A DECLARATION OF THE BRETHREN, who are for the established GOVERNMENT and JUDICATORIES OF THIS CHURCH, Expressing their earnest desires of UNION and PEACE with their DISSENTING BRETHREN.  
EDINBURGH, Printed Anno Dom. 1658.   

A DECLARATION of the BRETHREN, who are for the established Government and Judicatories of this Church, expressing their earnest desires of Union and Peace with their Dissenting Brethren.  
IT may justly seem strange to all impartial Observers, and cannot but be looked on, by all the lovers of Zion, as a sad and humbling dispensation, That after so many years tossing about a debate now so far removed out of our way, and after so many endeavours for an accommodation; We should yet be necessitated to express our sad resentment of the continuance of our distempers, and of the afflicted condition of this Nationall Church. For our part, we have been from the beginning, and yet are, so sensible of the evil and prejudice of these Divisions, that as we have made Conscience of lamenting them before the Lord, and afflicting our souls because of them, and for the sins procuring the same; So we have not forborn, from time to time, to seek peace and pursue it upon any terms that might be consistent with the simple freedom of our own judgements in the matters controverted, and with the being of Presbyteriall-government, which we believe to be of God, and which the Lord in mercy hath established among us in answer to the prayers of many, of whom some now sleep in the Lord, and by the no small sufferings and troubles of the present generation. We are nor so insensible, as men, how we have lain under many disadvantages in our opposing our brethren's irregular courses destructive to that Government; nor, as Christians and Ministers of the Gospel, how God might justly plague any private interest or design of ours which should add fuel to that fire; and how our main work hath been retarded and obstructed by these contentions, That we should take any pleasure in them, if so be we could obtain peace upon safe and just terms. In pursuance whereof, both in our conferences with our Brethren at home, and of late in England, and in our Representation published to the world, we have expressed our earnest desires for peace, and our ready condescendence to gain them to an Union in the Lord for carrying on the work of God amongst us; though as yet without any desired success: but while we have been seeking peace, some of them have been sailing all winds to compass their own ends and set up a domination of their Party in this Church.  
We are sorry we have so much cause to complain of our Brethren, that they should not only have begun a needless rent in this Church upon a Question so extrinsic to our Doctrine, Worship, and Government; But that since they have so notably injured us in our Persons and Ministry, by casting so many and so foul reproaches upon us, both by word and write at home and abroad, that so they might make us hateful, and purchase credit and power to their own Party; whereby also they have endeavoured to render this Nationall Church odious in the view of the world, and exposed her to be a laughingstock to all her enemies on all hands, and furnished them with weapons (if their foul slanders deserved to have credit) whereby to fight against her, and justify their opposition to her, when her own Children bear such witness against her. Though we hearty wish our Brethren may seriously consider and lay to heart those their actings; Yet, for our part, we profess it is not our purpose to impose upon their Judgements in these matters of our differences; nor do we keep at a distance from them upon the account of any such personal injuries, having learned from our Master to forgive, and patiently to bear; hoping that as these aspersions are not believed by these who know us, so in due time He will wipe them off, to the conviction of all who do not wilfully blind their own eyes. But our stumbling at our Brethren, is merely upon the account of the wrongs they have done, and daily do to the settled Government of this Church; from which, if they would once cease, and provide against them for the future, our debates with them were at a close.  
As our hopes of peace after our first rapture were soon blasted, when we perceived our Brethren not sisting at the first cause of their rent, but starting new quarrels to increase alienations; So we did easily foresee that their way did manifestly tend to the overturning of the established Church-government; and that, if they did not hearken unto peace, there was no remedy but they behoved to run some course destructive thereunto. We could in prudence judge no otherwise, when in the very entry we found them decline the Authority of the Supreme Church-Judicatory in this Nation once and again, and ready to do so from time to time at their pleasure; and drawing Factions and Parties with them in that opposition, and branding Church-officers and inferior Judicatories, as generally corrupt, that so all of them might be cast lose, or, at least, moulded to their mind. But they did not long leave us to our own conjectures and fears in this matter; having soon after, and constantly to this day, by their irregular practices contrary to all order (upon the account of their Declinatour, and the pretended corruption of this Church, both Officers and Members which they could never make out, though often put to it) bewrayed their small respect to the established Government; planting Congregations in a tumultuous and disorderly way, without respect either to the Church Judicatories, or to the just interest of the People of the Congregation; and counter-acting to the Resolutions and Determinations of Judicatories, when any of them pleased to be dissatisfied therewith; with many the like practices which we take no pleasure to repeat. And we found yet more cause to judge that these were not the deeds only of some few amongst them, more forward and violent than the rest, but agreeable to the principles of all, at least, of their prime Leaders, when our conference for Union with them, in November, 1655. was broken-up chief upon this account (beside some other things mentioned in our Representation) That we could not denude the Church-Judicatories of their just Power, and devolve matters into the hands of an extrajudicial Committee of equal numbers, and that they expressly refused subordination and submission to the Church Judicatories to which they and we were solemnly engaged at our Admission to the Ministry, and which we were willing to renew for our parts, and without which our established Judicatories shall be nothing else but so many consultative meetings: A principle inconsistent with Presbyteriall-government in a constituted Church, as all who are acquainted with debates of that nature will easily perceive.  
The prejudices to the Church-government flowing from their way, did not sister here; we were but too much further confirmed in our just grounds of fear, while some of them did endeavour to enervate the power of Church-judicatories by procuring an Order putting the power of giving Testimony to Intrants (which is due to Presbyteries only, who are authorized to judge of their Call, and to try and ordain them) in the hands of some select persons of their own choosing. And when it pleased the Lord to break that snare, their leading men have again of late attempted the utter ruin of this Church and of these who differ from them: Under the pretext of seeking a commission for plantation of Churches, they projected to have the power of disposing the legal maintenance of Ministers put in the hands of that Commission; though they know such a power was never given nor assumed by such a Judicatory, but that it is contrary to the order established by the Law of the Land; the great design thereof being not only to call the Authority of the late Assemblies in question as they express in their desire, but to have the maintenance put in the hands of men to their mind who were the proposers of the Overture, that so they might discourage all who are opposite to them from the Ministry: But not contenting themselves with this, they have further proposed and projected to have it imposed upon us, That there should be a particular Visitation appointed in every Synod, consisting of equal numbers of both Judgements, the one half to be chosen by the one party, and the other by the other party respective, with power given them from the Synods for purging and planting Ministers and Elders, and composing present and future Divisions in Presbyteries and Congregations within the bounds of the Synod; And, that there should be also a general Committee of Delegates from the several Synods, of equal numbers, chosen as aforesaid, and anthorized by Synods, without whose previous advice and consent the respective Synods may not reverse any thing done by the aforesaid Visitators, and such Visitation and Committee to continue only till the present differences be healed, or till the Lord in providence minister some better way for settling peace among use.  
These projects we look upon as setting up in effect a new Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and a plant which is not of Gods planting, and not only suspending the established Church-government sine die, but totally subverting it to make way for the projectors their domination in the Church and over their Brethren. For, this course projected by them, doth clearly take away the power of Synods and Presbyteries, not only in the matter of our present differences, and in the matter of purging and planting Ministers and Elders (wherein the chief exercise of their power consisteth) but in all suture divisions: And what may not men affecting pre-eminence make a matter of difference that they may continue themselves in power? It layeth also for a foundation, an universal imputation upon the Synods and other Church-judicatories as not worthy to be trusted with the Work committed to them by Christ; and that they will not be so faithful in the Work of Reformation, nor in composing any difference which may arise hereafter of what importance so ever, as these Delegates chosen after a new mould. So that a preparative is led to lay aside Synods and Presbyteries when any party pleaseth to quarrel them, and they must lend their power to give some shadow of Authority to any Party who pleaseth to tread upon them. It is a tyrannical imposition upon Synods, that they must give their power to persons whom they have not liberty to choose, nor power to call them to an account; and must set up a jurisdiction above themselves with, at least, a Negative voice to frustrate all their actings, if these Delegates please: Yea, not only is a Negative voice required to be given them in or over all the Judicatories of this Church; (which by parity of reason cannot be denied to any Party that pleaseth to make a rent, if so be it be given to our Brethren, who are so few in number in comparison of the body of the Ministry of this Church, and very few or none at all of them being in some Synods) But hereby also a way is laid for perpetuating differences and contentions, by yoking Parties of equal numbers together in debate, who probably will not cede to other, and so in stead of composing, the breach shall be widened. Nor do we see here any desire or purpose to put an end to this arbitrary jurisdiction, but for any thing we know, it might be perpetual, and the Synods never return to their due liberty if those proposals once took place: for not only were it in their power to continue present differences so long as they please, and consequently to continue that extra-judicial power to compose them, much more if they must be continued for composing any future divisions they shall be pleased to start; But if in process of time this way shall not please them, they (in stead of recurring to Christ's own institutions) do give us an hint of some better way, which they expect may be ministered for settling peace.  
As we are confident that (upon these and many other weighty considerations) all who cordially own the Church-government as of divine right, will be ashamed of such encroachments; So we hearty wish those who have had hand in them, may lay to heart their carriage toward their Mother-church, whose interests they are bound by the oath of God to maintain. And though we doubt nothing of their unwearied endeavours (if they persist in their former temper) yet again to set on foot and prosecute those their purposes, and that they may pretend to prosecute them as the only expedient to draw us to Union; which is in effect to cast all Christ's interests among us under their feet, and to force us to what terms of Union they please, when they shall have us in their power: Yet, for our part, we resolve, in the power of the Lords Grace, never to accord thereunto, nor recede from the established Government, be the hazard what it will. But what ever may be the Lords purpose to permit men to do to that Government, we will never buy peace at so dear a rate as the ruin thereof, nor be accessary thereunto by any deed of ours.  
We have expressed our thoughts more fully in these things, without any purpose to defame or irritate our Brethren, or to charge these destructive courses upon all of them, but merely for our own vindication and justification in our adhering to our principles, in opposing these encroachments, and for our own exoneration before the world, and to our Brethren, if so be they will seriously ponder and weigh the tendency of these courses, and, being wearied of those unpleasing unprofitable and scandalous contentions, they will give proof of their love to peace and to the welfare of their Mother-church and Christ's precious interests in her, by thinking upon an aggreement with us in the Lord. And albeit our Brethren may before this time fully know our mind in order thereunto, by our conference with them; and we have also given an account thereof to the world in our Representation. Yet we do once again hold ourselves bound to declare our readiness to contribute to our outmost for advancing so good a work; and that, what ever wrongs we have sustained, yet we are hearty content to bury in oblivion all former injuries, and to be far from any animosities which might have flowed from the same; that so we and they may jointly concur to uphold the established Church-government in the constitution thereof, and due suborditiation and submission thereunto, according to the lawful known principles wherein we have walked formerly, which both of us have professed to be of Divine right, and the preservation whereof we conceive they ought to prefer to any private interest whatsoever. And we believe it will afford them more peace in end so to do, than if they had obtained all their irregular desires which they have so industriously prosecuted. And albeit they differ from us in Judgement upon the matter of our first difference, yet we judge that needeth be no impediment to Union; seeing we have already offered and declared, that though we hold fast our own Judgement, yet we shall not impose upon their Judgements in that matter, it being now buried and taken out of our way: But we aggree that the matter be remitted to the determination of a General Assembly, when the Lord shall grant the liberty thereof according to the established order, to whose determination we submit ourselves. And we see not how our Brethren shall be able to justify themselves before the world, or in their own Consciences, if they continue a rent so prejudicial, merely because we cannot renounce our Judgements in such a debate, and say as they say.  
Whereas it hath been often alleged against us, as a mean of heightening Divisions, and an obstruction to Union, that by some Acts of the late Assemblies, a bar is laid in the way to keep men who are not of our Judgement from the Ministry, and to hold out men of their Judgement (though never so Godly) from being Members of Church-Judicatories. We shall not now insist to clear the justice and necessity of the conclusions of these Assemblies at that time, and to show that nothing was then done, but what had been done formerly in like cases: We might also instruct that (though some very few Presbyteries have required of Intrants to the Ministry, of whatsoever Judgement, that they should promise not to trouble the peace of the Church with these needless debates, yet) to our best knowledge none of these Acts have been de facto a bar to hold out any Godly man, who was lawfully and orderly called and tried, though we may but too justly complain how industrious and active they have been to thrust-in men of their Judgement, and to crush Godly and able men who did not aggree with them. But to free our Brethren from all jealousies and grounds of suspicion, and to justify ourselves before the world, as to our sincere and earnest desire of Union, we shall willingly aggree that all these Acts be made void and null by the next General Assembly, to whom it belongeth to repeal Acts; and that in the mean time they shall not be put in practice. And whereas they make so great a noise of the Censures inflicted on some of their number by the Assembly, 1651. Though we might say much on behalf of the Assembly their proceeding at that time, and of their lenity who did Censure only four of their number, who yet have never submitted unto these Censures, and consequently have the less cause to complain: Yet to assure them that we are real for peace, and do not mind nor desire the personal prejudice of any of them, but only the preservation of the order of this afflicted Church; we are content that the Synods (since a General Assembly doth not meet) do take off the Censures that are upon their respective Members; they giving assurance of their submission and subordination to the Judicatories, without which there can be no order nor Government, and which we have to this day constantly observed in our practice, and they also with us until the times of our late differences.  
And whereas our Brethren affirm, that their chief aim and scope in all their late actings, hath been to find out some effectual way for purging out of scandalous and insufficient Ministers, and other Officers; We might too justly complain that this is but a Question started on the by, and since the time they had begun a rapture amongst us, And that they have so liberally aspersed the Ministry of this Church who differ from them, both at home and abroad, when yet upon exactest trials, both by them and us, nothing can be found answerable to the great cry raised against this Church and our Ministry. Yet in this business, we seriously declare we do not contravert with them, having professed our willingness to go about that work in the most strict way, according to justice and the common rules of Church-Judicatories in such cases: And we have not only often entreated them to unite upon this very account, that the work of purging might be carried on more effectually; but have upon all occasions of any report of scandal or insufficiency, laid forth ourselves to the utmost to try and examine the truth thereof, and have not been wanting in inflicting due Censure for any thing that at any time was found. Yea, so far are we from foreslowing or obstructing, that to declare our readiness and sincerity in that matter, we are content, if our Brethren be not satisfied with the rules of procedure hitherto agreed upon, that they condescend upon the strictest rules can be desired in justice for trial and censure; and we shall be willing to observe them, providing they be rules binding for all, and to which all will submit, both they and we.  
Having thus again expressed ourselves in this matter, we do seriously in the bowels of Jesus Christ, Exhort and Obtest all our Brethren, that as they do tender the Government of this Church, and the welfare of Christ's Interests therein, they would lay aside prejudices and animosities, and cease from all irregular practices, and all things tending to hold up divisions and widen the breach: And that now at last, after so many experiences of the bitter fruits of contention, they will join cordially to uphold the Lords Interests, and go on in His Work; that so the Gospel, and work of Reformation may prosper amongst us, the Lord may take delight to continue His habitation in the midst of us, and stumbling-blocks may be removed out of the way of the People, which have been multiplied by these differences. We have made choice of this way of making known our inclinations to peace, not upon any sinister design, but merely that our heart in this matter may be made known to all our Brethren and the Lords People in the Land, and that our condescensions may not be huddled up in a conference with some few, who may keep them up, or represent them to others as they please; but that all knowing our mind, there may be a foundation laid for begetting a good understanding, and making up an Union with all these whom the Lord shall convince of the necessity of peace in this poor Church, which we desire may be speedily gone about, considering the sad prejudices following upon this rapture, and the so long continuance thereof. And we cannot in reason but expect that our Brethren will hearken to our serious request, if so be they be real in their professions for Presbyterial-government, and do mind only the advancement of the work of God amongst us, and be not driving some other design all this while. But if after all these essays and desires of Union, we be still, to our great grief, frustrated of our intentions, and men will continue an unnecessary Schism in the Church, Though we shall desire to reverence and stoup to the Lords holy dispensation in it, and (as hitherto we have done) shall look upon that sad and humbling lot (more grievous to us than any thing could be fall us in our particular concernments) as a call from Him exciting us to our work, that we may lay forth ourselves in season and out of season, to make our Master Christ more known to His people, and bring-in Disciples to Him, and may make full proof of our Ministry In all the parts and opportunities thereof, that our Lord when He cometh may find us so doing; Yet, as to those who persist in such courses, we must say that we have exonered ourselves, in discharge of our duty towards them, and we hope it will appear to all  Discerners, that, notwithstanding all their violent attempts against the Church-government and us, since our conference with them, yet we are not at all irritated thereby to recede from the condescensions and offers then made. And as we do commit Christ's Interests into His own hand, that He may see to the preservation thereof, against those usurpations and encroachments of men, and shall desire to lament after Him, till He be pleased to dispel those clouds and shine upon this distracted Church; So we invite all the Lords People in the Land that they will not give place to Satan's craft in these times who would take them off the main work of Godliness and Religion, and engage them in fruitless contentions and debates, whereof they will have neither profit nor pleasure in end; But that with us they will lay to heart and lament all the evils that have come and do daily grow upon us by these sad Divisions, and that in their Stations they will adhere to the Interests of Christ, and the settled Government of His Church, not suffering themselves to be misled by the specious pretexts of men while they run courses so destructive thereunto; As considering that it will be no grief of heart to them in the latter end, when the Lord will judge, not according to appearances or pretext, but righteous judgement, that they have had no accession to the ruin of their Mother-Church, but have been a comfort to her in the day of her distress.  
FINIS.