SEVERAL LETTERS AND PASSAGES Between HIS EXCELLENCY, The Lord General CROMWELL AND THE Governor of Edinburgh Castle, AND The MINISTERS there, Since His Excellency's Entrance into EDINBURGH.  
Published by Authority.  
London, Printed by John Field for Francis Titan, at the Three Daggers near the Inner-Temple Gate, September 25. 1650.   

For the Honourable, The Governor of the Castle of Edinburgh.  
SIR,  
I Received Command from my Lord General, to desire you to let the Ministers of Edinburgh, now in the Castle with you, know, That they have free liberty granted them, if they please to take the pains, to preach in their several Churches; and that my Lord hath given special Command both to Officers and Soldiers, That they shall not in the least be molested.  
Sir, I am your most humble Servant, EDW. whaley. Edinburgh the 9 of Septemb. 1650.   

From the Governor of Edinburgh Castle to Colonel whaley; with my Lord General's ANSWER.  
SIR,  
I Have communicated the desire of your Letter to such of the Ministers of Edinburgh as are with me; 3 who have desired me to return this for Answer, That though they are ready to be spent in their Master's service, and to refuse no suffering, so they may fulfil their Ministry with joy: Yet perceiving the persecution to be personal, by the practice of your party upon the Ministers of Christ in England and Ireland, and in the Kingdom of Scotland since your unjust Invasion thereof; And finding nothing expressed in yours, whereupon to build any security for their persons while they are there, and for their return hither, they are resolved to reserve themselves for better times, and to wait upon Him who hath hidden his face for a while from the Sons of Jacob. This is all I have say; but that I am, Sir,  
Your most humble Servant, W. DUNDAS. 9 Septem. 1650.   

For the Honourable, The Governor of the Castle of Edinburgh.  
SIR,  
THe kindness offered to the Ministers with you, was done with ingenuity, thinking it might have met with the like: but I am satisfied to tell those with you, That if their Master's service (as they call it) were chief in their eye, Imagination of Suffering would not have caused such a return; much less the practice by our Party (as they are pleased to say) upon the Ministers of Christ in England, have been an Argument of personal persecution: The Ministers of England are supported, and have liberty to preach the Gospel, though not to Rail, nor under pretence thereof to over-top the Civil Power, or debase it as they please: No man hath been troubled in England or Ireland for preaching the Gospel; nor has any Minister been molested in Scotland since the coming of the Army hither. The speaking Truth becomes the Ministers of Christ: when Ministers pretend to a glorious Reformation, and say the foundation thereof in getting to themselves worldly Power, and can make worldly mixtures to accomplish the same, such as their late Agreement with their King, and hopes by him to carry on their Design, may know, That the Zion promised and hoped for, will not be built with such untempered mortar. As for the unjust Invasion they mention, time was when an Army of Scotland came into England, not called by the Supreme Authority: we have said in our Papers with what hearts, and upon what account we came, and the Lord hath heard us, though you would not, upon as Solemn an Appeal as any experience can parallel. And although they seem to comfort themselves with being the Sons of Jacob, from whom (they say) God hath hid his face for a time; yet it's no wonder, when the Lord hath lifted up his hand so eminently against a Family, as he hath done so often against this, and men will not see his hand, if the Lord hid his face from such, putting them to shame both for it, and their hatred at his people, as it is this day. When they purely trust to the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, which is powerful to bring down strong holds, and every imagination that exalts itself, which alone is able to square and fit the stones for the New Jerusalem; Then, and not before, and by that means, and no other, shall Jerusalem (which is to be the praise of the whole Earth) the City of the Lord be built, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. I have nothing to say to you, but that I am, Sir,  
Your humble Servant, O. CROMWELL. Septemb. 9 1650.   

A Letter from the Governor of Edinburgh Castle, for the Right Honourable the Lord Cromwell, Commander in Chief of the English Army.  
My Lord,  
YOurs I have communicate to these with me whom it concerned, who desire me to return this Answer, That their ingenuity in prosecuting the ends of the Covenant according to their vocation and place, and adhering to their first Principles, is well known; and one of their greatest regrets is, that they have not met with the like: when Ministers of the Gospel have been imprisoned, deprived of their Benefices, sequestrate, forced to flee from their dwellings, and bitterly threatened for their faithful declaring the will of GOD against the godless and wicked proceed of men, That it cannot be accounted an imaginary fear of suffering in such as are resolved to follow the like freedom and faithfulness in discharge of their Master's Message; that it savours not of ingenuity to promise liberty of preaching the Gospel, and to limit the Preachers thereof, that they must not speak against the ●●ns and enormities of Civil Powers, since their Commission carrieth them to speak the Word of the Lord unto, and to reprove the fins of persons of all ranks, from the highest to the lowest: That to impose the name of Railing upon such faithful Freedom, was the old practice of Malignants against the Ministers of the Gospel, who laid open to people the wickedness of their ways, that they should not be ensnared thereby: That their consciences bear them record, and all their hearers do know, that they meddle not with Civil Affairs further than to hold forth the rule of the Word, by which the straightness and crookedness of men's actions are made evident. But they are sorry that they have just cause to regret, that men of mere Civil place and employment, should usurp the calling and employment of the Ministry, to the scandal of the Reformed Kirks, and particularly in Scotland, contrary to the Government and Discipline therein established, to the maintenance whereof you are bound by the Solemn League and Covenant. Thus far they have thought fit to vindicate their return to the offer in Colonel whales latter offer: The other part of yours which concerns the Public as well as them, they conceive that all hath been answered sufficiently in the public Papers of the State and Kirk: only to that of the success upon your solemn Appeal, they say again what was said to it before, That they have not so learned Christ, as to hang the equity of their Cause upon events, but desire to have their hearts established in the love of the Truth in all the tribulations that befall them. I only do add that I am  
My Lord, Your most humble Servant, W: DUNDAS. Septembr. 9 1650.   

For the Governor of Edinburgh Castle.  
SIR,  
BEcause I am at some reasonable good leisure, I cannot let such a gross mistake and inconsequential reasonings pass without some notice taken of them. And first, their ingenuity in relation to the Covenant, for which they commend themselves, doth no more justify their want of ingenuity in answer to Colonel whales Christian offer, concerning which my Letter charged them with guiltiness, deficiency, than their bearing witness to themselves of their adhering to their first Principles and ingenuity in prosecuting the ends of the Covenant, justifies them so to have done, merely because they say so. They must give more leave henceforwards, for Christ will have it so, will they nill they, and they must have patience to have the truth of their doctrines and say tried by the sure touchstone of the word of God; and if there be a liberty and duty of trial, there is a liberty of judgement also, for them that may and aught to try; which if so, they must give others leave to say and think, that they can Appeal to equal Judges, who have been the truest fulfillers of the most real and equitable ends of the Covenant: But if these Gentlemen which do assume to themselves to be the infallible Expositors of the Covenant, as they do too much to their Auditories of the Scriptures, counting a different fence and judgement from theirs, breach of Covenant and Heresy, no marvel they judge of others so authoritatively and severely; but we have not so learned Christ. We look at Ministers as helpers of, not Lords over the faith of God's people. I appeal to their consciences, whether any trying their Doctrines and dissenting, shall not incur the censure of Sectary; and what is this but to deny Christians their Liberty, and assume the infallible Chair? What doth he, whom we would not be likened unto, do more than this? In the second place it is affirmed, That the Ministers of the Gospel have been imprisoned, deprived of their Benefices, Sequestered, forced to fly from their dwellings, and bitterly threatened for their faithful declaring the will of God, etc. And that they have been limited that they might not speak against the sins and enormities of the evil Powers: That to impose the name of railing upon such faithful freedom, was the old practice of the Malignants against the Preachers of the Gospel, etc.  
If the civil Authority of that part of it, which continued faithful to their Trust, true to the ends of the Covenant, did in answer to their consciences turn out a Tyrant in a way which the Christians in after times will mention with honour, and all Tyrants in the world look at with fear, and many thousands of Saints in England rejoice to think of it, and have received from the hand of God, a liberty from the fear of like usurpations, and have cast off him, who trod in his Father's steps, doing mischief as far as he was able, whom you have received like fire into your bosoms, of which God will, I trust, in time make you sensible; if Ministers railing at the civil Power, calling them Murderers and the like, for doing this, have been dealt with as you mention; will this be found a personal persecution? Or is sin so, because they say so? They that acted this great business, having given a reason of their faith in this action, and some here are ready further to do it against all gainsayers. But it will be found that these reprovers do not only make themselves the Judges and Determiners of sin, that so they may reprove but they also took liberty to stir up the people to Blood and Arms, and would have brought a War upon England, as hath been upon Scotland, had not God prevented it: and if such severity as hath been expressed toward them, be worthy the name of personal persecution, let all uninterested men judge, whether the calling of this practice railing, be to be paralleled with the Malignant's imputation upon the Ministers, for speaking against the Popish Innovations in the Prelate's times, and the Tyrannical and wicked practice then on foot, let your own consciences mind you. The Roman Emperors in Christ's and his Apostles times were usurpers and intruders upon the Jewish State, yet what footstep have ye either of our blessed Saviors so much as willingness to the dividing of an Inheritance, or their meddling in that kind; This was not practised by the Church since our Saviors time till Antichrist, assuming the infallible Chair, and all that he called the Church to be under him, practised this authoritatively over civil Governors.  
The way to fulfil your Ministry with joy, to preach the Gospel, which I wish some who take pleasure in reproofs at adventure, do not forget too much to do.  
Thirdly, you say you have just cause to regret, that men of civil employments should usurp the calling and employment of the Ministry, to the scandal of the Reformed Kirks, etc.  
Are you troubled that Christ is preached? Is preaching so inclusive in your function? Doth it scandalise the Reformed Kirks, and Scotland in particular? Is it against the Covenant? Away with the Covenant, if this be so, I thought the Covenant and these could have been willing that any should speak good of the name of Christ; if nor, it is no Covenant of Gods approving, nor the Kirks you mention, in so much the Spouse of Christ. Where do you find in the Scripture a ground to warrant such an assertion, That preaching is included in your function? though an approbation from men hath order in it, and may do well, yet he that hath not a better warrant than that hath none at all. I hope he that ascended up on high, may give his gifts to whom he please, and if those gifts be the Seal of mission, be not envious though Eldad and Medad. prophesy: you know who bids us covet earnestly the best gifts, but chief that we may prophesy, which the Apostle explains there to be a speaking to instruction, and edification, & comfort, which the instructed, edified, and comforted, can best tell the Energy and effect of; if such evidence be, I say again, take heed you envy not for your own sakes, lest you be guilty of a greater fault, than Moses reproved in Joshua, for envying for his sake; indeed you err through the mistake of the Scriptures: approbation is an act of conveniency in respect of order, not of necessity to give faculty to preach the Gospel. Your pretended fear lest error should step in, is like the man that would keep all the wine out of the county, lest men should be drunk. It will be found an unjust and unwise jealousy, to deny a man the liberty he hath by nature, upon a supposition he may abuse it, when he doth abuse it, judge. If a man speak foolishly, ye suffer him gladly because ye are wise, if erroneously, the truth more appears by your conviction; stop such a man's mouth with sound words that cannot be gainsaid, if blasphemously, or to the disturbance of the public peace, let the civil Magistrate punish him; if truly, rejoice in the truth; and if you will call our speakings together since we came into Scotland, to provoke one another to love and to good works, to faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and repentance from dead works, to charity and love towards you, to pray and mourn for you, and for the bit e returns to, and incredulity of our professions of love to you; of the truth of which we have made our solemn and humble Appeals to the Lord our God, which he hath heard and born witness to; if these things be scandalous to the Kirk and against the Covenant, because done by men of civil callings, we rejoice in them, notwithstanding what you say.  
For a conclusion in answer to the witness of God upon our Solemn Appeal: You say, you have not so learned Christ to hang the equity of your cause upon events. We could wish blindeness hath not been upon your eyes to all those marvellous dispensations which God hath wrought lately in England; But did not you solemnly Appeal and Pray? did not we do so too? and ought not you & we to think with fear & trembling of the hand of the great God in this mighty & strange appearance of his? but can slightly call it an Event; Were not both yours & our expectations renewed from time to time, whilst we waited on God to see which way he would manifest himself upon our Appeals? And shall we after all these our Prayers, Fast, Tears, Expectations, and solemn Appeals, call these bare Events? The Lord pity you, surely we fear, because it hath been a merciful and gracious deliverance to us: I beseech you in the bowels of Christ, search after the mind of the Lord in it towards you, and we shall help you by our prayers, that you may find it out; (for yet, if we know our hearts at all) our bowels do in Christ Jesus earn after the godly in Scotland: We know there are stumbling blocks which hinder you; The personal prejudices you have taken up against us and our ways, wherein we cannot but think some occasion has been given, and for which we mourn; the apprehension you have, That we have hindered the glorious Reformation you think you were upon: I am persuaded these and such like bind you up from an understanding and yielding to the mind of God, in this great day of his power and visitation; and, if I be rightly informed, the late Blow you received is attributed to profane Counsels and Conduct, and mixtures in your Army, and such like; the natural man will not find out the cause; look up to the Lord, that he may tell it you: which that he would do, shall be the fervent prayers of  
Your loving Friend and Servant, O. CROMWELL. Edinburgh, Sept. 12. 1650.   

For the Governor of Edinburgh Castle.  
THese Queries are sent, not to reproach you, but in the love of Christ laying them before you; We being persuaded in the Lord, That there is a Truth in them, which we earnestly desire may not be laid aside unsought after, by any prejudice either against the things themselves, or the unworthiness or weakness of the person that offers them. If you turn at the Lords reproofs, he will pour out his Spirit upon you, and you shall understand his Words, and they will guide you to a blessed Reformation indeed, even to one according to the Word, and such as the people of God wait for; wherein you will find us and all Saints ready to rejoice, and serve you to the utmost in our places and Callings.  

QUAERES.  
I. Whether the Lords Controversy be not both against the Ministers in Scotland and England, for wresting, straining and improving the Covenant against the godly and Saints in England, of the same Faith with them in every Fundamental, even to a bitter persecution, and so making that which in the main intention was Spiritual, to serve politics and carnal ends, even in that part especially which was Spiritual, and did look to the glory of God, and the comfort of his people.  
II. Whether the Lords Controversy may not be for your and the Ministers in England sullenness at, and darkening, and not beholding the glory of God's wonderful Dispensations in this Series of his Providences in England, Ireland and Scotland, both now and formerly, through envy at Instruments, and because the things did not work, forth your platform, and the great God did not come down to your minds and thoughts.  
III. Whether you carrying on a Reformation, so much by you spoken of, have not probably been subject to some mistakes in your own judgements about some parts of the same, laying so much stress thereupon, as hath been a temptation to you, even to break the law of Love towards your Brethren, and those Christ hath regenerated, even to the reviling and persecuting of them, and to stir up wicked men to do the same, for your Forms sake, or but some parts of it.  
iv Whether if your Reformation be so perfect and so Spiritual, be indeed the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus, it will need such carnal policies, such fleshly mixtures, such unsincere actings, as to pretend to cry down all Malignants, and yet receive and set up the Head of them, and so act for the Kingdom of Christ in his Name, and upon advantage thereof, and to publish so false a Paper, so full of specious pretences to piety, as the fruit and effect of his repentance, to deceive the minds of all the godly in England, Ireland and Scotland; you in your own consciences knowing with what regret he did it, and with what importunities and threats he was brought to do it, and how much to this very day he is against it, and whether this be not a high provocation of the Lord, in so grossly dissembling with him and His people?    

For the Right Honourable, The Commander in Chief of the English Army.  
My Lord,  
YOur Papers I have communicate to these with me whom they concerned, who have desired me to return this Answer; The Contents of these Papers do concern the public Differences betwixt you and these of the three Kingdoms, who have faithfully adhered to the Solemn League and Covenant, and are awed by the Oath of God from accession to the guiltiness of clear and evident breaches of Covenant, and have been so often and fully answered in the public Papers of this Kirk and Kingdom; In the Resolutions of the Assembly of Divines in England, and in the published Writings of the soundest Divines there, yea and of all the Reformed Kirks, That they conceive it needless (though a matter of no great difficulty) to give a particular Answer; especially since the late General Assembly have authorized their Commissioners to take into consideration matters of public concernment to this Kirk, unto whom (if you please) you may hereafter direct Papers of that kind: In the mean time they rest fully persuaded in their minds, That the event of a Battle (though ordered indeed by a just and wise Providence) is no infallible proof of the Equity or Iniquity of a Cause, seeing there is one Event to the Righteous and to the Wicked, to him that sweareth and to him that feareth an Oath, as it is clear in the cause of Israel against Benjamin about the men of Gibeah. I am,  
My Lord, Your most humble Servant, W. DUNDAS. Septemb. 12. 1650.  
FINIS.