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.

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 run • 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 ou • 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 of living waters, and digged unto our ſelves broken ciſterns that can hold no water; We have walked in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor; and in the wayes of Aſſyria, to drink the waters of the river, the enemies of the Lord have been intruſted and ſtayed upon, their intereſts owned and promoted, holineſs and piety deſpiſed and troden under foot, the godly perſecuted and reproached, the hearts of the wicked made glad, and their hands ſtrengthened; the hearts of the righteous made ſad, and their hands weakened, the Work of Reformation in purging of ſcandalous and prophane Officers and Members out of the Houſe of God, evill ſpoken of for what is paſt, and a foundation laid to obſtruct it for the time to come; yea, to perſecute and caſt out ſuch who ſhall oppoſe and bear teſtimony againſt theſe things; and yet after we have done all theſe things, and have gadded about ſomuch to change our way, have trimmed our way to ſeek love, and alſo taught the wicked ones our wayes, we wipe our mouth, and ſay, We are innocent. And that notwithſtanding all that is come upon us, we have not forgotten the Lord, nor dealt falſly in his Covenant; and we cannot bear theſe who diſcover our iniquity, and make known our ſins unto us. If there be any who deſiring to keep their integrity, and to adhere to their former principles, bear teſtimony againſt the Lands back ſliding and defection againſt our Princes and Prophets, and People in their late tranſactions with the enemies of Reformation, and haters of the people of God, and of the power of godlineſs, theſe are the burden of many, and are for ſignes and wonders who are ſpoken againſt; even theſe are they whom this Reviewer and Ref • ter calls deceivers and perſecuters, and miſerable comforters, who in the day of Sions calamity ſtand afar off from her, and perſecute her whom the Lord hath ſmitten, and talk to the grief of theſe whom he hath wounded, and who in her adverſity gather themſelves together, in the place of cordials bringing coroſives. The Proteſters againſt whom he throweth theſe reproaches, acknowledge themſelves to be men compaſſed about with many infirmities, and that for their fins alſo wrath is upon the Land: But if they have done this thing, and if this iniquity be in their hands wherewith they are here charged, let their honour be laid in the duſt, and their glory turned into ſhame; I think they may and will, in trembling and humble fear, commit their Cauſe unto the righteous Judge of the World, who will make every mans works manifeſt, is it to ſtand a far off from Zion, or not to comfort her, or to deceive her, or to perſecute her, not to be conſenting to the whordoms and back-ſlidings of her children? And to tell them, that they have perverted their way, and have forgotten the Lord their God, and to ſay to her Prophets, that they do not diſcover her iniquity, to turn away her captivity, and that they, even they have cauſed the Lords people to erre: ſome of them built a wall, and many ſtrive to uphold it, and daub it with untempered morter; I mean, that ſome of them gave counſell concerning the imploying and entruſting the Malignant Party, and that many adhere thereto; and for ſtrengthening theſe wretched foundations, have corrupted and perverted the Nationall Aſſemblies of this Church in the free and lawfull conſtitution thereof; that they have made ſad the hearts of the righteous, whom the Lord hath not made ſad, and ſtrengthened the hands of the wicked, that he ſhould not return from his wicked way, that they thruſt with the ſide and ſhoulder, and puſh the diſeaſed with their horns, to ſcatter them abroad, that they decree unrighteous decrees, and write grievous things againſt their brethren, which they have preſcribed. Our bruiſe is ſore, and our wound is uncurable, for the Lord hath wounded us with the wound of an Enemy, with the chaſtiſements of a cruell one, for the multitude of our iniquities, becauſe our ſins were encreaſed: Therefore is it no time to cover our tranſgreſſions as Adam, by hiding our iniquity in our boſome, nor to daub with untempered morter, nor ſlightly to heal the daughter of our people, but to give glory to the God of Iſrael, by taking ſhame to our ſelves, and confeſſing wherein we have treſpaſſed againſt him; and it is the beſt ſervice that can be done to Zion, to ſhew her ſons and her daughters in this day of her calamity, why the Lord contends with her. Such corroſives from friends, are better then the cordialls of flatterers; when the righteous ſmites it is a kindneſſe, and when he reproves, it is an excellent oil which breaks not the head. Surely this is the Lord and his Sai • ts; yea, the Interpreters one of a thouſand their paved way of being comfortable to theſe whom GOD hath ſmitten, to diſcover their work and the tranſgreſſion wherein they have exceeded, that they may open their ear to diſcipline, and remember whence they are fallen, and repent, and do their firſt works, leſt if they obey not, they periſh by the ſword, and die without knowledge; or he come againſt them quickly, and remove their candleſtick out of his place, Levit. 26.40.41. Job 34.29, 30, 31, 32, 33. Job 36.8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Rev. 2.4, 5.

I Shal be loath to trace that too too ordinary by-path of judging any mans eternal eſtate by his temporal out-breakings, or his heart and intentions by the outſide of h s actions, yet I hink I may ſafely ſay, That that Aſſembly at St. Andrews and Dundee, although despiſed of Men, was owned of GOD, and that he guided their Pens, as all along in their Procedor, ſo particularly in their Warning and Declaration, and theſe word thereof, what ever hath been the intention of theſe who have been inſtrumental in making of this rent from Publick Counſels and Actings, yet the work it ſelf, and the ſpirit that hath been ſtirring in it, hath been and yet is moſt effectual for carrying on of the deſign of the adverſaries of our cauſe; Which they prove by ſeven Steps of their Progreſs.

TO judge of any mans everlaſting eſtate by his temporal outbreakings, or his intentions by the outſide of h s actions, as it is to encroach upon things ſecret which belong unto God, and to walk uncharitably towards men, ſo it is not the path which the Proteſte s have troden, and it is but a groundles inſinuation to ſuggeſt it of them, they know, and do acknowledge, that many of the Lords Precious Ones before their effectual calling are amongſt the worſt of out-breakers, and that ſome of them even after they are made partakers of the Grace of God, fall into grievous ſins; yet do not theſe things bar them, or cut them off from the mercy of God, whoſe election is according to Grace; and therefore the Proteſters have not denied the Teſtimony of gracious men to not a few of theſe whoſe hand (alas for it!) is deep in the provocation; they know alſo how to diſtinguiſh, and have diſtinguiſhed betwixt the condition of the work, and the intention of the worker, and think charitably of the one, whileſt they condemn the other: yet theſe things hinder them not to diſcern betwixt the righteous and the wicked; him that ſerves God, and him that ſerves him not: the Lord hath taught us that falſe Prophets may be known by their fruits, and that men do not gather grapes of thorns, nor figs of thiſtles, Matth. 7.16.20. The tranſgreſſion of the wicked ſaith within mine heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes, Pſa. 36.1. As I dare not judge of any mans everlaſting eſtate, but leave it unto him with whom the books are; ſo have I not ſo learned Chriſt as ſome men would have it, to put no difference amongſt the Profeſſors of the Goſpel, but to call them all godly though eſtranged from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, and walking contrary to the Goſpel. That the Aſſembly at S. Andrews and Dundee was owned of God, and that He all along in their procedor did guide their Pens, as my ſoul cannot away with that aſſertion to ſubſcribe to it, ſo I fear it is more then the Lord will allow any man to ſay. 1. Becauſe that Aſſembly did ſay, a confederacy to theſe concerning whom the Lord ſpoke to his Prophet with a ſtrong hand, and inſtructed him that he ſhould not ſay, A confederacy to them, Iſa. 8.11, 12. And therefore, although they did aſſociat themſelves, yet they did fall and fall together, Iſa. 31.3. The ſad diſpenſation of their ruin being in the begining thereof at Innerkithen in Providence tryſted with the begining of that Aſſembly, and afterward more fully accompliſhed and perfected at other places, as they, and their Comm ſſion went on in ratifying of theſe Reſolutions, and cenſuring the oppoſers of the ſame, and iſſuing Warnings and Declarations in reference to theſe things. 2. Becauſe that Aſſembly was ſo far from rejoycing the hearts, or approving themſelves unto the conſciences of moſt of the godly in the Land, or from leaving this ſeal and impreſſion upon their hearts that they had the image and authority of Jeſus Chriſt, and did proceed according to the Law and the Teſtimony, and employ their power unto edification and promoting of godlineſs; that upon the contrary they did exceedingly ſadden their ſpirits and leave a deep and ſtrong conviction thereupon, that they did add unto the Lands provocation and encreaſe wrath, and that in moſt of all their actings they did walk not unto edification, but unto deſtruct on. 3. Becauſe their actings did rejoyce the hearts and ſtrengthen the hands of theſe in the Land who were void of Grace and of the knowledg of Jeſus Chriſt, and adverſaries to the Cauſe and People of God, and mockers and haters of Piety and Godlineſs. Was not that Aſſembly countenanced and pleaded for? and is it not to this day countenanced and pleaded for by all the generation of malignant and prophane perſons throughout the Land? And ſure, if it had been ſo much countenanced and owned of God, it is not like that it ſhould have been ſo endeared to theſe who have ſo much oppoſed his friends and intereſt in Scotland theſe many years paſt. 4 Becauſe that Aſſembly at Dundee did for no other cauſe, but for proteſting againſt their wrong Conſtitution, and the ratifying of theſe Reſolutions, cenſure and pronounce the ſentences of Depoſition and Suſpenſion againſt ſundry godly men who have obtained mercy of the Lord to be followers of his Cauſe ſince the begining of the late Reformation, and whoſe Miniſtry hath been ſealed of the Lord upon the hearts of not a few of his People. 5. Becauſe they did by their Acts lay a foundation for cenſuring all Miniſters, Elders, Expectants, Students and Profeſſors whatſoever, who refuſe to acknowledge the conſtitution of that Aſſembly and oppoſe the Acts thereof; which as it makes way for the caſting out of many able & godly Profeſſors from being Church-members (for it is wel known how many there be of the godly in the Land both Miniſters, Elders, and Profeſſors, who cannot be conſenting to ſubmit to theſe things, but do hold themſelves bound in their ſtations to bear teſtimony againſt them) Now, to caſt out & perſecute all theſe, or to lay a foundation fordoing of it, whether it be to be owned & guided of God, and to do things to edification; or if it be not rather to be deſerted of the Lord, to eſtabliſh iniquity by a Law, and to decree unrighteous Decrees, & write grievous things againſt their Brethren which they have preſcribed, I leave it to thoſe who are taught of God, to conſider. As to that paſſage in the Warning and Declaration of that Aſſembly (ſo much magnified and cried up by the Author of this Review) it was, and it is the intention of the Proteſters, through the Lords aſſiſtance (though with much weakneſs) to oppoſe the deſign and work of the Adverſaries on both hands, and to tread the middle path, the good old way, without declining to the right hand or to the left, upon which accompt it was that they could not condeſcend to employ and aſſociat with, and entruſt one adverſary for oppoſing another, knowing ſuch courſes to be condemned of God in his holy Word, and to have proven bitter often heretofore unto this Nation, and for this cauſe did ſolemnly engage, that we ſhould do no more ſo: Therefore have they alwaies owned, and ſtrictly adhered to the Covenant and Cauſe, and former Principles of the reforming party in this Land, ſet down in their Publick Papers; and that they might not partake of other mens ſins, did not concur with, but bear teſtimony againſt the carnal counſels of mens own hearts, becauſe of which the Sword did abide in our Cities, and conſume our branches, and devour them, Hoſ. 11.6. and the ſpirit that hath been ſtirring in them in theſe actings (I truſt) is no other then the good Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth and holineſs, the voice behind them that ſpeaks in the ears of the Lords People, This is the way, walk ye in it, when they turn to the right hand, and when they turn to the left hand, Iſa. 30.21. In order to this paſſage of the Warning at Dundee, I wiſh the firſt penner thereof, and the Gentleman who now hath cited it, and all others, to conſider theſe few things: 1. That not long ago there was a time that ſome of the beſt and moſt precious of theſe who now charge the Proteſters with theſe harſh imputations of having a ſpirit ſtirring in their work that hath been, and is moſt effectual for carrying on of the deſign of the Adverſaries of our Canſe were liable no leſs then the Proteſtors now are to the ſame Imputations from theſe by whom they now are cried up and commended, and with whom they now joyn iſſue in caſting them upon their Brethren. It concerns them to think whence theſe changes are, and 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.

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 Kingdom to the King, and the form of the Invitation given him upon ſatisfaction in terminis to theſe demands; which form of Invitation & Declaration made therewith did exclude all engagement to make war upon England, yet was there a Party in the Land, and ſome in the Parliament, whoſe deſignes and endeavors did ſtill tend to engage us in a War againſt England. On the other hand there was cauſe to fear an Invaſion from England, by reaſon of the preparations made the former year by thoſe in power in that Nation, upon the report of an Agreement betwixt the King and Commiſſioners ſent from this Kingdome to Holland, in the year 1649. The great difficulty was, how to ſteer an even courſe in reference to both theſe extreams, both to prevent a ſinfull Invaſion from this Land upon England, and from England upon this Nation. The Parliament having ſeriouſly pondered both the dangers, took this courſe; They ſent to their Commiſſioners then in Holland, renewed Inſtructions, together with a Declaration, wherein they made known their diſſatisfaction with ſeverall things in the Treaty, in which the Commiſſioners had varied from their Inſtructions, particularly they declared, that nothing agreed on ſhould import an obligation to make War againſt England, and gave expreſſe direction that none of the Malignant Party ſhould be permitted to come to Scotland; and this Inſtruction was forthwith turned into a Law, and publiſhed in Print by Proclamation at the Market Croſſe of Edinburgh: And the Earl of Calendar who had adventured to come from Holland to Scotland, upon hopes of the approbation of that Treaty, was preſently commanded to go aboard a ſhip within twenty four hours, and forthwith to depart the Kingdom, under the pain of impriſonment, and the fine of a hundred thouſand merks. Theſe Inſtructions and the Declaration of the Parliament, were delivered to the Commiſſioners in Holland, before the King came away, together alſo with Letters to the ſame purpoſe from the Commiſſion of the Kirk to their Commiſſioners. To prevent the danger of an Invaſion from England, the Parliament did (without ſo much as the leaſt queſtion or objection made to the contrary by any Member thereof) renew the Acts of Poſture and Leavie which were made the year preceding, for putting the Kingdom in readineſſe in caſe of Invaſion, and upon the 22. of June 1650. they wrote Letters directed to Mr. Lenthall, Speaker of the Houſe of Commons, the Lord Fairfax then Lord Generall, Lieut. Generall Cromwell, Major Generall Lambert, and the Governour of New-Caſtle, in which Lettes they ſhew, that as in their Letter of the 6. March 1649. they did both acknowledge their obligation, and did declare their reſolution to obſerve the rule of remonſtrating firſt the breaches of Peace, of craving juſt reparation, of uſing all fair means of giving a preceding Warning of three moneths before any engagement of theſe Kingdoms in War, ſo they do again renew the ſame, and do ſolemnly profeſſe, that they do it in the ſincerity of their hearts, not out of any policy to catch advantages for any other end or deſigne, but meerly for their own defence, which they do accompt abundantly ſufficient to remove all grounds of jealouſies and miſ-reports of their intentions, and to take away all pretence of neceſſity of the marching of Forces for defence of the Borders of England. And being informed of a reſolution in England to ſend an Army to invade this Kingdom, they deſired to know whether theſe who have the preſent power in England do acknowledge themſelves obliged, or by their anſwer will oblige themſelves and declare their reſolutions to obſerve the foreſaid way and order upon their part to us, and plainly and clearly to declare whether their Forces do march for defence or offence, for keeping onely within the Borders of England, or coming within ours: which way of proceaor in clearing each other, and dealing plainly, is not onely agreeable to particular Treaties, and to the many Bonds and Declarations past betwixt theſe Kingdoms, but alſo to the Law of God, and practice of his people in his Word, and to the Common Law and practice even of Heathen Nations, much more of Chriſtian covenanted Kingdomes, &c. When the Forces appointed to be raiſed for defence of the Kingdom, together with the old ſtanding Forces that were before on foot, were to be formed and drawn together in a Body, there were ſome differences in Parliament; one was, Whether the Malignant Party, and perſons groſſely ſcandalous ſhould be excluded from the Army, or not? There were none in Parliament that had the countenance to plead for it directly; our conſtant Principles being known to be ſo expreſſe againſt it, and the Kirk having ſo often preſſed upon the Parliament by many Petitions, Remonſtrances, and Declarations, the purging of their Forces, but diverſe would have had the Act for making up the Army to paſſe, without appointing any Committee, having power to remove ſuch from the Army Another difference was, Whether the Committee of Eſtates ſhould have power to command the Army to invade England (as was done in the year 1648) or if there ſhould be a limitation of their power onely to ſtand for the defence of the Land within our Borders. In this queſtion likewiſe there were none that pleaded expreſſely for ſuch a power in the Committee, but they oppoſed the limitation. Some time was ſpent in conference and debate about theſe, but they were ſo few in Parliament that were either againſt the excluſion or limitation, that when the ſenſe of the Parliament came to be known, their number was no wayes conſiderable, ſo that what is here repreſented by the Authors of that Declaration againſt the Proteſters, as the firſt ſtep of declining, is in effect an evidence of their own declining from the former principles of State and Kirk, for both were then unanimous for excluſion of the Malignant Party and groſſely ſcandalous perſons from the Army, and againſt the invading of England, which were the two queſtions in Parliament that did retard for ſome days the bringing forth the new levied Forces; for ſo ſoon as theſe two queſtions were ended, it was evidently ſeen there were none more forward in Parliament and Committees to haſten them to the fields, then theſe who are unſatisfied with the late • uolick Reſolutions; and there was together at Leith, before the Engliſh Army marched into Scotland, ſo conſiderable a number of Horſe and Foot, that they were double the number of the Engliſh. Surely no other thing but the change of principles, or groundleſſe prejudice could lead men to quarrell thus for want of an Army to defend the Land, the great number whereof made the ſtro • e at Dumbar the more unexpected, doleful & dreadful. This is the truth concerning what is laid to the charge of that faithful Parliament which met at Edinburgh in the year 1650, and whoſe endeavours to prevent extreams were anſwered with diſappointment on both hands, which I truſt doth ſufficiently anſwer what is ſaid anent the firſt ſtep.

THe ſecond ſtep is ſet down thus: When the Enemy had invaded us, and an Arms was raiſed, under pretence of purging the Forces, and keeping the Kings Intereſt under due ſubordination to God, courſes were taken, as after-actings made manifeſt, tending to the dividing of the Army, perplexing and diſcouraging the ſpirits of theſe who laboured to be faithfull both to God and their King, and humoring of, and yeelding to the untimous and dangerous motions of ſuch who were under ſuſpition of too much affection to the Enemy, and that not without cauſe, as is now too too evident.

I Confeſſe it is to me matter of ſorrow and aſtoniſhment to hear theſe words. Was not the purging of the Army from ſuch of the Engagers as had not approven themſelves in their repentance, a duty that all of us were ſolemnly engaged unto before the Lord? Had not the Generall Aſſemblies of this Kirk, and their Commiſſions before that time, given in above twenty ſeverall Petitions, Warnings and Remonſtrances to the Parliament and Committee of Eſtates for that end? Had they not iſſued Declarations and Warnings to all the Land concerning the neceſſity of that duty, as we deſired to proſper and be bleſſed of God? And had not all the Congregation, of the Lande kept ſeverall Faſts and Humiliatious by then appointment in order thereunto? Had not the Parliament and Committee of Eſtates made Acts, and appointed Commiſſions there-anent, and taken the perſons to whom Commiſſion was given, ſolemnly engaged and ſwor • to go faithfully about it, as they would be anſwerable unto God; and after all theſe things (in which many of the leading men of that Aſſembly at S. Andrews and Dundes were concurring and conſenting) to hear the endeavours of purging of the Army, ſo reflected upon and ſpoken againſt; what is this but to proclaim againſt themſelves, that either they did then diſſemble, or elſe that now they are repenting of the thing which they did then concur in and were conſenting to as a duty, but what ever be their thoughts of it, as theſe whom they now ſpeak againſt did in the ſimplicity of their hearts then endeavour it, ſo do they ſtill owne it as a duty, and are ſorry to hear it otherwiſe ſpoken of, eſpecially by theſe who profeſſe love to Reformation. And I do as much wonder of that which they ſpeak of the Kings Intereſt, ſeeing nothing was done in reference thereto, but the declaring of the due ſubordination thereof unto God's, and that they would not otherwiſe owne him and his quarrell, but in that ſubordination, and that they meaned to fight upon the ſame ſtate of quarrell upon which they had done theſe twelve years paſt, which was not done by any particular perſons or party, but jointly and unanimouſly both by the Committee of Eſtates, and Commiſſion of the Kirk, none diſſenting, and was homologated by the whole Officers of the Army in a ſupplication to the Committee of Eſtates, and ſo far as did then appear, generally followed in their ſtations and capacity. This, together with the leaving that Declaration of the Commiſſion of the Kirk, anent the ſubordination of the Kings Intereſt, out of the Act of the Aſſembly at Dundee, which ratifieth the proceedings of the Commiſſion, ſpeaks what ſpirit ſtirred in the Aſſembly when theſe things were penned and approven; but (ſay they) under pretence of theſe things, courſes were taken fordividing of the Army, and yet they do not tell what theſe courſes were at that time, but labour to find the evidence of them in after actings, they did wiſely to wrap up in generals, without condeſcending upon any particular, leſt they ſhould have therein been found out, but their generals are as eaſily denied, as affirmed. What is meaned by after-actings, requireth explication, and ſomewhat over: If he can make this much out of the actings at Hamilton, which were their raſt field-actings. I ſhall wonder at his wit, to ſay nothing of his conſcience. Who theſe faithfull ones to God and the King are, whoſe ſpirits they did ſo much labour to perplex and diſcourage, I do not know. I do as little know what were theſe untimous and dangerous motions, wherein ſuch as were under ſuſpition of too much affection to the Enemy, were humoured in, and yeelded unto. It may be remembred that as a great part of the Army was much weighted in their ſpirits, with the carriage of theſe, eſpecially ſome of chief note, who did obſtruct the purging of the Army, and gave countenance and encouragement to ſuch as were, or ſhould have been removed out of the Army; ſo the whole Army Officers and Souldiers, and the Committee of Eſtates were much perplexed, diſcouraged, and diſ-ſatisfied with the ſlackneſs, ſhiftings, and delayes, and ſolitary counſels and courſes of chief men in the Army, who had the leading of the Forces, and for moſt part did do therein, and diſpoſe therof as ſeemed beſt to themſelves, without taking much notice either of the Committee of Eſtates or Officers of the Army; and none was more perplexed, diſcouraged, and diſ-ſatisfied with this way, then ſome of theſe who had a chief hand in penning this Declaration, in ſo much that having once ſpoken therein, they got ſo unſatisfying an anſwer, that with much diſcontent they did declare, they meaned never to ſpeak again in that matter. And it may be alſo remembred, that the untimous and dangerous motions of which they ſpeak, were ſo far from being thought ſo when they were proponed, that it was the grief of many in the Army & Committee of Eſtates, yea and of Aſſembly-men too, who are ſuppoſed to be skilled in theſe things, that they were not entertained and hearkened unto, the truth is, never any motion of that kind made by any of theſe whom they call of ſuſpected affection, from the day that our Army came together, untill the day that it was routed, was hearkened unto, unleſſe they inſtance the in-fall at Muſsteburgh, but onely the half of that motion was followed for the Party which was appointed by the unanimous reſolution of the Officers to make good their retreat, who made the in-fall, was not ſent, which, whether it was faithfulneſſe to God and the King, and to their Brethren, much of whoſe blood was ſhed, their own hearts who did it can beſt judge, as beſt knowing what were the inducements that moved them not to make the reſolution of the Officers concerning the ſending of that Party effectual. Other motions were made by theſe ſuſpected men alſo, as to have fallen on at Goger and at Dumbar, to ſet behind the Enemy, and not before them, but were not hearkened to. It is well known who made the motion to draw the Army down the hill on Monday morning, and carried it by plurality of voices in a Co • ncell of War, which appoi • ted it to be put preſently in execution; yet upon a new conceit, without advice of the Officers, he delayed all that day till five at night that it was dark, and then he brought it down, contrary to the advice of the Officers. I truſt they will not deny that this was a dangerous motion, and they cannot ſay, that any of theſe ſuſpected men had a hand therein. Concerning the laſt words of that ſecond ſtep, let it be this day examined and conſidered, what hath been the carriage of theſe ſuſpected men, and of their unſuſpected men the Malignant Party, and it will at leaſt be found very evident, that this Reviewer his ſuſpition is calculated to a wrong Meridian.

THe third ſtep is in theſe words: When after that ſad ſtroke at Dumbar, the Lords diſpenſation did call for wayes of union and healing, i • ſtead of theſe, ſubtile courſes were taken to engage a great part of the well-affected in the Weſt, to ſeparate from the Forces of the Kingdom, whereby inſtead of joint concurring for acting againſt the Enemy, jealouſies were begotten, and ſo far encreaſed, that there was no ſmall danger feared, leſt the one part of our Forces ſhould have fallen upon the other.

THe plaineſt things, and which are acted with the greateſt ſimplicity and integrity, are often branded with the name of ſubtile devices, by maintainers of an ill cauſe, who no ſooner depart from their former principles, but they give to their oppoſers the very name, which (were the • r eyes opened of the Lord to ſee their own wayes) they ſhould take to themſelves. What ſubtile device could there be here? The Committee of Eſtates hearing before the defeat at Dumbar, that Forces were leving in the North of England, which were to come into Scotland by the way of Carlile, they wrote Letters to the Weſtern Shires to meet and correſpond among themſelves, and to be in readineſſe for their own defence. This put them in ſome forwardneſſe to riſe in Arms, when they heard of the defeat, which being on the third of Sept. the Gentlemen of the Committees met upon the fifth, and had ſome of their number at Sterlin upon the ſixth, who made offer to raiſe ſpeedily a double proportion of the ordinary Levie, which was well accepted by the Committee of Eſtates, and Commiſsion of the Kirk, and Letters of encouragement written from both, which are yet extant, and the Committee of Eſtates ſent ſuch Officers to conduct theſe Forces, as they knew to be moſt acceptable to the Weſtern Shires. The Forces were raiſed by authority of the Committee of Eſtates, and were obedient to their Orders ſent from time to time under the Lord Chancellours hand, which yet remain uncancelled, to witneſſe againſt ſuch calumnies: And there was never any command ſent to them to come and joyn with the reſt of the Forces, untill agreement was made by the State with the Malignant Party, and then Colonell Montgomerie was appointed to march towards them with ſome Forces under his command to require their conjunction, but before he came the length of Sterlin, Major Generall Lambert with a ſtrong Body of horſe had come to Hamilton, where he was fought againſt by the Weſtern Forces, (though they were far inferiour in number) and many were killed of the Enemy on the place, but with the loſſe of the Day, and diſſipation of the Weſtern. Forces, which put an end to many groundleſſe jealouſies.

THe fourth ſtep they ſet it down in theſe words, And to heighten differences yet more and more under fair pretences of exonering their own conſciences, and obtaining more clearneſſe in the quarrell againſt the enemy, many whoſe intentions were honeſt were abuſed and drawn in the ſnare of a Remonſtrance, whereby the owning of the Kings juſt Intereſt agreed unto by the Generall Aſſembly and the Parliament was expreſly laid aſide, and his removall from the exerciſe of his Royall Power and Government, adviſed to the Committee of Eſtates, the authority of the Committee of Eſtates much weakened, and a way of holding up a conſtant diviſion from State and Kirk therein moulded.

THe fifth ſtep is, When notwithſtanding of this perillous practice, all means of union of Forces, and healing of the breach was endeavoured by Church and State, yet union could not be had, except upon ſuch conditions as the State and Church could neither in honour nor in conſcience grant; whereby and through the diſsipation of theſe Forces which aahered to the Remonſtrance at Hamilton, the State and Church were neceſsitated either to render all up to the preſent rage of a perfidious and prevalent Enemy, or to make uſe of ſuch as had been formerly received to repentance for their ſinfull courſes, and admit others to repentance, from whom ſatisfaction might be gotten, agreeable to the Rules of the Generall Aſſembly, that all togother might be employed for the juſt and neceſſary defence of the Cauſe and Kingdom, their naturall intereſt, obligations and ſolemn • tyes by Covenant calling for the ſame.

LEt it be conſidered what theſe conditions were which the Church and State could neither in honour nor conſcience grant. As for the Kings exerciſing of his power, the Remonſtrators did declare, that they had in humility propounded their judgment and the reaſons thereof unto the Committee of Eſtates; but it was in their power to hearken unto them, and to do ſo, yea or no, as they thought fit, and that if they ſhould not be pleaſed, ſtill to debar the King from the exerciſe of his power, as he had been formerly, they would not refuſe to live peaceably under him, as the Magiſtrat of the Land, only two things they did deſire in order to their uniting with the Forces of the Kingdom: 1. That the quarrell upon which they fought, might be ſtated as in the Declaration of the 13. of Aug. 1650. 2. That there might be one to command the Forces, qualified according to the ſolemn Engagement unto duties, to wit, of a blameleſs and Chriſtian converſation, and of known integrity and conſtant affection to the Cauſe of God; both which conditions were refuſed. Now, I would fain know a reaſon why theſe things might not be condeſcended unto in honor and conſcience. Was it leſſe honour or conſcience to ſtate the quarrel in November 1650. according to the foreſaid Declaration, then it-was to ſtate it in Auguſt. immediatly preceding? Had any thing occurred in order to the King for altering the ſtate of the quarrell, and making it more favourable as to him, or rather, was there not ſomething to the contrary, to wit, his deſerting of the Judicatories, giving of Commiſsions to the Malignants, and joyning with them? Or was it contrary to honour and conſcience to ſatisfie them in the other? Or did not both honour and conſcience binde them to it? As to the imploying of the Malignant Party, there is ſo much ſaid in a particular Treatiſe to demonſtrate the ſinfulneſs of it, as alſo that there was no neceſsity for it, that I ſhall not now inſiſt upon it, only I deſire that to be taken notice of, which they ſay of making uſe of ſuch as had been formerly received to repentance for their ſinfull courſes, and admitting others to repentance from whom ſatisfaction might be gotten, agreeable to the Rules of the Generall Aſſembly, that all together might be imployed. Which words import, that as they did require repentance in all theſe who were formerly excluded, and were now to be imployed; ſo alſo that care was taken to receive none but ſuch as ſatisfied according to the Rules of the Generall Aſſembly, both which are ſpoken gratis, and without ground. The firſt, becauſe in anſwer to the Quere, and in the Warning penned for the ſtrengthening of it (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 Cōmunion 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.

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 wi • 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 con • 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 uneſ • ayed for making of Publick Reſolutions ineffectual that no poſſible nor probable mean was holden forth for t • 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 w • 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 En • m • 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 charge • I remembered the challenge of the Pripets of Jud • 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.

IT is in the firſt place denied, That the Commiſsion of the Generall Aſſembly had any power at all to cenſure any of theſe who did oppoſe theſe publick Reſolutions, becauſe their power as it was only in things committed unto them by the Aſſembly, ſo were they to walk in the adminiſtration thereof, and to exerciſe the ſame according to the Acts and Conſtitutions of this Kirk; but there was then no Act nor Conſtitution of this Kirk appointing the oppoſers of ſuch Reſolutions to be cenſured, that Vindication ſo much cryed up in this Review, doth acknowledge, that theſe Reſolutions were indeterminati juris, or things not then determined in Law by any Act or Conſtitution of this Kirk, and therefore ſeems to yeeld, that the Commiſſion had no power to cenſure the oppoſers of them; yea, there are many Acts and Conſtitutions of this Kirk, as hath been often ſhewed, expreſſely condemning theſe Reſolutions, and ordaining and appointing Miniſters under the pain of cenſures, not to be ſilent, but to bear teſtimony againſt the ſame, as will appear to any who ſhall be at the pains to read the Acts, Warnings and Declarations of Aſſemblyes, eſpecially ſince the late Reformation • What their clemencie was in the exerciſe of that preſumed power, is holden forth in the Anſwer to the Vindication of the Aſſembly at St. Andrewes and Dundee, in which is ſhewed from their own Records, that they did not only emit and ſend abroad Warnings to be read amongſt the People, wherein they did apply moſt of the Characters of the old Malignants to ſuch as were unſatisfied with, and did bear teſtimony againſt theſe Reſolutions; but alſo did declare them to deſerve cenſure by the Civill Magiſtrate, and ſtirred up the Magiſtrate to inflict that deſerved cenſure, and made Acts and ſent to all the Presbyteries, requi • ing and appointing them to cenſure the oppoſers of theſe Reſolutions within their bounds; and as to the citing them to the Generall Aſſembly, leſt their own Presbyteries ſhould have proceeded againſt them. I confeſſe it would almoſt ſtir a patient ſpirit to hear ſuch things aſſerted. If they did not intend that Presbyteries ſhould cenſure them, why did they long before that time make an Act, and ſend it to Presbyteries, requiring and appointing them to cenſure them without any limitation of the cenſure, as to the point of ſeveritie. 2 Was there ſo much as a title of that reaſon in their Act, for ſummoning of them to the Aſſembly, or for forbearing to proceed in the Proceſſes of any whom they were begun to proceſſe. 3 It is more notourly known, then can be gotten warrantably denied, That that citation was not in order to that end, but that they might be ſecluded from being Commiſſioners to the Aſſembly, or ſitting therein as Judges of the Publick Reſolutions. 4. There were but few P • eſbyterie • who had then • ome that length, as to proceed to any cenſure againſt ſuch; and many Presbyteries were of the judgment, that ſuch as were for the Publick Reſolutions; deſerved to be cenſured, and not the oppoſers of theſe Reſolutions; yet that Order for citation was ſe • t to all the Presbyteries in the Land. 〈◊〉 The cure ſeemes as evill if not worſe then the diſeaſe, to cite them before the Aſſembly, was to put them on the Stage before the Supreme and muſt Publick Judicatory in the Land • , as guilty and worthy to be de ••• red in the moſt Publick way of they could expect nothing but ſeveritie of their Presbyteries, i • many of which they had many of the ſame mind with themſelves, (yea, in many the plurality was of their judgment) what could they expect in the Aſſembly, from which almoſt all ſuch were excluded by the Letter and Act of the Commiſſion prelimiting Elections. The Aſſemblies proceedings did make it manifeſt what courteſie they found there, ſome of them being actually cenſured with Suſpenſion • , and others with Depoſition; and a foundation laid, & Acts made for cenſuring all of them. 6. It was ſtrange that they ſhould be cited to the Aſſembly to receive ſatisfaction, when the Aſſembly had not yet concluded, that what they did hold, was wrong, and contrary to truth and ſound doctrine; ſure the Commiſſion having no former Act of any former Aſſembly approving of theſe Reſolutions, as is acknowledged by the Author of that Vindication; they did fiſh too far before the net to cite men to the Aſſembly, to receive ſatisfaction thereanent. This favours too much of pains taken and endeavours uſed, to prelimit the Aſſembly, and modell it after their own mind. That ſome did proteſt againſt the approving of the Proceedings, of the Commiſſion of the Kirk before the Aſſembly did make any Act ratifying the ſame, was not from any unwillingneſſe to have their proceedings tryed by the touch-ſtone of the Word, or to receive light from any gracious & godly in that Meeting; but upon perſwaſion that theſe Reſolutions were contrary to the Word, and that the far greater part of the Members of that Meeting, had upon the matter go • e ve • y far to declare themſelves as to the approving of theſe things before the try all. of them, becauſe it being objected againſt theſe Members of the Aſſembly, who were Members of the Commiſſion, that they had carryed on a courſe of defection and it being offered to verifie the ſame, and thereupon deſired that theſe Commiſſioners might not be admitted to ſit as Members in the Aſſembly, till that matter were tryed, it was refuſed, and notwithſtanding of the except on timeouſly propounded and offered to be inſtructed, they were before the taking try all thereof; allowed to ſit, which was in effect to reject the exception, either as irrelevat in Law, or as falſe in fact, and ſo to approve them before try all; yea, they were admitted to • i •• s Judges in their own cauſe; for the Proteſtation being particularly founded on the ſinfulneſs and unwarrantableneſs of their proceedings, yet they were allowed to ſit as Judges, and to condemne the Proteſtation as deſtructive to the Government and Liberties of this Kirk, and cenſurable with the higheſt cenſure thereof. Upon the 23 of July 1651. notwithſtanding their proceedings were not approven till the day after, which was the 24.

That others of them did abſolutely decline the authority of that Aſſembly, and proteſt againſt it as null, was a practice that hath many commendable and praiſe-worthy parallels in this Church; and therefore they do ſpeak more from their own ſpirit then from the ſpirit of truth, who cry out, that it hath no para • el, but that of the perfidious Prelats. The Declinatours of the • relats againſt the Aſſembly at Glaſgow 1638. as any who pleaſeth to read the ſame will find, that it doth ſtrike at the root of Presbyteriall Government and General Aſſemblies, in regard of the eſſentials of their conſtitution; but the Proteſtation doth acknowledge and plead for the Government, and for the due liberty and freedom, and right conſtitution of Aſſemblies, according to the ru • e of the Word of God, and Acts of this Kirk, and doth only bear teſtimony againſt, and decline that Aſſembly, becauſe of unwarrantable prelimiting of the Elections, admitting of perſons under ſcandall before trying o • them, admitting of the ſame men to be both Judges and Parties want of fr •• acceſſe and receſſe, abſence of many Commiſſioners, want of freedom in voicing, denying to hear what was offered for, holding forth of light, whereby • t appears that there is little conſcience and ingenuitie, and leſſe charity in making of that parallel. But the Hiſtory and Acts of our Church do furniſh us many juſt and true parallels of this practice in the carriage of the faithfull witneſſes of our Lord, in our own and our fathers dayes, who have ſtood to plead for the Doctrine, Government, Worſhip and Diſcipline of this Kirk: I ſhall onely name a few: The firſt is in the year 1597. at which time the Commiſſioners of the Generall Aſſembly having contrary to the truſt committed to them in theſe intervalls betwixt Aſſemblies, petitioned and obtained from the King and Eſtates of the Kingdom, that Miniſters ſhould ſit in Parliament as the third Eſtate (which was the foundation of our P • ela • i • ) their proceedings in that Petition, and the thing relating thereto being approven in the Aſſembly by the prevalling influence of the King, and theſe Commiſſioners, notwithſtanding of the reaſons propounded againſt the ſame by ſundry of the Miniſte • ie, M. John Davidſon a moſt worthy and pious Miniſter of this Church, indued with the ſpirit of Prophecie in many things, and as anti-prelaticall, and truly tender of Presbyteriall Government, and of the authoritie of Aſſemblies, as any this Church hath brought forth, did ſolemnly proteſt againſt that Aſſembly, as not free and lawfull; to which Proteſtation Mr. David Cal • erwood a • t • e • uous maintainer of the Government of this Church, and a conſtant adverſary to Prelats, & an unſuſpect witnes in this preſent controverſie, declareth in his Story, his own adherence & the adherence of many of the moſt ſincere Paſtors and Profeſſors of this Kirk, as ſeeing the beginning, and fearing the grouth of that defection. Likeas he did often from that experience, expreſſe his fears, and thereupon his opinion againſt putting too much power in the hands of a Commiſſion, and prognoſticated a defection to enſue thereupon, whenſoever the King and the Court ſhould have influence upon the leading men thereof, concerning which he hath not been miſtaken. 2. Did not many worthie Paſtors and Profeſſors of this Church, proteſt againſt the corrupt Aſſemblies, annulled by the Aſſembly at Glaſgow, ſundry of which Proteſtations are to be ſeen in the Book, called, The courſe of Conformity. Let our Predeceſſours Supplications, Reaſons, Admonitions, Proteſtations preſented to the Parliament 1617 and 1621, be conſidered, wherein they aſſert the Aſſemblies then controverted, to be unlawfully conſtituted, and to be but pretended Aſſemblies, though no authority had declared the ſame. See alſo the Obſervations Printed 1635, with the grievances given in by the Miniſters to the Parliament 1633, It is here well ſaid, that the ſafety of Religion dependeth not upon Aſſemblies of whatſomever kind, but upon the liberty of free and right conſtitute Aſſemblies, a • in the Commonweal, he were not to be thought a faithful Patriot who would not ſtand as much for the liberty of a Parliament, as his own poſſeſsions, becauſe the ſafetie of all other liberties ſtandeth in the preſervation of that main Liberty. 3. did not theſe whoſe ſpirits the Lord ſtirred up to appear againſt the Prelates, and to ſet on foot the Work of Reformation in the year 16 • 7. expreſly declare thei • adherence to all theſe Proteſtations made by their Fathers and Predeceſsors, declaring the nullity of theſe corrupt Aſſemblies, and thereby eſtabliſhing the Declinatours againſt the ſame before the Aſſembly at Glaſgow, which practice was as ſtrangely looked upon, and as mu • h ſpoken againſt then, as the practice of the Prot • ſters in the year 1651. 4. Our Nationall Covenant doth both mention and allow theſe Proteſtations againſt that whole courſe of Defection; whence it appears that that practice at D •• dee hath many, both very worthy Precedents and Parallels; and that to proteſt againſt corrupt Aſſemblies (ſuch as that was) hath been ſo far from being looked upon by diſcerring faithfull and godly men in this Kirk, as the throwing down of the hedge of Diſcipline, and making way for every beaſt of the forreſt to break in, as this Reviewer alleadgeth, that they have uſed it as one of the beſt means for preventing and remedying of theſe evils, and ſo it is indeed, becauſe as it is well obſerved, and truly Aſſerted in the great Act of the Aſſembly, concerning the by gone evils of this Church, and the Remedies thereof, that the keeeping or authorizing of corrupt Generall Aſſemblies hath been one of the main cauſes of our evils; by theſe it was that the Prelates, and all the train of ſuperſtitious Ceremonies did enter, and having had ſuch worthy precedents, in oppoſing of ſuch and ſuch doolful and dear bought experiences of the wrong they have done to this poor Church, there is the greater reaſon to take heed to ſtand faſt in the liberty wherewith CHRIST hath made us free, and not to be again entangled with the yoke of bondage of corrupt Aſſemblies.

It is added, that the grounds of that Proteſtation at St. Andrews are frivolous and falſe, and ſuch as makes the Authority of all the Aſſemblies of this Kirk ſince the begun Reformation to be called into queſtion upon the ſame or the like pretences; and for making out this, the Author of this Refutation remits his Readers to a piece, Intituled, A Vindication of the late Generall Aſſembly which he doth here commend as modeſt, ſolide, and judicious, and afterwards, as a pl • ce not yet anſwered, nor eaſily anſwerable. It were a great deal more convincing and commendable to demonſtrate the grounds of that Proteſtation to be falſe and frivolous then to call them ſo, and do no more: That Vindication hath indeed in it more modeſty and ſolidity and judgement and nerves then this Refutation and Review; as we acknowledge a difference betwixt the men from whom theſe proceeded, ſo alſo betwixt their writings, yet if even indifferent men be not miſtaken, it wants much of that modeſt, that had been ſuitable, and that ſolidity and judgment and nerves are in it: As to the Vindicating of the freedome and authority of that Aſſembly, and ſhewing the frivolouſneſſe and falſhood of the grounds of the Proteſtation againſt the ſame, may appear by reading and pondering of the Review of that Vindication, in which the ſtrength and truth of the grounds of the Proteſtation are convincingly eſtabliſhed and clea • ed, and the many great miſtakes of the Author of that Vindication, both in matters of judgement and matters of fact are diſcovered, and the Proteſters eaſed of the burden of many heavy things laid upon them. I might ſay more for that Review, but it needeth not my commendation: I ſuppoſe it ſhal not want that from Adverſaries. As to that which this Refuter ſaith of the divels deſign of diviſion; I ſhall eaſily grant that diviſion amongſt Brethren is an evill thing, in which the divell hath indeed a deſign, and an active hand, but that ſubtile ſerpent ſometimes gains by Union as wel as by diviſion, and therefore is Satan as loath to be divided againſt Satan as he is deſire • us to divid • the Children of God amongſt themſelves, and when he gets a multitude going in a wrong way, he can as much plead for Union and Peace, and againſt diviſion as any. As it hath been the grief of the Proteſters ſouls to ſee their Brethren divide from their former good and ſound Principles, ſo did they, and do hold themſelvs bound to adhere and cleave thereto, though never ſo many ſhould forſake them therein, and cry out upon them becauſe they wil not follow • multitude to do evil. There is in the ſame place a deſpightfull exageration of the giving in, and publiſhing of the Proteſtation againſt the laſt Aſſembly at Edinburgh, as an Act of Satans in which he did add violence to deſpight, &c. It is not good to meet reproach with reproach; I ſhall onely ſay that what the Proteſters did therein, they did it with ſad hearts, and not till a neceſſity of duty did conſtrain them there • nto, becauſe of a moſt wilfull and peremptory refuſall of any Conference in order to Union and peace, before the aſſuming of the power of an Aſſembly, notwithſtanding that the ſame was moſt earneſtly deſired, and much preſſed, not onely by the Proteſters themſelves, but alſo by ſome of the moſt judicious godly and eminent men of that Meeting, and after that it was clearly holden forth to have been agreeable to the practiſe of former Aſſemblies, and that it could have brought no apparent prejudice to the cauſe of theſe who were moſt zealous for the ſitting of the Aſſembly, unleſſe it was to have put them to the charges of ſtaying ſome few dayes longer in the Town. It is well he acknowledges that it was done by men who were eminent in our Aſſemblies. It ſeems when a teſtimony to their eminency in Aſſemblies can contribute for the agg • avation of the ſuppoſed offence, his heart can give it unto them, but when the denying can make for weakening their cauſe he can ſtudiouſly depreſſe them, and ſtudy ſo far to undervalue them, as that men ſhould accompt them nothing, as he doth in the 12. page of his Pamphlet. It is indeed true, that not a few of theſe who had hand in that Proteſtation have been in our Aſſemblies, and upon the accompt of this mercy among others, they did hold themſelves the more bound to plead for the freedome of Aſſemblies, and to bear teſtimony againſt the corrupt ones at St. Andrews and Edinburgh. That it was done in the City of our ſolemnities, and in the face of the Aſſembly, was becauſe, where the carcaſe is, thither will the Eagles reſort; the tre • paſſe was there, and ſo behoved the t • ſt • mony be there alſo. That it was put to the Preſſe albeit I ſee not the fault in ſo doing, they againſt whom it was given in, having now conſtituted themſelves, and being ſitting openly and avowedly in an Aſſembly, yet I am confident there was no reſolution taken, nor order given by the Meeting of the Proteſters for ſo doing; But private Copies were taken, and who was obliged to hinder ſuch as pleaſed to cauſe print it; when ſome of the number heard that it was in Printing, they deſired and endeavoured that it might be ſtopped, till they ſhould ſee the iſſue of the conference, that then was betwixt ſome few of both ſides; the Copies were not publiſhed till the next day after, that conference was broken off, and buſineſs as to that time rendered in all appearance hopeleſs as to an agreement, becauſe the Aſſembly had not paſſed an Act for ratifying the proceedings of the Commiſſioners appointed by the Aſſembly at Dundee, which did include the Publick Refolutions, and had alſo ſignified what length they meaned to go in order to the differences betwixt us and them, which was onely to take cenſures off theſe Brethren who had been cenſured by the Aſſembly at Dundee becauſe of their Proteſting, and to declare that others involved therein, and in the Proteſtation againſt the Aſſembly at Edinburgh ſhould not be cenſured, providing that they would judicially under their hands paſſe from theſe Proteſtations, and engage themſelver to forbear medling in the grounds of theſe differences, by Preaching, Writing, or otherwiſe, which did import a ſtanding of all theſe Acts at Dundee concerning the Publick Reſolutions, and the oppoſers of the ſame, and a paſsing from, and revoking of all the Teſtimonies given againſt the Lands backſliding, and an engagement to forbear for ever hereafter; to ſay that Kirk or State had ſinned in theſe Reſolutions, and theſe were the bowels of Chriſtian Condeſcendence, of which this Member of that Aſſembly at Edinburgh ſpeaks, the ſum whereof is a pardon upon Repentance, or rather an hire upon Compliance, a forebearing to afflict and perſecute any more, providing that we will abandone the Truth, and call good evill, and evill good; but we dare not be acceſſory to the receiving ſuch wages of unrighteouſneſſe, let us rather ſuffer then ſin, and lye under, or be put under cenſures with a good Conſcience, then be freed from them with an evill conſcience.

I have now anſwered what is ſaid, againſt the Proteſters, in that Declatation of the pretended Aſſembly at Durdee, which this Reviewer and Refuter mentioneth with ſo great commendation and applauſe; And ſeeing theſe who have declined from their former Principles, have made it their work to endeavour to diſcover ſteps of defection in thoſe who have wniteſſed and proteſted againſt the Defection that hath been in this Land; which was the uſual way of the Prelats againſt Non-conformiſts in former times. I ſhall, for making a clear diſcovery, go nearer to the ſpring-head and riſe of our differences, then this Reviewer and his friends of the pretended Aſſembly have done, who would ſhroud themſelves in ſome particular windings and turnings of affeirs, by which they would amuſe ſimple underſtandings, but they keep a great diſtance from the fountain and begining of our diviſions, and are loth to remember where we were once, and wherefore we parted: Therefore I ſhall ſhortly ſet forth ſome few ſteps of the late Defection and declinings from our former principles, and let indifferent men judge who have been the Authors, and are to this day the Abetters thereof. Since the time that the Lord began a work of Reformation, in the year 1637. there hath been a conſtant harmony amongſt the Lords People, and in all Proceedings, Declarations, and Publick Actings of State and Kirk, great unanimity againſt the Malignant party and their Intereſts: And though in the year 1648. the State declined, yet the Kirk, and body of zealous Profeſſors in the Land, remained ſtedfaſt in their principles; and after the defeat of the Forces that went into England, the whole Land did for their further confirmation in the Lords wayes, enter into a ſolemn Acknowledgment of ſins, and Engagement to duties; at the renewing of the Covenant, which was about the end of that year. In the year 1649. there was great concord betwixt Kirk and State, both adhering to their Principles, and the Lord wonderfully bleſſed their Councels and Forces; as alſo in the begining of the year 1650. And whatever ſecret under-hand dealings there were for the promoting the Malignant Intereſt and Conjunction with that party, yet it was little known to the far greater part in Judicatories of State and Kirk, who (I am confident) went on in the ſimplicity of their hearts in their proceedings, ſtudiouſly deſirous to avoid the ſplitting on the rock of Malignancy, aſwel as the rock on the other hand.

The firſt viſible ſtep of deelining that was taken notice of by the generality of zealous Profeſſors in the Land, was that tranſaction made at Bredah with the King, by the Commiſſioners of State and Kirk, expreſſely contrary to their Inſtructions: and notwithſtanding both State and Kirk did unanimouſly ſignifie their great diſ-ſatisfaction therewith, and declared againſt the ſaid agreement in ma • y particulars, eſpecially in reference to Malignant Intereſts and deſignes, and conjunction with that Party; all which was made known to the ſaid Commiſſioners by Letters and Declarations from State and Kirk, which were delivered unto them before the Kings coming from Holland, yet without ſo much as acquainting the King therewith, they brought him on ſhipboard, and alongs with him, the chief of the Scottiſh and Engliſh Malignants, known enemies to the Cauſe and Work of Reformation. (I do not charge all the Commiſſioners as equally ſharers in the guilt of that ſad tranſaction, for which the Land ſuff reth and lamenteth to this day, I know that ſuch of them as had leaſt hand therein, have been moſt ready to acknowledge their offence; and that theſe who were moſt guilty, do ſtand for their own juſtification, which aggravates their ſin both before God and men) as to that which was done afterward, ſad experience hath taught us, that it was but a pitifull after-game they made in their ſecond Treaty, while the King was at Sea, immediatly before his landing in Scotland, and it was ſo far from being a remedie, as it hath proved an in-let to further tranſgreſſion and miſery.

The ſecond ſtep of defection was, That theſe Commiſſioners when they were come home, being deſirous to maintain their own credit, dealt not faithfully in giving a true accompt of their proceedings to the Parliament and Generall Aſſembly, but concealed many things of conſequence, and ſmoothed and varn ſhed their report of Proceedings with fair generalls, whereby both the Parliament and Generall Aſſembly were deceived, and induced to allow and ratifie their Proceedings.

The third ſtep was, That when after Dumbar, the King had given Commiſſion to the Malignant Party to riſe in Arms, and upon their riſing had deſerted the Councels of State and Kirk, and gone away to joyn with that Party, the State did ſond for the King, and forthwith admit him to have the chief hand and Government in all their Councels and managing of Affairs, from which upon weighty conſiderarions he had been ſtill debarred formerly by the State, upon advice with the Kirk, and not many dayes after his return, matters were ſo conveyed, as an agreement was made with theſe wicked and bloudy re • ells; and not onely their preſent rebellion and band into which they had entered among themſelves, but all their former tranſgreſſions were paſſed over by the State, and in that tranſaction alſo, there was a foundation laid for imployment of them in places of truſt. It is true, that the Commiſſion of the Church gave ſome teſtimony againſt theſe proceedings, the conſciences of diverſe of that Meeting being then oftended with ſo groſſe declining, but afterward through the great oppoſition they met with, were much blunted.

The fourth ſtep was, That as the Kirk and State began to grow in their favour and reſpects towards the Malignant Party, this new friendſhip begat an alienation of their hearts from honeſt and faithfull men who gave teſtimony againſt theſe corruptions; for uſually conjunction with Gods enemies is attended with perſecution of his friends; and therefore the Weſtern Forces being diſſipated, and great hopes conceived of the aſſiſtance of the Malignant Party, both State and Kirk did condemne the Teſtimony given by the Gentlemen, Officers, and Miniſters in the Weſt, in their Remonſtrance to the Committee of Eſtates; notwithſtaning that in a Meeting of the Commiſſion of the Kirk at Sterline, that Remonſtrance was cleared and vindicated, and all objections againſt it were ſo fully anſwered by Members of the Commiſſion, as the chief oppofites thereof, had no more to ſay againſt it, but were ſilent; notwithſtanding alſo that ſome of the Gentlemen gave in a Supplication to the Commiſſion, wherein they deſired, that before any cenſures paſted thereupon, theſe that were concerned therein might be allowed a due hearing, and that a convenient diet might be appointed, at which they were very hopefull to remove all miſtakes, and clear it from all ſiniſter interpretations.

The fifth ſtep was, That ſome leading men of the Commiſſion did conveen ex raordinarily a ſmall number of the Commiſſion of the Kirk, few above a Quorum, to make an anſwer to the Parliaments Quaere, viz. What perſons ought to be imployed in Arms for defence of the Kingdom, and ſlighted ſending of timeous advertiſement to ſuch as they knew would oppoſe their deſigne of bringing in the Malignant Party, to be Guardians of the Cauſe and Kingdom, which formerly they had endeavoured to deſtroy, and with great haſte and precipitation, concluded an anſwer to that Quaere, and laid a foundation for preſent conjunction with the Malignant Party, contrary to the Word of God, and to the Covenant, and to our known principles clearly expreſſed in Acts and Declarations of this Kirk.

They did not reſt here, but in the ſixth place they put forth exhortations and Watnings, wherein they threatned all theſe who are unſatisfied with, or do oppoſe the Publick Reſolutions with puniſhments and cenſures to be inflicted by Judicatories, Civill and Eccleſiaſtick, reſpectively; Yea, they proceed further, to apply againſt ſuch the Characters of Malignants, and to ſtir up the Civill Magiſtrate againſt them, and Presbyteries to cenſure them, and the Act which the Commiſſion had made for referring the Malignants that had riſen in Arms, to the next Generall Aſſembly: and in the mean while ſuſpending them from the Sacrament, was by themſelves revoked, and in their ſtead faithfull Miniſters of unqueſtioned integrity, who were unſatisfied in conſcience with ſuch Malignant proceedings, were appointed to be cited to the Aſſembly.

Neither was all this enough, but in the ſeventh place there muſt be yet a nearer and full conjunction with the Malignant Party, they were already advanced to chief places of truſt in the Army; but the Acts of Claſſes made againſt James Grahame late Earl of Moniroſe his bloody Complices and Aſſociats, muſt be repealed and broken, and the Malignant Party advanced to the chief places of truſt in the Land, Civill as well as Military; and in effect, to have the whole ſway in Court, Parliament and Army. In this both Kirk and State did concurre. It is true, that the Commiſſion of the Kirk did in that tranſaction, require a Band of Lawborrows to be taken of the Malignants before their admiſſion to ſit in Parliament, obliging them not to endeavour the repealing former Acts made for Religion, and that they ſhould not revenge themſelves upon any for oppoſing or cenſuring them for their Malignant courſes; but all the former Bands given by them for keeping the peace, were diſcharged, and all the penaities of them; and now all the certification and pain required in caſe they ſhould fail, was, that they ſhould be declared Malignants, and loſe their places; a pretty fancie indeed to declare them Malignants. And who ſhould declare it? The Act of Parliament ſaith, It muſt be firſt found by the Parliament, Committees of Eſtates, or Kings Privy Councell, that they have contraveened this Band, and the far greateſt part of them were known Malignants in all their wayes. No ſooner was the Malignant Party admitted to Parliament, but forthwith all who would not concur for promoting the Publick Reſolutions, were declared Enemies, their perſons ordained to be impriſoned, and their eſtates confiſcated, and in this they anſwered the expectation of the Commiſſion of the Kirk, publiſhed in their Warning March 1651. wherein they foretold, that no doubt civil puniſhment would be inflicted by the Civil Magiſtrate.

The eight ſtep was, That the Commiſſion of the Kirk, a ſubordinate Judicatorie, limited in their proceedings to the Acts of former Generall Aſſemblies, did take upon them to prelimit the elections of the enſuing Generall Aſſembly, by laying a foundation for debarring all ſuch as had oppoſed their Reſolutions (which the Author of the Vindication ſo much cryed up in this Pamphlet grants to be contraverſi juris, and that they have not for their warrant the preſident and practice of any former Aſſembly) and for conſtituting the Aſſembly of men that were of their judgment, and had practiſed theſe Novations by them introduced, which is a preparative of ſo dangerous conſequence, that being admitted, we cannot expect hereafter right conſtituted Aſſemblies, nor look that the purity and power of Religion ſhall be long continued among us; but the ſubordinat Judicatory being permitted in the Intervall betwixt Aſſemblies, to make rules for conſtituting the en • uing Generall Aſſembly, we may ere long be led back to Prelacy and Popery.

The ninth ſtep is, That election of Commiſſioners being made generally in Presbyteries according to theſe prelimitations, and they being met at St. Andrews; did refuſe the peaceable Overture made to them by theſe brethren who were unſatisfied with the Publick Reſolutions, did admit perſons under ſcandall, to ſit as Judges, after exception made publickly againſt them; yea, did admit them to be both Judges and Party, and did according to the deſigned prelimitation, exclude faithfull and godly men, for their oppoſition to the Publick Reſolutions; all which and much more is fully cleared in the Review of the Vindication of that Aſſembly.

The tenth ſtep is, That the ſaid pretended Aſſembly thus corruptly conſtituted, did ratifie and approve all the Publick Reſolutions, cenſure godly and faithfull Miniſters for their witneſſing againſt theſe corruptions, and enact againſt the generality of zealous Profeſſors within the Land, that all who did oppoſe, or after conference did not acquieſce in their determinations, ſhould be proceeded againſt with the cenſures of the Kirk, and the Commiſſion of that Aſſembly met at Forfar 22 Auguſt, did in their printed Warning, denounce the heavy curſe of God againſt all that did not concur in their Publick Reſolutions, and appoint the ſame to be read in all Congregations on the Lords day, which if well conſidered, I ſuppoſe may be a parallel to the tyranny and uſurpation of the Prelats, and in ſome reſpects above the ſame; for they did not injoyn the practice of the five Articles of Perth, under pain of cenſures and curſes for diverſe years after they were concluded in that pretended Aſſembly.

I ſhall now proceed in anſwering this Reviewer, who hath collected the ſumme of the Obſervations made in their Aſſembly upon their reading of the Proteſtation, and hath borrowed ſome things from the Author of the Vindication. Beſide theſe, I finde nothing in him but frothy words and reproaches. He ſaith, he will paſſe the Repreſentation, and alſo wave the Propoſitions, becauſe ſatisfactorily anſwered by the Aſsembly: wherein he is greatly miſtaken, for diverſe of them are not anſwered at all, and others of them only with equivocations, for which let this one inſtance ſerve for the preſent, to wit, becauſe we conceive their late proceedings relating to the Publick Reſolutions, have obſtructed and ſhaken the Work of Reformation, we deſired that they would give aſſurance that they approve of the Acts of uncontraverted Aſſemblies, concerning receiving of Penitents. In their anſwer they leave out the word uncontraverted, and ſo include their late Aſſemblies Acts, which are the things we complain of. As for the Repreſentation, he ſhould have conſidered what himſelf ſaith in that ſame page, that in ſome caſes a Proteſtation is lawfull; how can he then judge this Proteſtation unlawfull, which is grounded upon the refuſall of the juſt deſires made in that Repreſentation without conſidering the ſame, but he may not ſtay, therefore he makes long ſteps that he may come ſoon at the Proteſtation, his words are theſe, I ſhal God willing grapple with them in their arſenall of the Proteſtation it ſelf; yet ſhrrtly glanceing onely at ſome principall things, Quid dignum tanto tulit hic promiſsor hiatu. I ſhall not trouble my ſelf with his vain boaſtings, but proceed to try what ſtrength is in his Arguments.

IF the Reviewer doth mean by the beginning of this Paragraph, which is darkly and ambiguouſly expreſſed, that an Aſſembly may be wrong in the conſtitution, and ſo no more to be an Aſſembly then a painted manus a man (as the Author of the Vindication ſo much cryed up, doth in that caſe yeeld) and that the godly in ſuch a caſe have no remedy lef • them in Law, but to Proteſt againſt its conſtitution and Proceedings. Then he grants all that the Proteſters deſire, for the ſubſumption and application falleth within his exception, the caſe being to their conſciences clem and fure: But if he doth ſuppoſe that there can be no unfree unlawfull Aſſembly in the conſtitution thereof, and that the Remedy of Proteſtation is onely to be uſed againſt wrong acts, then he ſpeaketh againſt Experience, and the known practice of the faithfull ſervants of GOD in this Kirk; I have given ſeveral Preſidents of this before, and the Acts of the Aſſembly 1638. and 1639. againſt the ſix corrupt Aſſemblies, do clearly demonſtrete the ſame. Is it not as lawfull, and more neceſſary to Proteſt againſt à wrong Authoritie or uſurpation as againſt wrong act of a true Authority? For the firſt is far more dangerous to the Kirk every way then the ſecond; He makes it one of the higheſt contempts of Eccleſiaſtick Authority, to proteſt when the caſe is not clear and ſure, but he forgets to conſider how great a tranſgreſſion it is before the LORD, and how injurious to his Work and people, to uſurp the Supreme Authority of the Kirk over all the Judicatoties thereof, to decree unrighteous decrees, and tyrannize over conſciences: the ſad conſequences of ſuch a courſe cannot be ſoon reckoned. As to that he argneth from Mat. 18.17. Tell the Church. I anſwer, That the ſame Commandements of GOD that injoyn acknowledging of, and obedience to free and lawfull Generall Aſſemblies in the LORD, do per negationem contrarit, according to the generall rule of interpretation of Commands ſet down in our large Catechiſme, require the not acknowledging, or keeping unfree and unlawfull Generall Aſlemblies; for where a dory is commanded, the contrary ſin is forbidden, and ſo the command to hear the true Church requreth our not hearing a falſe or non-Church, within which an unfree, unlawfull, and corrupt Aſſembly doth fall; and therefore it is neither to be told nor heard, but to be declared, Proteſted againſt, and diſcovered in the nullities and corruptions thereof, as the Aſſemblies 1638 and 1639 have well judged. He alleadgeth an Act and practice of our Aſſemblies, but he neither mentions the Act nor Aſſembly where ſuch a thing is to be found. There was never any Act made in this Church againſt declining of Aſſemblies as unfree or unlawfull or corrupt, the Act which he hinteth at upon miſinformation (but as it ſeemeth hath never read) doth ſpeak nothing of declining an Aſſembly; becauſe of its conſtitution good or bad, but againſt appealing from the Kirk Judicatory in an Eccleſiaſtick cauſe to the Civill Magiſtrate, as is well known to all that have peruſed the Acts of Aſſemblies. It is reſpect to true-Authority to decline uſurpation, and it is a contempt, yea, in effect a Declinator of true-Eccleſiaſtick Authority to acknowledge unlawfull intruders upon the ſame. It is not to the preſent caſe, to tell us that Divines ſay reverence is due • o the Church when ſhe erreth; the queſtion is, whether the two late Aſſemblies be a lawfull Repreſentative, yea, or no, and not about an Aſſembly lawfully conſtitute, and erring in their Proceedings: The learned Review of the Councel of Tront, and the gravamina contra Concilium tridentinum made uſe of by the Gene all Aſſembly at Glaſgow againſt the Biſhops declinatur, do fully ſhew the judgement of Proteſtant Divines, for delining and Proteſting againſt an Aſſembly not lawfully and rightly conſtituted. But what if ſhe erre not, ſaith he: I anſwer, that is ſufficiently cleared in ſeverall Treatiſes, which have been long ſince diſperſed in Writing, and have come to the hands of many of the contrary judgement, but have never yet been anſwered by any of them; there is ſo little doubt amongſt ſhe moſt part of zealous Profeſſors anent the ſinfulneſſe of the Publick Reſolutions, as I need not here to diſpute it. But (ſaith he) whether She erre or not, wherein have theſe men ſhewen their reſpect and reverence to their Mother. I Reply, that reverence to their true Mother maketh them diſclaim ſuch Step-Mothers; and I deſire to hear it proved by good reaſon, what more right pretended Aſſemblies have to call themſelves the Mother of all the People of GOD in this Church, then the Prelates had to call themſelves our Spirituall Fathers: For that which be ſaith, the Proteſters would diſcover her nakedneſs, when others then Brethren are to behold it: I ſhall give the ſame anſwer to it which was given to the like callumny, by our Proteſting fore-bathers, in their Supplication to the Parliament 1621. recorded in the courſe of conformity; their words are theſe: The reaſons whereby we are uphold in our courſe and Prateſtations and juſt defence againſt the oppoſitions intended, are all made patent to the eyes of the World, no wayes to lay open the nakedneſs of our Mother to the ſcandal of the enemy, or juſtly to offend any otherwiſe minded, but that the multitude of our Profeſsors be not tainted with the venome of maliciouſneſſe, contrary to the ſincere Milk which they have received, &c. In the next place he bids us take heed if this be not a main ſtep to ſeparation, that we refuſe to hear them as the lawfull Repreſentative Church: But we muſt take heed in the firſt place to another thing, viz. Not to ſeparate from known and received Principles. The Declaration of the Aſſembly 1647 ſaith, that next to the changing of Principles, the changing of parties, the aſſiſting of theſe whom we ſhould ſuppreſſe, and perſecuting theſe whom we ſhould aſſiſt; the joyning with theſe againſt whom the Covenant was made, and againſt theſe for whom it was made, is the great breach of Coveuant, and ſeparation from the Covenanted union which is held forth in the words of the Covenant, obliging us not to be divided and withdrawn from that bleſſed Union and conjunction by making defection to the contrary part, &c. The Nationall Covenant deſcriveth theſe to be the Church of Scotland who agree with our firſt Reformers, in Doctrine, &c. The declaration of this Kirk made in 1648 ſaith, that out Union in the Covenant with GOD, his Cauſe and People, ſtands in keeping the Principles thereof, and ſeparation ſtands in defection therefrom. It is Declared by the Aſſembly that year, a Principle of our Cauſe, and neceſſary for ſecurity of Religion, that the Malignant Party be eſteemed enemies to the Cauſe of GOD, and that aſſociation with them is contrary to the Word of GOD, and to the Covenant; ſo doth the Aſſembly 1649 in the Act againſt Engagers. Now I ſay, that theſe who are for the Publick Reſolutions have changed ſome of their Principles, and alſo changed their party, for they have joyned with the Malignant party, and acts and cenſures for perſecuting theſe with whom they were joyned before; where then lyes the guilt of Diviſion? and who made the firſt-ſteps to ſeparation? à Dee foedere & Ecclefia priſtina Scoticana; with whomſoever theſe things are found, let them be accounted ſeparatiſts indeed. As for hearing them, and conferting with them in an extra judiciall way, the Proteſters have never declined it; but the hearing which they require, is to be acknowledged as the lawfull Repreſentative of this Kirk, and to be obeyed accordingly; and the Reviewer intimateth, that there is a neceſſity of holding the Proteſters as Heathens and Publicans, but that they have found out away of their own to prevent it. An hard ſentence indeed to excommunicate them all: What Exclamations of rigour had there been if ſuch an expreſſion had dropped from the Pen of a Proteſter? I ſhal ſay no more to it, but that this Reviewer hath a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge, He ſaith, the Proteſters have gone out from them, and ſet up to do their own buſineſſe alone, and overturn the Fundamentals of the Diſcipline of this Kirk; but he hath no better proof then the laſt page of that Paper wherein the Proteſtation was printed, which was no deed of the Meeting, • or did I ever hear that any Member of the Meeting doth own the Writing of that page. But what is the cryme he thus aggr • geth? The Propoſitions given in to the part • nded Aſſembly were ſuch as they could make no juſt exception againſt them, and when they refuſed to grant the Proteſters deſires, what fault was there for Brethren to recommend it one to a other 〈◊〉 their ſtations, to endeavour to put in execution. Acts of u • contraverted Aſſemblies; yea, what they have done in order thereunto, was agreeable to the cuſtoms of this Kirk, and commendable in this corrupt and troubled eſtate thereof.

He is much miſtaken when he ſaith, a Proteſtation is in its nature odious, and it argueth ſmall knowledge of the ſtate of the Kirk of Scotland in former times, to ſay it is worſe in this Kirk then elſewhere; It is the mean which the Lord hath bleſſed in the hands of our Fathers, and our own to preſerve the Cauſe of God, and his Kirk in times of Defection, as the Paper ſent by the Clerk of the Aſſembly, and Procurator for the Kirk to their Meeting at St. Audrews doth ſufficiently manifeſt. I deſire this Reviewer may be pleaſed, to take a look of the Narrative of the ſolemn League and Covenant, and Nationall Covenant, where he will find Proteſtations reckoned as a mean for preſervation of Religion, and ſo Proteſtation is no diviſive way, but a lawfull endeavour to which we are tyed by Covenant; and in the 6. Article, what we are not able our ſelves to ſuppreſſe or overcome, we are bound to reveal and make known, that it may be timely prevented on removed: If he had conſidered well, it had been more for his advantage to have ſpared the mentioning the croſſe-Petition in 1642. and diviſive Supplication in Anno 1648 both theſe were in favours of the Malignant Party and their Intereſt, and the Proteſtation which he ſo much inveigheth againſt, is againſt the Malignants and their Intereſt, ſo it was very agreeable to the Proteſters Principles to be zealous againſt theſe Supplications. But I readiiy believe what this Reviewer profeſſeth to be his judgment, viz. That the Proteſtation is to him a greater crime then the croſſe Petition, or diviſive Supplication, for moſt of theſe who now ſhew themſelves hot Zealots againſt the Proteſtation were of a cold temper, when the croſs Petition and diviſive Supplication were conſidered in Church Judicatories. He ſaith moſt of the Proteſters are but of Yeſterday; he might have ſaid as much of all men, and ſpoken truly, but if he plead earneſtly for age upon his ſide, I do yeeld him this much, that many of theſe who are for the Publick Reſolutions are of that age that they entered into the Miniſtery in the time of the Prelates, and did ſwear conformity unto the Articles of Perth, and implicite obedience to their ordinary, and the like cannot be ſaid of the Proteſters, for either they were ſufferers under the Prelates, or elſe they entred not into the Miniſtery till the Lord had in his gracious Providence opened a door by the Reformation.

ANd thus paſſing the Title of it, we come to the matter, wherefollowing their own footsteps, we begin with the Narrative which they begin with, aſſerting, that its wel known to divers of our number what peaceable endeavors they have uſed without ſucceſs, in order to the removing of the differences among us: to which I reply, that even by the permiſſion of their own phraſe, moſt part of the Aſſembly might, yea did not know any ſuch thing, but were confidently perſwaded, if any ſuch endeavours were uſea, the luck of ſucceſſe did, and doth lye ſolely and ſadly upon the Proteſters themſelves; when this was Publickly debated in the Aſſembly, there was none found that knew any thing in that kinde, except that which was done in the latter end of the laſt year, which let the world judge how peaceable an endeavour it was, and whence it came that it wanted ſucceſſe? Thus it was: They meeting then in Edinburgh, without Order, after a little pauſe, did conſtitute themſelves in to an Eccleſiaſticall Judicatory, wherein Mageſterially they defined things ſo prejuaicial to us, as not onely obſtructed all peace but alſo ſounded the alarm to a new conflict, by emitting a Paper wherein they peremptorily conclude, among the chief cauſes of Gods contraverſy with the land, the Publick Reſolutions and preceeding Aſſem. to have a ſpeciall place: And having thus faſt locked the door of peace to mock the world, if it did nought elſe, they ſent ſome of their number to St. Andrews to eſſay if they could draw off 3 or 4 there, & others to Glaſgow for the like intent, making accompt (which ſome of them ſpared not to profeſs) that if they could get five or ſix of our moſt eminent men off, they cared not for thereſt of the Miniſtery, profeſſing alſo at that conference, and others of them in an open Synod, that they would never unite with the moſt part of the Miniſtery of Scotland, and ſuitable to theſe ends was their carriage at St Andrews, as is clear in the Relation of the Paper thereanent, which Paper though Publick enough, we have never yet heard contradicted by any.

AS for any of their endeavours they are inter occulta de quibus non judicat Eccleſia; But I ſhall deſire it to be conſidered on the contrary, how the preceding Aſſembly at Dundee appointed, that Synods and Presbyteries ſhould deal with them, to give them ſatisfaction ere they proceeded to cenſure; the publick Commiſsion could do nothing of that kind, being by the troubles of the time impeded to ſit, yet were not ſuch of them as could moſt conveniently correſpond, altogether defective in this, though preſſed with either part of a dolefull dilemma: for if they ſhould act in the capacity of a Commiſsion, the Proteſters would not have conferred; and out of that capacitie, their actings (beſides, that it could not have been obligatorie to others) had been a ſilent quitting, if not betraying of their truſt; But providence offered oportunity thus: In the beginning of this year, ſome brethren from ſeveral parts of the Conntrey, being ſenſible of the then imminent ſnare and danger, reſolved by common conſent to come to Edinburgh about the 12 of February, at which time they heard there was to be a great meeting of our diſſenting brethren, where they reſolved to deal with them, that there might be a common Warning emitted by conſent of all the Judicatories of the Kirk, concerning things which we doubted not were agreed to on all hands: accordingly they dealt with ſuch of them as were in Town, by the mediation of the Miniſters of Edinburgh, by whom they ſent to them materials of a Declaration, deſiring them to change or adde as they ſhould think fit for the purpoſe, but they refuſed to joyn, to the great grief of thoſe who did mediate, pretending they would firſt have a conference about differences, which was nothing elſe but to diſappoint the matter, the danger being ſo near, that a Meeting for ſuch a conference could not be conveened, and the danger prevented.

IT hath been already ſhewed, that before their Act at Dundee, they had emitted Warnings and Declarations againſt ſuch as concurred not with them, as enemies to Religion, King and Kingdom, ſt • rred up the Civill Magiſtrate to inflict puniſhment, and required Presbyteries to cenſure oppoſers within their bounds; and that Act which he mentioneth, leaveth no latitude to Synods and Presbyteries to forbear cenſure, except in the caſe of obedience to the Act anent the Publick Reſolutions, though upon debate the major part of a Presbyterie ſhould have been convinced of the evill of that courſe, yet the Act gives no power to recede. The Committee of Eſtates in 1648. did profeſſe in generall terms, to offerall poſſible ſatisfaction and ſecurity for Religion, to which the Generall Aſſembly July 25. anſwereth, that they ſee no poſſibility of ſecuring Religion, ſo long as that unlawfull Engagement was carryed on, which may be well applyed to the preſent caſe. That dilemma of his is but a weak device, neutro cornu pungit, the Proteſters never did refuſe to conferre with them, let them frame as many capacities to themſelves as they pleaſed, onely they refuſed to acknowledge them a Judicatory, and upon proteſtation, they did conferre with theſe who accompted themſelves cloathed with the power of their late Aſſembly at Edinburgh. And on the other hand their acting out of that capacity had contributed as much to the intended end, which was by conference to hold forth • ghtanent the matters in controverſie. Neither was there any need of authority to oblige others who intruſted them, for their power was limited, and they are not warranted to depart from-one iota of the Publick Reſolutions; ſo in that caſe they could not oblige: Nor is he able to make it appear, that it had been a betraying of their truſt to conferre with theſe who refuſe to acknowledge their authority, otherwiſe he ſhall condemne the practice of their late Aſſembly at Edinburgh; for though they would not conferre untill they had conſtituted themſelves into an Aſſembly; yet then they conferred; but the capacity he ſpeaks of, was not acknowledged, but Proteſted againſt, I know that there be ſuch queſtions amongſt States, to ſtick upon the niceties and punctilioes of their Titles, and the acknowledgement of their power; but theſe are too ſtately things; for Miniſters of the Goſpel, it is more ſuitable to uſe Chriſtian condeſcendence, then to be puffed up with the pomp of pretended or reall authority, and therefore as I ſee not the ſtrength of this Dilemma, ſo I ſee no reaſon why their late Aſſembly at Edinburgh refuſed to read a Letter from the Proteſters, becauſe they wanted their Titles indorſed on the back of the Letter. As to the relation he maketh in this Paragraphe, it is greatly perverted. If his ordinary diſcourſe be ſuitable to the language of this Pamphlet, it would give ground enough to adjudge him to have loſt the benefit of his franke law, and never to be admitted to be a witneſſe for truth hereafter. The true ſtate of that matter is this: The Proteſters who had ſeaſonably given a teſtimony before in a Letter ſent to the Generall of the Engliſh Forces, and a duplicat preſented to the Generall Major in Edinburgh, thought it their duty to meet again about that time, eſpecially to prevent the imminent dangers to Religion, and having ſtayed about fourteen dayes together, and done what became them in their ſtations, and alſo adviſed the Miniſters of Edinburgh to give a free teſtimony and faithfull warning to their people upon the Lords day, concerning the preſent ſnares and dangers to Religion, which was done accordingly; the Meeting diſſolved. Some Brethren who are for the Publick Reſolutions were in the Town, and had ſeverall diets of meeting at the ſame time when ſuch of the Proteſters as were in Town did meet, upon what occaſion they did meet, was not known, but it was conceived to be for ſtrengthening one anothers hands anent the Publick Reſolutions; and I am ſure there was no meſſage ſent to the Proteſters at their meetings by the Miniſters of Edinburgh, though they were preſent at the laſt diet of their meeting, nor yet by any other, only upon enquiry at theſe of the Proteſters who dwelt in the Town; I find that ſome dayes after the Meeting was ended, ſome of the Miniſters of Edinburgh came to one of them, (whether ſent from any other or not, was not made known) and ſaid, That there was a motion amongſt ſome brethren that are for the Publick Reſolutions then in Town, about the Proteſters, and their joyning together in a Publick Warning againſt the Engliſh. And his anſwer was, that if they had any ſuch intention or deſire, he wondered why they did not propound it to the Meeting of the Proteſters while they were in Town, and that he could not ſay any thing in a mater of that conſequence without the reſt, eſpecially ſeeing he was not one of theſe who were intruſted by the meeting to confer with theſe brethren about matters in difference; and that ſeing theſe who were appointed would be ready to confer whenſoever Mr. Blair, or Mr. Dickſon deſired, he thought that it was beſt to propoſe it at ſuch a Conference; When his own privat judgment was preſſed, he anſwered, That they knew neither he, nor any of the Proteſters, had ſcruple to give teſtimony againſt the Engliſh Proceedings, for they had already done it both by word and writing. As for this motion of joyning in a Teſtimony with thoſe who were for the Publick Reſolutions, it was new to him and deſerved ſecond thoughts, and he deſired to know if thoſe who were for the Publick Reſolutions, would joyn with the Proteſters in the Teſtimonies which they had given already; & if in the teſtimonies to be given they would teſtifie alike againſt both hands, according to the good old rule and practiſe of this Kirk, and for his own part he could not ſee, if they ſt • l maintained the principles of the Publick Reſolutions, how they could abide by a Teſtimony, but did leave to themſelves a latitude to joyn with any party whatſoever; and ſome of the Gentry had expreſſed this to be as good a warrant for their actings in the year 1651. as in 1650. and therefore if they would not joyn with the Proteſters in their Teſtimonies againſt the Engliſh, nor in new Teſtimonies againſt both hands, he would have a great doubt of joyning with them: but this (he ſaid) was only from, and for himſelf up his firſt thoughts, he knew not what might be his ſecond thoughts upon conference with others; and as for ſending to him materials of a Declaration, deſiring the Proteſters to change, or adde, as they ſhould think fit for the purpoſe, there was never any ſuch thing preſented to him, or any other of the Proteſters, nor will he find any Miniſters in Edinburgh to bear him witneſs in this particular. It ſeemeth that this Reviewer is accuſtomed to be very liberal in his language (to ſay no worſe) and that his neighbors allow him the liberty to do ſo, otherwiſe he would have expected to meet with contradiction, and taken better heed to his Relation. Concerning that which he would inſinuat, of the forwardneſs of thoſe of his judgment to give ſuch a Teſtimony, why then did they not (as the Proteſters had done) give a Teſtimony alone by themſelves, but they returned home without doing any thing, though the danger was ſo near, as he ſaith; nor did they any thing to that purpoſe on their ſubſequent Meetings; and for what they did at their late Aſſembly, I have ſpoken to it before.

THis paſt the Synods in April, being invited by that of Fife, by their acceptance of their Overture, ſhewed their affection to ſuch a peace with their Brethren, as might not trouble their peace with God; and for that effect did commiſsionate ſome of their Members to come to Edinburgh to a Meeting in May laſt: but that is the next thing they complain, and challenge us of. Firſt, for neglecting to give them timous advertiſement, when yet the very firſt motion of that Meeting in all our Judicatories, was in their prejence, who (if they had been of ſuch a peaceable temper as they talk of) would, no doubt, have made ſuch an invitation welcome, and embraced the occaſion. As for particular advertiſement to them ſeparately, The Delegats of the Synod of Fife intruſted therewith, uſed all poſsible diligence, a fortnight before that Meeting, diſpatching their Miſſives (which for ought that is known) did not miſcarry; yea, upon their diligence, we found at that Meeting, ſome from Roſſe, and others from Dumfries, places of very remote diſtance, both South and North: and it is credibly informed, that ſome of their chief leading men wrote both to Aberdeen and Galloway, deſiring their Complices, not to keep that Meeting. Secondly, they complain, That not ſo much as ſome few dayes of delay could be obtained by thoſe few of their number which were then preſent, whereby they might give advertiſement to others. The truth is, in reſpect of their paucity, they required at leaeſt a fortnights delay (although they had probably a pre-indicted meeting, reaſonable frequent, in that ſame place the very week following, and others of them were in Town then, did appear to us, and ſome of them went out of Town immediatly before our Meeting) and ſo long a time could not be given; not only becauſe our Brethren, having come haſtily from their ſeveral owellings, were not able to attend ſo long, and once ſuffered to ſcatter, could not conveniently be gathered again; but eſpecially becauſe having offered unto them a free General Aſſembly (the of old acknowledged proper remedy of all Eccleſiaſtical diſeaſes) where many of our ſelves might again be preſent, it was plain, that nothing to any good effect could be done till then; and Providence happily caſting that occaſion in their hands, that they might appoint and determin of the place of the enſuing Aſſembly, they could not ſuffer the ſame to ſlip, which could not be ſhunned, for lack of timous advertiſement to the Preſbyteries, if it were not then concluded. And ſo (which they perceived, thoſe they ſpoke with, directly aimed at) let the Kirk in this difficult time, be ſhaken looſe of her poſſeſſion, of that her dear-bought freedom, which Mr. Welſh, Mr. Forbes, and other precious men, that now reſt, adventured their lives, and ſuffered baniſhment, to preſerve; as was gravely preſſed home by Mr. Blair upon them, in the Conference; and to which they could not ſure they did not, give ſo much as a ſeeming ſatisfactory anſwer. Thirdly, they ſay in the printed Paper, That a deſire of Reconciliation was preſented, but peremptorily, the electing, and ſending Commiſſioners to keep the day, indicted by the Meeting of Dundee, was concluded: I know no oppoſition betwixt thoſe two, as I conceive any good ſenſe in the former, the one being the end, and the other a mean to it. Beſides, I know no deſire of Reconciliation preſented to them, except the Paper of the Offer of a free Aſſembly, as the proper remedy of our diſtractions. But in the Autograph, it is pretended, not preſented; and ſo they moſt uncharitably aſſert, We pretended a deſire of Reconciliation, but had concluded another thing. It is ſo well known in the Country, whether it be We, or they, that uſe to act ſo, that I ſhall onely need to ſpeak to the purpoſe. Our deſire of peace was real, the obſtruction of it was from them, and we had been very fooliſh and cenſurable, if ever the Lord ſhould bleſs us with another Aſſembly, for not walking anſwerable to our truſt in relation to this, if we had not deſigned the place thereof.

THe Anſwer which he giveth anent neglecting to give timous advertiſement of their Meeting in May laſt, is, That the motion of that Meeting in all Judicatories, was in the Proteſters preſence, and if they had been of a peaceable temper, they had made the invitation welcome: This, I beleeve, is the beſt Anſwer he can give; but he might aſwel have given no Anſwer at all. For firſt, Letters were only written to ſome Presbyteries and Synods, and not to all, and there was not one word ſpoken of ſuch a thing in many Presbyteries, or in their Synods. (2.) In theſe Presbyteries or Synods to which Letters came, the motion or overture doth expreſly exclude diſſenters from the Publick Reſolutions, from any adviſe or conſent in appointing that Diet, and is only directed to ſuch as are for the Publick Reſolutions, who are deſired to return their acceptance of the Overture to the Delegats of the Synod of Fife, againſt the 28 of April, to the end, that upon their receiving of the Anſwer of Synods and Presbyteries, to which they had written, they might, if they thought fit, advertiſe the diſſenters from the Publick Reſolutions to keep that Diet, May 12. but in that Letter there was no invitation for them to come, but rather an intimation not to come till they were advertiſed concerning the Reſolutions of the Delegats of Fife, upon the return from Synods and Presbyteries. (3) I ſay, the buſineſs was purpoſely ſo contrived, as to make Conference for Reconciliation the pretence, but another thing was intended, viz. That the Commiſſion of the pretended Aſſembly at Dundee might meet to determin the place of the Aſſembly enſuing, which had been left in the Indiction under the uncertainty of an Alternative. That Conference for Reconciliation was pretended, the Letter of the Synod of Fife, and diſcourſe of their Meeting May 12. doth evidence, and this Reviewer aſſerteth it. That the ſame was not intended, doth appear from this, that a competent time is allowed to acquaint Synods, and where they were not ſitting, to acquaint Presbyteries which were for the Publick Reſolutions; but where Synods and Presbyteries were againſt the Publick Reſolutions, no Letters were ſent to ſuch; but after theſe that are for the Publick Reſolutions are acquainted, and have returned their Anſwers againſt the 28 of April, the Letter of the Synod of Fife appoints theſe Anſwers to be conſidered before any Invitation be given to the Diſſenters from the Publick Reſolutions; and it is no ſecret that it was agreed amongſt them, that ſome men of good eſtimation amongſt the Proteſtors ſhould not at all be invited nor conferred with: Now ſome time muſt be allowed for them to conſider the Returns, and ſome time to make their Diſpatches to all places within the Kingdom, and ſome time for theſe to whom the Letters were directed, to communicate the ſame to the reſt of the number within their bounds: and ſome time muſt be allowed to ride to Edinburgh; all which was not poſſible within the ſpace of thirteen dayes, from the 28 of April, to the 12 of May: for inſtance, no Letters were written to the Synod of Glaſgow, where many of the Proteſters live; nor from the Synod of Fife, or their Delegats; but one Brother of that Synod writes a privat Letter to another Brother in Glaſgow, and ſeven or eight dayes of the time were elapſed before the Letter came to his hands, whereby it came to paſs that ſome Presbyteries were not at all advertiſed, and others, when it was no time to go to that Meeting, 12 of May: the like happened in other parts of the Country, and indeed it could not be otherwiſe in places more remote from the Synod of Fife (it may be remembered that the ſame art was uſed by ſlighting Advertiſements when they gave their Anſwer to the Parliaments Quire) Further, I deſire it may be conſidered, what this Reviewer ſaith himſelf pag. 9. viz. when a fortnight is d • ſired to conveen the Proteſters, he anſwereth, That it was plair, that nothing to any good effect could be done, till the Meeting of their Aſſembly. With theſe things I deſire the Anſwer of their Commiſſion, dated November 26. 1652. may be compared; which ſaith in expreſs words, That the time of the Gen. Aſſembly was near approaching that they behoved to meet in that capacity (to wit, of a Commiſſion) for determining the place of the Aſſembly enſuing, which had been left in the indiction under the uncertainty of an alternative, by reaſon of the time: all which laid together, do ſufficiently ſhew that the matter was purpoſely ſo contrived. Next, he ſaith, that ſome from Roſle, and others from Dumfreis were there upon their diligence; but unleſs he ſay, ſome of the Deſſenters from the Publick Reſolutions, reſiding in theſe parts, were there upon advertiſement ſent from the Delegats of Fife, after the 28 of April, he ſpeaketh not to the purpoſe; for ſuch as were for the Publick Reſolutions might eaſily be there, for they had a competent time, and if any of the Deſſenters from the Publick Reſolutions were choſen by Synods or Presbyteries, which at moſt was but one or two, they might conveniently be there alſo, or perhaps ſome might be there occaſionally: but none of theſe will prove his point. That ſome of the chief leading men of the Proteſters, wrote to Galloway and Aberdeen, deſiring their Complices not to keep that Meeting: For ought I have learned, there was no ſuch thing; and if he can, let him inſtance the perſons, in the mean time I give this inſtance to the contrary, That ſome of the Proteſters were there from Aberdeen, being choſen by the Synod. He grants that which the Proteſtation alleageth, That the few Proteſters that were there, required a fortnights delay, in reſpect of their paucity, that they might ſend advertiſements to others, but ſaith, That probably they had a preindicted Meeting, reaſonably frequent, in that ſame place the week following. But herein he is much miſtaken, they had no pre-indicted Meeting, but thoſe few Proteſters who were in Edinburgh, ſuppoſing that their reaſonable requeſt, for a fortnights delay, could not be denied, (if there was any real deſire of peace, concerning which they had charity, till it appeared otherwiſe) & did write Letters to all their Brethren that were not far diſtant from Edinburgh to haſt unto that Meeting with all diligence, which they did accordingly; and this ſheweth their readineſs to have come in upon advertiſement, but when they came in, the Brethren that are for the Publick Reſolutions, had indicted the place of their enſuing Aſſembly, and ſo having done the buſines for which they came, were gone from Edinburgh before the Proteſters were conveened. That two or three were in Town, and did not appear, and ſome of them went out of Town, is little to the buſineſs, their lawful occaſions might divert them, and ſome of them were not called to the Meeting, yea, in effect rather deſired to be abſent; but they came when they were advertiſed. It is a poor ſubterfuge he makes for not granting a fortnights delay, to ſay, they could not attend ſo long or being ſcattered, they could not be conveniently gathered again: Either of theſe might have been done, if they had been of ſuch a peaceable temper as they talk of (as he is pleaſed in this Section to ſay of the Proteſters.) But he comes nearer to the truth and ſaith, It was plain, that nothing could be done, till the meeting of their Aſſembly: And ſo he may well ſay, conſidering that themſelves had reſolved nothing ſhould be done till then. Afterward he alleageth, There would not have been time to advertiſe Presbyteries anent the place of their Aſſembly: But ſuppoſe the deſire of the Proteſters had been granted, there was abundance of time, there being about ten weeks betwixt the 12 of May, and the Diet of their Aſſembly the 21 of July, and ſo all the hazards he mentioneth might even in his own way have been prevented. But what if it had been ſo, that they had not determined the place? I cannot conſent to what he ſaith, That the Kirk would have been ſhaken looſe of her poſſeſſion. Doth he know, or hath he forgotten what was maintained by the Covenanted Proteſters in 1638. and the Act of the Aſſembly at Glaſgow, Decemb. 26. 1638? or the Act of the Aſſembly at Edinburgh, Aug. 17. 1639. which was made after ſo much debate about that diſtinction of yearly and occaſional Aſſemblies, both in the Treaty at the Birks, and in that Aſſembly, the Act 27 of Auguſt 1647. and the Act of Parliament 1592. and the fourth, and ſixth Act of Parliament 1640. anent yearly General Aſſemblies, expreſly diſtinguiſhed from occaſional Aſſemblies, of which ſort of Aſſemblies only the neceſſity is firſt to be remonſtrated to the Civil Magiſtrate, and even theſe may be kept in caſe he refuſe, by the intrinſecal power received from Chriſt as often as it is neceſſary for the good of the Church, as the Act of Aſſembly Auguſt 27 beareth: ſo there is no queſtion, in jure, againſt this K • rks priviledge of holding Gen. Aſſemblies once in the year, without any addreſs to the Magiſtrate. What if they had been violently ſtopped at that time from meeting, would they judge the Kirk to be ſo ſhaken looſe of her poſſeſsion, as ſhe might not thereafter conveen with the firſt opportunity, and keep yearly Generall Aſſemblies without addreſſe to the Civill Magiſtrate, becauſe the adjournment was not keeped: I hope they will not ſay ſo, not make the Kirks priviledges leſſe then Chriſt hath appointed, and the State hath acknowledged there is no limitation in the Acts of Parliament, or clauſe irritant in reference to keeping of adjournments: If the Right and Poſſeſſion of the Church did hang on ſo tickliſh a pinne, the corrupt Aſſembly at St. Andrews hath much ſhaken and indangered the ſame, for the poſſeſſion of corrupt Aſſemblies doth not maintain the right of free lawfull Generall Aſſemblies, this alleadgance of theirs is but a fair flouriſh to perſwade people to think well of their way, and of the neceſſity of their refuſing Conference with their Brethren before Conſtitution. As to that he ſaith of Mr. Welch and others; Their endeavours were not to ſit and make Acts approving of the Defection of the time, and obligatory of the whole Church as now is done, and that which they were mainly condemned to death for, and ſuffered baniſhment, was for declining the King and his Councell from being judges in Eccleſiaſticall matters in prima inſtantia; but the Commiſſion which ſate at Perth and their Aſſembly at Dundee did ſubject the Doctrine of the Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt to the immediate cognizance and cenſure of the Civill Magiſtrate in the caſe of the Miniſters of Sterline. There be two ſorts of Miniſters engaged for the Publick Reſolutions as hath been touched before, one of theſe was never ready to act for Aſſemblies when they were rightly conſtituted, much leſſe to ſuffer for them. As for the other ſort, I do hope when the Lord ſhal afford the opportunity of having Aſſemblies rightly conſtituted as formerly, they ſhall not adhere to the preſent corrupt conſtitution; nor do I think their perſwaſion is ſuch concerning the Publick Reſolutions, when they are free of temptations, as they durſt adventure to ſuffer for the ſame as Mr. Welch and other precious men did for the undoubted right, Freedom and Priviledge of this Kirk under the perſecution of King James who would not acknowledge either right or poſſeſſion of Aſſembles, but maintained that their Meeting and diſſolving ought to depend on his pleaſure, and that they could decree nothing without his conſent or ratification, yet ſetting aſide the Publick Reſolutions which is the grounds of the difference betwixt them and the Proteſters; I do in charity judge, that many of them would ſuffer for the right and freedom of the Kirk. In the end of this Section he would fain quible on the PRINTERS eſcape, in Printing preſented for pretended, though he grants that in the Autograph it is pretended; his zeal leadeth him to quarrel with any that have the leaſt hand about the Proteſtation, even with the PRINTERS Boy, though in ſome Printed Copies the fault be corrected; but I ſay no more, for it's weariſome to trifle the time in anſwering all that he ſaith.

IN the next room, they mention their Paper given in with the Propoſitions (wherein they ſay they have concurrence of the Generality of the godly of the Land) and did intreat for a Conference, which was denyed; the Commiſsioners proceeding to aſsume the power, and Conſtitute themſelves in a Generall Aſſembly: leſt any ſhould think, that in aſſuming the power, and Conſtituting themſelves into a General Aſſembly, they did ſome new and uncouth thing, as thoſe who challenge them did the laſt year, in Conſtituting themſelves a Commiſsion of the Kirk; be it known to all men, they did no other thing, nor in no other way, then all the Aſſemblies ſince the laſt Reformation have been in conſtant practice of: And how neceſſary it was, in this ſtaggering time, not to change in the leaſt, will be aſſented unto by every ingenuous man, nor know I any reaſon why they ſhould complain: For thoſe to whom the Paper was given were not in a capacity to give an anſwer, till they were firſt Conſtitute in an Aſſembly (yea none but an Aſſembly could ſatisfactorily anſwer their demands, as is evident to, and will be acknowledged by the Judicious Reader) which was no ſooner done then they went effectually about it; But on the contrary the Proteſters would not ſo much as wait till then, but preſently gave in their Proteſtation. We will not now ſpeak of that other Paper, yet cannot paſſe that arrogant Tittle of the generality of the godly, which they aſſume to themſelves and their abettors: We will not mention of whom they learned this, and whom in many other things they too much reſemble: But we ſhall referre the Reader to that moſt faithfull and timeous Warning and Declaration of the late Aſsembly at Dundee, and the third admonition and charge of the ſecond part thereof.

HE affirmes that they did nothing in conſtituting their Aſſembly, then was done in all the Aſſemblies ſince the Reformation; but if he had underſtood wel the Hiſtory of Proceedings in this Kirk, he ſhould have ſaid they did no other thing then was done in the ſix unlawfull Aſſemblies immediatly proceding the laſt Reformation (which the Review of the Vindication of the Aſſembly at St. Andrews and Dundee doth clearly manifeſt, and that they have Conſtituted themſelves in a way contrary to the ſtrain and tenor of the Acts of this Kirk anent Conſtitution of Aſſemblies from our firſt Reformation and if that at St Andrews was no lawful Aſſembly of this Kirk, then the Commiſſion of the Gen. Aſſem. 1650 is ſtill in force, and needed not a new Conſtitution, the Commiſſion being ordained to endure in the intervall, untill the next free lawfull Generall Aſſembly, and though one half of the Members appointed on that Commiſſion by the General Aſſembly 1650 have contrary to expreſſe limitations in their Commiſſion agreed on the Publick Reſolutions, and contrary to the eſtabliſhed Order of this Kirk, procured an unlawfull Aſſembly to Ratifie their Proceedings, yet there is twiſe the number of a Quorum of the Members of that Commiſſion which have never aſſented to, nor concurred in theſe Publick Reſolutions. The deſire of the Proteſters to that Meeting at Edinburgh, for not Conſtituting of themſelves, and for entertaining of a Conference, was ſhewed by him who hath the truſt of the Regiſters of the Kirk, and moſt knowledge thereof, to be agreeable to divers practices even of lawfull Aſſemblies in this Kirk, as in the year 1568, 1569, 1578, 1586, 1591, 1597. which was done at the deſire of Mr. Blair, and the particulars offered to be inſtructed. The Writer of this Review may remember what ſharp returnes Mr. Blair met with becauſe of his Repeating and preſſing theſe things when the Proteſters did remove. As to that he ſaith that they were not in a capacity to anſwer the Repreſentation of the Proteſters untill they were Conſtituted, I aſſert, they were only in a capacity to anſwer before Conſtitution, and not after it; for queſtions about conſtitution muſt precede, and not follow after conſtitution; therefore it was neceſſary to proteſt preſently againſt their wrong Conſtitution, and it was either a weak anſwer which many of their Aſſembly gave that adjournment, or a few dayes would annull all their Commiſſions, their being no ſuch limitation or proviſion in their Commiſſions nor any Act of this Kirk to that purpoſe; but if the Conference had been granted for the ends deſired, and bleſſed of the LORD with an agreement in the matter of the Propoſitions, there had been no great difficulty to have accorded anent Aſſemblies in time comming. The generality of the Godly was not mentioned in the Papers of the Proteſters, without a previous report of godly Miniſters and Profeſſors from ſeverall parts of the Land, though he ſaith he will not mention of whom the Proteſters learned this, and whom in many other things they reſemble, yet the Proteſters are not aſhamed of theſe to whom they were Diſciples in this expreſſion, and many other things of neceſſary uſe in the preſent debates, whoſoever ſhal peruſe the Papers of this Kirk in the year 1638 and 1648 may be abundantly ſatisfied that the Proteſters follow the ways and words of theſe who have gone before them in the Work of Reformation. The fifth Argument againſt the unlawful Engagement, is founded upon the ſame ground and expreſſion. It is very like they had offended as much if the Proteſters had uſed the words made uſe of in the like caſe by our Predeceſſors againſt the courſe of Defection, which are the equivalent hereof, viz. The greateſt part of the moſt zealous Profeſſors in the Land, no queſtion that was thought by many of that corrupt age as arrogant a Tittle to be aſſumed by the Proteſters of theſe dayes againſt the corruptions of that time, as this Reviewer thinks the Tittle of the generality of the godly to be, when it's uſed by the preſent Proteſters. The ſingular teſtimony which he giveth to the Warning and Declaration at Dundee ſpeaks, That he hath a ſingular eſtimation thereof in his heart, above many former Warnings and Declarations of this Kirk; I deſire to know if he can with ſo full a mouth, and hearty applauſe give ſuch an encomium to the Declaration in the year 1648 againſt the unlawful Engagement, let any indifferent man read & compare them, whether contrary ſpirits do not ſpeak in theſe two Declarations. As to the paſſage cited by him in that Warning, I Anſwer, That the Proteſters are very far from ſuchways and opinions as the Members of this Kirk are exhorted in that Warning to be ware of; Neither their Profeſſion nor practice doth hold forth any ſuch thing, as that they would have a Kirk made up of ſuch perſons only, as do evidence their Regeneration; they deſire to beware of that extreme upon the one hand; but they deſire alſo to beware of another extreme upon the other; to wit, That a Kirk may lawfully according to the Word of God, be made up of known obſtinate Enemies to the LORD and his Work; and that notorious bloudy Rebels who hate to be Reformed may be admitted to all the Ordinances of Chriſt in the Church, and preferred in the State to chief imployments, and intruſted with the defence and preſervation of the Lords Intereſts and People, notwithſtanding they have been and ſtill remain wicked enemies to, and perſecuters of the ſame; there is a middle way betwixt theſe two extremes which the Proteſters do hold according to the Word of God, and the received Doctrine of this Kirk for near an hundred years, and eſpecially ſince the late Reformation, to which rule the Proteſters do adhere, and do hold it their duty to endeavour that they may be obſerved and practiſed as well as they are profeſſed, it being one of the crying and moſt provoking ſins of this Land, to make fair Profeſſions but to fall in the Practice.

VVHere they affirm it their burden, and that they have no delight to be con • eſting with any who profeſſe themſelvs to be maintainers of the Government of this Church; it is wiſhed their Works were conſonant to their words, and made them credible to all on-lookers: Certainly however they may pleaſe themſelves, this is not the ordinary opinion that moſt men have of them.

VVHat opinion moſt men have of the Proteſters is not much to their diſadvantage, if the greater number within the Land be admitted judges to Pious men and true P • ety, I fear all that arrive beyond a meer formality, ſhal be condemned for Hypocrites. I would not appeal to the generality of the Land in the matter of judging what is right and wrong in jure, betw • xt thoſe that are for the Publick Roſolutions and the Proteſtets; but I d • re freely hazard to the vote of the major parton the Land the matter of fact which is the thing in conteſt betwixt theſe that are for the Publick Reſolutions and the Proteſters; that is to ſay, whether the Aſſembly at Dundee and Edinburgh be keeping their former Principles, yea, or not? If you will ask any, even of the Malignant party (at leaſt all that ever I could ſpeak with my ſelf, or hear of from any other) they will tell you the Kirk was wrong before, but now is become right ſince the King came to Scotland, and theſe who are moſt groſſly prophane and wicked in all the Land are now become great Zealots, and ſtout patriots for the late Aſſemblies, though before they were haters of all Kirk Judicatories.

I Wiſh the corrupt party amongſt the Miniſtery were as thin ſowen, as he would inſinuat, by telling there was a Ju • at among the Apoſtles, and a Saul among the Prophets. But the many Acts of Aſſemblie, for purging the Miniſtery by ordinary Judicatories; and becauſe of their negligence, the Commiſſions appointed for Viſitation, and the great work they had where they came, Viſitations in other parts of the Land, (where as much, if not more work of that kinde was to be expected) being interrupted by the troubles of the time, and other impediments, the groſſe ignorance not only of the People, but even of the Elders in many Congregations, where their preſent Miniſters have been living amongſt them, ſome twenty, ſome thirty years, and have not ſo much as taken pains to inſtruct them in the neceſſary grounds of Religion, together with the neglect of Diſcipline during that time, and yet ſuch ſuffered to remain in the Miniſtery, the ſcandals of many Miniſters for drunkenneſſe and other common vices, together with their godleſs carriage at home and abroad, are more then abundant proof of what is alleaged in the Proteſtation. And though this Reviewer is pleaſed to ſay, they knew not of any ſuch Party, yet alas it is more palpable to the mourners in Zion, then that they need any further proof thereof, then to be converſant amongſt many of them but a very few dayes, and I know that ſome who concur with the late Aſſemblies, will not deny it, but I truſt do make conſcience to mourn for it in ſecret before the Lord. The Proteſtation doth not ſpeak of the Body of the Miniſtery, but a corrupt Party which had too great influence at the Aſſembly in Dundee. Whereas he referret his Readers to the Acts made at Dundee, to know what favour the Party that was truly ſuch, found there, no ſuch Acts are ordinarily to be ſeen, I am ſure, but ſuch as are made againſt the Proteſters and the Diſſenters from the Publick Reſolutions are to be readily found in all hands. If the thing he meaneth, be the ſlight Act made againſt the diviſive Supplication, what hath followed thereupon for execution leſſe ur more? If he mean that the Supplications of Miniſters formerly depoſed for groſſe faults, were not granted, he may remember the Politick argument uſed at Dundee, and renewed at Edinburgh upon the ſame occaſion, viz. That it was good to abſtain from preſent reponing them, becauſe of the odium it would bring upon them, and for that Declaration he yet again mentioneth, I have told him it hath been anſwered.

IT is true indeed, and I truſt the Kirk of this Nation hath no reaſon to repent, that ſhe ſtill hath ſome, who (during the prevailing of the Prelats) were carryed down with the tide of the times, even to give ſubſcriptions according to the then way of entry, and being weighted therewith, do comfort themſelves with Paul, that God will be mercifull unto them in that which they did ignorantly. But for thoſe horrid Oaths they speak of, nothing is known but the common ſubſcription: and if ought concern the Kirk to know more, it ſhould neither have been ſo long concealed by thoſe who appropriat to themſelves the title of the Godly, nor now revealed at ſuch a time, and in ſuch a way. As for their ſubſcriptions, they were generally known, yet notwithſtanding thereof were the ſubſcribers even at firſt invited to the Covenant, and ſome of them with the firſt appeared againſt the Service-Book, and many of them have not to this day fallen from their ſtedfaſtneſſe, neither were all that have fallen of that number. But for further and full clearing of this, I offer theſe things: 1. Some of the prime of their number, are alſo, if not more groſſely guilty of the ill, then any of ours. 2. There are of our number ten for one of theirs, who in that hour and power of 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.

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 be • 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 time; and theſe on either hand alſo. This is to me a token for good unto the Land from the Lord, to whom alone the praiſe is due.

WE _____ by thir preſents, ſolemnly ſwear, and faithfully promiſe to obſerve and fulfill the Articles and Conditions following; they are to ſay,

1. That we ſhall be leill and true to our moſt gracious Soveraign the Kings Majeſty and his Highneſſe ſucceſſours, and to our power ſhall maintain his Highnes right and prerogative in Cauſes Eccleſiaſtick.

2. That we ſhall be obedient to our Ordinary the Archbiſhop and to all other our Superiours in the Church, ſpeak of them reverendly, and in all our privat and Publick Prayers, commend them and their Eſtate to Gods mercifull protection.

3. That we ſhall in all places by conferences, and where we have occaſion in publick preaching, maintain the preſent Government of the Church and Juriſdiction Epiſcopall, and ſhall by reading be carefull to inform our ſelves of the true and lawfull grounds thereof, to the end we may ſtand for the ſame againſt the adverſaries oppoſers of the ſame.

4. That we ſhall be diligent to our power in the duties of our Calling by reſidence with our flock, and not divert there-from without licence of our Ordinary the Archbiſhop.

5. That we ſhall ſtudy to advance the Eſtate of the Church in generall, and particularly the eſtate of the Church of _____ whereto we are to be admitted and received, in all the profits and commodities that poſſibly we can.

And laſtly, that we ſhall live peaceable Miniſters in the Church, ſubjecting our ſelves to the orders that therein are, or ſhall be eſtabliſhed; and by all means that we can uſe, procure others to the due reverence of the ſame; which thing if we ſhall contraveen (as God forbid) we are content upon tryall and cognition taken by our ſaid Ordinary, without all reclamation or gainſaying, to be deprived of our Miniſtery, and be reputed and held infamous and perjured perſons for ever. Subſcribed with our hands at

I _____ now to be admitted to the holy function of the Miniſtery, do faithfully promiſe, and by my great Oath ſolemnly ſwear, That I ſhall be obedient to all the Acts and Conſtitutions of the Church, made and agreed upon in the by paſt Generall Aſſemblies, or that hereafter ſhall be lawfully concluded, and particularly to the Acts concluded at Perth in the Generall Aſſembly which was kept there in the moneth of Auguſt 1618. And if I ſhall fail in the performance of this my Oath and Promiſe, I am content that upon the tryall thereof I be depoſed as perjured and unworthy to bear any Function in the Kirk. In witneſſe whereof I have ſubſcribed thir preſents with my hand.

AS for any who by word or deed at any time appeared againſt the late Reformation, they ſtill found ſo little patrociny from thoſe who are now Aſſembly-Men, that I am ſure, if we ſhould ſerve the Proteſters with the like meaſure, for tranſgreſsions of the like nature, and perhaps greater, they would cry out of cruelty and perſecution. As for the Epithets they give that Party: I confeſſe, ill enough cannot be done to, let be ſpoke, of men who are truly ſuch as they deſcribe: But we deſiderate here both charity and prudence; at ſuch a time, and in ſuch a way, to ſ • ing filth upon the faces of their Brethren; and that (for ought yet ſeen or known) moſt unjuſtly.

IF theſe who appeared againſt Reformation by word or deed had found ſo little patrociny with the late Aſſembly-men, many of them had been ſmall friends to themſelves, as is too well known, not onely to their neareſt neighbours, but to theſe that live at a good diſtance from them. And why did the Moderator of their late Aſſembly tell them, that the depoſed Miniſters both thought and ſaid, they had many good friends amongſt them? The Proteſters were never accompted guilty of that fault, and himſelf afterward challengeth them for being of a rigid purging humor, ſo I know not what tranſgreſſions of the like nature he hath to charge them with. He grants in his fourth Obſervation, that the epithets may be applyed if the Party were ſuch as is deſcribed, when he ſhall ſeriouſly conſider what hath been ſaid for evidence thereof, he may perhaps change his judgment about them, or at leaſt, not defend them ſo confidently.

TWo things he denies, and ſaith they are malicious reproaches: The firſt is, the in-bringing of the Malignant party to places of power and truſt; one while he pleads their repentance, and would have them to be no Malignants that have made a faſhion of repentance, without any evidences, yea there were contrary evidences in their ſpeeches and actions: and ther while he pleads neceſſity for it, and ſaith, the Proteſters know how it came; which is true indeed, though not perhaps in his ſenſe: They too well know from ſad experience, how that neceſſity was plotted and contrived at the Hague and Bredah in Holland, and how the deſign was driven on in Court, State and Kirk in Scotland, all other neceſſities were but pretended; and what neceſſity is that, which ſhould make a People, confederated with God in a ſolemn Covenant, to give up the Lords Covenanted Intereſts and People, to the power of his and their Anti-Covenanted Enemies, whoſe hands have been, more then once, imbrued in their blood. Then he referreth to the Commiſſions Papers, for further ſatisfaction; but theſe have been ſufficiently anſwered by former Papers, to which no Reply hath been given. I find in the Commiſſions large Paper, in anſwer to the King and Parliament, concerning the Miniſters of Sterlin, this Defence of their Anſwer to the Parliaments Quaere, which is brought forth by them, with confident words as an undeniable Argument Either the Malignants will ſatisfie, or not ſatisfie; if they ſatisfie, then they muſt be admitted to the Covenant and Ordinances, and if to theſe, then they may be admitted to fight for Religion, King and Country &c. If they ſatisfie not, then they are to be Excommunicated; and by the Publick Reſolutions Excommunicated perſons are excepted from being employed. The Vindication of their Aſſembly hath another Anſwer, that the Publick Reſolutions were indeterminati juris, as to any former Aſſembly. Where firſt I deſire it to be obſerved, how one Defence interferreth with another. What a ſad buſineſs is berk? ſome few Members of the Commiſſion without advertiſment ſent to others, do, at the deſire of the State, determine a matter of Doctrine with great precipitation; contrary to received and known principles: and then they ſtrain their wits to deviſe ſeveral ſorts of Arguments to maintain the ſame. (1) What a ſtrange converſion is here of Thouſands all on a ſudden, following upon an Act of Parliament? beſtowing places, though juſt now, many of them were in Arms againſt Religion and their Country, and others on their way to joyn with them. The State firſt nominates Malignant Officers, and then they come to make a bare ſhew of repentance before the Commiſſion of the Kirk, and they accept it. (2) Obſerve, that it is not true which is alleaged for defence of the Commiſſion, that they preſcribed good Rules, but the State tranſgreſſed them; for according to the Commiſſions dilemma, brought to maintain their Reſolutions, the State did not tranſgreſs the limits preſcribed when they nominated perſons not yet Excommunicated, for ſaith the Commiſſion, If they ſatisfie not, they are to be Excommunicated, and ſo are excluded; and to ſay the truth, the State could not think that the Commiſſion judged any to be obſtinate enemies, or notoriouſly flagitious, who neither were Excommunicated, nor under proceſs of Excommunication; and ſo the Commiſſioners of the Kirk were chief in the Tranſgreſſion, for they did not Excommunicate any one Malignant in Scotland, but ſhortly after their Anſwer did relax from Excommunication a chief Malignant, who had been Excommunicated a little before their Anſwer, for being a Ringleader of a preſent Rebellion. (3) How contrary is that to former Principles, to reaſon from mens being admitted to Repentance, to their Employment in Places of Truſt (for that is the thing complained of in the Proteſtation, and anſwered by this Reviewer) the Acts of Aſſembly 1648. 1649. and 1650. and Declarations of the Commiſſions of the Kirk, ſpeak expreſly againſt employing of Malignants, notwithſtanding any outward ſatisfaction: Is not the ſolemn Acknowledgment of our great ſin, in employing Malignants, made particularly in relation to the employing thoſe who had given ſatisfaction to the Kirk? for none were employed in places of power and authority but ſuch as had firſt ſatisfied the Kirk. Doth not the Aſſembly 1649. expreſly diſtinguiſh betwixt Admiſſion of Malignants to Repentance, and their Admiſſion to Truſt; which, even in Kirk Seſſions, is diſcharged without expreſs warrant of Aſſembly? And then (4) As to their Repentance. How few of the great multitudes admitted, were received, according to the Order preſcribed in the General Aſſembly at Glaſgow, and the General Aſſembly 1649? Upon Evidences, it was in the judgment of many judicious and pious men, the very Cape-ſtone of that Defection, that the Lords Ordinances were made to ſerve the corrupt ends and deſigns of men, and the mocking of Repentance, made a patent way to Truſt and Preferment: What better was it, then if the Prieſts of old had admitted Lepers into the Lords Houſe, and then to excuſe themſelves, had pronounced them all to be clean when the Leproſie had ſprung 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.

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.

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.

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.

FOr the following words, which are of the ſtamp with the former, I ſhall only add, 1. What meaſure every one that cometh not up their full length may expect of them, if their former actings had not ſufficiently cleared their preſent expreſſions put out of al doubt. 2. It is not one of the characteriſtical properties of the Godly, to be oft aſſuning that Title. 3. Such hainous accuſations muſt not be taken upon truſt, when nought is ſaid to make them appear. 4. I believe, the Aſſembly knoweth of none received to the Miniſtery, but according to the Publick Order, and when ought ſhall appear to the contrary, will take ſuch courſe therewith as in juſtice accordeth.

TO the firſt I anſwer, that he doth well to grant, that the preſent expreſſions and former actings of the Proteſters do agree, the like cannot be ſaid of all that are for the Publick Reſolutions, though it be too true of many of them, the Proteſters are indeed for purging out all inſufficient, ſcandalous & il-affected; but that is very far from judging ſuch as come not up the full length that they deſire; he knoweth what meaſure faithful Miniſters and Profeſſors got in their Acts at Dundee, and he may remember his own intimation page 5. of a neceſſity to hold them as Heathens and Publicans. To the ſecond. I ſay, that they do neither often aſſume, nor at all appropriat (as he ſaith elſwhere) the title of Godly to themſelves, the ſubſcribers of the Proteſtation are ſpeaking of others to whom theſe of beſt accompt in their Aſſemblies, will not deny the teſtimony of godlineſſe; and yet when they are reproached and condemned, they may even concerning themſelves, uſe ſome freedom in their Vindication, for which there be diverſe examples in Scripture. To the third, ſeeing that Aſſembly to which the Proteſtation was preſented, accompt themſelves a Judicatory, why did they not acknowledge the relevancie of the grounds, and then they might have deſired the Proteſters to prove them, wherein if they had failed, the Aſſembly had the greater advantage, but they were loath to put the buſineſſe upon that iſſue. To the fourth, I deſire him to conſider what Mr. John Knox ſaid to the Councell of England, when they challenged him for doing contrary to the Publick order, his reaſon was (ſaid he) becauſe their Publick order was contrary to Chriſt's order: And ſo is their Publick order at Dundee contray to the firſt good old conſtant order of this Kirk, eſtabliſhed according to the Word of God, which was to be very watchfull in admiſſion of Miniſters, as appeareth by Mr. Knox his laſt Letter to the Generall Aſſembly, a litle before his death. But doth not the Writer of this Paper know, that ſome depoſed Miniſters are admitted contrary to publick Order of the Aſſembly 1649, and 1650, in ſeverall places, and particularly within the Synod of Tividale and Mers? I believe he is not ignorant of it, and however, I am ſure a great part, if not the moſt part of the Aſſembly did know it: and the whole Aſſembly might have known it, if they did examine Synod-Books and their Proceedings.

FOr their alluſion to the Prophets words, I ſhall deſire themſeriouſly to read them again, and perpend if in conſcience they be applicable to the preſent points of differences. Next, they tel us, it ſhall be their purpoſe to maintain the Doctrine, Worſhip, Diſcipline and Government of this Kirk, and particularly the Nationall Aſſemblies, ſo long as they are preſerved from corruption in the conſtitution thereof: But many need better Arguments to perſwade them of this, then their bare Profeſſion or practice this year and the laſt; Of which we may well ſay, what ever be the purpoſe of men, it is evidently the aim of the divel to ruine Generall Aſſemblies, and ſo to raze the walls of our Jeruſalem; And they would do well to conſider if, and how far they have been inſtrumentall to drive on that deſign.

THe Prophets words were well conſidered before they were ſet down in the Proteſtation, and they are very applicable to the Party of which the Proteſters ſpeak. It is known to the World what ſome of the Proteſters have done for maintenance of the Government of this Kirk; I may ſay of them all without any boaſt, that they have done more for it, then any who queſtion the reality of their Profeſſions. There is no doubt but it is the Devils deſign to ruine Generall Aſſemblies, and every Ordinance of Chriſt if he could, but the way by which Satan hath moſt advanced that deſign hath been through their own corruption, and when they were faithfull, oppoſition hath little prevailed.

HEre he bends all his endeavours to make it appear, that the Proteſters incline to ſeparation; but he anſwers not what is ſaid in the Proteſtation for their vindication, to wit, that their ways are agreeable to the principles and practices of their Predeceſſors and the Non-conformiſts in England, he brings four conſiderations why the profeſſions of the Proteſters are not believed. Firſt, he ſaith, that the Proteſters ſtill took the patrociny of all that were ſuſpected to follow theſe wayes; but what doth all this amount unto? For he ſaith not that they patronized theſe who followed, but theſe who were ſuſpected to follow the wayes of ſeparation. It is well known that too many have an evill eye againſt Reformation, and have ſuſpected all that hath been done theſe fourteen years in the Lords Work, as tending to ſeparation: But what will he ſay for his aſſociats, who have not onely taken the patrociny of men ſuſpected for Malignancy, but of theſe that were condemned and excommunicated for being murderers of the People of God; yea, and what if they have recommended them to Publick truſt and employment? To that which he alleageth in the ſecond place, I anſwer, that this is the old Prelaticall ſong againſt the Non-conformiſts, becauſe ſome of their number turned Separatiſts: therefore to ſay that they were all for ſeparation, though they keeped Chriſts middle way between extreams, and did much more againſt Separation by Word, Writ and Print, then all the Prelaticall Party; And I may ſay the like of the Proteſters, that they have taken more pains by word and writ, to prevent and remedy the declining of ſome to the ways of Separation, then all that are for the Publick Reſolutions have done. Beſide he would conſider what is ſaid in the Repreſentation which was given in before the Proteſtation: How great a ſnare your former actings which were not to edification have been to ſome people to tempt them to the way of ſeparation, and to the ſhaking of the government of this Church, &c. He may alſo bethink himſelf what great numbers of theſe that were moſt zealous for the Publick Reſolutions, have either departed from their Principles to the contrary way, againſt which they were fighting the former year; or otherwiſe, if they be ſtill walking upon their principles, it is true which the Proteſters a leage, that the Publick Reſolutions lay a foundation for conjunction with all parties whatſoever. To the third I ſay, that he hath forgotten the rules recommended by him to the Proteſters in the preceding page, anent purging out ſcandaious, inſufficient and ill-aſſected Miniſters. Will he not allow the ſame moderation to men reputed godly, when they fall into an error of judgment? He recommended to the Proteſters conſideration 1. Tim. 5.19 Tit. 3.6. Gal. 1. Brethren, if a man be over-taken in a fault, ye which are ſpirituall reſtore ſuch an one in the spirit of meekneſſe, conſidering thy ſelf left thou alſo he tempted. He recommended alſo Jude 22 23. and of ſome have compaſsion, making a difference, and others ſave with ſear, &c. I wiſh theſe rules had been obſerved in the excommunication of ſome: for raſh cenſures, bring authority in contempt. I adde unto theſe another place, 2. Theſs. 3.14, 15. and if any man obey not our word by this Epiſtle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be aſhamed, and yet count him not as an enemy, but admoniſh him as a brother. And I ſay no more, but deſire that he and his party may be as ſtudious to obſerve theſe rules in their cenſures, as the Proteſters are deſirous to make conſcience of keeping theſe rules in their converſation. As for his fourth conſideration, he miſtakes the queſtion, there was more in the caſe of non-concurrence with the Forces of the Kingdom, then aſſociation with Malignants: for the ſtate of the quarrell was changed from what was agreed on by State, Kirk and Army, before the fight at Dumbar, as hath been ſhewed before. Next, the intereſt and ends of the War were changed, when the Malignant Party became the predominant and prevalent part in Judicatories and Armies; It is one thing to joyn with a few evill doers in a great Army: It is another thing to joyn with the Congregation of evill-doers, and where notorious evill doers bear the ſway and rule in government. There was a third thing, that though all were clear anent the unlawfulneſſe of the Invaſion, and did concur to oppoſe it; yet very needleſly ſeverall were made to ſcruple in their actings, and their hands were weakened by the States ſlighting and rejecting the offer of a Treaty for peace, which was made by Generall and Councell of the Engliſh Forces not long after the fight at Dumbar, ſeeing it had been an eaſie matter in a few dayes to have made tryall and diſcovery, whether there was any reality in that offer or not, but not ſo much as an anſwer was returned by word or writing to that Letter, notwithſtanding that it was once reſolved on by the moſt part of the Members of the Committee of Eſtates that were then preſent at Sterline. Now it is evident, that theſe things are of a different nature from the queſtion about ſeparation from worſhip, becauſe of the ſins of follow-worſhippers. But yet further I ſay, there are many clear differences betwixt non-concurrence with the Malignant Party in Arms, according to the Publick Reſolution & ſeparations from the Ordinances of God, for the ſins of fellow-worſhippers: for in acts of worſhip, the effect is to every man according to his faith, but in fighting together there is one common effect reſulteth to all, & all muſt ſhare therein, according as the Lord diſpenſeth a victory or defeat; now the Lord is with his friends and bleſſeth them, and againſt his enemies and curſeth them, therefore Jehoſaphat and Amaziah are forbidden conjunction with Iſrael, 2 Chron. 19. and 25. And to expreſſe it Further, I give this Inſtance, that when men joyn in Armes, they fight one for another; but in participation of the Sacrament they do not Communicate one for another; alſo there is no implicite obedience to be given in Acts of Worſhip as there muſt be in war in ſome caſes: For inferior Officers and Souldiers are ſworn to obedience by their military Oath, and if they ſhould refuſe untill they underſtood a reaſon for the command given them, 't would be judged Mutiny, and worthy of death: Therefore friends, and not our bloudy Enemies are to be intruſted as Commanders, likewiſe there are not ſuch Commands, Prohibitions and Covenants in the one caſe as the other; and we ſee in Scripture that Jehoſaphat and Amaziah are forbidden conjunction with the Iſraelites in war, yet incaſe the ſame Iſraelites had come to Jeruſalem to Worſhip, Jehoſaphat and Amaziah had been obliged to joyn with them in Acts of Worſhip; there be diverſe other differences, but becauſe they are ſet down in other Papers for anſwering the ſame Objection, I ſhall not repeat them here. In the laſt place I ſhall add a further conſideration, and that is even in the caſe of abſtaining from conjunction with theſe that not onely come the length of profeſſion, but ſeriouſly to eſſay to joyn themſelves with the Church, which it ſeems this Reviewer doth condemn as altogether unlawfull in any caſe whatſoever. There is great difference betwixt open enmity againſt the Lord and his Work and bloudy perſecution of his People, and betwixt common ſcandals; theſe two are not to be confounded together, for actuall enmity ſuſpendeth the duty of all relations, ſo long as it is continued, even between Father and ſon, and husband and wife, at leaſt theſe duties which cannot be performed without reall danger; for natures light teacheth, that one would not truſt himſelf on the ſame bed or roum with another whom he had found diverſe times endeavouring to cut his throat; but common ſcandals do not ſuſpend the duty of relations, for a ſon is bound to do duty to a father under cenſure for groſſe ſcandals. Before Dumbar the Remonſtrators did joyn in Armes with known ſcandalous perſons, yet they would have ſcrupled to have joyned in Councels and Armes with notourly treacherous Rebels, that had been active and frequent in ſhedding the bloud of the Lords People, unleſſe they had ſeen evidences that they had repented of that enimity: But to make good what is before ſaid, ſee Acts 9.26. The Diſciples at Jeruſalem were all afraid to joyn with Paul who had been a perſecutor, and believed not that he was a Diſciple, though he eſſayed to joyn himſelf to them, and no doubt Paul being ſo wiſe a man, and knowing how great offence his former carriage had given, did declare to ſome of them the manner of his converſion, when he did eſſay to joyn himſelf, yet he could not obtain this without Barnabas his teſtimony to the Appoſties anent the ſincerity of his converſion; It is wel ſaid by Calvin upon the place, & timendum erat ne periculum ſibi temerè accerſerent ſi prabuiſſent ſe adeo faciles itaque timorem illis juſta de cauſa conceptum nemo vitio vertere debet, nam ſi ad reddendam fidei rationem vocati fuiſſent non Paulum mode, ſed omnes inferorum furias intripidè provocaſſent. It is the judgment of ſome Divines upon Gal. 16, 17, 18 that Paul had then been three years preaching after his Converſion at Damaſcus, and in Arabia, before he came to Jeruſalem; which if ſo, may further ſtrengthen the Argument if there were need; and however Acts 22 18. Such was the Lords gracious condeſcendence (far different from the imperious and boiſterous way of rulers upon earth) that though upon right information concerning Paul, all ſcruples might have been removed, yet he gave command to Paul to depart from Jeruruſalem, make haſte (ſaith the Lord) and get thee quickly out of Jeruſalem, for they will not receive thy Teſtimony concerning me; As for Pauls anſwer although Interpreters differ about the meaning thereof, yet it is moſt probable that his words are a confirmation of what the Lord had ſaid, and an humble confeſſion that they had reaſon to ſcruple in receiving his Teſtimony; and if Paul had been offering a reaſon to the Lord for his ſtay at Jeruſalem, as ſome think, he would have added ſomething about the reality of his Converſion, as Barnabas did for him, Acts 9.27. But however, the Lord reneweth his Command, verſ. 21. Depart for I wil ſend thee far hence to the Gentiles. Theſe conſiderations, together with the preſent practice of the Proteſters may ſuffice to Vindicate them from ſuch calumnies.

AS for an Argument drawn from the diſclaiming corrupt Aſſemblies at Glaſgow, or the following Aſſembly at Edinburgh, its affirming thoſe corrupt Aſſemblies, were a chief cauſe of the evils we then groaned under. How weak, I ſay, ſuch an Argument will be for juſtifying their preſent practice, is palpable to any who will either look to the matter concluded in thoſe corrupt Meetings, or the manner of their procedure, or the particular reaſons whereon they were condemned, in all which there being nothing alike, I wonder why they are alledged, except perhaps, they know many of their Proſelytes will take upon truſt, whatſoever commeth from them, or ſeemeth to borrow countenance from Glaſgow.

IT is to be obſerved, that where the Proteſtation upon good ground ſaith, That the ſecend Aſſembly after this laſt Reformation hath clearly determined the keeping and authorizing corrupt Generall Aſſemblies to have been one of the chief cauſes of the many evils which have befallen this Church; he onely ſaith that it affirmed that theſe corrupt Aſſemblies were a chief cauſe &c. If any of the Proteſters had ſpoken ſo barely of ſo ſolemn an Act and determination of the Generall Aſſembly, it had been a Crime to have been noted with great Letters; but he alſo paſſeth over theſe words, keeping and authorizing theſe corrupt Aſſemblies, which are the words of the Act, and of no ſmall uſe in this debate betwixt them and the Proteſters; and if the late Aſſembly be corrupt, the forbearing to keep them, and to concur for authorizing them is ſo far from ſeparation, that it is a duty ſo to do. In the next place, I obſerve that he ſeems to grant the nullity of the late Aſſemblies, if they be like unto the ſix corrupt Aſſemblies, either in matter, manner or reaſons condemning the ſame; and if he ſhall be pleaſed diligently to peruſe the Review of the late Vindication, he may ſee their likeneſſe in all the three, though he yeeld that one of them is enough; As to that bitter ſcoff, ſaying, That the Proteſter I know many of their Proſelytes will take upon truſt whatſoever commeth from them, or ſeemeth to borrow countenance from Glaſgow. I wiſh the Writer of this Paper had as great ability and dexterity to ſpeak in things concerning Edification, and the promoting of godlineſſe, as he hath for jeers and ſcoff, wherein he ſeemeth to ſpeak as one who had delighted to exerciſe himſelf therewith from his youth; but ſurely he is greatly miſtaken in the truth of what he ſaith, and if he ſhal ask theſe whom he calleth Proſelites, I truſt he ſhall find them in ſome meaſure able to render a reaſon of their doings, and that they act from a Principle of knowledge, and not of ignorance.

THey ſay they have a clear warrant from Scripture, to plead and teſtifie againſt corruptions: it is indeed but withall they ſhould have better grounds then any we have yet heard of, or can conceive, before they trouble the Peace of a Kirk and ſo peremptorily conclude that a corruption, which they cannot prove one, yea what all, not only reformed Churches from the light of Scripture are perſwaded of, but even generally all people from the light of nature, and upon the Principles of ſelf-preſervation, are convinced is a duty.

We paſſe for the preſent to give any verdict, concerning ſome by paſt Acts of theirs (which they mention) how good they were or how true. What is ſaid being ſufficient to clear, that this their Proteſtation is alſo needleſſe (to ſay no worſe) as the following grounds given for it are frivolous, which themſelves ſeem in part to aſſent to, while they ſay, they do it for all or ſome of the reaſons following and ſo inſinuate, that ſome of them will not hold water, which (in my humble opinion) they might ſafely have affirmed of them all.

VVHen the Proteſters bring Arguments from the Word of God, from ſworn Covenants, and the Acts and Declarations of this Kirk, to prove a defection in this Kirk, and that in the Publick Reſolutions they have departed from former Principles then this Reviewer takes himſelf to generall Arguments from the light of nature, and ſelf-preſervation, &c. Which ſheweth that he hath nothing to anſwer in particular to the Arguments brought againſt them: Many Acts and Declarations of this Kirk have been made uſe of in former Papers againſt the Publick Reſolutions, but never any one Act or Declaration could be produced for them; all their arguments from the light of nature have been anſwered formerly by the Proteſters, and it hath been ſhewed that it is againſt natures light to aſſociate with actuall enemies and bloudy rebels, they have but a poor plea to plead before conſciences bar, to ſay that nature taught them to pronounce abſoluution to all the Malignant Party, and to declare them friends to the Lord, his Work and People, without evidences of Repentance, to the end they might be ſtrengthened by their help and aſſiſtance for defence of Religion and the Country. It is a ſad matter that Miniſters of the Word of God, who ſhould magnifie the Law and make it honourable ſhould make it a hand maid to the light of nature, whereby it is to be feared the Lord may be provoked to remove Scripture light from his ſeers, and to let them walk in the light of their own fire, and in the ſparks which they have kindled. I do not eaſily believe, that he who delights ſo much in reflections and aſperſions againſt theſe whom he diſliketh, would paſſe any by-paſt acts of the Proteſters (as he ſaith) if there were any thing he could with any ſhew of reaſon quarrell, yet he concludes the Proteſtation was needleſſe, and the grounds of it frivolous, and he would fetch a proof hereof from themſelves, becauſe they ſay they do Proteſt for all or ſome of the reaſons following, which ſaith, he doth inſinuate that ſome of them wil not hold water: But he wittingly omitteth in the ſame place that they do alſo Proteſt upon the grounds before mentioned, wherein they all did agree, and theſe alone had been ſufficient to infer the concluſion. The true reaſon of that expreſſion, for all or ſome of the reaſons following was this; There were amongſt the Proteſters againſt the late corrupt Aſſembly at Edinburgh, diverſe who were fully perſwaded concerning the ſinfulneſſe of the Publick Reſolutions, and accounted the Aſſembly at Dundee corrupt, for the matter, yet had ſome doubts anent the form, but perceiving this year a corrupt conſtitution continued according to that corrupt act, and rule of conſtitution of Aſſemblies made at Dundee, they were clear, that it was their duty to Proteſt againſt this Aſſembly at Edinburgh, as corrupt in the form and conſtitution: But the moſt part by far were clear, that it was a duty to Proteſt againſt the conſtitution of that Aſſembly at St. Andrews and Dundee, yet did not judge it expedient to make two ſeverall Proteſtations becauſe of this difference when they agreed in the main: Therefore that all might joyn in one Proteſtation, that manner of expreſſion was uſed; and what hath this Reviewer to inſult in againſt the Proteſters when all the matter is, that the number of the Proteſters againſt the late Aſſembly at Edinburgh is increaſed above the number of Proteſters againſt their Aſſembly at St. Andrews.

THeir firſt reaſon is, That this Meeting hath its dependance, power and authority for its indiction, from that of St. Andrews and Dundee. Is not that to beg the queſtion? and beſides, hath no weight, neither in reſpect of us who hold and have determined it a free lawfull Generall Aſſembly, as indeed it was, and doth appear from the Vindication thereof, a nervous piece not yet anſwered, nor eaſily anſwerable; Nor in reſpect of themſelves, and their Principles, who in their Arguments againſt that Aſſembly, do determine that Presbyteries may by mutuall conſent, meet in a free, lawfull Generall Aſſembly; now the Commiſsions directed to this, do preſuppoſe and import the mutual conſent of Presbyteries.

IT is not a begging the Queſtion, becauſe the Reaſons given in the Proteſtation againſt the Aſſembly at St. Andrews are cleared and confirmed, and that Vindication which he extolleth as a nervous unanſwerable piece, is fully and convincingly anſwered, and refuted in the Review of that Vindication, and the Nullity of that Aſſembly therein demonſtrated: and however the Writer of this Paper is pleaſed to commend the Vindication of that Aſſembly, yet the weak grounds held forth therein by a man of ſuch abilities, have confirmed ſome concerning the unlawfulneſſe of that Aſſembly. The ſtrength of the firſt reaſon given in the Proteſtation lyeth in this: That the Aſſembly which met at St. Andrews, and adjourned to Dundee, being unfree, unlawfull and corrupt, and having neither power nor authority to make Acts obligatory of this Kirk; much • o •• e to cenſure any Member thereof, or to make rules for Election of Commiſſioners to enſuing Generall Aſſemblies, nor to Convern them according to theſe rules, as they pretend in their Acts, and the Acts of their Commiſſion; the following Aſſembly at Edinburgh conveened by that pretended authority can be in no better capacity then the pretended Aſſembly which did ſo conveen it, ſeing they could not communicate that to another that which they had not in themſelves, and albe •• he thinketh that this ſuteth not with their new Principles, yet it ſuteth well with the Principles of the Proteſters, and ſound reaſon; and it maketh nothing againſt this, that Proteſters hold that Preſbyteries may by an intrenſecall power meet in a free lawfull Generall Aſſembly without ſuch pre-limitations, and according to the rules let-down in uncontraverted Aſſemblies, but it ſpeaketh againſt them who rejected ſuch an Overture made at the meeting 12. May 1652. and would have to Aſſembly but ſuch an one as did depend upon the Authority and Acts of the Aſſembly at Dundee.

Their ſecond reaſon is, That it is conſtitute after the ſame manner, and (for the moſt part) of the ſame members that the laſt Aſſembly was, to wit, of perſons that have carried on a courſe of defection, and in reſpect hereof, are incapable of being Commiſsioners; which again beggeth the Queſtion, and beſides that, it is anſwered in the fore cited Vindication, includeth this falſhood, that they are (for the moſt part) the ſame Members constituent, whereas the Rolls compared will clear, that not the third man who was preſent the laſt year are Members of this, neither did this Moderator precede in that challenged Commiſsion of the Kirk, nor was ſo much as preſent at it. But eſpecially this Argument our Remonstrators have borrowed from the Remonſtrants of the Netherlands, their Proteſtation againſt the Councel of Dort; at which meeting, it was largely and learnedly refuted, as may be ſeen in the Judgements of the Orthodox Divines thereupon.

HE is ſtill in the wrong to ſay the Proteſters beg the Queſtion for what is aſſerted in the Proteſtation was before the making thereof, clearly proved in former Papers; he doth often caſt in the Proteſters way that Vindication, but it ſeems he had not then ſeen the Review of that Vindication, elſe he would not think it difficult to be anſwered; he doth by this time know (I think) that it is anſwered in all the parts thereof, and very particularly in that concerning the Argument of the Remonſtrants of the Netherlands, which is well refuted and retorted. In this place he alleadgeth that the Proteſters ſecond reaſon includeth a falſhood: But if it be a falſhood, it is one of his own deviſing, and yet he would impute it to the Proteſters, for he doth forſt in two words, at two ſeverall places; in the firſt place he puts in the the word [and] in the ſecond place he puts in the word [ſame] then in the third place he leaves out the word [conſtituent] and ſo altereth the ſenſe of the words; the words of the Proteſtation are theſe, It is constitute after the ſame manner for the moſt part of the Members conſtituent, as the former protended Aſſembly, of perſons which were authors and abetters of and have carried on a courſe of defection, of which words he maketh this falſe repetition, that it is conſtitute after the ſame manner and for the moſt part, of the ſame Members that the laſt Aſſembly was, &c. And yet he would charge the Proteſters with a falſhood; how like is this to the Thief that did ſteal his Neighbours pur •• , and put into an honeſt mans pocket, and then ſtirred up him that wanted the Purſe to challenge the honeſt man for a thief. That which the Proteſtation ſaith is. That the moſt part of the Members conſtituent of the Aſſembly at Edinburgh, are Authors and Abettors of, and have carried on a courſe of defection, as the Members conſtituent of the pretence Aſſembly at St. Andrews had done contrary to the Word of God, Covenant, ſolemn Acknowldgment and Engagement, expreſſe Acts and Declarations of this Kirk, and being under ſo great a ſcandal, are by the Acts of the Kirk incapable to be Members of a Generall Aſſembly. But indeed now this Reviewer giveth occaſion to think upon that which he calleth a falſhood, and though the Proteſtation ſaith nothing of the ſame perſons being Members of the Aſſembly at Edinburgh, that were Members at St. Andrews. as he would have the Proteſtation to ſpeak, yet there is more truth in that, then he is willing to expreſſe, for the chief leading men for the Publick Reſolutions were conſtituent Members of the Aſſembly at Edinburgh, and of the grand Committee, and of the Committee appointed for Conference with the Proteſters. As to that he ſaith of their Moderators, not being at the Commiſſion at Perth, it might have been foreborn, and I take no pleaſure to remember how inſtrumentall he was otherwiſe.

THe third reaſon is, becauſe of the pre limitation of Elections, by the Acts made at Dundee injoyning Synods and Presbyteries to proceed to cenſure all who oppoſe the Publick Reſolutions, or ſhould not acquieſce to the Acts made at Dundee, and ſo excludeth all not involved in the courſe of defection, from Elections, in purſuance whereof, there were ſundry pre-limitations made ſince, by ſeveral Synods and Preſbyteries. For anſwer, I would enquire with what conſcience this Argument is proponed by them, who (for ought I know) are clear againſt the major, and cannot be ignorant of the vanity or nullity of the minor. Their major muſt be, no Aſſembly that is pre limited, can be free. But to paſſe the judicious conſiderations thereof in the learned Vindication, ſure I am, themſelves will never aſsent to any Aſſembly in this Kirk, without ſtrange prae-limitations, yea and prae-concluſions too; as they did ſignifie at the Meeting and Conference in May laſt. And for the Minor, there were prae-limitations here, I pray you what? Such as may nullifie an Aſſembly? No ſuch thing. Is a future Aſſembly pre-limited, becauſe a prior determined the qualification of its Members? Was the Parliament 1649. pre-limited and unfree, becauſe the Committee of Eſtates excluded therefrom, all that ſate and voiced in the former? Or the Aſſembly of Glaſgow, becauſe the Tables appointed and laid down away who ſhould be elected thereto, and who not •• Or all future Aſſemblies, becauſe that of Glaſgow excludeth from them all that ſhall not take the National Covenant? Whither doth their paſsion lead them to plead the Epiſcopal cauſe? Beſides, did not the Letter of the Commiſsion in May laſt, require of Presbyteries to chuſe faithſul and honeſt men? Which whatever ſome have ſaid, was no ſinful pre-limitation. Adde, although the Act of Dundee requires Presbyteries and Synods to proceed with the Cenſures of the Church againſt them, who after conference oppoſed the Publick Reſolutions (not as they ſay, with a disjunctive, or who ſhall not aquieſce to the Acts made) yet hath no Presbytery nor Synod that I know, cenſured any upon that accompt, or excluded any from voicing in Elections; but rather all Presbyteries did require them thereto. Now, if they might elect, they might alſo by the ſame reaſon be elected; but themſelves fore-ſeeing that, in few Presbyteries obtainable; where ever they were, they refuſed and diſſented, being probably themſelves pre-limited by the order and advice of their Ring-leaders. Laſtly, it is at beſt, needleſly added, that there were ſeveral limitations ſince, in ſeveral Synods, I beleeve there will be nothing elſe found but the ſame, viz. The aſſertion of the Conſtitution of the Aſſembly of Dundee, which we will not grant, and they cannot prove to be ſuch a pre-limitation, as is deſtructive of the freedom of an Aſſembly.

THe fourth Reaſon is made up of many Particulars, which we thus particularly reply to. 1. There are many Preſbyteries who refuſe to ſend Commſsioners to this Meeting, as an Aſſembly. But there be many unqueſtioned Aſſemblies have been made up of fewer Members, as upon the inſpection of the Rols will appear. Neither is a Meeting that hath no determinate Quorum, evacuate or made null, becauſe a Minor part legally warned, cannot, or will not come thereto; as the perpetual practiſe of Presbyteries, Synods, former Aſſemblies, and Parliaments ſheweth. Nor is the number of the Abſents here ſo great; and although it were greater, it is not their ſimple abſence, but unjuſt excluſion, that rendreth the meeting obnoxious to exception. 2. They ſay, there are many Presbyteries that do concur in proteſting againſt this Aſſembly. To which I reply, We have heard of diſſents, but not of any Proteſtation, except this, which they now have given, which if they mean here, as the Proteſtation is not Presbyterial, ſo the Reaſon will be found to have no more of Reaſon in it, then if they had argued thus; We find our ſelves neceſsitated to proteſt againſt this Aſſembly, becauſe we have proteſted againſt it. Or thus; This our Proteſtation is juſt and lawful, becauſe we have proteſted.

TO the fourth Reaſon of the Proteſtation he anſwereth cunningly. There are diverſe things put together, which he takes aſunder, and anſwereth ſeverally, making uſe of a common fallacy, adeviſis ad conjuncta. But ſuppoſe one of theſe alone to be (as he alleageth) a defect in an Aſſembly, which in ſome caſes might be diſpenced with, yet that will not hold, if all the five Conſiderations be taken together, as is done by the General Aſſembly at Glaſgow in the like caſe. As for his Anſwer to the firſt of theſe Conſiderations, he granteth, That unjuſt excluſion rendreth the Meeting obnoxious to exception. And I truſt, it is ſufficiently proved in the Review of the Vindication and Papers printed therewith, That there is an unjuſt excluſion, by the Acts made at Dundee, which ſtand ſtill unrepealed, and in effect acknowledged by the Aſſembly at Edinburgh: And if the Act at Dundee anent the Conſtitution of Aſſemblies be acknowledged to be juſt and right, then ſubſequent Aſſemblies, otherwiſe conſtituted, are by the Acts of this Kirk null and void; ſo that until that Rule of Conſtitution, made at Dundee, be diſclamed, Whether oppoſers of 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 an • 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 throughout the Land, timeouſly to take into their conſideration, what ſhould be their duty at the next Meeting which was appointed by that corrupt Aſſembly at Dundee, and they doing wel, approve of the method followed by the Proteſters at St. Andrews, thought fit that firſt a Repreſentation ſhould be given in, deſiring theſe which were to meet, not to proceed to conſtitute themſelves into an Aſſembly, but to enter into a conference with their Brethren who differed from them in judgment, and eight Propoſitions were agreed unto after mutuall correſpondence, and a report made from the ſeverall quarters of the Countrey, which were to be offered as the ſubject of the Conference; and incaſe Conference ſhould be denyed, and that the Meeting ſhould proceed to conſtitute themſelves into a Generall Aſſembly, as they had done formerly, it was thought a neceſſary duty, that theſe who were to repair to the 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 place of Meeting ſhould proteſt againſt the authority, conſtitution and acts of that Aſſembly. Now, in all this, what is there of a praemeditated faction? There was indeed a conſiderable number in all quarters of the Land of ſuch as in former times have been found to be faithfull, who perceiving that the edge of Church-Diſcipline was turned againſt many of the godly in the Land, and for protecting and countenancing the wicked and prophane, that ſome godly Miniſters were already ſuffering, and that both Miniſters & Profeſſors were like to ſuffer more by the prevailing faction of a corrupt Party in the Miniſtery, they held it their duty to uſe all lawfull means in their power, to remedy paſt evils, & to prevent them for the future, by offering their humble advice to that Meeting; and incaſe of their procceding in the courſe of the begun defection, to proteſt againſt theſe corruptions, and this was al • . They are very far from rigid cenſuring of others, as this writer would have the world to believe, there are many whoſe judgments are for the Publick Reſolutions, who wil be loath to accompt all Profeſſors in the Land to be godly, and in their Sermons and otherwiſe, they do make a difference amongſt Profeſſors, as well as the Proteſters do, and they alſo do very well know, that the Proteſters do not ſubject the Miniſteriall authority to any other, but unto their Maſter from whom they have their Commiſſion, and to the Officers thereunto appointed in the Church according to Mat. 18. and 1. Cor. 14. yet they do deſire to render all due reſpect to the Saints, ſo far as they are known unto them, and do acknowledge, that they have ſo far an intereſt in theſe matters, as that they cannot be denyed a judgment of diſcretion; and when they ſee corruption in government, to ſupplicat for a redreſs. And what for a Miniſter of the Goſpel is he, that will not lay more weight upon the judgment of ſuch as live according to godlineſſe, then upon the judgment of ſuch as lead a life directly fighting againſt it? In all which they differ nothing from the received Doctrine and Diſcipline of this Kirk. He will not finde in all the Proteſters Paper any thing which may give him ground to think, that theſe Meetings of Miniſters and Profeſſors are looked upon by them as Judicatories; and therefore what needed all theſe ſuggeſtions of Myſteries, and I know not what? But it is a time of reproaches, and we muſt reſolve in the Lord ſtrength to endure the ſcourge of the tongue, ſo long as there be ſo many enemies in the Land to his truth and Cauſe. And now to co • c •• de, I truſt that the grounds and reaſons of the Proteſtation ſtand unſhaken. And ſure, for all that the Writer of this Paper hath objected againſt them, and likewiſe that • t was very agreeable to the Principles from which they did it, to proteſt againſt the Authority, Conſtitution, Acts and Proceedings of the pretended Aſſembly which lately did meet at Edinburgh.