Review and Examination of a Pamphlet, Text (1 of 4)

Review and Examination of a Pamphlet · Text (1 of 4)

p. 3A REVIEW and Examination of a Pamphlet lately publiſhed, Bearing the Title of Proteſters no Subverters, and Presbyterie no Papacy, &c.

THough it be a ſad affliction to the ſpirits of men, who love and thirſt after Peace, to be kept in a continuall fire of Contention; yet we do not think it ſtrange that deſires and endeavours to quench that flame, which hath been ſo long burning in this Church, meet with no better entertainment from theſe Witneſſes to the way of the Proteſtation, Authors of this Pamphlet: Who, being (as we have juſt cauſe to believe) ſome of the prime contrivers and promoters of theſe evils regrated and complained of, they do well not to trouble the reſt (many of whom we believe, would not have joyned in this Anſwer) to give any expreſſion of their ſenſe of the Overtures of Union made to them, nor put them to ſpend their spirits and time that way: But (this being their own more kindly element) they will be at the pains to put this Piece in their hands, printed in ſuch a volumn as it may be a Vade me…um where-ever they go: That ſo honeſt-minded Miniſters and People (who, we perſwade our ſelves, are weary of debates, and might be drawn to an Union, were it not for ſuch who for their own ends keep up the Rent) may, in ſo far as they can prevail, not only be induced never to think of Peace more upon the tearms offered, as they expreſſe their deſign in the cloſe of their Poſtſcript; but may be affrighted (as they are pleaſed to ſpeak of us, pag. 15.) from their Mother-Church and Brethren as Monſters, as a company of Arians dealing with an Athanaſius, and as Tyrants, Popes, and Prelats, whom our p. 4fathers oppoſed; and may drink-in theſe corrupt principles of Church government here propined: whereby every man is taught to do what is right in his own eyes; to call any thing of Church-government which croſſeth his humour, but alterable and humane; and when he pleaſeth to think his Judge doth him wrong, if he cannot thruſt him out and ſet himſelf in his ſeat, then to ſleight and contemn him; yea, and to make every ordinary Miniſter an Apoſtle, who had not their call by men, and ſo were not ſubject to them in that matter.

As the ſight of this Pamphlet hath quickned our deſire, yet more and more to mourn over the ſad and deplorable caſe of this poor Church (ſo long afflicted with theſe diſtempers and confuſions, without hope of healing, and ſo grievouſly reproached and expoſed as a laughing-ſtock to her enemies, and a grief to her friends) and to ſpread it before the Lord who knoweth her affliction and reproach: So we deſire theſe men may ſeriouſly lay to heart the accompt they have to make for their continuing thus to diſquiet and toſſe the Church and People of God in this Land, and to ponder how truly the Spirit of God hath given warning that diviſions will breed errours, whereof they give ſad proof in this Piece, as to the point of Government. And whereas they deſign themſelves Witneſſes to the way of the Proteſtation; we wiſh them to conſider, that as to bear witneſſe to an untruth or wrong cauſe is an horrid ſin; ſo, however they arrogate that ſtile of Witneſſes, yet their conſciences can tell them, they give their teſtimony without any great hazard, having verified that they are rather ſeeking their own things, than the things of Jeſus Chriſt. However, let them for us brook their title of Witneſſes, and let the Reader adde ſuch epithets thereunto as he thinketh they deſerve.

If we ſhould draw out a Reply proportionable to their practice, who have publiſhed ſo many ſheets in anſwer to little more than one ſheet, it might certainly be ſaid, we had very little to do beſide; Sure we are it ſhould be very little to edification. And though we might have ſatisfied our ſelves with ſome Animadverſions only upon their new principles, leaving other matters, which either are ſpoken to already in print, or are matters of fact, which (however they busk them) are ſeen in their own colours by them who know us both, and impartially obſerve us: Yet conſidering their great trade p. 5hath been to make more uſe of ſtories and reproches than arguments, and that thoſe may be more taking with the ſimple and unadviſed than ſtronger reaſons; and withall that we are bound to ſay ſomewhat in defence of the Overtures of Union, which they endeavour to render ſo odious: Therefore we ſhall, with all the brevity we can, take a view of this whole Pamphlet: hoping that in matters of fact, which cannot be got proven to the world in print, our aſſertion deſerveth no leſſe credit in name of this poor Church, than theirs, whoſe intereſt it is to defame her, leſt otherwiſe they incur the title of Schiſmaticks and Diſturbers: We being alwayes ready to make-out before the Judge competent, the truth of our aſſertions. Yet it is not to be expected that we ſhould dwell on every thing they ſtart here, nor jangle on every thing in the by: but only that we take notice of what is moſt materiall. And therefore in the very entry, we ſhall leave ſober men to their own thoughts of the inſolent and vain Title of that Pamphlet, ſo injuriouſly reflecting upon this Church and the Government eſtabliſhed therein. Nor ſhall we deſcant much upon the deſignation of the Reſolutioners, and Reſolution-party, which they are pleaſed to confer upon us; yea, and upon this Nationall Church in the generality of her Judicatories: Seing (to omit the injuſtice of branding us with the name of a Party) if they will adde the Epithet of Publick (which they deny us not either) to our Reſolutions, they will ſound better in any indifferent ear, than any privat deſigns of men, deſtructive to the publick, and tending to advance their own particular intereſt; And we could eaſily repay them with deſignations as true, and more unſavoury to them, were it our work to be ſo imployed. And though they are pleaſed to call theſe Reſolutions, Rotten Reſolutions, pag. 85. Yet we doubt not but they will be fragrant in the Churches of Chriſt, as a Truth of God, when they ſhall be dead and rotten, and their oppoſition thereunto unſavoury. We ſhall as little trouble our ſelves with what is ſaid of the Repreſentation, ſeing we believe themſelves do judge it is more eaſily traduced than ſolidly anſwered; And as to what they are pleaſed to ſpeak of our Reverend Brother whom they call our Agent, pag. 15, 16. As that Repreſentation containeth nothing unworthy to be owned by him, or whereof he needeth or will be aſhamed; So, the innocency of his agency to prevent the evils they were endeavouring to bring upon this Church, and his carriage p. 6and integrity in managing that Truſt, are ſo well known at home and abroad, that we believe he needs not write Apologeticks againſt the ſlanders of their tongue or pen, which they have either in this Piece, or upon other occaſions, moſt unjuſtly caſt upon him. They are pleaſed to let out reflections tart enough upon perſons, both dead and alive; to which we ſhall only ſay, That ſuch reaſonings of theirs are no dainties to us, to refute mens Arguments and overcome them in their cauſe by branding their perſons; and that as we think the graves of the dead, who are gone out of the world without publick ſcandall, ought to be inviolable; So if thoſe who are alive be not ſtudying ſo much the more to approve themſelves to God, ſure they make a bad uſe of that ſcourge of their tongue, wherewith they have been ſo much and ſo often ſmitten theſe diverſe years bygone. And whereas they are afraid we ſhould forget we have ſome among us who were Prelaticall, and therefore do ſo often tell us of it: and do tell us alſo, (which indeed we never knew before, and having ſearched this teſtimony they would have us credite, we find it an untruth, diſowned by him upon whom they father it) That ſome of us of late did profeſſe our reſpect to the Congregationall way, and our diſlike of the ſubordination of Kirk-Judicatories, pag. 10. We wiſh them to conſider that this reflection, of being Prelaticall (as they tearm it) doth not reach ſome of us only, but others of the worthies of Chriſt elſewhere, who did not at firſt ſee the evil of that way. And as we deſire they may not forget, that the moſt part of thoſe who were honoured by Chriſt to be moſt eminently oppoſite to that courſe, yet alive (as it hath pleaſed the Lord in great and remarkable mercy to preſerve them in His Church to this day) ſome two or three, at moſt, only excepted, are alſo oppoſite to the way of theſe Witneſſes: So alſo that they do not charge that too hardly upon any of us, which they know may be retorted upon ſome of themſelves. And we are confident, that who ſo know their way, and their confidents and boſome friends, of whom chiefly they have been making uſe in promoting their cauſe, will eaſily diſcern who run neereſt to Independency. Papiſts were wont to be thought no fit men to defend the Proteſtant Religion; and it may be thought they are none of the fixedeſt Preſbyterians, whoſe (not only perſons, but) projects in reference to that Government are owned as their own cauſe, by men whoſe p. 7principles are known (even the Witneſſes themſelves being judges) to be oppoſit to that Government, and that even when real Presbyterians, unconcerned in us or our differences (ſave in ſo far as they are friends to Truth, and to us for the Truths ſake) do diſown, yea, and act againſt their way.

But paſſing theſe, and many the like paſſages, We ſhall take notice of their Book as it is an Anſwer to the Declaration, wherein three things will be worthy our pains to enquire after. 1. How they have acquit themſelves in Anſwer to that Charge of their ſmall reſpect to the eſtabliſhed Church-government, and their encroachments thereupon? 2. What entertainment they give to the Overtures of Union? 3. What their Doctrine concerning Subordination is? which they do twice ſpeak to, But we ſhall ſpeak to all in one place.

Before we can enter particularly on theſe, Two Exceptions againſt the Title and whole tenour of the Declaration muſt firſt be removed out of the way:

Firſt, Their ſenſe of the whole ſcope and tenour of the Declaration, is, That however we pretend to Union and Peace in it, yet for the matter of it, it looketh like no ſuch thing, but is an heap of bitter invectives and reproaches, and that (like rude painting) without the words in the Frontiſpiece it would never have been owned for any ſuch thing. This charge they ſet-off, both with Scripture and a poetick vein, pag. 4, 5. And again, pag. 74. they quarrel our raking into the bowels of by-gone actings, while we make an offer of peace, &c.

This challenge, we take it, doth relate to the Narrative of the Declaration, premitted to the Offers of an Union, wherein ſome account is given of their former irregular actings and projects. And we ſhall not inſiſt to regrate how much the Scriptures are wreſted or miſapplyed throughout this Piece, and how unſuitable, in our judgment, it is to let looſe a poetick humour upon ſo ſad a ſubject, which calleth for our mourning rather than our mirth; as they have of late begun the taking up of that way in their Paſquils put in peoples hands. But as to the matter it ſelf, had we to do only with theſe Witneſſes, we could eaſily anſwer them, That whatever others unconcerned might judge of the ſuitableneſſe or unſuitableneſſe of that Narrative, in reference to the ſcope and purpoſe of the Declaration; p. 8yet, if that Narrative be true (of which we ſhall hear afterward what they ſay) and if they be the perſons chiefly guilty of carrying-on theſe courſes, it were more fitting they were laying them to heart, and teſtifying their abhorrence thereof, by joyning with their Brethren, than thus to carp and quarrel when their faults are laid open before them in love. And to ſpeak it ſeriouſly, though we are content to bury all thoſe, provided they would hearken to an Union in the Lord: yet we are confident the Lord is ill pleaſed with their way therein, and requireth they ſhould repent and mourn more for the wounds they have given their Mother, than their practice hitherto declareth them to have done. But to expreſſe our ſelves further, for the ſatisfaction of all; we do ingenuouſly profeſſe, that, ſo far as we know the mind of thoſe who emitted that Declaration, their ſcope in that Narrative was no other than what is expreſſed in the cloſe thereof▪ pag. 8. Namely, that it flowed not from any deſign either to defame or irritate, or to charge theſe deſtructive courſes upon all of them: But they conceived (and we do ſtill conceive) that Narrative was neceſſary in that way of application to them; Not only to vindicate themſelves before the world and all good men, that they contended not about trifles in their oppoſition to theſe encroachments; nor yet only to prove their love to peace, in that they would follow, and were willing to agree with thoſe who had ſo far injured the Church and them: But that even in order to Union, they held it their duty to inform thoſe with whom they were dealing, what the tendency of their courſes was, (which poſſibly many who went on in the ſimplicity of their hearts, and joyned with them in ſome things, could not diſcern; never ſuſpecting that their Leaders would ſo far wrong the Government they pretended ſo much to maintain: and the prime Actors, being carried-on in the heat of their paſſion and contradiction, were not in a frame ſeriouſly to conſider of the matter) that ſo they might chooſe rather to cloſe with us, than to continue in that poſture, which could not but inevitably draw them to many the like courſes, ſtill the longer the worſe. And however the matter of Union ſucceeded, (wherein their acquaintance with the humours of ſuch as theſe Witneſſes made their fears far exceed their hopes, which the event ſince hath ſadly confirmed) yet they thought it neceſſary to have this on record as their Teſtimony in behalf of the Church of Scotland, againſt theſe p. 9uſurpations and encroachments, and an exoneration of their conſciences in diſcharging their duty to their Brethren, if ſo be they will ſtill run-on in courſes which draw-on ſo ſad conſequences, rather than joyn in the work of the Lord. As theſe things may ſufficiently vindicate the Authors of the Declaration in this particular; ſo we do not think this needed have hindred peace, had theſe Witneſſes been very earneſt for it. For though it was then complained how they had defamed their Mother-Church and Brethren, and now we are ſure they owe us nothing of this coyn in this Pamphlet; yet we ſincerely profeſſe we are ſo far from being irritated, (however grieved) that for our part, we thirſt the more for an Union in the Lord, as perceiving there will be no end of fruitleſſe jangling, while we continue at this work; and are content that, upon an Union, there be the faireſt way can be deviſed for burying all theſe things in oblivion.

Secondly, They have another quarrel at the Title of the Declaration: for, whereas it is called A Declaration of the Brethren who are for the eſtabliſhed Government and Judicatories of this Kirk, they challenge this upon a twofold account.

1. That the Authors thereof ſhould claim to ſuch a title, even in reference to thoſe of their own judgment, it being but the deed of a Juncto acting in an extrajudicial capacity, and not proceeding from any Church-authority; That many of our Brethren were not privie to it, nor are ſatisfied with it, and that it hath not been owned (as they were made to expect) by Church-judicatories, nor tendered to the Proteſters by them; But that Synods being put to it by them, did refuſe to declare themſelves whether they would owne it or not, till the other Brethren ſhould firſt declare themſelves ſatisfied therewith. This is their language, pag. 7, 8. But afterward finding it was owned by Judicatories, they adde a Poſtſcript, pag. 119, 120. wherein they quarrel, partly, the wronging of the liberty of Presbyteries and Synods, that ſuch a Paper ſhould firſt be publiſhed by private perſons, and then endeavours uſed to engage the Judicatories in the approbation thereof: and partly, the different wayes of Presbyteries in order to that Paper; ſome not having as yet owned or tendered it, ſome approving but a part of it, others all of it; ſome taking Inſtruments in the hands of civil Notaries of their tendering thereof to their Proteſting Brethren; and ſome, upon p. 10the Proteſters refuſing to condemn the practices and propoſals mentioned in that Declaration, as contrary and deſtructive to the Government, having declared them to be ſuch as diſſent from the Government it ſelf.

To all this we give this return▪ 1. We need not trouble the world, far leſſe do we owe theſe Witneſſes (in the poſture they now are) an account how or by whom that Declaration was contrived. As they pretend themſelves not altogether ſtrangers to the mind of their Brethren in theſe matters, pag. 4. So the publiſhers of that Declaration can give a good account of the ſenſe of their Brethren throughout the Land, which gave a riſe to that buſineſs: yea, themſelves might have ſpared this challenge, had they remembered the Conference for Union, Anno 1655. As we ſuppoſe they did not think they were treating with a Juncto then, to make peace with them only, but did expect an Union in all the Judicatories of this Church, had they agreed▪ and yet themſelves did treat but in an extrajudicial capacity, and thoſe with whom they treated were but ſome very few in compariſon of thoſe who are oppoſit to them, and acted alſo in an extrajudicial capacity, though they knew the mind of their Brethren through the Country: So they may remember that the Declaration containeth little or nothing, for matter and ſubſtance, but what was treated on there. Their Propoſals for extrajudicial Committees were rejected there, though indeed they had not then gone the length to ſeek to have them impoſed on this Church. They will not complain that the Overtures for Union, mentioned in the Declaration, were not heard of there; ſince they tell us afterward that more was then offered, pag. 75. And for their irregular actings, they were not omitted in the Remedies for bygones, and Cautions for preventing the like in time to come. And as to the ſlanders they caſt upon this Church, and the matter of the Order concerning Intrants to the Miniſtery, we hope they do not believe it is a Juncto only, that are diſſatisfied therewith. From all which it doth appear, that what was ſpoken-to in that Declaration had been looked on formerly by themſelves, as the judgment of thoſe who were oppoſit to them, and yet they muſt enquire whoſe it is, and who do own it. 2. As to the after-approbation of the Declaration by the Judicatories, we ſhall not inſiſt to tell them, how ill it relliſheth to hear them condemn the publiſhing of p. 11extrajudiciall Papers, or want of regard to the liberty of Judicatories, whoſe practice it hath been thoſe years by-gone to trample on Judicatories, and to obtrude their extrajudiciall Papers upon them. We do only remark, that they are very induſtrious to find quarrels; for, in the beginning of the Pamphlet, they leave it as an imputation, that that Paper was not owned by Church-judicatories, and when they find it otherwiſe, they ſtart a new quarrell. But to the thing it ſelf, As upon the one hand, it hath been the conſtant practice to deal in theſe matters of Union i… an extrajudiciall way; and ſo the publiſhing of that Declaration in that ſame way cannot be quarrelled: So, if Judicatories have voluntarily (without the encroaching of any upon their liberty to engage them) judged it neceſſary to approve it for the matter, that ſo it might be more effectuall for promoving an Union, we ſee not what wrong is done to Judicatories thereby; Nor do we ſee any contradiction betwixt theſe two, that materially it was their judgement before, (though it had not been the ordinary way to publiſh matters of that kind firſt by the Judicatories, ſeing we wanted a Generall Aſſembly, and no other Judicatory could declare for all the Church) and that ſince they have formally owned it to prevent all cavillations againſt it, ſuch as now thoſe Witneſſes urge to render it uneffectuall, as being but a privat Paper. 3. It being now (as we are informed) generally owned by the Judicatories, and that before we had any knowledge of this their Anſwer's coming to the Preſſe, (ſay what they will to the contrary) it is not very much to edification that we ſhould ſearch throughout the Countrey for an Anſwer to what they alleage of ſome Synods entertaining their motions concerning the Declaration, or of matters of fact about the way of owning it, eſpecially when their generall diſcourſe leaves us to our conjectures, what Judicatories in particular they would reflect upon. This we will confidently maintain, That ſome Presbyteries not owning of the Declaration judicially as yet, is no argument that they will not owne it, or (ſuppoſe they do not owne it judicially, nor tender it to their Brethren, who are more peaceable than elſewhere, and free from any acceſſion to theſe diſorders complained of) that they do not approve of it; That though other Presbyteries did only owne the Overtures of Union at firſt, (waving the Narrative) if ſo be they might bring up their Diſſenting Brethren to accept thereof, yet this may well prove their peaceable p. 12temper, but not their diſallowing of the Narrative, as their after approbation thereof hath made manifeſt; And that what ever they ſay of the diſſatisfaction of ſome of our judgement with it, or ſome parts of it, (which though it be not proven, yet we willingly grant it can never be expected that any ſhould own all the particular expreſſions in a concluded Paper which they cannot alter, nor is it neceſſary they ſhould do ſo) yet there are none of our Brethren but they owne the matter, and do concur in condemning their Declinatours, irregular practices, propoſals, and what elſe is condemned therein, and in approving the Overtures of Union. Nor do we ſee any cauſe why they ſhould quarrell, that Brethren appointed to tender the Declaration to ſuch of them as do not meet in Presbytery with their Brethren, ſhould return an authentick teſtimony of their diligence to them who ſent them; ſeing that is not unuſuall in diverſe caſes without any imputation upon men. And for what they ſay, ſome declared of their diſſent from the Government; though we can ſpeak nothing as to the truth of the thing, nor do we know from what particular Presbyteries to ſeek information; and we know ſome Presbyteries challenged by them upon this account, have vindicated themſelves that they never meant to charge upon them, that intentionally they did diſſent from it; yet they will not ſoon ſatisfie and ſilence all who have that opinion, that their principles and actings tend that way.

2. Another quarrell they have againſt the Title, is, that hereby the Authors of the Declaration do exclude them as not being for the Government: for, ſo they complain of the Title and other paſſages in the Declaration, pag, 11, 12. To which this anſwer in the generall may ſuffice, That it is a truth, we are for the ſettled Government and Judicatories of this Church; it is alſo true, they have diſſented from us in the matter of that Government, not only in quarrelling and endeavouring to overturn the conſtitution of two ſucceſſive ſupream Judicatories of this Church; but (as we will hear more fully afterward) in projecting and endeavouring to lay aſide the ordinary way of exerciſing that Government, by the Judicatories inſtituted by Chriſt, and yet continued with us, and to act in a new and extrajudiciall way. And therefore, though we will not judge of ther intentions, and the Authors of the Declaration never minded that deſignation, as excluſive of them: yet, we p. 13fear not to aſſert, that theſe actings and propoſals of theirs, are (upon the matter, and as to the nature and tendencie of the work, which is all they can faſten upon the paſſages of the Declaration cited by them) contrary and deſtructive to the Government, and conſequently had need to be the better looked to by them, who would clear themſelves of any ſuch imputation.

This (in the particular proſecution of it) leadeth us to the firſt head propounded; And ſeing they ſpend much of this Pamphlet in vindicating themſelves in this particular, we will therefore examine how they acquit themſelves, leaving their defence about the matter of Subordination till the cloſe of all, as was ſaid before.

In the generall, they clear themſelves of this charge, partly, by a ſolemn profeſſion, that their fear of our ruining the Government, and other Ordinances of God, and the work of Reformation, and their deſire to edifie His Body, made them differ from us, and act theſe things which we call irregular, diſorderly, and deſtructive: Partly, by appealing to their actings, in profeſſing, preaching, printing for this Government and no other, in owning themſelves as members, obeying juſt Sentences, &c. and partly by ſolemn taking God to record in this matter. So pag, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. To this generall we anſwer, 1. Whatever they retain of reſpect to that Government, yet this Piece will abundantly clear that they will never owne it in any hands but their own; They will not ſubmit to Judicatories, nor allow of a General Aſſembly, ſo long as the plurality is oppoſit to them, as we will after hear▪ And as their actings are not only really deſtructive to the Government as it is now eſtabliſhed and exerciſed in this Church, (which way of expreſſing our grievance we know not why they carp at, pag. 18. ſeing their acknowledging themſelves members of Presbyteries and Synods, &c. pag. 13. ſeemeth to us to import an approbation of the exerciſe thereof in our Judicatories, as an Ordinance of Chriſt) but inconſiſtent with the exerciſe of Presbyterial Government in any reformed Church, no leſſe than in this: So we fear that thoſe tentations they alleage to have been caſt in their way, pag. 16. (though we deny that ever any juſt provocation hath been given) have prevailed more to hide the tendendencie of their way from ſome of them than they are aware, being but too well known to be impatient of any contradiction. 2. As to what they alleage of their fears of us; p. 14This is not the proper place to diſcuſſe the other particulars concerning our ruining the Ordinances of God and work of Reformation. And whatever they alleage of this, Yet no deſire of theirs to edifie the body of Chriſt, nor any wrong ſuppoſed to be done by us, can warrant them to do a reall wrong to the Government, and ſo ſin againſt God, who needs not their ſinfull courſes either to promove any of His holy ends, or to prevent hurt from the ſin of others. But as to the matter of the Government (which is the queſtion in hand) and their fears of us; As we are confident they will get no Compurgators in this cauſe among un-byaſſed men, friends to this Government: So, we hope impartiall obſervers will here take notice of their ſpirit and way (whereby they may know them the better in other things) who dare aſſert to the world, That they overturn Judicatories, act in matters eccleſiaſticall contrary to the eſtabliſhed order, and out of the road-way, as themſelves afterward confeſſe; do drive deſignes to have the exerciſe of the Government turned out of the right channel, in the moſt materiall things intruſted to the Judicatories by Chriſt, and do make and keep up a rent in this Church: And all this they do (if we believe them) leſt we ſhould ruine the Government, who in all things obſerve the order conſtantly practiſed in this Church ſince the late Reformation. Men would rather ſay, that theſe actings ſpeak that they will really ruin it upon a fear that we may ruin it (take the matter in their own ſenſe) but in effect they do ſo, when we are endeavouring to maintain it. 3. As to their ſolemn taking God to record in this matter, we ſhall not meddle with it, nor with their ſincerity in it, as not belonging to our cognition; nor are we bound to take never ſo ſolemn profeſſions for current payment (which will amount to no more than this, that they ſeriouſly believe their way is not contrary to that Government which they believe to be of God) ſo long as we find mens actings, whereby we may judge of their reſpect or diſreſpect to the Government ſo far as is incumbent to us, whatever their own inward real thoughts be. And here we muſt tell them, that all they alleage (of their profeſſing, preaching and printing for it, of meeting in Presbyteries and Synods, as members, and of the obedience they profeſſe to yeeld) will never ſpeak out their reſpect to it, while they have not ſpared to break the Judicatories of the Church, in a time of ſo many errours, and when her unity was ſo neceſſary, and ſo p. 15have expoſed her as a prey; and while they have not only publickly traduced this Church in her Members and Judicatories, to the ſaddening of friends, and triumphing of enemies; but they themſelves will do nothing, nor ſuffer any thing, but what they are pleaſed to accompt right and juſt, let the Judicatories conclude never ſo often, and have never ſo much to ſay for the juſtice of their proceedings. Theſe are practices which we know not if their coming to the Judicatories, and obſerving what they like of their proceedings, will ſet off as conſiſtent with reſpect to the Government.

But theſe Witneſſes proceed more particularly to vindicate themſelves, by anſwering to theſe things which are laid to their charge as evidences of their wronging the Government. Theſe they profeſſe (pag. 66.) to have inſiſted on, for clearing of themſelves and taking away of that rock of offence upon which we have ſtumbled. And we do heartily wiſh they were able to do it convincingly; for, it would be moſt refreſhfull to all of us to find all the Members of this Church friends indeed (and not in name only) to the Government of the Church. But we are ſorry to find, that in ſtead of rooting out old jealouſies, they have ſtarted new principles which do confirm them, and beget more fears.

And here, in the entry of this debate, we do once for all intreat the judicious Reader to conſider how theſe men, who pretend ſo fair to adhere to Order and Government, and to walk after the pattern of our pious progenitors, do in effect but trace the ſteps of the Remonſtrants or Arminians in the Low-Countries, For who ſo will be pleaſed to peruſe the Acts of the Synod of Dort, with the Preface thereunto prefixed, (Edit. in folio) will find that (not only in their Proteſtations, the tenour and reaſons whereof do homologate that Proteſtation of the Arminians againſt the Synod of Dort; but) in the moſt of their projects and practices here defended, they have ſo exactly paralleled them, as if they had ſet them before them as their copie. Their tumultuous and diſorderly way of planting Congregations (of which we will hear more afterward) was the very practice of theſe Remonſtrants, who made it a great part of their work to obtrude upon vacant Churches, Miniſters addicted to their opinion, excluding (where-ever they could) all others, though never ſo well qualified, and orderly called and deſired by the Churches, In which they did not only miſregard the inclinations p. 16of the people (who by that means were put to hard ſhifts) and deſpiſe the judgment of Claſſes and Synods, but made uſe of force and power, Praefat. pag. 20, 21. ad annum 1611. Neither wanted they a pretence for theſe and the like irregularities, contrary to the eſtabliſhed Order, taken from the diſtempered ſtate of the Church; whereof it was then told them, themſelves had been indeed the cauſe, and their pretending thereof was in effect a gloriation that they had ſo far diſordered all matters, that they could not be remedied, Act. Synod. pag. 87, 88. This is alſo pretended here, pag. 32, 33. and doth deſerve the ſame anſwer. That Order procured by ſome of our Brethren (to which ſomewhat is here alſo ſpoken) wanted not its own pattern among the Remonſtrants, who (that they might encreaſe their own party, and ſeclude others from the Miniſtrie) procured that the election of Miniſters ſhould be (not according to the Order eſtabliſhed in that Church before, but) by four of the Magiſtrates (who, for the moſt part, then in Holland were addicted to them) and other four to be deputed by the Preſbyterie, Praefat. pag. 26. ad annum 1614. As they with us have made themſelves a diſtinct body, and keep their own meetings under the name of the Godly Party; So alſo did the Remonſtrants ſet up their meeting apart from the reſt of their Brethren, for carrying-on their own ends, Praef. pag. 15. As theſe Remonſtrants by bitter invectives in Pulpits and infamous Libels in writ and print, did revile the Proteſtant Doctrine and Teachers, to render them odious, and draw people into their faction, Praef. pag. 14, 20, 21. and frequently: So, this Church hath met with the ſame meaſure from ſuch as theſe Witneſſes, as is notour to the world, and abundantly clear from this very Pamphlet. We have here a great debate for Committees of equal numbers of both judgments, to be choſen by the reſpective parties: And in this alſo the Remonſtrants have led the way to them, who being but a few number in that Church, to make themſelves ſtrong and equall with the Orthodox, did urge it as the firſt of thoſe conditions, upon the granting whereof they would joyn in a Synod, that the Synod ſhould conſiſt of Commiſſioners of equal numbers of both parties, each to be choſen by their own party, Act. Synod. pag. 65, 66. As now it is urged that men ought not to ſubmit to Sentences of lawfull Judicatories which they count unlawfull, and accordingly men who are cenſured do ſtill continue p. 17in the exerciſe of their Miniſtery, pretending that the Sentences are unjuſt: So alſo the Remonſtrants maintained they could not ſubmit to any Sentence, ſave in ſo far as they were convinced in conſceince of the equity and juſtice thereof; and when they were cenſured, they did counteract and go on in the exerciſe of their Miniſtrie. Act. Synod. pag. 66. and Praef. pag. 20. And when it was laid to their charge, that by Non-ſubmiſſion they did violate their engagement at their entry to the Miniſtry, they uſed the ſame ſhifts (for moſt part) which are now caſt in our teeth, Act. Synod. pag. 87, &c. Theſe and many the like paſſages recorded in that Preface, and rejected and refuted in the Synod, may ſhew that it is not without cauſe we are ſuſpicious of their wayes, whom we find to walk in theſe paths, which had well nigh ruined that Church. And who ſo deſireth further ſatisfaction in this matter, we intreat that (beſide the Preface) they will ponder the Remonſtrants Conditiones habendae Synodi, with the Anſwer of the Synod of Delph thereunto, and the judgement of the forreign Divines upon their Declinatour, eſpecially of thoſe of Geneva; All which are recorded in the Acts of that Synod. But we come to the particulars.

I. They vindicate their Proteſtations againſt the two laſt Aſſemblies, as not being deſtructive to the Government, becauſe they profeſſe the contrary in theſe very Proteſtations; and theſe Proteſtations were only made againſt undue qualifications of, and prelimitations made by, perſons aſſuming the exerciſe of Government, which the duty they owe to the Government and preſervation thereof, conſtrained them to teſtifie againſt, after the example of our fathers of old. And they think it ſtrange that the Authors of the Declaration ſhould wrap up the authority of thoſe two Aſſemblies, and of that part of the miniſteriall Church which is of their judgement, in the very being of the Government, as if the Government could not be owned nor ſubſiſt, the authority of theſe meetings being denied, and the corruptions of men diſcovered and acknowledged. So pag. 17, 18.

Anſw. This would have been judged ſtrange doctrine in the Generall Aſſembly, 1638. where it is put in the Sentences of ſeverall of the Prelates, that declining and proteſting againſt the Aſſembly is cenſurable with ſummar Excommunication; and yet theſe Prelates did pretend reaſons of their deed no leſſe valid (themſelves being p. 18Judges) than they think their own to be in their judgement. Yea, we are not forgetfull how it was aſſerted alſo before our differences, by a leading man of that party, acquainted with the Acts of this Church, That proteſting againſt an Act of a Generall Aſſembly, or of Delegats having their power, did deſerve the ſame cenſure. But as to theſe their Proteſtations, ſeing they do here not only endeavour to vindicate themſelves, as doing no wrong to the Government thereby, but all along lay the corrupt conſtitution of theſe Aſſemblies as a crime, to our charge, and do pretend it as a warrant for their irregular actings, and a great obſtruction to unity: (as may be ſeen throughout the Pamphlet) We muſt once for all put them in minde, that this matter hath been ſpoken to already, the nullity of their proceeding in theſe Proteſtations diſcovered, their exceptions againſt theſe Aſſemblies (again repeated in this Pamphlet) anſwered, and the practice of our fore-fathers cleared and vindicated, partly in the Obſervations upon our differences, and partly, in the late Repreſentation, which are unanſwered to this day. And therefore it doth concern them to ſatisfie unbyaſſed men with more ſolid arguments than naked aſſertions, eſpecially in a matter of ſuch importance, againſt which ſo much hath been argued, and upon which they lay ſo much weight, and which, if it prove to be wrong, they muſt undoubtedly conclude themſelves among the moſt turbulent men that have lived in a true reformed Church. In the mean time, till they bethink themſelves of this, we muſt tell them, 1. Their fair Profeſſions in their Proteſtations will not blind the eyes of diſcerning men, to make them believe that they did not wrong the Government thereby, but had a care of the preſervation thereof. Experience teacheth, that worſt of courſes do uſually lay claim to faireſt of pretences, and that Innovators do ordinarily intend the quite contrary to what they pretend; though we ſhall be far from judging ſo of many who followed that courſe in the ſimplicity of their heart. 2. As to their quarrelling, that we wrap the Authority of theſe Meetings and the plurality of other Judicatories (which is the miniſteriall Church of our judgement, as themſelves confeſſe all-along) in the very being of the Government: Though we confeſſe Presbyteriall Government is an Ordinance of Chriſt, and might be owned and ſubſiſt, albeit there were not a Church in Scotland; Yet we are ſure, it is not mens reſpect to the abſtract notion of Church-government, or to the exerciſe p. 19thereof in Ʋtopia, that will prove them friends to it, while in the mean time they oppoſe it as it is exerciſed in the Reformed Churches. And therefore, as we are far from judging the diſcovering of mens corruptions to be deſtructive to the Government, (provided the matter be orderly purſued, and judicially made out, not alleaged only) So we do conſtantly maintain, that their rejecting of the Judicatories of this Church, as not worthy of their truſt, upon the account of the corruption of the plurality thereof, doth in effect overturn the Government in this Church, and ſtriketh againſt it in all Reformed Churches alſo, there being (through the merciemercy of God) generally as fit Officers among us as elſe where. And, as to their Proteſtations, we fear not to aſſert, that thereby they have given the ſaddeſt blow to the Government of this Church, of any it hath met with ſince the Prelats were removed: For hereby they have opened a door to all confuſion; And as they have ſtriken at the being of two Aſſemblies▪ So their Reaſons (if of any weight) will conclude as ſtrongly againſt others before theſe: and their example may teach others (as well as themſelves) to decline all Church-judicatories ſo often as they pleaſe. 3. We wonder how they can alleage prelimitations of theſe Aſſemblies as a proof of their nullity, (ſuppoſe the charge were true, as it hath elſewhere been proven to be a calumnie) when yet they will admit of no Aſſembly as lawfull, without prelimitations enow, yea, where we are the plurality, as they expreſſe themſelves, pag. 91, 93. and elſewhere. This is indeed to give out with one meaſure, and take-in with another.

II. As to the charge of their planting Congregations in a diſorderly way, and counteracting to the determination of Judicatories, in that matter, They do upon the matter confeſſe the thing (and indeed the world knoweth they have acted in a tumultuous and diſorderly way, which themſelves acknowledge to be a fault great enough. pag. 19.) only they ſtrive to mollifie it diverſe wayes.

Firſt, by giving an account of the cauſes moving them ſo to do, which are at length deduced, pag. 19, 20, 21, 22. Namely, That by the Publick Reſolutions, and the Conſtitution and Acts of the late Aſſemblies, malignant men have got up their head in Congregations and Presbyteries, to bring-in others like themſelves, and hold-out able and godly men. All which they think might perſwade them to a preterition of ſome things otherwiſe fit to be obſerved in the courſe of formality and order.

p. 20Anſw. 1. This is indeed a very notable teſtimony they give their Mother-church in the day of her reproach from adverſaries, that (except where they are pleaſed to give charity, and that is where themſelves bear ſway) we have no Church, either Judicatories or Congregations, wherein order is to be obſerved, but an heap of rubbiſh, wherein there may be good ſtones, but no ſtructure: ſo that they muſt take odd wayes of neglecting both Presbyteries and Congregations in planting of Churches. Impartiall obſervers will diſcern what good ſervice this is to the oppoſites of our Church and Government, and what a daſh is hereby given to all the Reformed Churches, among which this was accounted none of the worſt. 2. As to what they ſay of the conſtitution of the Aſſembly at St. Andrews and Dundee, That buſineſſe (as is ſaid) hath been already cleared in the Obſervations and Repreſentation, and that theſe who differed in judgement about the Publick Reſolutions, were neither cited to the Aſſembly (as here they alleage) but ſuch only as perſiſted to preach againſt theſe Reſolutions after conference, were referred to it, as was the cuſtome in like caſes. Nor were they excluded from being elected, ſeing ſome of them were choſen by Preſbyteries where the plurality did differ in judgement from them, and they did both ſit and act in the Aſſembly, till they were pleaſed to decline it and go away. 3. Whereas they lay the weight of this charge of the corruption of the Church upon the Publick Reſolutions, and long ago in their Nullity, they profeſſe that their Proteſtation, and other the like actings, do ſtand or fall upon the juſtice or iniquity of theſe Reſolutions; and all-along in this Piece, it is their great argument, both to juſtifie their actings, and their not accepting the Overtures of Union. We cannot but again put them in mind, that naked aſſertions in this particular will not ſatisfie judicious men, ſeing if they cannot by Scripture and ſound Reaſon condemn theſe Reſolutions, they will not only be found in an errour, but to have rent a true Church in the proſecution and maintenance thereof: And, we believe, unbyaſſed men will judge it very unreaſonable, that they ſhould take liberty thus to ſtart new Quarrels and Debates, as they do in this Pamphlet, till firſt they make it appear they have Truth on their ſide in theſe Debates upon which they firſt began the Rent. They know that both in the Obſervations, and more fully in the Repreſentation, this Queſtion hath been debated with them. p. 21And they would do well to ſatisfie the world with an Anſwer to theſe, before they draw ſuch concluſions, as that a Church muſt be thus overturned, becauſe theſe Reſolutions are owned by it. We are content that that Queſtion (Whether in the caſe of an Invaſion, all the Subjects of a Nation may lawfully be imployed by the Magiſtrate, for the defence of the Publick, and their own private intereſts and concernments?) be taken into conſideration by all Reformed Churches, and are confident that they will abominate our Brethrens principles; who not only do reſolve the Queſtion negatively, but have bred ſo much confuſion, becauſe the Church did owne the affirmative as orthodox, though with much tenderneſſe and many cautions, and that after that the Nation had been already weakned, not only by former ſtroaks, but by the diviſive courſes of thoſe, ſome of whom are not yet wearied of that trade. What can be concluded from this opinion of our Brethren, but a condemnation of all the Proteſtants in Europe? who (not only in the caſe of invaſion, but otherwiſe) do not ſcruple to joyn in the Armies of their ſupream Magiſtates and Confederates, even though they be Papiſts. But we ſhall not inſiſt to repeat what hath been ſpoken more largely on this ſubject: Only, till they make good their aſſertion in this, the moſt of their other aſſertions and practices, mentioned in this Pamphlet, will want a bottom to reſt upon, and can be looked upon no otherwiſe than as the furious actings of men, ruining a Church becauſe ſhe will not erre with them. 4. What they ſpeak of the Mock-repentance of thoſe men who were admitted by the Publick Reſolutions, may eaſily be anſwered, if we conſider, (1.) That ſeing by unanimous conſent, Anno 1648. the body of the People who had concurred in the matter of the Engagement, were eccleſiaſticè purged of that ſcandall, at a ſolemn Humiliation, a very few only were left to be the ſubject matter of that debate. (2.) If theſe men who were not taken-in with the firſt, might have been imployed for the defence of the Nation without the profeſſion of their repentance; yea, ſuppoſe they had been of another Religion (as we believe is made out in the Repreſentation) Then certainly the Queſtion about their Repentance is extrinſick to the lawfulneſſe or unlawfulneſſe of the Publick Reſolutions, though de facto it be an untruth, that theſe Reſolutions were approved before it was determined that ſuch as were to be admitted, and had not yet given p. 22evidence of their repentance ſhould be required to do it. (3.) When theſe men were enjoyned by acts of Aſſembly before our differences to repent of their former courſes, under the hazard of Excommunication; why is it accounted a crime for them to obey, or for the Judicatories to receive them? (4.) When the far greateſt part of them were admitted to repentance, long before theſe Reſolutions came to be debated, yea, before the Aſſembly, 1650. why is the odium thereof caſt upon the Reſolutions, or upon the Commiſſioners of the Aſſembly, 1650, who did aſſert them, and the Aſſembly, 1651. who did approve and ratifie the Judgment of the Commiſſion? (5.) When ſome of the chief of thoſe who were admitted to give evidence of their repentance, about the time of the debate of the Reſolutions, were examined, tried and admitted by men of their own party and judgement, why do they lay it at our door as a mock-repentance? (6.) When the Rule concerning their admiſſion to repentance was found, why is the miſapplication thereof (if any there was) charged upon the makers of the Rule, or the approvers of the Reſolutions? and why is the wickedneſſe of ſome few deſperate perſons (which is all we believe they can inſtruct, if any thing at all) laid to the charge of all who gave evidences of repentance for theſe courſes, as proving them all to have mocked God, and that Church-order muſt be violate, rather than they have any hand in the election of a Miniſter? 5. As for what they ſay of the Acts of theſe Aſſemblies, debarring men of their judgement from the Miniſtrie, and from being members of Presbyteries and Synods; If thoſe Reſolutions be found juſt and orthodox, and thoſe Aſſemblies to have been lawfully conſtituted, (as we are confident to make-out both) they can have no juſt reaſon to carp at theſe Acts concerning thoſe, who (not content to be diſſatisfied, or to have ſufficiently exo…ered themſelves in that matter) do ſtill continue to oppugn the ſame in publick preaching. Yet we adde further, that here was no tentation to break order, ſeing, ſo far as we know, none of theſe Acts have been put in execution, and we are ſure they have acted irregularly in planting of Churches, where ex certa ſcientia we know that, out of love to peace, men of their judgement are admitted Elders both in Presbyteries and Synods, and where no Intrants to the Miniſtrie are put to give obedience to any of theſe Acts. 6. Whereas they aſſert that, by reaſon of theſe p. 23Reſolutions and Acts, malignant men have got up the head in Preſbyteries and Congregations, to keep out godly men from the Miniſtrie, and to bring-in others like themſelves, who make ſad the hearts of the godly, &c. (1.) If they mean by malignant men in Presbyteries, thoſe who do owne the Publick Reſolutions, and the late Aſſemblies, and conſequently are oppoſit to them upon that account, and becauſe they will not hearken to any termes of Peace, unleſſe they get all their will in theſe particulars: We confeſſe they will find us all not aſhamed to own that courſe, which yet we will not grant to be malignant, but are ready to abide the triall, whether the characters of Malignants, held forth by this Church, be more applicable unto them than to us in theſe things, and in their and our late actings. But for any men who owne malignant courſes in our Judicatories, or are oppoſite to the work of Reformation, in Doctrine, Worſhip, or Government, or to true Holineſſe, we confeſſe we know them not; (except what ſuch as theſe Witneſſes may be guilty of) And if ſuch a charge be made-out againſt any, we are confident the Judicatories will ſatisfie the world, that they are not ſuch a corrupt crew as they are ſaid to be in this Pamphlet. (2) As for their power in Congregations, though we may be bold to challenge them upon the truth of the aſſertion, that theſe men bear any ſuch ſway in Congregations, at leaſt in any conſiderable number of them: Yet, (ſuppoſing it were ſo) we deſire they may condeſcend, if in any Congregation, any of theſe men have endeavoured to bring-in a Miniſter, who is not orthodox in his judgment, of competent abilities for the work of the Lord, and of a blamleſſe and godly converſation. Though poſſibly they, and others than they, be not deſirous to have a Proteſter, (at leaſt ſome of that ſtamp) if it were but upon the very account of what is owned in this Piece, that being once in, he would play Pope among them, and not ſubmit to his competent Judges, ſave in ſo far as he pleaſed to reckon their proceedings juſt, and ſo they ſhould have a poor life with him. However, this alſo is but a pretext only as to their violation of order; ſeing (though there were nothing to ſay againſt the thing it ſelf) they have acted irregularly where there was no ſuch ſhadow of a pretence, but have violently born down the members of a Congregation, the plurality (if not all) of whom have been ſtraight from the beginning of the late Reformation. With all, we never dream'd (till Mr. Rutherfurd p. 24ſtarted it in his Preface to his late Survey, wherein we are ſorry to find ſo much drop from his Pen to the prejudice of his Mother-Church, and (as we conceive) to the diſadvantage of the cauſe he maintaineth in his Book) That we and they had differed about the admiſſion of thoſe perſons to Church-communion upon their giving ſigns of repentance: But they ſtill yeelding that we might take them in to Church-fellowſhip and communion, did deny the conſequence, that therefore they might be admitted to Camp-fellowſhip; (how rationally they did ſo, let unbyaſſed men judge) Now, if theſe men be eccleſiaſticè purged from their ſcandals, and admitted to communicate in Ordinances; common ſenſe will dictate, that they cannot be denied the priviledge of Church-members, in making choice of thoſe who are to diſpenſe theſe Ordinances unto them. We find indeed that the Aſſembly, 1649. appointing theſe who had been upon the Engagement to be received to give evidences of their Repentance, did ordain alſo that ſome ranks of theſe ſhould not be admitted to be Elders in Judicatories, but according to an Act of the Aſſembly, 1647. But theſe Witneſſes do ſo ſpeak in generals, that we know not whether thoſe perſons they talk of, be ſuch as ought to be ſecluded by that Act, or whether they quarrell their actings as members of the Congregation only, or as Elders alſo. And we do the rather queſtion this, becauſe we find they do not ſtick to paſſe-by the plurality of Elderſhips where no ſuch exception can be taken. Beſide, that Act, 1647. (to which the other relateth) doth debar them from Eccleſiaſtical charge, only till the report of the evidence of their Repentance be made to the Synod and General Aſſembly, and their conſent obtained to their bearing charge, which we ſuppoſe was done in the Generall Aſſembly, 1651. where the Reſolutions and admitting of theſe perſons were, after grave examination, approven. And further, It is in that Act provided, that if any be already received into the Elderſhip of a particular Congregation, yet he ſhall (not be extruded, but) not admitted to be a member of Presbyterie, Synod, or General Aſſembly, without the approbation and conſent aforeſaid, which doth not ſeclude him from having hand in the election of a Miniſter in that particular Elderſhip. We grant alſo that the Aſſembly, 1649. in the Directory for election of Miniſters, do appoint that where the Congregation is diſaffected and malignant, the Presbyterie provide them with a Miniſter. But that p. 25cannot be extended to any perſons, who, being Eccleſiaſticè purged from their former miſcarriages, do not of new involve themſelves in any the like courſe. And however, it is the Presbyterie, and not Brethren of other Presbyteries, acting in an irregular way, who are intruſted in this matter. But the truth is, the ſcope and way of theſe Witneſſes, and ſuch as homologate their principles, is, under this and the like pretexts, to lay aſide Presbyterie, Elderſhip, Congregation and all, if they be not of their mind, and upon the deſire of never ſo few of their party, to obtrude a Miniſter upon the whole Congregation, that …o they may encreaſe their faction. (3.) As for the character they give of Miniſters admitted by us, whileas they cry-up thoſe whom they admit irregularly, we repel it as a foul calumny, and do again repeat what hath formerly been aſſerted to the world, That we have admitted as many able and qualified men ſince our differences, as hath been done in any ſo much time ſince our late Reformation. And though we are really unwilling to rake into that which calleth us all to mourn; Yet our duty to defend Chriſts Order in His own Houſe, neceſſitateth us to ſay, That if theſe Witneſſes will remember what mark God hath put upon their irregular actings in the perſon of one, who (as we remember) was the firſt in this Kirk obtruded by them in a violent and diſorderly way, on a Congregation, upon the account of piety, we think it may warn them to be ſober in theſe aſſertions. For our part, we truſt we have obtained merciemercy to love piety, and have much longed to ſee more fruits of it among thoſe who make ſo much noiſe, among which we eſteem this a ſpecial fruit, if men were more ſober and orderly in their walk, and more ſparing in talking of their piety, and crying-up of themſelves. And thus, we have done with this firſt part of their Apologie, wherein we have inſiſted the longer now, that we may ſave our ſelves much labour when we ſhall ſo often meet with theſe things again in this Pamphlet.

Secondly, But leſt it might be objected, that no ſuch faults of the Judicatories and Congregations did warrant them to ſin and break Order: They mollifie their practice further, pag. 22. by telling us that what they do is a ſinleſſe preterition of ſome things, otherwiſe fit to be obſerved in the courſe of formality and order; and that as they do nothing ſinfull and evil of it ſelf, ſo they do nothing from contempt or diſreſpect to the leaſt point of order, and have kept p. 26within the bounds warranted and allowed unto them of God. This general ſeemeth to us very ſtrange Divinity, that the intruding of a Miniſter againſt the conſent of the plurality of the Elderſhip and Congregation, to whom belongeth the giving of the Call, and without the concurrence or conſent of the Presbyterie, to which that Congregation is ſubordinate, to his Ordination, is but a ſinleſſe preterition of a formality, and no tranſgreſſion of the bounds warranted of God. And we cannot but look upon them as ſcorning us, when they ſay they break Order, but not out of contempt or diſreſpect to it. But afterward, pag. 34. we find them endeavouring to clear this matter further, where, in ſtead of ſaying any thing to the intereſt of the Congregation wronged by them, they take it for granted that the man is lawfully called by the Congregation whom the Presbyterie conſpireth to keep-out; Which indeed is unhandſomly to beg a great part of the Queſtion, beſide the unjuſt aſperſion caſt upon the Presbyterie. And as to the wrong done to the Preſbyterie by others medling to ordain a Miniſter within their bounds, they are pleaſed to rectifie our judgements and conceptions, by telling us (in application of their diſtinction betwixt the eſſentials and circumſtantials of Presbyterial Government, premitted, pag. 33.) that in the matter of Ordination, this is of ſcriptural divine inſtitution, that a Miniſter be ordained by a plurality of Presbyters, but that he be ordained by ſuch a number, officiating in ſuch a bounds, the Scripture hath not determined: Whence they infer, that in caſe a Presbyterie conſpire to hold-out one who is lawfully called, and rightly qualified, it is no breach upon the being and eſſentials of the Government, if he receive his Ordination and Admiſſion from a neighbouring Presbyterie, eſpecially when the conſpiracy is general, and no remedy can be had by a ſuperiour Judicatorie.

Anſw. Not to inſiſt upon the falſhood of this Aſſertion, That there is a conſpiracie in any Presbyterie, far leſſe a general conſpiracie to hold out a godly man, lawfully called and rightly qualified, becauſe he is not of our judgment (though it were no declining from truth in him to be ſo) We muſt ſay it, that whatever may be ſaid in defence of Ordination by Presbyters only, in a Church not conſtituted; Yet it is new and ſtrange Divinity to ſet up and maintain that practice in a Church conſtituted and ſetled in her Judicatories, and particularly in this Church, where the like aſſertion or practice was p. 27never heard of before ſince the Reformation of Religion, and that notwithſtanding all the tyrannical conſpiracies of the Prelats to hold out godly men from the Miniſtrie: But it would have been judged (as indeed it is) an utter ſubverting of Church-government as it hath been exerciſed (not only now, but) ever ſince we had Judicatories, that a Presbyterie, or Miniſters of divers Presbyteries (which indeed is the caſe, though in effect a Presbyterie are but ſo many Preſbyters to all thoſe who are not under their juriſdiction, or whoſe ſcandals fall not to be cognoſced by them, as to any Eccleſiaſticall power they can exerciſe over them) ſhould intrude themſelves within the bounds of another Presbyterie, and there do the work of that Presbyterie in a Congregation ſubordinate to them, without, yea, againſt their conſent: And that the ſuppoſed faults of Presbyteries ſhould be redreſſed by others who have no juriſdiction over them, and not by their reſpective ſuperiour Judicatories only. We find the Scripture giveth the power of Ordination to the Preſbyterie, 1 Tim. 4.14. which is more than the plurality of Presbyters only. And Mr. George Gilleſpie in his Aſſertion of the Government of the Church of Scotland, part. 2. chap. 3. pag. 132. doth reject Sutlivius his gloſſe upon the word, who by the Presbyterie underſtandeth only the Miniſters of the Word, Non juris vinculo, ſed utcunque collectos, i. e. gathered and conveened together, not by vertue of any legal bond or aſſociation, but, as it may be, occaſionally and accidentally for ſuch a buſineſſe: Which is as like the way of our Brethren in this particular as one thing can be like another. To this may be added, that the ſecond Book of Diſcipline (to which they profeſſe to adhere, pag. 13.) doth reſtrict the exerciſe of the power of Presbyteries (then called particular Elderſhips) to the bounds committed to their charge, or where they govern: This, or the equivalent reſtriction, is four times repeated, chap. 7. pag. 80, 81. and thrice in that Act of Parliament, eſtabliſhing Presbyteriall Government, prefixed to the Books of Diſcipline, pag. 20. As for their diſtinction betwixt what is of Scripturall inſtitution, and what not; or, (as they have it, pag. 33.) of poſitive humane inſtitution, to be regulated by that great end of Edification, and altered accordingly: Mr. Gillespie in the foreſaid Treatiſe, part. 2. chap. 6 pag. 160, 161, 162, 163. hath abundantly cleared, that the determination of the ſeveral ſorts of Eccleſiaſticall Aſſemblies, are left to be particularly p. 28determined by the Church, conform to the light of nature and general rules of Gods Word, and that theſe particular kinds of Aſſemblies, appointed by the Church according to the light and rules foreſaid, do fall within the compaſſe of theſe things which are Divino-Eccleſiaſtica, mixed, though not meer divine Ordinances: Which alſo concludeth ſtrongly for the bounding of theſe Aſſemblies to be of the ſame nature. For, the Word of God having appointed ſo many Paſtors and Elders as can with conveniency ordinarily meet together, out of the Congregations in a convenient circuit, to make up a common Presbyterie, which hath power and authority to govern theſe Congregations, as is held out in the ſaid Treatiſe, part. 2. chap. 3. pag. 146, 147. And the Church having now determined (according to theſe common rules) theſe ſeveral meetings to be common Presbyteries in their reſpective bounds; If we hold theſe meetings, ſo bounded to be only of poſitive humane inſtitution, we deſire to know wherein Presbyterial Government is an Ordinance of Chriſt, more than is in any reformed Church, where there are a plurality of Presbyters, but no Judicatories erected? It is true, the circuit of their juriſdiction hath been fixed by the Judicatories with an eye to that great end of Edification, viz. by having reſpect to the conveniency of their meeting for doing their work to edification, and accordingly, Aſſemblies have found it for edification to erect new Preſbyteries for the better accommodation of Miniſters and People; all which being done according to the light of nature and generall rules of the Word, they become, ſo conſtituted, divine Ordinances. But that they are ſo alterable in ſubſerviency to edification (in theſe Witneſſes ſenſe and the way defended by them) as that when perſons under the juriſdiction of a Presbyterie do judge that they act not to edification, they may turn their back upon them and all other eſtabliſhed Judicatories, and betake themſelves to any plurality of Presbyters, who will act theſe things which they judge to be to edification: And that other Miniſters, who have no power over that Presbyterie, may come in upon their work and act authoritatively in, and over the Congregations committed to their charge; We believe it will be judged a paradox by all thoſe who underſtand any thing of Church-government. And it needs not be thought ſtrange that thoſe Brethren do refuſe ſubmiſſion to their own reſpective Judicatories, ſo long as they maintain that they may uſurp upon the power committed p. 29to others when they pleaſe. This aſſertion of the divine authority of Presbyteries, as they are bounded according to the light of nature and general rules of the Word, may be further confirmed from the teſtimonie of the Author of the Courſe of Conformity, who, pag. 129. maketh uſe of the ſame notion of mixed Ordinances, and doth ſo proſecute the ſame, pag. 135, 136, 137, &c. as doth demonſtratively conclude that no Goſpel-Ordinance, adminiſtrated by this or that man, in this or that place, no Prayer conſiſting of ſuch and ſuch petitions only and not others, no Sacrament adminiſtred in theſe individuall elements, and many the like particulars, are divine Ordinances, unleſſe we allow theſe to be divine Ordinances, which are determined in the generall by the Word, and in their particular circumſtances (not needfull, nor poſſible or convenient to be determined in the Word) by the light of nature and general rules of the Word. We may alſo appeal to the judgement of the Reverend Aſſembly of Divines, in their Anſwer to the Reaſons of the Diſſenting Brethren, Edit. Edinb. 1648. pag. 231. Where, though they profeſſe not to plead an expreſſe inſtitution, that ſuch Synods muſt be neceſſarily thus and thus bounded, &c. (as neither Independents nor they can plead for the number and bounds of particular Congregations) yet they do affirm, that Synods, thus bounded, are agreeable to, and warranted by the Word of God. And again, pag. 237 they make the ſame parallel betwixt the bounding of Synods and Congregations, as being to be regulated by the generall rules of the Word, and particular circumſtances of times, places and perſons. But leaving theſe to be further pondered by them who ſhall read theſe Treatiſes themſelves, We deſire further, that all diſcerning Readers will take notice of theſe few (of many) abſurdities which will be found to follow upon this principle, as it is aſſerted and put in practice by them. 1. Whereas it hath been the work of all friends to Presbyteriall Government, to prove that it bringeth not Congregations under any forreign juriſdiction (as Prelats ſubjected all to themſelves and their Cathedrall Churches) ſeing all the Congregations within the bounds of a Presbyterie are ruled in common by their own Paſtors and Elders aſſembled together; This doth indeed bring-in a forreign juriſdiction both upon Presbyteries and People, when a company of Presbyters (who are neither Synod nor General Aſſembly ſet over them by Chriſt, nay, nor any Eccleſiaſtical Court p. 30at all) ſhall take upon them to judge of the Call given by a People, of the qualifications of him who is to be their Miniſter, and of the Presbyteries carriage and judging in that matter, and ſo ſhall proceed to the ordination of the Miniſter. 2. By what divine warrant a plurality of Presbyters may act authoritatively in things belonging to a neighbouring Presbyterie, they may by the ſame warrant act in Presbyteries never ſo remote, at leaſt within the National Church; And by what warrant they may judge of the Call and Qualifications of a man for the Miniſtery, and accordingly ordain him Miniſter of a Congregation within the bounds of another Presbyterie, if they judge the Presbyterie conſpireth to hold him out, by the ſame warrant they may alſo depoſe a Miniſter, or Miniſters, in Presbyteries, if they judge their reſpective Presbyteries conſpire to hold them in: (for, we believe the power of Miniſters in both theſe, is of a like extent) and ſo a few Presbyters may plant all the vacant Congregations, and depoſe never ſo many Miniſters throughout a National Church in deſpight of all the ſtanding Judicatories, who are hereby made but ſo many ciphers to ſignifie nothing; Yea, by this principle, may not ſome number of Presbyters, perhaps erroneous and hereticall, plant all the Congregations in a Nationall Church, upon the Call of ſome few of their own mind; and yet violate nothing that is divine in Presbyteriall Government? 3. By this principle no man is bound to look upon a Presbyterie ruling the Congregations in ſuch a circuit, as a divine ſcripturall Ordinance, more than any company of Presbyters met together; Seing all wherein the one differeth from the other is but of humane inſtitution, as they ſay. 4. No perſon within the bounds of a Presbyterie ſhall be bound to owne their own Presbyterie, as an Ordinance of God, to which they ought to ſubmit and give an account of their actions: But they may as well betake themſelves to any other Presbyters nearer or further off; and if they ſatisfie them, they may reckon they have done enough for obeying any divine Ordinance in this matter. 5. May not people alſo within a Congregation, upon the ſame account, refuſe ſubmiſſion to their own Miniſter, and betake themſelves to any other? And may not Miniſters intrude upon the Congregations of their Brethren without the tranſgreſſion of any Ordinance of God, Seing the bounding of Congregations is of human inſtitution, as well as that of Presbyteries, as the Aſſembly of Divines p. 31do urge againſt Independents, in the paſſages before cited, and of which we may reade a witty diſcourſe of Mr. Samuel Hieron in the Pulpits patronage, by Thomas Ball, part. 3. ch. 4. arg. 9. where he compareth ſuch Overturners of theſe ſetled bounds, to a fellow who told him he cut timber out of other mens hedges, becauſe God never made hedges. Theſe and many the like conſiderations do make it evident, that theſe Witneſſes in ſtead of wyping off, have added new jealouſies of their way; and that while they make it their work to advance their party, they little conſider into what inconveniences they thruſt themſelves, nor what a door of confuſion they open to all Innovators.

Thirdly, They labour to clear themſelves in this matter by recrimination; telling us (pag. 22.23.) That we have intruded men upon their ſetled Miniſters; have divided and ſeparated from the body of Presbyteries, being but a ſmall part thereof; have counteracted and cauſed people counteract Determinations of Presbyteries and Synods; That Synods have taken things out of the hands of Preſbyteries, where there was neither reference nor appeal, nor mal-adminiſtration; have refuſed to acknowledge Miniſters for members, though duely called, tried and ordained; and that ſome Synods have taken upon them the power of a General Aſſembly.

Anſw. Were all theſe true charges and unqueſtionable faults, yet we know they have better skill than to think they can juſtifie their fault by our committing of another. But in ſo far as we can underſtand theſe general challenges (and we wiſh they had made them out more diſtinctly) we doubt not ſufficiently to clear our ſelves, not only as to the matter, but to the obſervation of Order in them. And, 1. If after a Miniſter is orderly called, and upon his trials before the Presbyterie in order to his admiſſion, ſome of them in the mean time in a few dayes huddle up the trials of another, who is deſired by ſome of their party in the Congregation, and do thruſt him in over the belly of People, Presbyterie, and the perſon who is already called; We truſt none will count it a crime, that the Preſbyterie proceed in their orderly way to ſet over the People the man whom they have called, and to whom they do ſtill adhere. Or, ſuppoſe they in their precipitant way, (as they uſe not in theſe caſes to obſerve the preſcribed Order) do take the ſtart of Presbyterie and People, and thruſt-in a man; we do not believe that any will condemn p. 32the Presbyterie, if they hearken unto a People, and ſet a Miniſter over them according to the appointed Order, ſeing they cannot in conſcience ſubmit to ſuch an Intruder, and are rather willing to maintain another (if the legal maintenance be otherwayes diſpoſed of) than be brought into ſuch bondage: To do otherwayes were not only to approve of their uſurpations, but to wrong the liberty of the People, and ſubject them to an intolerable ſlavery; though otherwiſe we have forborn to meddle with ſuch as they have thruſt-in, where the People do not make a grievance of it. 2. It hath been often denied that the guilt of ſeparation and dividing of Preſbyteries lieth at the door of thoſe who adhere to the Judicatories of the Church, and would they ſubmit the matter to the trial of any competent Judge, it would appear to be ſo. But they have now taken-up a way of being both Judge and Party in their own cauſe, and ſo are ſure not to loſe. And were it for edification to ſearch the Country for ſtories of fact, and trouble the world in print with them, it were an eaſie thing to make the injuſtice of this charge appear. This we aſſert, that all they can ſay in this matter in places which we know, is, That becauſe the Brethren of a Presbyterie would not owne, nor ſit with ſuch as were depoſed by the General Aſſembly (who, with poſſibly one or two of their adherents, would presbyterially condemn all the proceedings of the Aſſemblies) but did meet together apart to do the work of the Lord incumbent to them, therefore they muſt be accounted dividers from their Preſbyterie. And in another Presbyterie, which in time of the troubles had not met for a year, ſome Proteſters (at the inſtigation of ſome of their Leaders) having called the Brethren together occaſionally, without conveening Moderator and Clerk, did approve of the Proteſtation againſt the Aſſembly at St. Andrews and Dundee, which when ſome Brethren, who met with them, perceived, they deſerted that meeting, and did acquaint the Moderator therewith, who (as it was proper to him) appointed time and place for the meeting of all the Presbyterie: But theſe Proteſters, who had formerly met, would never meet with them any more, but keeped their own adjournments and meetings to this day, notwithſtanding all the endeavours of the Synod to unite them. All which being duely conſidered, will leave the diviſion at their door, ſeing they would not conveen at the Call of the Moderator, whoſe office it was to call p. 33them together, after ſo long an intermiſſion, at leaſt it ought to have been firſt deſired of him. Nor did the Presbyterie conveen, ſecluding them, but they were called with the reſt, and when they refuſed to come, were earneſtly followed by their Brethren; and it was a long time after, before the Synod (having much and often dealt with them to unite) did proceed to declare theſe to be the Presbyterie they would owne, who ſhould meet together at a time and place fixed by them. Which they could not forbear to do any longer, unleſs they would leave all the affairs within theſe bounds in a confuſion. 3. For our cauſing people counteract the Determinations of their own Synods, it is a thing we profeſs ignorance of, and do take it for a calumny unleſs they make it out. But that People or Miniſters have been warranted to counteract the Determinations of Presbyteries, when their ſuperiour Judicatories have condemned theſe their Determinations, and reponed the parties injured to their right, we hope is agreeable to the Rules of Government; and what elſe they can mean by that general challenge, we confeſs we cannot divine. 4. That Synods have found mal-adminiſtrations in Preſbyteries, and ſo have taken matters out of their hands (according to the Order) when yet theſe Presbyteries did not find any mal-adminiſtration in their own actings, we believe is true enough; But we hope this will be found no crime, unleſs we make Presbyteries their own Judges, to determine when they are right and when wrong, and diſallow that Synods take any thing from them, either upon appeal or mal-adminiſtration, except they will firſt be pleaſed to be convinced they have been in the wrong. 5. That Synods (though they have forborn to quarrel mens exerciſe of their Miniſterie in Congregations where they have been diſorderly planted, when the Congregation maketh no oppoſition to them, as it falleth out in ſome few places; Yet) will not owne theſe as members of their Synods who are thus admitted, either by Miniſters without the bounds of the Presbyterie, or by Miniſters within the bounds, who make themſelves a Presbyterie, and will neither unite with their Brethren, nor be ſubordinate to the Synod, is, we hope, the moſt ſober and fair teſtimonie can be given againſt their encroachments and uſurpation, and will be condemned by none but thoſe who would have us (as they elſewhere phraſe it) ſtoop like Aſſes, and bear all their irregularities, and approve all they do. 6. That a Synod, yea, p. 34and Presbyteries of their judgment, take upon them the power of a General Aſſembly, is but too notour, in their judicial condemning the authority and conſtitution of General Aſſemblies: But wherein this crime of Synods taking that power on them can be charged upon us, we know not, unleſſe it be on this account, That now when General Aſſemblies do not meet yearly as they were wont to do, Synods do take-off the Cenſures of ſome Miniſters, according to the Order obſerved by General Aſſemblies themſelves when they did open the mouthes of any. And this we believe will not be condemned, but any unbyaſſed perſon will judge it unreaſonable, that men being in a capacity to be imployed in the work of the Lord, ſhould be keeped back becauſe a General Aſſembly (who uſed to reſerve ſuch caſes to themſelves) cannot meet to give them liberty. We believe that in the want of General Aſſemblies (as in Holland) they will not judge that Synods may not do more in things within their own bounds, than if they had them yearly. And (to uſe their own argument here) we think they ſhould not quarrel this, who not only wait neither for Presbyteries nor Synods, but do themſelves take-off their own Cenſures inflicted by General Aſſemblies; but their extrajudicial meetings do tranſact and conclude things of moſt important and general concernment to the Church.

III. To the complaint of their ſlandering of us, they make a large return, pag. 24— 31. And,

Firſt, They begin with recrimination, making mention of a Latin Piece lately publiſhed, which they father on a dead man, reflecting alſo on our Preachings and Prayers, and other Pamphlets, as they call them. Anſ. To adde nothing to what is formerly ſaid of their inhumanity toward the dead, we ſhall only imbrace their own Overture, and ſhall be obliged to any of them who ſhall be at the pains to turn that Piece in Engliſh, and let it plead for it ſelf. And for our Preachings and Prayers, though we love not to juſtifie our ſelves, or cry-up our abilities and abundance of matter for that work; for, who is ſufficient for theſe things? Yet we make conſcience to ſpeak nothing in publick but Truths of God, and ſuch things as are ſuitable to the preſent condition of our hearers; and who ſo reproacheth us in theſe things, we muſt leave it at our Maſters feet in whoſe Name we ſpeak. However, we have learned not to credit all the news they give us of the acceptance of our Miniſtrie, either with p. 35theſe of our or their own judgement, being, we hope, approven not only to God, but even in the conſciences of our hearers. And we may alſo ſay, there was never more forbearance given, in a conſtituted Church, to irregularities in preaching, than hath been given to theirs, though they be ſo unparalleled; and all out of love to peace. Whatever we ſay or write againſt their cauſe and actings therein, yet we uſe not to ſlander their perſons in things extrinſick to the cauſe as they do to us; nor did we publiſh any thing of that kinde, till they by printing and writing had defamed us at home and abroad, which neceſſitated us to ſay ſomthing for our ſelves and the Cauſe of God in our hands.

Secondly, They juſtifie theſe their actings by ſhewing that they were neceſſarily drawn thereunto in their own defence, wiſhing us to have patience, if theſe be ſlanders, till God clear our innocencie and diſcover their malice and treachery: But if there be truth in them, they may lawfully plead with their Mother for good ends. Anſw. 1. Though we indeed confeſs it our duty to walk ſubmiſſively before God, under moſt unjuſt aſperſions; yet we believe that doth not hinder us to vindicate our own integrity, and the integrity of a National Church, far leſſe doth it warrant them who put us to this exerciſe thus to inſult over us with ſuch Ironick counſels, as they account them; we forbear to declare whom they imitate in theſe pranks, and are truly ſorry that their pertinacious adhering to ſuch diviſive and deſtructive courſes, notwithſtanding all the ſad fruits which they may daily perceive to flow from them, doth diſcover them ſo much to all impartial obſervers. 2. Our controverſie being with them about the Publick Reſolutions, and admitting of perſons to imployment in a Civil State and Armie, and about the conſtitution of a General Aſſembly, we ſee not what could caſt them upon the neceſſity of this defence of traducing all the Miniſtrie in that cauſe; ſeing they were ſtanding Miniſters in the Church before, not declared uncapable of being in a Gen. Aſſembly; And ſure they fell not within the compaſſe of the Queſtion of the Publick Reſolutions; and therefore they might well have debated theſe points without reflecting upon the Miniſtrie, ſave in ſo far as they pleaſed to quarrell ſo many of them as were upon the Commiſſion and Aſſembly, for their approving the Publick Reſolutions, wherein they have been ſufficiently anſwered already, and thoſe who are concerned, p. 36are ſtill ready to defend and juſtifie themſelves. The truth is, after theſe debates about the Reſolutions and Aſſemblies were become threed-bare and invidious to all ſober ſpirits, that they ſhould keep up a rent becauſe of them, they fell to a new clamour about purging, of which they here ſpeak, and in which we did not controvert with them, neither before nor in the time of their rent, yea, nor ſince, ſave in ſo far as we have ſtill complained, that their diſturbing of Church-unity and order, made it ineffectuall in many reſpects. What their deſign is in it, may clearly appear from this Pamphlet, wherein oftener than once they inſinuat and declare, that they hold our Judicatories corrupt, and would not joyn in a General Aſſembly ſo long as men, who (as they alleage) have made a defection, by approving the Publick Reſolutions, are the plurality in them. So that to have themſelves again in power, and others out, they make this clamour againſt us, which is unjuſtly ſaid to be in their own defence, but rather in proſecution of their deſign to overturn the Church-judicatories as now conſtituted, that ſo they may get all the power in their own hands, as was told them in the Declaration. 3. It cannot be accounted an act of defence for them to divulge mens ſuppoſed faults, in ſtead of ſeeking to have them judicially tried and cenſured, and when none was purſuing them, to blaze them abroad in another Nation and Church, to make way for their obtaining of power to themſelves over their Brethren. 4. Albeit we ſhould be ſilent as to the truth of their charge, yet that paſſage, Hoſ. 2.2. will not juſtifie their way of proceeding. We hope they will not make the ſtate of this Church parallel to the ſtate of Iſrael at that time when this command was given to the Godly, which they now pretend to imitate. For then they muſt conclude this Church not to be Gods wife, but an harlot; and though ſhe have corrupted neither Doctrine, Worſhip nor Government, yet ſhe muſt be put in the ſame claſſe with vile Idolaters. Withall, if even when a Church is not Gods wife, but idolatrous, yet her children are bound (by that command) to plead with her as a Mother, before ſhe get an actuall bill of divorce; Then certainly a true Church, keeping the purity of Religion, ſhould not have her nakedneſſe diſcovered to the world, by divulging the faultineſſe of ſome of her Members or Teachers, without dealing with her ſelf to take courſe therewith. And it hath been long ſince told them in the Obſervations, pag. 17. that Mr. Burroughs was p. 37of another ſpirit, who adviſeth that we ſhould plead with a Church orderly, in ſo far as may be, and by her Judicatories and Miniſters, which are her mouth: and peaceably, ſitting down when we have diſcharged our conſciences. But they have obſerved no ſuch rule nor moderation.

Thirdly, But to make out the truth of their charge, they make a long deduction of a ſtorie, That the body of the Miniſtery had been corrupt under Prelats, that the Generall Aſſemblies had acknowledged this remaining corruption, and therefore judging that Preſbyteries and Synods were not able or willing to purge themſelves, they found it neceſſary for ſeveral years to appoint Commiſſions to try and cenſure Miniſters and Elders, as was accordingly done: That theſe Viſitations again appointed in the year, 1650. were not kept by reaſon of the war: And that ſince that time few or none have been purged-out by Presbyteries and Synods, but many of thoſe who were formerly purged-out, are taken-in without ſufficient evidences of their repentance. Anſw. As we are very unwillingly brought upon the neceſſity of vindicating our own and others integrity, when we believe the Lord is calling us, and our Brethren alſo, to be rather lamenting after Him, and confeſſing before Him our failings and miſcarriages, for which He is contending with us: So we hope we may without vanity ſay what hath been openly avowed by ſome of their own ſide, that (whatever failings are among us) we have generally as well qualified a Miniſterie as any other reformed Church they know. We are ſure this long ſtorie is a very poor proof of their charge, and they had better made it out by proving, (or offering to prove it at leaſt) againſt the particular perſons in their reſpective Judicatories. For, 1. it is a very unconcludent proof againſt the preſent Miniſterie of this Church, that many of them were corrupt and prelaticall before the year, 1638. and that the Generall Aſſemblies did then and after complain of it: For now, in ſo far as we know of this Church, few of them are alive or unpurged-out, by the Commiſſions they ſpeak of and other Church-judicatories who were corrupted under Prelacie (and no wonder if twentie years make a great change of the Miniſterie of a Land) and generally the Miniſtrie doth now conſiſt either of thoſe who were oppoſit to Prelacie, or who have been ſince planted. And if ſome few of theſe be in the Miniſtery, who were led away in the time of Prelats, as we believe p. 38they have proportionably their own ſhare of thoſe on their ſide; So thoſe whom we know of them adhering to the Judicatories of the Church, may hold up their faces againſt all malice and detracters, for their ſincere renouncing of that courſe, their ability to ſerve God in the Goſpel of His Son, and their blameleſſe and Godly converſation, and we believe many of their oppoſers would be aſhamed to compare with them in any Reformed Church. 2. Though we judge it great preſumption in them to aſſert the inability, far more the unwillingneſſe of Presbyteries and Synods to purge themſelves, becauſe the Generall Aſſemblies did appoint Viſitations: Seing the Aſſemblies themſelves did give no ſuch reaſon of their deed, and they might well take their own wayes of viſiting and taking notice of the affairs of this Church, to the good liking of the Reſpective Judicatories, and without any ſuch imputation upon them. Yet had it been ſo as they aſſert in the time when they made complaints of the corruption of the Miniſtrie, who did only in an externall way renounce Prelacy, the caſe muſt needs now be altered, when (as is ſaid) theſe men are generally gone. 3. Becauſe the Aſſembly, 1650. did appoint Viſitations for triall and cenſure, which did not meet, muſt we therefore conclude the body of the Miniſterie corrupt? Sure their Commiſſion was to try before they cenſured; and may it not as well be ſuppoſed they might have tried and yet found nothing like the clamour theſe men raiſe? And would not the enſuing Aſſembly have approven them if they had uſed diligence, unleſſe alſo they had caſt out the generality of the Miniſters (as this charge muſt bear it) where they viſited? This ſeemeth to us ſtrange arguing, that becauſe an Aſſembly appointed men firſt to try, and then to cenſure as they found men guilty, (which imports at moſt but a preſumption that ſome guiltie perſons might be found where they viſited, for we remember not that either information or accuſation againſt any perſon or perſons within theſe bounds, gave a riſe to moſt of theſe Viſitations) therfore the plurality in thoſe bounds muſt be corrupt, and theſe Viſitators could not have given a faithfull account unleſſe they had caſt them out; and that if Synods and Presbyteries have not purged out many ſince (for even the purging of a few will not ſuffice them) therefore they are cooled in their zeal. We ſeriouſly profeſſe, that as we do not omit to ſearch out the faults of Miniſters, by enquirie at Viſitations Presbyteriall or Synodicall, p. 39as need requires, or otherwayes by formal Proceſſe, when either there is a ſcandal raiſed on them, or information or accuſation given-in againſt them: And we durſt appeal to the Conſciences of theſe our Brethren joyned with us in that work, whether we have not been moſt exact, not only in continuing them under Proceſſe, were it for years, ſo long as there was any probability to prove any thing againſt them, but in cenſuring the leaſt thing that we found (which yet hath oftentimes been very little after ſome years toil) according to the ſtricteſt Rules of Diſcipline: So that we know no cauſe theſe Witneſſes have to complain of us, but that we will not thruſt-out men, whether we can find them guilty by an orderly way of trial or not. If we took pleaſure to recriminate, we could eaſily make it appear that they have done leſſe theſe years bygone for purging-out thoſe of their own judgment, in places where they have power, than hath been done by us in reference to thoſe of our judgement. For, albeit it be not our way to make ſuch clamours of the corruptions and inſufficiencie of men of their judgement, as they do of us; yet it is known that diverſe of them are ſuſpected of inſufficiencie, and diverſe reports of groſſe ſcandals have been vented of others of them, of which they have taken little or no notice. 4. As for the reponing of ſome men to the Miniſtrie who were formerly depoſed, we believe that theſe ſeven years paſt there have been fewer reponed by far, than uſed to be reponed by Aſſemblies and other inferiour Judicatories in ſo long time before. And as the particular Judicatories, who reponed them, are ready to anſwer to their Judge competent for their deed, and to give in the meantime a ſatisfactory accompt to any unbyaſſed perſon; So, were the matter as groſſe as they can make it, yet the number of thoſe who are reponed, are not ſo many, nor in ſo many Synods (for they inſiſt chiefly on one) as to prove this generall corruption of the Church. And if any favour hath been ſhewed to ſome, who are depoſed ſimply for their being ſilent in the matter of the Engagement, 1648. (who yet did acknowledge much ſin in that complex courſe before they had liberty to Preach) as (to our beſt remembrance) it was not the deed of thoſe of our judgment only, but ſome of our Brethren did joyn in that matter; So we believe, that were the men known, it would be judged no corrupting of a Church to enjoy ſuch Labourers; and we have credible information, that thoſe of p. 40their Congregations, who ſometime oppoſed them upon our Brethrens principles, do judge ſo of them.