The Nullity of the Pretended Assembly at St Andrews and Dundee, Treatise 2 · Review 1
The Review of the Inſcription,
IN this Title, ſome things are inſinuated, and others are aſſerted. It is inſinuated, that the Proteſtation was given in but by a few, for he calls them ſome Brethren; I acknowledge, that the multitude and greater number are upon the other ſide, yet that is not a thing wherein they have cauſe to boaſt, or the Proteſters need to be aſhamed; it ſeldome falls out, eſpecially in declining times, that the followers of the truth are the moſt numerous; yet were theſe even for their number, many moe then by the Law are accounted witneſſes ſufficient to atteſt a truth; and many there be throughout the Land, who put to their ſeal to their Teſtimony as true; Miniſters, Elders and Profeſſors; yea, the Generality of the Generation of the Righteous, and ſuch as know GOD, and live godly in the Land. It is aſſerted firſt, That the other Paper was lately contrived, that is, a litle while before the writing of this Vindication: But if the Vindication was not written many moneths before it came abroad, the Author thereof is miſtaken in this, becauſe this Paper was contrived within a very few weeks, three or four at moſt, after the Proteſtation it ſelf, it may be that it came but lately to his hand, but it was abroad long before his Vindication was heard of. 2. It is aſſerted, that this Paper was contrived by ſome, practizing to foment diviſions, and to fix a Schiſme in this Kirk. But their hearts bear them record, that the fomenting or fixing of diviſion or ſchiſme juſtly ſo called, as it never was, nor is their purpoſe, ſo hath it been far from their practice, either in that or any other particular This indeed they do acknowledge, that they are unwilling to ſuffer themſelves to be divided from the truth formerly received and profeſſed by the Church of Scotland; and that they conceive themſelves bound in their ſtations and Callings, to bear teſtimony againſt the courſe of back-ſliding, carried on in the Land, of which they judge the common Conſtitution and Acts of that Aſſembly to be no ſmall part; and though to foment diviſions and fix a Schiſme in the Church, be a heavy imputation, yet being conſcious to themſelves of their own innocencie, they are not much moved with it, remembring that it is the common Topick whence decliners in all the Ages of the Church have argued againſt theſe who would not be conſenting unto, or did teſtifie againſt their defection; Peace and unity hath been their plea, and ſedition, diviſion and ſchiſme their charge againſt their oppoſers; upon this accompt doth the Lord Jeſus and his Apoſtles, by the Scribes and Phariſees and Elders of the Jewes, Luther and Calvin, and our firſt Reformers by the Pope and his Clergy; Nonformiſts by the Prelats and their adherents, ſtand recorded in the Catalogue of theſe who practized to foment diviſions, and fix a ſchiſme in the Church. 3. It is aſſerted, That this Paper was ſpread abroad onelyonly into the hands of ſuch as they conceive will be inclineable to follow their way, but keeped up from all others. If they had directly ſent Copies to theſe of a contrary judgment, it might haply been thought a piece of vanity and preſumption; and if the Author of this Vindication thought ſuch a thing incumbent to them, why did he not ſend a Copy of his Anſwer to the contrivers of theſe Papers, whom (as he afterwards bears us in hand) he doth very wel know, or hath he ſpoken with, or received evidence from all others, who were not inclinable to follow that way that he doth ſo confidently aſſert that Paper to have been kept up from all of them; I will aſſure him, it was not ſo as he affirmes; As the contrivers did not vainly nor boaſtingly ſpread it to the provoking of any, ſo did they not purpoſely keep it up from any of whatſoever judgment, but were willing and deſirous that it ſhould go abroad, for edifying of as many as the Lord ſhould be pleaſed to bleſſe it unto; And therefore did they not onelyonly give Copies to ſuch as did deſire them, but alſo did uſe ſome means to have gotten it Printed, and could get none to undertake it.
VINDICATION.
Before I fal upon the Examination of the Reaſons brought againſt, and the diſcovery of the falſe Aſperſions caſt upon the Aſſembly by theſe Papers mentioned; I do obteſt the Reader, whoſoever he be, into whoſe hands this Vindication ſhall come in the fear of God, and as thou loves not to be led away with errour, but to know, debate, and for thy edification decern on what ſide Truth and Juſtice is; thou would take heed that thy Judgement be not either blindfolded, or byaſſed and fixed in prejudice by ſomewhat which may have ſtrong influence this way, and that is meerly extrinſecall to the Cauſe, as to truth or falſhood, juſtice or injuſtice.
There be three things, one or moe, have (I doubt not) had influence on the miſleading of ſome already in this matter, and may yet I ſuſpect miſcarry others, and fix ſome that come to the reading of this Paper, with a minde pre-occupyed with one of theſe Extrinſecall reſpects.