the_o 23_o of_o july_n 1651._o notwithstanding_o their_o proceed_n be_v not_o approven_v till_o the_o day_n after_o which_o be_v the_o 24._o that_o other_o of_o they_o do_v absolute_o decline_v the_o authority_n of_o that_o assembly_n and_o protest_v against_o it_o as_o null_n be_v a_o practice_n that_o have_v many_o commendable_a and_o praiseworthy_a parallel_n in_o this_o church_n and_o therefore_o they_o do_v speak_v more_o from_o their_o own_o spirit_n then_o from_o the_o spirit_n of_o truth_n who_o cry_v out_o that_o it_o have_v no_o parallel_n but_o that_o of_o the_o perfidious_a prelate_n the_o declinatour_n of_o the_o prelate_n against_o the_o assembly_n at_o glasgow_n 1638._o as_o any_o who_o please_v to_o read_v the_o same_o will_v find_v that_o it_o do_v strike_v at_o the_o root_n of_o presbyterial_a government_n and_o general_n assembly_n in_o regard_n of_o the_o essential_o of_o their_o 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true_a parallel_n of_o this_o practice_n in_o the_o carriage_n of_o the_o faithful_a witness_n of_o our_o lord_n in_o our_o own_o and_o our_o father_n day_n who_o have_v stand_v to_o plead_v for_o the_o doctrine_n government_n worship_n and_o discipline_n of_o this_o kirk_n i_o shall_v only_o name_v a_o few_o the_o first_o be_v in_o the_o year_n 1597._o at_o which_o time_n the_o commissioner_n of_o the_o general_n assembly_n have_v contrary_a to_o the_o trust_v commit_v to_o they_o in_o these_o intervall_n betwixt_o assembly_n petition_v and_o obtain_v from_o the_o king_n and_o estate_n of_o the_o kingdom_n that_o minister_n shall_v sit_v in_o parliament_n as_o the_o three_o estate_n which_o be_v the_o foundation_n of_o our_o prelatic_a their_o proceed_n in_o that_o petition_n and_o the_o thing_n relate_v thereto_o be_v approven_v in_o the_o assembly_n by_o the_o preval_v influence_n of_o the_o king_n and_o these_o commissioner_n notwithstanding_o of_o the_o reason_n propound_v against_o the_o same_o by_o sundry_a of_o the_o ministry_n m._n john_n davidson_n a_o most_o worthy_a and_o pious_a minister_n of_o this_o church_n endue_v with_o the_o spirit_n of_o prophecy_n in_o many_o thing_n and_o as_o anti-prelaticall_a and_o true_o tender_a of_o presbyterial_a government_n and_o of_o the_o authority_n of_o assembly_n as_o any_o this_o church_n have_v bring_v forth_o do_v solemn_o protest_v against_o that_o assembly_n as_o not_o free_a and_o lawful_a to_o which_o protestation_n mr._n david_n calâ—erwood_n a_o strenuous_a maintainer_n of_o the_o government_n of_o this_o church_n and_o a_o constant_a adversary_n to_o prelate_n &_o a_o unsuspect_n witness_n in_o this_o present_a controversy_n declare_v in_o his_o story_n his_o own_o adherence_n &_o the_o adherence_n of_o many_o of_o the_o most_o sincere_a pastor_n and_o professor_n of_o this_o kirk_n as_o see_v the_o beginning_n and_o fear_v the_o growth_n of_o that_o defection_n likeas_n he_o do_v often_o from_o that_o experience_n express_v his_o fear_n and_o thereupon_o his_o opinion_n against_o put_v too_o much_o power_n in_o the_o hand_n of_o a_o commission_n and_o prognosticate_v a_o defection_n to_o ensue_v thereupon_o whensoever_o the_o king_n and_o the_o court_n shall_v have_v influence_n upon_o the_o lead_a man_n thereof_o concern_v which_o he_o have_v not_o be_v mistake_v 2._o do_v not_o many_o worthy_a pastor_n and_o professor_n of_o this_o church_n protest_v against_o the_o corrupt_a assembly_n annul_v by_o the_o assembly_n at_o glasgow_n sundry_a of_o which_o protestation_n be_v to_o be_v see_v in_o the_o book_n call_v the_o course_n of_o conformity_n let_v our_o predecessor_n supplication_n reason_n admonition_n protestation_n present_v to_o the_o parliament_n 1617._o and_o 1621._o be_v consider_v wherein_o they_o assert_v the_o assembly_n then_o controvert_v to_o be_v unlawful_o constitute_v and_o to_o be_v but_o pretend_a assembly_n though_o no_o authority_n have_v declare_v the_o same_o see_v also_o the_o observation_n print_v 1635_o with_o the_o grievance_n give_v in_o by_o the_o minister_n to_o the_o parliament_n 1633_o it_o be_v here_o well_o say_v that_o the_o safety_n of_o religion_n depend_v not_o upon_o assembly_n of_o whatsoever_o kind_n but_o upon_o the_o liberty_n of_o free_a and_o right_o constitute_v assembly_n aâ—_n in_o the_o commonweal_n he_o be_v not_o to_o be_v think_v a_o faithful_a patriot_n who_o will_v not_o stand_v as_o much_o for_o the_o liberty_n of_o a_o parliament_n as_o his_o own_o possession_n because_o the_o safety_n of_o all_o other_o liberty_n stand_v in_o the_o preservation_n of_o that_o main_a liberty_n 3._o do_v not_o these_o who_o spirit_n the_o lord_n stir_v up_o to_o appear_v against_o the_o prelate_n and_o to_o set_v on_o foot_n the_o work_n of_o reformation_n in_o the_o year_n 16â—7_n express_o declare_v theiâ—_n adherence_n to_o all_o these_o protestation_n make_v by_o their_o father_n and_o predecessor_n declare_v the_o nullity_n of_o these_o corrupt_a assembly_n and_o thereby_o establish_v the_o declinatour_n against_o the_o same_o before_o the_o assembly_n at_o glasgow_n which_o practice_n be_v as_o strange_o look_v upon_o and_o as_o muâ—h_v speak_v against_o then_o as_o the_o practice_n of_o the_o protester_n in_o the_o year_n 1651._o 4._o our_o nationall_n covenant_n do_v both_o mention_n and_o allow_v these_o protestation_n against_o that_o whole_a course_n of_o defection_n whence_o it_o appear_v that_o that_o practice_n at_o dâ—â—dee_n have_v many_o both_o very_o worthy_a precedent_n and_o parallel_n and_o that_o to_o protest_v against_o corrupt_a assembly_n such_o as_o that_o be_v have_v be_v so_o far_o from_o be_v look_v upon_o by_o discer_v faithful_a and_o godly_a man_n in_o this_o kirk_n as_o the_o throw_n down_o of_o the_o hedge_n of_o discipline_n and_o make_v way_n for_o every_o beast_n of_o the_o forest_n to_o break_v in_o as_o this_o reviewer_n allege_v that_o they_o have_v use_v it_o as_o one_o of_o the_o best_a mean_n for_o prevent_v and_o remedy_v of_o these_o evil_n and_o so_o it_o be_v indeed_o because_o as_o it_o be_v well_o observe_v and_o true_o assert_v in_o the_o great_a act_n of_o the_o assembly_n concern_v the_o by_o go_v evil_n of_o this_o church_n and_o the_o remedy_n thereof_o that_o the_o keeep_v or_o authorise_v of_o corrupt_a general_n assembly_n have_v be_v one_o of_o the_o main_a cause_n of_o our_o evil_n by_o these_o it_o be_v that_o the_o prelate_n and_o all_o the_o train_n of_o superstitious_a ceremony_n do_v enter_v and_o have_v have_v such_o worthy_a precedent_n in_o oppose_v of_o such_o and_o such_o doolful_a and_o dear_a buy_v experience_n of_o the_o wrong_n they_o have_v do_v to_o this_o poor_a church_n there_o be_v the_o great_a reason_n to_o take_v heed_n to_o stand_v fast_o in_o the_o liberty_n wherewith_o christ_n have_v make_v we_o free_a and_o not_o to_o be_v again_o entangle_v with_o the_o yoke_n of_o bondage_n of_o corrupt_a assembly_n it_o