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 PROTESTATION Reviewed 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 PROTESTATION Defended 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 PROTESTATION Reviewed 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 PROTESTATION Defended 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
an Act of meet favour and grace upon your part unto Delinquents upon their repentance And though we hope that we shall never be ashamed but esteem it our mercy and glory to acknowledge any thing whereby we have provoked the Lord or offended others yet being more and more convinced in our consciences that what we did in these things was a necessary duty we dare not purchase immunity and exemption from Censures at so dear a rate as to deny the same we shall rather choose still to be sufferers and to wait upon the issue that the Lord shall give then to provoke the eyes of his Glory grieve the spirits of his People and would our own Consciences by so unsatisfying and so sinful a transaction And conceiving that we shall not have the opportunity to speak unto you hereafter as being now about to dissolve our Meeting We do from the zeal that we owe to the honour of God and from the tender respect we owe to you as Brethren and for exonering our own Conscience most earnestly beseech and obtest you by your appearing before the Lord Jesus Christ to give your selves unto Prayer and searching of your own hearts and way in Order to Publick Resolutions and Actions untill each of you finde out wherein ye have turned aside from the straight way of the Lord and imployed your gifts and power not for Edification but for grieving the spirits of many of the Godly and strengthening of the hands of the wicked and to Repent thereof and to do no more so least wrath be increased from the LORD the Godly of the Land more offended and our breach made wider and our wound more incurable If both you and we might obtain mercy of the Lord to know our trespasse and why he contends and to accept the punishment of our iniquity and humble our selves before hime who knoweth but that he might yet have compassion upon us and pardon our sins and heal our Land July the 28. Antemerid 1652. Mr. Andrew Cant Mr Samuel Rutherford Mr James Guthry My Lord Waristoun Mr Robert Trail Mr John Nevay Mr James Nasmith being nominated to meet confer with some Brethren Members of the present pretended Assembly the Instructions following were given them and the Meeting doth require and expect that they will walk according thereto I. That they shall declare to the Brethren with whom they are to meet That as they do adhere to the Protestations formerly and lately given in so they do protest that they do not meet nor confer with them nor receive any Papers from them as being in the capacity of Commissioners of a General Assembly but onely as sent from a meeting of Ministers and Elders wanting any such Authority II. That whatever be offered by the Brethren with whom they do confer they desire to get it in writing from them as the mind of the Meeting whereof they are Members That it being communicated to us Answer may be given thereunto by our whole Meeting III. That they do not engage in Conference with them at first about the matter of Censures It being neither the chief nor only ground of our grievance and because with us things of that nature and any thing of personal concernment ought to be of the smallest value while there are many things in question betwixt them and us of far higher consequence to the Kingdom of Christ and his Interest as anent the causes of Gods controversie with the Land and the way of remedy and cure of the former and late defection and the way of preventing the like in time coming The establishing and promoving the Work of Reformation and the purging of the Kirk and the like as are laid before them in our Propositions given in to their Meeting And that they do intimate to the Brethren foresaid that we cannot look upon an offer relating onely to the Censures upon some of our number as satisfaction to them or us and that besides what we have said for other reasons to be communicated in due time to their Meeting And that therefore they shall offer to these Brethren and desire of them that if there be any Conference at all the subject matter of it may be upon the whole Propositions in the order as they stand IV. That in case of their refusing the latter part of the former Article they shall require and demand from the Brethren of the other Meeting That they would declare whether we may expect that these from whom they were sent will either by the said Brethren or any other way give answer and satisfaction to us anent the Propositions and what is their sense and meaning of the Publick Resolutions and anent the Constitution Acts and Proceedings of the Meeting at Dundee and of this at Edinburgh and what they minde to do in reference to the same V. That in case there be not satisfaction obtained in these so just and necessary things They do professe their own and our dissatisfaction with any thing that hath been offered by them to us or answered to our desires first or last And that they protest for themselves and us That as we have sought Peace and pursued it by all lawfull and possible means though much in vain on their part So we are henceforth free from the guilt and blame of the sad prejudices and evil consequences whatsomever which may follow upon their present way and their former and future actings of that nature so contrary and destructive to Edification and Peace Right Reverend WE have now for these fourteen dayes past been imployed in using our best endeavours and waited for Overtures from you for healing the breach and removing the differences that are amongst us And now there being no ground of hope given us nor any desire made unto us for continuing the Conference whereby a better understanding might be attained We have thought good before our parting from this place to send unto you this inclosed Paper together with the Instructions given in writing to these who were sent from us to the Conference the Copy whereof was offered by them to these who were sent from your number and left with them Both which Papers we desire you to communicate to those of your meeting And so we rest Your very loving Brethren in the Lord. Edinb 29. July 1652. Subscribed in the name of many Ministers Elders and Professors throughout the Land who desire truth and peace Directed For the Reverend Brother Mr. David Dickson Professor of Divinity in the Colledge of Edinburgh PROPOSITIONS which were offered to the Meeting of Ministers and others appointed to be keeped at Edinburgh July 21. 1652. WHereas we and many of the godly in the Land have been really scandalized and stumbled at their late Acts and Proceedings relating to Publick Resolutions concerning the same in the nature and Intention of the Work to have obstructed and shaken the Work of Reformation although we think honourably of diverse Godly and Learned men who have been concurring in the same and dare not judge their Intentions to be such as we think their Work hath bee and do allow charity to others Therefore for satisfaction of or conscience and for securing the Work of Reformation for purging the Church and for prâ—moving the power of godlinesse and for removing of these sad differences and for attaining and preserving a good understanding We desire That they give evidence and assurance that they approve of and will adhere unto the solemn Publick Confession of sins and engagement to duties and all the Acts of the uncontroverted Assemblies of this Church concerning the Work of Reformation in the literal and genuine sense and meaning thereof And that in dispensing of the Ordinances censuring of scandalous persons receiving of Penitents trying admitting removing and deposing of Church-Officers they will walk according to the same That it be laid seriously to heart before the LORD how after such a defection and so sad judgments for it the LORD may be restored to his honor the Land to his favor and the like defection prevented in time coming That as we are ready in our station to follow all religious and conscionable means and Overtures for securing and guarding the Cause and Work of GOD against Error Heresie and Schisme on the one hand so they would hold out to us a solid way for securing the same against dangers from Malignancy on the other And we would know what shall be the Characters in time coming by which Malignancy may be known and judged That a reall and effectuall course be taken according to the established rules of this Kirk for purging out and holding out all such Church-Officers as have not the Position and qualifications required in the Word of God Acts of this Kirk partiularly where Ministers deposed by lawfull Assemblies have intruded themselves or have been unwarrantably restored by Synods and Presbyteries to their Charges contrary to the form and order prescribed in the Acts of Assemblies be romoved and condign censures inflicted and that sufficient Provision be made for preventing the like in time coming That after means be fallen upon and followed for censuring of all scandals and scandalous persons and casting out of these who shall be found grosly and obstinatly scandalous or ignorant after they are made inexcusable by sufficient means and pains taken for their instructing and reclaiming That some course more effectuall than any hath been fallen upon hitherto may be condescended upon for putting in execution the Acts of this Kirk anent debarring from the Lord's Table such persons who are found not to walk suteably to the Gospel and have not knowledge to examine themselves and to discerne the Lord's Body That in the receiving of Penitents care may be had that none be admitted to the publick Profession of repentance or reconciled to the Church but these who are found to give such evidence of their repentance as is exprest in the Acts of the Assemblies concerning the receiving of Penitents That an effectual course may be taken for securing of the Work and People of GOD from the harm and evill consequences which hath already and may further ensue from the late pretended Assemblies at S. Andrews and Dundee and the Acts thereof FINIS
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 The greater Oath 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 The lesser Oath 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 PROTESTATION Reviewed 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 sâ—ing filth upon the faces of their Brethren and that for ought yet seen or known most unjustly PROTESTATION Defended 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 PROTESTATION Reviewed THat the Publick Actings were for bringing in of the Malignant party to places of power and trust and bearing down such as had been streight in the Cause stirring up the Civil Magistrate against them and subjecting the liberty of the Word in the mouth of Christs Ambassadors for reproof of sin to the immediate judicial cognizance restraint and censure of the Civil Magistrate will appear a masse of malicious reproaches by shortly setting down the true stories related to But I must first tell that the odicus term Malignant doth not appertain to them who having satisfied for their offences of that kind according to the Order prescribed by these mens own assent and advice keep themselves free from new out breakings of that abjured iniquity And if we walk not according to this rule many of them will be forced to hear what for the present I purpose not to speak And next adde That all the birds of their feather were not so streight in the Cause as they would seem to insinuate here And on the other part some whom they term Malignants here have given unquestioned evidence of their affestion to and are still suffering for that Cause Now the Stories related to are these two The one so well known that we need no more but remember how when and upon what pinch of necessity which themselves know how it came the Commission of the Kirk being enquired by the State who might be employed for the necessary defence of the Country at such a time The Commission of the Kirk gave that Answer which their duty to GOD their Mother-Kirk Native Country and the Protestant Interest extorted from them and which all Nations and Incorporations whatsoever will and do allow and practise in such a case But that People may rightly judge of it for it is ordinarily mis-represented we desire them to get and ponder the Commissions own Papers The other Story is shortly in so far as it is most material thus It being represented by the Committee of Estates to the Commission of the Kirk what hazard the Garrison of Sterlin was in by their Ministers there preaching and otherwaies dealing they withal signified how they behoved to take some course for securing the same the Commission desired their Lordships that they would not meddle with the matter till they had first dealt with them and returned their report of the Issue which being assented to the Commission wrote for them to St. Andrews where they met with them and when by conference they would not receive satisfaction began to entreat them first to give assurance
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