THE PROTESTATION Given in by the DISSENTING BRETHREN, TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY July 21. 1652. Reviewed and Refuted; Briefly showing the insufficiency of the reasons thereof; And consequently the justice of the Assemblies sentence condemning it.  
Done by a Member of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY.  Psal. 120. v. 7. 
I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.  
Printed at Leith by Evan Tyler, 1652.   

THE PROTESTATION Reviewed and refuted; Briefly showing the insufficiency of the reasons thereof; and consequently, the justice of the Assemblies sentence condemning it.  
AMongst the many sad judgements, wherewith the holy blessed GOD is pleased to exercise th' s sinful Land, staining the pride of all our glory; there is none more terrible, then that he threatneth to remove our Candlestick, take his Kingdom from us, and set o●t his Vineyard to other Husbandmen. And in this evil, that which extremely in-bittereth it, is, that in the day of Zions calamity, as there is none to comfort her, so when she calleth for her Lovers, they deceive her, her very sons stand  off from her; and as if that were not enough, they persecute her whom the Lord hath smitten, and talk to the grief of those whom he hath wounded; like Jobs friends, miserable comforters; in her adversity they gather themselves together, in the place of Cordials, bringing Corrosives.  
I shall be loath to trace that too-too ordinary by-path, of judging any man's everlasting estate, by his temporal out-breaking, o● his hea●t and intentions, by the outside of his actions; yet (I think) I may safely say, that that Assembly at S. Andrews and Dundee, although despised of men, was owned of GOD; and that he guided their Pens, as all along in their Procedure, so particularly in their Warning and Declaration, and those words thereof, What ever hath been the intention of those who have been instrumental, in making this rent from public Counsels and actings, yet the Work itself, and the spirit that hath been stirring in it, hath been, and yet is most effectual, for carrying on of the Design of the Adversaries of our Cause. Which they prove by seven steps of their progress, whereof that is the last and highest, their unparalelled practice (except that of the  Prelates) of absolutely declining the Authority of the General Assembly, and Protesting against it as null; and so at one stroke, throwing down the hedge of Discipline in this Kirk, and making way for every beast of the Forest to break in, and that upon such frivolous and false grounds, as maketh the authority of all the Assemblies of this Kirk, since the begun Reformation, to be called into question, upon the same or the like pretences. This course, although they laboured to justify, by whatsoever specious pretexts the patrons of a bad cause could canvasse, yet the unwarrantableness of that way, and the vanity of the grounds thereof, hath been evidently evinced in that modest, solid and judicious Piece, entitled, A Vindication of the late General Assembly, etc. Which I cannot but recommend to the serious perusal of all the Members of this Kirk, who desire satisfaction in the points of the present Differences, or to be armed against the like Procedures for the future; And that so much the rather, as that ye may see the same storm again tossing the almost drowned, and not yet recovered Ship of this Church. Whatsoever men are doing, the Devil is still driving on the design he hath found so advantageous; dividing, that he may conquer, and that he may divide, cleaving us with a wedge of our own timber, and adding to his violence, despite; doing it at such a time, in such a place, and such a way; I mean, by men who were eminent in our Assemblies, in the City of our solemnities, yea in the face of the General Assembly, and putting it to the Press, even while they were treating with them for peace, and studying in the bowels of Christian condescendance, to reclaim them from so divisive and destructive a course.  
This way, as it cannot but sadly affect every son of Zion, so hath it forced me, until an abler Pen shall find more leisure, for preventing further inconvenience, to write these few things following, that the simple may be undeceived.  
And passing for the present, the Representation (as they call it) but indeed the misrepresentation of our state and differences; a bitter P●ece, filled with uncharitable aspersions, mostly repeated again in the Protestation. Waving also the Propositions offered therewith to the Assembly, and so satisfactorily answered by it, I shall (Godwilling) grapple with them in their Arsenal of the Protestation itself, yet shortly glancing only at some principal things.  
Where I begin with the Title, A PROTESTATION, which was given in against the Supreme Representative of this Kirk, although I do not deny, but that General Assemblies may err, and the godly be so put to it, as to have no remedy left them in Law, but to protest; yet except the case be clear and sure, this course is one of the highest contempts of Ecclesiastic authority. The last refuge for removing of scandals being Mat. 18.17. tell the Church, after which nothing remaineth, but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be as a heathen or a publican. I trust, whatsoever glosses others put upon the words, there is no difference betwixt our Brethren and us, about the exposition of them: And hence appeareth the equity of that Act and practice of our Assemblies, inflicting the highest censures upon such; and reason, since they (in the highest measure) neglect to hear the Church, neither is there now any ulterior or superior Judicatory to go to. It is the judgement of all moderate and modest Divines, that a great deal of reverence is due to the Church, even when she erreth; But what if she err not? and whether she do or not, wherein have these men shown their reverence and respect to their Mother? who what in them lieth (but blessed be the Lord it lieth not) would discover her nakedness, when others than Brethren are to behold it. Let them take heed if this be not a main step to Separation, (which in words they seem to abhor) when as they protest and profess they will not hear us, so they would cast on us a kind of necessity to hold them as Heathens and Publicans; But to prevent this, they have found a way of their own, and (as if they had not been of us) they are gone out from us, and setting up to do their own business without us, as they seem to intimate in the last page of their Printed Paper after the Protestation, contrary to the very fundamentals of the Discipline of our Kirk, which is, and hath ever been professed to be, by Presbyteries, Synods, and National Assemblies, duly subordinate one to another, all which their course overturneth, while they walk in another way to make the matters of their Propositions practicable, as they say.  
But besides that, a Protestation is at best (except in the case of pungent necessity) in its nature odious, it is so much worse in our Kirk, where we are tied by the strictest Bonds both of the National, and solemn League and Covenant, against all divisive motions and courses; and I pray, what is this other than a divisive motion, and that of the deepe●● die, for them to separate themselves, and joining together make a Party, when the Supreme Judicatories of Kirk and State were going on in their continued Actings, in the day of great danger and distress? They may be pleased to remember their own Act ngs and speeches, when God honoured them to be sitting in the Supreme Judicatories; How far short came the intended divisive Supplication in Anno 1648. of this course they are now on? Nay, the very cross Petition in Anno 1642. both which some of them (I say some, for most of them are but of yesterday, and had then no place in our Judicatories) shown to much zeal against.  
And thus passing the Title of it, we come to the matter, where following their footsteps, we begin with the Narrative which they begin, with asserting, that it is well known to divers of our number, what peaceable endeavours they have used without success, in order to the removing of the differences among us. To which I reply, that even by the permission of their own phrase, most part of the Assembly might, yea did not know any such thing, but were confidently persuaded, if any such endeavours were used, the lack of success did and doth lie solely and sadly upon the Protesters themselves. When this was publicly debated in the Assembly, there was none found that knew aught in that kind, except that which was done in the latter end of the last year, which let the world judge, how peaceable an endeavour it was, and whence it came that it wanted success.  
Thus it was: They meeting then in Edinburgh without Order; after a little pause, did constitute themselves in an Ecclesiastical Judicatory, wherein Magisterially they defined things so prejudicial to us, as not only perfectly obstructed all Peace, but also sounded the alarm to a new conflict, by emitting a Paper, wherein they peremptorily conclude among the chief causes of Gods count oversie with the Land, the public Resolutions and preceding Assembly to have a special place. And having thus fast locked the door of Peace, to mock the world, if it did nought else; They sent some of their number to St. Andrew●, to essay if they could draw off three or four there, and others to Glasgow for the like intent, making account (which some of them spared not to profess) that if they could get five or six of our most eminent men off, they cared not for the rest of the Ministry; professing also at that Conference, and others of them in an open Synod that they would never unite with the most part of the Ministry of Scotland. And suitable to those ends was their carriage at St. Andrews, as is clear in the Relation of the Paper thereanent, which Paper though public enough, we have never yet heard contradicted by any.  
As for any other of their endeavours, they are inter occulta de quibus non judicat Ecclesia: But I shall desire it to be considered on the contrary, how the preceding Assembly at Dundee appointed, that Synods and Presbyteries should deal with them, to give them satisfaction ere they proceeded to censure; the public Commission could do nothing of that kind, being by the troubles of the time impeded to sit, yet were not such of them as could most conveniently correspond, altogether defective in th' s, though pressed with either part of a doleful dilemma; for if they should act in the capacity of a Commission, the Protesters would not have conferred; and out of that capacity, their Acting (besides, that it could not have been obligatory to others) had been a silent quiteing, if not a betraying of their Trust; But Providence offered opportunity thus: In the beginning of this year, some Brethren from several parts of the Country, being sensible of the then imminent snare and danger, resolved by common consent to come to Edinburgh about the 12. of February, at which time they heard there was to be a great meeting of our dissenting Brethren, where they resolved to deal with them, that there might be a common Warning emitted by consent of all the Judicatories of the Kirk, concerning things which we doubted not were agreed to on all hands: accordingly they dealt with such of them as were in Town, by the mediation of the Minister of Edinburgh, by whom they sent to them materials of a Declaration, desiring them to change or add as they should think fit for the purpose, but they refused to join, to the great grief of those who did mediate, pretending they would first have a Conference about Difference, which was nothing else, but to disappoint the matter, the danger being so near, that a Meeting for such a Conference could not be convened, and the danger prevented.  
This past, the Synods in April being invited by that of Fife; by their acceptance of their Overture, shown their Affections to such a Peace with their Brethren, as might not trouble their Peace with God: And for that effect, did Commissionate some of their Members to come to Edinburgh, to a Meeting in May last: But that is the next thing they complain and challenge us of. First for neglecting to give them timeous advertisement, when yet the very first motion of that Meeting in all our Judicatories, was in their presence, who if they had been of such a peaceable temper as they talk of, would no doubt have made such an invitation welcome, and embraced the occasion. As for particular advertisement to them separately, the Delegates of the Synod of Fife entrusted therewith, used all possible diligence, a fortnight before that meeting, dispatching their missives (which for aught that is known) did not miscarry, yea upon their diligence we found at that Meeting, some from Rosse, and others from Drumfreise, places of very remote distance, both South and North: And it is credibly informed, that some of their chief leading men wrote both to Aberdeen, and Galloway, desiring their Complices not to keep that Meeting. Secondly, they complain, that not so much as some few days of delay could be obtained by those few of their number which were then present, whereby they might give advertisement to others. The truth is, in respect of their paucity, they required at least a fortnight's delay (although they had probably a pre-indicted meeting reasonable frequent, in that same place the very week following, and others of them were in Town then, did appear to us, and some of them went out of Town immediately before our Meeting) and so long a time could not be given, not only because our Brethren having come hastily from their several dwellings, were not able to attend so long, and once suffered to scatter could not conveniently be gathered again; but especially because having offered unto them a free Gen Assembly (the of old acknowledged proper remedy of all Ecclesiastical disease's) where many of ourselves might again be present, it was plain that nothing to any good effect could be done till then: And Providence happily casting that occasion in their hands, that they might appoint and determine of the place of the ensuing Assembly, they cou●d not suffer the same to slip, which could not be shunned, for lack of timeous advertisement to the Presbyteries, if it were not then concluded. And so (which they perceived those they spoke with directly aimed at) let the Kirk in this difficult time be shaken lose of her Possession, of that her dear bought Freedom, which Mr. Welch, Mr. Forbes, and other precious men, that now rest, adventured their lives, and suffered banishment to preserve; As was gravely pressed home by Mr. Blair upon them in the Conference, and to which they could not, sure they did not, give so much as a seeming satisfactory answer. Thirdly, they say in the Printed Paper; That a Desire of Reconciliation was presented, but peremptotily, the Electing, and sending Commissioners to keep the day indicted by the Meeting of Dundee, was concluded. I know no opposition betwixt those two, as I conceive any good sense in the former, the one being the end, and the other a mean to it: Besides, I know no desire of Reconciliation presented to them, except the Paper of the offer of a free Assembly, as the proper Remedy of our distractions. But in the autograph, it is pretended, not presented; and so they most uncharitably assert, We pretended a Desire of Reconciliation, but had concluded another thing: It is so well known in the Country, whether it be we or they that use to act so; That I shall only need to speak to the purpose? Our desire of Peace was real, the obstruction of it was from them, and we had been very foolish, and censurable, if ever the Lord should bless us with another Assembly, for not walking answerable to our Trust, in relation to this, if we had not designed the place thereof.  
In the next room, They mention their Paper given in with the Propositions (wherein they say they have the concurrence of the Generality of the Godly of the Land) and did entreat for a Conference; which was denied; the Commissioners proceeding to assume the Power, and constitute themselves in a General Assembly: Lest any should think, that in assuming the Power, and constituting themselves in a General Assembly, they d●d some new and uncouth thing, as those who challenge them did the last year, in constituting themselves a Commission of the Kirk; Be it known to all men, they did no other thing, nor in no other way then all the Assemblies since the last Reformation have been in constant practice of: And how necessary it was, in this staggering time, not to change in the least, will be assented to, by every ingenuous man, nor know I any reason why they should complain: For those to whom the Paper was given, were not in a capacity to give an answer, till they were first constitute in an Assembly (yea none but an Assembly could satisfactorily answer their Demands, as is evident too, and will be acknowledged by the judicious Reader) Which was no sooner done, than they went effectually about it; but on the contrary, the Protesters would not so much as wait till then, but presently gave in their Protestation. We will not now speak of that other Paper, yet cannot pass that arrogant Title of the Generality of the Godly, wh●ch they assume to themselves, and their abettors. We will not mention of whom they learned this, and whom in many other th●ngs they too much resemble: But we shall refer the Reader to that most fa thful and timeous Warning and Declaration of the late Assembly at Dundee, and the third admonition and charge of the second part thereof.  
Where they affirm it their burden, and that they have no delight to be contesting with any who profess themselves to be maintainers of the Government of this Church. It is wished their works were consonant to their words, and made them credible to all on lookers: Certainly, how ever they may please themselves, this is not the ordinary opinion that most men have of them.  
Next, they speak of a party of insufficient, scandalous, and corrupt Minister's &c. complying with the times, expressing their disaffection to the Work of Reformation, as they found opportunity, as in the time of James Graham, and the unlawful engagement, who got greater advantage by the public Actings for bringing in of Malignants to places of Trust: And who perceiving they were not able to endure trial and purging, began the last year to lift up their heads, and being encouraged by the Acts and Censures of Dundee, have so strengthened themselves, as to carry on Public Determinations to their own ends, from whom (say they) what can be expected, but to favour every evil course, to persecute such as seek the Lord in sincerity, suppress the power of Godliness, and open the door of the Mnistiery to such as for insufficiency, scandals, or disaffection, have been justly deposed, in regard whereof, they think there is too great cause to make use of the Prophet's words, Jer. 23.14, 15. There be many things here deserve animadversion.  

I.  
Although we deny not, but that in every Order there may be some out of Order; as Judas among the Apostles, and Saul among the Prophets, yet know we not of any such party as they speak of, nor did so much as any person of that kind sooner appear among us, then according to the measure of his offence, he found the severity of Discipline. It would be seriously considered, whether or not by this Party, they mean the Body of the Ministry represented at Dundee, whom thus they would cast an odium upon; but what favour the Party that was truly such as they describe, found at that venerable Assembly, let their Acts and Declarations speak; which Declaration of theirs mentioneth another Party, that hath, (alas) too long lurked among us, and under specious pretexts brought their design to that pass we now see. These men should (according to the common rule) first have purged themselves, and taken this beam out of their own eye.   

II.  
It is true indeed, and I trust, the Kirk of this Nation hath no reason to repent, that she still hath some, who (during the prevailing of the Prelates) were carried down with the Tide of the times, even to give subscriptions according to the then way of entry, and being weighted therewith, do comfort themselves with Paul, That God will be merciful to them, in that which they did ignorantly. But for those horrid Oaths they speak of, nothing is known but the common subscription: And if ought concern the Kirk to know more, it should neither have been so long concealed by those who appropriate to themselves the title of the godly, nor now revealed at such a time, and in such a way. As for their subscriptions, they were generally known; yet notwithstanding thereof were the Subscribers even at first invited to the Covenant, and some of them with the first appeared against the Se●vice-Book, and many of them have not to this day fallen from their steadfastness; neither were all that have fallen of that number. But for further and full clearing of this, I offer these things. 1. Some of the prime of their number, are also, if not more grossly guilty of the ill, than any of ours. 2. There are of our number ten for one of theirs, that in that hour and power of darkness, bore the heat and hard of the day. 3. Scarce twenty of them are yet of six years standing in the Ministry, and but about five only of them were Ministers, when the National Covenant was subscribed. 4. And generally all the old Ministers, and those that were admitted before the Episcopal encroachment, are for the Assembly. 5. Lastly, would we speak of those that suffered under the Prelates, the Assembly will be found to have three for it, where one is against it.   

III.  
As for any who by word or deed at any time appeared against the late Reformation, they still found so little patrociny from those who are now Assembly-Men, that I am sure, if we should serve the Protesters w th' the like measure, for transgressions of he like nature, and perhaps greater, they would cry out, of cruelty and persecution.   

iv  
As for the Epithets they give that Party; I confess, ill enough cannot be done to, let be spoke, of men who are truly such as they describe: But we desiderate here both charity and prudence, at such a time, and in such a way, to fling filth upon the faces of their Brethren; and that (for aught yet seen or known) most unjustly.   

V  
That the Public Actings were for bringing in of the Malignant Party, to places of power and trust, and bearing down such as had been strait in the Cause, stirring up the Civil Magistrate against them; and subjecting the liberty of the Word in the mouth of Christ's Ambassadors, for reproof of sin, to the immediate judicial cognizance, restraint and cen●ure of the Civil Magistrate, will appear a mass of malicious reproaches, by shortly setting down the true stories related to: But I must first tell, that the odious term Malignant, doth not appertain to them, who having satisfied for their offences of that kind, according to the Order prescribed by these men's own assent and advice keep themselves free from new out-breaking of that abjured iniquity; And if we walk not according to this rule, many of them will be forced to hear, what for the present I purpose not to speak. And n●xt add, that all the bi●ds of their feather, were not so strait in the Cause, as they would seem to insinuat here: And on the other part, some whom they term Malignants here, have given unquestioned evidence of their affection to, and are still suffering for that Cause.  
Now, the stories related to, are these two; The one so well known, that we need no more but remember how, when, and upon what pinch of necessity, (which themselves know how it came) the Commission of the K●rk being enquired by the State, who might be employed for the necessary defence of the Country at such a time; The Commission of the Kirk gave that Answer, which their duty to GOD, their Mother Kirk, Native Country, and the Protestant Interest extorted from them, and which all Nations and Incorporations whatsoever, will, and do allow and practice in such a case. But, that people may rightly judge of it, for it is ordinarily misrepresented, we desire them to get, and ponder the Commissions own Papers.  
The other story is shortly (in so far as it is most material) thus; It being represented by the Committee of Estates, to the Commission of the Kirk, what hazard the Garrison of Sterline was in by their Ministers there p●eaching and otherways dealing they withal signified how they behoved to take some course for securing the same, the Commission desired their Lordships, that they would not meddle with the matter, till they had first dealt w●th them, and returned their report of the Issue, which being assented to, the Commission wrote for them to St Andrews, where they met with them; and when by conference they would not receive satisfaction, began to entreat them first to give assurance, that they would not obstruct the Levies, but this they refused: Thereafter, that they would be pleased (for Peace's sake) to with draw for a season from Sterline, and they would provide their Places, but this they also refused, although Mr. Blair then (apparently dying) did gravely obtest them, both for the one and the other; which being represented to the Committee of Estates, and they thereafter informed, how those Ministers continued in their former practice, they wrote for them once, and again, to come to Perth; But ere they came, (the most part of the Committee being removed to the North) they who remained, desired them to stay at Perth or Dundee, till the rest should return; against which they protested in very h●gh terms, as encroaching upon the Ministry, etc. By the time the rest returned, the Parliament did sit, who desired the judgement of the Commission, whether or not the Committee of Estates had made any encroachment upon the Ministry and Government of this Kirk, by detaining these Ministers, and give their advice what course the Parliament should take in relation to them, for securing the Garrison of Sterline; the sum of the answer thereto was, the Brethren might lawfully protest, that nothing be done prejudicial to the Liberties of the Kirk; but that they did not see that the Committee of Estates had encroached thereon, by that which they had done; and that they could give no advice to their Lordships, the securing of a Garrison being a thing not competent to them. After which, some of those Ministers friends entreated some of the Commission, to deal with the Parliament, to let their Brethren go home, undertaking for them, that they should not further offend; which the Brehrens of the Commission did, engaging themselves to be answerable for their carriage; whereupon they were presently dismissed. This being the true story, let any judge of the truth of the former calumnies.   

VI  
As for their purging humour, which time with these sad dispensations might have purged out of them, but belike it will never leave them; We grant indeed the Kirk should be careful to purge out the old Leaven. All our question is, anent the manner how: And I shall desire them in the fear of God, to consider whether their practice in this hath been in every thing squared to the Apostles Rules, 1 Tim. 5.19. Tit. 3.10. Gal. 6.1. Jud. 22.23. And whether or not they made it a politic screw, to wind themselves into all places of Power and Authority, Civil, and Ecclesiastical, and a mean of revenge, exercing it uncharitably and unseasonably.   

VII.  
As for any power in any to carry public Determinations to any wrong ends, we can, and do bless God, the contrary is known to be true, and all the Assemblies Determinations speak the same Language to the whole world; yea, I hope, to their consciences also, when the heat of their passions is a little allayed,   

VIII.  
For the following words, which are of the stamp with the former, I shall only add 1. What measure every one that cometh not up their full length may expect of them, if their former actings had not sufficiently cleared, their present expressions put out of all doubt. 2. It is not one of the characteristical properties of the Godly, to be so oft assuming that Title. 3. Such heinous accusations must not be taken upon trust, when nought is said to make them appear. 4. I believe the Assembly knoweth of none received to the Ministry, but according to the Public Order; and when aught shall appear to the contrary, will take such course therewith as in Justice accordeth.   

IX.  
For their allusion to the Prophet's words, I shall desire them seriously to read them again, and perpend if in conscience, they be appl cable to the points of present differences.  
Next; they tell us, it shall be their purpose to maintain the Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government of this Kirk, and particularly the Nationall Assemblies, so long as they are preserved from corruption in the Constitution thereof: But many need better Arguments to perswde them of this, than their bare Profession, or practise this year and the last; Of which we may well say, what ever be the purpose of men, it is evidently the aim of the devil to ruin General Assemblies, and so to raze the walls of our Jerusalem; And they would do well to consider if, and how far they ha●e been instrumental to drive on that design.  
But they would make some clearing here, by telling us that All who are acquainted with the Principles and practices of our worthy Prodecessors, and of the learned and godly non conformists in England, will easily ●ee how far they are from their judgements and practices, who follow the ways of separation. Belike they still dwell beside evil neighbours, but which is worse, they are hardly believed, when men call to mind, and consider how now of a long time, still they took the patrociny of all that were suspected to follow those ways. 2. What Progress some of their chief and cried up men have made in those ways. 3 What affection they still carry to them, and how familiarly they converse with them, even although excommunicate. 4. But especially how unavoidable separation is upon their grounds: For if it be a matter of Conscience for them to join with others in Civil Duties, that necessarily belong to the Incorporation, whereof both are members, sure much more in Ecclesiastic. But a little time will further clear this.  
As for an Argument drawn from the disclaiming corrupt Assemblies at Glasgow, or the following Assembly at Edinburgh, its affirming those corrupt Assemblies, were a chief cause of the evils we then groaned under. How weak, I say, such an argument will be for justifying their present practice; is palpable to any who will look either to the matter concluded in those corrupt Meetings, or the manner of their procedure, or the particular reasons whereon they were condemned, in all which there being nothing alike; I wonder why they are alleged, except perhaps, they know many of their Proselytes will take upon trust, whatsoever cometh from them, or seemeth to borrow countenance from Glasgow.  
They say, they have a clear warrant from Scripture, to plead and testify against corruptions: It is, indeed, but withal they should have better grounds than any we have yet heard of, or can conceive, before they trouble the Peace of a Kirk, and so peremptorily conclude, that a corruption, which they cannot prove one; yea what all, not only Reform Churches, from the light of Scripture are persuaded of, but even generally all people from the light of Nature, and upon the Principles, of self preservation, are convinced is a duty.  
We pass for the present, to give any verdict, concerning some bypast Acts of theirs (which they mention) how good they were, or how true. What is said being sufficient to clear, that this their Protestation is also needless (to say no worse) as the following grounds given for it are frivolous, which themselves seem in part to assent to, while they say, they do it for all or some of the reasons following, and so insinuate, that some of them will not hold water, which (in my humble opinion) they might safely have affirmed of them all.  
Their first reason is, that this Meeting hath its dependence, power and authority for its indiction, from that of St. Andrews, and Dundee. Is not that to beg the question? and besides, hath no weight, neither in respect of us who hold and have determined it a free, lawful General Assembly, as indeed it was, and doth appear from the Vindication thereof, a nervous piece, not yet answered, nor easily answerable; Nor in respect of themselves, and their principles, who in their Arguments against that Assembly, do determine, that Presbyteries may by mutual consent, meet in a free, lawful Gen. Assembly; now the Commissions directed to this, do presuppose and import the mutual consent of Presbyteries.  
Their second reason is, That it is constitute after the same manner, and (for the most part) of the same members that the last Assembly was, to wit, of persons that have carried on a course of defection, and in respect hereof, are incapable of being Commissioners; which again beggeth the Question, and besides that, it is answered in the forecited Vindication, includeth this falsehood, that they are (for the most part) the same Members constituent, whereas the Rolls compared will clear, that not the third man who was present the last year, are Members of this, neither d●d this Moderator precede in that challenged Commission of the Kirk, nor was so much as present at it. But especially this Argument our Remonstrators have borrowed from the Remonstrants of the Netherlands, their Protestation against the Council of Dort; at which meeting, it was largely and learnedly refuted, as may be seen in the judgements of the Orthodox Divines thereupon.  
The third reason is, because of the praelimitation of Elections, by the Acts made at Dundee enjoining Synods and Presbyteries to proceed to censure all who oppose the Public Resolutions, or should not acquiesce to the Acts made at Dundee, and so excludeth all not involved in the course of defection, from Elections, in pursuance whereof, there were sundry praelimitations made since, by several Synods and Presbyteries. For answer, I would inquire, with what conscience this Argument is proponed by them, who (for aught I know) are clear against the major, and cannot be ignorant of the vanity or nullity of the minor. Their major must be no Assembly, that is praelimited, can be free. But to pass the judicious considerations thereof in the learned Vindication, sure I am, themselves will never assent to any Assembly in this Kirk, without strange praelimitations, yea and prae-conclusions too; as they did signify at the Meeting and Conference in May last. And for the Minor, there were praelimitations here, I pray you what? Such as may nullify an Assembly? No such thing. Is a future Assembly praelimited, because a prior determined the qualification of its Members? Was the Parliament 1649. praelimited and unfree, because the Committee of Estates excluded therefrom, all that sat and voiced in the former? Or the Assembly of Glasgow, because the Tables appointed and laid down a way who should be elected thereto, and who not? Or all future Assemblies, because that of Glasgow excludeth from them all that shall not take the National Covenant? Whither doth their passion lead them? To plead the Episcopal cause? Besides, did not the Letter of the Commission in May last, require of Presbyteries, to choose faithful and honest men? Which, what ever some have said, was no sinful praelimitation Add, although the Act of Dundee require Presbyteries and Synods, to proceed with the Censures of the Church against them, who after conference opposed the Public Resolutions (not as they say, with a disjunctive, or who shall not acquiesce to the Acts made) yet hath no Presbytery nor Synod that I know censured any upon that account, or excluded any from voicing in Elections; but rather all Presbyteries did require them thereto. Now, if they might elect, they might also by the same reason been elected; but themselves foreseeing that, in few Presbyteries obtainable; wherever they were, they refused and dissented, being probably themselves praelimited by the order and advice of their ringleaders. Lastly, it is at best needlessly added, that there were several limitations since in several Synods, I believe there will be nothing else found but the same, viz. the assertion of the Constitution of the Assembly of Dundee, which we will not grant, and they cannot prove to be such a praelimitation, as is destructive of the freedom of an Assembly.  
Their fourth reason is made up of many particulars, which we thus particularly reply to.  
I. There are many Presbyteries who refuse to send Commissioners to this meeting as an Assembly. But there be many unquestioned Assemblies have been made up of fewer Members, as upon the inspection of the Rolls will appear. Neither is a Meeting that hath no determinate Quorum, evacuate or made null, because a Minor part legally warned, cannot, or will not come thereto, as the perpetual practice of Presbyteries, Synods, former Assemblies and Parliaments showeth. Nor is the number of the Absents here so great; and although it were greater, it is not their simple absence, but unjust exclusion, that rendereth the Meeting obnoxious to exception.  
II. They say, there are many Presbyteries that do concur in protesting against this Assembly, To which I reply, We have heard of dissents, but not of any Protestation, except this, which they now have given; which if they mean here, as the Protestation is not Presbyterial, so the reason will be found to have no more of reason in it, then if they had argued thus; We find ourselves necessitated to protest against this Ass. because we have protested against it. Or thus; This our Protestation is just and lawful, because we have protested.  
III. Where Presbyteries have sent Commissioners, the Elections are generally controverted, there being Protestations made, at least dissents entered, against most of their Elections, upon good grounds. But here (I think) a special providence hath ruled, that there was no Protestation. In most Presbyteries there were no dissents at all; and all that we heard of, were simply against the Elections, not against the persons elected, besides that they were not prosecute, nor brought in to be discussed. And a dissent inferreth not by the Act of the Assembly a suspending, let be a repealing of the Act of the Judicatory; Only it maketh the Judges liable to the censure of their Superiors, for what they have done; which if it be amiss, the dissenter is not involved in their guilt or censure; but if not, he is censurable himself. And if it were otherways, we should absurdly be forced to confess, that every Member of a Judicatory, hath a negative voice, which will open a door, whereby every faction may elide all General Assemblies for ever.  
iv There be wanting Commissioners from burgh's, in respect of their present incapacity. We need say no more to this, since themselves answer it, that they are in an incapacity: and suppose they were not, yet have they not a negative voice. Besides that, all were not absent.  
V The generality of the godly in the Land go along with us (say they) and approve our protesting against this meeting. A strange assertion, and of dangerous consequence. Th●s Protestation was given in at the very beginning of the Assembly, ere ever it was constitute, and that upon the delay of taking in their first Paper: and is it probable they could gather all their consents in so short a time? Or had they them before? But that smelleth of a prae-medit●te Faction; Or go their resolutions along with whatsoever these Protesters do? But that is not suitable to them that are truly godly, to have their faith pinned to the slieves of any, how high soever they hold their head. Or is it that they will allow none to be of the number of the godly, who go not along with them in every thing? This (I suspect) be the marrow of the matter: But who gave them that power to put out and put in into the Roll of the Godly, whom ●hey please? And as we doubt of their authority so to do, even so also of their power; can they reach the heart, or are they quicker sighted than Elias, who saw not one of the seven thousand God had reserved to himself? Will they condemn all for ungodly, that are not of their way? How suiteth that with their professions elsewhere? I am sure we have here reason to descent and appeal from such an uncharitable censure of them that have no power, to the righteous Tribunal of the Lord, to whom we stand. There may be somewhat more yet of dangerous consequence in it, in that they seem to subject the Public Ministerial authority to the People, and amongst them, to such only as are visible Saints, where if there be any mystery, they will do well to unfold it.  
And now for the solemn words of the Protestation, the grounds and reasons thereof being houghed, we need say no more but if those Principles from which they say they do it, viz. the zeal they own to the glory of God, etc. were rightly weighed, they would infer, ●nd have produced the quite contrary conclusion: Which the Lord out of his tender mercy to this poor bleeding Church and Country, imprint upon their spirits for Christ's cause. AMEN.   
FINIS.