The Nullity of the Pretended Assembly at St Andrews and Dundee, Treatise 2 · Review 7
REVIEW.
THey did not tumultuouſly deſert and run out of the Commiſſion, much leſs did they threaten the ſame, becauſe of ſome matters carried therein, contrary to their mind; ſuch of them as did depart, did go away in a peaceable and quiet way, without any tumult and diſorder, having now ſtayed for a conſiderable time, firſt at Sterlin, and then at Perth, and not knowing any further buſines of importance that the Commiſſion meant to medle with at that time. As for the inſtance given by the Author, ſeeing he is pleaſed in other places of his Paper to name particular perſons, why did he not alſo name the perſons who ſpoke theſe threatning words, with revenge flaming out of their eyes: I do indeed remember, that the ſpirits of many gracious men who were then preſent, were much weighted and ſore grieved with the precipitant proceeding of the Commiſſion at that time, and that a brother did lay this ſeriouſly before the Commiſſion, and did uſe ſome ſuch expreſſion, as the Author relates; but that it was in a threatning way, or with revenge flaming out of his eye, is more then can be made good: Such a word may be ſpoken with ſoberneſſe of minde, and to good purpoſe, without any threatning or deſire of revenge: whither they did never daign to come to any meeting of the Commiſsion thereafter, I cannot confidently ſpeak to it either upon the one hand or on the other; but I can confidently ſay, that as they did never take any reſolution not to come, ſo alſo that their ſtaying a way was not ſo much occaſioned by this proceeding againſt the Remonſtrance, though that was a matter of ſtumbling and offence unto them, as by ſomething that followed thereafter, which did convince them, that their coming to the Commiſſion might well encreaſe ſtrife and debate, but that it would contribute little or nothing for their own edification, or the edification of others. Before we paſſe this point, I ſhall give the Reader a ſhort accompt of this whole buſineſſe. After the preſenting of the Remonſtrance unto the Committee of Eſtates at Sterline, it was thought fit both by the Committee of Eſtates, and Commiſſion of the Aſſembly, that theſe reſpective Meetings ſhould meet at Sterline, the … day of … to take into conſideration what anſwer it was fit to give unto the Remonſtrance, and what to do in other things that did concern the Defence of Religion, and of the Kingdom in that ſtrait they then ſtood, and that therefore not only the Members of theſe Meetings but alſo ſeverall others Gentlemen and Miniſters ſhould be advertiſed to keep the diet; notwithſtanding of which appointment, the Committee of Eſtates did afterwards adjourn their Meeting to Pearth, where the King was for the time; the Commiſsion of the Church, according to the firſt appointment, with ſeverall other Miniſters, having met at Sterline. The Remonſtrators came there to underſtand their judgment of the matters contained in the Remonſtrance; which being read, and the chief heads thereof debated, the major part of the Commission then preſent, ſeemed to be ſatisfied therewith, and ſome were deſirous to have a preſent determination upon it: The Moderator and ſome others, inclined to give no ſenſe at all upon it, either for it, or againſt it: and the Committee of Eſtates which was then ſitting at Perth, having now once and again written to the Commiſsion; it was for peace ſake condeſcended to on all hands, that no ſenſe ſhould be paſt on the Remonſtrance by the Commiſsion, and that the Meeting ſhould be adjourned to Pearth, and that it ſhould be their endeavour, that the States ſhould declare nothing againſt it. This reſolution being taken at Sterlin upon the Saturday, the Members of the Commiſsion, and ſuch other Miniſters as was preſent, and the Remonſtrators, did addreſſe themſelves to Pearth. On the Monday morning, the Remonſtrators after their coming thither, hearing that the Committee of Eſtates were about the condemning of the Remonſtrance, they having it in Commiſsion from theſe that ſent them, and thinking it incumbent to them in duty to deſire an anſwer, and in ſuch an exigent to profeſſe their adherence thereto, did make application to the Committee of Eſtates for that effect; after which, the Committee of Eſtates did paſs ſeverall Votes condemning the Remonſtrance, to the great grief of ſundry of their own number, who did diſſent from it, and proteſt againſt the ſame; and the ſentence of the Committee being communicated to the Commiſsion of the Church, and they alſo deſired by them to give their judgement of the Remonſtrance. Theſe who were ſent from the Weſt, did earneſtly ſupplicate the Commiſsion, before they ſhould give any ſentence upon the Remonſtrance, that they would be pleaſed to allow them ſome time, till they might return and communicate with theſe who had ſent them, hoping that all of them would give ſuch an explication or their meaning in the things which were ſtumbled at, as would ſatisfie the Commiſsion; Which deſire ſeemed ſo reaſonable in it ſelf, and neceſſary at that time, for preventing of differences, and the grieving of the ſpirits of many gracious and godly men, who had been faithfull and zealous in the Cauſe from the beginning, that many Members of the Commiſsion, did earneſtly preſſe that it might be granted, eſpecially ſeeing they had met with ſo great diſappointment in the carriage of the Committee of Eſtates in order to that buſineſs; yet notwithſtanding hereof it was refuſed, and the Commiſsion did proceed alſo to condemne the Remonſtrance, and refer the further ſentencing of it to the General Aſſembly; ſundry of theſe who were at Sterlin being now gone, and ſome others come from places more Northward, which gave occaſion to ſundry at that time to apprehend that, which is now plainly profeſt by ſome conſiderable Members of the Committee of Eſtates, who were eager in condemning the Remonſtrance, that if they had not been put upon it by ſome Members of the Commiſsion, they would not have done …t from this vote of the Commiſsion, a conſiderable number of their Members, about ſixteen or ſeventeen, as I remember, did diſſent and the perſons intereſſed in the Remonſtrance, did proteſt; and I fear not to ſay, that this peremptory precipitant, and needleſſe haſte of the plurality of the Commiſsion in that particular, was a great occaſion of all the diviſion and rent that followed thereafter. In the mean while the Malignants who had riſen in Arms, were agreed with, and an Act of Indempnity was paſt to them, and Colonell Montgomerie was ſent againſt the Weſtern Forces, with directions to force them, if they would not willingly agree to the States demands; and it was no great wonder, if after ſo many dayes ſtaying at Sterlin and Perth, they thought fit to return home, when not only the edge of the cenſures of Church and State, but of the Civill Sword, which was juſt now imployed againſt the Malignants that roſe in Arms without any warrand, is on a ſudden turned againſt the Weſtern Forces which were raiſed by their ſpecial Warrant and encouragement, expreſt in diverſe Acts and frequent Letters.
VINDICATION.
FOurthly, Taking upon them to determine matters of moſt publick and greatest concernment, antecedent unto, and without ſo much as once ſpeaking or waiting for the judgment of the Publick Judicatories, to which the determination of ſuch matters do belong; and private men and inferiour Judicatories ought to have their recourſe to, before they take upon them to e…it any determination thereanent; witneſſe the Weſtern Remonſtrance, determining the excluſion of the Kings Intereſt out of the quarrell of the Defenſive War, before any advice or ſentence given thereupon, or once ſought from any Publick Judicatory.