The Nullity of the Pretended Assembly at St Andrews and Dundee, Treatise 2 · Review 13
REVIEW.
THere is nothing ſaid here of the Proteſters that doth infringe the integrity of their Profeſſion, and reſolution by all lawful and fair means within the compaſs of their power and ſtation to endeavor the remedy of the diviſions: it is true that one of the members of the Commiſſion to whom I do not deny the Teſtimony of a reverend, judicious and godly man, did call the exceptions propounded againſt thoſe members of the Aſſembly who had been members of the Commiſsion, a firy motion, and ſuch a thing as petit jugulum pacis, which was not then more ſharply ſpoken then it was modeſtly taken; but to ſay nothing that in that particular, he was a party that ſpeaks ſo (pace tanti viri) there was no juſt reaſon to call it ſo, the exception, being ſo wel grounded as it was. I wiſh the Author may lay as much weight upon the words of that worthy man in other things concerning the Publick reſolutions, as he doth in that ſpeach of his. As to the Authors diſcourſe concerning their taking upon them the Authority of a Publick Judicatory, and declaring peremptorily that they will ſo do, and condemning the other ſide, they being by far the fewer number, and whileſt the matter was yet ſub judice, when he ſhall be pleaſed to give us an anſwer concerning his and other mens taking upon them to be an Aſſembly and to make acts not onelyonly condemning their Brethrens judgement but alſo cenſuring them with the ſentences of ſuſpenſion & depoſition, then ſhal an anſwer be given him concerning this. If it be ſaid that they were an lawfull Aſſembly, but the other was no lawfull Commiſsion, that is the queſtion, and if truth be on his ſide, as to the freedome and lawfulneſſe of the Aſſembly what he ſayeth of their ſetting up of the Commiſsion hath weight; but if that Aſſembly was no Aſſembly, then was the former Commiſsion ſtill ſtanding, and they were in no fault to conveen and exerciſe the ſame; it is true that the matter is ſub judice: but was not the matter alſo ſub judice betwixt the Meeting at Dundee, and the Proteſters when that Meeting took upon them, notwithſtanding of the Proteſtation to be an Aſſembly, and did make acts, cenſuring ſome, and laying an foundation for the cenſuring of all theſe that ſhould refuſe to acknowledge their conſtitution, or after conference oppoſe their Acts. In anſwer to the reſt of his diſcourſe upon this head, I deſire the Reader to take notice, that after ſeverall eſſayes of a conference with the Commiſsion by the Synod of Glaſgow to litle or no effect, at the Meeting at St. Andrews, theſe who were diſſatisfied with the Publick reſolutions, did offer to the Meeting a humble ſuppcation, deſiring them to forbear to conſtitute themſelves in an Aſſembly, and to adjurne the Meeting untill peaceable and fair means ſhould be uſed for compoſing of differences, which was altogether refuſed to be read; then after that the Meeting had conſtitute themſelves in an Aſſembly, it was deſired by theſe brethren that they would appoint ſome of their number to confer with them about differences, which was long & tenaciouſly oppoſed, as carrying with it a reflection upon theſe of the Commiſsion who had carried on the Publick Reſolutions, and a prejudice to the Aſſembly in judging of theſe reſolutions; at laſt the reſult was this, that ſuch of the Aſſembly as they deſired to confer with might ſpeak with them, but that no particular perſon ſhould be nominated, nor any thing written thereof in the minutes of the Aſſembly: In proſecution of this deſire, ſome of the unſatisfied Brethren did meet with the Moderator of that Aſſembly, and ſome other eminent men members of the Commiſsion at Mr. Robert Blair his chamber two ſeveral diets, and after ſome conference to and fro, did earneſtly beſeech and preſſe upon them (ſome with tears) that they would be pleaſed to be inſtrumental in adjourning the Aſſembly, and in delaying to ratifie the Publick Reſolutions; but they were not pleaſed to condeſcend ſo much as to undertake to be aſsiſting to theſe brethren in obtaining their deſire, & that night in which the Meeting was adjourned from St. Andrews to Dundee, the diſ-ſatisfied Brethren did again publickly preſſe that the Aſſembly migh be adjourned till ſome conſiderable time, till pains might be taken in an amicable way for compoſing of differences, which being refuſed, they were neceſsitated to Proteſt, as ſeing no other remedy againſt the current of backſliding; notwithſtanding of this Proteſtation, the Meeting at Dundee went on, not onelyonly to the ratifying of the publick reſolutions, but to the condemning of the Proteſtation, cenſuring of ſome of the Proteſters, and making of Acts declaring all of theſe cenſurable who ſhall not acknowledge their conſtitution, and ſubmit to their Acts, and appointing Presbyteries and Synods in their reſpective bounds to proceed to the execution thereof, and giving power to their Commiſsion for that effect where Presbyteries were negligent. What length their Commiſsion was gone, and what they had in conſideration againſt the Proteſters, when they were interrupted and broken off by the ſurprizall at Eliot themſelves beſt know. After that time the Lord was pleaſed to exerciſe the Land with ſo ſad diſpenſations, as for a good while made all Publick Meetings of Miniſters very difficult and dangerous, untill the Country being ſomewhat quieted, about the midſt of October, theſe who had Proteſted againſt the Meeting at St. Andrews and Dundee, as not being a lawfull and free Generall Aſſembly, with many other Miniſters and Elders from ſeverall parts of the Country, did meet at Edinburgh, where after ſome dayes ſpent together in Prayer, and ſupplication, and in confeſsing of their ſins to God, and one to annother, they did in the next place after conference, and mutuall communication of Light one with another, ſet down their thoughts concerning the Cauſes of the Lords wrath againſt the Land, that in that time of darkneſſe, there might be ſome light and directory in theſe things to ſuch as were willing to receive and make uſe thereof; amongſt theſe cauſes of wrath, they did condeſcend upon and reckon the Publick Reſolutions of Church and State, for bringing the Malignant party, firſt to the Army, and then to the Judicatories, and the actuall intruſting of them with the power of the Kingdom both Military and Civil, and the prelimiting and corrupting of the Generall Aſſembly in the free and lawfull conſtitution thereof; and its ratifying of the Publick Reſolutions, which did involve a defection from the Cauſe, and laying a foundation for cenſuring of all ſuch who did not approve of the conſtitution of that Aſſembly, and ſubmit to the Acts there of; and finding themſelves more and more convinced of the nullity of that Aſſembly at Dundee, and how needfull it was to preſerve the Church of Scotland in the poſſeſsion of her due priviledges, and to keep together a remnant, who might be as a branch of hope (if ſo be the Lord would be favourable to them, and take pleaſure in them) for repairing of the breach, ſuch of them as were Members of the Commiſsion of the Gen. Aſſembly, did find themſelves warranted and called of God, to take poſſeſsion of the power and truſt committed unto them by the Aſſembly 1650. yet ſo, as they did not authoritatively, impoſe or require obedience to any of their Emiſsions concerning the cauſes of the Lords wrath (which was the only thing they medled with) but having agreed upon theſe Cauſes, with the advice of diverſe Brethren from ſeverall parts of the Kingdom, did offer and adviſe the ſame to be made uſe of by all the Lords people in the Land leaving place to adde, as the Lord ſhould make further diſcoveries thereafter. At the ſame time all the Brethren who were met, did write Letters to ſundry reverend and godly men in the Miniſtery, of a different judgment, deſiring an amicable Conference with them; and conceiving that they could not well be brought together to one place in ſuch a ſeaſon of the year, and when travelling was ſo difficult, they did appoint ſome of their number to wait upon ſome of them at St. Andrews, and upon others of them at Glaſgow, who might hold forth unto them what in their judgments was the moſt conducible means for union and peace both with God and among our ſelves, and to hear what ſhould be offered unto them by theſe Brethren; what paſſed in theſe Conferences, I leave it to theſe who were preſent to relate, hoping that none who were preſent will ſay, that the deſires and endeavors of union did break off upon our ſide; thoſe of our number not only profeſsing themſelvs willing to confer & hear what ſhould be offred unto them, but to attend at any other diet that ſhould be appointed, and to endeavour if it were deſired, a more numerous and frequent meeting of Brethren of both ſides: From all which it doth appear, that the Proteſters all along, have been purſuers of peace, and not promoters and foſterers of diviſion. The Author propounds the queſtion, If it had not been a more probable and Chriſtian like mean for remedying the diviſions, to have dealt for a meeting of judicious and godly men on both ſides, and for an amicable and brotherly Conference on equal tearms about the differences, then that the Proteſters being but the one ſide, ſhould have taken upon themſelves the authority of a Publick Judicatory, and by themſelvs ſtraightway to condemne the other ſide as guilty. In anſwer to which, beſide what is already ſaid, I would firſt ask the Author, Whether it be fair dealing, that theſe at St. Andrews, after they were earneſtly entreated of their Brethren, to adjourn and delay the ratifying of the Publick Reſolutions, ſhall firſt take upon them the Authority of a Generall Aſſembly, to ratifie the Publick Reſolutions, condemne their Brethren who proteſt againſt them, cenſure ſome of them with Suſpenſion, and others of them with Depoſition for that very thing, and lay a foundation for cenſuring all of them, and all others in the Church of Scotland, who ſhould continue to differ from them, and oppoſe them in theſe things, and then afterwards cry out upon their Brethren, who hold forth the ſin and iniquity of ſuch proceedings, as upon men who are not for peace, and do not take the moſt probable and Chriſtian-like mean for remedying the diviſions; The Author knowes who were in the Church of Scotland, who did tread theſe ſteps not long ago: Next, they did conceive it to be the moſt probable and Chriſtian-like mean for remedying the diviſions, to fall upon the root of the matter, by holding ing forth that which had divided us from God, and God from us, and one of us from another, taking this for the moſt genuine and ſound, & ſafe, & Chriſtian method of proceeding, yet walking ſo therein, as that they did onelyonly ſoberly and by way of advice hold forth their judgmnts, and not impoſe upon any; and as they left an open door to others, to adde what further diſcoveries of guiltineſs the Lord ſhould make known to them, ſo were they as ſharp and ſearching againſt themſelves, as againſt any others. What diſſonancie from their Profeſsion is in all this, and if it be but a mocking of God (as the Author inſinuats) I hope and pray, that the Lord will reveal it unto them, ſeeing they did it in the ſimplicity of their hearts, looking upon the ſame as a ſpeciall and neceſſary point of their duty, in this day of indignation and back-ſliding; but if it was acceptable ſervice to God, as I truſt it was, I hope the Lord wil countenance and follow it with a bleſsing from Heaven, that there may be a profitable fruit thereof to his poor ſervants, and to his poor Church. I know not well who theſe be of whom the Author ſpeaks, who notwithſtanding of all the buſineſſe that is made upon conferences about differences &c. yet if the fears of many, both godly and wiſe may have weight, have no other purpoſe but ſo far as they can to ſtrengthen themſelves in their own way, and to fix the diviſion from the moſt part in the Church of Scotland. If any profeſſe what he doth not intend, he may abuſe others, but he doth but encreaſe his own guiltineſſe. I dare ſay, that the deſires of Union upon the Proteſters ſide in the Meeting at Edinburgh, wh…ch was profeſt to be called in order to Union, were reall, and in their hearts as well as in their mouths; as it was to them a matter both of grief and wonder, when the Commiſsioners who came from the ſeverall Synods, did not only refuſe to delay, till Brethren of a different judgment (who were abſent becauſe they had no calling or invitation to come, and could not intrude themſelves) might be gotten conveened, but also without any previous right underſtanding, or any Overture in order thereunto, did reſolve upon keeping an Aſſembly, according to the Indiction at Dundee the laſt year, which gives juſt occaſion of ſuſpition to many godly and wiſe to conceive that the zealotes of the Publick Reſolutions, had more in their eye the ſtrengthening of themſelves in their own way, and bearing down and cenſuring of their Brethren who differ from them, then any union and right underſtanding with them; the Commiſsions that ſome who came to that Meeting were cloathed with, and the Letter and Articles that others of them did ſo much magnifie, and do ſo cloſely ſtick to, do confirm them therein, and this brings forth in them this fear, that as the ſtrict adhering to the Publick Reſolutions, and to the Conſtitution and Acts of the Aſſembly at Dundee, ſhall obſtruct the purging of this Church from corrupt Officers and corrupt Members, and bear down and drive out many precious ones, who cannot be conſenting unto, but moſt bear teſtimony againſt theſe things; ſo alſo that it ſhal make many of the godly in the land to ſtumble exceedingly at the government of our Church, and from a deſpair ever to ſee this Church purged, to think of ſeparating from it, in which though they may do what they ought not to do, yet it doth exceedingly concern the Author and others of his way to conſider of this, and to take heed that they do no more offend the little ones, nor tempt them above what they are able to bear.
VINDICATION.
IT ſhould now follow that we come to the examination of the Reaſons alleadged againſt the Aſſembly, but that there is one paſſage more in the Narrative of their Proteſtation, which cannot be paſſed by without ſome inquiry upon it, it is in theſe words: But as the faithfull ſervants of Jeſus Chriſt in this Kirk in former times, did by the good hand of God on them, bring the Work of Reformation unto a great perfection and near conformity with the firſt patern, ſome unfaithful men minding their own things more then the things of Chriſt, & uſurping over their Brethren and the Lords Inheritance, …id deface the beauty thereof, firſt by encroaching on the liberty and freedom of the Aſſembly; afterward by taking away the very Aſſembly themſelves, therefore remember, &c. I ſhall not ſtay here to examine the Gramar and Logick of this paſsage in relation to antecedents and conſequents, wherein (it ſeems) whileas they have been too forward and earneſt to let out indirectly a blow at honeſt men, they have ſomewhat overſeen themſelves, as might be clearly evidenced; but this is not worth the while, nor ſhall I inſiſt upon it to enquire the myſtery. It may be inſinuat there, where they ſay, that the faithfull Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt in former times brought the Work of Reformation to a great perfection, and to a near conformity with the firſt patern; for theſe epithets of great and near cannot be looked on in this place, but as termini diminuentes, becauſe perfection & conformity to a rule, are in themſelves and their own pure ſignification, ſuch terms as no epithet of quantity in the meer poſitive degree can be added to them without diminution of the thing ſignified by them When you ſay, an action is come to a great perfection, and to a conformi…y with. You ſay not ſo much as if you ſaid ſimply, it is come to perfection and conformity with its rule; now the Work of Reformation here being meant the outward Ordinances; the brethren would do well to tell, and it were wiſdome for every honeſt profeſſor to enquire what they judge wanting of perfection and conformity to the patern, in a Reformation of outward Ordinances, carryed on by the good hand of God upon theſe his ſervants; for my own part, I am not given to be jealous, yet I think it is ſafe now to take heed ne lateat anguis in herba, the rather, knowing that it hath bin the way of ſome of theſe lands ſince the work of Vniformity began in them, to ſay, that the Work of Reformation in Scotland was a good way on; but that there are yet further attainments then it was brought to, & now it is begun boldly to be preſented into a Meeting, pretended to be the publick Commiſſion of the Kirk, that the taking of Presbyterian Government is the greateſt perfection attainable in Church-government, and that the maintaining leſſe then poſitive evidences of Grace, is ſufficient for conſtituting one a member of the viſible Kirk, and ſundry other weighty points of the Doctrine and Government of the Church of Scotland, are chief cauſes that have brought the preſent judgments on the Land; which I dare ſay, the preſenter of them would never hazarded to have preſented, had he not known of ſome good liking of them in ſome Miniſters; nay, I will ſay further, though the man be underſtanding as to his ſtation, beyond many others, yet who ever knows him beſt, and will conſider the ſtile, contrivance & conceptions in thoſe articles now extant in Print, will (I doubt not) ſay, there hath been the hand of Joab, another head and pen in them then his own. This by the way, that which I would have eſpecially obſerved in this paſſage, is to what purpoſe in this place are brought in theſe unfaithfull men the Prelats, who minding their own things, &c. and all this made an antecedent, wherupon is inferred the Proteſtation againſt the late Aſſembly, for immediatly it followeth; therfore remembring &c. whereunto tendeth all this, but to bear all in hand that ſhal happen to read this Proteſtation, that the Brethren that have been lately, & are oppoſite to them, the profeſſors have been, and are treading the ſteps of theſe unfaithfull men the Prelats, and their mentioned practices? a ſhreud ſuggeſtion (to ſay no more) againſt their Brethren, many of them not only ſuch as yet they dare not but profeſſe to eſteem highly of, but even many others whom they deſpiſe, have been honoured of God to ſtand conſtant againſt the Prelats uſurpations for the liberry of Aſſemblies, when few of their accuſers have had the honour to have had their hand at the work; yea, ſome (it may be theſe from whom the ſuggeſtion iſsued) were taking unwarrantable orders from Prelats, and doing more too? How can honeſt Chriſtian hearts admit ſo ſlanderous a ſuggeſtion againſt ſo many honeſt men, whoſe faithfulneſs, integrity, honeſty & conſtancy in the truth, hath been ſo wel known and ſealed by God, quis tulerit Graechos (I ſpeak not of them all) de ſeditione loquentes? if need be it will be eaſie to diſcover, or rather to name (for they are not hidden in the dark, the Prelaticall ſteps that ſome have trod theſe years laſt by-paſt.