A LETTER FROM THE PROTESTERS, WITH AN ANSWER Thereunto, from an ASSERTER Of the AUTHORITY of the two late GENERAL ASSEMBLIES, AT DUNDEE and EDINBURGH.  
Printed in the Year, 1653.   

The PROTESTERS Letter.  
Right Reverend.  
THe gracious dispensations of the Lord our God toward his People in this Land have been many and great, who can utter the Mighty Acts of the Lord, or who can show forth all his praise? marvellous things did he in the sight of our Fathers, and this generation hath also seen his wonderful Works to the Children of Men. How beautiful was the Spouse of Christ (in this Land) as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, and terrible as an Army with Banners? How great was the harmony of the sons of Zion? they took sweet counsel together and walked unto the House of God in company: How good and how pleasant was it to see Brethren dwell together in Unity? It was as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the Mountains of Zion, for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore; but now he hath cast off and greatly abhored Israel, he hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him, he hideth himself, and his wrath burneth like fire, the Lord hath covered the Daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down the beauty of Israel from Heaven unto Earth; Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her. How shall we be silent when the Lord hath so great a Controversy with his People, and pleadeth with Israel, because he saith he is innocent and hath not sinned? Notwithstanding he hath gadded about to change his way, and hath followed the way of Egypt and of Assyria; And though the Lord hath rejected his confidences that he doth not prosper in them, yet will they not return again unto the Lord their God.  
We desire sadly to Regrate these things, and that so many stumbling blocks are laid in the way of the Lords People. It doth also much afflict us that groundless prejudices and needless jealousies are so readily received and entertained, and so hardly removed, and that many are so far from the meekness and gentleness of Jesus Christ, as alienation of mind and affections hath in a great measure gotten place; whereby it cometh to pass that clear and evident Truths concerning the Lord's controversy with the Land are not received in simplicity of heart, but are by many laid aside as unworthy to be taken into consideration: It is our hearts desire that we may obtain mercy of the Lord, so to speak unto, and walk with our Brethren as may be unto edification, and that we may do nothing which may either heighten or continue Differences in this Church, but every lawful way study to remove them. We have in that measure of sincerity which the Lord hath bestowed on us endeavoured to approve ourselves before him, in speaking our Judgement to others with whom we have to do. And in the fear of God we are constrained in the bowels of love and compassion to speak our thoughts also unto you, that so far as in us lieth, we may in the Lord's strength yet further endeavour to prevent his departure from the Land, and that sin and transgression may be acknowledged and mourned for, that so the Lord may yet delight to dwell amongst us.  
For this end we conceive it a good and ready way, to look back where we were when these differences began, and whence these matters which have overflowed the Land have broken in upon us, and to repent and do our first works; the time was not long since, when all that feared the Lord in the Land were of one heart and one way, against adversaries on either hand, and, O that it were his good will and pleasure to unite us again upon the same Principles, and for the same ends, in carrying on the Lords Work as heretofore! How graciously did the Lord countenance the purging forth of corrupt men in the Ministry in some places of the Land, and plentifully blest the Labours of these that were planted in their room? He poured water upon him that was thirsty and floods on the dry ground, they sprang up as among the Grass, as Willows by the water courses, and it might have been said, who are these that flee as a cloud, and as the Doves to their Windows? But now alas! How hath looseness and profanity got up the head in the Land? How is Piety mocked and shamed, yea even trampled upon, and endeavoured to be crushed so soon as it gins to break forth, even in the the tender bud? How doth the Work of Reformation lie behind, and the mourners in Zion look on the dust and rubbish of the Lords House with weeping eyes, and bleeding hearts? How are the mountains of Zion laid waste? how do the Foxes spoil the tender Grapes? and How is the Lords Vineyard become like unto the Vineyard of the sluggard, through the negligence of unworthy Labourers, scandalous and insufficient Ministers and Elders who ought to have been long since cast forth? How are the Sheep scattered and exposed to Wolves by Idol Shepherds, which feed themselves and not their flocks, and have seen vain and foolish things, and have not discovered their iniquity to turn away their captivity? neither have we it only to lament, that the work of purging the Lords House is obstructed, but that too many Ministers in the Land repent of what hath been formerly done therein, and condemn it as a sin, which before was avowed and highly commended as a most necessary duty, how great reason have we to tremble at the words of the Prophet Ezekiel, She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her; her scum shall be in the fire, in thy filthiness is lewdness, because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee: I the Lord have spoken it, it shall come to pass, and I will do it, I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent, according to thy ways, and according to thy do shall they judge thee, saith the Lord God.  
In October 1651. after seeking the Lords Face and humbling ourselves before him, we did agree upon some courses of the Lords dreadful wrath which hath gone forth against the Land, and because of the gross corruption and iniquity abounding among Ministers (In reference to which we fear that sad charge of the Prophet Malachi may be applied, But ye are departed out of the way, ye have caused many to stumble at the Law, ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi saith the Lord of Hosts, therefore have I also made you base and contemptible before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways but have been partial in the Law) we did therefore at the same time condescend upon some of the sins of the Ministry, in both which, we are so far from pleading our own innocency, that we do unfeignedly desire to acknowledge our accession to be very great, and to be deeply humbled for the same before God. And we do earnestly entreat in the Lord Jesus Christ who came into the World to save sinners, that you would seriously ponder the things that are therein represented, without taking prejudice against them, because they come from us, If the Lord shall be graciously pleased to put it into your hearts, with fervent Prayer and deep Humiliation, to consider the Covenants and Engagement (which you and all of us have sworn to the most High with uplifted hands) and to peruse and ponder the many faithful Warnings and Declarations of this Kirk in former times, anent the present Differences, and to call to mind the tentations which you met with, the snares which were laid in your way, the straits which you were driven into, and all the motives and inducements which engaged you in that way you are now upon, and to look upon the sad Judgements which have come upon the Land since the first declining from the former way, we are hopeful that the Lord shall discover unto you the sinfulness of that Treaty in Holland, and of the Public Resolutions following thereupon; in particular, how greatly his Holy Name was abused in prostituting the Ordinance of public Repentance to the lusts and designs of corrupt men, by receiving the Malignant Party to the fellowship of all Church Ordinances, to make way for entrusting them as Captains and Rulers over the Lord's People and his Interests, while they were notoriously walking in their accustomed profaneness and enimity to the Work of the Lord and to his People, and had not given evidences of Repentance; and who, as was then often foretold, have now again by their wicked deeds proclaimed to the World their Hypocrisy and dissimulation; we would much rather desire to hear that yourselves did search, then that we should need to put you in mind what sinful courses were taken to promote and establish these Resolutions, and what Censures have been imposed upon Ministers, and Acts made against Professors for giving Testimony against the same; How gracious and well qualified Elders are removed and keeped out from Church Judicatories, and ignorant and profane persons brought in and more endeavoured to be brought in to their room; How gifted and gracious young Men are debarred from entering into the Ministry, and a door is opened to others, whereof some are lose and-profane, and many are ignorant and strangers to the Work of the Lord upon their own hearts. And here we cannot forget to desire you seriously to consider, how unwarrantably you did proceed in that Meeting at Forfar in August 1651. in the midst of so many warnings and sad dispensations from the Lord, even to that height and animosity of spirit as to pronounce the heavy Curse of God against all these that did withdraw their counsels from your Judicatories, and to ordain the same to be Read in every Congregation publicly on the Lord's Day, and to spread Declarations at home, and send Printed Informations abroad into England, grievously traduceing your Brethren as Separatists, as Enemies to the Work of Reformation, and promoters of their designs who Invaded this Land, with many other reproaches of the like kind: Notwithstanding you have had long experience of their faithfulness in the Lords Work. Oh that you would lay these things to heart, and remember how greatly the Lord was thereby provoked, and his wrath increased, how ye have made the heart of the righteous sad whom the Lord hath not made sad, and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and how the Work of Reformation hath not only been interrupted thereby, but dangerously shaken, and a foundation laid for conjunction with all Parties whatsoever both at home and abroad, which hath been the cause and fountain of these sad rents and divisions that are among the Lords precious People: But of all things it is most grievous to us, that after all the evils and miseries which the Lord hath brought upon this poor Land, you should yet continue to justify and maintain these things, and so tenaciously adhere unto them, which you would well examine from what principle the same doth flow. We know that it is commonly said, that a satisfactory answer was returned to the Propositions delivered in by us to the late meeting at Edinburgh, in July last, but it is only a seeming satisfaction in some things by reason of the hidden way of expression that is used in that answer, for the matter is so conveyed in words, as the two late Assemblies and their Acts (which comprehended all the things in question betwixt us) are included in your specious concession; and so in effect, what seemeth to be granted there, is wholly overturned; to other things, no answer is returned; and, for these things which are laid down in that answer as uncontraverted betwixt us, we do not hear nor can we learn that they are begun to be practised by any of your number, though it be in the power of their hands, but the great bensel of the zeal of most part is turned against us: We may further say, that ways of Peace and healing were so little studied by the most part at that meeting in July last, as we fear the contrary was too much endeavoured; for not only Synods and Presbyteries were warranted and encouraged to proceed against Ministers, Elders, and Expectants, according to the Acts made at Dundee, (which for the substance were renewed) but also Letters were written and Published in Print directed to the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Land whereby the Malignant Party was stirred up to exercise all the Power they had against us, which in some places they have not been slack to put in execution. We are much unsatisfied that advantages are sought and taken against us in a very ungaining way (to say no worse) not only to slight, misconstrue, and reject all our endeavours for healing the breach that is amongst us; but likewise, in your Letters to Presbyteries, and other Papers you do misrepresent our proceed. Beside divers other strange expressions in your late Letter, of the date the 25. Febr. last (wherein we hope you will not upon serious examination allow yourselves) we do not a little wonder why it should be said that the conference for reconciliation and Union was altogether slighted and deserted by us, when some of our number had carefully attended about three weeks for promotting the same, and were not at all advised with, nor so much as daigned with any Answer at all, until after you had dissolved your meeting, and when the Answer was given, it was in effect a refusal of all our previous desires, without satisfaction to which, you very well knew there could be no profit in conference: We are also greatly stumbled at the Fasts and Humiliations which you do appoint from time to time, the Causes are general, and ambiguous expressions are used, which no doubt is a sin before the Lord; if in any case surely in the confession of sin and transgression, and humiliation for the same, we ought to study to be clear, plain, and distinct, and to avoid ambiguity, neither fearing the power of men upon the one hand, nor desiring to please the multitude upon the other, especially after so much wrath from the LORD upon the Land: We know, and desire to acknowledge that there was always so much sin and iniquity abounding in this Land as might have justly provocked the LORD to anger and indignation, but in the LORDS ordinary way of dealing with his People, we do find that there have usually been some public sins and breaches of Covenant preceding such sad judgements which brought their other sins to remembrance; you would not look upon it with a light eye, that so many of the Godly in the Land cannot away with, nor join in your Fast and Humiliations, and that all the wicked and grossly profain in the Land (who have always hated and do still hate the ordinances of GOD in their power and purity) do, with such a furious carnal zeal, defend and maintain your Humiliations, and carefully attend such diets and opportunities with delight and approbation, and yet do slight other occasions (even with yourselves) for worshipping the Lord. We take no pleasure to mention those things, they are matter of lamentation unto us before the Lord: neither is it our purpose to render you odious, and, if our duty to God and unto you did not constrain us, we would much rather choose to be altogether silent in such an evil time. It is from the love we bear in our hearts toward you, and the earnest desire we have to recover you from the snares into which you have fallen, and that ye may, through the Lord's blessing upon you, become instrumental for the good of Zion, in the day of her calamity and distress: We do therefore exhort you, by the Lord Jesus, to weigh these things in the Balance of the Sanctuary, and to take with your sin and guilt therein before the Lord, and to forsake that way of the Public Resolutions, as that which is greatly displeasing to him, and to join cordially with your Brethren in the former way we have been upon, for carrying on the Work of Reformation which was acceptable in the Lord's sight, and signally blessed in our hands from heaven: let it be far from you to put a hard construction upon our intentions herein, or upon any of our words or expressions which may seem harsh; if we could have made choice of smother words in such a purpose, we would willingly have made use of them. We hope likewise that you will not offend at the freedom and plainness which we have used with you, as being our Brethren, it is a great sin in the Lord's sight to make a man an offender for a word, and to lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate; But how excellent are the words of the sweet Psalmist of Israel! Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil which shall not break my head. If we would rend our hearts and turn unto the Lord our God, he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth of the evil, who knoweth but he will repent and leave a blessing behind him, and shall yet again choose Jerusalem, and dwell in the midst of us? Surely he would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might flow down at his presence, and make his Name known to his adversaries, and should say unto us, Fear not, O Land, be glad and rejoice, for the Lord will do great things. Now he whom God hath exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance unto Israel and forgiveness of sins, fill you with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom, and spiritual understanding: and the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you (and in us and in all his people) that which is well pleasing in his sight, through JESUS CHRIST: to whom be glory for ever, Amen.  
We desire you to communicate this to the Brethren that are of your judgement in these Differences.  
Subscribed in the name, and at the desire of many Ministers, Elders and Professors of the Gospel, met at Edinburgh the 17. of March, 1653. By Mr. ANDREW CANT.   

The ASSERTERS Answer.  
Right Reverend,  
WE received a Letter subscrived by You in the Name and at the desire of many Ministers, Elders, and Professors met at Edinburgh, which all along charges us, and those of our Judgement, with the guilt of many Land-destroying sins, and with obstinacy in them. This doth necessitate us, in order to our clearing unto those among whom that your Letter is spread, as also, lest you take our silence for an evidence of our conviction, to give you this ensuing answer. We are very confident that ye who plead for so much charity at our hands, while ye are loading us with such a weight of unjust and odious imputations, will take it well from us, while we go about to clear ourselves, and by force of Reasons to wipe off our Persons and Ministry that contempt and disgrace, which the matter of your Letter and your other Papers hath wrongously cast upon us. We could gladly have chosen to be as deaf men who hear not, and as dumb men who open not their mouth, if we alone and what concerneth us only did herein suffer; But for Zions' sake we dar not hold our peace. The respect we own to our Mother Church, and to the hitherto untainted reputation of many faithful men, Ministers, Elders and others, all embarked with us in the defence of one common Truth, forceth us to speak. Far be it from you to put an hard construction upon us, or upon any of our words and expressions, while we are giving a reason of our Faith and practice with meekness and fear, especially, being constrained to it by yourselves.  
We acknowledge with you the former mercies of God unto this Church, together with the astonishing terror of his present judgements: How good and how pleasant was it when Brethren dwelled together in Unity? it was like precious ointment, the dew of Hermon, than the Lord commanded the blessing; Our Church then looked forth as the Morning, fair as the Moon, clear as the Sun, and terrible as an Army with Banners; How excellent were the fruits of Church government when inferior Judicatories and persons of all ranks, Ministers and others did move each in their own place, in their due subordination prescribed unto them by the Lord Christ? When public warnings concerning dangers and duties did come from the Watchtower of Supreme Judicatories, and from thence as from Aaron's head, did run down by his-beard to the uttermost skirts of his garments, were we not then for a name of praise amongst the Churches abroad, and the rod of Discipline in our hand, a terror to every thing which exalted itself against truth and piety at home? Then did the work of Reformation come on apace, until the headstone was ready to be put upon it, with shoutings crying Grace, Grace unto it; The Vine brought out of Egypt planted amongst us did fill the land, the hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly Cedars, She sent forth her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. But now alas! the case is altered, we are as members disjointed, as an Army routed, the Authority of CHRIST'S Courts weakened, and all this is the more terrible, that our own hand hath been in the transgression, our hedges are broken down, so that all they that pass by do robe and spoil; the Boar out of the wood doth waste and the wild beast out of the Forest doth devour, the Foxes and little Foxes do spoil the Vines with tender grapes, and there is none to take hold of them.  
We do also regrate with you that groundless prejudices, and needless jealousies are so readily received and entertained, and so hardly removed, and that alienation of mind and affection doth so much increase. Those seems to be the latter times indeed, concerning which it is foretold, that because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Only it appeareth from what followeth in yours, that what guilt is herein ye intent to fasten it all upon us, and to purge yourselves wholly of it. Thus we take up your meaning, and doubtless others will do so also, while ye add that, Hereby it cometh to pass, that clear and evident Truths concerning the Lord's controversy with the Land are not received in simplicity of heart, but are by many laid aside as unworthy to be taken notice of, a thing which those of your judgement do usually charge us with. But for yourselves, ye profess it is your hearts desire so to walk with your Brethren as may be unto edification, and that ye may do nothing which may heighten the difference. Thus all those forenamed evils must be fastened upon us: To all which we return this Answer. 1. As we conceive, ye neither will, nor yet can positively clear yourselves from having your own share in those things as well as others. Surely ye do not really think that there is no groundless prejudices nor needless jealousies received and entertained by those of your Judgement, nor no place given to alienation of mind and affection; and if so, we wonder much why then do ye so regrate these evils, as it is evident ye would fasten them wholly upon us: How is it, that ye who press so much taking with guilt upon others, do not freely own your own share in this common and uncontroverted guiltiness? 2. We do not purge those of our Judgement, but as usually falls out in Church divisions, so it is possible, way is given by many to prejudices and jealousies; but we are sorry we have reason to say, your way doth free them from the imputation of being altogether groundless. We can hardly conceive, but if ye seriously consider, ye yourselves will judge, that there is great ground of jealousy given to these of our Judgement from several things in your carriage: As namely, for your crying out so much against that which we conceive to have been our duty, as the main Cause of God's Judgement, and Kingdome-ruining sin; from your asserting in Print to the World that we are, for the same very thing, men scandalous, and unworthy to sit in a General Assembly: If ye speak this much, when for number ye are comparatively so few and destitute of all power, what can be expected your Principles will lead you unto, if once ye had that fullness of power which ye aim at? 3. How groundless so ever our jealousies be, we must crave leave to clear ourselves of that unchristian effect which ye have expressly affirmed to have followed upon them. The searcher of hearts knows, no groundless prejudices, nor alienation of mind and affections, hath so prevailed with us as to reject clear and evident Truths concerning the Lord's Controversy with the Land, as unworthy to be taken notice of. We desire to believe that the fear and dread of the Almighty shall never so far forsake us, But 4. what ye mean by these clear and evident truths concerning the Lord's controversy, and rejected by us, we cannot well conjecture; We can hardly think that ye mean the points of controversy under debate betwixt you and us; ye know what ye hold in those are not clear and evident truths unto us, and we believe unto none of the Foreign Churches: We desire to know if ever such Tenets were vented for Truths in any part of the Christian World, as that it is not lawful, for the lawful Magistrate to employ the Body of his Subjects for the Lands defence against an unjust Invasion; or that we may not be concurring, according to our Place, unto the investing of any, with the power of Magistracy, what ever otherwise be his right unto it, until he give convincing signs of a real change; or that it is unlawful to join in Camp fellowship with these whom we may have even the nearest Church fellowship with: Such and many such like are no clear and evident Truths unto us. But if ye mean other Truth's concerning the common and uncontroverted guiltiness of all ranks of Persons within the Land, such as Contempt of the Gospel, Pride, Oppression, Uncleanness, Despising of Ordinances, Self-seeking under public pretences, ye know we do receive such Truths, and stir up the Land to mourn for them, though we know many who looks on those, as sins not to be taken notice of in a Public Fast, except those other things under debate, and of lesser moment, what ever truth be in them, be acknowledged also.  
Ye Profess your scope in Writing unto us, is that sin and transgression may be acknowledged by us; ye needed not have excused your attempting of this towards us, by your doing the like unto others. We are glad indeed how freely ye do acquit yourselves according to your Vocation unto all men, and are confident when what ye have done unto others of this kind, shall be made as public as this to us hath been a long time since, it will speak for itself: But what ever ye have done or not done unto others, your Writing unto us had been most acceptable, if so it had taught us what we know not; your smiting of us should have been a kindness.  
For attaining the end by you Proposed, ye conceive it a good and ready way to look back where we were when these differences began, particularly ye mention our by past work of purging corrupt men from the Ministry, and the profitable fruits thereof, together with the sad effects hath followed upon the interruption of it, by the abounding of scandalous Ministers and Elders, which ye lament so much the more, as that what hath been already done of this kind is condemned by many. In answer to which we wish indeed we may all look back where we were when these differences began. Our General Assemblies were then terrible as ane Army with Banners, inferior Judicatories and Persons of all ranks walking in their due subordination unto those, whereby the weeds and stones of all sorts were gathered out of the Lords Vineyard, which now almost every where abound. 2. We grant, that the House of God ought to be purged, and that not only from men of scandalous lives, but also of dangerous and erroneous principles; but we are sorry that ye labour so much to fasten upon us the hindering of this so good a Work, ye know the weakening of our Authority makes purging Work for the time but very little useful; Men are now taught, and ye know by whose example, to submit no further to Church Censures nor what seemeth good unto themselves. Our purging work must have Union going before it, or else it is to little purpose, so that these who have begun and continued our woeful Rent most, are greatest retarders of this necessary work, and so deepest in that guilt, which you so much at all occasions do charge upon us. 3. We know not who those are who reputes of the by past work of purging, possibely some conceive an inconvenience and danger to continue it in the same way wherein it was formerly used, but for what we know, there is none of our judgement against the thing itself. It may prove hazardous indeed to give unto a Quorum of some few men (most of them being very young inexperienced and unacquainted with our Discipline) a constant power renewed from time to time to sit down upon whole Synods and Presbyteries, and cast out and hold in whom they please, especially at this time when through our woeful Rent there is so much mutual irritation of spirit, and as yourselves grant so many groundless prejudices, and needless jealousies, together with so much alienation of affections. We are very confident it shall not be made appear, that Ezekiel threatneth the neglecting of purging only by such a mean as this, so, with all respect to your Wisdom and parts, ye might, as we conceive, have omitted the citation of that place as to this purpose.  
As for your two Papers mentioned in yours, as containing the causes of GOD'S dreadful wrath, and the sins of the Ministry, which ye recommend unto us, we have not, as yet, so acurately perused them, but from the general view we have taken, we find what is the great work of these books, to wit, to convince us of the sinfulness of the Treaty, public Resolutions etc. And in order to our conviction herein ye recommend to us the perusal of the Covenant, Engagement, Remonstrances, Declarations of this Kirk; For Answer, We have perused many of them all, and most of all, the Word of Truth (the perusal whereof, why it is not recommended by you, at least among the rest, we wonder much) But we cannot find from all or any of these that sinfulness in these things which ye charge them with. We find the Treaty with the King approven by Covenant, Remonstrances, Declarations, so that if ye had cited but one passage of any of these seemingly against it, we should have cited ten really for it. We find the public Resolutions also approven by these: to wit, The Commissions Answer to the Queries proponed to them by the Committee of Estates; some of which Answers in these, is. 1. It is lawful for a Magistrate to employ the body of his Subjects for the Lands defence, especially providing none of them be put to such Trust as may be prejudicial to the work of GOD, which ye know was expressly provided for in the Commissions Answer. 2. That a Parliament may take off civil mulcts, altar or shorten diets for admitting unto, or debarring from Trust, providing they actually employ none but these who are of known good affection to the Cause of GOD. These are the public Resolutions so much cried out against, and these we dare not condemn, except we would departed from the Word of Truth. We find also what the Commission did in receiving of Malignants to give Ecclesiastic signs of Repentance, to be justified by the Acts of preceding Assemblies, especially the Assembly 1649. where many of your judgement did sit as Members. We find that Assembly did enjoin the Commission to process these who were upon the unlawful Engagement, even to Excommunication, if they did not offer signs of Repentance: We find the Commission 1650. walking by the same steps, in their receiving of them to the Communion of the Church, which the same Assembly in the same place doth prescribe, and if they failed in one circumstance, why do ye not make it known. So that while ye say that they were notoriously walking in their accustomed profaneness and enimity unto the Work of God, even when the Commission did receive them, is more than can be made good; we mean, that they were so walking notoriously unto the Judicatory who received them, and ye know Church Judicatories are to judge only according unto what is made notour unto them. If ye say their walking so was notour unto others, than we ask why did not those others follow Christ's rule with them? Was there any of the whole bulk, whom any of you did admonish, and for their pertinacy delated them unto the Church, as the Word of God and the General Assembly did excite all to do. This ye know aught to have been first done, before ye had thus charged CHRIST'S Court with prostituting the Ordinances of Repentance unto the lusts of corrupt men.  
That several of these, whom the Commission did then receive, have since proclaimed their dissimulation, reflecteth nothing upon us, no more than the carriage of divers of your Judgement, who have tread in the same steps with them of late, doth reflect upon you. Besides this, we may say that the greater part of those, at whose receiving ye professed yourselves most stumbled, have given as great a proof of their sincerity, by their after actings and sufferings for the Covenant and Cause, as any others have done since that time.  
Ye proceed and wish ourselves may search what sinful courses have been taken to promove these Public Resolutions: but lest we should not search, or happily, after searching, not find, ye put us in mind of several particulars, to which we give this return:  
1. If any Censures have been imposed upon Ministers, without a preceding Act and practice of our Kirk in such like cases, then let the Imposers bear the blame.  
2. For any particular Acts made by the Assembly at Dundee against Professors, for their opposition to the Acts thereof, they not being particularly instanced, we cannot speak particularly to them; But, compare who will, we are very confident the most rigorous Acts of that Assembly will be justified by the many practices of former Assemblies in the like cases.  
3. That ignorant, profane Elders are brought in upon Church Judicatories, is beyond our knowledge, neither do we justify any who so doth, if any such be; But sure we are, do it who will, they have no warrant for, nor encouragement to it from any of the late Assemblies: the latter whereof expressly Ordaineth that none shall be admitted to that Office, but such as shall be well reported of, trial also being first taken of their abilities.  
4. Ye mention that gracious and well qualified Elders are removed and kept out from Church Judicatories, and gifted and gracious men debarred from entering the Ministry, and a door opened to others, lose and profane, etc. We know the ground of your challenge is the Act of the late Assembly, about Ruling Elders and Expectants: concerning which we answer, 1. That those who are for the Assembly have been so far from the rigid executing of that Act, that in any Synods and Presbyteries, chief where these of our judgement have power, where there hath been one Elder adhering to the Protestation removed from Church Judicatories, there hath been twenty of these who are for the Assembly, and that for no reason we have heard of (few or none being legally processed) except for their judgement in the present controversy; And the ground why we thus speak is this, the same Elders have sitten in our Sessions their many years by past without any endeavour to have them changed during their woeful differences; And for Expectants, where one of our judgement hath entered the Ministry, we mean in any place where we have power, a door hath been opened to three of yours. We shall not insist here to complain, though there be more nor reason, that by the unwearied activity of some, the credit and reputation of divers gracious young men is much blasted, and their names traduced, so that many other ways, willing, gracious and able, are greatly discouraged from aiming at the Ministry, seeing nothing as the times now are, but certain ruin and disgrace, if over the belly of their light they do not profess an alteration of their judgement. 2. As to the Act itself, we have this to say for it, it is not the first which hath been made of that kind, ye know what Acts were made against Ministers, Expectants and Elders, who did not acknowledge the Assembly at Glasgow; And how ever, the not acknowledging of that Assembly was a thing sinful, yet none will call it such a sin, but gracious men through error, tentations, or preingagements might have fallen in it; Will ye therefore call these Acts a debarring of gracious Elders and Expectants from the Ministry, we conceive ye will not.  
5. As to the business of Forfar; When the Invaders had overrun and possessed both sides of Forth, the best part of this Land, and were now ready to pass Tay, lie down before Dundee, and overrun the Shires be North Tay, the People then being exceedingly discouraged with fear, and divided in factions; The Commission not out of height and animosity of Spirit (whereof they are uncharitably challenged) but out of the sense of danger and conscience of the Trust committed to them, conceived it their necessary duty at such a time, to incite the People there to unanimous concurrence and conjunction in Counsel and Forces for the defence of the remnant of the poor Kingdom, and to lay out the fearfulness of the sin of with drawing from these duties, and the judgements threatened in God's Word against the same. This was not to pronounce a curse against any, but to rouse up all unto the acting of duty for preventing the curse, which God himself hath denunced against such as come not forth to help the Lord against the Mighty, and hath been practised by former General Assemblies and Commissions in exigencies that were not so extreme. Sol. Warn. February 1645. pag. 15. and 18. When you have considered this and informed yourself better in the matter, we hope you will find their Warning was seasonable and necessary even under these sad dispensations; and none in our opinion can justly think other ways, except such as think that after these dispensations, men should have willingly yielded up themselves, the Cause, the Kingdom, and all their Interests to the Invaders.  
6. For that you allege of our grievous traducing and reproaching you by our spreading Declarations in this Land, and Printing Informations for England, we doubt these Declarations and Informations you mean were spread or Printed; Sure we are, there were no calumnies nor reproaches in them against any Persons, but a faithful relation of Truth in matters of fact, and a clearing of the integrity and lawfulness of our proceed against your calumnies and aspersions; But if ye could have instanced and instructed any particular in these Papers, wherein ye were so traduced, it would have had the more weight, and until then, indifferent men will think you guilty for your so charging us of the same fault which ye charge us with. Especially seeing, 2. It's known whose Papers had most ready access to the Press then, and yet have. And 3. Considering what ye avowedly charge us with, to be carriers on of a course of backsliding, and by doing our duty to have drawn down the wrath of God upon the Land, and by our obstinacy therein to continue the same; Which in our estimation, is as unjust a reproach, as if ye had been charged with all that which ye do affirm. 4. If we intended to recriminate, we might speak much more of propagating opinions by informations if not misinformations upon your side, than for any thing we know ye can make good upon ours.  
7. That the Work of Reformation hath been shaken, a foundation laid for conjunction with all parties, and that the present Divisions have proceeded from our forementioned actings otherways then as from an harmless occasion, is as easily denied by us, as affirmed by you.  
But in the next place ye do profess it to be very grievous that we do yet adhere to our former Judgement, and wish us to examine from what Principle it doth flow; We have obeyed your desire, and shall here give you an account what after examination we have found to be the Principle from whence our adhering to these Truths in controversy betwixt you and us do flow. God is our witness, that according to the measure of Grace received, we have laboured to lay aside preingagements, respect to credit with men, and to judge so far as our infirmity would suffer of the things considered abstractly and in themselves, and after pondering of what might be said on both hands, we are more and more confirmed, that these things we adhere unto, are Scripture Truths, consonant to the Doctrine of our Church, and never so much for ought we know, as once questioned in any part of the Christian World: And we do not doubt, but there are many able men in this Church, who will maintain the beauty, necessity, and usefulness of these Truths, against all the reproaches they are aspersed with. Believe us, it is from this Principle that we adhere unto those so much contradicted and reproached Truths.  
Ye complain of several things in our late Assembly at Edinburgh; 1. That they did not give you a satisfactory answer, and that because in their specious concessions was included the approbation of the two late Assemblies and of their Acts; To which we Answer, we believe ye will not affirm that the Assembly did require an Approbation from you, either unto Assembly or Acts: And will not this think ye, be thought reasonable satisfaction by indifferent Judges, that nothing was required of you, which did necessarily infer the alteration of your Judgement. But it seemeth no thing will satisfy some, so long as we do approve of these Assemblies, and do not alter our Judgement in relation to the main things in controversy; And if so, we apprehend such shall not receive a satisfactory answer in haste. 2. Ye complain that things laid down by the Assembly as uncontroverted amongst us, are not yet practised by any of our number, what these things are should have been instanced, and if we could, we should have given an answer. 3. Ye profess your fear that the most part of that Assembly did endeavour to mar Peace and ways of healing, Because 1. Synods and Presbyteries were encouraged to go on against Ministers and others according to the Acts of Dundee. 2. Because of the Act sent to Noblemen, Gentlemen, and all pious Persons within the Land, whereby the Malignant Party was stirred up to exercise their whole power against you, and this ye hold forth as the native scope of that Letter, not as the naked event only; for that is after mentioned while ye add that in some places the Malignant Party hath not been slack to Act accordingly. To which we Answer, what was the intentions of any or most part of that Assembly in relation to Peace we cannot infallibly determine; but if we may judge of intentions by actions, we conceive they have endeavoured Peace more than ye would make the World believe: For the thing required by them from you in the Overture of Peace, is not that ye should alter your Judgement either in the matter of Public Resolutions, or yet concerning the Authority of the Assembly. Only because the holding up of Debates did tend to increase the fire of strife: It was required that those unnecessar and unbrotherly Contests, should be laid aside; And because a standing Protestation would prove afterwards inevitably the seed of new contention and strife, it was required in like manner, that ye should pass from your Protestations also; Both which as we conceive, ye might have done, reserving your Judgement concerning the sinfulness of the resolutions, and Nullity of the Assembly, except ye affirm, that the public venting of any thing which we conceive to be Truth may not be forborn, no not for the Church's Peace, or that none can esteem an Assembly Null, except they appear in a public Protestation against it, none of which as we conceive ye will assert for Truth. Now this being all which was required, let any judge if this was not a coming up a good length towards Peace upon the Assemblies part, especially if it be compared with what ye have since made public in your Printed Papers, tending as we conceive to make Peace and Union desperate. viz. The justifying of the second reason of the Protestation, given in at St. Andrews, wherein is asserted that these who have been Active for carrying on the Public Resolutions are Men Scandalous, and so not to be admitted to voice in a General Assembly; together with what ye hold out in your fifth Reason against choosing Commissioners to the late Assembly at Edinburgh: That it is unlawful to join in an Assembly, made up for the most part of those who acted in, and approved of the late Assembly at Dundee; Of which sort, are without all controversy the Body of Ministers and Elders within this Church: from which grounds, we cannot see any probable way for Peace, except the Body of the Ministers and Elders do willingly lie by at your mere desire; suffering you to erect yourselves in an Assembly, and then to attend with patience the Authoritative result from your already known principles, whereby all of us are judged men highly scandalous, guilty of foul defection, and Church-ruining sins, together with an high degree of pertinacy in them against, so many testimonies, such clear and evident light, and in the midst of so many fearful judgements. Now let indifferent men judge who requireth most of others, and whose principles are most obstructive to peace. 2. That the most part of the General Assembly did encowrage Synods and Presbyteries, to go on with Censures against Ministers and Elders, it is hardly probable; considering that not one Minister hath been hitherto so much as processed for any thing relating to differences; and if the bensall of their zeal was so much towards censure then; ye would show what hath interveened to blunt the edge of their zeal so much since. 3. That such an outcry should be made against the Assemblies Letter to Noblemen, etc. as bewraying unpeaceable spirits, we cannot imagine the Reason: sure we are, they are known to be men very peaceable, in whose breasts the motion of sending such a Letter did first bread: And for the matter of it, we are confident, indifferent Judges will approve of it as savouring much of Peace; The sum whereof was to show what length the Assembly had come towards Peace, in the Overture of Peace therewith sent, and to entreat them to deal with you to embrace the famine. And, 4. We wonder most by what Art ye can make it appear, that the native scope of that Letter was to stir up the Malignant Party to exercise all their power against you. Was the Letter direct unto any, but unto Noblemen, Gentlemen, and all pious Persons within the Land? We cannot conceive those to be the Malignant Party ye do so much speak of: Or is there the least hint in that Letter exciting to exercise any power against you further than exhortations, persuasions, desires, and entreaties? What then, is there in that Letter which ye can load justly with such an invidious sense? If we were going about, as the manner of some is, to charge you with being guilty of the Kingdom's ruin, and were turning over all your opinions and practices, whereby ye differ from us into causes of God's wrath, stirring up the People of the Land to mourn for the same, denouncing you guilty of high pertinacy for your maintaining of them, and prophesying the continuance and increase of wrath, until those were acknowledged and taken with: If our way were such, ye might justly challenge us indeed, for stirring up not only the Malignant Party to exercise their power against you, but also for making your own people abhor you, and truly though we were aiming at your shame and disgrace, we could hardly imagine a more compendious way, for bringing of it about, but the uprightness of the upright will preserve him.  
Lastly, ye profess your dissatisfaction with the present Commission, and that for several things. 1. For their slighting and misconstruing all your endeavours for Peace. 2. For misrepresenting your proceed to Presbyteries, particularly in their Letter of the Date Febr. 25. To which we Answer, 1. The Commission did appoint a Conference at St. Andrews, in order to Union and Peace, which was the grant of your desire for the main, and if some words expressing their appointment, did make you slight the offer, it would appear ye have not had mind to the thing itself. 2. That the Commission did misrepresent your proceed is more than can be proved, as to the passage of their Letter pitched upon, we answer, 1. If, the Conference appointed by the Commission was not slighted by you, than whose default was it that it was not keeped? 2. That those of your number was not advised with, in drawing up of the Commissions Answer, will not be thought strange unto those who know ye advised with none of our Judgement when ye did draw up your demand, though there was severals present, mediating with you for Peace. 3. That some at least of your previous desires were refused by the Commission, will be thought as little strange unto those who knew what ye did desire, viz. that the Commission should uncommissionat themselves by a Public Declaration, that they should Act nothing as a Commission, during the Conference, though the necessity of the Church should never so much require it. And how could we as ye allege imagine, that the refusing of this desire would mar the good of the Conference, except we had first imagined that your proponing of such a previous desire, did argue that ye intended no good at all in order to the Church's Peace, should be reaped by the Conference. Lastly, ye profess yourselves greatly stumbled at the Fasts and Humiliations appointed by the Commission from time to time, and that because the Causes thereof are General and ambiguous For Answer, 1. If we were to show unto you all wherewith we are dissatisfied in your way, we conceive we have greater reason to be dissatisfied with yourselves, but our intent being mainly herein to clear ourselves, we shall only Propone this Question, If ever ye read in any Church Story, in any age of the Church, that when difference of Judgement did fall out among Prime and Eminent Church-members, that ever the one Party being the fewer, and no Church judicatory, did take upon them to turn over the one side of the Controversy into Causes of God's Wrath upon the Church, and by the Sole Authority of Church Sessions, hold them forth to Congregations to be mourned for at Solemn Fasts, and this all before the Rent did turn remediless, yea and while the same Party is pretending unto Peace, and charging the other with slighting all Overtures for Union and healing so often Propounded, and so much pursued by themselves. 2. If ye had instanced any of these Causes of our late Fasts, which are either ambiguous or general, we should have answered; But sure we are, it is an unjust charge: no Causes can be more clear, nor needeth to be more particular nor the Causes of the very last Fast are, as is obvious unto any who without prejudice will peruse them. But we gather from that which followeth in yours, what it is ye miss most in these Causes, viz. That we do not acknowledge a Land-destroying guiltiness in the Public Resolutions. It seemeth unto us, ye hint at this, while ye say, ye do find in God's ordinary way of dealing with his People, that there hath usually been some public sins and breaches of Covenant preceding such sad judgements. For Answer: 1. We are deceived if we have not found the contrary, Psal. 44. The People of God are put unto shame, given as sheep appointed for meat, scattered among the heathen, they were broken in the places of Dragons, their bellies made to cleave unto the dust, and yet vers. 17. for all this, they had not forgotten God, nor yet dealt falsely in his Covenant. Ye know also, what sad judgements were brought upon the whole Catholic Church visible in the time of the first Persecutions by the heathen Emperors, and afterwards by the Arrians, and yet there is nothing extant of any public break of Covenant, going before those terrible strokes and sad sufferings. But 2. Granting that some breaches of Covenant had gone before our sad stroke, must it therefore follow that those were the Public Resolutions: May there not be found other breaches in relation to those who are our Rod, or some other things. But 3. Though ye were persuaded that the breach is in these, yet do ye think it indeed a sin before the Lord for us, who are not so persuaded, to mourn for other Land-destroying sins which are upon all hands uncontroverted? May not Joshua and the Elders mourn for their stroke and their known sins procuring it, though yet they knew nothing of Achan, who had procured God's Wrath against them most. Or did Job sin while he acknowledged his known iniquity? Job 7. 21. Although he himself apprehended there was some further prime cause of this stroke nor any thing he had yet seen, as appears from Job 10. 2. Show me wherefore thou contendest with me. But lastly as to this purpose ye add, that we would not look upon it with a light eye, that so many Godly in the Land cannot join in our fasts, and that all the wicked and profane in the Land do carefully attend such diets. For Answer, 1. We know there are both Godly and profane within the Church, but for ourselves, we never liked the making use of that distinction for strengthening of interest and faction, by ranking all the profane and wicked upon the one side, and so none but the Godly, yea, and the generality of the Godly, upon the other. We know such a method hath been followed by some, but the vanity of it hath still at last been discovered, how long it will hold up with you, we do not know. 2. Though we are not able from our own exact knowledge to order Professors through the whole Land in their several ranks, yet our information faileth us, if the generality of noted professors of any old standing do not join with us in our Fasts and Humiliations. 3. That any doth not join with us is not looked on with a light eye by us, we profess we look sadly upon it, as a piece of that spirit stirring in the times: The intent whereof is to make professors first lightly to scruple, and then to separate without any reason, upon mere gainstanding of mind, first from some Ordinances in the hands only of some, and next in the hands of others, that so in progress of time they may cast at all Ordinances. We do verily believe so much is not intended by them, but so far as we can judge, the Spirit stirring in the times driveth at no less, and this is a thing which neither we nor ye ought to think lightly of, fare less do any thing by Word or Writ which may strengthen people's hands, or encourage them in such a way. 4. Ye mistake while ye affirm all the profane in the Land do join with us; We know in some places that severals of the most profane have separated from us, and gone to hear some of your Judgement at those diets, and that only because they conceived such a way would be acceptable to some whom they have dependence upon: If ye knew the men, we conceive ye would not think us uncharitable, though we said it was nothing of conscience which moved them. 5. Though many profane men should join in our Fasts (as they usually did in years bypast countenance all such Fasts as were appointed by Public Judicatories) yet there is no reproach to us, nor the way of God which we maintain (the contrary to which ye seem to insinuate) ye know by whom the same hath been objected as a matter of reproach against the Presbyterian way, and how ye yourselves have often answered it.  
That the rise of your Writing is from love to us, and not from a purpose to render us odious, we shall not Question, only we stumble much that doubles of yours were spread unto others before it came to our hands: what hath been the purpose of those who did so we cannot well imagine. As for the matter of your exhortation, that we should quite the Public Resolutions, ye have our Answer to it in what is already Written: Only your method stumbleth us not a little, that the quyting of our Judgement in those is required as previous to our joining with you, if ye hold this as necessarily previous to our Union we desire to know; surely if so, ye are not so cordial for Union as some of you pretend.  
And now since we have spoken our heart freely unto you in answer to yours, wherein we presume ye will find that we have obeyed at least your last desire, having Written nothing which may evidence our putting of a hard construction upon your intentions, or upon any of your words or expressions, which may seem harsh, we have only answered to the matter held forth by them; we shall not take upon us to speak our sense of that way wherein ye have walked this time bypast, the General Assembly having spoken so much to that purpose, whom if ye do not hear, we conceive neither will ye hear us. Only Sir, let us with all due respect take the boldness to propound unto you some few Questions concerning some things in your way, and the way of those other Reverend Brethren who join with you: To which we earnestly crave, and, as we conceive, in equity may expect an Answer. The things we question being such as your clear and distinct answer will satisfy the minds of many, much concerning the sincerity of your endeavour for healing, and your willingness to remove these things, which in the apprehensions of many are real impediments and stumbling blocks, cast in the way of Union and Peace. The Questions are those following.  
QUEST. 1. Do ye indeed conceive that ye can have no Union with us until we obey the contents of your Letter, and profess an alteration of our Judgement in these things wherein we differ from you? Besides other things, the exhortation proponed in your Letter unto us giveth us ground thus to Question, where our forsaking of the way of Public Resolutions is required as previous unto our joining together for carrying on the Work of Reformation: If ye so conceive we are at a point, we must either come over the belly of our Light, and call good evil, else ye will not hear of Peace.  
QUEST. 2. If ye look on us as men scandalous and unworthy to sit in Church Judicatories? the second Reason of your Protestation against the Assembly at S. Andrews gives us ground to imagine thus: for there do ye decline that Assembly, because the most eminent men of our Church was not casten by as scandalous, though nothing either was or could be alleged against them, but their accession to the Public Resolutions; If ye so judge still, we cannot understand how ye mind peace.  
QUEST. 3. Do ye really think it unlawful to join in an Assembly made up for the most part of these who acted in, and approved of the late Assembly at Dundee, as your fift Reason against choosing Commissioners to the late Assembly at Edinburgh doth express? If thus ye judge, than you must decline not only the General Assemblies, but all Synods and Presbyteries: yea, and shake off your Ministers also, if they be not of your judgement, as continuing in a course which you think defection and the main cause of GOD'S wrath.  
QUEST. 4. How is it many of your judgement refuse to join with us in the public Acknowledgement of uncontroverted guiltiness, and that only because we cannot go over our light, to acknowledge that for a sin which we do esteem to have been a duty? We desire to know any passage of Scripture, warranding a separation from such a necessary duty for that only cause.  
QUEST. 5. Seeing ye do so much cry out against us, for retarding the work of Purging, how is it ye do not cordially join and excite to the censuring of erroneous Ministers, who have avowedly spit upon their Mother's face, and are daily stirring up others to do the like?  
QUEST. 6. How is it some Ministers of your judgement take upon them to intimate Fasts, read forth Causes of Wrath unto the people to be humbled for, appoint particular diets for going about this work; and this all without the Authority of any Church judicatory, no not so much as of their own Sessions? if this were done by others, it would seem somewhat Prelatical like.  
QUEST. 7. How is it some of your judgement take upon them to debar from the Lords Table, the third part or half the number of their Church-members come to age? This seemeth unto us a great step towards separation.  
QUEST. 8. We desire to know what are these positive signs of real repentance, which ye require in those who are to be received, after scandal, unto the fellowship of the Church? and why the same may not be required in the admission of Church-members?  
QUEST. 9 How is it the practice of many of your number to cast out of Sessions, under one pretence or other, all those almost who are of our judgement? and yet cry out so much against the Act of the late Assembly, ordaining not those who differ from us in the matter of Public Resolutions: but only such as adhere to the Protestation against the Assemblies to be laid aside only, from voicing in Presbyteries and Synods, but not at all to be cast out of Church-Sessions.  
QUEST. 10. What warrant or approven precedent in this or any Reformed Kirk can you show for your admitting Ruling Elders and private Persons in your public meetings to pray publicly among so many Ministers?  
QUEST. 11. How upon no other ground, but your own declinature, 〈…〉 assume the power of the Commission 1650. which was surrend●●●● to the General Assembly 1651. by a Quorum, and the greatest number of the Commissioners, whereof some of yourselves were a part? And what Assembly will you find yourselves countable to, which another Quorum of your Commission may not also decline upon your own or the like reasons?  
QUEST. 12. How can you pretend to Act be virtue of the Commission 1650. which you neither have, nor ever had at any of your Meetings? Have you made up to yourselves the whole power, members, Quorum, and date of that Commission by your own memories and assertions.  
QUEST. 13. Or do you assume to yourselves the power of the Commission of the Assembly 1649. which you have in Print, because you have not the Commission 1650. and will have it believed from your own testimonies, that the power of both is one and the same in Terminis? which yet will not be found true, and you cannot but know, that the Members and Quorum are not the same in both.  
QUEST. 14 But if you have an authentic extract of the Commission 1650. Since pretending to that Authority you Act so great things, why is not your Commission Printed with the Acts issueing from you, by virtue thereof that the Authority of it may be known, seeing it is so much questioned in the Power, Members, Quorum, and the very being of it?  
Sir, We have proponed those that by your answers to them we may know what hopes there is of making up of our woeful Rent; and (if we might take the boldness to speak a little to such an Eminent servant of Jesus Christ as ye, whom our conscience beareth witness we respect and honour much in the Lord) We would humbly obtest you, If there be any consolations in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, ye would employ the great power, which we know ye deservedly have amongst these of your Judgement, to make them incline to ways of Peace and healing. Do we not yet see that our Church is destroyed? The Authority of Christ's Courts almost mortally wounded? Hath not Unity in times bypast been this Church's praise, and that which made our Government lovely unto Foreign Churches? And shall this breach turn irrepareable under our hands? Consider, we entreat you, seriously how improbable it is that our Union shall begin at our uniting in Judgement concerning those Public Re●●●● 〈◊〉 much opposed as defection by you, so much defended as 〈◊〉 of necessary duty by us. If this be the Method ye resolve to follow, what hope is there of attaining Peace and Union? To what end serveth all our debates concerning those? May we ask how 〈◊〉 have ye gained unto your mind, by all your pains taken that way? Or how many gain we to ours? Or when do ye expect that all precious and able Men in this Church shall be one in those? To what purpose then is our mutual challenges, our answers, replies, our public debates, but to irritate one another, and to make ourselves ridiculous? When shall we cease thus to strive? Are we not Brethren? How many are our mutual bands? we are knit together by the ties of one profession; one holy Calling; one Church; one Country; one Covenant; and by the tye of common sufferings; Are we not one in all those? and shall we thus rend asunder for things of small concernment? Surely then, if lesser than any of those forementioned ties, Oh we might once see that Scripture verified in us. The envy also of Ephraim shall departed, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. How good were it if as Brethren we were dwelling together in Unity, it should be as the precious Ointment upon the head, that ran down upon Aaron's beard to the skirts of his garments, as the dew of Hermon, there the Lord should command the blessing, even life for ever more.  
FINIS.