The Nullity of the Pretended Assembly at St Andrews and Dundee, Paper
PAPER ſent into the ASSEMBLY.
WHereas it hath been the conſtant Care and Endeavor of the Parliament and Committee of Eſtates, To uſe all means for removing and ſetling the Differences betwixt the Church and the State; and in purſuance of that good way, The Committee did yeſterday give in ſome new Deſires and Offers to the Gen. Aſſembly, That ſome might be appointed to meet and confer with ſuch as ſhould be appointed by the Committee therupon: But ſince inſtead of imbracing and laying hold of this opportunity of compoſing Differences, The Gen. Aſſembly doth proceed toward an approbation of the proceedings of the Commiſsioners of the Aſſembly, wherby we conceive all hopes of making up the Breaches will be removed, and the prejudices will be great that will thereby enſue to this cauſe and Kingdom; For preventing whereof, we hold our ſelves obliged again, to deſire you, as you tender the furtherance of the work of Reformation, the Good, Peace, & union of the Kingdoms, and the compoſing of all Differences and Jealouſies, that you would apply your ſelves to theſe our Deſires, and appoint ſome of your Number to confer with us therupon for the Exceptions we have againſt the proceedings of the Commiſsioners of the Gen. Aſſembly: We have confidence a Conference may preveen the ſame, and are more willing not to give them in at all, or at leaſt only to give them in to thoſe you ſhall appoint to confer with us, that if it be poſsible Differences may yet be removed, Then that we be neceſsitate to appear in publick amongſt them: And that this and our former Paper may remain as a teſtimony of our Deſires for Unitie and Peace, we deſire that they may be Recorded in the Books of the General Aſſembly.
The Aſsembly do give this humble return to the Papers ſent this day from the Hon. Committee of Eſtates, That they are moſt willing to appoint a conference with any of their Lordſh. number, but that according to the Order and Acts of former Gen. Aſemblies, they conceive themſelves obliged, firſt to examine the proceedings of the Commiſsion of the late Gen. Aſsembly, and thereafter ſhall be willing to confer, being alſo now ready as of before to hear Exceptions, if there be any againſt the proceedings of the ſaid Commiſsion. Subſcrib. A. Ker.
The Committee of Eſtates underſtanding that the Gen. Aſſembly is to proceed to the examination of the proceedings of the Commiſsioners of the late Gen. Aſſembly in order to an approbation before they agree to a Conference; and the Committee being to give in their juſt exceptions againſt the proceedings of the ſaid Commiſsioners, do deſire the Gen. Aſſembly to allow ſome few dayes delay to the Committee to prepare their Exceptions before the Aſſembly proceed in the Buſineſs.
The Aſsembly continues the examination of the Proceedings of the late Gen. Aſsembly until four afternoon, and appoints that time for Hearing any new Exceptions the Honorable Committee of Eſtates have to give in againſt the Proceedings of the ſaid Commiſsion. Subſcrib. A. Ker.
The Committee of Eſtates finding it impoſſible in ſo ſhort a time to prepare their Objections againſt ſuch of the proceedings of the Commiſſioners of the General Aſsembly, as relates to their Engagement: and yet being moſt willing to eſsay all fair means for procuring an happy Underſtanding betwixt Kirk and State, are content to appoint ſome of their Number to meet with ſuch as ſhall be appointed by the General Aſsembly for Compoſing of Differences betwixt the Church and State, without prejudice to them to uſe all their juſt Objections againſt the proceedings of the Commiſsioners of the late General Aſsembly, if the Conference ſhall not produce theſe happy Effects they earneſtly wiſh.
The General Aſsembly unto the Motion ſent this afternoon from the Honorable Committee of Eſtates, Do return humbly this Anſwer, That they yeeld to their Lordſhips Deſires of a Conference, and for this end appoints Mrs. David Calderwood, David Dickſon, Robert Douglaſs, Andrew Cant, John Moncreif, John Smith, and John Mac Clelland, Miniſters; and the Earl of Caſsilles, the Earl of Louthian, Lord Balmernio, the Lairds of Moncreif and Freeland, with the Moderator to confer with any appointed by the Honorable Committee of Eſtates, at ſuch time and place as ſhall be appointed by their Lordſhips, upon the preſent Dangers to Religion and the cauſe of God, the great prejudices done to the Liberties of the Kirk, and the beſt remedies thereof: And to Report the Reſult of their Conference from time to time: And they have alſo Power to receive any Offers or Papers from the Honorable Committee of Eſtates, and to preſent the ſame to the Aſsembly: Declaring that the proceedings of the Commiſsion of the late Aſsembly being new exactly tryed, and unanimouſly approven, there is no place left for any Objections againſt the ſame. Subſcrib. A. Ker.