though we cannot say that they are or ought to be so self-denied that they would not have wished it to have been so yet did they never expect such a Commission as should wholly consist of men according to their mind nor was that ever any of their Propositions to his Highness directly or indirectly Yea their Propositions did not contain that qualification as to any of them And we can also say That though they had been mostly or wholly of that mind there would have been room and encouragement for men of our Brethrens judgement both to continue and enter into the Ministrie Thus now have we answered that first and great prejudice wherewith our Brethrens Paper and it seemeth their spirits are fraughted against the protesting Brethren to wit That they do not only dissent from but also that they have it in their thoughts and design to subvert and destroy the established Government of the Kirk of Scotland by Presbyteries and Synods and that their practices do manifestly tend thereunto And in this we have been the larger not only because we have more then probable ground to look upon it as the great scope of our Brethrens Paper to fill and possess this Church and the Churches abroad with this opinion of these Brethren that they are indeed such a shrewd party as they describe them to be that so they may acquit and justifie the resolution Brethren in all that they have hitherto done or shall hereafter do against them but also because if there be any remnants of real inclinations in our Brethrens bosoms to a Peace approven of God and tending to edification we did conceive it necessary to endeavor though with much weaknesse to roll out of their way that great rock of offence which they have by their own mistakes so long and so much stumbled upon unto the making of them halt more and more day by day in their affections towards the protesting Brethren There be yet two prejudices more which we find in their Declaration that we shall more briefly speak unto one is That they have begun a needlesse rent in the Church upon a question so extrinseck to our Doctrine Worship and Government so they speak in the fourth page of their Declaration and in the third page they call it a tossing about a debate now so far removed out of our way To which we answer first Whatever be the nature of the Question about the publick Resolutions it is certain and manifest that the Rent thereupon was begun by the resolution Brethren because they did in a surreptitious meeting of some of the Commissioners of the General Assembly without giving timous and due warning to others in the year 1651. suddenly take these Resolutions when the whole Church of Scotland was in possession of and by solemn Covenants and Vows engaged to the Truths to which these Resolutions are contrary and destructive 2. This Question is not so extrinsick to our Doctrine Worship and Government as our Brethren would make the world believe it doth involve a portion of the precious Truth of God which he hath been pleased to reveal and hold forth in His Word for the edification of His Church and People that they may know what they ought to do and what they ought not to do in the case of intrusting of known wicked malignant men enemies to Truth and Godlinesse with the interests of the Lords Work and People And this Truth as it hath all along since the Reformation from Popery been taught and holden forth by the Kirk of Scotland so hath the preservation and practice thereof been judged necessary for preserving the rest of the Doctrine and the Worship and Government in their purity and from the pollutions and corruptions which evil men use to bring in or give way unto yea this very thing as our Brethren do well know was no small part of the controversie all along from the year 1638. betwixt the wel-affected and the Popish and Prelaticall and Malignant party they may take One instance of many to wit the desires of the Commission of the General Assembly in Anno 1648. concerning the unlawfull Engagement amongst which that about the qualification of instruments was one of the chief We desire them to remember what spirit that man would have beenjudged of who in the Assembly Anno 1650. should have pleaded that to be a question much extrinsick to our Doctrine Worship and Government and that it would furnish just ground of complaint against the Assembly if they should because thereof divide from the Parliament which carried on that unlawfull Engagement in war against England 3. If our Brethren do indeed judge this question to be so extrinsick to our Doctrine Worship and Government How cometh it to passe that they are so tenacious of the determinations of their Assemblies about it If Doctrine and Worship and Government may be preserved intire without it may they not for the Peace of the Church condescend to take course that these Determinations shall not be looked upon as the definitive judgement of this Kirk or any of the Judicatories thereof in these matters And how cometh it to passe that upon a question so extrinsick they did make and still keep up against Ministers Elders Expectants and Professours Acts imporrting so severe censures against those who do not submit to the Determinations of their Assemblies concerning these things Next If the question be so extrinsick how cometh it that they sometime place the standing or falling of this Church therein and now again they would make it of no moment But further we say The subject matter of these debates is not so far removed out of the way as our Brethren do talk but do still continue in many respects 1. In regard of the sin and guilt thereof which hath not been taken-with nor repented-of till this day And as the resolution Brethren judge it hard for the protesting Brethren to be satisfied with nothing unlesse they do repent of that as a sin which in their consciences they judge to be a duty So they must give leave to the protesting Brethren to judge it hard that the Church of which they are Members and Ministers should lye under the guilt of a publick transgression and under great and sore wrath because thereof and they in the mean while not be permitted to discover her iniquity therein that her captivity may be turned away especially when they are engaged by Covenant so to do 2. These Resolutions do continue in regard of the Synodicall approbation and tye thereof upon all the Members of this Kirk 3. They do continue in regard of the Acts which were made for carrying on thereof to wit those which appoint censures against all the Members of this Kirk who do not approve of the Authority of that Assembly at Saint Andrews and Dundee and submit to the Acts and Constitutions thereof 4. They do continue in regard of the publick Warnings Remonstrances and Declarations of the Commission
these Committees without the advice and consent of these Delegates Neither will our Brethren's negative voice prove it because as these Delegates have not a negative voice in all cases as we have already shewed to wit in the case of ratifying of the proceedings of these Committees the Synod being free notwithstanding any thing in the Overture to ratifie albeit the Delegates should not consent but advise otherwise So it is a new device to say that a negative voice inferreth a superiour jurisdiction and power for at most it maketh but a co-ordinate power And that there is any absurdity in this That a Committee of Delegates nominated by the common consent of all the Synods should in this condition of the Church have such a power if yet it be a power of Jurisdiction we do not see 4. This Overture was not propounded as a perpetuall standing way alwayes to be followed and kept up in the Church as our Brethren are pleased to insinuate much lesse was it propounded hereby to lay a way for perpetuating of differences and contentions a prejudice also they are pleased to load it with but as it expresly beareth to continue only till the present differences be healed or till the Lord in providence minister some better way for setling peace amongst us Will the resolution Brethren in this present sickly declining and distracted condition of the Church allow of no remedy for purging thereof and composing differences that is in any circumstance out of the common road of the ordinary procedures of Presbyteries and Synods We know that they will tell us that the Church is sound and healthy and sufficiently able by Presbyteries and Synods to purge her self But why then we pray our Brethren to tell us did the General Assembly before these differences did arise unanimously judge that Presbyteries and Synods were not sufficiently able to do it and did upon conviction hereof appoint extraordinary Commissions and Visitations for doing of it If our Brethren say That the Gen. Assembly is the supream Church-Judicatorie in the Nation and therefore may so do They can easily answer themselves That the question is of the moving cause or the ground or reason upon which they did it it was not to shew their Supremacy and Authority which was not questioned nor controverted by any Synod or Presbyterie but as our Brethren well know because they did conceive and were convinced that Presbyteries and Synods were not so healthy as to do these duties of themselves and if they were not so then when neutral and malignant and disaffected 〈◊〉 were under board how much lesse now when 〈◊〉 of them are got above the hatches and sundry 〈◊〉 them are set to stir the rudder Or if they wil say That Presbyteries and Synods are now sufficiently able and willing of themselves to do thâ—… work We pray them then to tell us why it is noâ—… done Have not most of the Godly of the Lanâ—… been crying upon them these seven years by-gone that they would arise and be doing that good anâ—… necessary work and yet what have all their 〈◊〉 prevailed are they not heard with deaf ears What wonder is it then though the protesting Brethren do propound such Overtures as being imbraced might probably in some measure satisfiâ—… somewhat of the lawfull and just desires of thâ—… Godly in that soul-concerning matter in propounding whereof their design is none of those sinistrous things that are cast upon them by their Brethren but that by some mean or another that is not sinfull the House of God might be purged And therefore that it might appear to their Brethren that it was not domination nor the setting up of themselves and the treading down of the other that they were seeking they were content not to exercise the power given by the Commissions of the Assembly 1650. which in their judgment because no lawful General Assembly hath since interveened is still in force and did propound unto them in that meeting at Edinburgh that for making of the work of purging effectual and in order to other publick affairs of the Church that those persons who were nominated upon the Commission and Visitations by the Assembly 1650. might sit if not by the Authority derived from that Assembly yet by the mutual condescendence and approbation of Presbyteries and by the same mutual condescendence and approbation these persons might have power to compose the particular differences that are now or shall be hereafter in particular Presbyteries and Congregations this was not to assume the particular nomination of any person to themselves or to state businesse upon difference of judgment or to make any thing like a party or a faction or to desire an equality of the number of both judgments or to do any injury unto or make any incroachment upon the due right of Presbyteries and Synods unlesse we will say that the General Assembly wronged them by appointing those Commissions and Visitations yet was this also refused and rejected by our Brethren Whence it appears that nothing will please unlesse the protesting Brethren condescend as Asses to bow down under the burden by an absolute submission to Presbyteries and Synods as now constituted that is upon the matter to the Brethren for the publick Resolutions the protesting Brethren being by their own verdict a few number in comparison of the Body of the Ministery of this Church in their present and future actings how negligent or corrupt soever which themselves make evident in the next thing whereupon they impeach them as projecters against and subverters of the Government of the Church to wit their refusing to engage themselves to an absolute submission to the sentences of the Church-Judicatories They did say they towards the end of the fifth page of their Declaration expresly refuse subordination and submission to the Church-Iudicatories to which they and we were solemnly engaged at our admission to the Ministery and which we were willing to renew for our parts and without which our established Iudicatories shall be nothing else but so many consultative meetings a principle inconsistent with presbyterial Government In speaking to this particular we shall first shortly repeat the sum of the protesting Brethren their Desires and Offers and Answers thereanent in the Conference at Edinburgh Novemb. 1655. And in the next place shall speak somewhat to the matter it self As to the first In so far as concerneth Presbyterial Government and the due subordination of Church-Judicatories that they might testifie their approbation thereâ—… and that they did continue constant in their former solemn publick Professions and Engagements they did propound unto their Brethren That in matters concerning the Doctrine Worship Government and Discipline of this Church and the Enemies of Truth and Godlinesse and the work of Reformation there may be mutual evidence and assurance given for adherence unto these Articles of our Covenants and the solemn publick Confession of Sins and Engagement unto Duties and all the Acts of uncontroverted Assemblies
from bearing charge in the House of God and how many such have been brought-in We do believe that it may be truely asserted that the resolution Brethren in one Synod since that time have brought in moe who were formerly publickly censured for their scandalous and malignant carriage then all the Synods in Scotland of that judgement have purged out There be in one Synod nine or ten such brought into the Ministery besides four or five others whose mouths are opened to preach publickly and likewise some others who are connived at to preach and administer the Ordinances notwithstanding of their being twice deposed formerly because of grosse offences Let them name us if they can so many purged-out by the Resolution-party in all the Synods of their way these seven years past Why then do they speak such big words of their willingnesse to and activity in purging Yea who knoweth not that many of their party oppose Union upon this very accompt and that even good men amongst them who were wont to be of another spirit are too slow and backward in this duty by which it hath come to passe that a few processes that have by importunity been set on foot against some naughty men in some Synods have by the Resolution Brethren their exercising their wits and inventions to find out and cast in legal shews of defence such as variety of exceptions against witnesses and glosses upon their depositions and such like been rendred more tedious and involved in moe notional debates than readily are to be found at the most litigious Civil Bar and after all these things have come but to a poor issue in the end very few if any of these men being deposed from the Ministery notwithstanding of many and gross scandals which they do lye under It is the sad complaint of the Godly that the simplicity of the Gospel and the good old way that was wont to be used in the Church in the trying of insufficient and scandalouâ—… Ministers is forsaken and such a way taken as rather giveth them ground and encouragement to cover and hold fast their iniquity than doth contribute to the convincing of their consciences and making them acknowledge their sin by which it comes to passe that poor souls who groan under the burden are discouraged to offer the grounds of their grievance as much dispairing to find any remedy thereof But say the Resolution Brethren they are so far from foreslowing or obstructing purging that to delare their readinesse and sincerity in that matter they are content if their Brethren be not satisfied with the Rules of procedure hitherto agreed upon that they condescend upon the strictest Rules can be desired in justice for trial and censure and that they shall be willing to observe them providing they be Rules binding for all and to which all will submit both we and they To which we answer first That they do not adhere unto nor put in practice the Rules already agreed upon to what purpose then should new Rules be agreed upon It was formerly agreed upon That Synods ought in the case of the negligence of Presbyteries to appoint Visitations for trial and censure in their several bounds but in very few of the Synods of the Resolution judgment have there been any such Visitations appointed or kept since these Resolutions had a being albeit Presbyteries be negligent of their duty yea sundry Brethren in sundry of these Synods shew themselves dissatisfied with and speak against such Visitations And as long as the Synods themselves do not practise them there being so much need of them how can we otherwayes judge but that they do dislike them Secondly It was formerly agreed upon That the Kirk-judicatories might in the trial of Ministers proceed by way of Inquisition but now this is dissented from and casten at by many of the Resolution Brethren who will have no trial some of them without a Libel and others of them without a Libel and an Accuser too engaging to prove his Alleageance under pain of being censured as a Slanderer Thirdly Sundry things such as drunkennesse swearing c. which were formerly proceeded against with the censures of Suspension and Deposition are now so extâ—…nuated by many of these Brethren that they do refuse to censure them with these Censures unlesse the habits or many continued re-iterated acts of these things can be proven And yet the Authors of this Declaration do so talk as if all the Brethren of that judgment did strictly adhere unto and were unanimous about the former way of procedure in the trial and censure of Ministers but besides this departure from former Rules they do but trifle when they say that they are content that the Protesting Brethren condescend upon the strictest Rules can be desired in justice for trial and censure because it is alwayes with the supposal of this foundation which they have already laid to wit That these Rules shall be applied or executed by men of their own judgment who are the plurality in Presbyteries and Synods And what purging we may expect from them these seven years practice do now sufficiently manifest Thirdly The insufficiency of these Proposals doth appear from this That they do offer and hold forth no remedy for the grievance of the Protesting Brethren and of the Godly throughout the Land in the matter of planting Congregations upon the Call of the plurality in Paroches many of which are ignorant and disaffected and malignant by which it comes to passe that men get into the Ministery that cannot speak a word in season to a weary soul and who discountenance piety and godlinesse which if there be not some effectual remedy provided against it cannot but prove an evil very destructive to the Church and afflicting to all who do unfeignedly desire and seek the advancement of the Gospel and of the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ Fourthly These Proposals do not mention any remedy against such Ministers Expectants and Schoolmasters who were deposed or silenced or removed from their Charges by General Assemblies or Synods or their Commissioners or by Presbyteries before these differences did arise and have again intruded themselves or are reponed into publick stations in the Ministery or Schools or have their mouthes opened by Presbyteries or Synods without confession and acknowledgement of and repentance for all the particulars contained in their sentence and otherwise then is provided in the Acts of uncontroverted General Assemblies Nor do they hold forth any thing as to the way of calling of a General Assembly and the electing of Commissioners thereunto and handling of matters therein all which as also the giving of mutual evidence and assurance in matters concerning the Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government of this Church and the enemies of Truth and Godlinesse and the work of Reformation for adhering unto these Articles of our Covenants and the solemn publick Confession of Sins and Engagement unto Duties and all the Acts of uncontroverted Assemblies relating
an absolute and Autocratorick but a limited and Hyperetick-power and that Church Decrees and Sentences are all of them regulae regulatae rules that are subordinated and do not binde but in the Lord and so far as they are conform to that first inflexible and unerring-rule prescribed by Himself Luke 22. 24 25 26 27. Gal. 6. 16. 1 Peter 5. 2 3. â—… Tim. 3. 15 16 17. 1 Thes. 5. 12. Ephes. 6. 1. Calvin treating of Church-power saith well Non est igitur Ecclesiae potestas inâ—…inita sed subjecta Verbo Domini in eo quasi inclusa Inst. lib. 4. cap. 8. 4 That all Church-judicatories whether Congregational-Ederships or Presbyteries or Synods whether Provinciall or Nationall or oecumenick being constituted of men that are weak frail and ignorant in part are in their detâ—…rminations fallible and subject to Error Isai. 40 6 7 8. Rom. 3. 4. 1 Cor. 13. 9 12. 5. That in so far as any of these do actually erre and decline from the Truth they do in so far act without power and authority from Jesus Christ They can do nothing of themselves they may do but not by His Commission and Warrant against the Truth but for the Truth 2 Cor. 13. 8. The Power which He hath given them being to Edification and not to Destruction 2 Cor. 13. 12. 6. Sad experience almost in every generation doth teach us that Church-guides and Church-judicatories do oftentimes decline from the streigâ—…t-wayes of the Lord and decree unrighteous decrees and write grievous things which they have prescribed Isa. 9. 15 16. Ier. 8. 8 9. Mal. 2. 8 9. Ier. 2. 8. And that whilest they are boasting of the Authority given to them of God and of their skill in the Law and professing to walk according therto they are perverting the precious Truths of God and persecuâ—…ing these who cleave thereunto Ier 18. 18. Isa. 66. 5. Ioh. 7. 48 49. 7. That the same Lord who hath commanded us not to despise Prophesying 1 Thes. 5. 19. hath also commanded us to prove all things and to hold fast that which is good ver. 20. And no to believe every spirit but to try the spirits whether they be of God because many false prophets are gone forth into the world 1 Ioh. 4. 1. And that whatsoever is not of Faith is sin Rom. 14. 15. And that we ought not to be the servants of men 1 Cor. 7. 23. That is to do things especially in the matters of God for which we have no other warrant but the mear pleasure wil of men which the apostle Peter calls living to the lusts of men and not to the wil of God 1 Pet. 4. 2. And that it is therfore both the duty and priviledge of every Church-member and of every inferior Church-judicatory to examine by the judgement of discretion every thing which the Church-authority joyneth whether it be agreeable or repugnant to the rules of the Word and if after a diligent and impartiall search it be found repugnant they are not to bring their consciences in bondage therto neither is the allowing and exercising of the judgement of descretion by inferiours the setting them as judges over their superiours or making them transgress the line or limits of that due subordination and submission appointed unto them of God Protestant Divines in their writings de judice Controverstarum have fully answered this and shewed us That it doth not make a private man or an inferiour Judge of the Sentences and Decrees of his superiours but only of his own actions Having premised these things we offer these Reasons against the Submission so much pleaded for by our Brethren First This submission we mean an absolute submission or such a submission as is comprehensive of subjection to such Decrees and Sentences of Church-Judicatories as are upon the matter and for the ground of them unjust and repugnant to the Word of God hath neither precept nor precedent for it in the Book of God if any man say it hath we desire him to bring it forth we know that the Lord did enjoyn His People under the Old Testament under very severe punishments to do according to the sentence which they should be taught by the Priests the Levits in the place which the Lord should choose Deut. 17. 9 10 11 12. But Calvin telleth us well Ubi de ijs audiendis agitur ibi nominatim ponitur ut secundum Legem Dei respondeant That in the same Scripture where it is commanded to hear them that it is also commanded that they should answer according to the Law of the Lord We also know that under the New Testament we are commanded to obey them that have the rule over us and to submit our selves but it is in the Lord 1 Thess. 5. 12. that which we call for is some precept or binding precedent in Scripture that holdeth forth submission to aâ—… Ecclesiastick Determination or Sentence that is unjust and contrary to the Word of God 2. It is contrary to clear Scripture precepts and Scripture precedents to Scripture precepts such as these Be not servants of men 1 Cor. 7. 23. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not intangled again with the yoke of bondage Gal. 5. 1. It is better to obey God then men Act. 5. 29. Preach the Word be instant in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4. 2. Do this in remembrance of me 1 Cor. 11. 24. To refrain from duty upon the meer will and commandment of men is to be a servant unto men and to betray Christian liberty and to be intangled with the yoke of bondage and to obey man rather then God and to say that we will not preach the Gospel nor receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper though God hath commanded us so to do Let us suppose that a man duely qualified is suspended from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper or from the exercise of the Ministrie or excommunicated and cast out of the Church because of his pressing and holding forth some precious Truth of God which a Kirk-Judicatory condemneth for a lie and passeth such Sentences and Censures upon him because he doth adhere thereunto Shall we say that this man is bound not to communicate not to preach the Gospel to absent himself from the fellowship and Prayers of the Saints Our Brethren will haply tell us that he is bound for Peaces sake so to do till his appeal be discussed But what shall the innocent man do when it is discussed against him and the unjust sentence of the inferiour Judicatorie confirmed by the superiour shall he go to a higher and when he is gone to the highest and is condemned there too as Christ was crucified at Ierusalem what will they now allow him will they have him still to be a servant of men and still to be in bondage and though the Lord Jesus hath commanded him to preach the Gospel and said unto him Wo unto thee if
PROTESTERS no Subverters AND Presbyterie no Papacie OR A VINDICATION of the Protesting Brethren and of the Government of the Kirk of Scotland from the Aspersions unjustly cast upon them in a late Pamphlet of some of the Resolution-party Entituled A DECLARATION c. With a Discovery of the insufficiency inequality and iniquity of the Things propounded in that Pamphlet as Overtures of Union and Peace Especially Of the iniquity of that absolute and unlimited submission to the Sentences of Church-Judicatories that is holden forth therein and most unjustly pleaded to belong to the Being and Essence of Presbyterial Government To the Law and to the Testimony Isa. 8. 20. We can do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth 2 Cor. 13. 8. By some Witnesses to the way of the Protestation EDINBURGH Printed Anno Domini 1658. Protesters no Subverters AND Presbyterie no Papacie OR A Vindication of the Protesting Brethren and of the Government of the Kirk of Scotland c. THough the Brethren for the Protestation are not unsensible of the manifold injuries done unto them by a Pamphlet bearing the title but little more of A true Representation of the rise progresse and state of the present Divisions of the Church of Scotland And diligently spread at home and abroad and industriously put into the hands of publick persons in both Nations for making them take up such thoughts and entertain such impressions of these Brethren and their principles and cause as are with more animosity than candor or truth represented therein Yet hath as we conceive the conscience of their own innocency and the testimony which they have therof in the hearts of most of the Godly in the Land with the small delight they have to spend their spirits and their time and to trouble the world with a frequent reiterating and multiplying of Answers to groundlesse and unjust imputations perswaded them hithertills to be silent and to rest satisfied with what was by them formerly published in the defence of their cause and persons Neither would we have any to wonder that they do not return an Answer to that Paper lately published bearing title A Declaration of the Brethren who are for the established Government and Judicatories of this Kirk expressing their earnest desires of Union and Peace with their dissenting Brethren Though we do not as the authors of this Paper in order to the Publickresolution party take upon us to speak in their name Yet may we as not being altogether strangers to their mind in these matters say that they are silent also at this Paper 1. because though it do in some part of the Title and Contents thereof professe for and pretend unto peace Yet is it upon the matter and for the body of it but crambe recocta with the former a bundle of the same calumnies where with the former was fraughted a little more closely knit and published to the world in a nevv dresse and set off with a profession and pretext of desires to union and peace And why should so many put themselves to the pains to assemble together for answering things that have been often answered already And is not indeed an overture of peace but in effect a heap of bitter invectives and reproaches If the authors of it had not set the words of Union and Peace in the frontispiece of it we doubt that ever any should have owned it or known it by that name for it doth every-where breath discord and war that we may truly say with the Prophet Micah ch. 3. 5. whilest they cry Peace peace they bite with their teeth and with the Psalmist Psal. 55. 21. that whilest the words of their mouth are smoother then butter yet waâ—… is in their heart that whilest some of their words are soft as oyl yet most of them are like drawn swords or if there were any real inclinations to peace upon the spirits of the authors of this Paper we may fitly compare them to the first Painters in some Countries of old whose draughts were so rude that unlesse they had written above the head thereof This is a Horse This is an Oxe c. the beholders would never have discovered their aim therein Or we may say of them as Georgius major writeth of the fathers of Berge who were authors of the book called Formula concordiae Bergensis Aut mens Vulcanum aut forceps indocta fefellit {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} voluit cudere cudit {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The Smith's unskilfull mind or tongs have sure deceiv'd him far When as he would have forg'd a Peace he hammereth out a War Union and peace when stated upon the right basis and carried-on by lawfull means and in order to right ends are things precious and excellent How seasonable and strengthning and refreshing a blessing would such an union be unto the Church of Scotland in this day of her trial Would God that these Resolution-Brethren who do in this Paper testifie so highly of themselves as to their making consciâ—…nce to lament our divisions before the Lord and of afflicting their souls because of them and for the sins procuring the same and of their peaceable disposition and patience to bear and readinesâ—…e to forgive injuries had been so happy therein as to tread the paths of peace and to speak the words of sobernesse and truth we are hopefull it had found answerable entertainment from their Brethren for the Protestation who from no disrespect to them but from the conscience of their duty and zeal of the Lord's Cause have in some things witnessed against their way but when they do thus use them or rather abuse them as seeming to speak them for union and peace and yet not only hold fast most of what hath been the ground of their grievance and complaint but operously labour and industriously endeavour by a congestion of groundlesse alleagences and grosse misrepresentations of matters of fact with ill-knit consequences deduced therefrom and from some other things true and honest in themselves to prove them and proclaim them to the world to be a party of ambitious turbulent subdolous men who have been all this while affecting domination in the Church and designedly projecting the subversion and overthrow of its Government yea that their leading men have of late attempted the utter ruin of this Church and of those who differ from them We hope that no man of an impartial judgment will think that the protesting Brethren can otherwise entertain such a treaty of union and peace that is the eslux of so bitter and unpeaceable a spirit than with deep silence and just contempt unlesse they would betray their own innocency and the justnesse of the cause which they do maintain by treating a Peace upon such perswasives and foundations as do all-along heighten division and build up war 2. Though this Paper bearing the name of A Declaration of the Brethren who are for the established Government and Judicatories of
because one Assembly will have it so But say our Brethren how shall Unity and Order otherwayes be preserved in the Church of God We Answer Very well because if the Sentence be unjust it ought to be recognized and repealed If it be just and of an inferiour nature If the persons will not submit they are after due procedure to be cast out as those that will not hear the Church and so both Unity and Purity both Order and Truth are preserved Will our Brethren under a pretext of Order destroy Christian-liberty and bring-in Popish-tyranny It is Christ's Order and the King of Saints Peace that every Believer have the judgment of discretion whether the Judicatories of the Kirk speak according to the Scriptures or whether they ought to obey or submit or gainsay or counteract and what Christ hath given them no man can take from them Their third Argument is taken from the judgement and practice of this and other Churches which as they affirm plead for this subordination and submission required by them in their Answer to the Queries of the 16. of November 1655. they say That this submission hath been established by the General Assemblies especially by the Assembly in Anno 1648. sess. 30. and practised by the General Assembly 1646. in the case of Mr. James Morison and the Presbyterie of Kirkwall And that it hath been the constant practice of all the Iudicatories and members of this Kirk ever since the late Reformation untill our present differences did arise And in their Paper of the 24. of Novemb. 1655. they do cite for proving of this submission the Act of the General Assembly 1647. concerning the hundred and eleven Propositions and the seventh head of doctrinâ—… therein contained And in the 39. page and 43. section of their Representation they are so confident as to tell the Brethren for the Protestation that their practice in matters of Discipline and Government was never heard of in this Church nor we believe say they in any Church where thâ—… Officers and constitution thereof were acknowledged to be agreeable to the Word of God but what-ever the superiour Iudicatories might do as they would be answerable notwithstanding an appeal yet the appealer and inferiour did alwayes submit and sist their proceedings till their cause waâ—… heard and tried And to confirm all this in the fifth page of their Declaration they tell us that both themselves and the prâ—…testing Brethren were solemnly engaged to this submission at their admission to the Ministery As to the judgment of our Church and of her General Assemblies we do deny that ever they were of this judgment or have declared any such thing but upon the contrary let the Confession of Faith presented unto the Parliament and ratified by them in the year 1567. bear witnesse Artic. 21. concerning the power and authority of Councils lawfully gathered the words are these So far as the Council proveth the Determination and Commandment that it giveth by the plain Word of God so sooâ—… do we reverence and imbrace the same But if men under the name of a Council pretend to forge unto us new Articles of our Faith or to make constitutions repugnâ—…ng to the Word of God then utterly we must refuse the same as the doctrine of devils which draweth our souls from the voice of our only God to follow the doctrines and constitutions of men In the beginning of the Reformation 1562. It is concluded by the whole Ministery in the Assembly held that year sess. 2. That Ministers shall be subject in all lawfull admonitions as is prescribed in the Book of Discipline Likewise it is provided in the Articles agreed upon by the Gen. Assembly held at Edinburgh in March 1570. sess. 2. concerning the Jurisdiction of the Kirk That the suspension and deprivation of Ministers and others admitted to functions in the Kirk charge of souls c. shall be for lawfull causes In the Book of Discipline agreed upon in divers preceding General Assemblies and recorded in the year 1581. by order of the Assembly held in April sess. 9. to the defence of which Discipline the King and Subjects of all ranks did then subscribe and swear which was also renewed in the year 1638. It is expresly declared chap. 7. concerning Elderships Assemblies and Discipline That Office-bearers are to be deposed for good and just causes deserving deprivation If it were needfull we could cite more of this kind We shall only adde other two testimonies from very late Assemblies of this Kirk The Assembly conveened at S. Andrews in Anno 1642. â—…ess 8. in the Overture for transplantation of Ministers do declare That no Presbyterie or Assembly should passe a sentence for transportation of any Minister till they give reasons for the expediency of the same both tâ—… him and his Congregation and to the Presbyterie whereof he is a member That if they acquiesce to the reasons given it is so much the better if they do not acquiesce yet the Presbyterie or Assemblie by giving such reasons before the passing of their sentence shall make it manifest that what they do is not pro arbitratu vel imperio only but upon grounds of reason And the Assembly conveened at Edinburgh in Anno 1647. in their brotherly exhortation to their Brethren of England do declare as followeth We would not say they have our zeal for Presbyteriall Government misunderstood as if it tended to any rigour or domineering over the flock or to hinder and exclude that instructing in meeknesse them that oppose themselves which the apostolicall rule holdeth forth or as if we would have any such to be entrusted with that Government as are found not yet purged either from their old profanenesse or from the prelatical principles and practices which were to put a piece of new cloath into an old garment so to make the rent worse or to put new wine into old bottles so to lose both wine and bottles From these passages impartially considered it is manifest that the General Assemblies have judged that as it is rigor and a domineering over the Lord's flock for the Judicatories of the Kirk to determine or do any thing pro arbitratu vel â—…mperio or without giving a reason thereof from the Word so when they do thus determine and judge there is no reason to submit thereunto or acquiesce therein As to what is cited by our Brethren from the Act of the General Assembly in Anno 1648. sess. 30. We answer That though the word justly be not expressed in the letter of the Act that being amongst the praecognita or praesupposita of all those that do make or require obedience to Laws that they make and mean of just Laws yet it is evident that it speaketh of those Ministers who being justly suspended or deposed from the function of the Ministery shall continue in the exercise of their Ministery or intromet with the stipends belonging to those Kirks they served at as doth
thou preach not the Gospel and hath commanded him to eat of His body and drink of His bloud and not to forsake the assembling himself with the Saints of God yet because men pro arbitratu imperio yea because of his adhering to the Truth of God which they have rejected and condemned hath forbidden him so to do That be shall not obey God this is a hard saying who can receive it It is also contary to clear Scripture precedents Ieremiah was often commanded by the Authority both Ecclesiastick and Civil to forbear speaking of the Word of the Lord yet did he give no subjection to the sentence either of the one or of the other but went on in his Ministrie notwithstanding of all the Inhibitions and Censures past against him Chap. 26. ch. 32. ch. 37. and ch. 38. Amos was commanded by Amaziah the Priest to prophesie no more at Bethel because it was the Kings Chappell and the Kings Court yet he did not submit but did counteract that commandment and did continue to prophesie in the Name of the Lord Amos 5. 13 14 15 16. Daniel was commanded to make no petition to any God or Man for thirtie dayes save to King Darius yet did he not submit but counteract by going into his house and opening his Chamber-window towards Ierusalem and kneeling on his knees three times a day and praying and giving thanks before His God as he did aforetime Dan. 6 6 7 8 9 10. The Iews did agree that if any man did confesse that Jesus was the Christ he should be put out of the Synagogue yet did the poor man whose eyes He had opened confesse Him openly and though he was actually cast out for doing of it yet did he not submit but went on to confesse Him still Joh. 9. 22 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38. The Apostles were commanded once and again by the Council at Ierusalem not to speak nor teach any more in the Name of JESUS but they told them that they could not but speak the things which they had seen and heard and that they ought to obey God rather then men and notwithstanding they were first threatened and afterwards imprisoned and thirdly beaten by them for so doing yet did they not submit nor forbear but daily in the Temple and from house to house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ Act. 4. 19 20 21. Act. 5. 17 18 29 40 42. Paul being accused first before Festus and afterwards before Felix the Roman Deputies That he was a pestilent fellow and a mover of sedition amongst the Iews throughout the world and a ring-leader of the Sect of the Nazarens who also had gone about to profane the Temple Did not only appeal to Cesar but went on in his course and preached the Gospel and preached that the Iews killed the Lord Jesus and their own Prophets and persecuted the Apostles and pleased not God and were contrary to all men Act. 24. 5 6. Act. 25. 7 8 9 10. 1 Thess. 2. 15. 3. This submission dethroneth Jesus Christ who only hath power over the consciences of men to bind them by His Authority by attributing such a Power and Authority to Church-Judicatorics as doth bind mens consciences upon their meer arbitrement and pleasure for we must be subject because they will have it so though the reason why they command this subjection to wit our supposed delinquencie be a meer non ens and such as hath no foundation in truth and equity If it be told us that the conscience is not bound because the judgement is still left free and the outward acts only restrained We would have our Brethren to remember that some of themselves and others who did oppose conformity to the Ceremonies did tell the Prelats and their party when they used this defence against the argument taken from binding the conscience to wit That if the bare Authority of an Ecclesiasticall Law without any other reason then the will and pleasure of men be made to restrain us in the use of things which are in themselves indifferent then is Christian liberty taken away and if so in things indifferent how much more is it so in things necessary such as keeping fellowship with the Assembly of the Saints in publick Prayers and Praises and eating and drinking at the Table of the Lord and preaching the Gospel c the practice whereof are things commanded of God unto persons duely qualified and instructed thereunto If it be said That these things cease to be obliging duties to such a person hic nunc and that the sentence of the Church commanding him to abstain looseth him from the obedience that he doth otherwise owe unto the Commandment of God we desire a warrant from the Scripture of Truth for such Doctrine as that which preferreth the Commandments of men unto the Commandments of God and say That it is better to obey men than God Shall the sole will and meer pleasures of men loose a man from the obligation he oweth unto the Commandments of God If so let us no more blame the Pope for dispensing with divine Laws I cannot abstain from taking Christ's body and bloud or from preaching the Gospel saith the innocent man unjustly sentenced because I am thereunto called and commanded of God But saith the Synod or Kirk-judicatory We have commanded you to abstain and therefore you should abstain and may be satisfied in your conscience so to do because our Command looseth you from the Commandment of God Hence a fourth Argument 4. This submission concludeth a man under a necessity of sinning against God by omitting those necessary duties that are commanded him of God upon a non-relevant reason to wit the meer will and pleasure of men to whom God hath given no power against the Truth but for the Truth no power to destruction but to edification 5. If such a submission be due to the Judicatories of the Kirk in matters of Discipline and Government We do not see how it is not also due unto them in matters of Doctrine and Worship The authoritative and juridical power belonging to Classes and Synods is threefold Dogmatick Diatactick and Critick Dogmatick in reference to matters of Faith and Rules of Worship which God hath laid down and prescribed to us in His Word and the inconsistency of heresies errors and corruptions therewith Diatactick in reference to external order and policy in matters circumstantial relating to time place and persons the conveniency whereof is determinable by the light of Nature and Christian prudence and the general Rules of the Word such as these That we should do all to the glory of God to the edification of the Church and in order and decency c. Critick in reference to the repressing of Scandal Error Heresie Schism Obstinacie and Contempt and preserving of the Purity of the Truth and Holinesse of Conversation and Unity of Judgment and Affection in the Church of God by exercising the spiritual
themselves told a whole Synod that they ought to esteem that best which seemeth so to superiours and that this is a sufficient ground to the conscience for obeying though the thing be inconvenient We say that Congregations ought indeed to be subject to Presbyteries and Synods yet not absolutely but in the Lord and in things lawfull and to this purpose the constitutions of Presbyteries and Synods are to be examined by the judgement of Christian discretion for a Synod is judex judicandus and regula regulata so that it ought not to be blindly obeyed whether the Ordinances be convenient or inconvenient Having now vindicated the Protesting Brethren from the Aspersions unjustly cast upon them in that Declaration and given a Reason why they cannot accept thereof as containing right and fit foundations of Union We have only to add That we know and are perswaded in our spirits that as the divisions of this Church are amongst the deepest wounds and greatest afflictions of their souls so there is nothing next unto communion and fellowship with God in his Truth which they do more earnestly desire than a sinlesse Union and Peace in the Church and would redeem it at any rate that shall not pollute their consciences and widen the breach with God And therefore as through the goodnesse and mercy of God these Brethren have a witness of their innocency and of the justice of their cause in the hearts of many of the precious and godly in the Land So we desire that none of the Lord's People will receive the accusations that are laid against them or look upon them as men of implacable spirits who hold up contention and division in the Church but esteem them such as stand for the defence of the Truth and are seeking and pursuing such an Union and Peace as may be not for the destruction but for the preservation of the Truth and Cause of God which they conceive themselves bound to and tender before their own Persons and Ministery POSTSCRIPT AFter that this Answer was sent to the Presse the Authors of the Declaration to which it doth contain a Reply together with several other Brethren of their judgment meeting at Edinburgh in an extrajudicial way two moneths after the first publishing thereof did resolve that the Declaration should be tendered to the several Presbyteries of that judgement for their approbation and thereafter offered by them to the Protesting Brethren in the several parts of the Country and that their Answer should be desired thereupon Whether the imputation which they conceived to be cast upon them by some Synods refâ—…sing to declare themselves as to their approving thereof of which we have had a credible report or any other consideration did lead them hereunto we shall not determine but we cannot but take notice 1. That herein they have had little or no regard to the due liberty of Presbyteries and Synods notwithstanding of their great pretentions and professions unto the contrary in all their debates with the Protesting Brethren a few private persons having first without acquainting them with that Paper or desiring their approbation thereof published the same as the Iudgment and in the Name of the Brethren who are for the established Government of the Kirk of Scotland and then ex post facto a long time after it had gone abroad materially in their names to endeavour to engage them in the approbation thereof 2. That the Presbyteries of that judgment have walked in a very different and dissonant way in order to that without justifying the Narrative 〈◊〉 and others having approven the whole Paper Title and Body as it stands and in these tearms tendered it as a ground of Union and Peace 3. That sundry of these Brethren and Presbyteries of the Resolution judgment who have approven and tendered this Paper to several of the Protesting Brethâ—…en have done it in such a way as doth more savour of the customs of litigious men than doth beseem the Gospel and Servants of Iesus Christ to wit by Civil Notaries and Instruments required under their hand 4. That some Presbyteries of that judgment have because of some Protesting Brethren of the Presbyterie their refusing to joyn with them in condemning the practices and proposals mentioned in that Declaration as contrary and destructive to the Government of this Kirk declared them to be such as do dissent from the Government it self Besides any thing that is said in the body of this Reply it may by these things further appear what reason there was upon the one hanâ—… to hasten forth an Answer to that Paper and upon the other how small reason from the Paper it self how lubâ—…ick grounds from the dissonant proceedings of the Resolution Brethren thereupon the Brethren for the Protestation have to imbrace the same as a foundation of Union and Peace Or if they do so in how great â—… cloud of uncertainty they must walk and what hard conditions they must swallow FINIS