be indeed of the opinion that difference of judgment in these things should be no prejudice to joynt acting in Publick Judicatories then it concernes them for their own vindication and for reconciling their practice with their opinion to tell us why their Assembly at S. Andrews did not onely approve of the Act of Commission appointing those who oppose the Publick Resolutions to be censured but also made Acts of their own for censuring of such and why the Assembly at Edinburgh did ordain That Elders and Expectants who will not engage themselves under their hands to abstain from holding up this difference are to be excluded from sitting in Presbyteries and being received as Ministers sure if this difference need be no prejudice to joynt acting in Publick Judicatories the maintaining thereof is without ground made a cause of censure which must incapacitat men to act or of exclusion which must bar them from joynt acting in Judicatories what shal be said to this I do not know unlesse it be alleaged that it is not simply difference of judgment that is made a ground of censure or exclusion but difference of judgment kythed in opposing the Publick Resolutions or holding up debates and controversies in preaching or writing about these things but first if it be meant of that difference of judgment that is inward onely it is to small purpose because that being latent and not known to me cannot be made a ground for my with-drawing from joynt acting with these who thus differ from me and if it be known and professed how shall there be any known difference of judgment without some opposition to the adverse judgment especially if it be established in a Law he who professes and declares the difference of his judgement from the Law and dis-satisfaction therewith is he not in so far a weakner gainsayer and opposer thereof 2. If they mean it thus they have not measured the same measure unto themselves and to others they will have others to passe from their Protestations under their hands and to engage themselves not to hold up debates otherwise they will not act joyntly with them in the Judicatories nor allow them the legall capacity to act at all and yet while they will do no such things themselves in reference to their Assemblies and the Acts thereof yea will have these Assemblies to stand as free and lawfull and all the Acts thereof wherein their judgment is involved as binding and obligatory they desire that their Brethren may be dealt with not to let this hinder them from a joynt acting in the Publick Judicatories 3. If it be onely the opposing of Publick Resolutions and the holding up of debates that they quarrell with how is it that in Presbyteries they will have young men who have hitherto been silent publickly to declare themselves anent these things or else refuse to admit them to their tryals or to stop them being admitted or to refuse them Testimonials being approven Act for putting in execution former Acts and Constitutions of Generall Assemblies anent trying admitting removing and deposing of Church Officers censuring of scandalous persons receiving of penitents and debarring of persons from the LORDS Table Edinburgh 3. August 1652. Postmeridiem Sess 20. THe Generall Assembly considering the obligations that lyes upon all Ecclesiastick Judicatories and Ministers within this Land by the commandment of GOD and our Covenants and Engagements taken upon us before GOD and the World whereunto they resolve in the power of the LORD'S might constantly to adhere and to shew themselves faithfull and zealous in all their administrations for the LORD and for advancing the Work of Reformation and particularly considering that the condition of this time doth require in speciall wayes that in trying admitting removing and deposing of Church-Officers censuring of scandalous persons dispensing of Ordinances receiving of penitents the Rules of the Word of GOD and Constitutions of this Kirk be diligently put in execution and accuratly observed Therefore The Assembly Ordains That Presbyteries and Synods in admitting of Persons to the Ministery be accurate in their tryals according to the Order prescribed in this Church that none be admitted to the holy and high function but such as are qualified according as is required in the Word of GOD and Constitutions of this Kirk both for knowledge in the mystery of godlinesse and abilities to teach and convince the gain-sayers as also in conversation and godlinesse that they lay hands suddenly on no man nor be partaker of other mens sin and for this end that every Presbyterie be careful to have gathered together such Acts of Assemblies as concerneth the triall of Ministers and have them before them whensoever any person is called to any place of the Ministery and is upon his trials 2. Ordains that Preshyteries and Synods in their respective bounds make conscience that such Ministers as are found either ignorant and not apt to feed the people of God with knowledge and understanding or erroneous in their judgment in matters of Religion or are scandalous in their life and conversation and are not examples unto their flocks in godly and holy walking or disaffected to the work of Reformation be centured according to the degree of their offence and Acts of Assemblies And for this end that they be frequent and acurate in visitation of Kirke and therein make consciencious use of the rules prescribed for visitations and of such Acts of former Assemblies as holds forth the duties of Ministers and the grounds and causes of censure 3. Ordains that where Ministers lawfully deposed are unlawfully admitted and not according to the Order prescribed in the Acts of Generall Assemblies or intrudes themselves into places Presbyteries and Synods make use of that power and Authority which Christ hath put in their hands to remedy the same and to censure such disorders and enormities as they deserve And that people be not accestory unto or concurring with any Ministers that are deposed in intruding themselves into places nor give them any countenance that does so as they would not draw upon themselves the wrath of God by contemning and despising Christs Ordinance of Discipline And that no Presbyteries or Synods proceed to open the mouths of or re-admit unto the Ministery any deposed Ministers but according to the Order prescribed in the Acts of Generall Assemblies As they will be answerable unto the General Assembly 4. Ordains that Sessions be carefull that none be admitted to be Elders in Congregations but such as are in some competent measure able and qual fied with knowledge of Religion and understanding of the duties of their Calling for discharging the duties of that Office and of a blameless Christian and godly conversation And that before any be admitted to be an Elder the Persons name that is designed be publickly intimate to the Congregation the Lords day before that if any have any thing to object against him they may present the same to the Session or to the
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 PROTESTATION Reviewed VVHere I begin with the Tittle A Protestation which was gaven in against the Supream Representative of this Kirk Although I do not deny but that Gener all Assemblies may erre and the Godly be so put to it as to have no remedy left them in Law but to protest yet except the case be clear and sure this course is one of the highest contempts of Ecclesiastick Authority The last refuge for removing of seandaâ—s being Mat. 18.17 Tell the Church after which nothing remaineth but it he neglect to hear the Church let him be as a Heathen or a Publican I trust whatsoever glosses others put on the words there is no difference betwixt our Brethren and us about the Exposition of them and hence appeareth the equity of that Act and practice of our Assemblies inflicting the hig hest censures on such and reason since they in the highest measure neglect to hear the Church neither is there now any ulterior or superior Judicatory to go to But what if she 〈◊〉 not and whether she do or not wherein have these men shewen their respect to their Mother who what in them lyeth but blessed be the LORD it lyeth not would discover her nakedness when others then Brethren are to behold it Let them take heed if this be not a main step to separation which in words they seem to abhor when as they Protest and Profess they will not hear us so they would cast on us a kinde of necessity to hold them as Heathens and Publicans but to prevent this they have found a way of their own and as if they had not been of us they are gone out from us and setting up to do their own business without us as they seem to intimate in the last page of their printed Paper after the Protestation contrary to the very Fundamentals of the Discipline of our Kirk which is and ever hath been professed to be by Presbyteries Synods and National Assemblies duely subordinate one to another all which their course overturneth while they walk in another way to make the matters of their Propositions practicable as they say But besides that a Protestation is at best except in the case of pungent necessity in its nature odious it is so much worse in our Kirk where we are tyed by the strictest Bonds both of the Nationall and Solemn League and Covenant against all divisive motions and courses and I pray I what it this other then a divisive motion and that of the deepest dye for them to separate themselves and joyning together make a party when the Supreme Judicatories of Kirk and State were going on in their continued Actings in the day of great danger and distress They may be pleased to remember their own Actings and speeches when GOD honoured them to be sitting in the Supreme Judicatories how far short came the intended divisive Supplication in Anno 1648. of this course they are now on nay the very cross Petition in Anno 1642. both which some of them I say some for most of them are but of Yesterday and had then no place in our Judicatoies shewed so much zeal against PROTESTATION defended 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 lefâ— 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
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 PROTESTATION Defended 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 PROTESTATION Reviewed VVHere they affirm it their burden and that they have no delight to be conâ—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 PROTESTATION Defended VVHat opinion most men have of the Protesters is not much to their disadvantage if the greater number within the Land
conscience comply with these Overtures though they be men eminent for gifts and graces and have been very useful and profitable servants in the Lords Vinyard and differ in nothing in judgment with their Brethren in the Confession of Faith Directory for Worship and Government yet they must be cast forth as unsavory salt because they cannot agree to a Novation which never was heard of before in this Church and which themselves in their Vindication grant to be indeterminati juris The same severity is enacted against expectants to the Ministry and they must be debarred for this sole cause though they were never so wel qualified If this be not Usurpation and Tyranny the Prelats are very excusable for their carriage 6. Observe how their Answer to us and Letter to the Presbyteries is stufled with carnal policy and very far from that simplicity and candor which becometh Ministers of the Gospel They say they are desirous to have the memory of our differences and distractions buried yet with the same breath they give out sentence That we have not only been agents but active agents and vigorously active and affirm this to be conspicuous not only to some but to all who have been looking on the matter But were it so what need was there to tell it If they would have these things buried why did they assemble so frequently this Summer to dig them out of their grave Were it not greater ingenuity to tell the truth as some of their number do that these Publick Resolutions must stand as the Authority and Warrant for the Body of the People to rise all in Arms without making distinction of Friends and Enemies to the Lord his Work and People and associate among themselves and with Forreigners when they shall land with the King They say they will not question whether we did from a desire of removing differences forbear to act in the capacity of Commissioners from the General Assembly 1650. yet in the very next words they do expresly question it and say It seemeth not to consist well with our Answer to the Synod of Lothian This is but a seeming inconsistency grounded on a real mistake for the Overture mentioned by us is not the same with that proposed by the Synod of Lothian neither for the Matter Persons Propounders or the time of making thereof It was a more equal Overture then that from the Brethren of Lothian for it did not condemn the Authority of the Commission 1650. more then that of 1651. as that from Lathian did and it was propounded at a Conference with some of the Brethren of the Presbyterie of St. Andrews and that diverse moneths after the Overture made by the Brethren in Lothian If our Brethren had been well advised they had spared this reflection They say they absteined from meeting so much as to adjourn the Commission and that to prevent the heightning of differences til the time of the Assembly did approach that they behoved to meet I will not say as our Brethren do That I will not question if it was for that end they did abstein and then follow it with a contradiction I do plainly and ingenuously profess That I think it was another reason which made them abstein It was a clear case to all who conversed with them at that time That fear of interruption by the English and drawing prejudices on their persons made them abstein until the Malignant party their penitents and correspondents began to have power and favour and procured some under-hand assurances for their security And it may be well remembred that their Meeting at that time in May before their Assembly was coloured with specious pretences of using endeavors for union with the Dissenters from the Publick Resolutions yet here they plainly tell us that the express end was To determine the place of the ensuing Assembly to which I do readily give credit for they slighted the sending advertisement to us and would not delay one fourthight at the earnest desire of some few of our number that were present at that Meeting They say they could not delay to constitute themselves into a General Assembly without unfaithfulness notwithstanding they know that it was agreeable unto the practice of diverse Gen-Assemblies to adjourn without constitution and no prejudice at all to their Liberties as was represented to them at the same time They say that it hath been constantly holden in this Church That a lawful General Assembly such as this was is the most soveragin mean to heal ruptures distractions in the Church If they take out these words such as this was which they have foisted in to destroy the Text their own consciences will bear witness to us that we are of the same judgment But to say That a pretended Assembly made up of such as have brought in Novations and carried on a course of Defection continuing therein without Repentance is a Soveraign mean to heal ruptures and distractions is so far contrary to all reason and experience as it hath proved to be a main cause of the evils and troubles of this Church as is declared by the General Assembly 1639. in their Act of the 17 of _____ They do without cause resent That the Narrative of our Overture doth cast upon them reflections and aspersions and yet all along their Answer they make it their study under the covert of Albeits Althoughs and Parentheses to abuse us with Calumnies They declare That they shall not at this Meeting nor hereafter until the third Wednesday of February Act in prosecution of Censures already pronounced or which may be incurred by their Brethren and that they will interpose with Synods and Presbyterie for the like But what Sophistry is there here to delude the woâ—lâ— oâ— rather to mock their Brethren For first They act what they had a mind to act in reference to matters in difference and then after their Meeting is dissolved and no sooner they declare to us they will act no more at that Meeting nor hereafter till the third Wednesday of Febr. and that is the time of their next Quarterly-Meeting 2ly This seeming forbearence to act during that time is not general but limitted to the matter of censures 3ly That 's clog'd with another limitation for say they We must leave Synods Presbyteries to that prudence and discretion which the exigence of their condition shall require for putting in execution the Acts for debarring Elders from Voting in these Judicatories and Expectants from the Ministry which themselves the last year did accompt to be no small Censure in the debarring Malignants from trust but how much more in this case which hath great influence to corrupt the Ministrie and Judicatories 4ly Their expressions which they chose in their Letter to the Presbyteries and Synods are such as do rather incite to Censures then prohibit for they insinuate a dislike of their former moderation in Censures which they say is well known to them and to all men
Minister And that if any Elder be found negligent in the duties of his charge and continue so after admonition or scandalous in his life and conversation or to be a neglecter of the worship of GOD in his Family he be removed from and purged out of the Session 5. Ordains that Sessions and Presbyteries be carefull and make conscience by all means to censure impartially all persons of whatsoever rank or condition that are scandalous either in things of the first or in things of the second Table according to the Rules and Order which Christ hath prescribed in his Word and to proceed to the highest censures with such as are grossely and obstinately scandalous or are ignorant and contemn and continuedly neglect the means of knowledge as publick and private catechizing c. after they are made inexcusable by sufficient means used to reclaim and gain them 6. Ordains that Ministers and Sessions in Congregations be carefull as they will be answerable to Christ Jesus to debar from the Lords Table all such persons as are found not to walk sutably to the Gospel and being convinced and admonished thereof do not reform As also all such as have not knowledge to examine themselves and to discern the Lords Body And that for the more orderly performing of this the Minister in examination of the people have some of the Elders alwayes with him and represent unto the Session such as are found grossely ignorant that by order of the Session they may be debarred 7. That Presbyteries and Sessions make conscience that such persons are found scandalous and are under censure for that cause be not received nor absolved from their censure unlesse they give such satisfaction and evidences of their repentance as are expressed in the Acts of the Assemblies concerning the receiving of penitents J. MAKGHIE OBSERVATIONS This Act as is professed and given out by many was not only intended but if they may be trusted doth indeed and upon the matter give full and clear satisfaction to the Propositions which were offered by the Protesters unto their Brethren of the Assembly at their first down-sitting as the best means for satisfying of their consciences securing of the Work of Reformation purging the Church promoving the power of godlinesse removing of these sad differences and for attaining and preserving a good understanding and therefore these as they alleadge being satisfied the propounders of them not acquiescing therein must have some other thing before them Therefore for vindicating of these I shal mark a few things for shewing how unsatisfactory all that is contained in this Act is unto the desires contained in these Propositions untill there may be opportunity to make a more full discovery thereof 1. To passe the ambiguity of their Answer to the first part of the first Proposition wherein it is desired that they give evidence c. They omit the whole second Proposition to wit That it be seriously laid to heart c. which in order to the ends that are propounded in the Preface to these Propositions to wit the satisfaction of our Consciences is as to the present condition of affairs betwixt them and the Protesters the most important of these Propositions yea in their other Papers these things which the Protesters complain of as defection they commend as duty and professe their adherence thereunto and appoint censures to be inflicted upon all the opposers thereof 2. They also omit the whole third Proposition to wit That as we are ready in our station c. by which ommission they give just ground to suspect that there is in their apprehension no malignant party that needs to be discovered or from whom the Work of God stands in danger and though the Protesters do not in the first part of the Proposition take upon them to secure and guard the Cause and Work of God against errour heresie and schisme but onely by this Overture gave evidence of the sincerity of their intentions in order to that end that so they may satisfie their Brethren in the matter of their Jealousies thereanent yet as they do still apprehend a great danger to the Lords Work from a numerous party of malignants still in the Lord so are they much unsatisfied that the Assembly gave no expression of their sense of danger this way nor evidence of their willingnesse to concur in securing against the same nor hold forth any way for the discovering and knowing of these for the time to come 3. Whereas they seem to grant much in order to the trying admitting removing and deposing of Church-Officers censuting of scandalous persons dispensing of Ordinances and receiving of penitents they do really and in effect grant little or nothing yea they do expresly refuse the desire of the Propositions upon these things and establish the very contrary Because the desire of the Propositions is that the late Meeting at Dundee and the Acts thereof being taken out of the way and the Work and People of GOD secured from the harm and evill consequences which have already and may further ensue from the same as is expressed in the last Proposition which they wholly omit all these things may be done according to the Acts of former uncontroverted Assemblies of this Church concerning the Work of Reformation in the literall and genuine sense and meaning thereof but their grants and concessions do include for the rule according to which they are to be regulated viz. the Acts of General Assemblies and Constitutions of this Church indefinitely which in their sense doth clearly and undeniably include the Acts of the last Assembly at Dundee and Edinburgh which instead of purging of the Church from ignorant and disaffected and scandalous Ministers and Professors purge it from a very great part of the able well affected good Ministers Elders Expectants and Professors of the Land because of their not acknowledging the authority and acquiescing to the Constitutions of these Assemblies 4. Their actions which before the Lord and also with intelligent and discerning men are the most reall evidences of the reallity and sincerity of mens intentions since that time do demonstrate whether they have granted the desire of these Propositions Tell me how many ignorant disaffected scandalous Ministers or Elders are censured by the Authors of the Publick Resolutions since the last Assembly or how many lawfully deposed and unlawfully admitted are proceeded against c. They would fain find some shadow of an excuse for so grosse an oversight and cast the blame upon the Protesters who say they have so weakned the authority of the Church that her censures are rendered altogether ineffectuall But 1. To say nothing that spirituall censures are not alwayes to be foreborn because men refuse to obey yea in many cases they are the more vigorously to be prosecuted 2. With what colour of reason can it be alleadged that those who not onely acknowledge their authority but very zealously pleading for it as most of the scandalous and disaffected