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Am ENQUIRY 
 
 INTO 
 
 CHURC H-C O M M U N I O N 
 
 Or, A 
 
 TREATISE againft Separation from the Revolution- 
 Settlement of this National Church, as it was fettled 
 Anno 1689 and 4690. 
 
 WHEREIN, 
 
 I. Some Truths confcfled on all Hands are held forth, 
 which, if righty coniidered, would do much to end the 
 prefent Controverfy. 
 
 II. Some Conceffions are laid down for clearing the Pre- 
 fent Debaie. 
 
 III. The Controverfy is ftated, and Truth vindicated. 
 
 IV. Fifteen Objections clearly anfwered agamft joining with 
 the Revolution-Settlement, wherein a e conitdered the 
 Chief of Scriptures and Reafon, that are or maybe ailed* 
 ged againft what is faid ; as alfo three Objections anfwer- 
 ed from fomething fuppoff^d to be wrong in the Revolu; 
 tion- Settlement, and Practice of this Church. 
 
 By Mr. Alexander Shields Minijler of the Cofpd 
 
 at St. And rews. ^ 
 
 Second Edition. 
 
 To which is fubjoined 
 Some of the moft valuable Acts of the firft Parliament of 
 Ring William and Mary, for re-cftablfhiing the true re- 
 formed Religion, and refcinding the persecuting Acts 
 made by Charles the II. and James the VII. as al- 
 fo King William\ Letter to the National AlTembly, 
 met at Edinburgh, Ottober 16. 1690. with the Acts 
 of that AlTembly anent receiving MelTeurs. Thomas Linen , 
 Alexander Shields, William Boyd, into Communion with 
 this National Chuich. 
 
 Rom. y^w. 19. Let us therefore follow after the Things which 
 make for Peace. 
 
 EDINBURGH, 
 Printed by William Gray, and fold at his Houfe at 
 MUM* Ctopcl. within the Cwau Head. »71T^ 
 
EPISTLE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 READER; 
 
 Bui efpeclally to theft wht withdraw from this national 
 
 Church. 
 
 I Think, there are few, who truly fear God, _ and love 
 our Lord Jefus Chrift, 'but they will acknowledge, 
 that Chrift hath fowed good Seed in his Church in this 
 Land, fince the late happy Revolution; but its as true, 
 That the Enemy hallv fowed Tares alfo, and that wml, 
 Men flept, {Matth. xiii. 2 5 .) And the Enemy hath done 
 Sis, in waiting his Opportunity to do th.s f«»g™J»^ 
 th» Prejudice he can, by aflaulting her on right and left 
 Hand while Prelatifts, upon the one Hand, are preffing 
 ^ration from this Church, and ventmg alfo g*mm 
 Principles in their publick Prints ; and fome, on the other 
 Hand who profefs tbemfelves Presbyterians, are continuing 
 £ l ftated Sehifm from this Church which yet ,s the pur- 
 "ft in the World for Doflrine, Worlhip, D.fciphne and Go- 
 vemment, even thofe People tbemfelves being Judges So 
 th^eMinifters of Chrift have need offp.mual W.fdom 
 
 Sehifm may be prevented fo far as poflible. % 
 
 It" 11 not be unfit to enquire a little into the Ongmal 
 an d Fountain of this prefent Sehifm, that it may appear, 
 Jowthis iagrofs Abu fe of the faithful Contending* and 
 
1U 
 
 infl Prelacy, Supremacy, and arbitrary' Power from the Year 
 >o, unt.l the lat volution, Anno 1 688, whole 
 
 Teltknony was both againfl: Right and Left-Hand Corrupti- 
 on^ and Errors, in a Way fuitable to thefe Circumftancos 
 of the Church. 
 
 At the Re introduction of Prelacy, two third Parts of the 
 then Miniltry of this Church complied with it, contrary to 
 the frequently renewed Oaths and Covenant-, abjuring Pre- 
 lacy, and the other Corruptions therein fpecified : And of 
 thefe who complied not fo far as to receive the Prelates Col- 
 lation, or to keep their eccieiiaftick Courts, fome did hear 
 thefe Changelings and Intruders into the Labours of others, 
 i went the whole length of Compliance ; others could 
 not join in hearing of the Curates : Some again, becaufe 
 they were difcharged by that Aft (called by the People in 
 thefe Tines, The drunken Att <?/*Glafgow) to exercife any 
 Part of their mini ferial Function, did too tamely comply 
 With the pretended Authority enj >ining the fame, and abftained 
 from preaching i others thought it right to hearken to God 
 more than to Men, CAtfs iy. 19, 20.) and to preaeh as 
 Occafion offered, conform to their Commiflion received from 
 Chrift, tho' in the Beginning, this was but privately, until 
 the Prelates Tyranny did exceed all Bounds, and forced 
 that godly Handful lo appear in Arms at Pentland-Hillf, 
 Anno 1 665, for their own Defence, and to endeavour their 
 Recovery of a deftroyed Work of Reformation. Thefe dif- 
 ferent Practices laid the Foundation for what followed. 
 
 The Court perceiving, that their Cruelty exercifed Ann* 
 1666, and fome Time after, did not effectuate what they 
 ilellgned, they fell upon another Project for deftroying the 
 Work of God, viz. the indulging fome of the outted Mini- 
 fters, under finful Limitations and Inltrtiftions (a full Ac- 
 count of which may be feen in the Hiftory of the Indulgence, 
 written by Mr. John3rown 9 bzn\ihcd to Holland) which thay 
 were encouraged to venture upon, from theConfideration of flie 
 different Practices above narrated ; for the Indulgence in the 
 Deiign of it, was to be given only to fuch Minifters as have 
 lived peaceably and orderly in the Places where they 
 have relided (fee King Charles's Letter for the Indulgence, 
 iited it White hall, 17 June 1669. ffift, Indulg. Page 5. 
 32 which 
 
tv 
 
 which peaceable Behaviour is explained, 3^. of September 
 1672, by the Council, to be a not givingScandal to any by 
 withdraw ing themfelves from the publick VYo'rfhip, in the 
 Kirks of thofe Parodies where they 1 elide, nor enfnare others 
 to do the like by their Practice and Example. iSce the, AcT, 
 Hi ft. InduL Page 39.) This Indulgence was received with 
 the Limitations by fome Minifters, and rejected by others, 
 who were named to have the Benefit of the fame ; and a 
 third Sort were deprived of the Libert} granted by the Indul- 
 gence to preach, becaufe they preached againft the King's 
 ccclefiaftick Supremacy, or difowned the Limit tions annex- 
 ed to the Indulgence; a? Mr. William Weir, Mr. Alexander 
 Blair > and Mr. John Burnet. Thefe Things occafioned 
 Dilputes and Debates both among Minifters and People, 
 tvhich were managed for fome Years in Private ; but at 
 length, the Uiurpations of the Court being multiplied i and 
 the Perfecution increafing, many faithful Minifters had 
 their Eyes opened, to fee their Dtfigns to be no leis, than 
 by thefe Methods to extirpate Presbyterian Mini Iters and 
 People out of the Land, and began to prtach in Fields and 
 ftoufes, as Occaiion offered (of which Tsumber were Mr. 
 John Welch, Mr- Samuel Jrnot, Mr. John Walwood, Mr. 
 John King, Mr. John Kid, Mr. John Did/on, Mr. Hugh 
 Smith at Eaftnvood, who was the firft (as I remember) who 
 wrote againft the Indulgence, and many others, fome where- 
 of are alive unto this Day) not regarding the Threatnings of 
 the Prelates, or of the Court ; and when armed Men pur- 
 sued thefe Meetings, the People thought it their Duty to 
 defend themfelves and their Minifters in preaching the Go- 
 fpel to them ; which Practice was condemned by fome of 
 thefe Minifters whom the Court looked upon as peaceable 
 Men, and by others was juftified openly in Preaching •, the 
 one alledging that Obedience was to be given to the Oppref- 
 fors of thefe Times, as if they had been Magiftratcs exer- 
 cifmg their Office for the Terror of Evil-doeis, and the Praiie 
 of them that do well ; others looking upon thefe Oppreffors 
 as mere Tyrants, and fo that no Regard was to be had to 
 their fmful Laws, difcharging the publick preaching of God's 
 Word, except under fuch Limitations as they fhould think 
 ftt; And this occaiioned another Coniroveriy, about the 
 
 owning 
 
V 
 
 ©wning and difowning the Authority of Tyrants deftroy- 
 ing the moft valuable Intercfts of Religion and Liberty ; 
 whether the Government of thefe Times was the Exercife 
 of lawful Magiltracy, or pure Tyranny: Which laft was 
 maintained by many faithful Minifters, at that Time, and 
 now verified by the late happy Revolution. 
 
 The Cafe of the Church at that Time was like that of 
 the IJraelitcs* Judges xvii. 6. That there was no King ia 
 Ifrael y but every Man did that which was right in his own 
 Eyes : For fome went a great Length in Compliance with 
 the Defections of thefe Times, others durft not comply, and 
 there being no fettled Church Judicatories, according to 
 Chrift's Liititution, Minifters and People were obliged to 
 withdraw from thefe Courfes which they were convinced in 
 their Confcience to be finful ; feeing they had no other 
 clear and fufHcient Method to teftify their Abhorence of the 
 Courfes of Defection of thefe Times, but by not faying a 
 a Confederacy to all thefe t# whom the People then did fay 
 a Confederacy. 
 
 But this was without any Defign ever to own thefe 
 Things to be fuffieient Grounds of Separation in a conjlitute 
 Church y or when with perfonal fafety Application could be made . 
 to fettled Church- Judicatories, who were not under the ty- 
 rannical Influence of Enemies to the Work of God. It 
 was upon this Ground, that the Reverend and worthy Mr. 
 Donald Cargily late Minifter of the Barony ofGla/gow, and 
 Martyr for the Truth, often declared, that his Soul hated 
 Separation, and obtefted his Hearers to pray for faithful Mi- 
 nifters, adding particularly this Reafon (in a Preaching on 
 a Week-day at Loudoun-hiW) that People could not be long 
 kept free of Schifm or Herefy, if they wanted fpiritual 
 Guides, to w r hich I was an Ear-witnefs : And the worthy 
 Martyr Mr. Richard Cameron Minifter of the Gofpel, isfaid 
 often to have had the likeExprclfions. 
 
 Alfo there are many alive to this Day, who know, when 
 the Informatory Vindication was to be printed, that it was 
 fent to Holland to be fhewed to fome of us, who were then 
 abroad ; and that we declared we could never own the 
 Grounds of Separation laid down therein, to juftify a Sepa- 
 ration from a fettled Church, in a peaceable State. And 
 
 when 
 
when our Animadverfions on the fame came to Scotland 
 fome of thefe, who now feparate, were fo convinced of the 
 Truth of this, that they condefcended to own fo n>uch in 
 the laid Informatory Vindicati%n ; and for this Caufe, it is 
 often added as a Qualification to thl Grounds cf withdraw- 
 ing, that they were to be underftood in the Cafe of fuck 
 Differences, and fo circumftAntiated. Inform. Vindic. Page 
 6y. In this broken and declining State of the Church, ilid. 
 Page 73, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 87*88. To which al- 
 io the worthy Martyr Mr. James Renwick Minifler of the 
 Cofpel alTented. 
 
 Moreover, I had Occafion to know the Sentiments of the 
 Reverend and worthy Author of this iullowing Trea- 
 tife, Mr. Alexander Shields, late Minilter of the Gofpel at 
 St. Andrews, upon this Point, in the Year 1687. For 
 when he came to Utrecht, in Difcourfe with me, among o- 
 ther Things he pofitively owned, that none of thefe Things 
 which were in ControVerfy betwixt us and fome other Pref- 
 byterian Minilters, could be owned as fufTicient Grounds of 
 Separation, if the Lord fhould fend Deliverance to his 
 Church, and give us Accefs to prefent our Grievances to 
 Church- Judicatories, with perfonal Safety (which we could 
 never have, until the late happy Revolution : ) And this 
 upon the ivfatter is owned by him in the following Sheets, 
 where he exprcfly fays, Page 2. For though my Sentiments 
 are jh allow and changeable as other Mens are, having the Im- 
 f erf e [lion of Mutab'flity, as well as Fallibility ; yet 1 know m 
 Change of Principles, that thefe Contentions need drive me to. 
 From all which it is evident, that none of thefe who witnefled 
 againft the Indulgence, and the popifh Toleration in the 
 Time of King James the VII. or the other Courfes of De- 
 fection in the late Times, did ever defign, that their Tefti- 
 rnony againit thefe Things, mould be a Foundation for a 
 Schiim in a peaceable State of the Church, or when thefe 
 Couries of Defection fhould ceafed to be in the Church of 
 Chrifi. 
 
 All this will be yet more clear, if it be confidered, that 
 (in confequence of what is fitfd before) no fooner did King 
 James the VII. his Army march from Scotland to England, 
 kut Me did begin to converfe with feverai Minilters, both at 
 
 Glafgow 
 
vJT 
 
 Clafgov) and Edinburgh, about compofing of Diflkrencea 
 and removing Minifters ; a full Account of which may ba 
 feen in a Print, intituled, The Method and Matties of * Union, 
 &c. publilhed Anno 1691. which I wifh were more confider- 
 «d by fuch as now withdraw from this National Church. 
 
 As for fuch who not only withdraw from this Church, but 
 alio have difowned the civil Government always iince ths 
 Jat« happy Revolution, and yet take the Name of Presby* 
 terians to themfelves ; it is to be feared, fome of them 
 may be under fome bad Influence of Jacobites, or elfe to 
 be fo weak, as not to diicern the Abfurdity of fuch a Prac- 
 tice : And it is mod remarkable, that fince King William 
 came to the Throne, thefe People have neither had Mini- 
 Iter nor Preacher under the Name of a Presbyterian, to 
 countenance them in their finful Courfes. And, in the 
 Year 1688 and 1689. we were fo far from giving any 
 Countenance to fuch Courfes, that we encouraged the pu- 
 bJifhing the Prince of Orange's Delaration at Glajgow, before 
 it was publilhed in any other Place of the Kingdom j wo 
 prayed publickly for Succefs to his Enterprife, even before 
 his landing in England, we fware (in the National Cove- 
 nant renewed at Lefmahagow, March 3. 1689.) that we 
 mould itand to the Defence of his Highnefs, his Perfon and 
 Authority, when lawfully chofen and eftablifhed as King, 
 or fupreme ilagiftnte over us. The People we preached 
 to, in confequence of this, went to Edinburgh with others, 
 and guarded the Convention of Eftates, Anna 1689. and 
 muftered in one Day 1 1 40 Men as a Regiment, under the 
 Command of the Right Honourable, the late Earl of Angus, 
 to fight for Religion and Liberty, under the Authority of 
 King William of glorious Memory. All which make it evi- 
 dent, that our former Teftimony againft Tyranny, was from 
 no difloyal Principle to Magiftracy ; and confequenHy that 
 thefe People never had any Encouragement to live as they 
 do. It is true indeed, they met with bad Treatment, both from 
 the AiTembly 1690. who neglected their Grievances, and 
 from the Army who did not affift them at Dunksl, which ' 
 ©ccafioned the {tumbling of many, but it is a Sin to ltum- 
 Uc, as well su to give OccaJaoo fox it. 
 
 I need 
 
' irlii 
 
 I need fay very little in Commendation of the following 
 Sheets, they will fpeak for thcmfeives ; but if the worthy 
 Author had furvived his Voyage to Caledonia, I doubt not 
 the Work had been better poiilhed than it is. But rather 
 than deprive the Publick of a Sight of it, I have publifhed it 
 from his own Manufcripts, without any material Alteration, 
 except in fome Words, to make the Senle run clear ; and 
 where the Manulcripts could not be well read, which I fup- 
 plied with Words as near the Scope of the Place as I could. 
 The ReaJer will find therein, the Controverfy with thoie 
 who withdraw from this Church, clearly dated, Truth via- 
 dicated, and the Objections very fully anfvvered. 
 
 There is an Objection, not handled in the following 
 Work, which was only ftarted by fome, at the Meeting 
 With thefe People, in February 1705-. in the Town of San- 
 quhar, which for ihe Satisfaction of fome, I (hall take No- 
 tice of. The Objection was to this Purpofe, That their 
 joining with this Church, would be a burying of the foremention* 
 ed Tejlimony again/l Defeclion in the Church, and Tyranny in 
 the State, even though they fhould be allowed to give in their 
 Grievances to Church- Judicatories ; feeing they could expefl m 
 letter Treatment in the Matter of their Grievances, than the 
 worthy Author of the following Work, and thefe that join with 
 him, Anno i6yo. did meet with in giving in their Grievan- 
 ies to the General Affembly, which was to be condemned. In 
 anfwer to this conlider, iff, That any Condemnation of 
 a large Paper then given in, was only by the Committee 
 of Overtures, and not by the Aflembiy itf elf. idly, That 
 though the Aflembiy approved the Overture of the Commit- 
 tee ; yet it was but in fo far as to fatisfy the Aflembiy, 
 that they thought it not Prudence to confider all the Parti- 
 culars therein contained, for fear of Divilion amongft them- 
 felves, as to the Grievances contained in the faid larger 
 Paper ; but not that ever the Aflemby did enter upon the 
 Confideration of the Paper itlelf, fo as either to condemn 
 or approve it, or any Article therein ; for it was never read 
 in open Aflembiy; and to fay they did condemn it, tho* 
 they never heard it, would be an injurious Reflection on that 
 Aflembiy, and make them guilty of Couper Jujfice, and 
 Jedburgh Law, as the Proverb is. $dly % The Plame, then, 
 
 why 
 
^•toy that Affair is To printed in the Acts of the Aflembiy, 
 is to be laid upjR the Keviilrs of the Minutes, who printed 
 more than was in the Extra6t given out under the Clerk's 
 Hand of that Aflembiy, a confiderable Time before the 
 Acts of that Aflembiy were printed, which authentic!-: Pa- 
 per I have to this Day ready to produce, if need be, where- 
 in there is not one Word of the particular Reafons, moving 
 that Aflembiy not to read that larger Paper. Neither is it 
 ordinary to print Opinions of the Committee of Overtures 
 among the printed Acts of the Aflembiy, except they be 
 examined fully, and approven, which could not be in the 
 prefent Cafe, feeing the Ads of that Aflembiy bare exprefly, 
 that that larger Paper was never read by the Aflembiy itfelf : 
 And fo the Afllmbly could not know, whether the Cha- 
 racter given to that larger Paper were true or falfe, and con- 
 fequently could not condemn it. 4. That wrong Step in 
 the Publishers of the Acts of the Aflembiy 1690, obliged us 
 to print that larger Paper, that the World might fee whe- 
 ther it defer ved fuch Characters or not, as were given to it 
 by the Committee of Overtures, and Moderator of that AC- 
 fembly ; (fee ihe Method and Motives of Union, &c. printed 
 Anno 169 1 ) And if the Print be not at Hand, any who de- 
 fire a Sight of that Paper, may have it from me , for I have 
 kept hitherto a true Double of the fame. 5. Yet the Church 
 of Scotland fince the Revolution, hath never approven the 
 Indulgence, or the accepting of, and adreffing for the late 
 Toleration (in King James the 7th. his Reign,) without a 
 Teftimony againft the Extent of it to Papifts and Hereticks ; 
 nor do they approve, but condemn (in their Caufes of fail- 
 ing) the Tyranny of the late Reign of King Charles II. and 
 King James VII. Neither are fuch as withdraw from this 
 Church required, as a Condition of their Communion, to 
 condemn any Part of the former Teftimony, againft Defec- 
 tion m the Church, or Tyranny in the State, but will be 
 allowed to declare under their Hands, that their prefent join- 
 ing, (hall not infer a condemning of any Part of the former 
 Teftimony againlt Defection from the covenanted Work of 
 Reformation ; and may have this their Declaration regiftrat- 
 cd in the Records of the Presbyteries or Synods of the Bounds 
 where they live, and Extrads rf the fame given ift to the» 
 
in due Form, for the Exoneration oftheir Confciences. And 
 if this be a Burial of the Tefthnony, I muft fay, it is a very 
 Honourable Burial > in the Records of the Churchy which Af- 
 ter-Generations may have Occafion to perufe ; but furely 
 this Way of Separation from this "National Church, is ait 
 evident Burying of it, as will be clear to any who (hall im- 
 partially confider the following Sheets. 
 
 I fear, I have tranfgrelTed the Bounds of an Entry to fuch. 
 a Work, and that it will bear no Proportion to the Edifice; 
 and left I fhould darken Counfcl by Words without Know- 
 ledge, I (hall fuperfede. Only if this Work be well enter- 
 tained, any other Papers, which are in my Hand, left by the 
 Worthy Mr. Alexander Shields, for ft the Ufe of the Publick, 
 jfball not be concealed, when it (hall be thought needful that 
 they fee the Light. My Prayer to God is, that what is now 
 pubiilhed may tend to the Glory of God, the Healing of the 
 Breaches of this Church, and the Edification of fuch as (hall 
 perufe the fame, which is all at prefent from him, 
 
 Lejmc&agow Who defires to fee Peace and Truth 
 
 the 2d of Jfril % flouriih in the Church of Chrift, 
 1706. while I am 
 
 THOMAS XiXNXMft 
 
 fihurdi 
 
C t ) 
 
 Church Communion confidered, &c 
 
 N fuch a Day of Trouble and Perplexity in the 
 ' Valley of Vifion, they muft be blind that do not 
 fee, and very biutifli that have not the. Senfe of 
 the Wrath of an Holy God, fo many ways evi- 
 denced and threatned againfi this ficful Church 
 and Nation; while, notwithstanding of the Mercies of the 
 never fufficiently prized Gofpel Ordinances difpenfed in Peace 
 Plenty and Purity, and of the indulgent Favours ot Provi- 
 dence, lengthning out our Liberty under the Patrociny of a 
 comfortable civil Government, after a long Tract of Tyrant 
 nical Oppreffions, yet the Lord's Anger is not turned away, 
 but his Hand is ftretched out ftill, in the Withdrawmgs of the 
 Shinings of his Power and Glory, that ufed to be feen and 
 felt in his Sanctuary Solemnities; and withholding thefe Glo- 
 rious Influences of his Spirit, that made, in former Tmes, 
 cur Wildernefs a fruitful Field, and our Church beau.nulas 
 Tirzah, &c and id plaguing this Land more fenfi>ly than 
 any other, with pinching Penury and Want, and the Hearts 
 of the Generality with more fearful judicial Strokes, where- 
 by tho' the Lord be pouring out upon u, the Fury of his 
 Anger, and it hath let u< on Fire round about, yet we know 
 not it burns us, yet we lay it not to Heart. But in the Midft 
 of thefe Flames, one Part is raging in all Excefs of Riot a- 
 nother running upon Precipices of Errors and Deluiions, a 
 third rotting in Lukewaimnefs and deteftable IndirFerencv, 
 an! the molt Part perifhing in dangerous and deadly Di'f- 
 tempers, threatning Deftrudtion unavoidable, if fpeedy Mer- 
 cy prevent it not. But the moft affecting Symptom, and 
 *«ft aftoniflung Pio^noitick «f Wrath muiliient, is this 
 
( 2 ) 
 
 v/oful Divifion and Schifm dill continuing, not only between 
 the old competing Parties, known by the Names of Prelc- 
 tkal and Presbyterian, which were the only contending Par- 
 ties, that our Fathers knew; but now found among them 
 that were united before, in adhering to, and contending for 
 the nrft eftablifhed and covenanted Work of Reformation, 
 that fometimes took fweet Counfel together, and walked in- 
 to the Houfe of God in Company : But now, thro' the 
 Wrath of the Lord of Hofls, they eat every Man the Flefh 
 of his own Arm, ManaJJeh Ephraim, and Ephraim Manaf- 
 feh, and both together againft Judah ; for all this, bis An- 
 ger is 'not turned away, kit bis Hand is ftr etched out ft ill. 
 The Lord hath mingled a perverfe Spirit in the Mid ft of 
 thofe that profefs Godlinefs in Scotland; The Anger of the 
 Lord hath divided them, and if it be not appeafed, he threat- 
 ens no more to regard them. If ever there was a Time 
 when fuch Divillons and Seperations were unfeafonable, and 
 EflTays for their Remedy might be hopeful, this is the Time, 
 when the wicked Contrivances of Enemies to divide and 
 deftroy the Church, and hinder its Reformation-, and the 
 abounding Errors of the Time?, and the great Ignorance of 
 People, fhould make all the Lovers of the Church fear Di- 
 vifion, as that which will make it a Prey to them : When 
 the Providences of this Day have fo far altered the Object of 
 our Contend ings, that they call and encourage all diiTentient 
 Parties a'mong Presbyterians, to contend together, for redin- 
 tegrating the common Reformation againft the common Ad- 
 verfaries : When things are come to fuch a Shock and 
 Crifis, that if there be not prefent Endeavours ufed for U- 
 nion, the Breach, in all Probability, will grow wider and 
 more incurable : When OccaSons and Grounds of our for- 
 mer Divifions in Times of Defection, the prelalick eraftian 
 antichriftian Ufurpations on the Church's Rights are remov- 
 ed, and the Defections and Corruptions flowing therefrom, 
 and introduced thereby, which gave the Rife to our Disuni- 
 ons, are fo far antiquated, that they are neither in the Con- 
 ftrtution of the Church, nor do they continue to be {tum- 
 bling Blocks and Tentations to us, either to involve us in 
 the Guilt of them, or to keep us ftilJ jangling about them : 
 When alfo the Church's intrinfick Power and Capacity 
 
 t» 
 
C 9 ) 
 
 •to rcmede thefe Evils, is fo far reftored, that we have now 
 a Kail granted to us ia the holy Place, to fct up the Houfe 
 of our God, and to repair the Defolations thereof in ha\*» 
 ing Accefs to apply oar felves to ecclefialtick Judicatories 
 fenced in the Name of the only Head and King of the Church 
 Jefus Chrii't, without any Dependence upon exotick ufurp- 
 ed Powers. If we confider either the Mercies of the Times, 
 «nd Matters of Praife, brir* ing forth {6 many confiderable 
 Advantages to our felves and to the Caufe, they do certainly 
 call for fome other and better Improvement of them, than 
 breaking our felves into Pieces by occaiion of thefe Changes/. 
 Or, if we cenfider the Miferies of the Times, and Matters 
 of Mourning, the paft and prefent Caufes and Effects of the 
 Lord's Anger burning up, and like to confume. this Church 
 and Kingdom, we will find fome more fuitable Work (ha- 
 pen out to us, than this biting and devouring one another, 
 while the Lord in his holy Judgments, and Men in thar 
 i Defigns, threaten our Deii ruction. 
 I acknowledge it to be very difficult to eflay the Healing 
 of fuch a judicial-like Diviilon; For in fuch a Cafe the Vi- 
 llon of all, and Dirictions in reference to Healing, are as the 
 Words of a Book that is fealed, which neither the Learned 
 nor the Uflleamed can read: The Im predion of which 
 made me (brink at the Thoughts of moving in this Debate, 
 in the Senfe of my own Inefficiency for fuch an Undertak- 
 ing, and to withdraw my felf for a Time from the Place 
 where thefe Contentions were hotted ; rot in any Fear of 
 Shame, led: I be fufpeeled of Inconltancy and Change of Prin- 
 ciples, (for tho' my Sentiments are ilia How and changeable, 
 as other Mens are, having the Imperfection of Mutability 
 as well as Fallibility; yet I know no Change of Principles 
 that thefe Contentions need drive me to) but in the Fear 
 that my moviag in them might make them worfe, and in 
 the Hope that Forbearance for a while might contribuce tc 
 the fooner cooling and quenching the Heat of them. Bit 
 now, confidering this Evil, as it is noxious in* it ft:\f y dil- 
 honourable to God, fcandalous to the Gofpei and Caufe of 
 Chrift, ftumbling to ail Sorts of Men, produ^li^e of very 
 hurtful Effects, and very ordinarily of fome pernicious Er- 
 which now maybe feared as much as ever in theie 
 A 2 broke* 
 
C 4 ) 
 
 broken and breaking T mes, fo it is 'Ipreading and growings 
 and therefore, being convinced of the Neceflity of faving 
 fomewhat to it, and beif*g under the Bond of a Promifc, ex- 
 torted from me fome Years ago at a Meeting at Douglafs, 
 fo here I ihall clTay to give my poor Thoughts upon this 
 Subject, which alfo will meet with ail thefe Scruples propos- 
 ed by thefe who have not hitherto Subjected thcmfelves to 
 the prefent Miniftry of this National Church, as now efta- 
 bliOied by Law. * 
 
 In profecuting of this Head, I Shall firft premit Some ge- 
 neral Truths, granted on all Hands, the folid and praclical 
 Jmpreflion whereof would foon and eafily put a happy Clofe 
 unto this Debate. Secondly, I fhall lay down fome Concef- 
 fions and concefigry Diftin&ions that may Serve for Cauti- 
 ons, for the better undemanding of this Matter. Thirdly^ 
 I (hall fiate the Queftion and vindicate the fame. Fourthly, 
 I (hall anfvver the Objections againir. Union wiih, and Sub- 
 jection to the prefent M-aiflry of the Church of Scotland. 
 
 For the Firft, fcih The general Truths granted on all 
 Hands. Confider, I. That Endeavours for Union and 
 Concord among the Lovers of Truth, are Duties abfoltatly 
 Heceflary, fo that it cannot fall under Debate, whether Uni- 
 on fhouid be endeavoured; no more than it can be difput- 
 ed, whether there mould be Preaching, Praying, or keeping 
 of the Sabbath, feeing it is (6 much commanded, commend- 
 ed and preflcd in the Scripture, as none can be found that 
 is mote clearly and frequently urged, i. In inculcating 
 thefe Duties which nece(Tarily infer it, and which, if confei- 
 entiouily obferved, could not mifs Speedily to produce it; 
 As (i) Love: It is the great Command, to love our 
 Neighbour as our (elf, it is the fulfilling of the Law, Rom. 
 Xiii. 10. It is a new Commandment, John xiii. 34. that 
 ye love one another ( faith our Lord Jefus ) as I have loved 
 you, that ye g/fo love one another, by this Jhall all know that ye 
 are my Difciples, ifyw love one another. Alai- ! the Conten- 
 tions and DiiTentions of this Time look not like the Badge 
 of Chrift's Difciples, nor are his Children in our Land and 
 Day known by that Livery. And very defervedly is it fo 
 commended as a Badge of his Difciplcs, becaufc it is a Fruit 
 ©f the Spirit of Grace joined with Faith, GaL v. 22. pro- 
 ducing 
 
duci-ng Peace a§ another Fruit of it, again ff which there is n* 
 La:j. As Faith wirketh by Love, fo Faith in Chrift Je- 
 fus, an I Love to all the Saints, are infeparably connected, 
 Col. i. 4. And, faith the Apoftle, ! J:hn iii. 14. We know 
 that we have pajfed from Death to Life, becaufe we love the 
 Brethren. It is alfo infe-red and inculcated as a certain E- 
 vidence of Faith by Peter , 1 Pet. i. 22. By him you believe 
 
 in God- feeing you have purified your Souls in obeying the 
 
 Truth through the Spirit, unto unfeigned Love %f the Bre- 
 thren ; they that obey the Truth will love the Brethren; 
 therefore he infers and exhorts, See that you love one another 
 with a pure Heart fervently. As touching brotherly Love, 
 (faith Paul, 1 Theff. iv. o.>>'<w need not that I write unto you, 
 for you \cur fe'ves are taught ofGed to love one another. Yet 
 he thought it fo neceflary to inculcate it, that he writes a- 
 gain and again of it, Rom. xii. 9, 10. Let Lwe be without 
 DtjTimulation : Be kindly affetficnate one to another ; with bro~ 
 therly Love, in Honour preferring $ne another. Follows Verfe 
 16. as a Duty confequent upon this, Be of the fame Mind* 
 Yet there were feveral Debates and Offences in that Church 
 •f the Romans, as we fee Chapter 14, and 15". Heb. xiii. 1. 
 Let brotherly Love continue. Yet the Hebrews were very 
 much divided about the Obfervation of the Ceremonial Law; 
 and it feems fome did feparate from Societies and Meetings 
 one with another. But as to that he fays, Heb. x. 24, 25*. Let 
 its conficer one another to provoke unto Love, end to good Works : 
 Not for faking the afembling of our felves together, as the Man- , 
 ner of fome is. Hence we fee, if there were more Love, 
 there would be more Union and Communion, notwithftand- 
 ing of Differences. (2) Reconciliation, Agreement and re- 
 ceiving one another, is much preffed and inculcated in Scrip- 
 ture, as Maith. v. 24. Leave thy Gift before tie Altar, and 
 go thy Way, firfl be reconciled to thy Brother, and then come 
 and offer thy Gift. As long as there are Differences and 
 Difrances between us and our Brethren not removed by Re- 
 conciliation, our Acceptance, Profit and Edification is mar- 
 red : And if this Reconciliation cannot be ©Stained any o~ 
 ther Way there mult be mutual Forgivenefs ; not judici- 
 ary to take away the Guilt, that is GOD's Prerogative; but 
 •haritarJYe, which muil be extended to many more Oifen- 
 
 ces 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 cs and Trefpafles than are confefTed and acknowledged to 
 us ; for we are taught to pray in the Lord's Prayer, Matt Ik 
 vi. 12. Forgive us our Debts, as we forgive our Debtors, And 
 the Lord adds, Verfe 14, 15-. For if you forgive Men their 
 'Trefpafles, your heavenly Father will alfo forgive you. Bat if 
 you f%r give not Men their Trefppjfes, neither will your Father 
 forgive your Trefpafles. But if the Lord did forgive no o- 
 'thcr Trefpafles to us, but what we explicitly and exprefly 
 confefs and acknowledge, there would be many unforgivea 
 in the bed : For who can under ft and his Errors, and all his 
 fecret Faults ? PfaJm xix. 12. The Lord forgives us if we 
 confefs all that we are convinced of, and mourn implicitly 
 over the red. So Love and Charity oblige us to think our 
 Godly Brethren that have offended us, do mourn over all 
 their Trefpafles implicitly, and even thofe wherein they 
 have offended us, tho' they cannot confefs them to us till 
 they be convinced they arc Trefpafles. When Peter ask- 
 ed the Queftion, Matth. xviii. 21. Lord, how often jhall my 
 Brother fin again/1 ?ne, and I forgive him ? Till f even Times ? 
 He thought that very much, as we think once too much. 
 But Jefiis faith, I fay not until [even Times, but until fe- 
 venty Times feven. This is not to be reftri&cd unto perfonal 
 Injuries, but even to fpiritual Offences and Scandals, until 
 they be brought to the Churches Cognizance; for upon Oc- 
 cafion of our Lord's difcourfmg on the Procedure on Scandal, 
 Peter brings in this Queflion ; whence, by the way we may 
 learn, that when our Brother offends us once or twice, or feven , 
 Times, we are not the £rft Inflant to withdraw from Church 
 Communion with him, until we firft tell him his Fault fecretly, 
 and then take one or two more, after we can proceed no fur- 
 ther privatly, then we may tell the Church, but not with- 
 draw, till he be fentenced by them, when there are Church- 
 Judicatories to be applied to. We are commanded, Eph. iv. 
 ylt. to be kind one to .. another, tender hearted, forgiving one 
 another, even as God for Chrift hath forgiven us : Which 
 muft not be reftricled to perfonal Injuries ; for God, for 
 ■Chrift's Sake, forgives us other Offnces than thefe : Nor on- 
 ly to fuch Offences as are confeffed and acknowledged ; for 
 \iod for Chrift's Sake forgives other Offences than thofe too, as I 
 jhewed above. It is commended as a Tart or Proof of the new 
 
 Map 
 
. C 7 V 
 Itfan of Grace, Col. iii. ig. To forbear one another, and for- 
 give one another, if any have a Quarrel again/} any Man : E- 
 ven as Ckrifl forgave us, fo alfo mould we do. Where alfo 
 there is another Way of Recoaciliation commended, which 
 is Forbearing : This is eafier than Forgiving, a patting by 
 fome Matters in Controverfy, as doubtful D':fputaiion y 
 fpoken of, Rom.xW. i. and coiifequently doubtful Prac- 
 tices are to be forborn, Rim. xv. i. We then that are 
 Jlrong, ought to bear with the Infirmities of the IVeak y anal 
 not r -Telves, but to pleafe our Neighbour for his Good 
 
 to Edification* for even Cbrifl pleafed not himfelf Whence 
 the Apoftle prays, Vcrfe 6, That they may with cne Mind 
 'ify God. How r Norther Way but by 
 coming to the fame Sentiments in thefe doubtful Deputati- 
 ons and Infirmities \ No other Way but by the Weak con* 
 felling their Infirmities, and the Strong their Offences ? No ; 
 but faith he, Verie 7. Receive you one another, as Ckrifl al/0 
 received us to the Glory of God. How did 6 Drift receive us ? 
 
 vcr until we were perfectly informed and reformed ? Did 
 
 he never receive us till we confefled all our particular 
 
 ! fuch as we did ignorantly ? No ; then we had 
 
 Mr been received, except he had pleafed to take us witk 
 
 ny Faults and much Ignorance. In many Cafes then, 
 Way to endeavour the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of 
 . iv. 2, 3. is with Lvwlinefs and Meebiejs, 
 end Long'fujfering, to forbear one another in Love. 3. The 
 Study of feeking, purfuing, entertaining Peace and Peace- 
 ablenefs is much preflcd and praifed, Rom. xii. 18. If it be 
 pofj'/ :h as lietk in you, live peaceably with all Men. 
 
 ailing fa far as it is lawful without Sin, and Co far as it 
 is Duty lying on us, without Refpscl: to the Length of their 
 Condefcendings to us, and fo far as it confifts with Holinefsj 
 
 '.xii. 14. Follow Peace with ail Men, and Holinefs. 
 Zech. viii. 19. Love the Truth and Peace. It is commanded 
 
 -dally in the Cafe of abounding Offences, when ChriiYs" 
 
 :lc Ones arc offended with many Things, Mark ix. tdt. 
 Have Salt in and have Peace one with another* 
 
 The want of Peiceablenefs, as well as the want of Truth, 
 will make our Salt to lofe its Savour. And in the Cafe of 
 abounding D 1 Differences about Ounces, il 
 
 xivr 
 
C 8 ) 
 
 Xiv. 19. Let us (faith the Apofrle) follow afttr tfj* 
 Things which make for Peace, and Things whereby we 
 may edify one another. 1 Cor. vii. 15. G$d bath called 
 as to Peace. It is recommended in the Gale of many Dis- 
 orders in the Church, 1 Cor. xiv. 33. For God is not the 
 Author of Corfu fion, but of Peace, as in all Churches ef the 
 Saints. This is the Bond of Unity, fuitable to the Vocati- 
 on wherewith we are called, Efh. iv. 3. Endeavouring to keep 
 the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace. It is recom- 
 mended to People with rclpecl to Minifters. 1 Theff. v. 13. 
 Be at Peace among your f elves. And to Ministers with ret 
 peel: to People, 2 Tim. ii. 22. Follow Right eoufnefs, Faith , 
 Charity^ Peace, &c. And it is urged with Arguments, Jam. 
 iii. 17, 18. The IViflom that is from above is fir ft pure, then 
 ■peaceable, gentle and eafy to be entreated. — And the Fruit 
 tf Right eoufnefs is fowenhi Peace of them that make Peace. 
 And by many Promifes, having the Promife of Life added 
 to it, and feeing many good Days, Pfal. xxxiv. 12, 14. 
 What Man is he that defer eth Life, and loveth many Days, that 
 he may fee Good? Depart from evil and do good, jeek Peace 
 gnd purfue it. It muft be purfued and followed even when 
 It teems to flee away, and difficult to be obtained. The 
 Promife of Profperity to them that pray for it, Pfal. exxii. 
 6. Pray for the Peace $f Jerujalem, they Jhall proffer that 
 love thee. Prov. xii. 20. To the Counfellors of Peace is Joy. 
 Matth. v. 9. Blejfed are the Peace makers, for they Jhall be 
 called the Children of God. 2 Cor. xiii. 1 1. Be of one Mind, 
 live in Peace, and the God of Love and Peace fall be with 
 you. 
 
 But, 2. Union, Unity and Onenefs in Intereft, Affeclion, 
 Judgment and Practice, Profeflion and Worihip, is more ex- 
 preily commanded and commended in Scripture. 1. Ex- 
 prefly it is commanded as a walking worthy oi our Chri- 
 stian Vocation, to endeavour to keep the Unity of the Spirit 
 in the Bond of Peace, Ephef. iv. 3 by forbearing, VCrie 2. 
 Even where there is not all the Condcfcenfion deiired from 
 the oppofite Party ; for then there would be no need of 
 f$rhearing, Phil. ii. 1,2. If there be therefore any Confola- 
 ii$n in Chrift, if any Ctmfort of Love, if any Fellrwjbip of the 
 Spirit t if any Bowels and Merits, fulfil ye my Joy that ye be 
 
 like 
 
< ? > 
 
 like-minded, "having the fame Love, behtg of one .4ccord, of 
 
 tne Mind. And ye lee, fine preached Chrrfl of Contention, 
 st that Time and in tint Churck, Chap, i, 16. i Pet. m\ 
 8. Be all of en e Mind, having Companion one of another, love 
 as Brethren, be pitiful, be toiirteous. i Cor. i. 10. I kefeech 
 yon, Brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jefus Chrifl, that 
 yc all fpeak the fame Thing, and that there be no Divifons 
 among you, hit that ye be perfeftly johied together in the fame 
 Mind and in the fame Judgment : For it had been declared 
 to him, that there "were Contentions among them, Verfs 
 ri. This is recommended even in the Cafe of many Dif- 
 ferences in Judgment. Phil. iii. \6. Never thel'ifs whereto 
 iv e have already attained, let. as walk by the fame Rule, let ui 
 mind the fame Thing. 2. It is inferred from the near and 
 indiflblvable Conjunction that is among the Lord's People % 
 having fir ft one near and dear Relation of Brethren, both by 
 Creation and by Profeffion, under one Mailer Chrift, Matth* 
 xxiii. 8. And by fpiritual Affinity having one Father, Mai: 
 ii. 10. One Mother, Gal.1v.26. And one elder Brother, 
 John xx. 17. Heb. ii. 1 1. wheace is inferred, Gen. xiii. 8, 
 There mould be no Strife among Brethren, Pfal. cxxxiiL' 
 1 . Behold how good and how pleafant it is for Brethren to 
 dioell together in Unity. Kext, having one fo near an In- 
 corporation together as being one Body, 1 Cor. x. 17. Fcr 
 we being many, are one Bread and one Body, for we are all Par- 
 takers of that one Bread. As in the Sacrament of the Lord's 
 Supper, not only Union and Communion with God in Chrift, 
 but Union and Communion with the Members of his Body, 
 is reprefented, carried on, and fealed up", unto his fecund 
 Coming. As Communion in falfe Worfhip, makes the* 
 I Communicants one in Sin (as is clear from that Place). Co 
 Communion in true Worfhip, where the Altar is fanctified 
 according unto the Lord's Inftitution, makes the Commu- 
 nicants one in Duty, even where there are many Offences, 
 many Corruptions and Diforders in the FeJiew-werlhipptrs, 
 as was in that Church at Corinth. And finally, having one 
 common Happinefs in regard of the Object, Rule, Graces, 
 and Privileges of Worfhip, it is ftrongly inferred by the 
 , they mould endeavour to keep the Unity of the Spi- 
 ' Peace : Becaufe, Efh. iv. 4. There is 
 
 B 9tl4 
 

 one Body; and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one Hope of your 
 Calling, on Lord, one Faith, one Baptifm, one God and Father of 
 all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. In that 
 Chapter alfoitis inferred from the End of all Gofpel-Miniitry 
 and Ordinances, which is to make all the Members of Chrift 
 one Body and one Man in him, Verfe 12, 13. T/:ey are 
 all given for the edifying of the Body of Chrift % till we all 
 come in the Unity of the Faith and of the Knowledge of the 
 Son of God % unto aperfeB Man, &c. It may be interred alio 
 from this, that as the Church triumphant is but one ia 
 Heaven, fo the Church militant is but one in Earth ; 
 therefore all the true Members thereof mould ftudy Unity ; 
 this Truth of the Onenefs of the Catholick vifible Church, 
 being the Ground of all the Union and Communion in the 
 Ordinances thereof Cant. vi. 9. My Dove, my Undefiled is 
 but One, fhe is the only One of her Mother. If the Church 
 be One, Divifions and divided Commivnions in her mufl 
 either infer that this one Church is many, made up of he- 
 terogeneous Parts, or that the Church divided from is not 
 a Part of that one Church, and hath broken off from that 
 which compacts the Body together. 3. It is promifed as a 
 choice BleUing of the well ordered Covenant. Jer. xxxii. 
 39. I will give them one Heart and one Way, that they ?nay 
 fear me for ever. It is joined in the Promife with the new 
 Heart, Ezek. xi. 19. 1 will give them one Heart : And 1 will 
 fut a new Spirit within you, &c. £zek. xxxvii. 17. It is 
 promifed concerning divided Ephraim and Judah : Join them 
 one to another in one Stick, and they Jhal! become one in thine, Hand. 
 4. As it is promifed, fo it is prayed for by the Apoftle, 
 Rom. xv. 5, 6. Now the God of Patience and Conflation, 
 grant you to be like-minded one towards another, according to 
 Chrift Jefus : That ye may with one Mind and one Mouth glorify 
 God. And upon this he fubjoins the Exhortation, Wherefore re- 
 ceive ye one another, as Chrift alfo received us : Yea it is pray- 
 ed for by our Lord Jefus in his interceflbry Prayer, which is a 
 Specimen of his continued IntcrceiTion to this Day, Jolmnsii. 
 I 1,21,23. H°h Father, keep through thine own Namethofe whcvi 
 thou haft given me, that they may beone, as we are.Thitthey all may 
 its one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee ; thai ibsy alfo niqy 
 fa one in us, that the World may believ? that thou faftje 
 
( 11 >.. : 
 
 J in them, tnd thou in mt> that they may be made p erf eft i ; 
 pie, Sec. » Which (hews, that Union with the Lord is 
 his great Defire, as it was his Defign in coming into the 
 World, and fhedding his Blood, to reconcile Jews and Gen- 
 tiles not only to God, but to unite them in one Body among 
 themfelves, Eph. ii. 14, i<5. He made both one, and broke 
 down the middle Wall of Partition between us, to make him- 
 felf of twain one new Man, fo making Peace, and that he 
 might reconcile both unto God, in one Body by the Crop, &c. 
 Jf all thefe Scriptures were confidered, prefTing Union as 
 much as any Duty, the Endeavours of eftablifhing it would 
 be very eafy and pleafant, and Debates would foon be 
 compofed. 
 
 Con/Id. 2 . It is a general Truth alfo, the Gonfideration 
 whereof would contribute much to put a Clofe to thefe Con- 
 tentions ; on the other Hand, That Diviflon, Contention, 
 andSchifm in the Church are great Evils, concerning which. 
 the Scriptures clearly holds forth, (1.) That they are ex- 
 ceedingly finful, Prov. xvh. 19. He lovetb Tranfgrefion 
 that loveth Strife. Debate is placed among the Fruits and 
 Effects of the judicial Plague of 'a reprobate Mind, given up 
 to do Things that are* not convenient, Rom. 1. 28, 29* 
 Strife, it is placed among the Works of Darknefs, Rom. xiii. 
 12, 13. Variance and Strife are found among the Works of 
 the Flejh, Gal. v. 19, 20. It is named by the Apoftle vain 
 Jangling,- as the Confequent of ftverving from Faith ajid a 
 good Confcience, 1 Tim. i. 6. Wherefore the Apoftle is fo 
 earned: in befeeching by the Name of our Lord Jefus, that 
 there be no Divifions or Schifms, 1 Cor. 1. 10. That 
 there be no Schifms in the Body, 1 Cor. xii. 25. And to be- 
 ware of Dividers, efpecialiy under the Name of Dogs, Evil- 
 kerSy the Coneijhn, Phil. iii. 2. by whom he under- 
 :ds the Jews, that made filch a Stickle andSchifm about 
 the Circumcifion and Ceremonies of Mofes. Dividers and 
 Sowers of Difordare reprefented amangft the mod hateful 
 of Sinners. They are among the Six Things that the L 
 hater, and the feven that are Abomination unto him, Prov. vi 
 
 16, 19. Concerning whom the Apoftle warns, Rom, xVi. 
 
 1 7 . Ibefeech you, Brethren, mark them which caufe Dk: 
 
 ■ i Offences, contrary to the Doilrine iv \>e learned, 
 
 is 2 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 end avoid them, (2) That they are foolifh, Prov. xvui. 0. 
 A F sols lips enter into Contention, and his Mouth calleth for 
 Strokes. On the contrary, Prov. xx. 3. It is a Honour far 
 a Man to ceafe from Strife, but every Fool will be meddling. 
 This is not to be reftricted unto fecular or worldly Strifes, 
 but holds true alfo of Church Divisions. (3) That it is 
 an Effect and Evidence, and alfo the Caufe of the Anger of 
 the Lord. It is an Effect, La?n. \v. 16. The Anger of 
 the Lord 'hath divided them, he will no more regard them, 
 Jt is alfo a provoking Caufe of Wrath, becaufc a great Sin, 
 as is (hewed above, Rom. ii. 8. The Lsrd will render to 
 every one according to his Works, unto them that are con- 
 tentious, Indignation and Wrath. , We fhould endeavour to 
 be affected and afflicted with the Imprcffcon of this as a 
 yiaguc, as much as if we were labouring i:ndcr the Sword, 
 Famine or Peitilen.ee. And if we were coniidering how mud* 
 pf the Anger of the Lord appears in it, tkat we have not 
 only Men in Oppofition to us, but an angry God dividing 
 us, then all of us, even the mod: innocent, as to the im- 
 mediate Rile ©f it, would find ourfelves obliged to humble 
 ourfelyes 1 under his Hand, and feek to remove the Strokes 
 as much as other Plagues. (4) That it is an Evil which 
 produceth the faddelt Effects, as in its own Nature it is 
 apt to produce no good Effects, however Men improve it, 
 being not a Mean of Edification of the Lord's Appointment, 
 and therefore cannot be ufed in Faith and Expectation of 
 the L6rd's Eleffing, which the Lord commands and con- 
 fers as the Dew 0/" Herman, and as the Dew that defended 
 lipm the Mountains of Zion, upon them, that are in Unity, 
 Pfah exxxiii. idt. Upon the account of the fad Effects o't 
 Divifion, it is defenbeci to be very hateful and hurtful by 
 the Apoftle, James iij. 15, 16. This Wifdom defcend&tk 
 not from above, but is earthly, fevfual, devilifh : For where 
 Envying and Strife is, there is Confvfion and every evil Work. 
 For, in Experience it is always found, and in our Day fadly 
 felt, to have produced many Di (orders, lpoiling the Church 
 of its Purity and Peace, Government, Order and Beauty 
 of Ordinances, marring the Gofpel's Succefs, bringing the 
 ?*/Iiniifry into Contempt, jumbling, torturing, and racking the 
 Mir.dsandConfciences oi thole that arc engaged in the Con- 
 
 teft, 
 
( I? ) 
 
 tell, obftru&ing the Power, diverting the Practice and fpi- 
 ritual Exer.cife, and wearing out the Life of Religion, mak- 
 ing Chriftians carnal, I Cor. iii. 3. Whereas there is among 
 you Strife and Divifions : Are ye not carnal and walk as Men ¥ 
 Hence, Jude 19. Thefe that promote a Schifm are laid 
 to be fenfualy not having the Spirit. It is very grieving 
 j me Spirit of God, Eph. iv. 30. being a Spirit of Love 
 and Peace ; And therefore no wonder he withdraw his gra- 
 cious Prefence and Countenance from Ordinances, when a 
 People are {till promoting Divifion : And that they fhould 
 complain, Wherefore faft we, and thou fee jl not ? Wherefore 
 have we afflicJed our Soul \ and thou take ft no Knowledge ? The 
 Reafon is plain, Ifa. lviii. 4. Behold ye fafi for Strife and 
 Debate. It is inconfiftent with the Thriving, yea or Stand- 
 ing of the Church or Kingdom, where it continues long, 
 Mark iii. 24. Ifa Kingdom he divided again ft itfelf that 
 Kingdom cannot ftand. Yea, 'tis obftru drive to any Gene- 
 ration-Work, for the good or (landing of a Church ox King- 
 dom. The Divifion of Reuben, (for which there were great 
 Thoughts and Searchings of Heart) did hinder their coming 
 out with Barak to the help of the Lord, to the help of the 
 Lord againft the Mighty, Judg. v. It produces many Of- 
 feaces, which, with other Woes threatned, are connected 
 with Contentions, Matth. xxviii. 6, 7, 10. and are re- 
 ciprocally productive of oae another ; Divifions producing 
 Offences and Defections on the Left Hand, and Extravagancies 
 on the Right Hand j and thefe again producing Divifions : 
 f And through Heart- Alienation and Jealoufy which it breeds, 
 and Mens Fervour, in following different Humours and In- 
 terefts, both Sides become worfe ; the one more lax and 
 lukewarm, the other more hot and heady in Zeal, not ac- 
 cording to Knowledge. To all which, they have many 
 ftrong Tentations in Divifion, which the longer it continues 
 the farther it is from (tinting or filling, anil the worfe to be 
 compofed and clofed. Therefore faith Wifdom, Pro v. xvii, 
 14. The Beginning $f Strife is as ivhen oneletteth out Water; 
 therefore leave off Contention before it be meddled ivith . And Prov . 
 xv iii. 19. A Brother offended is harder ii be won than a ftrong 
 City, and their Contentions are like the Ban of a Caftle. Here- 
 1 Ho the Ungodly are offendedand feandalizcJ, beingeneou- 
 
 raged 
 
C 14 ) 
 
 raged to applaud themfelves in their own Way, and to re- 
 proach the Way of God. Finally, at length, when it is of 
 any Permanency, it is productive of Errors : Thefe are 
 knit together, 1 C$r. xi. 18, 19. J bear that there be Divifi- 
 ens among you, there ?nufl be alf Herefies amtng you. It is 
 rare to find, wherever Divifion continued long, but it hath 
 brought forth Error, divided Practices always leading Men 
 to lay down and maintain fucb Principles as may defend 
 them. And thus the World comes to be plagued with A- 
 theifm, being tempted to think Religion but a Fancy. There- 
 fore the Lord Jefus prayeth for Unity among his Difciples, 
 John xvii. 21, 23. That the World might believe that Chrift 
 was fent. If thefe Evils of Divifion were believed and con- 
 fidered, it would not be difficult to perfwade to Union. 
 
 Confid. 3 . It would be exceeding helpful to make Endea- 
 vours of Union eafy, and is in itfelf a very necellary Duty, 
 to fearch and enquire into the Cavfes of Divifion, and re- 
 move them in the firft Place, then the Effects will ceafe. 
 (1) The holy Caufe is, firft, the Lord's Sovereignty over- 
 ruling it, for the Trial of his People, 1 Cor. xi. .19. There 
 is the fame Caufe for Divifion, as for Herefy> that they 
 which are approved may be made maniftft. Secondly, His 
 holy Anger, puniming Defection and the Mifimprovcment 
 of Peace and Union, for which the Anger of the Lord hath 
 divided us, Lam. iv. 16. This would be firft fought to be 
 removed, by fearching and trying our Ways, and turning 
 again to the Lord ; examining our felves about our State, 
 whether we have Union and have kept Communion with 
 the Lord or not; And -about our Ways, whether we have 
 had any Acceflion, either formally to the bringing in of this 
 Evil, or virtually to the procuring it, by provoking the 
 Lord to Anger. 'Tis a Fault in too may, that they charge 
 others as only blameablc in fuch Cafes, as if they were al- 
 together innocent ; it were far better, that every one were 
 faying, is it I \ Is it I ? that have been accelTory to this 
 Evil. Few will be found free, but one Way or other have 
 had a Hand in this Provocation. This would be removed 
 by Repentance, Mourning and wreftling with the Lord for 
 Pardon, and for healing our Breaches. We mould have 
 foiemn Diys of Prayer and Humiliation, for addreflmg tbe 
 
 God 
 
i if ) 
 
 God of Peace, that he may fettle Peace and Truth in our 
 Days, P/al cxxii. 6. Pray for the Peace cfjerufalem. If 
 tli is Duty were confcientioufly gone about and followed, it 
 would be eafy to unite : Union with God would foon bring 
 forth Unity among his People. (2.) The finful Caufe is 
 Defection from the right Ways of the Lord, to the Right- 
 hand or to the Left, which is always the Mother of Divifion: 
 
 * As Progrefs in Defection is alfo the Effect of a growing Di- 
 viii®n. When there is a Variance between the Lord, and 
 hisSpoufe, playing the Harlot with many Lovers, there mull 
 needs then be a Divifion among the Children of the Family ; 
 fomt taking the Mother's Part, abetting her in her Defection ; 
 and other fome taking the Father's Part, pleading with their 
 Mother to put away her Whoredoms, and her Adulteries fron* 
 between her Brcafts. This on the one Side is Duty, if 
 cue Methods and Meafures be obferved ; but the mod dif- 
 ficult of all Duties to be managed, by ReafonofMens Cor- 
 ruptions, and the obvious Eafmefs of degenerating unto Ex- 
 tremes. This hath been the wretched Spring of all our wo- 
 
 & ful Divifions in our Land and Day. This Church was once 
 as famous for Union, as now me is. infamous for Divifion ; 
 and now in our unhappy Days, fince the Lord was pro- 
 voked to give up Houfe with his Spoufe, there hath been 
 nothimg but Divifion and Confufion among the Children. 
 The Enemies came in by Force and Fraud, and by the Yiei- 
 dings of thefe that fhould have flood in the Gap, whereby 
 they were enabled and encouraged with their own Leafure 
 and Pleafure, without Controul, to break down the carved 
 Work of our Reformation, with the Ax of an Act Refci£ 
 fory, and to fet up their Enfigns of accurfod, abjured Pre- 
 lacy, and blafpkemous Supremacy, for Signs of Victory ob- 
 tained over the Followers of the Lamb. And after they 1 
 had drunk their Fill of the Blood of fuch as did refift, they 
 began at length to offer fome Terms whereupon they would 
 fuffer drift's Servants to live in Subjection to the Uforpfefs, 
 painted with a Pretence of Favour under the Notion of an 
 Indulgence, but fuch as, flowing from, {landing upon, ana 
 in all Refpects modified by* the Supremacy, did really re- 
 quire a Recognizance of-that Ufurpation, and a leaving off 
 t% oppofc the peaieablc Pofleflbn of that Robbery of Chrift> 
 
 , Freroga- 
 
( M ) 
 
 ?rerogativ<es and the Church's Liberties; which was eir- 
 Bracetf and complied with by fome Minifters, and connived 
 at by many more, who formerly had fallen from their 
 Stedfaftnefs and Faithfulnefs, in countenancing of, in ftead 
 of contending againft the Intrufion of Prelates and their 
 Curates : At laft, when by wicked Oaths and Bonds, im- 
 pofed to debauch Conferences (fome of which fome Mini- 
 fters took themfelves, or perfwaded others to take them), 
 a PaiTage was prepared for the Introduction of Popery , and 
 a Gap was opened for it by the late Popijh Toleration, fome 
 Minifters addreiled for it, others embraced it to the Preju- 
 dice of Reformation, and without a Witnefs for it. Thefe 
 and the like Defections, on the one Hand, and many Ex- 
 travagancies on the other, have been the Caufes producing 
 all the fad Efreels of Divifions among us. Now, the bc'i: 
 and eafieft Way, moll acceptable to God and Man, of re- 
 moving thefe, were by a mutual Confeffion and Acknow- 
 ledgment : And thefe that refufe to do fo, as far as they 
 Can be convinced from fearching the Scriptures and their 
 own Confcienccs, (hew themfelves no Friends to the Chur- 
 ch's Peace. If Minifters guilty on the one Side, would con- 
 frfs their Defections in fuch a Meafure, and in the like Man- 
 ner, as we that diflented from them did confefs our Extrava- 
 gancies at the renewing of the Covenants at Lefmabagcw* 
 which Is printed to the World, I fuppofe, all Parties would 
 be fatisiied. O that the Lord would pour out his Spirit, 
 and enforce a Conviction of thefe Defections, and extract a 
 ConfeiTion of them ! then there would be Hope in Ifrad 
 concerning this. Sure none will deny, but this is a necef. 
 fary Duty, to make pubiick ConfeiTion of publick Sins, even 
 When epidemieal, that will but confider the Practice of the 
 Levites in Hezekiatfs Time, 2 Chron. xxx. 22. The Prac- 
 tice of the Levites and of all I/rael, in Ezra'sTime^ Ezra 
 x. 1, 11. and in Nehemians Time, Neb. ix. 2. The di- 
 vine Precepts, Prov. xxviii. 13. Jer. iii. 13. And the 
 divine Promife, Jer, 1. 4, 5*. In thofe Days the Children sf 
 Ifrae) jhall come, they and the Children of Judah, weeping and 
 goir.?, they jlmll go end [cell the Lord their God. They fk all 
 ajk tkt Way to Zion 'with their Faces thitherward, faying, 
 Com* And let, us join cur fttfm to the Lcrrd itt a perpetual 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 ill not he forgotten. Fron which Mr. Dur- 
 ham, in his Sermons, from this Place obferves, That Heart- 
 melting towards God, and Serioufnefs to make up the Breach 
 of a broken Covenant betwixt a People and Him, conduce 
 y to make the Hearts of thofe that have been divid- 
 ed and fet atVai iance from one another, in much Warmnefs 
 of Love to unite and fweetly to join together. It is from 
 this that Ifrael and Jufoh became One Stick in the Lord's 
 Hand, Ezek. xxxvii. This makes them, as melted 
 tal, to run clofe together, as it were, into. one Lump; tho' 
 it was a long continued Schiim, and had much . Bitternefs 
 attending it, yet when their Hearts are touched with a 
 of Sin and of a broken Covenant, their former Differences 
 and Animofities evaniih. Softnefs of Heart in the bygone 
 Senfe of Sin would iilcnce many Things among us, that ail 
 Difputings, Writings and Printings will not be able to. do* 
 Pray for this to the Land, as the mod effectual Mean and 
 Way of curing our Divifions, arid of Uniting us in the Lord. 
 It joins Ijrael and Judah together, whofe Breach was much 
 .greater, and of far longer Continuance than ours. 3. The 
 fomenting Caufes that protract, promove and ftrengthen 
 Divifion are many and manifold. ( 1) JDarknefs of Mind and 
 Ignorance, incident to all Men, who fee but in Part, breeds 
 ferences of Judgment, and Differences breed Divifr 
 
 • and Divifions Separations ; while one Party will not corifefs 
 
 r Offences, becaufe they are not convinced through 
 1 Darknefs of Mind ; and the other Party think, they mull 
 
 • partake of their Sins, if they join with them without Con* 
 ! feiTion, not knowing to diftinguifti Things, Times and C 
 
 that differ. The bell: Remedy of this were to exercife. our 
 
 I felves more in the Practice and Power of Religion. When, 
 
 1 the Apoiile is dehortlng and duTwading Com fooliih Janglingt;, 
 
 I he permits or fubjoins this Remedy, 2 Tim. ii. 22. Follow 
 
 )teQufnefs, Faith, Charity, Peace iviih them that call on 
 
 r a pure Heart. This would draw off Mens 
 
 1 Minds from Queftions and Strifes about extirinficaf Thin 
 
 . iii. 8, 9. This is a faithful Sayings thai they tuhicH 
 
 careful to maintain good tVorksi 
 
 men. hut avoid] 
 
 Wt the Law, fir they are ui* 
 
 ; e frofii 
 
( i8 ) 
 
 ^i.) Faction, or Fa£houfnefs in pleading for 
 Points ; not only impofing on others the fame Length 
 of Light with themfelves too vehemently, but prefling 
 ; t more to abet a Party than to advantage Truth % fome for 
 Paul, fome for Appollos, fome for Cehfas, fome even for 
 Cbrift factioufly, i Cor, i. 12. Under that Pretext rather 
 letting forward a Party and Side than Chart's Honour, 
 Prov. xx vi. zti'-'As Ccals are to burning Coals, and Wood to 
 Fire, Jo is a contentious Man to ( kindle Strife. Efpeciallv 
 \yhen the People are engaged in the Debate, then 'tis more 
 difficult to compofe it, for Fear of diipleafing them. The 
 Remedy for this were to be fingle in our Ends, propofing to 
 ourfelves- the Glory of God, the Good of the Church in ge- 
 neral, the Advancement of Chrift's Kingdom, and the Ad- 
 vantage of Truth, more than any Party among Creatures . 
 (3.) Self, or Selfifhnefs, may have Influence upon this fe* 
 veral Ways, as refpecl to Credit arid Honour, under the Ap- 
 pearance of Refpecl to the Caufe, which tempts Men, efpe- 
 cially Minifters, to be tenacious ; fometimes for Fear of be- 
 ing eenfured for former Faults, which makes them ftand up 
 fo much for extenuating or excufing them ; fometimes for 
 fear of lofmg Credit, by relenting from former Eagernefs. 
 And yet there may be not only Confidence of the Equity of 
 the Caufe they contend for, on both Hands, but an appre- 
 hended Teftimony of their own Singlenefs in following it, 
 and that on both Hands too. Yea both Parties may have 
 Accefs to God, and have Liberty to pray even in reference 
 to- the Things they are fl riving about, as is known by fre- 
 quent Experience. The Remedy for this were Self-denial, 
 Sobriety, and Tendernefs, Rom. xv. 2, 3. in bearing Infir- 
 mities of Weak, and not plealing ourfelves, for Chrilt plea- 
 fed not himfelf (4.) Pride, grudging to be flighted, fcorn- 
 ing to condefcend, envying others Reputation, incident e- 
 ven to an Aaron and Miriam againft Mofes, and to the Dif- 
 ciples, contending who fhould be greatefl, Prov. xiii. 10. 
 Only by Pride cometh Contention, Prov. xxviiL 25. He that 
 is efa proud Hedrt flirreth up Strife. Humility would foon 
 bring Unity. (5-.) Paffion, on both Hands too much prac- 
 ?:ifed, vented in perfonal Reflections and upca fling of J 
 ' -:t make one another odious, and mutual refecting of the; 
 
( IP ) 
 
 f+fuc. Proe. xv. 8. A wrathful Man fiirreth up Strife, 
 
 thai is flow to Anger appeafeth Strife. Prov. :. 
 Surely the Churning of Milk Iringeth firth Butter, aid the 
 Wringing of the Nofe Iringeth forth Blood, fo the Forcing of 
 Wrath iringeth forth Strife. Mecknefs is the Cure for this. 
 (6\) Jealoufy, Sufpecling one another's Integrity, aggregating 
 and putting the word ConilrucYion of another's Infirmities, 
 wrefting and putting the worft Conitruclions on one another's 
 Words and Actions, as we find in JpVs Friends. This Pre- 
 judice is promoved too much by entertaining of T<Ae-hca\ 
 on every Side, and too credulous and fedulous taking up, 
 and fpreading Reports and Reproaches one of another. 
 . Prov. xx vi. 20. Where no Wood is, there the Fire goeth out? 
 fo where there is no Tale-bearer the Strife ceafieth. All this 
 is the Effect of the Want of Love, which grows cold when 
 Iniquity abounds, Maiih. xxiv. 12. The Remedy of this 
 would be Love. Prov. x. 12. Hatred jlirreth up Strife 9 
 but Leve cover eth all Sins. Charity thinktth no evil, be&retb 
 all Things, believeth all Things, hopeth all Things, endureth 
 all Things, 1 Cor. xiii. 5;, 7. There would be no Schifin 
 of the Members of the Body, had they the fame Lcve to, 
 and the fame Care one for another, 1 Cor. xii. 25. (7.) 
 Peremptorinefis without condefcending on either Hand in 
 Things that might be condefcended unto, that hath a great 
 . Hand in keeping up Divifions. The Remedy of this, and 
 a great Help to make Union eafy, were mutual Ccndefcend- 
 ing. It cannot be denied but this is lawful and expedient in 
 many Things, fmce all the Commands of Forbearance for- 
 ! merly hinted do import this. The Apoftle faith exprefly, 
 I Rom. xv. 1. We then that are ftrong ought to bear with thv 
 
 Infirmities of the Weak, and not to pleafie our [elves. Let t\ 
 : one of us pleajc his Neighbour, for his good to Edific. 
 ' viz. by Condefcenfion : And propofeth his own Example 
 I for a Pattern, 1 Cor. ix. io, 20, 21, 22. For tho' I be free 
 I from all Men, yet have 1 made my felfi Servant unto all, that 
 . 1 might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became a Jew, 
 it / might gain the Jews ; to them that are under the J. 
 
 the Law, that I might gain them that are under ths 
 them that are without Law, as without La\ 
 . God, but 1 
 
 C 2 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 fright gam them that arc without Law. To the Weak became 
 J as weak, that I might gain the Weak : lam made all Things 
 to all Men, that I might by all Means fave fome. We muft 
 not indeed condefcend to any Thing that may involve us in 
 Sin any Manner of Way, in approving of, conniving at, or 
 complying with the Sin of others : Nor muft we conde- 
 scend to forbear what is neceflary Duty : But fb far as to 
 infinuate by all Means that we intend to gain, not only the 
 Edification, but the Affection of the diffentient Party ; fo far 
 as to abllain from what may offend them, and from all un- 
 neceffary and peremptory preiling beyond their Light to 
 come our Length : Yea fo far as nothing mould be a Stop 
 to it but .this, I cannot do and fin againft God. This Con> 
 ciefcending mould be mutual, fo that one Party would not 
 require or expect full Submillion or coming over to the o- 
 ther; for ghat's not Union but Dominion: Nor "mould it 
 on any Side be levelled according to the Length that the o- 
 ther goeth ; but albeit Condefcenfion fall upon one Side, 
 yet the other ought to condefcend as far as is poiTible, law- 
 ful or expedient, Rom. xii. 18. In Obedience to God, and 
 with refpe^to the Edification of the Church,, which we 
 mould always feak, tho' others be defective. Yea, that Par- 
 ' ty that fcemeth righteit in the Matter, and hath molt Ad- 
 vantages, ought to be moil: condefcend ing, becaufe they are 
 the Strong that mould bear with the Weaker : And 'tis 
 more juit and fife, that the Strong mould condefcend to the 
 Weak, becaufe that's within their Reach, than that the 
 weaker mould be driven up to the Strong, which weye to o» 
 ver-drive them. Thefe who have condefcended molt, have 
 ever been thought the greateft Friends to the Church, and 
 mo ft tender of her Intereft, which Mr. Durham proves, and 
 prefles at length, on Scandal, Part i. and Part 4. Page 
 40, 264, 298, 299, 6'£. 326, and clfwhere. If ail thefe 
 Things were ierionfly laid to Heart, much more needed not 
 to be faid, to make Union in our prcknt Circumdances at- 
 tainable, and cafily accefliblc. 
 
 But, in thtficond Place, to come to the Purpofe more clofe- 
 Jy, I mall lay down lomc Conceffions and concellbry Di- 
 flinctions, that may ferve both for Cautions for the better un- 
 deriknding c/fwhat is {aid already, m<\ for Con 
 
 pre- 
 
C 2I > . - 
 
 preparatory to what remains to be faid : Vv hereby it will 
 appear, our prefent Plea will not infer fueh a Change of Prin- 
 
 , nor fuch a Contradi&ion to our former Pleadings ia . 
 our Vindications and Teftimonics, as is alledged, tho, if* 
 there were realiy fuch a Change, it ihould not invalidate what 
 is now offered to Confideration, but would only infer our 
 judgment is liable to the Imperfection of Mutability and 
 Fallibility, which is common to all o» this Side of Time. 
 But if I have, or ever had any Underflanding of the Scnfe. 
 of what was formerly declared to the World to be our Judg- 
 ment, (as I know none alive this Day, that can pretend to 
 have had more Opportunities of being informed of it, or to 
 have more Right to explain it, than my felf) I know no 
 irreconcilable Contradiction betwixt what we plead for now 
 and then, considering the Diverfity of the Subject and of 
 the Times. 
 
 i . Notwithftanding of all that is faid for the Commenda- 
 tion of Union from Scripture, it is not every Union in any 
 Terms that is pleaded for. Not an Union in Confederacy, 
 with them that fay a Confederacy in Compliance with wick- 
 ed Ufurpations, Ifa. viii. 12. Not an Union*-^ Confpiracy 
 with Defection, Zek. xxii. 25*. Not Unjon rciat jmay ob- 
 flxucl: us from.any Duty, orobftrucl the maintaining of the 
 Teftimony, or. involve us in Sin, or oblige us to palliate Sin, 
 or to approve condemned Sins, or condemn approved Du- 
 ties : No Union in any Terms, that may make us Partak- 
 crs with the Sins we have contended againh 1 : No Union 
 that may make us quit any Truth, or furceafe from any 
 Duty : But that Union which is rightly qualified and fea- 
 fbned with Salt, Mark. ix. idt . in the Lord and for him: 
 That Union that may make us both feaceable and faithful 
 in Ifrael, 2 Sam. xx. 19. Such a Peace only, as confifts 
 with departing from Evil and doing Good, PfaL XXX iv. 14. 
 Such a Peace only as confifts with Truth, Zecb. viii. 9. 
 Only fo far as is poffible or lawful, Rom. xii. 18. So far 
 only as it confifts with Holinefs, Heb.xW. 14. That which 
 pure and then peaceable, Jam. iii. 17. Which arc 
 all fcripturai Qualifications, and therein required. We arc 
 ..ion in Deformation, but in Reforma- 
 ts of Conformity wirtiPre- 
 
(■ 22 . ) 
 
 lacy, or Compliances with eraftian Supremacy, or ab folate 
 popifh Tyranny : Not an Union with Indulgence pr To- 
 leration, &c. Not with Sin, but with Sinners now returned 
 to their Duty, Only we plead for Union with Presbyterian 
 Ministers, promoting Reformation in Doctrine, Worfhip, 
 Difcipline and Government, and oppofing Popery, Prelacy, 
 Eraftianifm, Sectarianifm, and whatfoever is contrary to 
 found Doctrine and the P©wer of Godlinefs, according to 
 the Word of God, ConfefTion of Faith, and Covenants, <&c* 
 That however any of them may be charged formerly with 
 many Defects, in thefe Qualifications required of thefe that 
 we declared we would only countenance and embrace in 
 Times of Defection and Perfecution, Inform. Vmdlc. Head 
 4. Page 88, 89, 00, pi. Yet now cannot be charged with 
 fuch Defects, nor leparated from upon that Account; viz. 
 thefe Ministers that are clothed with ChrifVs Commiffiori 
 
 in his orderly and appointed Way, free of Scandal as to 
 
 their minifterial and perfonal Walk, and of a blamelefs Life 
 and Converfation, according as Paul defcribes it, 1 Tim. 
 iii. 2, 3, <bc. and tho' they were involved before in Times 
 of Tenlation, yet now do not perfiil in palpable and mani- 
 feft Defection, nor in any of thefe Things that are mentio- 
 ned as Grounds fufficient for withdrawing, but (landing u- 
 pon other Grounds, and having the Exercife of their Mini- 
 stry free of Dependencies on exotick encroaching Powers, do 
 now difcharge what they liave in Ccmmiiiion from Chrifl 
 faithfully, and take up the right State of the Lord's Gauie, 
 againfr, both right and left Hand Oppofites, and do maintain 
 the prefent Teftimony (viz. now ftated againit Popery, Pre- 
 lacy, Supremacy, and Tyranny,) and propagate the reform- 
 ed Principles of the Church of Scotland, according to the 
 Word of God, our ConfefTion of Faith, the Conftitutipns of 
 our Church, and the Oath of cur holy Covenants. And 
 therefore, as it is there declared and offered, Page 9 1 . Where - 
 " ever we can find any Minifter fo qualified, or if any will 
 " come forth, and clear himfelf of the former Exceptions," 
 (which now is done, becauie thefe cannot be now charged 
 Upon many chargeable before) " We fliould call them, hear 
 li them, own, countenance and embrace them, obey and 
 ic fubrnit our felves tc them in the \>ox&" It is tin?, it is 
 
( *3 ) 
 
 • squired, " That they mould clear themfclves, by a 
 ';red Confeffion and forfaking of their Offences, which 
 (i have Humbled the Godly in the Land." And Page 89. 
 " We think it neceiTary, before we can join with them, 
 " that they duely relent, confefs, and forfake the fame." 
 Therefore, 2. I concede, Confeffion is the beft Way of re- 
 moving Offences, and at that Time, in thefe Circumftan- 
 ces, it was very neceiTary before we could join with them ; 
 for then thefe Offences were (landing as Snares and Stum- 
 bling-Blocks, and Sins infeparable from the very Exercife 
 of their Miniftry, and fo could not but involve the Godly 
 that countenanced them fo circumftantiated, in a Participa- 
 tion with them in their Offences : And without confefling 
 and forfaking they could not be removed, nor could there 
 be Accefs to a Proteftation againff. them, while thefe wick- 
 ed Eftablifhments flood : And yet it were very defireable, 
 and neceiTary Duty in their Part, to confider their Defecti- 
 ons and Offences : We are not for an Act of Oblivion, to 
 pafs thefe Things in Silence : We pleaded the Neceflity of 
 Confelfion, and for the fynodical Condemnation of thefe 
 Things, both in our Overtures to the Minifters for Union, and 
 in the Renovation of the Covenants at Lefmahagow : We 
 told at a Meeting at Dongla/s, we had no Mind to ceafe 
 from pleading this, by proteiting^nd teftifying againfl thefe 
 Things ; and accordingly we did plead for it in our Papers 
 given in to the AfTembly. But (1) I deny, that this is the only 
 Way of removing Offences, which fome Times may ceafe 
 "when they are forfaken, tho' not confefled by Offenders before 
 they be convinced of them, whether the Offenders firft for- 
 fake their Offences, or their Offences forfake them, they 
 may be removed fo, as to ceafe to be Snares and Grounds 
 of Separation. (2) As they may be confelled afterward s* 
 and there is more Accefs to engage them into a Confelfion 
 of them in an united Way, than in a divided Way; fol 
 deny, when now they ceafe to be Snares and Stumbling- 
 blocks, and we are not required to juflify them, that ths 
 Steceffity of confefling all paft Offences is impofed in the 
 Scriptures a? a neceiTary Condition of Communion at all 
 , and in all Cafes, before joining. Yea, I deny, that 
 : : ;rementioiied Placo j of Inform, VindU* it is fo to be 
 
understood, That we would never, in no Cafe, join with 
 them before they did confefs their Offences; but only, at 
 that Time in thele Circumftances, we would not lawfully 
 embrace them as our Minifters, and concur with them in 
 the publick Work, as they and we were circumitantiated* 
 As is expreiTcd in following Cautions, Cant. §, i. and £. 
 2. Page 92. And in the Clofe of the third Caution, we 
 reckon it not fo much the giving the Offence, as defending 
 of, and continuing in it, that doth warrant our withdrawing, 
 Page 93 . viz. In thefe Circumftances, when they continu- 
 ed in the Offence, as now they do not. Not only this, but 
 all that is faid in that Book, muft be underftood with this 
 Caution, which is every where added as a Reftriclion of all 
 its Pleadings for Withdrawing to the then Circumftances. 
 Hence we have fo often thele Expreffions again and again 
 repeted, In a broken State of the Church, in a declining, 
 - backfliding and troubled State of the Church. Page 30. 
 "While they perilft in their ofTenfive Courfcs. Page 1 , Per- 
 fifting in their Courfes, Page 62. Difl. 5. In this broken 
 and dedining State of the Church,' Page 73, 76, 78, So, 
 82, 84, 86, 87, 28. Which is added to every Ground of 1 
 Withdrawing. 
 
 3. I concede, there are fome folld and ftfficiejit Grounds 
 neceffiating eonicientious People to withdraw from feme 
 Church Communion at all Times ; and there are ethers 
 which only will juftify withdrawing at fome Times. I ap- 
 prove of thefe Hypothecs in. general, as Grounds of with- 
 drawing at all Times, laid down by Way of P rem if Hon in Ifi* 
 form. Vindic. Head. 4. Page 68, 69, 70. (>.) We can join with 
 none but fuch as we muft acknowledge Miniflers of Chrift fet 
 over us by the holy Ghoft, and faithful Stewards of the Myfteri- 
 es of God, then and there, when and where we join with them, 
 1 Cor. iv. 1, 2. And fo we eannot acknowledge thefe as 
 Chrift's Ambaftadors, by hearing or receiving Ordinances 
 from them who either never had a Call to preach, or never 
 were clothed with Chrift's CommiiTion in his orderly 
 appointed Way, Rom. x. ic. Jer. xxiii. 21, 22. j \ 
 13. as is faid, Ground 1. Page 71. But this cannot h 
 from owning and uniting with Presbyterian Mini-fter 
 have a Commiffion from Gtjriit stiid an orderly Call, by 
 
( i* ) 
 
 Ordination from the Presbytery , and the Election of the Peo- 
 ple, which new they hold in Dependence upon and Subor- 
 dination unto Chrift as King, only in the Time when, and 
 ]m the Place where they exercife their Miniflry. (2.) We 
 can join with none but fuch as we mud own Church-Com- 
 munion with, in all the Ordinances, both as to Matter and 
 Manner, and Right of Adminiftrationthen and there— -And 
 can approve in the circumftantiate Way of his difpenfing Or- 
 dinances, as it mult be regulated by the Word. So that if 
 cither of thefe be wrong, we become Partakers of the Iniqu^ 
 ty ; they that eat of the Sacrifice being Partakers of the Al- 
 tar, 2 Car. x. 17,- — 2 1. This is confonant to the four ge- 
 neral Grounds of Separation commonly allowed by all. He- 
 refy in Doctrine, Idolatry, or Breach of the fecond Com- 
 mand in the Matter and Manner of Wpifitip ; Intrusion, or 
 Tyranny of Government (encroaching upan the Right of 
 Adminiitration, and the Exercife of it then and there ) ; 
 and Schifm, or a diriiled Government ; in which Cafe there 
 can be no Communion in Ordinances either of Word, Sacra- 
 ments or Government, as Mr Durlmm (hows on Scandal, Part, 
 4. Chap. 13. Page 341. But neither can this obftruct nor 
 impede our Communion with the Miaifters with whom we 
 are pleading for Uaion : For, as none can doubt their Right 
 to adminiftrate all Ordinances, fo there is none of thefe Ordi- 
 nances perverted by them, either in Matter or Manner, fines 
 they are not erronious in Doctrine, nor do break the fecond 
 Commandment in Worfhip, nor Intruders or tyrannical, nor 
 fchifinatical in Difcipline or Government. (3.) We can 
 join witl* none with whom we mud in our countenancing 
 of them partake of their evil Deeds, Epb. v. 7, 11. And 
 make our felves in the righteous Judgment cf God obnoxi- 
 ous te their Punifhmcnts, Rev. xxviii. 4. Which is the* 
 fourth and fifth Argument againit joining with the Tolera- 
 tion. Teft, Page 3 1 . It is granted by all, there mud be 
 then Separation, when there can be no Communion without 
 Sin. And it is a certain Principle, whenfbever it is a Mi- 
 nilter's Sin to preach, and he cannot preach without Sin, 
 preach as he will ; when his very Preaching in fuch and 
 fuch Circurnftances h his Sin, then it is People's Sin to 
 fecaf in fuch Circumihaces. But this is not the Cafe cf 
 D Fres. 
 
C 2« ) 
 
 Presbyterian Minifters now, who in the prefent Circumftan* 
 ccs may very well preach without Sin, and confequently may 
 be very well heard without partaking of their Sin : For, 
 our joining with them in prefent Duty (as their Preaching 
 now is) cannot be a partaking of their former Sin ; for that 
 Sin of theirs does not now affect the Exercife of their Miniftry, 
 but is only perfbnal, which is not a Ground of withdrawing. 
 (4.) We can join with none whofe Sin we may be interpre- 
 ted to homologate, either in their Entry to, or Difcharge 
 of their Office, or which may be fo looked upon as a Ted 
 of our Submiifion to them, or Badge of our Compliance 
 with them, or Sign of Approbation of them in their Sin, di- 
 rectly or indirectly : For we mult advert to what it may 
 be interpreted either in Law, or in our own and others Con- 
 fciences, 1 Cor. x. c8, 20. This were a Scandal carrying Of- 
 fence along with it, itrengthning and confirming to the Par- 
 ty joined with, and {tumbling to others ; which is the 6th 
 Argument againit joining under the Toleration . Teftim. Page 
 32. But now the Cafe is altered with Presbyterian Mini- 
 sters : The Scandal lies not in joining with them now ; 
 for that cannot be interpreted, either in Law, or in any Con- 
 fidence, an homologating of the Indulgence or Toleration, 
 being now in the Exercife of their Miniftry under -none of 
 thefe : Nor is our hearing of them, a fubmitting to, or 
 complying with, or approving of any Sin of theirs directly 
 or indirectly ; but the Offence lies in withdrawing now ; 
 for hereby they may be ftrengthned and confirmed in 
 their Sin, being tempted to think the former Contending 
 and Teftimonies againit it of no Value, fince now they fee 
 them degenerate to Schifm and unwarrantable Separation. 
 (5-.) ' We can join with none from whom a Church duly 
 s conftituted, invefted with the orderly Power of Ghrift, and 
 
 * Capacity to exerce and improve it, would enjoin us to 
 
 * withdraw by their Cenfures •," Which is allowed in feme 
 Cafe alfo by the Author of Reftius Injlruendum, Dial. 5. 
 Page 85-. But fure this will not oblige us to withdraw from 
 
 •all that offended us in a Time of Tentation. No Church 
 in the Woild, tho never fo duly conftituted would ceri- 
 
 ' fure difciplinariiy all guilty of epidemick Backllidings. Or 
 if it ihould draw forth its difciplinary Cenfurc againft all, 
 ■ 
 
( 27 ) - 
 
 yet certainly (he would not extend it equally ♦, but 
 would be cenfure J by Depofition (as may be the Addrcf- 
 fers for the late Toleration, Perfwaders to Conformity with 
 Prelacy, Subfcribers of horrid Oaths, Engagers not to 
 preach during the Council's Pleafure ; I think thefe may be 
 withdrawen from, if they juftify thefe Courfes ;) others 
 weuld receive a lelTer Cenfure : But Withdrawing is equi- 
 valent to the higheft Cenfure, and therefore not to be ufed 
 with refpect to thefe Offences, efpecially when paft, which 
 would only receive a Icfler Degree of Cenfure. Are the?e 
 Degrees of minifterial authoritative Cenfure, and no De- 
 crees of our private fignifying our Difiike ? 
 
 4.I do willingly grant, there may be, at certain Times, in 
 fome Circumitances, fome Grounds that may juftify With- 
 drawing from Church-Communion, which will not infer 
 that iseceility at all Times, when thefe C^umftanccs alter, 
 I own that which is faid in the Inform. Vindic. " In the 
 " Declarations of the then State of the Teftimony, Vagc 
 <£ 36. We hold that Schifm is a very hainous, hateful, and 
 li hurtful Sin i yet this doth not hinder, but that it may ( be 
 m Duty in a broken State of the Church [Mark this 
 " that is the fpecial Circumflance of the Cafe) to withdraw 
 " from Minifters chargeable with Defection ; feeing this 
 " Church had attained to fuch a Degree of Reform at i en 
 " (which made Defection the more heinous,) and feeing, by fo- 
 " lemn Covenants, we bound ourfeives to maintain and 
 u defend the fame, feeing by Reafon of the Enemies Subtil- 
 " ty and Cruelty (which both tempted Minifters to comply, 
 * and lunar ed People to have Accefs to Judicatories for re- 
 " moving fuch Offences^) and the Fainting, Falling, and Fail 
 " ing of Minifters, fo many dreadful Defections have been 
 " introduced, embraced and countenanced ; feeing in thefe 
 " Times of diftempering Confufions, we were depiv. 
 " the Remedy of fettled Judicatories 
 " recur for the rectifying of Diforders fin which Cafe u 
 " held there flora. ' ithdrawing without previous Ap* 
 
 " plication to thefe Judicatories ;) Therefore we held it as 
 " our Duty, that when a Backfliding or Dl 1 
 M ed, avowed, and obitinately defended, 
 u whereby the v-:ry Exercije of the M n D?~ 
 
 D 2 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 « l pendente upon, Subordination unto, end Compliance with ft 
 a wicked Power encroaching upon ChriJPs Prerogative ( , where- 
 (i by it is modelled, modified and authorized) in a declining, 
 H backfliding, and troubled State of the Church, to leave 
 " that Part of the Church which hath made fuch DefeeVt- 
 " on, whether Minifters or Profeffors, as to a joint Concur- 
 Ct rence, in carrying on the publick Work, and to adhere 
 u unto the Part of the Church, Minifters and ProfclTors, 
 ** whether moe or fewer, who are (landing ftedfaftly to the 
 tl Defence of the Reformation, witnefling againft others 
 *' who have turned afide, and declined therefrom, until the 
 1 Defections of the backfliding Party be confeffed, mourn- 
 
 " ed over and forfaken. -Viz. in thefe Gircumltances 
 
 " in that broken State of the Church, and in that declining, 
 u backfliding and troubled State of the Church, as it is 
 u there reftri&ed : This is no Separation from the Church 
 " of Scotland, either in their Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline- 
 " or Government, but only departing or going forth from 
 w her Sins, Rackilidings and Defections, as we are com- 
 " manded by the Lord." And for a Time only, front 
 fome Congregations, becaufe of thefe. This is not a poll- 
 tive or Active Separation from the Church, catting at it 
 as no Church, or defaming the Miniftry thereof, or gather- 
 ing new diflinfl Churches ; only a negative and pajfive Se- 
 paration, rcfufingto follow the declining Part of the Church, 
 holding on in their pew Courfe, and choofing rather to (land 
 ftil!, and cleave to that Part, tho' fmaller, endeavouring 
 to retain and maintain the covenanted Work of Reforma- 
 tion, againit Popery, Prelacy, Eraftianifm and Seclarianifm, 
 Schifm and Defection, as is afferted 'Head 4. Dift. 8. 
 Page 62. Nor was it a fixed and flat ed Separation, or Re- 
 felution never to join with them in any Circumftances, but 
 only conditional, while they continued in thefe Circumftan- 
 ccs, without conferring or forfaking their Sin. As it is 
 cautioned Head 4. Cant. '3. Page 92. Hence, tho', I 
 think the Circamiiances are much altered, which mould in- 
 duce us to change our Way ; yet I have not much changed 
 my Mind about the Grounds laid dovva for withdrawing from 
 Minifters in the former Circumftances, Head 4. from Page 
 7:, to 83. The (1) I have granted already among the 
 
 Grounds 
 
( =9 ) 
 
 Grounds agreeing with all Times ; I tllow alfo of the foJ- 
 lowing. (*•)' We judge, thefearenot to be owned orcoun* 
 
 * tenanced in their Adminiftration of Ordinances, who hava 
 
 ■ fubjecled their Miniitry to the Difpofal of ftrange Lords, 
 
 ■ by laying it afide, in Obedience to their Mandats, or tak- 
 1 ing new poteftative MifHon from them. Or if they pre- 
 
 * tend to keep tkeir Old one which they had from Gbtift i* 
 4 his legal and appointed Way j yet they hare confented 
 
 * to take a new Holding from, and upon a new Architedto* 
 
 * nic ufurped Power and Headihip in the Exereife of it, bf 
 4 accepting a new Grant, Licence and Warrant from thsUfur- 
 
 * persof their M a (let's Crown.' Upon which Ground, in that 
 broken and declining State of the Church,' the Curates, wk# 
 were ordained Presbyters, were withdrawn from; and thefe wMj 
 hid by, and never avouched publickly their minifterial Ex- 
 ercife ; and thefe who gave a Bond not to Exereife their 
 Miniftry for longer or (horter Tirhe ; and the Indulged, wh* 
 embraced any of the Chriit-diihonouring, and Church-dif- 
 maying Indulgences. As alfo upon this Ground, we wkhi 
 draw from thofe that preached under the Toleration, ' be- 
 6 caufe by that Bargain and Confederacy with the Tolerater, 
 1 in the Acceptance of that his antichriftian Toleration, they 
 c became in the Exereife of their Miniitry, the Servants 
 
 * of Men, and changed the Holding of the Freedom of their 
 
 * Miniftry. And becaufe they could not be fubmitted to 
 1 without confenting to the great Encroachments made u- 
 
 * pom both the Privileges of this Church and Liberties of 
 
 * this Kingdom. Argum. i. and 2. Teflim. Page 38/ 
 But that is exprefly reftri&ed to that broken and declining 
 State of the Church, Vind* Page 73. And tantum pro tem- 
 pare, while they continued in that Courfe, Teflim. Page 
 
 30. Now the Miniftry of thefe with whom we are plead- 
 ing to unite, is not fo circumftantiated 5 it is not fubjecT: 
 to ftrange Lords, nor have they any Holding, New or 
 Old upon any ufarped Power ; nor are they by any Con- 
 federacy Servants of Men : Nor is our hearing of them a 
 nbmitting unto any Encroachment made upon the Privi- 
 leges of this Church, or Liberties of this Kingdom. (3.) 
 
 * We judged, we had fufBcient Ground to withdraw from ail 
 
 * thefe who perverted and corrupted their Worfhip, by 
 
 * preach- 
 
f preaching and maintaining Errors either in Do&rine, 
 'Worfhip, Difcipline or Government, contrary to the 
 
 * Scriptures and our ConfefTions and Principles of our cove- 
 
 * nanted Reformation, and contradictory to our then Tefti- 
 
 * mony. Hence we not only behoved to withdraw from 
 
 * thefe Minifters that maintain Errors foundamental, but in 
 
 * this broken and declining State of the Church, from all 
 
 * thefe alfo that oppugned and withftood our common Con- 
 
 * feffion of orthodox Truths received by the Church oi 
 
 * Scotland, or maintained Errors condemned thereby, or 
 y condemned Truths maintained thereby ; and then, in that 
 
 * Cafe circumflantiated, from all that did contradicV oppofe 
 
 * or overturn the Matter of the Church of Scotland's Tefti- 
 ' mony, and did defert, deny, or pervert the Word of 
 
 * Chrift's Patience given her then to contend for.' Upon 
 which Ground, in that broken and declining State of the 
 Church, we extended our Wfchdrawings to thofe Presbyteri- 
 an Minifters who condemned the Martyrs Sufferings, who 
 homologated the Supremacy, who condemned our Decla- 
 rations againft Tyranny, <&c. As likewife upon this Ground, 
 we difcountenanced them that preached under the Tole- 
 ration, ' becaufe the People were in hazard of being per- 
 \ verted from fome Parts of our covenanted Reformation. x 
 And becaufe fometimes in the Application of their Doelrine, 
 8 they condemned fome eiTential Parts of the then Teftimo- 
 1 ny, as were the known and received Principles of the 
 
 * Church of Scotland in her beft and pureft Times/ Teftim. 
 Page 3 i. But as that is reftriclcd to the then broken and 
 declining State in three fevtral Repetitions, Vhidic. Page 
 74, and 76. So now it cannot be applied to the Generality 
 of the prefent Minifters, who now neither condemn the then 
 Teftimcny in their Preaching, -nor if they did in fome Things 
 differ from it, would it be a fufficicnt Ground of withdraw- 
 ing, when that now is not the Teftimony, and they are 
 faithful in the prefent Teftimony againft Popery, Prejacy, 
 Eraftianifm and Tyranny, &c. (4.) * We judged, we had 
 
 * fufficient Ground to withdraw from Minifters guilty of 
 ' grofs Compliance with the publick Enemies of this cove- 
 
 * nanted and reformed Church and Nation, who have bro- 
 « ken the Covenant, deftroyed the Reformation, and were 
 
 •full 
 
( 3i ) 
 9 It! by ail M«ns fccking the Extirpation of all the Owa- 
 •;f the Houfe of GOD.' Upon which Ground, in that 
 broken and declining State of the Church, we withdrew 
 dulged and Nst -indulged that heard the Curates, 
 that compeared before the Courts againft the People of God, 
 that fubicribed Oaths and Bonds contrary to the Covenants, 
 and that paid the Cefs, impofed by the Enemies of this 
 Church and Kingdom ; or any other that complied in that 
 Degree, that deferved Depofition, Page 79. But whatever 
 might befaid for juftifying that then in that broken and de- 
 clining State of the Church, Page 78. when thefe Com- 
 pliances were Snares and Stumbling-blocks perfifted in and 
 defended, that cannot be an Argument now for withdraw- 
 ing from all thefe Compilers, when now the Church is not 
 fo declining but recovering her Freedom from Fetters, when 
 now thefe ceafe to be Snares and Stumbling-blocks, v ; hen 
 they are not perfifted in, feeing alio all thefe Compliances 
 are not alike, nor do they all deferve Depofition. (5%) c We 
 
 * judged we had fufficient Ground to withdraw from fuch 
 
 * iMinifters who took the Defence and Patrociny of thefe 
 
 * Courfes, and did io palliate and plaifter them, and ftrength- 
 
 * en the Hands and harden the Hearts of thole that were 
 
 ged in them, that none did turn from fuch wicked 
 c Things.' Upon which Ground we held ourfelves obliged, 
 in that broken and declining State of the Church, to with- 
 draw from many Minifters, who had defended, and did 
 then defend thole Compliances, and did vindicate palpable 
 1 and grofs Defections, ' fuch as preached in favours of the 
 I * Indulged, and pleaded for Union with them,' and whode- 
 | fended the taking of Oaths and Bonds, and adviled Pri- 
 | foners and others thereunto. But this vM hold only in a 
 1 broken and declining State of the Church, Page 80. When 
 s to be Snares, involving People in the 
 them, and when their being defended and juilified by 
 i preaching and perfwading, does expofe People to the Hazard 
 ftg perverted from their Duty. But new it is notfo-; 
 .Some will not defend them ; fome will in Difcourie or Dif- 
 1 pate, but not in Preaching ; fome may preach in Defence of 
 1 fome of thefe, but not now to perfwade People to, or p u I 
 in Hazard c;, . j> . ith thefe Things now removed ; and 
 
 there' 
 
( 3« ) 
 
 therefore this cannot be a Ground of Separation in the pre* 
 fent Cireumftances. (6.) ' We judged Unfaithfulnefs in the 
 
 * Exercife of the minifterial Fun&ien, or a fmooth flatter- 
 ing Way of applying the Doctrine to the Times, was a 
 « furlicient Ground of withdrawing, viz. in the then Cir- 
 
 * cumftances.' Upon which Ground, in that broken and 
 declining State of the Church, we withdrew from many 
 Minifters, arid from thefe who took the Patrociny of, and 
 concurred with firiful AffGciations in War, whereby the State 
 ©f the Lord's Cauie was altered. Of which having faid fo much 
 in another Paper about that (v.iz 7 in the Anfwer to Robert 
 Hamilton's Protection) I (hall add no more, but that, as it 
 is indeed Unfaithfulnefs not declare the Sin of finful JJficia- 
 tions perverting the State of the Lord's Caufs, (but all Affb- 
 ciations with the Ungodly are not finful, as I have in that 
 Faper demonstrated) and not to declare the whole Counfel 
 of God plainly and freely as the Time requires : So it is 
 not at ail Times that every Degree hereof is a Ground of 
 withdrawing, but only in a broken and declining State of 
 the Church, fuch a Degree of it as witholds needful and ne- 
 eeflary Inftruetion at fuch a Time, that yields the Tefti- 
 mony, that lays Men open to Sin, and the countenanc- 
 ing whereof would be (tumbling and ofFenfive. But now 
 many Minifters are more faithful than they were then, 
 in that Hour and Power of Darknefs ar J Temptation. (7) 
 
 * We judged we had Ground to withdraw from Minifters 
 
 * guilty by lying by from their publiek Work of preaching 
 i the Goipel, and deferting their minifterial Duty ; when 
 
 * the People's urgent Necedity in prelTing Call did make 
 
 * it indifpenfible ; when People were deftitutc of publiek 
 
 * and faithful Warning In the Time when Snares were mod 
 
 * abounding ; yea, when the poor Flock was in the greateft 
 « Hazard to be turned afide.' But this was only in that 
 Irokenaad declining State of the Church, Page 84. Now 
 they have mended that fault. (8) * We judge fchifinatfcal 
 
 * and pragmatical Dividers ef the Church, and Widners of 
 % tise Breach thereof already broken and divided, who fow 
 Difcords among Brethren, and promoted their Contenti- 
 
 * ons by invidious Reproaches, or otherway.s were to be 
 4 withdrawn from.* But as this reproach uig» jaitirAftirm- 
 
 ■ "Z 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 ing againft, traducing and condemning one another, was too 
 frequent and mutual on all Hands in that broken and de- 
 clining State of the Church, being reckoned up and fpoken 
 to above among the fomenting Caufes of Divifion ; fo now 
 it is much fallen, and more Charity would perfect the Cure ; 
 and if any Thing is to be forgiven or forboin, furely it muft 
 be this. (9) Finally, * We judged fcandalous Diforders and 
 
 * Mifcarriages in either the minifterial or perfonal Waik,Car- 
 
 * riage or Converlation of Mini Iters, were a fumcient Ground- 
 ' to withdraw from them,' in that broken and declining State 
 of the Church, Page 87. But as the Application hereof was 
 not then intended, fo now much lefs can it be extended to 
 any who are free of fueh fcandalous Diforders \ Page 88. We 
 fee from all this, that none of thefe former Grounds accom- 
 modated to the Circumftances of the Times pad can juitify 
 our prefent withdrawing from all thefe Minifters, from 
 whom we owned a negative, temporary and conditional Se- 
 paration before. 
 
 5-. From what is faid 'above, it mufl be conceded on both 
 Hands, that the Diftinctions of the feveral Cafes of the 
 Church are to be confidered, whence it will follow, that 
 the Rules and Practices obferved at fome Times, and in 
 fome Cafes, are not to be underftood as * general and abfo- 
 4 lute Rules laid down for all Times and Cafes of the Church, 
 
 • or for Church'-Fellowfhip and Communion of Saints in ail 
 
 * its Degrees.' As is granted exprefly, Inform. Vindic. 
 Head 7. Page 108. I adhere then to thefe DilHncYions pre- 
 mitted, Head 4. from Page 60, 61. and downward. ( l.) 
 c Between a Church in her Infancy, and growing up into Re- 
 { formation, and an adult Church, which hath arrived at a 
 \ higher Pitch of Reformation : In the former many Things 
 f may be tolerated, which may not in the latter. And 
 1 therefore our Fathers might have born with many Things 
 ' in Minifters, which we cannot, becaufe we have been re- 
 ' formed from thefe Things which they were not.' But 
 now in the prefent State, the Church is not to be looked 
 upon as adult, or in a manly Eftate, as it was in the Times 
 of the pureft Reformation, or in a decrepit Eftate, as in 
 the Times of Defection and Divifion ; but in an infant 
 
 J State to be a-new fettled over again, planted ever again, and 
 
 E ' purged 
 
( 54 ) 
 
 purged over again, contending to recover what Reformation 
 it bit, and to preferve what it can recover. As in all Times 
 of Reformation and begun Deliverance, the Church is com- 
 pared to Children come to the Birth when there is no Strength 
 to bring forth, 2 Kings xix. 3. Ifa. xxxvii. 3. As the Church 
 of Scotland was not only at the firft Reformation from 
 Popery, but over again in an infant State in the Year 1590, 
 and over again in the Year 1638, and now again in the Year 
 1690. In which Cafe the Church cannot be fettled all in 
 one Day or in one Year, but muft crave Time, as the Build- 
 ing of Sofanorfs Temple, and of the fecond Temple after 
 the Babylonijl? Captivity, which was not accomplished in fe- 
 veral Years. Nor can it be planted over again all at once, 
 no more than it could be in Jofiua's Days, or the Judges, 
 or in the Time of the reforming Kings of Judah, until the 
 Canaanites and other Enemies be fubdued. Nor can it be 
 purged totally altogether, but gradually, lead it be in Hazard 
 of a Superpurgation. (2.) 'We diftinguifh between a 
 
 * Church in a growing Cafe, coming forward out of Dark- 
 
 * nefs, and advancing in Reformation, and a Church de- 
 ' dining and going back again. In the former many Things 
 
 * may be born with, which, in the latter, are noways to be 
 1 yielded unto, as in the Time of the former Prelacy ma- 
 
 * ny did hear prelatical Men/ &c. In Times -of Defection 
 and Divifion the Church was declining and going back, and 
 in that Cafe it it was needful to be very peremptory in Te- 
 nacioufnefs : But now (he is growing and coming forward 
 out of Darknefs, and advancing, though weakly, in Refor- 
 mation ; and therefore now, fure it muft be born with to 
 hear Presbyterian Minifters, though formerly guilty of De- 
 fections, as much as in former Times to hear prelatical 
 Men. (3.) ' We diftinguifhed between a Church and a 
 
 * reformed and fettled State, and a Church in a broken and 
 < difturbed State.' In Times of Defection and Divifion, it 
 was thought the ? mofl lawful Expedient and conducive 
 6 Mean for maintaining the attained unto Reformation, to 
 1 abftract and withdraw from fuch Diforders in Minifters, 
 f which we could not otherwise get rectified.' -But now 
 that is neither the lawful Expedient, nor conducible Mean 
 ta maintain Reformation-, but rather the Way to obftruct 
 
( it ) 
 
 it, to withdraw from Miniflers, whole former Diforders we 
 would have rectified in a Gafc where the Church 1 is fettled, 
 fb far as to have Liberty to keep General Aflemblies to rec- 
 tify them, and the Government thereof is confirmed with 
 the civil Sanction of Acts of Parliament. (4.) 'We di- 
 
 * ftingujfhed between a reformed Church, enjoying her Pri- 
 
 * vileges and Judicatories, and a reformed Church denuded 
 1 of her Privileges, and deprived of her Judicatories.' In 
 Times of Defection and Divifion, it might be allowed, when 
 Miniflers were duly cenflarable, ■ according to the Word of 
 
 * God and their own Church's Conftitutions, and Cenfures 
 
 * could not be inflicted, through the Want of Church-Judi- 
 
 * catories, and they ft.il 1 perfifled in their offend ve Courfes 3 
 
 * People might then teftify their Senfe of the Juttnefs of the 
 ' Cenfureto be inflicted, or withdrawing from fuch Miniflers, 
 
 * even without the Presbyterial Sentence.' But now, when 
 the Church is enjoying her Privileges and Judicatories, 
 1 People are to addrefs themfelves unto Chureh-Judicatories, 
 
 * and not to withdraw from their Miniflers, without making 
 t prior Applications to thefe,' as is granted, Diftintf. 4. 
 page 61. ( 5.) * We diftinguifhed between the Miniftry 
 c in the Abftract, and the Miniflers in the Concrete. In 
 
 * Times of Defection and Divifion, fuch Miniflers againft 
 
 * whom there were folid and juft Exceptions according to 
 f the Word of God, and the Acts of General Aflemblies, 
 
 * ftriking againft them (perfifting in their Courfes) even 
 
 * unto Deposition, might be withdrawn from.' But now 
 when thefe Exceptions are not ftanding againft them, and 
 they do not perfift in thefe Courfes, their Miniftry now in its 
 Exercife feparated from thefe Exceptions, can by no Means 
 be difowned. (6.) ' We diftinguifhed between a faithful 
 
 * and a finlefs Miniftry.' In Times of Defection and Divi- 
 fion, we might • for the Want of the former Qualification 
 ■ withdraws that is, when they were not faithful.' But now 
 when they are more faithful, w« cannot withdraw, exceot 
 we would withdraw from them, becaufe they are not finlefs ; 
 which in no Cafe can be a Ground. (7.) • We diftinguifh- 
 
 * ed between Miniflers condemning doctrinally and cenfef- 
 c fjpg privately, by Conference with fended Brethren, cr 
 
 £ 2 ■ rcfcmt ■ 
 
( 3« ) 
 
 4 refenting to them, after fome more publick Manner, their 
 
 * Defections and Offences, and their confeifing thefe eccle- 
 
 * fialtically before Church-Judicatories. In Times of De- 
 
 * feclion and Divifion, we judged the former fufficient,' e- 
 ven in the then Circumftances. Therefore lcfs might be 
 fufEcient now, at leaft, to juftify our Communion with 
 them, when this Communion is not in Defections and Of- 
 fences, but in Duty and Truth, and when fome of thefe 
 are condemned doclrinally, and others confeffed privately, 
 as might be made out by feveral Inftances. (5.) We di- 
 
 * ftinguifhed between a Separation negative and paffive, and 
 
 * a Separation pofitive and active. ' In Times of Defection 
 and Divifion, we owed a Separation negative, paffively con- 
 fidered, ' oppofing only the TranfgrelTions and Defections 
 
 * of this Church, while we chufed to ftand ftill, and not to 
 f go all alopgft with others in declining and offenfive Cour- 
 ' fes.' But even then, and much more now, we did deny, 
 and muft difown * a Separation from Communion with this 
 
 * Church in her Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Govern- 
 
 * ment,' as (he was in her beft and pureft Days. From 
 which we muft now feparate pofltively, if we withdraw from' 
 Minifters that are not going on in declining and offenfive 
 Courfes, but maintaining the fame Doctrine, Worfhip, Di- 
 fcipline and Government that the Church had in her beft 
 and pureft Days. I (hall add a (9.) from what is faid, 
 Head 7. Page 109, no. ' We diftinguifh between a Join- 
 ' ing, which we may call Catholick or Univerfal among 
 
 * Chriftians, confidered as fuch, and an ecclefiaftical Join- 
 c ing among Members of one particular organical Church, 
 1 confidered as Members of that Church. In Times of 
 Defection and Divifion, we had Reafon to * own a Ccmmu- 
 
 * nion qualified with the ftricteft Conditions, among the 
 Members of that particular Church, and in our felected Fel- 
 lowfhips ; ' confidering the prefent State of Affairs in that 
 ' broken Cafe of the Church/ as it was then. But now, 
 though ftill orgawick Communion muft be on ftrictcr Terms 
 than Catholick Communion with others that are not Mem- 
 bers of the fame organick Church ; yet we cannot deny fb 
 much Joining, at leaft, as is allowed with others in Com- 
 
 , munion 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 munion Cat^olick in its feveral Degree*?. If we were in 
 Africk or Afia, we would join with all Chriftians holding 
 the fame fundamental Teftimony again ft Jews, Turks or 
 Pagans, though not with Hereticks. If we were in Hol- 
 land ox Geneva, we would join with all Proteftants holding 
 the fame Proteftant Teftimony with us againft Pzpifts, 
 Arminians, Socinians, Lutherians, and other Hereticks, or 
 Sectarians, or Schifmaticks. If we were in England or Ire- 
 land, we would join with all our covenanted Brethren, pro- 
 viding they own the covenanted Teftimony, albeit they 
 have not the fame Word of Teftimony every Way with us: 
 And may we not allow the fame with the Minifters of Scot- 
 land, holding the fame Presbyterian Teftimony againft Po- 
 pery, Prelacy, Eraftianifm, Sectarianifm, Tyranny and Ma- 
 lignancy ? At leaft fo far as to hear them, though we fhould 
 have little Hand in calling of them that complied grofly, or 
 in tying ourfelves fixedly to their Miniftry ; having Liber- 
 ty withal to proteft againft their former Defections and Of- 
 fences, and to withdraw from them again, if they fhall be 
 ftated in the fame Circumftances wherein they were before, 
 when we maintained a Separation from them : Which does 
 noway contradict: (as may be objected by fome) what is 
 faid in our Engagements to Duties, renewed at Lifmahagow, 
 according to Art. i. § 2. * If we cannot get thefe Corrup- 
 
 * tions reformed and removed, we fhall ftudy to keep our- 
 4 felves free of Communion and Participation with the fame.* 
 And, according to Art. 2. § 5. ' We fhall refufe, withfrand 
 
 (* and witnefs againft all fuch Encroachments on the Liber- 
 
 * ties of this Church in all Time coming, and withdraw our- 
 \f felves from Communion from all fuch Meetings and Con- 
 r gregations as hold their Freedom from, and are modified 
 i ■ by fuch Ufurpations.' Fow now, thefe Corruptions be- 
 ing removed, though not confeded as we would defire ; 
 though we have Communion with them in the reformed 
 
 [Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Government, at leaft, 
 though we hear them preach, we have no Communion' or 
 Participation with thefe Corruptions ; but with Ordinances 
 now uncorrupted. And we may well withftand and witnefs 
 t all fuch Encroachments, yea, and witnefs againft 
 the not confeffing of complying with them •, and yet join 
 
 in 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 in their Meetings, that now do not hold their Freedom from,fe 
 nor are modified by the Indulgence or Toleration, or anjr 
 fuch Ufurpations. But if ever they be again fo ftated, we j 
 are bound to withdraw ourfelves from Communion with I 
 them. 
 
 In the third Place, I (hall come to ftate the Queftion, re- 
 moving what is not the State of it, and propofing what is 
 the tine State of it. 
 
 The Queftion is not, fir ft, Whether we (hall own or en- 
 tertain Union or Communion with Hereticks, Idolaters, or 
 fuch Apoftates as oppofe our common Confeffion of ortho- 
 dox Principles, either in fundamental Truths, or in the ef- 
 fential and neseffary fubftantial Parts of the Teftimony of 
 this reformed Church, c. g. with Papifts, Arminians, So- 
 c'mians, Quakers, Sectarians, &'£• With thefe abiding fuch, 
 without Confeffion and Forfaking of their falfe Religions, 
 we own no Union or C mmunion either by way of Synere- 
 tifm, Amnefty or Toleration. Not by Syncretifm, admit- 
 ting a Mixture/ of Opinions, like the Samaritans, fearing 
 the Lord, and ferving their own Gods after the M inner of 
 the Nations, 2 Kings xvii. There muft be no Union or 
 Communion between Rightcoufnefs and Unrighteoufnefs, 
 Light and Darknefs, Chrift and Belial, 2 Cor. vi. That 
 were a deceitful Concifion, Philip, iii. 2. Nor, muft we al- 
 low them an Amnefty, or Act of Oblivion, but keep in Re- 
 membrance their Amalekitijh Practices and Principles, and 
 feparate from them as from Strangers, Neh. ix. 2. xiii. 3. 
 And come out from among them, 2 Cor. vi. 17. Nor ad- 
 mit a Toleration of them, but reject them, Tit. iii. 10. 
 Not receive them, nor bid them God fpeed, 2 John x. 
 Nor fuffer them, Rev. ii. 20. But the Queftion is, Whe- 
 ther we mall own Union and Communion with Presbyterian 
 Minifters, * whom we love in the Lord, and acknowledge 
 J to be Minifters of this Church of Scotland, with whom 
 ' we fometimes had fweet Fellowship ; and with whom again 
 
 * we would deiire to have Communion in Ordinances, if 
 
 * our Exceptions were removed.' Inform. Vindic, Head 
 4. Page 68 and 02. Who differ from us in fome Points, 
 and yet in the prefent Circumftanccs that- cannot be our 
 Queftion, with refpect to the greateit Part of Presbyterian 
 
C 59 ) 
 
 /finifters, who are now known to ' own and adhere unto 
 the true received Principles of the Church of Scotland, 
 founded upon the written Word of God, and whatfoever 
 Declarations or Teftimonies, former or latter, particular 
 or more general, are agreeable thereto.' For we declared 
 o the World we would call and hear all fuch. Inform. 
 Indie. Head 5. Page 95. which mull be underftood of 
 every Part, Pendicle, or Claufe, or Confequence of our 
 latter Declarations > but if they own and avouch in Pro- 
 feiTion and Practice, every Part of our covenanted Refor- 
 mation* and join with us in the Matter of all ou& Decla- 
 • rations and Teftimonies againft Popery, Prelacy, Tyran- 
 I ny, Supremacy, Seclarianifm,' &c. Which the greatefl 
 } art of the Presbyterian Minifters in the prefent Cafe do, 
 except that they do not approve of all our Teftimonies, a- 
 jtinft the former Compliances, and Defections : About 
 'ihefe is the Controverfy. 
 
 1 . The Queftion is not, Whether we can hold Union or 
 Communion with thole Minifters, though found in Principles, 
 'vho yet are carrying on Courfes of Compliances and Defec- 
 tions, involving all in Sin, that have Communion with 
 hem, in a broken and declining State of the Church ? I 
 mm the Lawful nefs of withdrawing in fuch a Cafe, when 
 :hefe are eftablifhed, and ftand as Snares : Nor have I yet 
 •een Caufe to change my Mind. But the Queftion is, Whe- 
 her we can have Communion or Union with thefe that did 
 indeed comply with the wicked Eftablifhments of the Times, 
 jind were involved in the Defeclions of the Church, but 
 bow are carrying on Reformation in Doctrine, Worfhip, 
 JDifcipline and Government, according to the Inftitutions of 
 jChrift, and the Conftitutions of this Church in former 
 (Times ? And yet it is a Shame, that this (hould be a Que- 
 ftion, confidering what we engaged at the renewing of the 
 Covenant at Lefmahagow. In our Engagement to Duties, 
 according to Article 2. § 4. * To wit, that we lhall guard 
 J againft all Schifm or finful Separation from any Part of the 
 Communion of the true reformed covenanted Church of 
 Scotland, holding purely and entirely the Doctrine, Wor- 
 fhip, Difcipline and Government of the fame, in Princi- 
 ples and Excrcife ; according to the kules of Chrift, and 
 
 * the 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 ' the {landing Acts and Conftitutions of this Church. — And 
 
 * ihall ftudy to maintain Union and Communion in Truth | 
 
 * and Duty, with all Minifters and Members of the faid 
 
 * Church,* that do, and in fo far as they do follow the In- 
 itiations of Chrift. 
 
 3. The Queflion is not, Whether we (hall join in Com- 
 munion with Minifters, found in Principles, and in their 
 prefent Practice and Courfe, free of former Faults, upon 
 Terms obliging us to juflify thefe Defections or Complian- 
 ces, or to condemn our Teftimonies againft: them, or to fur- 
 ceafe from, or leave off teftifying againft them ? That is 
 not impofed or required ; and if it were, I fhould be yet as 
 much for Separation as ever. But the Quel t ion is, Whe* 
 ther we (hall join in Union and Communion with thefe Mi- 
 nifters, that albeit they will not confefs them to be Defec- 
 tions, or finful Compliances, yet do allow us to keep our 
 Opinion, and to proteft againft them ? Yet it is ftrange, 
 that this mould be quefiioned among us, who did agree in 
 declaring to the World, this was one Rcafoa why we could 
 not feek Licence or Ordination from the Presbyteries of 
 Scotland, as formerly circumitantiated, ' becaufe" of impofed 
 
 * Reftriclions, which fome before had been troubled with/ 
 Inform. Vindic. Head 5. Page 100. § 4. Now thefe be- 
 ing no more impofed, that Reafon of landing aloof ceafes. 
 And when it was objected againft the Ordination of that 
 faithful and worthy Minifter Mr. James Fenwick, that he 
 received it from the ClafTes of ' Groningion, that differed from 
 Scotland's Reformation in feveral Things. We publiilied 
 thefe among other Anfwers, * That the ClafTes did not then 
 f object againft our Teftimony. And that in the Act of Or- 
 ' dination, they did obtrude none of thefe Differences, but 
 
 * take bim engaged to teach, according to the Word of God, 
 4 and the Confejfion of Faith of the Church of Scotland, and 
 
 ^ the Difcipline thereof. And that thefe Differences were 
 
 * openly before them, and plainly and particularly proteft- 
 4 ed againft, which was fufficient in fuch Circumftances/ 
 Inform. Vindic. Head 5. Page 102. I fay, it is ftrange, 
 whatever different Confulcrations be betwixt that Church 
 and this, that fo much may not be allowed to the Minifters 
 of this Church, that consiefcend fo far, as that though 
 
 there 
 
( 4' ) 
 
 there be Differences between us, and many of the Minifters 
 of Scotland, yet they do not object againft our Teftimony, 
 nd do not obtrude any of thefe Differences, but would have 
 ;s engaged to the Word of God, and Confepon of Faith* 
 nd allow us plainly and openly to protefr. againft their De- 
 ections : May not this be fufricierit in thefe Circumltances, 
 s well as in the other ? 
 
 4. The Queftion is not, Whether wV mall continue to' 
 ondemn and teftify againft thefe Defections, for which we 
 id formerly feparate from thefe Minifters ? Herein we are 
 greed. But the Quefton is, Whether we (hall continue 
 6 condemn and teftify againft them, by Communion with 
 hem, when we have no Communion with their Defections, 
 r by Separation or withdrawing from them ? 
 j 5. The Queftion is not, Whether we muft join with 
 11 thefe Minifters guilty of former Defections in the grofleft 
 )egree, as Perfwaders to hear the Curates, thefe that were 
 orma!ly indulged, and actual AddreiTcrs for the Toleration, 
 >r fuch as gave Bond not to preach any more, without the 
 hen Magiftrates exprefs Confent had thereto ; or if there 
 »e any groller than thefe ? But the Queftion is, Whether 
 ■re may join in Union, and Communion with others, 
 >efides thefe that either will not (becaufe they cannot be 
 on v meed of the Guilt of them) corfefs and condemn the 
 tinfulnefs of the former Defeftions of the Times ; or will 
 onfefs-and condemn the Sinfulnefs of them,' but in an uni- 
 ted Way, not in a feparate Way, not feparating from the 
 \tft, became they do not think it a Ground mmcient for 
 withdrawing ? This is the Hinge of the Gontroverfy ; and 
 inore fummarily may be reduced to this complex Queftion. 
 
 Whether or not may we have fo much Refpect to the Or- 
 dinances and Peace of the Church in the prefent Circum- 
 '.ances as no longer to withdraw from* but join in Union an^ 
 '-ommunion with the Presbyterian Minifters of the Church 
 f Scot/and, that do own and adhere unto the true received 
 principles of the faid Church, in Doctrine, Worfhip, Di£- 
 ipline and Government, grounded upon, and confonant 
 :nto the written Word of God; who being guilty of De- 
 mons in Times of Tentation, will not now acknowledge 
 ; fre fame, or acknowledging and conderjmjpg them, will 
 F lift 
 
r C ^ ) 
 
 ^ot fepavatc themfelves from the reft that will not confers 
 them, thiiaking this no Ground of Withdrawing at fuch a 
 Time, and in fuch Cafe, when thefe Defections and Cor- 
 ruptions are not in the Conftitution of the Church, s.nd do 
 not continue to be Snares, when none are required to jufti- 
 fy them, nor to condemn any Teftimonies againft them ; 
 and Liberty is granted to proteft againft them, and to 
 continue to plead for confeffing and condemning them ; 
 when alfo feveral guilty of the groffeft Degrees of Defecti- 
 ons are excepted from being united with ? I hold he Affirma* 
 tive, that both of thefe Minifters that cannot confefs, be- 
 «aufe not convinced of the Sinfulncfs of thefe Defections, and 
 thofe that do confefs and condemn them, but will not 
 come off from the reft, may be joined with in Union and 
 Common ion, notwithftanding former Provocations not con- 
 feffed ; and that their not confeffing of thefe Offences, is 
 not a fufficient Ground of withdrawing from Church-Com- 
 munion, before the decifive Sentence of the Church as now 
 conftituted. This, as it confifts, and is qualified with the 
 foregoing Concefliofis, I fhall endeavour to make good by 
 propofing and proving feveral AlTertions. 
 
 I. There may be Union and Communion with Mini- 
 fters orProfeilbrs with whom we may differ in Judgment and 
 Practice about many Things, and they will not acknow- 
 ledge their Miltake : I mean not, if their Differences be 
 about Fundamentals, we are to have no Union or Commu- 
 nion with thefe that hold Errors, pernicions and damnable, 
 obvious and evident, fcandalous and hurtful to Edification : 
 But if the Difference be confiftent with the Foundation and 
 Edification, doubtful, and not of dangerous Confequence, 
 and not heretical or lchifmatical, and rather negative (both 
 Part's^ endeavouring the thriving of the Work of the Go- 
 fpel) than pofitive in marring and counteracting each other 
 in it, there may be very well Union and Communion be- 
 tween Parties fo differing, without Sin : Uniota in this Caf» 
 is to be endeavoured by all expedient and adapted Means ; 
 riot by fuch Means as will undo the one Side, and only fet 
 up the other ; for that tends not to the Good of the whole ; 
 nor thnt by fuch Means as may incapacitate any Minifter or 
 Member of either Side, that is fit for edifying the Church, 
 from having Accefs thereunto ; rior by fuch Means as are 
 
 (imply 
 
C 43 ) . . , . „ 
 
 imply authoritative, condemning and cenfuring judicially 
 
 the dilTentient Party ; that is the Way of governing an uni- 
 ted Church, but not of uniting a rent Church, that's a Reme- 
 dy very oppofite to a Church that is healthy, but not for a 
 Cck Church. But it is to be endeavoured by peaceable Con- 
 ferences, managed with all mutual Condefcenfion poffible, 
 without Janglings, Recriminations and irritating Exprobati- 
 ons or Reproaches, to the End one Party may be convinc- 
 ed, and brought over to the other, or both agree in one Sen- 
 timent : Or, if that cannot be obtained, Union is to be en* 
 . deavoured, notwithstanding, by mutual Forbearance in 
 Things controverted, forbearing to engage judicially in Sen- 
 tences of Judicatories, abftaining from prefling or propogat- 
 ing pirkrenccs, or putting Reftraint on others Light or Prac- 
 tices according to it. But if this Union cannot be obtained, 
 there may be Communion, and mull: be no Separation or 
 Withdrawing upon the Account of fuch Differences. This 
 I confirm by Scripture and Reafon ; ( i .) There have been 
 many Differences among the Godly, without either Divifion 
 Separation maintained or enjoined ; Paul and Barnabas had 
 a (harp Contention, whether John Mark, who was guilty of 
 lurking and lying by from the Work of the Gofpel, and de- 
 ferring minifterial Duty, mould be taken alongft with them 
 in viliting the Church, as Acls xv. 36, 39. Here was a 
 negative Divifion, they departed afunder the one from the 
 other, but not pofitive, becaufe both of them did endeavour 
 the thriving of the Gofpel, without any counteracting one 
 another ; nor did the one of them ever refufe to hear the o- 
 ther, or reprove others for hearing either of them, upoa the 
 Account of that Difference; and yet neither of them would 
 confefs their Error. (2.) We find Differences about confi- 
 derable Points, referred to an Ecclefiaftick judicature, where 
 the Decifion was to forbear the prefling of thefe Differences, 
 and to condefcend on both Hands, but not to feparate one 
 from another, upon the Account of thefe Differences. In 
 that fame Chapter AEls xv. there was a great DiiTenlion 
 about Circumcifion and Obfervanee of Mofaical Ceremonies, 
 : referred to the Apoftles and Elders at Jerufaiem. Tho' Pe- 
 ter did clearly enough define who was in the wrong, yet hs 
 1 •nly cenfures the preinng and impofing of theft Cerer.. 
 F2 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 Vcrfe 10. James only pleads for. Condefcenfion, that the Gen- 
 tiles might not be troubled nor impofed upon ; and that on 
 the other Hapd, they might condefcend to the Jews, to ab- 
 ft am from Things fir dngled and from Blood, Verfe 19. 20. 
 which might offend the other Party : Here is no Divifion, 
 nor Separation, or Withdrawing enjoined at all. (3.) We 
 find there have been many Debates and Differences in Judg- 
 ment and Practice in feveral Churches, where yet Union and 
 Communion hath been commanded. As ( 1 ) In the Church of 
 Rome,'m the Apoftolick Times,there were fundry Differences of 
 Judgment and Practice, about eating Meats and obferving 
 Days, wherein there was a Truth and an Error, a Right 
 and a Wrong ; yet the Apoftle commands, Rom. xiv. 1. 
 To receive one another, but not to doubtful Difputations. And 
 Rom. xv. 1. 7. That the Srong fb&uld bear with the Infir- 
 mities of the Weak : And not topleaje themfelves in feeking 
 to prefs their own Judgment, but to receive one another. Where 
 he rather preiTes Forbearance, than dipping into Debates, and 
 Refpectto Unity and Charity, rather than in refolvingthe Cafe, 
 to aftricl: them to this Side or that of the Controverfy ; but 
 does not allow them to withdraw one from another, (a) 
 Jn the Church of Corinth, there were fundry Differences of 
 Judgment and Practice about Parties, and the Heads of 
 Parties, 1 Cor. i. 10, 1 1. Wherein they were very carnal, 
 1 Cor. iii. 3. about eating of Things offered unto Idols, 
 wherein there were many Offences, 1 Cor. viii. 1, 12, 13. 
 about the Manner of communicating, and the Perfons with 
 whom they might communicate in the Sacrament of the 
 Lord's Supper, 1 Cor. xi. And fome were very hot in thefe 
 Differences, in fo much that they reproac! ~d the Apoirle, 
 as if he walked after the Flelh : Yet the ^poftle reproves 
 their Divifions, exhorts them to h*ve no Schifm in the 
 Body, and feeks rather to heal their Breaches, and obtain 
 mutual Forbearance in them, than' peremptorily to decide 
 the Controversies. And 2 Cor. x* 6, 8. We find him 
 reproving thofe that reproached him, yet fparing the Roa 
 for a Time/ with refpect to the Edification of the Church, 
 feeking firft to recover them, and then to chaftife them, 
 for if he had done it before, it would have widned the 
 Breaches. (2) In the Church of Galatia, there were fun- 
 dry 
 
( us $ 
 
 dry Differences of Judgment and Practice, about beggarly 
 filemenrs of Ceremonies and obferving Days, CjI. iv. 9, 
 10. about Circumcifion. Yet the Apoftle commands to 
 reftore them in Meeknefs, and to bear Burdens with them, 
 Gal. vi. 1, 2. And tho' he wifneth fome were cut off by 
 Cenfure that troubled them, Gal. v. 12. yet he does it 
 not, but in his own Example forbears to commend For- 
 bearance to them : Never a Word of withdrawing there, 
 except they fliould confefs their Miftakes. (4) In the 
 Church of Philippi there were Differences, yet the Apo file 
 commends Forbearance, Phil. iii. 15", 16. If in any Thing 
 ye be otherways minded, God {hall reveal even this unto you ; 
 neverthekfs, whereto me have already attained, let us walk 
 by the fame Rule, let us mind the fame Thing. No withdraw? 
 ing for Differences, until Miftakes be confelTed and ac- 
 knowledged. (5) In the Churches of the Hebrews there 
 were many Differences about the Meaning and Ufe of 
 Mofes's ceremonial Law, which the Apoftle takes fo much 
 Pains to explain, unfold and refolve in his Epiftle to them, 
 yet the commands Joining, Heb. x. 25*. Not forfaking the 
 AJfembling of our/elves together, as the Manner of fome is, but 
 exhorting one another. Where he does not bid us fufpend 
 our Meeting together, or joining in Church AlTemblies, until 
 Differences be removed by confefling. 4. There are aifb 
 feveral Reafons for this, (i)That which does not fall under 
 the Name of Scandal as fuch, cannot be a Ground of with* 
 drawing: But Differences of Judgment and Practice quali- 
 fied as above, do not fall under the Charge of Scandal as 
 fuch ; otherwife it would be a Scandal not to have the 
 fame, or equal Underftanding of all Things ; for where that 
 is imperfect or unequal, there muft be Differences in Judg- 
 ment about many Things, and confequently in Practice, con- 
 fcientioully following the Judgment. Yea, if a Scandal lay 
 in thefe Things, then it were impofTible ever to be without 
 Scandals : For either we behoved to agree in all Things, 
 or differ in fome Things ; if we differed, either we behoved 
 to confefs our Miftakes, before we were convinced, and that 
 were a Sin, or not confefs, and that were a Scandal : And 
 this Pleading might be mutual on both Sides. (2) IfDif-^ 
 ferences in Judgment aad Practice were a fufficient Ground^ 
 
 of 
 
( 4« ) 
 
 ©f withdrawing, then there ihall never be Unity in the 
 Woild in any Church ; for it cannot be expected, that they 
 (hall be unanimous in all fuch Things or that the greater 
 Part (hall cede to the lefler, when there is Difference. 
 And if there be Parties kept up upon fuch Differences, can 
 it be expected that thefe Parties fo divided, friall have no 
 more Differences within each Party ; and if they have, (hall 
 there be a new Divificn and Subdhifion, until fome Unity 
 be found. And feeing that at length mull be refolved upon 
 amongfr fome, notwithstanding of Differences, it is as good 
 to keep it at fir 11, a? to be neceifitated to it afterwards. (3) 
 If Differences of Judgment about fuch Things, cannot war- 
 rant a Breach where there i? Uniofr, then there cannot war-- 
 rantably be the Ground of Separation ; for no Party, Ly di- 
 viding upon an uiijufl Ground, can afterward be' juftified 
 upon the ia«">ic Ground. But Differences of Judgment or 
 Practice, in Things lb qualified as above, cannot warrant a 
 Breach, where there is Union 1 For r hen there could never 
 be Union kept: Therefore they cannot be a Ground of 
 Separation. (4^ Such Differences a? do not make Commu- 
 nion in a Church and in its Ordinances finful, cannot be a 
 Ground ofSepara^ ion ; but fuch are thefe as hinder no Duty, 
 prefi> to no Sin. where no Obligation is required to approve 
 what they condemned before, or condemn what they ap- 
 proved before ; And there is no Involvement either in 
 perfonal Guilt or Acceffion to the Guilt of others. Thefe 
 ate the common Rules of Union approved of all, and con- 
 firmed at length by Mr. Durham on Scandal. Part. 4. Chap< 
 7, (be But we need not take up Time in proving this, 
 which is granted, Inform. Vind. Head. 4. Among the 
 infufficient Grounds of Separation, § 2. Pege 65. It is con- 
 ceded, * Difference in Judgment is not fufficient to found a 
 
 * Withdrawing, if it be either ; n Things indifferent in their 
 'own Nature, which may be done or not done, <bc Or if 
 
 * it be in Things that are not material ; or not the Word 
 f of Patience or Matter of Teftimony, Rom. SLIT. 1. Nor 
 c that which follows upon the former, viz. every Differ- 
 ? encc in Practice, according to the Judgment and Light of 
 f Confcience in Things that are not diforderly, for though 
 
 * we could not allow fuch a Thing in ourfclv.es, yet it ought 
 
 « act 
 
< * 7 ) ... 
 
 f not to hinder our joining, Phil. iii. 15*, 16. And §. 4. 
 Pave 66. Such circumitantial and controver fial Points, 
 which were never ecclefnttically reformed by our Church 
 in ber belt and pureft Times, nor doclrinaily condemned 
 and wi. netted againft, by any ot the faithful Alinil.eis — - 
 will not hinder our joining with them. And § 5. Page 
 67. Nor any fueh Points ot Gontroveriy of leiler Moment, 
 which may be incident among Chriftians, overturning no 
 Part of the Church's Teftimony againft Popery, Prelacy, 
 Era'tianilm, Sectarianifm, together with Defection, Schifm 
 and Error.' And little lefs is granted in the Declaration 
 afthe State of the Teftimony, Cant. 1. Page. 41, 42.' We 
 do not prefs every Part or Pendicle, Claul'c or Conference 
 ' of every one of our latter Declarations, as the Bond of 
 our Communion, <&c.' From all this I argue, If Differences 
 •f Judgment and Practice as above qualified, cannot found a 
 withdrawing from Minifters and Profoflbrs in Church-Com- 
 munion, then, notwithstanding of all our D.fferences with 
 the Minifters of the Church of Scotland, with whom we 
 are pleading for Union, we may have Communion with 
 them in Ordinances : For the Debate being only about 
 not confefling of former Defections, now not continued in 
 the Practice of them, it is a mere Difference of Judgment 
 and Practice, while none are required to countenance theie 
 Defections, or approve of them j only fome will not acknow- 
 ledge them j fbme will, but cannot withdraw from them 
 that will not. This is not about Error pernicious and dam- 
 nable, obvious and evident, fcandalous and hurtful to Edi- 
 fication ; but a doubtful Difputation, reftraining no Duty, 
 conftraining to no Sin, impofing no Approbation to what 
 was formerly condemned, and a condemning of what was 
 I formerly approved. This is no Matter of Teftimony ; for 
 it was never declared in the beft and pureft Times of Re- 
 formation ; nor either dodtrinally or judicially determined, 
 that the not confefling thefe Defections was a Ground of 
 Separation. Nor can it overturn any Part of the Church's 
 Teftimony againft: Popery, Prelacy, TEraftianifm, Sectarian- 
 ifm, Defection.Schilm or Error j to fay, that the hearing of 
 Curates, receiving of Indulgences or Toleration,bt Defections; 
 yet the not confelfing them as Defections, is not a Qrutind 
 of withdrawing. Therefore notwithftanding of tbefc Dif- 
 ferences 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 ferenees; we may have Communion with them in Ordinances 
 2. There may be Union and Communion with Mioifters 
 or ProfefTors that labour under, and are chargeable with ma- 
 ny Imperfections, Infirmities, and Faults perfonal, even not 
 confefled ; as Aaron and Miriam. There may be much 
 Diffatisfadtion with many Minifters and Members of the 
 Church, which will not be a Ground of withdrawing : And 
 certainly in all Times of Divifions, there will be always on 
 both Sides much Matte? of mutual Upbraidings, objecting 
 and upcaiting Failings and Milcarriages. But, in this Cafe, 
 Union fhould be endeavoured, and Reconciliation effayed ; 
 not by putting the Things objected to Proof, and fo profe- 
 cuting long Debates about uncertain perfonal Faults, though 
 fometimes that is expedient to put Slanders to legal Trial : 
 But it were better to endeavour Union, quadam incerta cri- 
 mina fro certa pace, Deo dimittendo ; that is, by leaving 
 thefe doubtful Faults to God and their own Conference, to ob- 
 tain undoubted Peace in Meeknefs,Tendernefs, Condefcend- 
 ing and Forbearing ; and by mutual Forbearing one ano- 
 ther their Faults and Offences, without Upbraidings. Thefe 
 Imperfedtions, Infirmities or Faults, are either, i. Natu- 
 ral, through Weaknefs of Parts ; as if a Minifter, through 
 Ignorance, fhould miftake fome Points of Truth or Duty; 
 or, through Want of Information, fhould mifconftrudt us and 
 our Teftimony : We fhould not withdraw from him for that, 
 nor fufpend our joining tiil he be better inflrudted. Apolles 
 knew only the Baptifm of John, and needed the Way of 
 God to be more perfectly expounded unto him ; yet Aquila 
 and Prifcilla heard him before he was inftrudted, Afts xviii. 
 24, 26. There can be no Ground of withdrawing here, 
 " even albeit the Perfbns cannot confefs their Weaknefs. Or, 
 2. Thefe Imperfections are Spiritual-, as want of Zeal, 
 Tendernefs, Love, Sincerity, Faith and Fervour, or the 
 like Graces : As fuppofe Minifters, when we come to con- 
 fiilt them about a Cafe of Confcience, ihould offend us much 
 in refolving them, and hurt us and confound us more, ra- 
 ther than heal and comfort us ; we would not withdraw 
 from them for that. The Spoufe of Chrift complains, Cant. 
 v. 7. The Watchmen that 'went about the City found me, they 
 fmote me, they wounded me, the Keepers of the Walls took a- 
 
 Vt0f 
 
i A9. ) 
 
 4say my Vail from me. That is, they were very induftrioug 
 and untender in their Dealings with her, and no doubt of- 
 fended her mucn : Yet when (he enquired at her Beloved 
 where he fed, and whither fhe fhould go for Communion in 
 Ordinances, he fends het to feed be fides the S hep her r s Tents 9 
 Cant. i. 7, 8. and bids her join with them ; yet mere is no 
 Word of their confefTing their Faults. Or, fuppofe, Mini- 
 fters fhould, for fear in an Hour of Tentation, prove un- 
 faithful at a Time, that is no Ground of withdrawing. Pe- 
 ter and Barnabas drawn away with him into Diffimularion, 
 proved unfaithful in their Way with the Jews ; Paul re- 
 proved them for that, and teilifie-d againit thertl to their 
 Face, Gal. ii. n, 12. i?c. but did »ot withdraw from 
 them : Nor do we read that he required Confeflion of them 
 before he would have Communion with them again. Sup- 
 pofe again, which is undeniable, Miniilers be Hypocrites 
 and not fincere, yet it is no Sin to join with them ; a^ with, 
 Judas in the College of the Apoltles; with the Minifters of 
 of the Church of Sardis, that had a Name they were livii g, 
 yet were dead ; and of Laodicea, that were neither cold nor 
 hot, but lukewarm and indifferent, Rev. iii. 1, 15, 16. 
 Yea, though there be evident Tokens of their felfifh and fi- 
 liiftrous Ends in preaching; yet it is no Sin to join with, 
 them. Among the Philippigns, fome preached Chrifl, b*t of 
 Envy, Strife and Contention, not fincerely, fuppwfing to dJ 
 Affliction to the Apoflle's Bonds, Philip, i. 18. Yet fays the? 
 ApofUe, What then, notwithflanding every Way, whether in 
 Pretence or in Truth, Chrifl is peached, and therein do I re- 
 joice, yea and will rejoice. And notwithstanding, Philip, ii. 
 21. They all fought their own, and not the Things $f Jefas 
 Chrifl. Yet he exhorts to Union, Philip, ii. 1,2. And 
 Forbearance, Philip, iii. 15*, if. Or, 3. Thefe Infirmi- 
 ties and Failings are moral in outward Practices which are 
 offenfive, whereinto fometimes even good Men may fail 
 under fome Tentations. As fuppofe fome Minifiers in 
 Pride, PafTion or Prejudice, fnotrld utter Expreflions import- 
 ing Contempt of us and oar Teftimony *, that is no Ground 
 of withdrawing. A arm and Miriam fpake againft Mofes; 
 and accufed him for marrying the Ethiopian Woman, Numb. 
 xii'. 1. and did not confeis the fame till the Lord convinced 
 
C 5-0 ) 
 
 them in an extraordinary Way : Yet Mefis in Meeknefs 
 did forbear them. Yea, fuppofe fome fhould, in an Hour 
 of Testation, for fear of their Life, dfffemble, initead of 
 giving a Teitimony, as Peter and Barnabas did ; this were 
 no Ground of withdrawing, as faid is. Yea, or if one 
 fhould take fome unlawful Bond in fuch a Cafe to fave his 
 Life, and yet may be will not confefs it, becaufe he thought 
 it not a Head to (late his Sufferings upon, certainly he is to 
 Ire reproved for it, but not in every Cafe to be withdrawn 
 from ; for that was his Infirmity, and therefore he is to be 
 reftored in the Spirit of Meeknefs. Considering ourfelves, 
 left we alfo be tempted, Gal. vi. i. Reafbns alfo confirm 
 this, For, i. To expect a Church free of perional Failings, 
 is to expect the Barn-Floor jfhall be without Chaff, and to 
 unite with none but the Church triumphant. 2. Perfonal 
 Failings cannot pollute the Ordinances to us, to make our 
 joining with them Sin upon that Account, whether they 
 confefs them or not : For then the not confeffing Hypocri- 
 fy, would make it finful to join with Hypocrites. And if 
 the not confefting of one Failing be a Ground of withdraw- 
 ing^ Why not the not confeffing of others ? And if the de- 
 fending or excufing of one Sin be a Ground of withdrawing, 
 Why not the defending of any, even of Hypocrify I 3. All 
 the common Rules of Union agree with this : For perfonal 
 Failings, confeffed or not confeffed, cannot warrant a Breach 
 where there is Union or Communion, elfe there could be 
 no Union or Communion in the World kept up for a Year's 
 Time. And therefore, if that Ground cannot be a War- 
 rant for Separation where there is Union, then it cannot 
 warrant a Continuance of it to the Hindrance of Union. 
 Perfonal Failings, confeffed or not confeffed, do not involve 
 us in the Guilt of them, if we teftify againft them, and 
 mourn over them : Nor do they oblige us to condemn 
 Duty, or juftify Sin, or reftrain us from any Thing that 
 v/e are called to. I need fay the lefs of this, becaufe the 
 whole is confeiled. Inform. Vlndic. Head 4. in the firft 
 and third inefficient Grounds of withdrawing, Page 64, 65^ 
 66 which I need not tran (bribe. And in Dijlintt. fore- 
 cited Page 66, But from this I argue, if the perfonal Im- 
 perfections, Infirmities, Faults and Failings of Minifters,- be 
 
 not 
 
toot a Ground of withdrawing from their Miniftry, then we 
 may have Communion with the Minifters of Sat land, a- 
 bout whom the Queftion is. For the Queltion is not about 
 their fcandalous Defections, Whether we (hall join with 
 them in thefe, or countenance the Exercife of their Mini- 
 flry under thefe ? but about not con tiffing of the Guilt of 
 them. Now, this Om if lion of Confeffion, or refilling of 
 Acknowledgment is not an official or minilterial Sin, affect- 
 ing the Exercife of their Miniftry, by virtue of which they 
 preach ; but now only perfonal, thro* want of Knowledge 
 or Conviction, or Confidence or Sincerity : None of which 
 is a fufficient Ground of withdrawing. 
 
 3. There may be Union and Communion with Minifters 
 and ProfefTors, that not only are chargeable with Failings, 
 but many Scandals even not confelTed. I do not fay, in no 
 Cafe are Scandals fufficient Ground of withdrawing. Such 
 as are attrocrous, reproachful, and Religion-infectious, like 
 to fpread, and leaven all in Communion with fuch a Con- 
 gregation ; efpecially when not only they are peribnal, but 
 official, affecting the Exercife of minifterial Duties, which 
 cannot be done but by virtue of, and as authorifed by Scan- 
 dals in a broken State of the Church ; thefe are fufficient 
 Grounds of Separation •, and even in a fettled State may be 
 Grounds of Seceffion. Accordingly we declared in Inform. 
 Vindic. Head 5-. Page 98. § 3. That we would call and 
 hear fuch Minifters, ■ as then we had juft Exceptions againft 
 
 * whenfoever the right Removal thereof jhail (atisfy our 
 
 * Consciences by their condemning Defections ; teftifying 
 
 * before God and the World their Rcfentment of the fame, 
 
 id taking up the right State of the Quarrel. Yet we full 
 ' ftick at this, that we would not call or hear any Minifters, 
 
 * againft whom we kad juit, folid and valid Exceptions, nn- 
 c til the lame be rightly removed in afbreiaid.' 
 This is allowable in that circumftantiated Cafe, wh 
 Exceptions were folid and valid ; that is, when they were 
 infectious, hazarding the involving of all that countenanced 
 them in the Sin of thefe Scandals, when they were oi 
 affecting the Exercife of their Miniftry j fo thr.t they could 
 not preach but in fuch a fcandalous Way ; in that bi 
 State of the Church, we could not call or hear them, ex 
 
 G 2 
 
( y* ) 
 
 eept they fhoul d have favisfied our Conferences by condemn- 
 ing and conlefling of thefe Scandals. Yea it is conteded, 
 that fome of thefe Scandals, moft reproachful to the Church, 
 may be Grounds of SecefTion from one Congregation to an- 
 other : But for withdrawing from the Church, or all that 
 were then, or are yet chargeable with thefe Defections, thefe 
 Exceptions are not folid and valid Grounds ; for now they 
 aie not infectious nor official, fince they preach by another 
 Right and another Authority than thefe Scandals. And now 
 there are many Miniftcrs to be found, to whom thefe adjec- 
 tive Epithets are not applicable, about which the Queftion 
 ufed tq be about that Time, Head 7. page 108, ill. That 
 is who are neither* Compilers with the Enemy, nor filent 
 
 * in lying by from the publick Work, or not difcovering 
 4 the palpable Sins of the Time ; nor in fuch a Meafure un- 
 
 * faithful, as would be decerned cenfurable by our Church 
 ' Constitutions/ though at that Time they were chargeable 
 with thefe Things ; and I wilh thefe that were then, or 
 continue to be moilly chargeable with thefe Things, were 
 cenfured condignly. Refpect to the Honour of Chrift, and 
 to the Church's Peace, would plead for this. But all the 
 Exceptions that we can have againir. many Minifters, is 
 their hearing the Indulged, their preaching with them un- 
 der the Toleration, without either addrefTing for it or wit- 
 nefling againft it, their Silence and other Pieces of Unfaith- 
 fuinefs of that "Nature, in Times qf Temptation, would 
 never be decerned a Ground of Depofition (for that only 
 is the Cenfure which can juftify withdrawing; fee Head 4. 
 Page 19. fince that only enjoins us to withdraw, Page 70.) 
 by our Church Conftitutions. Now if there were Ground 
 for fuch a Cenfure at other Times, could it be now expe- 
 dient to draw forth fuch a Cenfure, and depofe all that are 
 fb guilty of the epidemick Involvement ? T^or can we war- 
 rantably withdraw upon this Account, becaufe thefe Scan- 
 dals aie not cenfured nor removed by ConfeiTion, in fuch a 
 Cafe, wherein faithful' Men may follow Peace, and do their 
 Duty, and therein acquiefce without partaking of the Faults | 
 of others. For upon the cenfuring of all Scandals, (efpe- 
 pially the Epidemick) Union cannot be fuipended, but 
 
 would 
 
( a ) 
 
 vould rather be prefled, that Scandal might be gotten or- 
 lerly cenfured. Yea when Union comes in Competition 
 with the cen faring of unfaithful Men, and both cannot bo 
 obtained togeiher, Union is to be prcierred ; as we lind the> 
 Apoitle doth, when the Evils and Inconvcniencies of Schilrn 
 ire greater and more hurtful to the Church than the Evil 
 of fuch an Union. la Times of Divifion, purging is not 
 to be fo much prefled as in Time of Union, but then in fe- 
 deral Cafes, Cenfures of unfaithful Men may be fpared out 
 of Refpect to the Church's Good ; as Mr. Gillejpie proves 
 in his Aaron** Rod blojfvning, and Mr. Durham on Scandaf, 
 Part 4. Chap. 17. In this Cafe Union is not to be fufpend- 
 ed, but either thefe Debates about Scandals waved for a 
 Time, or referred to a more convenient Seafon ; efpecially 
 when the Scandals axe to be looked upon as pad, and may 
 probably never recur. And fo the common Rules of Unioa 
 ; may be obferved, that is, when the Scandals are fuch as 
 ; would not warrant a Separation in Timts of Union, whem 
 they do not make Communion in Ordinances (infill, when 
 there is Accefs for a faithful Man to diicharge his Dutyj 
 and there is no Hazard of partaking of the Guilt of thefe 
 Scandals. I prove this from Scripture and Reafon : Many 
 Inftances fcriptural do clear it. 1. In the Church of Ifraet 
 in the Times of the Judges, efpecially in that loofe Time 
 like ours, when there was no King in Ifrael, and every 
 Man did that which was right in his own Eyes, the whole 
 Tribe of Benjamin became (candalous in Defection, in Com- 
 pliance with the Men of ' Gibiab ; yet after their Difcomtw 
 I ture the whole Congregation fent to them in the Rock Rim* 
 I mm, not only to enter into an AlTociation of Peace with 
 them, (as I noted in the Debates about AlTociation) but to 
 1 reftore them to all the Privilege s they enjoyed before, and 
 | confequcntly Church-Fe low Ihip among the reft, as to at- 
 I tend the Feait of the Lord in Shiloh, &c. Judges xxi. 13, 
 14, <£c. For now the Scandal was pa ft, and no more a 
 continuing Snare. But whatever Co*fefIion was after this 
 Union, it was not propofed as the Term or Condition of 
 Communion with them at fuft. 2 In that fame Church, 
 in the Days of Eli, a very indulging Pricft, his Sons Hophni 
 and Phinehas wore very fcandalous Church-Officers, being 
 
 Sons 
 

 Sons of Bell*?, that knew not the Lord, covetous Wretches, & 
 fcandalouily adulterous, infomuch that Men were made to 
 
 abhor the Offering of the Lord, i Sam. ii. 12 17. Yet 
 
 godly ,Elkanuh, and Hannah the Mother of Samuel, went up\ 
 yearly to wirjbip, and to faerifice unto the Lord of Hofls itt 
 ShiJoh, albeit the two Sons of Eli, Hophni <r//^Phinebas, 
 the Priefls of the Lord, were there, 1 Sam. i. 3. This was 
 not their Sin, becaufe their Scandals, tW attrocious, were 
 perfonal and not official : They did not faerifice by virtue 
 of their Scandals, and f> they did not pollute the Ordinan- 
 ces, nor make Communion in them finrul, nor did they 
 make Elkanah Partaker of the Guilt of them. But it is 
 certain they continued in them, without confe fling and for- 
 faking. 3. After the Captivity, in the Days of Ezra, the 
 Church- Officers were charged with feverai Scandals : The 
 Friefts and the Levites did not feparate themfeives from the 
 People of the Lands, doing according to their Abominations 
 even of the Canaanites and the Hit! ires, &c. For they took 
 ftrange Wives oi 'heir Daughters for themfeives and their 
 Sons, joining in Affinity with the People of thefe Abomina- 
 tions ; as Ezra laments afterwards, Ezra ix. Yet before 
 then, even when thefe Scandals were not removed by Con- 
 fefiion, the Godly joined with them in Ordinances. The 
 Children c/*Ifrael, the Prieflt and the Levites, and the reft 
 §f the Captivity kept the Dedication of the Houfe of God with 
 Joy, and offered one hundred Bulloch, two hundred Rams, &c. 
 Ezra vi. 16, 17. to the End. Alfo at the delivering of 
 the Veflels of the Houfe of the Lord, by Number and 
 Weight, the Children of thofe that had been carried away, 
 offered Burnt-offerings unto the God of ifrael, in Commu- 
 nion with thefe Priefts and Levites, Ezra viii. 35".* This 
 was not their Sin, becaufe the Scandals were -not official, 
 andv 1-1 ' igh of evil Example to the People, to enfnare them 
 fame Sin, yet it was not their Sin to faerifice. 
 "Ining with them, was not a countenancing 
 with them in the Sin of their Scandals. 
 %St this j ' 3 before their Confeffion, and not fufpend- 
 
 ed upon t n 1 ike Manner, in the Days of Nehemiah, E- 
 
 lialhih the ' iving the Overfight of the Chamber of the 
 
 Koufe of c is under Scandal, in being allied unto Tor 
 
( n ) 
 
 'ah, and In preparing for Tobiah a Chamber in the Court* 
 
 fthe Houfeof God, Neh. xiii. 4, 7. for which he wa put 
 
 vay. Alfo, at the fame Time, one of the Suns of °]oiuda % 
 
 .ie Son of Eliajhib the High Prieft, was Son in La a to iian- 
 
 'llat the Horomtc ; therefore he was chafed away in like 
 
 [anner. TV.efe two had defiled the Prieft hood, and the 
 
 .cfvenant of the Priefthood, and of the Levites, Neh. xiii. 
 
 5, 29. Yet before thefe Scandals were removed by Con- 
 
 ;ffion or Cenfure the People had joined with them all the 
 
 'ime, Verfe 3, 4. This was not their Sin, becaufe, as they 
 
 *ere ignorant of their Sin and Scandal of thefe Compliances, 
 
 is People in one Day cannot know whether many Mini- 
 
 •*rs be guilty of Compliance or not, or if that Guilt be z 
 
 sround of withdrawing or not) fo the Scandals were not 
 
 'Ecial, nor did Communion with thefe Priefts involve them 
 
 the Sin of their Scandals. 5. In the Church of Corinth 9 
 
 xre were many Scandals among the Officers and Members 
 
 'that Church. Inceft was not cenfured. 1 Cor. v. I, 2. 
 
 >me went to the Law with their Brethren to the Offence 
 
 ' others, 1 Cbr. vi. 1. Some committed Fornication, 
 
 Cor. vi. 15*, 16, 18. They offended their Brethren by 
 
 eir Scandals, and wounded their weak Confcience, 1 Cor. 
 
 ii. 12. They did eat in Idols Temples, having thereby 
 
 :llowfhip with Devils, and provoking the Lord to Jealoufy, 
 
 Cor. x. 22. They were divided in communicating; and 
 
 the Lord's Supper, one was hungry, another drunk, 1 Cr. 
 
 .21. and for thefe Things they were threatned with 
 
 ?nfures, and the apoftolick Rod. Some of them, even 
 
 tEcers, were puffed up, defiring his Cenfure, 1 Cor. iv. 18, 
 
 j, 2.1. And reproaching the Apoftle, as if he walked after the 
 
 efh, 2 Cor. x. 2. Yet for Refpecl for the Good of the 
 
 mrch, and for preventing the ftumbling of the Weak, and 
 
 r preventing the farther Mifcarriages of fuch as fhould have 
 
 en cenfured, we rind the Apoftle would not cenfure in 
 
 cjb a Cafe, left he fhould ftate a Schifm, Gal. v. 12. Tho ,% 
 
 1 afterts, and vindicated his Power to cenfure, 2 Cor. x. 
 
 9, 12. And Communion was ftill entertained in Ordimn- 
 
 s by the Godly ; yea, enjoined by the Apoftle, 1 Cor. xi. 
 
 ;, 23. Albeit there were many Scandals among them, and 
 
 tfe not removed by Cenfure or CoafefEon. This was hot 
 
 their 
 
( 1* > 
 
 their Sin, becaufe the Scandals of others that did join witk 
 them, did not pollute the Ordinances to them, nor make 
 Communion in them linful. They were not official Scan- 
 dals; if every one of them examined himfelf, and did par- 
 take of the Ordinance worthily himfelf, no more was re* 
 qu'ned. Reafon alfo doth confirm it : For i. Scandals of 
 Officers perfonal, cannot pollute Communion in Ordinan- 
 ce?, no more than the Gracioufnefs, or Inoffentivenefs of 
 Officers can fanctify Communion in Ordinances ; for we can 
 no otherwife partake of the Evil, than of the Good of ano- 
 ther in Church-Communion. As is proven by Durham on 
 Scandal, Part 2. Chap. xii. And by Rutherford in his Peace- 
 able Plea, Chap. x. Cencluf 5. Page 132. &c. where he '■ 
 proves this Conclufion, it is not lawful to feparate from any 
 Worfhip of the Church for the Sins of the fellow Worfhip- 
 pers, whether they be Officers or private Chriftians. 2. 
 Confeflion of Scandal fuppofeth Conviction ; Convidtion fup- 
 pofeth Information, and the fame Sentiments of thefe Scan- 
 dals that we have: Muft there therefore be no Union or | 
 Communion with any, until they be of the fame Sentiments j 
 with our felves ? This is difproved before, that Difference j 
 ©f Judgment is not a Ground of Withdrawing, otherwife i 
 there had never been Union or Communion in the Church ; 
 fin ce the Beginning of the World; for they were never of; 
 one judgment about Sin and Duty. • And (hall we condemn j 
 the Generation of God's People in former Times, who enter-'! 
 tamed Union and Communion among themielves, without | 
 preillng this ? 3. If Confeffion be neceffary, Withdrawing]; 
 is not the Way to engage to it, which doth imbitter and 
 confufe Men in their Opinion. . Now, from this I argue, if j 
 Scandals perfonal be not a Ground of Withdrawing, thenj 
 xve may have Communion with the Presbyterian Miniiters of' 
 Scotland, concerning whom the Debate is. For thefe Scan- | 
 dais are now pail, not abiding to be Snares or Stumbiing- 
 Hocks; not involving us in the Guilt of them, if we pro- ] 
 teft againd them, and mourn for them. And now, no more { 
 officii! Scandals, under which, and by Virtue of which, they j| 
 have Liberty to exercife their Miniflry, it being founded 
 now upon another Authority and Right, and feparated from ■ 
 thefe Scandals* 
 
 4. Tkc 
 
4. There may be Union and Communion win Minilters 
 and Profeflbrs in a. Church where many Corruptions in Doc- 
 1 trine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Government are tolerated 
 . and entertained, neither confefled nor reformed. It is evi- 
 dent by former Conceflions. I do nor mean either Herefy 
 in Doctrine, Idolatry in Worfhip, Tyranny in Difcipline, 
 Intrufion in Government, or Schifm in Communion ; orfuch 
 1 Corruptions as are infeparable from the Doctrine, Worfhip, 
 1 Difcipline and Government, making our Communion with 
 l the Church a Participation with, and Homologation of the 
 ! Guilt of thefe Corruptions ; fuch as Popery ■, Arminianifm % 
 Socinianijm, Quakerijm, and other Errors in Doftrine, Idola- 
 try \ Super jlitim, Liturgies, human Ceremonies, Inventions 
 \ contrair unto the fecond Command in Worfhip. Prelacy^ 
 Erajlianifm, Indulgence, Toleration, &c. in Difcipline and 
 p Government ; or Seclarianifm, Broivnifm, or Gibifm, or'other 
 Schifms in Communion, while thefe Corruptions remain > 
 But it is as evident, that there may be Union and Commu- 
 nion with a Church, where there are feveral Corruptions 
 \ neither confefled, nor reformed ; even all fuch wherein thefe 
 : common Rules may be conferved , fuch as would not war- 
 [ rant a Separation, if the Church were united before -, fuch 
 h as do not make Communion in Ordinances fihful ; fuch as 
 ; give Accefs to faithful Men to difcharge their Duty; fuch as 
 L do not preclude Edification ; and fuch as do not involve ns 
 i in the Sin of them, either by putting us to condemn what wc 
 approved before, or approve what we condemned before, ci 
 retraining from any Duty. As for Example, in Doctrine 
 there may be Difference of Judgment, about many Things, 
 of which before, and doctrinal Determinations of difputa- 
 ble Points exacted by Synods, contrary to our Sentiments j 
 and yet there may be Forbearance with Proteftation, if we 
 be not conftrained to fubferibe, or homologat the fame. In 
 Worfhip there may be many Defects and Difbrders, and fucK 
 Things as had need to be reformed ; yet confident with 
 Union and Communion. In Difcipline and Government 
 there may be many DiiTatisfactions with Church- Officers, un- 
 juft Cenfures, unfit Ordinations, erroneous Decifions Syne- 
 dical, wrong Conftitutions of judicatories, Diflatisfactior,.- 
 Perfons that have the main Stroke in the Adminiftrati:.. 
 
( 53 ) 
 
 . cafioning Jealoufies and Fears ofMifgovernment for the lime 
 to come, and the like; in which it is impoflible that divid- 
 ed Parties, can expect full Satisfaction to their Mind, or to 
 their Light. But they may keep themfelves free of Sin, by 
 mourning for thefe Things, witneffing, protefting and wreft- 
 ling againft them, without Withdrawing from Church-Corn- I 
 munion*, which I prove from Scripture and Reafon. In 
 Scripture we find, i. In the ChurGh of lfrael in the Wilder- 
 nefs there were many Corruptions and Defections, they | 
 turned afide quickly out of the Way unto Idolatry, wor- 
 fhipping the golden Calf, wherein Aaron the Prieft had a 
 great Hand, Exod. xxxii. They were defiled with, and not 
 cleanfed from the Iniquity o( Baal-Poor, Numb. vi. 6, 25;. 
 Jojh. xxii. 17. They rebelled, murmured, and mutinied a- 
 gainft the Lord, and againft Mofes, appointing to themfelves 
 a Captain to return to Egypt. Numb. xiv. Neb. ix. 17, 
 18. Yea, when they were reproved and witnelTed againft, 
 they threatned to ftone the Lord's Servants with Stones, 
 Numb. 14. And in the Schifm of Korah, D at ban, and A- 
 biram, who, with their Adherents, feparated from Mofes, 
 the People murmuring againft Mofes, and Aaron took Part 
 with the Schifmaticks, even when the Lord had convicted 
 and punifhed them, faying, they had killed the People of the 
 Lord, Numb. xvi. 41. They had corrupted themfelves, their 
 Spot was not the Spot of his Children, they were a perverfe 
 and crooked Generation, Deut. xxxii. 5. They for fook God, 
 and provoked him to Jeloufy with ft range Gods, they facrificed 
 to Devils, not to God, Verfe 16, 17. All which Corruptions 
 in Worfnip, Difcipline, Government and Conversation, 
 were ftill continued in, not reformed, and never confefled, 
 until God extorted it by Judgments ; yet all that Time be- 
 fore their confeffing, or forfaking, the Faithful did abide in 
 the Communion of that Church, and did not feparate from 
 the Congregation or Tabernacle ; which was not their Sin, be- 
 caufe they did not communicate with them in thefe Corrup- 
 tions, only in the Worfhip of Cxod feparable from thefe Cor- 
 ruptions : In the mean Time they were not impofed upon 
 to approve thele Defections, but had Freedom to witnefs, 
 proteft, and wreftle againft them. 2. In the Time of he 
 judges, there were many Corruptions and Defectionsenter- 
 
 tainc 
 
C 59 ) 
 
 tained, not reformed, even in Jofhua's Days, the firft Judge : 
 They had ftrange Gods among them, even when they were 
 in one Ailembly together, and had Communion in Worfhip, 
 and were covenanting, Jojh. xxiv. 14, 23. They allowed 
 a Toleration to the curled Nations devoted to Deftruction, 
 making Leagues and Covenants with them. They forfook 
 the Lord and fervcd Baal and Ajhtaroth, Judg. Chap i. and 
 ii. throughout. They complied with an apoitate City 
 Gibeah ,and yet without Confeflion were received into Com- 
 munion, Civil and Ecclefiaftick, Judg. xxi. When H«phni 
 and Phinehas, their Minifters, were Sons of Belial, Adul- 
 terers, making Men to abhor the Offering of the Lord, yet 
 Elkanah and Hannah joined in Communion and in Worfhip. 
 Thefe Corruptions in Worfhip, Difcipline, and Govern- 
 ment, and Converfation, were flill perfifted in, frequently 
 relapfed into, maintained and never confefled until Judg- 
 ment forced them, and fome of them never confefled at all ; 
 yet all that Time before their confefling and forfaking, the 
 faithful Remnant had Communion with them, not in tkefe 
 Defections or Corruptions, but in religious Ordinances, and 
 kept themfelves free from thefe Defections, by mourning o- 
 ver them, wreftling, witnefing and protefting againft them, 
 3. In the Time of the Kings, there were many Defections 
 and Corruptions in Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Go- 
 vernment. In Doctrine, Solomon fays of the Watchmen ia 
 thefe Days, they found the Church, they fmote her, they 
 wounded her, the Keepers of the Wall took away her Vail 
 from her, Cart. v. 7. handling her Cafe very unfaithfully, 
 1 untenderly, ignorantly, torturing her with many Mifapplica- 
 ! tions and Reproaches, In the Days of Uzziah, Jot ham, 
 Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Ifaiah fays, his Watchmen are blind; 
 I they are all ignorant, they are all dumb Dogs, they cannot 
 : hark ; jleeping, Ifa. lvi. 10. In the Days of Jofiah,Jehoiakim y 
 Zedekiah, Jeremiah fays the Prophets prophefed falfly, Jer. 
 v. 31. They were not valiant for the Truth upon the Earthy 
 \ Jer, ix. 3. They walked in Lies, they fir engthned alfo the 
 Hands of Evil Doers, that none returned from his Wickednefs ; 
 They made the People vain. They /peak a Vifwn of their 
 ] 9wn Heart, and not out of the Mouth of the Lord. For which 
 j they were not to be kearkned unto ; that is, obeyed, and 
 
( *° ) 
 
 their Doftrme received upon Truft, Jer. xxiii. 14, 16. la 
 the Days of the begun Captivity, Ezekiel fays to the Shep- 
 herds of that Time, that they fed not the Flock. And the 
 Lord's Flock was made to eat that which they had troden with 
 their Feet ; And to drink that which they had fouled [with 
 their Feet, Ezek. xxxiv. 3,10. In Worfhip, not only were 
 the high Places and Groves not taken away in many Refor- 
 mations ; but the collective Body of the ten revolting Tribes, 
 went awhoring after Jeroboam's Calves at Dan and Bethel, 
 and after the Gods of the Nations, excepting a Remnant of 
 7000, which did not bow their Knee to Baal, of whom the 
 Lord fpeaks to Elijah, unknown to the Prophet. And alfo 
 Judah was univerfally corrupted with Idolatry and falfe Prieft- 
 hood, defcribed at length, Ezek. xvi. and xxiii. Chap. And 
 in Difcipline and Government, at that Time, Ifaiah fays, 
 their Watchmen were greedy Dogs, which could never have 
 enough, they all locked to their own Way, every one for his 
 Gain from his Quarter, Ifa. lvi. 11. Jeremiah fays, The 
 Pri 'efts bear Rule by their Means, and the People loved iohavs 
 it Jo, Jer. v. ult. in fo much, that he wifhed for a Lodgings 
 Plaeeln the Wildernefs. that he might leave his People, 
 and go from them, wifhing for a Seceflion from them ; yet 
 not daring to feparate tho' he calls them all Adulterers, an 
 Ajfembly of treacherous Men, bending their Tongues for 
 Lies in reproaching the Faithful, and none of them were 
 valiant for the Truth, Jer. ix. 2, 3. The labors fcatteted 
 the Sheep of the Lord's Paftures and drove them away, and 
 did not vifit them, Jer. xxiii. 1,2. And Ezekiel fays, The 
 Shepherds in his Day did not ftrengthen the Dijeafed, did not 
 heal that which wzsfick, nor bind up that which was brok- 
 en, nor brought again that which was driven away, nor 
 fought that which was loft ; but with .Force and Cruelty 
 ruled them, Ezek. xnxi.v. 4. All theie Corruptions in Doc- 
 trine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Government were dill kept 
 up among them, nor confeffed, nor forfaken, until the Lord 
 enforced it by Judgments and Deflations ; yet all that 
 Time before their eonfeffing or for faking, the faithful Rem- 
 nant feparated indeed from their Errors and Idolatries ; but 
 as foon as they could recover the Ordinances in Purity, they 
 joined in Sacrifices and Feaits, and other Worfhip, celebrat- 
 ed 
 
( «I ) 
 
 ^1 by the corrupt and impenitent Officers ; nor were they 
 ever commanded to withdraw from Prophets, Priefts, or 
 Levites in the Worfhip of Gtd, becaufe they did not con T 
 fefs their Defections, or though they did not acknowledge 
 them -, no more was required, but that they fliosld not 
 bow the Knee to Baal, fhould not go up to Gilgal, Bethel, 
 or Bethaven, but mourn for thefe Sins, and witnefs and 
 proteft againil them, pleading with their Mother, pleading 
 that ihe might put away her Adulteries, and yet {till join- 
 ing, not in theie Abominations, but in Ordinances, wheat 
 they could not get them pure ; whatever theDifpenfers wfre # 
 that were authorifed and called to difpenfe them. This wag 
 not their Sin, it is never fo called, becaufe they had full 
 Liberty to go about their Duty, and were not required, 
 either to homologate any Sin, or condemn or forbear a- 
 uy Duty. 4. After the Captivity, in the Days of Ezra, 
 and Nehemiah, there were feveral Corruptions and Defecti- 
 ons entertained long before they could be gotten reformed 
 and removed ; for that is never the Work of a Day or * 
 Ye^r, after Times of long continuing Tentation and Tribu- 
 lation. There were feveral Dcfe&ions and Compliances 
 found among the Prielh and Levites, defiling the Prieftly 
 and Levitical Covenant, as their marrying Grange Wivcjt, 
 , cfr. Ezra ix. Neh. xiii. Haggai prophefying at the fame 
 Time, fays of them, they were indulged in eajy Lazinefs, amb- 
 ling in ceiled Houfes, when. the Lord's Hcu/e lay vjafte, and 
 /kying, the Time was not come that it Jhculd be built, Kag. 
 L 2, 4. That which they offered was unclean, Hag. ii. 
 14. and Zechary his Collegue at that Time fays, when 
 they fafted and mourned in the fifth and feventh Month, 
 they did not fa ft unto the Lord, Zech. vii. 5-, 6. The Pro- 
 fehors of the Lord's People flew them, and held them net 
 guilty, and them that ibid them faid, Blejfed be t/^e Lord for 
 I am rich, and their own Shepherds pi ted them npt. Tim 
 Lord's Soul lot bed them, aud their Soul abhor -ed him, Zecru 
 xi. 5, 8. Thefe Corruptions in Worfhip, Difcipline and 
 Government, and Scandals in Piafrice, continued very long 
 ere they were confefled and reformed, even until Neken::ch 
 and Ezra came from Babylon and Perfia ; yet all that Time, 
 even before their confeiling and ibrfaking thefe Sins, the 
 
 Godly 
 
( **- ) 
 
 Godly had Communion with them in Worfhip ; nor did the 
 Prophets reprove them for it, but encouraged them ana 1 
 countenanced them in it, Ezra iii. 2, 3, 4, &c. Ezra v. 
 1. Ezra vi. 16, 17. Ezra viii. 35". all before their Con- 
 feffion, as was (hewed above. 5. In the Time of Chrid's 
 Humiliation in the Flefh, the Church of the Jews was a 
 mod perverfe and corrupted Church in Doctrine, Worfhip, 
 Difcipline and Government. In Doctrine, the Teachers at 
 that Time, even thofe that had Right to teach, as well as 
 Ufurpers, perverted the Law of God with theirfalfeGlofles; 
 they denied that Hatred and rafh Anger was a Sin, Matth. 
 y. 22. or that Heart-adultery was a Sin, Vcrfe 28. They 
 madeihe Cnmmandment of God of no Ejfett, by their Tradi- 
 tions, Matth. xv. 6. They taught for Doctrines the Com- 
 mandments of Men > Verfe 9. Mark vii. 7, 8, 9. In Wor- 
 fhip they were corrupted with Superftition, as is every 
 where taxed. The Houfe of God was polluted with them 
 that fold and bought in the Temple, Tables of Money-changers, 
 and Seats of them that fold Doves : Whereby the Houfe 
 of Prayer was made a Den of Thieves. Matth. xxi. 12, 
 13. And in Difcipline and Government the Priedhood was 
 acquired and kept by Moyen ; Caiaphas was High Pried that 
 Year. Yea they were a corrupt Generation of Vipers that 
 killed the Prophets, and (toned them that were fent unto them. 
 Thefe Corruptions in Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Go- 
 vernment, were tolerated without Confeffion or Reformation, 
 till the Erection of the New Teftament Order : Yet all that 
 Time, even before Confeffion or Reformation, the Godly had 
 Communion in Ordinances. I do not fay, nor think, they 
 had Communion with the intruding or ufurping Pharifees, 
 that fat in Mofes's Seat, not on, Aaron's, Matth. xxiii. But in 
 true Temple- worfhip with the Prieds and Levites, tho' they 
 were fo corrupt, as I have faid, and tolerated and connived 
 at, and complied with all thefe Corruptions of the Scribes 
 and Pharifees. Chriltandhis Difciples attended their Feads 
 and went to the Temple, John vii. 10. John viii. 2. He 
 commands the Leper to go to the Priefl, Matth. viii. .4. 
 And commends the poor Widow catting in her two Mites 
 in theTempIe-treafury,£«/kxxi. 1— -£. Zacharias2L righte- 
 ous Pried, walked in ill the Commandments aui Ordinances of 
 
 the 
 
( H ) 
 
 x he Lord blameUfs, joined uith the reft ot the Pnefts, exe- 
 cuting the Pricfts Office before God, in the Order of his Courfe, 
 Luke i. 6, 8, 9. Simeon a juft and devote Man, waiting for 
 the Confolation of Ifrael, met with Chrift, waiting on the Or- 
 dinances there, Luke ii. 25", 37. And Anna a Prophet- 
 efs, departed not from the Temple, but ferved God with Fa/l- 
 ings and Prayers Night and Day, Verfe 37. Jofeph of Ari- 
 mtf //taz a good Man and a juft, who waited for the Kingdom of 
 'God, did not only join in Ordinances, but in Government 
 in the Jewiih Sanhedrim, as a Counfellor, continuing ftill in 
 their Judicatories, tho' he did not confent to their wicked Deeds 
 and Afis, Luke xxiii. 50, 51. Nicodemus alfo, he that 
 came to Jefus by Night, joined in Government, and fat in 
 Judicatories with the chief Priefts and Pharifees, John vii. 
 50. Thefe Joinings of the Godly were not Sin,becaufe they 
 did not join with thefe Corruptions, but mourned over 
 .them, and teftiiied againft them, and as for Jofeph of Art- 
 mat he 2 and Nicodemus, they did not fin in fo joining, becaufe 
 they diiTented and protefted againft the wicked Acts of thefe 
 Judicatories, and flood in the Way of pafling fome wicked 
 Acts. Yea their Freedom and Faithfulnefs in fo diflenting 
 when they were prefent, is more folemnly recorded to their 
 Honour in the Gofpel, than if they had divided ; as Mr. 
 Durham fhews on Scandal, Part 4. Chap. 7. Page 292. 
 
 6. In the Church of Corinth, tho' it ftill remained a true 
 Church, 1 Cor. i. 2. there were many grofs Corruptions in 
 in Doclrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Government, in Doc- 
 trine, fome of them faid, There is m Refureftion of the 
 Dead, \ Cor. xv. 12. They defpitefuliy traduced Paul's 
 |Kame, as if he walked according to the Flefh, 2 Cor. x. 
 12. There were among them falfe Apoftles, deceitful Work- 
 ers, transforming themfelves into the Apoftles of Chrift, 
 being Satan s Mini tiers, 2 Cor. xi. 13, 15. In Worfhip, 
 vutey did eat in Idol-Temples, having thereby Fellowfhip 
 with Devils, 1 Cor. x. 21, 22. They were divided in 
 communicating, coming to the Lord's Table, fome hungry, 
 fome drunken, 1 Cor. xi. 18, 21. eating Damnation tJ 
 themfelves, r. 29. They had many Confafions in the 
 Manner of their Worfhip, all fpeaking with divers Tongues 
 1 Cor. xiv. 23. And in Difcipline and Government, the, 
 
( *4 ) 
 
 Mmiffcf3 tolerated all thefe Thing?, m fo much as fome 
 of thefe Hereticks and Schifmaticks were puffed up, defpif- 
 Jng the Apoltle's Cenfure, and not fearing his coming with 
 a Rod, t Cor. iv. 18. to the End. There was alfo Inceft 
 tolerated, and filch as was not named among the Gentiles, and! 
 they that fhould have cenfured it were puffed up, i Cor. 
 V; i, 2. And Harlotry too common among them, 1 Qr. 
 Viii. ijr, 16. Together with their going to the Law, 1 Cor. 
 vi. I. And murdering weak Souls for whom Chrifl died; 
 ky their many Scandals, 1 Cor. viii. n, 12, 13. All thefe; 
 Corruptions in Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Govern-; 
 itient, were very long continued without Reformation ori 
 Confeffion. Yet all that Time they met together in Church- 
 Communion, and were commanded to meet for Worfhip,: 
 t Cor. xiv. for the Sacrament, 1 Cor. xi. 18. wherdJ 
 they were to tarry one for another, Verfe 22, 23. Andj 
 for Difcipline, 1 Cor. v. 4. And are reproved for Divifionsj 
 and Schifms, 1 Cor. i. 10, 12. 1 Cor. m. 3. Yea and] 
 the Apoftle himfelf thought it expedient to fpare or defer! 
 the cenfuring of fome of them, 1 Cor. iv. 18. 2 Cor. ft J 
 y, 6—$, 9. This therefore was not their Sin, becaufe the! 
 Faithful had no Communion with thefe Hereticks or Schif- 
 maticks, or Idolaters, 2 Cor. vi. 14, 17. Or with any hi 
 their Corruptions. And tho' they had Communion \\i\li\ 
 thefe that joined and complied too much with them, yet 
 they exonered themfelves by mourning over them, proteft- 
 ing againft them, and waiting for, and fubmitring unto the 
 Apoltle's Directions. 7. In the Church of Galatia, tho*| 
 ftill remaining a true Church, Gal. i. 2. there were many; 
 grofs Corruptions and Defections in Doctrine, Worfhip, Diij 
 cipline and Government. In Doctrine, they were removed^ 
 unto amther Go/pel, Gal. i.6,8. Bewitched not to obey the TrutA 
 ieginning in the Spirit, ending in the Flejh, Gal. iii. 1, j, 
 Pleading for Circumcifion and Jultification by the Law, ren- 
 dering Chrifl ofm Effeti unto them, Gal. v. 3, 4. Not 
 hying the Truth, Verfe 7. Thefe that defired to make 
 fair Shew in the Fiefh con ft rained them to be circumci/ed, only 
 leaft they fhould fuffer Perfecution for the Faith of Ghrilq 
 GaL vi. 12. In Worfhip, many -adhered to the Mofaicrd 
 Ceremonies, turning to weak md beggarly Element:, wfth>* 
 
 I 
 
( «5 ) 
 tng Days, Mouths, Times and Tears, Gal. iv. 9, 10. And 
 in Difcipline and Government,thefe that troubled them were 
 not cut off or cenfured, Gal. v. o, 10, 1 1. All thefe Cor- 
 ruptions in Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipliac and Govern- 
 ment were for fbme Time maintained without Confeffion, 
 or returning from them ; yet all that Time the Faithful 
 maintained alfo Church- Communion, tho' not in thefe Cor- 
 ruptions and Defections, yet in Worfhip and Duty without 
 Sin, exonering themfelves by (landing fafr, and proteiting a- 
 gainft their being entangled with the Yoke of Bondage. 8. 
 Im the Churches of Afi&, tho* true Churches, having Chrift 
 walking in the Midft of their Candleiticks, there were many 
 Corruptions and Defections. Ephefus bad fallen from her 
 firfl Love and fir jl Works, for which (he is commanded to 
 repent. Rev. ii. 4, 5. Yet none are commanded to with- 
 draw until (he repented. Pergamus had thefe that held the 
 Doftrine of Balaam, and the Do Urine of the Nicolaitans ; 
 which Thing the Lord hated, Verfe 14, ic. Thyatira fuf- 
 fered the Woman Jezebel, which called herfelf a Prophetefs, 
 to teach and feduce the Lord's Servants to commit Fornica- 
 tion, and to eat Things facrificed unto Idols, v. 20. Sardis 
 L was dead in Formality, Rev- iii. 1. Laodicea languifhing in 
 JLukewarmnefs and lothfom TndifFerency, Verje 15, \6. 
 All thefe Corruptions and Defections were for fome Time 
 maintained without Repentance ; and tho' for all of them 
 they be commanded to repent, and confequently to confefs 
 them ; yet none are commanded to withdraw till they re- 
 pented. And no other Burthen is impofed upon thefe that 
 were free of thefe Corruptions and Defections, but to hold 
 faft that which they had already until the Lord come, Rev. 
 ii. 24,25*. On the contrary, thefe who kept themfelves 
 pure, tho' ftill continuing in Communion, not with thefe 
 Hereticks and Schifmaticks in Sin, but with thefe defective 
 lAngels in Duty, were commended and approven, and ex- 
 horted to continue as formerly. Now, if Communion with 
 them in that Cafe had been finful, and perfbnal Integrity 
 (with mourning for, and protefting againft thefe Defections 
 and Defects) had not been fufficient for the Faithful, where 
 the Defect was finful in the Officers ; how can it be thought, 
 that the faithful an4 true Witncis Jcfus Chrift fhould fo 
 I fharply 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 fharply reprove the one, and fo fully approve the other at 
 the fame Time ? 
 
 Reafon alfo doth confirm it : For, i. If many Corrup- 
 tions in Parents or Husbands, will not warrant Children or 
 Wives to feparate from parental or conjugal Fellowfhip, [ 
 which is the moft natural and neareft Kind of Communion,, 
 yet not to be kept in Sin, as the Apoftle teaches, i Cor. 
 vii. Then alfo many Corruptions in Minifters and Elders,! 
 who muft be fubmitted unto as Fathers, will not warrant • 
 Church-Members to withdraw from Church-Fellow fhip. 2. \ 
 If known Corruptions or Defections in Church-Officers (im- 
 ply, becaufe not confefled, made Communion in Ordinan-f 
 ces finful ; then no Communion could be kept at all with! 
 others, becaufe all have Corruptions which they do not) 
 confefs. Nay, no Believer could have Communion with* 
 himfelf, becaufe he hath Corruption known better to him- 
 feif, than any others Corruption ; nearer him than any o- i\ 
 thers ; condemned in the Law as much as any others ; and 
 making indeed his Duties to be finful. If it be laid, he 
 repents and confefles thefe Corruptions, reds upon Chrift 
 for the removing the Guilt and the Power of them, and pro- 
 tefts againft them ; and then he is exonered. I anfwer, he 
 repents, but his Corruption, or unrenewed Part, does not, 
 will not repent. > So in the Body of the Church, we may j 
 repent, though Minifters and others will not ; we may ' 
 mourn over their Defections, lay it over upon Chrift to re* 
 move them, and proteft againft them, and then be exoner- 
 ed, and have Peace of Conference, in joining not with their 
 Corruptions, but in Duty. 3. If we withdraw from one 
 Church in a conftitute Gale, becaufe of Corruptions and De- j, 
 feclions unconfelTed, then, on the fame Ground, we muft 1 ! 
 withdraw from ail Churches, becaufe all have Corruptions 
 and Defections to confefs, which they do not confefs. Nay 
 in withdrawing from one .we withdraw from all : For the 
 Church is but one. And if we communicate with any one 
 Congregation, we have Communion with the whole Body ; 
 for all that eat one Bread are one Body, 1 Cor . x. 1 7 . compared 
 with 1 Cor. xxii. 13. And fo, though one Congregation be 
 free, yet either it is a Part of the national Church, or it is ; 
 net* If it be a Part, then, in having Communion with 
 
 Aat, 1 
 
.( *7 ) 
 
 that, we have Communion with the whole national Church j 
 md if we withdraw from the Church national or any Part 
 fit, for Corruptions not confeiTed, then we mud withdraw 
 rom that too : For that is a Part of the Body corrupted. 
 f that one Congregation with which we join, be not a Part 
 )f the Church national, then it is a diftindt Church ; and 
 :onfequently fchifmatical, according to our own Definition of 
 ichifm, Infirm. Vindic. Head 4. Page 63. 4. If Defections 
 iot c«nfe(Ted, tho' not (landing neither as prefent Tentations, 
 nvolving us in Sin, be a Ground of withdrawing from Mi- 
 nders ; then it is lawful to feparate from Worihip, beeaufc 
 »f the Sins of the Fellow- Worfhippers ; efpecially if they be 
 Vliniders. Which is laboroufly and learnedly difproved by 
 nany Arguments, by Mr. Rut herfoor dm his Peaceable Plea, 
 : Hhap. 10 and it. And by Mr. Durham on Scandal, Part 
 Chap. 12, 13, 14, 15. Now hence I argue, If many 
 uch Corruptions in Doctrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and Go- 
 vernment, not confeiTed nor reformed, be not a fufficient 
 Ground of withdrawing, as I have proved by Scripture ani 
 leafon ; then we may have Communion with the Presby- 
 erian Miniders of Scotland, concerning whom the Difpute 
 s. For thefe are neither Herefy, Idolatry, Tyranny, In- 
 rufion nor Schifm : Nor are they infeparable (but now ac- 
 tually feparated) from the Conditution of the Church : 
 Nfor are they nowdandingor exident in Exercife, either to 
 mthorife their preaching, or to involve us in the Guilt of 
 hem. But they continue only as not acknowledged by 
 :hem, which would not warrant a Separation in any Church i 
 Jinked ; nor can they make our Communion in Ordinances 
 inful ; nor do they any Way put a Bar, but rather a Spur, 
 ;o our Faithfulncfs in proteding againd them. 
 ! In the fourth Place, I fhall anfwer fomc Objections, 
 therein I fhall confider the Chief of the Scriptures and 
 ; ^eafons, that are, or may be alledged againd what is faid. 
 Object. 1. 'It is prefcribeil to Jeremiah, when there was 
 a Contention between hirn and the Prieds, Jer. xv. 10. 
 Let them return unto thee, but return not thou unto them. 
 Therefore, until the Miniders offenfive and backfliding 
 Courfes be turned from, acknowledged and forfaken, we 
 cannot return unto them, but mud continue in Withdraw* 
 I 2 
 
( 68 ) 
 
 1 i9gs.' Anjw. i. Upon this Ground indeed we did before 
 fufpend our joining with them, and did continue a ctr.dithn- 
 al Withdrawing, as it is faid, Inform, Vindic, Head 4. Page 
 92. ' We judged it lawful, reafonable and neceflary, in the 
 
 * former declining, backfliding and troubled State of the 
 
 * Church, as that was in Jeremiah, to leave that Part of 
 
 * the Church which had made fuch Defection, whether Mi- 
 
 * nifters or Profeflbrs, as to a joint Concurrence in carrying 
 
 * on the publick Work. 5 According to that Scripture, as 
 it is faid, Vindic, Page 36. becaufe then in thefe Circum- 
 stances, their Defections were ftanding as Snares, involving 
 us into the Sin of them, if we (houid have returned unto 
 Communion with them, while they were preaching by vir- 
 tue of Sin, and their minifterial Exercife had its Holding 
 on Sin, to wit, by the Indulgence and Toleration, built 
 on Supremacy and popilh Tyranny. But now it is not lb ; 
 thefe are not ftanding to involve us in Sin. And feeing 
 they have fo far returned, though not to us, yet to the an- 
 cient Reformation of the Church of Scotland, in Doctrine, 
 Worfhip, Difcipline and Government, as that they have 
 recovered theii? Miniftry into Liberty, from thefe Encroach- 
 ments ; we may return fo far unto them, as to have Com- 
 munion with them in Reformation, when we are not defir- 
 ed nor tempted to return to their Defections. 2. The Pro- 
 phet here in the Midft of his Contentions, which were a 
 great Grief and Grievance to him, Verfe 10. falls into an 
 Excefs of Impatience and Unbelief, wherein he fpeaks as a 
 Man in a raving Fit of a Fever, Verfe 18. The Lord in 
 in this Verfe, giving him a Check for his Extravagancy, 
 firft encourages himfeif to repent, If thou return, I will bring 
 thee again. If there were more of our returning to the Lord, 
 there might be more Hope of the Miniflers. Then he in- 
 ftructs him to be faithful in his own Miniftry, to take the 
 Precious from the Vile ; that is to diftinguiih them, as to 
 fpeak to them as the Lord's Mouth pertinently, giving to 
 every one their Due, to the Precious the Promifes, to the 
 Vile the Threatnings, he had to deliver. In the Clofe of 
 the Verfe, he gives his Direction with Reference to the 
 People, that they fhould return to him* not he to them. 
 Where, 1. It is the People, his Peifecutors that are there 
 
 ipokea 
 
( 69 ) 
 
 ,poken of, Verfe 15. not only Priefts and Prophets, he 
 lull: not return to the Ways and Courfes of his perfecut- 
 ng Enemies. This is a good Argument not to unite with 
 he perfecuting Party. 2. It was the Duty of thefe Per- 
 ecutors, be they Priefts or People, t$ return to him ; not 
 >n!y to return to God by Repentance, and to him by Con- 
 eff on, but by Reformation of their Life, changing their 
 Zourfe, returniag to favour and refpect him, returning to 
 jear kim, and receive his MelTage off his Hands. It can- 
 lot be faid, that if they had not returned by Repentance or 
 ^onfeflion, but had returned by Reformation and Amend- 
 ment, to join with him, and to hear him ; he would have 
 efufed them, though certainly he would have dealt faith- 
 ully with them, in teftifying againft their former Courfes. 
 Nor is it faid by the Lord, Until they return unto thee by 
 Repentance and ConfeiTion, thou /halt mt return unto them ; 
 mly let them return : Importing it well became them to fub- 
 eel themfeves to the Prophet. Now the Minifters have 
 in fome Refpect returned, though not by Repentance or 
 ConfeiTion ; . yet by Reformation and changing their Courfe, 
 unto a Courfe more like the old Way, than their former 
 Backflidings. 3. Jeremiah was forbidden to return unto 
 them, not abfolutely, but in feme Senfe; he behoved not 
 :o return from his Duty, to follow their backfliding Courfes, 
 nor to fubjeel himfelf to their wicked Impoiltions, but he 
 was allowed to return to preach to them ; yea, and to have 
 Communion with"nhem in the Sacrifices and foleHin Feafts, 
 md other Temple-Ordinances : As we find him frequent- 
 ing the Temple, both to preach and to hear, Jer. xxviii, 
 |Yea there is not one Word in the Scripure of his withdraw- 
 ,ing, or that ever he was commanded fo to do from the 
 'Priefts in thole Days. 
 
 Objecl. 2 * But if they do not acknowledge their Iniqui^ 
 ( £ ty, God will have no Communion with them ; and how 
 i f can we have Fellowfhip with them, while they will not 
 < { confefs their Sin, but maintain Caufes of Wrath, then 
 ' Prw. xxviii. 13. He that cover eth his Sin Jhall not fro- 
 > l fper t but whofe cenfejfeth and forfaketh them [hall have Mer- 
 ; without this confeffing and forfaking, we cannot ex- 
 j« pedl the Lord's Blcffing with them, or that they {hall pro- 
 
 1 fper 
 
C $. ) 
 
 « fper in their Miniftry, for without this they cannot fland 
 1 in the Lord s Counfel, and confequently cannot be inftru- 
 
 * mental in turning People from their evil Way, and from the 
 
 * Evil of their Doings, nor profit the People at all, Jer. xxiii. 
 c 22, 23. therefore we dare hear none to whom the Lord 
 
 * hath not promifed his Countenance ond Concurrence. * 
 Anpw. 1. This makes Communion with them, while it is 
 fo, very uncomfortable, and unheartfome, and unhopeful, 
 but it does not make itfmful. For, 1. ConfefTion of known 
 Sin, is indeed always necelTary for attaining and entertaining 
 Commuaion with God, but not fo necelfary in Church- 
 Communion, as that no Communion mult be without it. 
 Thefe Scriptures fpcak no fuch Thing, but fays it is necef- 
 fary for finding Mercy in the Sight of God : Which again, 
 2. Mutt be undei flood of known Sins, not explicitely con- 
 feffed, but purpofely covered, though they be convinced 
 they are Sins ; and unknown Sins, not implicitely confefTed : 
 It is not to be underflood of every Sin ; it is impofllble for 
 a Man to confefs all his Sins, and unlawful to confefs any 
 until he.be convinced. Known Sins we muft confefs ex- 
 prefly, but unknown Sins, fuch as we have not, and are not, 
 convinced of, only implicitely. Now the Miniflers are not 
 convinced of thefe Sins that they \Vill not confefs, and it is 
 hard to fay that they cover them purpofely, and againft 
 their Light ; and yet harder to fay, they (hall not find Mer^ 
 cy or Communion with God, until they confefs them. 
 Many Believers un<Jer the Old Teframent found Communi- 
 on with God, though they never confeffed their Polygamy, 
 marrying mote Wives than one, which was their Sin. So- 
 hmon found Communion with God in the high Place at 67- 
 beah, which was his Sin. 3. But whether they have Com- 
 munion with God or not, we may have it under their Mi- 
 niftry ; for the Hearers may have Communion with God 
 when the Minifler hath it not. Minifters may edify others, 
 and not be ediried themfelves ; they may preach Salvation 
 to others fruitfully, and be themfelves can: aw r ay. Mini- 
 nifters Impcnitency cannot hinder Peoples Edification. 
 The Reafon why the Prophets in Jeremiah's Time, did 
 not turn People from their evil Ways, nor prolit them at 
 all, was not becaufe t'ncy were impenitent, or did not con- 
 
 . fefs 
 
( 7i ) 
 
 efs their Defections, but becaufe they were unfaithful, 
 >reached Peace to Evil-doers, when they (hould have warn- 
 ed them of the Evils of their Ways, and becaufe they flood 
 lot in the Lord's Counfel, that is, fought not, and took not 
 Zounfel from God, and did not confult that fo much as the 
 ^ounfel of their own Imaginations : It were hard to apply 
 his to the Minifters, concerning whom the Debate is. 4. 
 3ut whether we have the fenfible Communion of God, or 
 danifeftations of his Prefence in Ordinances difpenfed by 
 hefe Minifters or not, that is not the Rule of our Duty. 
 t is a very uncertain Rule ; for he may give his Pre- 
 ence where he does not approve the Minifter, and he 
 nay approve the Minifter where he does not give 
 lis Prefence; and if he be abfent, it is uncertain who- 
 her it be the Minifter's Fault or our own, and upon 
 hat Ground the other Party may be juftified in divid- 
 ,ng from us, becaufe they may mifs his Prefence a- 
 nong us, and in our Meeting •, his Prefence in Communi- 
 >n is the End of our Meetings, and not the Rule : The 
 Meeting is always lawful, and may have the Expectation 
 >f his Prefence, that is gathered in his Name ; and none 
 can fay, the Meetings of Presbyterian Minifters of Scotland 
 it this Time, in thefe Circumftances, are gatheitd in any 
 other Name. However, if we would expect the Bleffing, 
 et us endeavour Unity, for that is as the Dew of Herman, 
 ..nd there the Lord commands the Bleffing, PjaL exxxiii. 
 tit. 
 
 Object. 3. ' Many of thefe Minifters did fubject their 
 
 \ Miniftry to the Difpofal of ftrange Lords, and took a new 
 
 j Holding from and upon that new architectonick ufurped 
 
 I Power of the Supremacy. We dare not therefore homo- 
 
 i logate fuch an Affront to the Prerogative Royal of our only 
 
 ! King and Law-giver, who fent them to negotiat a Treaty 
 
 of Peace with us, in giving them the Refpect of his Ambaf- 
 
 : fadors, after they have fo foully broken their Inftructions 
 
 1 and become Servants of Men, and fubject, even in urinific- 
 
 rial Functions, to another Head than Chrift. We dare have 
 
 no more medling with fuch Changlings in Things that they 
 
 we dare not come and go upon, Prov. xxiv. 21. We 
 
 * cannot countenance them, who havefo corrupted the Gove* 
 
 * suite 
 
( 7* ) 
 
 * nant of Levity anifregarding the Honour of him who cal- 
 
 * led them tobehisMeflengers,' by departing out of the Way, 
 and caufingmany to Humble at the Law ^ ferjwhich Caufe they 
 are in holy Juftice defervedly made contemptible and bale 
 before all the People, according as they have not kept his 
 "Ways, and have been partial in the Law, Mai. ii. 7, 8, 9. 
 We muft rather look upon them as ipfo jure degraded and 
 fallen from that Honour. ' As the Lord hath taught us ex- 
 ' prefly, declaring, that the Prielts and Levitts that (hould 
 
 * come near to him, fliould be the Sons of Zadcck, that 
 
 * kept the Charge of the Sanctuary, when the Children of 
 c Ifrael went aftray from him, but not Backfliders ; they 
 ' fhall not come near to do the Office of a Pried, but (hall 
 
 * bear their Shame, EzeL xliv. 13, 15:. And feting they 
 
 * became in the Exercife of their Miniftry the Servants of 
 
 * Men, and bound to pleafe them, they have thereby forfeit- 
 
 * cd the Honour of the free Servants of Chrift, Gal. i. 10. , 
 
 * For Mr. Durham in a DigrefEon of hearing Minifters, Rev. 
 
 * Chap. 1. Page cc. in 4/0. fhews, that by palpable De- 
 ' fe&ion from the Truth and CommifTion given to'Minifters 
 
 * in their Call, they may forfeit their CommifTion ; and fo 
 
 * no more are to be accounted AmbaiTadors of Chrift, or 
 ' Watchmen of his Flock, than a Watchman »f the City is 
 
 * to be accounted an Obferver, when he hath made publick 
 
 * Defection to the Enemy, and taken on with him.* Anf. 
 1 . I grant this was once our Argument for withdrawing 
 from the indulged and tolerated Minifters, Inform. Vindic. 
 Head 4. Ground 2. Page 71, 72. Tcftimony againft To- 
 leration Page 30. and might be fuftained in that broke* 
 and declining State of the Church, while their Miniftry were 
 fo fubjeded to, and holding upon that ufurped Power, while 
 they were Servants of Men, while they continued corrupting 
 Levi's Covenant*, caufing People to {tumble at the Law, re- 
 maining in thefe palpable Defections to the Enemy ; but 
 this was only applied to the indulged, and the grolTeft Sort 
 of the tolerated Minifters, the Adreflers, &c. All the Mi- 
 nifters with whom we differed, were not fuch then, and 
 much lefs now, when thefe Ufurpations and Subjections to 
 them are done away. 2. Thefe Scriptures do not warrant 
 ©ur withdrawing in the prefent Circumftances, we were not 
 
C 73 ) 
 ft meddle with Minifters in their Changes to the worfe, 
 rev. 24. but we may meddle to join with them in their 
 hanges to the better. That Scripture, Mai. ii. y, 9. will 
 3t now warrant withdrawing from Minifters, but rather 
 yfeekthe Low at. their Mouth, Verfe 7. For 1. In the 
 .xercife of their Miniftry at prefent, they are not departed 
 iutof the Way, nor give Occafion to People to ftumble at 
 ie Law ; nor in the Conftitution of the Church, and mini- 
 serial Exercife, is the Covenant of Levi now corrupted. 
 The Way to Induce them to return, and to remove thefe 
 tumblings, and to redintigrate their levitical Purity, is not 
 feparate from them, except we were in unavoidable 
 azard of their Sin, which we are not ; but to unite, and 
 reftle, and witnefs, againft their former Departing, 
 tumblings, and Corruptions, and their prefent Impenitency. 
 Their Contemptiblenefs and Bafenefs before the People, is 
 •heir juft Punifhment from the Lord for their Defections, 
 utdoes not juftify the People's continuing therein, and 
 •reating them as bafe ; we fhould rather mourn for them 
 but of Love, and join with them not in Corruptions, but 
 Ii Duty. That Scripture, Ezek. 44. will riot prove all the 
 Dackfliding Minifters of the Church of Scot Ian d to be jure 
 degraded, and fallen from that Honour. For, 1. Thefe 
 £riefts miniftred unto Ifrael before their Idols, and can fed 
 heHou/eoflCizel to fall into Iniquity, Verfe 12. We can- 
 jiot fay this of all the Minifters with whom we differed, the* 
 nany went along with the Generation, in bowing to the 
 idols of the Time. (2) They were not to be degraded 
 (from the Miniftry or Priefthood, or to be deprived of the 
 
 flonour of being heard, countenanced and or joined with in 
 .heir Miniftry, Verfe 11. Tet they (hall be Minifters in my 
 i&uary, they /hall fay the Burnt -Offering, and they /ha// 
 i before them to mini fler unto them. Verfe 14. / will 
 t them Keepers of the Charge of the Hottje for a// the 
 Service thereof and for all that (bait be done therein. Only 
 they were to be degraded fo far when they returned, as not 
 to bear the Office of a Prieft, or come near the holy Things 
 in the m$fl holy Place, Verfe 13. That is, they were to 
 lofe fome Degree cf Honour and Privilege, but not to 
 Depo/ition or Sufpenfion from their Miniftry. 3. This Da- 
 ±5 it was, was not tatieipated by the Sen- 
 K. teflce 
 
c 
 
 ll 
 I 
 
 . C 74 > 
 encc of the People's withdrawings from them, exeept in the 
 Cafe, when they were miniftring to them before th«ir Idols 
 when they were to abftract themfelves : But when they 
 left off that, the People were ftill to own them as their jtin-j 
 aiders, and never looked on them as degraded, until by thcj 
 Intervention of a Judicatory the legal Sentence fhould b<* 
 inflicted. A.md kfl$U That Scripture, Gat. i. 10. will not 
 "warrant our difrefpedting of the Minifters, as no more Ser- 
 vants of ChrihV For if they yet pteafed Men, by fubjectinf 
 their Miniftry to them as formerly, we would not yet give; 
 them the Honour of the faithful Servants of Chrift, as for- 
 merly, but now they do notfo. 3. What Mr. Durham\ 
 fays in that DegrefTion, is very right, and did fuit the 
 Cafe before, when the Minifters ' did fo far take on with 
 
 * the Enemy, as to addrefs him, and accept of his Favours, 
 "' with a CeiTation of the War they fhould have maintained 
 
 * againft Antichrift ; ' then they deferved to be, and were 
 
 * looked upon in tantum <b pro tempore, as having Jure for- 
 8 feited the wonted Refpect due to Chr ill's faithful Ambaf- 
 
 * fadors, while they continued in that Defection ; as 'tis 
 
 * faid, Teftimony again/} the Toleration, . 'age 30.' But now 
 they do not continue fo, and the Enemy being beat away, 
 the Watchmen have returned to their Charge ; and tho' they 
 defer ve a Check for their Unfaithfulness in i£ yet I 
 fuppofe that none of the Godly will fay they have forfeited 
 their GommilTion, fo as to become no Minifters, for we 
 always counted them fuch, as 'tis faid in that Vindication and 
 that fame Teftimony. 
 
 Objecl. 4. 6 We always held it to be a Ground of with- 
 € drawing, when Minifters perverted their Doctrine, in con- 
 ' tradicting and oppofing our Teftimony, according to thefe I 
 
 * Scriptures,* Prov. xix. 27. We muft ceafe to hear the In- i 
 ftruttion that caufeth to err frem the Words of Knowledge. 
 
 * Whatever thefe Words be, efpecially if they b«the Words 
 
 * of Chrift's Patience, we'muft withdraw from thefe Leaders 
 c that will caufe us to err, by perverting the right Ways of 
 
 * the Lord, or leading into Snares, or caufe us to decline 
 € any Way to the Right-Hand, or to the Left, from any of 
 4 his Truths, for we are afraid of the Threatning to be de- 
 
 * ftroyed, even tho' the Error be not fundamental, lfa. ix. 
 
 \ 16. 
 
 I 
 
 
( fS ) 
 
 ; f 16V Anf. I. I grant this was our third Argument for 
 withdrawing, in that broken and declining State of the 
 : Church, Inform. Vindlc. Head. i. Page 74, 75-, 76. And 
 alfo our third Argument in Teftimony againft Toleration, 
 Page 31* When the Minifters were perverting the Tefti- 
 ■■'.■: raony againft the Supremacy and Tyranny, when they were 
 .»-. owning, approving, and preaching, and perfwading it to be 
 :: Duty, to own and approve the pretended Authority of the 
 ::{•, then Tyrants, and People were in Hazard of being pervert- 
 {} «d from fome Parts of #ur covenanted Reformation, by 
 ^ their Doclrine and Prayers, and in their Application, were 
 rl condemning elTential Parts of the then Teftimony. But 
 i now it is not (b, they are not now perverting that Tefti- 
 t. mony, they are not now owning that Authority, &c nor 
 :!.ir are they perverting the prefent Teftimony againft Popery, 
 ± prelacy, Eraftianifm and Tyranny ; there is a Difference 
 ■A between the Teftimony then and the Teftimony now, inte- 
 ■h grally confidered, for there were fome Truths oppofed then, 
 :f that are not oppofed now, that makes the Difference. 2. 
 !■[•' As now it cannot be faid, the Minifters do now caufeus to 
 £ err from the Words of Knowledge, nor that *they are led 
 }k of them in hearing them preach at prefent, are thereby in 
 ;|. Hazard of being deftroyed ; fo it is not every Error, or 
 Mifapplication in Doctrine, that will give fufficient Ground 
 II of withdrawing, but we are to hold faft that which is good, 
 x and reject what is not according to the Law and the Tef- 
 ib timony. There is no Man but will preach Miftakes fome- 
 ; ; times, we muft try it before we truft it. 
 
 Objefi. 5. We held it a furlicient Ground to withdraw 
 
 I from Com pliers 1 for this Abiathur was thruft from the Prieit- 
 
 J hood, becaufe he complied with Adonijah the Ufurper. 1 
 
 :, Kings 1.7. Compare with 1 Kings 2. 27. Tis* Time now 
 
 ' we were feared from Compliances, after we have felt the 
 
 j Smart of them from fad Experience, (hall we a-gain join in Af- 
 
 jinity with the People of thefe Abominations? Would not 
 
 , the Lord be angry with us till heconfumed us ? Ezra ix. 14. 
 
 The Lord we hope feath inftru&ed us better, that wefhould 
 
 : not walk in the Way of this People, nor fay a Confederacy 
 
 with them, to whom this People fays a Confederacy ; but 
 
 fencYify the Lord, and wait upon him, in an abftracted Way 
 
 K 2 tf 
 
( 76 ) 
 
 m following Duty, tho' we ihould be counted for Sfgns and 
 "Wonders in IfraeU and branded with Singularity, Jfa. viii. 
 ii, 12, 18. He is now calling loudly to us, Depart, depart 
 ye, go out from thence, touch no unclear Thing, they 
 ihould be clean that bear the Veffels of the Lord, Jfa. lijj 
 1 1. Since Ifrtel hath gone a whoring from God by open 
 and avowed Defe&ion, we dare not join in their Wine-Offe- 
 rings, for they are not pleailng unto the Lord, and their Sa- 
 crifice was the Bread of Mourners, all that eat thereof (hall 
 be polluted, Hof. ix. i, 4. We muft have a care not to 
 be unequally yoked with fuch Unrighteoiafnefs ; but as we 
 would be the Temple of God, and have him to dwell among 
 us, we muft come out from among them, and be feparate, 
 and touch no unclean Thing; and then he will receive us, 
 2 Cor. vi. 14, 17. Anfwer I. I grant this was our fourth 
 Argument in the Vindication, Page 77, 78. and had fome 
 Weight in that broken and declining State of the Church, 
 when thefe Compliances were (landing as Snares and Stum- 
 bling-Blocks, but now paft Compliances not confeiTed, are 
 not a fufficient Ground of Withdrawing, nor do thefe Scrip- 
 tures prove it, which were then adduced by Way of fome 
 Analogy, to deter us in thefe Circumftances from Compli- 
 ance. 2. For that Scripture, 1 Kings i. 7. 1 Kings ii. 27. 
 fays nothing to the prefent Cafe : The Ufurper is now a- 
 vay. Let thefe who are fo treafonabie as to comply, now 
 be punifhed according to Law. 3. That Scripture, Ezra ix. 
 14. will not help ; for (0 ll niay fear us indeed from Com- 
 pliance, that we are not pleading for: Joining with the 
 Presbyterian iVf inifters in the prefent Circumftances is no; 
 Jin ful Compliance with the Enemies. (2) The People of 
 Abominations there fpoken of, are Strangers and open Ene- 
 mies, Presbyterian Minifters are not fuch, tho' formerly 
 they made too much Affinity wttfc them, yet joining with 
 them now is not a joining with Enemies. (3) Notwith- 
 ftanding that was the Prieft's Sin in thefe Days to join in 
 Affinity with the People of thefe Abominations, yet the God- 
 ly joined with them in \Vorfhip, before they confefled it, 
 as is proven before. (4) That Scrip: ure, Jfo, viii. 11, 12, 
 18. cannot now be applicable ; for (1) to walk in the Way 
 of the People, when their Way is not finfu!, cannot be con- 
 
 de«* 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 ftemned ; albeit their former Ways were Gnful, and they 
 will not confefs them, yet if there prefent Courfe be not fin- 
 fal, there is nothing can oblige the Faithful, who were Signs 
 and Wonders before, to affect Singularity now, in an ab- 
 ftracted Way of following Duty. In Ahaz his Time, in- 
 deed Ifaiah was instructed not to walk in the Way of the 
 People, but he did walk in the Ways of the People in He- 
 ztkiah's Time. (2) The Confederacy the People was driv- 
 ing and carrying on, was with the Ajjyrian Tiglathpilnefer^ 
 an encroaching Enemy. Ifaiah and the Faithful were inftruc- 
 ted not to homologate that, when Miniflers and People were 
 faying a Confederacy to a Popifh Ufurper, under the Indul- 
 gence and Toleration, we durkt not join with them i» thefe* 
 but now they are faying no fuch Confederacy. And when 
 we confederate with the Minifters now, we do not confede- 
 rate with Affyrians or Papifts, or Enemies of Truth now. 
 (3) Tho* they were not to walk in their Ways, nor to fay 
 a Confederacy with them, yet the Faithful were (till to join 
 with them in Temple- Wodhip, directed to the true Object 
 in the true Manner. There is never one Word of With- 
 drawing here from Worfhip, nor was there any in Ifaiah's 
 Time, but from Idolatry, as I proved above. (5) That 
 Scripture, Ifa. Hi. 1 1 . fays not, that we mould now depart 
 from the Minifters of Scotland; for (1) 'tis a Promife by- 
 Way of Command, that the Lord's People fhall come front 
 Babylon, whenCyrus (hall proclaim Liberty to them to come 
 home, and fo may be applied to Popery or Prelacy, or what 
 is Babylonifo ; People mould now come from thefe Things, 
 when they have Liberty and Opportunity to embrace Re- 
 formation : But it cannot be applied to the Presbyterian 
 Miniilry at prefent, which I hope none of the Tender will 
 call Babylon. (2) It proves we mould not join in any un- 
 clean Things, but we may join inGoipel-Ordinances in Pu- 
 rity, which are not unclean Things. (3) They mould be 
 clean indeed, that bear the Veffeis of the Lord, but it is 
 not faid, except they be clean every whit, we muft not joia 
 with them in Worfhip. The Pricfts that bore the Veffeis 
 of the Lord out of Babylon, were n©t clean, they joined in 
 Affinity with the People of Abominations ; and yet the God- 
 ly joined with them, as is faid. That Scripture, Hof. ix. 
 
 2, 4. fays 
 
C 7« > 
 
 *, 4. fays nothing to that Purpofc we are upon at prefenf* 
 for 1 1 ) 'Tis a tkreatning Ifrael's Banifhmcnt from the Church, 
 tht-y jhall not -dwell in the Lord's Land; they [hall eat unclean 
 Tpingi in AlTyria, Verfe 3. Then their Sacrifices, being 
 excluded from the Houfe of the Lord, and beiag ftated and 
 punifhed as Schifmaticks, (hall be as the Bread of Mourners 
 polluting to all that eat of them. But now we are fpeaking 
 not of Sc'iifma ticks, excluding themfelves, and excluded by 
 the Lord from his Church, but of Communion with the 
 Church in Ordinances. (2) Their Wine- Offerings were 
 not offered to the Lo»d, and fo their Sacrifices were idqla- 
 trous, and polluting to all that did partake of them, we are 
 not freaking of idolatrous Worfhip. (3) Tho' it fhould be 
 applied to complying Mi aiders, when they are going awho- 
 ring from their God by open and avowed Defection, that 
 then we fhould not join in their Sacrifices or in religious 
 Coramun'-n with them ; yet that fays nothing to this 
 Cafe, when thefe Defections do not continue to be Snares 
 polluting our Communion with them. Will any Body 
 that is not a Sectarian fay, that the Minifters Compliances 
 not confefled, will pollute thp Ordinances to us ? That is 
 againft Presbyterian Principles. 7. That Scripture, 2 Cor. 
 
 vi. 14 17. is very much abufed, if it be offered to any 
 
 fuch Thing, that we muft come out from among the Mini- 
 sters, and be feparated from them. For, (1.) This a Se- 
 paration here commanded from Infidels, Unrighteoufnefs, 
 Darknefs, Belial, Idols. The Corinthians did very ill ip. 
 eating, and fitting at the Idols Tables of the Gentiles, which 
 gave great Offence to the Weak, 1 Cor. x. 17, 20. while 
 any fuch Offences continued, they were to feparate from 
 them. But what fays this to *he Cafe of the Minifters of 
 our Day ? Are they driving us to a Communion with Belial 
 or Idols ? (2.) This was not 2. Separation here command- 
 ed from the Church of Corinth, nor from the Minifters there- 
 of; though there were many Corruptions entertained among ' 
 them, yet they were to have Communion in publiek Ordi- 
 nances, as is proved above ; only it is a Separation from 
 .the Idolatry in it. There may be a Separation from the 
 Corruptions of a Church very we'll confident with abiding 
 in the Communion of that Church. 
 
( 79 ) 
 ^.6. * It they confeffed their Compliances, we cmilil 
 
 * join w :t 'i them, but they defend and jutVify, palliate and 
 
 * piaifier them, which was that horrible Thing the Lord 
 
 * faw in the Prophets of Jerufalem, for which he threatens 
 
 * fad Things, and for which he commands not to hearken 
 
 * to them, Jer. xxiii. 14 16. We dare not join cither 
 
 ' with Builders or Daubers of fuch a Work, as was canied 
 
 * on to the Difhonour of Chriit, and mining of Reformat i- 
 
 * on ; nor by our Countenance and Concurrence ftrengthen 
 
 * either Builders or Daubers, left we be confumed in the 
 
 * Mid ft of them.' As we have our Certification, Ezek. xiii. 
 10 14. See alfo Verfe 18, 22. We defire to keep nut 
 
 frhcs free of having any Hand in that Confederacy of the Pro- 
 phets and the Priejts that violate the Law, and profane the 
 holy Things ; and that put no Difference between the Holy 
 and Profane, and that daub with untempered Mortar. Ezek . 
 xxii. 2 J, 28. We cannot reckon our/elves free of this Corfpi- 
 racy, if we incorporate ourftives with them. Vindic. Head 
 4. Page 80. Anfw. I. I grant this was our fifth Argument, 
 and very much in it to diflwade from joining with thefe Mi- 
 nifters in that broken and declining State of the Church, 
 when their defending and daubing of thefe Compliances did 
 expofe People to the Hazard of them, and of erring from 
 their Duty. But now it is not fo. 2. That Scripture, 
 
 Jer. xxiii. 14 16. will not prove the Warrantable- 
 
 nefe of withdrawing from tke Minifters that defend their 
 Compliances, but rather the contrary. For, (1.) He does 
 aot bid the People withdraw from them at all, that they 
 fliould not go near the Temple nor Synagogues, becanfe 
 the Priefts and Prophets (trengthned the Hands of the Pro- 
 fane. The Godly of that Day, and Jeremiah himfelf, had 
 Sanctuary -Communion with them, and were free of Sin by 
 this Proteftation, and the like of this, given in this Chap- 
 ter. (2.) Though he fays, Verfe 16. Hearken not to the 
 i Words 9fthe Prophets that [peak a Vifion of their 9wn Hearts ; 
 yet he does not fay, Hear them not, or do not go to hear 
 them. There is a great Difference between thefe two : 
 We may hear many that w r e muft not hearken to in every 
 Thing ; yea we rtluft hearken to no Man implicitely : A- 
 gaia we may hearken to many x that we muft not hear, that 
 
 is, 
 
( 8o ) 
 
 fe, receive Ordinances difpenfed by them : For we may 
 hearken unto a Woman's Admonition, though we muft not 
 hear her preach. Hearkning imports Obedience, enter- 
 taining the Doctrine, and complying with it. We mult 
 not hearken to Minifters defending their Compliances, yet 
 we may hear them, at lea ft when they are not defending 
 them, nor yet confefTing them. 3. Nor dees that Scrip- 
 ture, Ezek. xiii. 10, 14, 18, 22. fay any more ; but, (1.) 
 That the Lord is highly difpleafed with Minifters Defecti- 
 ons, and others daubing and defending them. This we 
 grant. (2.) That all their Daubings and Plaifterings will 
 not prefer ve their darling Defections, nor thefe that go a- 
 iong with them, but down they muft go in the Lord's own 
 Time. We do not deny this. Let them look to it, who 
 have employed themfelves moft that Way. (3.) That 
 they that defend and daub Defections are in Hazard of be- 
 ing confumed in the Punifhment of the Sins they defend. 
 (4.) That flattering deceiving Teachers, that make the 
 Righteous fad, and the Wicked glad by their Doclrine, are 
 under the Lord's threatned Woe ; but what fays all this to 
 having Communion with Minifters who formerly built with 
 untempered Mortar ? but now that building and daubing 
 both is tumbled down by the Overturning of the Times; 
 and they are now fetting too to build the Lord's Houfe. 
 Dare we refufe to build with them upon that Pretence, be- 
 caufe the Children of the Captivity refufed to build with 
 the Adverfaries of Juiah \ Ezra iv. No ; we muft not put 
 the Minifters of this Church in the Category with the Ad- 
 verfaries of the Church : For the Children of the Captivity 
 did not refufe to build with the Priefts and the Levites, that 
 had joined in Affinity with the People of Abominations, and 
 defended them ay until Ezra came from Babylon. Nor can ' 
 it be found in the whole Prophecy o£Eze/uel 9 that the God- 
 ly did withdraw from thefe Builders and Daubers, in facri- 
 ficing or worfhipping of the true God, as was fhown above. 
 4. That o:her Place, Ezek. xxii. 25:, 28. does fay very 
 much againft Minifters Unfaithfulncfs and Defections, and 
 their confenting and working to one another's Hand, in 
 promoting and abetting, and Vindicating thefe finful Courfes, 
 for which they and the whole Land were liable to grievous I 
 
( 8i ) 
 .Judgments. And hence it may be well inferre 
 houlJ hav 
 they arc prom l 
 
 r 
 
 But there is not one \\ 
 
 ftcrs that are not confpiring ro prpmot< ; but u>.'r 
 
 ting themfeives, and pleading fur Union with oth< 
 'promote Reformation. 
 
 .7. 7. ' But is not Unfaithfulncfs a Ground of 
 ;< drawing, when these is fiich a terrible Threading a 
 I* unfaithful Minifters, Jer. xiv. 14, 16. where the Lord 
 * declares, he did not fend them to preach that Way, and 
 r that he would con fume them ; and the People to whom they 
 !* prophefied y Jboukt be caft out in the Streets ; wherefore we 
 r dare not admit them to prophefy to us. It were better 
 j'and fafer, to plead again!! tfienr, and forfake them in 
 :< Time; according to that Scripture, Hof. ii. 2. Plead with 
 'your Mother, plead? &c. Anfw. 1. I grant this was our 
 fixth Argument, or rather a Gravamen aggravating other 
 ; Grounds : But as I (hewed before, it muff, not be under- 
 I flood of every Degree of Unfaithfulnefs, but fuch as with- 
 | holds Inftruciion necelTary at fuch a Time, that yields the 
 i Teitimony, that lays us open to Sin, and the countenancing 
 j whereof, would be (tumbling and ofTen five. This Unfaith- 
 • nefs is a Ground of Separation, in a broken and declining 
 ] State of the Church ; but I deny, the Minifters about 
 'J whom the Debate is, are thus unfaithful. 2. That Scrip- 
 '. ture, Jer. xiv. 14, 15*, 16. fays,. 1. That it is a great Sin 
 to Minifters., and Mifery to the People, to be unfaithful 
 Flatterers of People, preaching Peace, inftead of giving 
 Warning of Wrath approaching. 2. That though unfaith- 
 ful Minifters may flatter themfelves, and flatter the People 
 in promifing Peace, and that they ihall not be confirmed, 
 yet the Lord will not fulfil their "falfe Prophecies, but the 
 ] rather haften the threatned Judgment to a finful People. 
 j 3. That the Unfaithfulnefs of Minifters, promifing Peace 
 to People, is both a procuring Caufc, and a Sign of ap- 
 1 broaching Judgment : But it (peaks not one Word of with- 
 ! drawing from the Temple or Sacrifices. If it 'allow any 
 drawing at all, it mufi be from thofe that prophefied 
 L 
 
folic Vifions and Divinations, Verfe 14. that is not our 
 Cafe. 3. The Place, i/tp/7 ii. 2. pleads rather for Union 
 than Separation. For, 1. it fays, That our pleading with 
 the Church, and protefting againft her whorifti Defections, 
 will be a fdfhcient Exoneration from Guilt ; nothing is here 
 required but to plead. And, 2. In the Jewijh Church, or 
 in Juduhy in the Days of Hofea, there was no Separation. 
 In apoftate Ifrael there was Separation, becaufe of Idolatries 
 and T vV'horedoms between her Breads ; fo that the Children 
 could have no Suck, but what was defiled with Whoredoms, 
 bnl in Judah it was not fo ; and in Scotland this Day it is 
 not Co. 1 . They were to efteem her as a Mother, and it 
 y^as their Duty as Sons to plead with her : And if they were 
 to plead with her, and rebuke her, they were to keep Com- 
 munion with her ; becaufe, not rebuking, or not pleading, 
 is a Sign of Separation, and fufpending Communion for a 
 Time, as Ezek, hi. 26. where the Lord fays, he would 
 make the Prophet 3 Tongue cleave to the Roof of his 
 Mouth, that he fliould not be to them a Reprover ; their 
 reproving is a Sign of Communion, as Mr. Rutherfoord ar- 
 gues in his Peaceable Plea, Chap. 11. Page 161. 
 
 Oh] eel. 8. ' They withdrew from us when we ftood mofl 
 ' in need of them and their preaching, lying by from that 
 
 * Work of preaching, and deferring their minifterial Duty, 
 
 * where Snares were molt abounding : Therefore we may 
 c withdraw from them now. It is the Character of the Hire- 
 
 * lings and Strangers, whofe Voice ChriiVs Sheep will not 
 G hear, that when they fee the Wolf comiag, they leave 
 c the Sheep and flee away, John x, 5, 12. Yea we find 
 
 * Paid refufing to take John Mark with him, becaufe he 
 c had departed from them, and went not with them to the 
 •Work, i& xv. 37, 38. This is to be reckoned and 
 
 * carried towards, as a very great Diforder, when a Mini- 
 € Iter is fo far out of Order, that he will not work the Work 
 c of the Lord, from which we are commanded to withdraw, 
 'iTJfeJf.ftU 6, 7, n, 14.' Vindlc. Head 4. Ground 7. 
 Page 84. Anfvf. 1. This was indeed our feventh Argu- 
 met for withdrawing, in that broken and declining State of 
 the Church, when they were always leaving us in greateft 
 Extremity ; but even then all did not Co, fomt left the 
 
 Land 
 
( «3 ) 
 
 Land upon a Call to another Place, fome left it in extreme 
 Hazard, through a fainting Fear, as is noted, ibid. Vindic. 
 Page Sj. and now they do not continue in that Fault or 
 Practice. It is a bad Argument, that we (hould withdraw 
 from them, becaufe they withdrew from us. That is as 
 much as we (hould leave our Duty, becaufe they left theirs, 
 and that now we mould hurt and punifh ourfelves, in de- 
 priving ourfelves of the Gofpel, becaufe formerly they did 
 injure us, in depriving us of it. For we mult always look 
 on it as a Mifery to want the Gofpel preached. 2. That 
 Scripture, John x. 5, 12, proves, only, 1. That ChrHfs 
 Sheep fnould not hear Strangers, that is, fuch Teachers as 
 have a itrange CommilTion and Authority to preach, not 
 entering in by the Door, but climbing up another Way, 
 
 \ Verfe 1. and fuch as have a ftrange Voice, itrange Doctrine, 
 contrary to Chrift's Doctrine, Verfe 5. this is not in our 
 
 i Cafe. 2. That it is indeed the Character of an Hireling 
 and Stranger to leave the Skeep, and flee away in Hazard. 
 This is one Character ; but that alone does not make the 
 Fleers Hirelings and Strangers. All Hirelings anc4 Stran- 
 gers do flee and leave the Sheep, but all that flee and leave 
 the Sheep are not therefore Hirelings and Strangers. Chriifc 
 does not fay that his Sheep mult never hear their Shcp? 
 
 : herd that leave them in Hazard ; they mult leave them 
 indeed, while they are left of them, but when they return to 
 
 ; their Duty again, they mufi be received, even albeit they 
 will not always confefs their Fault, which is their Duty to 
 do. 3. As for Afts xv. 37, 38. it fays, 1. That good 
 Men may be Backdrawers from the Work of the Gofpel, as 
 John Mark. 2. That thefe good Men ttiuft not be fpared 
 from Cenfare for their Goodnefs, but are to be refufed the 
 
 i Honour of Concurrence with the faithful Ministers, id vijitj 
 
 i ing of Churches. 3. That all good Men are not of one 
 Mind about this, Barnabas was not of this Mind, bat 00a- 
 
 ' tended ftrongly for Mark. 4. That there may be hot Con- 
 
 , tentions, that may come at length of Divii'ion, and parting 
 
 afunder among the eminent Servants of Chrilt, and yet no 
 
 Separation. Paul did not refufe tp hear Barnabas, nor he 
 
 him, nor either of them John Mark; nor did ever A.:>; 
 
 : :o the Churches that they (hould withdraw from Bar- 
 
 h 2 
 
(84 ) 
 n&bas or Marl ; if it had been fo, we would have been in IP 
 Hazard of loflng that precious Treasure of the Gofpel of 
 .Mrk. which was written by him after this his Defection* 
 
 4. 1 .'hail co»iiiJ-:r that Place, 2 Theffl iii. 6, 7, 11, 14. 
 ards. Here it will be fufficient to anfwer, 1. ' That 
 4 the diforderly Brethren there fpoken of, were the bufy 
 f Bodies that work at not all, Verfe 11. The Men in the., 
 Mtry that call themfelves out of all Employment/ 
 \poiUe was, in his own Example, fo far from this 
 der, that he wrought 'with his own Hands, at Labour-' 
 . id Travel Night and, Day, that he might not be charge- 
 ■to them, and therefore exhorts them ail to work in their 
 doyiTttnts, Vene 10, and 1 EpijL iv. 11, 12. So that 
 d of Miniflers literally. 2. Though it be 
 rred to Ministers by Analogy, where they do not 
 n preaching, they are to be withdrawn from af er the 
 che,s> Sentence, when the Church is conftituted, and 
 fudicatones ; and tho' privately before that Sentence,. 
 nay withdraw frpm them, yet not when they re J 
 !i- Duty. We cannot but withdraw from hearing, 
 1 ; do not preach j but the Qucfiion is, whether we 
 ithdraw when they do preach f ¥ 
 
 \L ■). But the Schifm cannot be faftned upon us, 
 : who have divided the Church, and widen* 
 ' \ ches thereof, by their reproaching, mifrepre- 
 aiunforming againft us. ' We are command- 
 to note fuch Schifmaticks, and mark fuch Cauf- 
 w iiion. and Oftences, which they effectuate, ^both 
 ii raclice, and by their Words, crying up their 
 \ y, and informing againft the more pure and faith- 
 rnnaftt, Roi$. xvi. 17. Such|m sone x was Diotrefhss 
 ' ni. n g againft the Apoftle and the Brethren with ma-. 
 ' hck vVb-ds, and receiving them not, and cafting them 
 'out, chich the Apoftle threatens he would animadvert 
 ' upon by the Severity of Discipline and conding Sentence,' 
 3 Epift, J'jhn 9, 10. Vin<. Ground 8. Page 86. ! 
 
 slnf. 1. This was our Eighth , when in that 
 
 broken and declining State of the C urch, Reproaches and 
 Oyls eaften into the Flames of Contenti0n 3 were too fre- 
 quently and fervently followed on both- Hands, when they 
 
 complain* 
 
. ..< 8 * x 
 
 )mplained of our dividing the Church, and we complained 
 f their dividing it, and none of us were free of it : They 
 ailed us Schifmaticks, and we called them fuch, in 
 •pon ibnre better Grounds, but neither they, nor we could take 
 vith the Charge, or conieis it, as indeed neither of us could 
 >e charged formally with a Itated Schifm ; but now that is 
 nuch fallen, and now it fhould be our Glory to forget and 
 brgive, and overcome Evil with Good. 2. That Scripture, 
 ftiaL xvi. 17. doth not command us to avoid every one 
 ■hat cauieth Divifions and Offences eccafionaliy and fafhely, 
 U giving the Hrlt Rile to Divifions, by ofTcnfive Courfes. 
 ;or that way Diviiions may be caufed by Infirmities and a 
 plan's uiing his own Light, and by the Offence of others, 
 >vhom upon that account to avoid, were contrary to that 
 fame Apoftle's Doctrine, in that fame Epiftle, Chap. 14. 
 and 15. But it commands us to avoid them which' cauie 
 Divifions and Offences, aftively, defignedly, and furp§/efy, and 
 io promote and abet a down-right Schifm, and will not be 
 oerfwaded to let Divifions fall, tho' it may be done with- 
 out Prejudice to Truth. I hope it will not be aliedged, 
 that the Minifters we are fpeaking of, are fuch Schifmaticks. 
 Next to avoid there, is the fame with the Duty of turning 
 pivciy, 2 Tim^ hi. 5. extended there to Self-lovers, Covetous, 
 troud, Unholy, having a Form oiGodlinefs without the P 
 This cannot be interpreted always, and only withdrawing from 
 Church-Communion, for then we muft withdraw from all 
 that are Self-lovers, from ail that are Unholy, from all that 
 pre Hypocrites, which none will affirm ; but we may avoid 
 (Men feveral other Ways, by withdrawing from perfonal 
 (Communion with them, or familiar Con verfe, and from Com- 
 munion in their corrupt Deligns and Courfes. 3. The 
 |Place, 3. Epiltle of John 9, 18. does not fpeak to the Cafe : 
 (For 1. It fpeaks of the gioiTeft of Schilmaticks, a Diotrephcs 
 loving the Pre-eminence, an arrogant Prelate-, that is F.ot 
 the Queftion, the Minifters I am fpeaking of, are not fuch. 
 2. was not content only with pratting malicious 
 
 "Words againft the Apoftles and Brethren, but could not re- 
 ceive or acknowledge the Apoftle, Verfe 9. Neither did he 
 ive the Brethren, and forbade them that would, and caft 
 them out of the Church, Verfe 10. If any Miniiter would 
 
 do 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 do fo,he ought to be forfaken with Deteftation. 5. We 
 fee here alfo, a Church-Officer, tho' guilty of many Scandals, 
 is not fuddenly to be withdrawn from, becaufe he is not to be 
 fuddenly cenfured. John the Apoftle here, only threatnes 
 to do it, if he came, but he defers it until he came, tho' 
 by his extraordinary apofrojick Power, he could nave done 
 it before, but the Queftion is not of withdrawing from Di- 
 et re pbes. 
 
 ObjecJ. 10. We judged fcandalous Diforders a fufficient 
 Ground of withdrawing : ' Such were the profane Scandals 
 
 * of the Sons of Eli, which made Men abhor the Offering 
 
 * of the Lord, 1 Sam. ii. 17. from fuch Brethren efpecial- 
 
 * ly (from which Rule Miniflers cannot be exempted, for if 
 1 they be not firft our Brethren, they can never be our Mini- 
 
 * llers) we are expreily commanded to withdraw our Com- 
 
 * pany, if they be Fornicators, or Covetous, or Idolaters, 
 1 or Railers, or Drunkards, or Extortioners, including all 
 
 * the like fcandalous Diforders, 1 Cor. v. 11. Vindic. Page 
 
 * 87/ And that known and much urged Place, 2 Theft] iii. 
 6, 14. Withdraw from every Brother that walketh disorderly, 
 Zee. Ntte that Man, and have no Company with him, that 
 be may he aftjamed. c Therefore ©ur Duty to themfelves, 
 1 yea our greater Office of Love we owe to them, in order 
 ■ to their Conviction, does oblige us to withdraw from them, 
 1 to (ham e them out of their Sin, and not fuifer Sin upon 
 
 * them, efpecially beeaufe they are Brethren, 1 Cor. v. 11. 
 
 * That walk diforderly againft and without the Order of their 
 
 * Office, and the Order of the Church •, ' Qui quod /hi eft 
 ordinis at que officii mnfaciunt 6* facie ntes turbant. 2 TheiT. 
 iii. 6, 14. Teftim. againft Tolerat. Page 32. Anf. 1. 
 This was indeed our ninth Argument in the Vindication, 
 and our feventh Argument in the Teflimony againft the Tole- 
 ration, in that broken and declining State of the Church, yet 
 even then all thefe Scandals were not applied to Minifters. 
 And tho' all be withdrawn from to whom they are now ap- 
 plicable, my Debate will not be weakned thereby : Tho 1 
 all be difcountenanced that follow fcandalous Diforders, yet 
 others may be countenanced that do not folio wthem. 2. That 
 Place, 1 Sam. ii. 17. is an Argument againft Separation ; 
 this was not Duty to abhor the Offering of the Lord for 
 
 l\\c 
 
( «7 ) 
 
 the Scandals of thefe Priefts, Elkanah and Hannah did BOt 
 abhor it. 3. Nor can that Place, 1 Cor. v. 11. prove 
 v-hat is adduced j for I grant indeed, Minifters are not 
 thereby exempted. But (1) We are not pleading for hear- 
 ing thefe that are fcandalous in that Degree there fpoken 
 of, that is Minifters that are Fornicators, Idolaters, Drunk- 
 ards, &C. But the Apoiile doth not fay, keep not Compa- 
 ny, if any Man that is called a Brother be guilty of any 
 Thing that is a Scandal, orTeniive or ftumHing, if he faint 
 and prove unfaithful in a Day of Tentat.3n, if he be guil- 
 ty of any Defection and will not confefs it. (2) He does 
 not bid them withdraw from Church-Communion with fuch, 
 but from civil and perfonal Communion, not to eat and 
 drink, converfe familiarly with them, Vcrfe 1 1 He does not 
 allow them to have fo much Converfe with fcandalous Bre- 
 'thren, as with others that are not fcandalous. But with refer- 
 ence to others, he means certainly Communion civil and 
 perfonal, and not Church-Feilowftiip, as Verfe 9, 10. there- 
 fore he muft mean the fame here. We find, as was (hew- 
 ed before, in the nth Chap, he allows them Church-Fel- 
 Jowfhrp, even partaking of the Sacrament with Drunkards, 
 ; Verfe 21, 22. to the End. And therefore this mud: not be 
 underftood in a Senfe contradictory to that. There is no 
 withdrawing cccleiiaftical allowed to the Corinthians upon the 
 
 • account of Scandals. (3) Tho'it were underftood of Church- 
 \ Communion, and that the Eating there, 1 Cor. v. 1 1. were 
 
 to be meant of Sacramental Eating, as the Independents un- 
 derstands it, yet in a conftitute Church, this Kon-Com-. 
 Hiunion mould be pofterior to the Churches Sentence, purg- 
 ] ing away and cenfuring thefe fcandalous Perfons. And Co 
 1 it muft he underftood in Connection with Che Beginning of 
 the Chapter, where Excommunication of fuch Scandals is 
 enjoined, Verfe 5, 7. (4) The Place, 2 Theffl iii. 6, 14. 
 will not prove that we muft now withdraw from all Minifters 
 
 • guilty of ofTenfive Diforders. Tho' I mall grant, that Mi- 
 : nifters are not excluded from that Rule by Analogy, tho' 
 
 literally idle Men are underftood, as was faid before ; and I 
 (hall grant in a broken and declining State of the Church, 
 when there is no judicatories, there may be a private witli- 
 ng from iibrderiy Brethren for fuch Diforders alter 
 
 Admo- 
 
( 88 ) 
 
 Admonition : Yet (i) this is not for every walking difor- 
 derly, but fach as not working ; which is a Shame to -the 
 Gofpel, fuch as are highly haiaous, hateful and diihonour- 
 able ; every diforderly walking in Minifters and ProfeiTors 
 is not of that Nature. (2) Nor muft it be in every Cafe, 
 but only when it is a Mean to make our Brotherafhamed of 
 hisDiforder. I fear our withdrawing from, the Minifters in 
 Queftion fhall neither have that EffecT, nor is a Mean pro- 
 per to produce it; we may more probably obtain this ano- 
 ther Way, fo withdrawing is neediefs. (3) Nor is the with- 
 drawing to be underftood always, or only of the ecclefiafli- 
 €al withdrawing, tho' learned Voetius in his Polit. tcclefi 
 Part, g. Lib. 3. underftands itof civil perfonal withdrawing 
 from dome flick and familiar Convey fe. And (4) The With- 
 drawing that is ecclefiaftick muft be after the Churches Sen- 
 tence in a confcitute State of the Church. The Judicatories 
 muft note him, that is, ftigmatize him with difciplinary 
 Cenfure, and then we muft withdraw-, and keep no Compa- 
 ny with him, but carry towards him, as in the Cafe of Ex- 
 communication. Now the prefent State of this Church muft 
 be looked upon as conftitute. 
 
 Obj. 11." The Minifters are fo defiled with the Defecli- 
 " ons of the Time, that we cannot but fear their Adminiftra- 
 
 * tion of Ordinances be not clean, and that which fcares us 
 « from partaking with them, is thatwhichis faid Hag. ii. 12, 
 12, 14. If one bear holy Flejh in his Shirty and touch Bread, 
 Zee. fhall it be holy ? The Priefl anfwered, No ; but if one 
 that is unclean by a dead Body, touch any of thefe y fhall it be 
 unclean P The Priefl anfwered, It jhall be unclean. Then 
 mfwered ^laggai, So is this People , and fo is this Nation 
 before ?ne,faiih the Lord, andfo is every Work of their Hands y 
 and that which they offer is unclean. Hence we are afraid 
 our Communion with them, when fo defiled, will infer a Par- 
 ticipation of their Sin, ' being a Communion in facred Things, 
 ' which makes the Partakers of the Bread to be one Body, 
 « 1 Cor. x. 17-20. Te/lim. again ft Toler. Page 31. There- 
 
 * fore we dare not be Partakers with them, nor have Fellow- 
 
 * (hip, y Eph. v. 7-1 1. V indie. Head 4. Ground 9. Page 87, 
 88. Anf. 1. 1 grant all Hands have been defiled in thefe 
 unhappy Times, few have kept clean Garments, and the 
 
 Dele&ions 
 
Defections of Minifters have been very defiling; and this 
 made us to abftract in declining and broken Times of De- 
 fection and Divifion, when we could not have Communion 
 with them without countenancing their Sin. But now, tho' 
 thefe Things not removed by Confeffion, be very burden- 
 lome, afflicting and difcouraging to the Tender, yet the De- 
 filements of Minifters do not defile the Ordinances to us. 
 And now the Doctrine, Worftyp, Difcipline and Govern- 
 ment, being conftituted and eftablifhed without thefe Defile- 
 ments, it is very confonant to the Practice of the Lord's 
 Servants in all Ages, to have Communion in Ordinances, with 
 Proteftations againftthe Corruptions of Officers. 2. That Place, 
 Hag. ii. 12 — 24. needs not fcare us, if we underiland it 
 right. For, ( 1 .) It fays indeed that the Holinefs of Offi- 
 cers, or Ordinances cannot fanctify all their Actions that 
 do adminifter them, or the People that partake of them ; 
 and likewiie that the Uncleannefs of Officers does pollute 
 every Thing they handle; but to whom ? To themfelves 
 before the Lord, according to that Word, Tit. i. 15. To 
 the Defiled and Unbelieving, nothing is pure. It fays, Preach- 
 ing and Praying, and every Duty is unclean to all Hypo- 
 crites and Impenitents of either Minifters or People : But 
 the Uncleannefs of Officers does not pollute the Ordinances 
 to others, no more than the Holinefs of Officers can fancti- 
 fy the Ordinances to others. (2.) This Uncleannefs here 
 fpoken of was legal and ceremonial, oppofite to the cere- 
 monial Holinefs, whereof we have the Law, according to 
 which the Priefts feere give their Anfwers to the Prophet's 
 Queries, in Lev. xxii, 3,4, 5. &c. Now in the New-Te- 
 flament Difpanfation this hath no Place, yet the Ordinan- 
 ces may be polluted feveral Ways ; as, 1 . When the Ef- 
 fentials and Subftantials of an Ordinance are corrupted, this 
 makes Communion finful. 2. Or when in the Manner of 
 it, it is modelled and moulded according to the Inventions 
 of Men in Dependence upon, and Subordination unto the 
 Ufurpations of Men ; neither in this Cafe can we counte- 
 nance it without Sin. 3. Or when it is irrrevereritly abufed 
 by the Mifcarriages of thofe that are about it?, as when it is 
 indifferently adminiftred to the Precious and the Vile, and 
 without the Holinefs that is due. This pollutes the Ordi- 
 M rune* 
 
( *d > 
 
 mace to thole that are guilty of thefe Miicarriages, but not 
 to otliers there prefent •, nor can former Mi (cirri ages now 
 not connected with the Adminiltration, pollute that Ordi- 
 nance at all to others. 3. There is not a Word here that 
 the Godly fbould withdraw in this Cafe ; and if we obferve 
 the Practice at that fame Time of HaggaW prophefying, 
 we fhall find the Godly and the Prophet himfelf joined in 
 Ordinances with the fame Priefts, as is file wed above, Ezra 
 iii. 5:. and Chap. vi. 4. The Place, 1 Cor. x. 17, 19. 
 will not make our Communion, as now circumftantiate, 
 finfuj, as I cleared from this Place above. Here I fhall 
 only fay, 1 . It is clear from the Place, where the Worfhip 
 is finful, Communion in that muft be fmful too, but we are 
 not fpeaking of finful Worfliip. 2. Even when the Wor- 
 fliip is materially lawful, but Giroumflances make it finful, 
 Commuion therein is finful, eating of thefe Things that 
 were facriilced to Idols, was lawful in itfelf, but in Idol 
 Temples before the Idols, Idolaters, and offended Chriflians, 
 on the other Hand it was finful, and Communion therein 
 was finful ; fometimes lbme Circumflances made Minifters 
 preaching to fuch and fuch Meetings under Indulgences and 
 Tolerations, complexly confidered finful, then we darft not 
 have Communion in thefe Circumftances. 3. Whether 
 the Worfliip be finful or lawful, Communion in it infers 
 Incorporation with the Worfhippers, that is clear from the 
 Place, all that eat at the Table of the Lord are one Body, 
 and all that eat in Idols Temples, of Things facrificed to 
 Idols, are one Body alfo, and have Fellowfhip with thefe I- 
 dols or Devils ; and the Apoftle makes it very abfurd, Verfc 
 12. to partake of the Lord's Table, and the Table of De- 
 vils, and be incorporate with the Lord's Worfhippers, and 
 Devils Worfhippers at once. Hence it may well be infer- 
 red, that we fhould countenance no Worfhip, wot fo much 
 as out of Curiofity, but where wc may own Incorporation 
 with the Worfhippers. So if we go to the Mafs, we are im- 
 bodied with Antichrifiian Idolaters. If we go to the Curates, 
 we are there one Body with the prelatick Church. But 
 now it is not abfurd for us to own ourfelves one Body with 
 the Presbyterian Minifters, and Piofeifors of Scotland- \ we 
 always owned we were of the Body of the national Church. 
 
 (4.) This 
 
C 9* > 
 
 .(4.) This 'fiiys, the Godly were to withdraw from Idol 
 Temples, but not from the Church of £V/>///;, nor from all 
 thefe that went to thefe Idol Temples, when they came to- 
 gether to the Lord's Table, as was cleared above. 4. The 
 Place, Ephef.v. 7, II. will not infer what it is adduced 
 for. For, (1.) It is a bad Gonfequence to argue, we mull 
 not partake with Whoremongers, nor covetous Perlbns, 
 Verfes 3, 5-. Therefore wc mull not join vith Presbyterian 
 Minifters in Gofpel-Ordinances that have been often five in 
 their Courfe. It is true, we muft partake with none in Sin, 
 buf we may partake with Sinners in Duty, efpecially with 
 thefe that have been Sinners 5 but they have left off thefe 
 Sins, for which we flood aloof from them before. (2.) It is 
 no partaking with the unfruitful Works of Darknefs, to re- 
 prove thefe Woiks by Proteftation, and join with thefe that 
 have been involved in them, as foon as they aie feparated 
 from thefe Courfes. (3.) The Godly did join with the 
 Angel of the fame Church of 'the Ephejians, though they had 
 fallen from their firft Love and fir ft Works, Rev. ii. and 
 yet were not reproved by our Lord jefus. (4.) The Do- 
 natiflsy in former Times, objected the fame Argument, in 
 Defence of their Schifm ; Quo mo do incorrttptus pot eris perma- 
 nere ji corropUs fociarii ? That is, how can thou continue 
 incorrapted, if thou be joined hi Communion with thofe 
 that are corrupted or defiled ? To which Auguftin anfwered, 
 Soctatur jiquis maii aliquid cum iilis tonrmittat^ aut commit ten- 
 tikis faveat 9 ft neutrum /licit, mtllo modo fociatnr : That is, 
 he is finfully joined with them, whofo commits any Evil 
 with them, or favours and connives with them that do com- 
 mit it j but if he do neither, he is noway finfully joined. 
 
 Objefi. 12. * But albeit we mould not be Partakers of 
 ' their Sin, yet we fear, \o long as they do not confefs and 
 \ forfake their Sin, Wrath (hall be upon them, and us too, 
 ' if we adhere unto them. The Ground of our Fear is from 
 ' thefe Scriptures, Jojh. vii. 11. foc t When Achcrn finned, 
 1 ail Ifraet is faid to fin, and to have taken of the accurfed 
 
 * Thing, and therefore nil ihared of the Stroke : And efpe- 
 f daily for Minitters Unfaithfulnefs, there are many Scrip- 
 
 * tare- Woes and Threatnings thuadred againii them, and 
 
 M2 
 
( 92 ) 
 
 f the People for adhering to them. Ifaiah xliii. 27,^28. 
 
 c Thy Teachers have tranfgrejfed again jl me, There- 
 
 J fore I have given Jacob to the Curfe, &c. Lam. iv. 13. 
 c For the Sins of her Prophets, and the Iniquities of her 
 * Priejls, &c. See alfo Ifaiah ix. 16. Jer. xiv. 15, 16. 
 c Ezek. xiii. 10, 11, 14. <t>c. Ezek. xxii. 2j.' to the End. 
 Teflim. againft Tolerat. Page 31. y^/T/iu. 1. This was 
 indeed our fourth Argument, for withdrawing in the Time 
 of Toleration, when we could not have Communion, with- 
 out partaking of Sin, and partaking of the Sin, did make us 
 liable to the partaking of the threatned Judgment : But 
 when Communion with Minifters may be had without Sin 
 or Acceffion to their Sin, we need not be feared by their 
 Judgments : All thefe Places of Scripture cited, d» fuppofe 
 the People to be fome Way guilty of the Sin of thefe for 
 "whofe Sake they are threatned, one of thefe ten Ways. 
 (1.) By co-operating in working with them, as helping 
 Caufes, that is a direct Participation of the Guilt of it. 
 (2.) By co un felling or encouraging to it. (3.) By approv- 
 ing or applauding the Sin. (4.) By provoking and temp- 
 ting to it, and laying Stumbling-Blocks by Omiflion or Com- 
 miflion to occafion it. (5.) By confenting and fubmitting 
 to it.' (6.) By conniving at it, and not rebuking it, or 
 not retraining or refilling it. (7.) By not warning of 
 it before if be committed. (8.) By not mourning for 
 it, and pitying the Sinners. (9.) By defiririg in Heart to 
 do what others do wickedly in external Suits. (10.) By 
 doing the fame Sin, by' Analogy that others do, or fome- 
 thing like it, of the fame Sort and Kind, though it be not 
 every Way the fame, as Mariners were puniflied for Jonah's 
 Sin, becauie as Jonas fled from the true God, as if he had 
 been an Idol, fo they ferved their Idols, as if they had 
 been the true God. Now any one of thefe ten Ways, 
 will involve us in the Guilt of others Sins, and expofe us 
 to the Hazard of their Punifhrrient : But it is not eve- 
 ry one of them that will make our Communion in Wor- 
 fhip with the Perfons finful, nor oblige us to withdraw, 
 in order tc abfolve our felves from that Participation ; for 
 in Separation as well as Communion, we may be Partak- 
 ers of their Guilt, fevera! of thefe Ways mentioned, to wit, 
 
 ihe 
 
( 93 ) 
 the fourth, the Seventh, the Eighth, the Ninth, the 7V///A 
 Way : Bat if we partake of their Sin not perfonal, but of- ' 
 ficial, the Firjl, the Second, the Third, the Fifth, or the 
 Sixth Way, our Communion is finful. 2 . As for that Scrip- 
 ture Jofh. vii. Ifrael did communicate with Achan's Sin le- 
 veral Ways, though it was fecret, viz. The Seventh Way, 
 becaufe Ifrael did not carefully obferve and warn one ano- 
 ther to take heed, that they medled not with the accurfed 
 Thing. And the Ninth Way, for Ifrael coveted in their 
 Heart what Achan took with his Hands. As alfo, the 
 Tenth Way, by Analogy, they might do feveral Things 
 that were as ill. But however, Jojhua never dreamed of 
 Withdrawing from Ifrael for Achan's Sin, which was not 
 known, till it was difcovered by the Lord ; fo we are not 
 to withdraw for the Sins of hidden Achans, and unfeen Hy- 
 pocrites. 3. That Place, If a. xlii. 27, 28. does clearly 
 fuppofe People to be guilty of their Teachers Sins, as of 
 their firft Father his San, there alfo mentioned, which they 
 were guilty of by Imputation and Propogation, as being 
 reprefented in him, and procreated of him, fo like wife they 
 were guilty of their Teachers Sins, not by Imputation 
 indeed, but by Imitation and Concurrence and Approbation, 
 ( as it is fa id Jer. v. ////. ) Confent, Obedience, Conni- 
 vance, not warning, not mourning; and all the reft of the 
 Ways above fpecified. But as all thefe Degrees of Partici- 
 pation did make them liable to the threatned Curfe, fo ac- 
 cordingly as the Sins of their Teachers were, fo thefe De- 
 grees of partaking with them did make their Communion 
 flnfal, or not finful. If they were official, fuch as Herefy 
 or Idolatry, or infecting the People, then it was their Sin to 
 have Communion with them ; if they were only perfonal 
 Scandals, or Church-Corruptions not confefTed, yet confident 
 with the Foundation and Edification, then Communion was 
 not finful ; or if it had been fo, the Prophet would have 
 commanded them to withdraw, which he does not, as was 
 fhewed above. 4. As for that Place, Lam. iv. 13. I Anf 
 (1) Thefe Sins were very actrocious, as fhedding the Blood 
 of the Juft, which the People mould have reftrained and hin- 
 ged, and becaufe they did not fo, were juftly threatned 
 for it : ' This doth not quadrate with our Cafe. (2) The 
 
 People 
 
( 94 ) 
 
 People was guilty of thefe Sins of the Prophets, and Iniqui- 
 ty of the Priefts, all the Ways above mentioned : But now 
 we need not be Partakers of any of the Sins of Minifters, 
 any of thefe Ways, by our joining with them in Worfhip. 
 As for the other Places cited, I have anfwered them above. 
 Objett. 1 3 . This will bury our former Teftimony againit 
 Defection. Anf. (i) Ail particular Teitimonies of parti- 
 cular Periods of the Church, are fometimes buried ; that 
 which was the Teftimony iooo Years agone is buried, and 
 a more ample clear Teftimony is tranfmitted to us, in the 
 Stead of it. (2; The Matter of the TeiHmony is not bu- 
 ried, but the Manner of profecuting it, as formerly by Sepa- 
 ration, fo now by Communion and Protection, <bc. (3) 
 As the Teftimony in {everai Refpe&s changeth with the 
 Times, according as the Enemies of Truth change their 
 AlTaults and Weapons againft it, and Defections from it, 
 and Perverfions of it, and Contradictions to it do vary ; fo 
 the Teftimony can never be buried, as long as all Truths and 
 Duties are witneiTed for, and Errors and Sins are witnefte4 
 againft by us, in our refpe<ftive Stations ; and nothing is con- 
 demned what was approved before, nor approved what was 
 condemned before, and there rs no Engagement to forbear any 
 Duty.. (4) Whattho'ibme of the integral or accidental Parts 
 of the Teftimony we^e buried, if the EilentiaJs and fubftantial 
 Partofit be vindicated, we never prefted every Part, Pendicle, 
 Claufe or Confequence of ail the Integrals of our Teftimo- \\ 
 nies, as the Bond of our Communion: We may conde- 
 fcend m fome Things, not to bury but to wave them. (5) 
 There is no Part of the Teftimony in Hazard to be buried 1 
 by this Union, but this, that the Minifters not confefting 
 their Defections, is a Ground of Withdrawing, which I deny 
 fimply was ever our Teftimony; but the then Continuance 
 in Defections, was a Ground of Withdrawing. This Tes- 
 timony is not buried, but rather viclorious, becaufc thefe 
 Defections do not continue. (6) Let us have a care, kail 
 a contending for keeping up our Teftimony againft Defeo ) 
 tion in unadvifed Way*, we do not bury our Teftimony a- | 
 gainft* Schifm. (7) It will tend much to the Honour of 
 the Teftimony, to have it recorded, that at inch a Time, 
 in fuch Circumftances, a iiiffering Party did maintain it un- 
 
 ier 
 
( 9> ) 
 merits and Difficulties, as long as Defecti- 
 ons continued ; but as ibon as ever they had any Acceis to 
 .h thefe Minillers without Sin, they had fuch love 
 ;ces, and fuch Refpect to the Peace of the 
 Church, lhal ibey would no longer feparate, notwithftand- 
 ittg all I ^vocations. 
 
 • Qbjsft. 14. "This will harden and (tumble thefe Minif- 
 " ters and others, in their Defections and Compliancies, which 
 ct will be a partaking of their Sin; it will a lfo grieve and 
 " mak© others fad, who are tender of fuch Things, and 
 lt will make all Difference of that Kind 10 be thought light 
 c of, and exceedingly weaken the Hands of thefe that wit- 
 " nefs againft thefe Defections," Teftim. againft Toler. Page 
 22. Arf. 1. This wa6 indeed our Sixth Argument, for with- 
 drawing in the Time of the Toleration, and had great Weight 
 when icandalous Defections were {landing and carrying on, 
 which nece'farily inferred a manifold Offence in countinanc- 
 in.g of them : But now when thefe are removed, none can 
 iG juftly offended at Union and Communion with the Per- 
 sons, when the Scancais are feparated from them. (2) If 
 Weight be laid upon Offence, no Que (lion, it will be faund 
 o fway to theother Side : By Diviiion and Separation, ma-. 
 xy of the Godly in the Land, in neighbouring Churches, 
 Hid the Pofterity will be {tumbled and tempted, to think 
 >ur Teftimonies and Contendings againft thefe Defections, 
 ..iave been nothing but Schilm. This will aifo make thefe 
 .ifinifters themfelves defpiie all our witneifing againft them, 
 ,nd encourage them to fay, none in the Land oppore their 
 >curfe, but Schifmaticks ; and it will open the Mouths of 
 jlaligants, and it will make the Popifh and Prelaiical Par- 
 f rejoice and triumph. (3 ) Our joining in the prefent Cir- 
 •lumftances, cannot have any Tendency to harden them, if 
 jre continue pleading and protefting againft them, but rather 
 3 oblige them to confider their Ways, when they fee that 
 ; iefe that wimefs againft them are not Dividers, and Pro- 
 are no Subverters, and that it is Reformation not 
 ;hifm or Separation we defign. 
 
 Objefi. 1 j, "There are fomany apparent Inconvenien- 
 cies in this Union, that we fee it will never be well fe 
 we have been, and are yet divided, and th; look 
 
( 9* ) 
 
 " upon ns, and we upon them, as a diftincl: Party; the un- 
 ~" faithful and felf-feeking Party among them, will ftill have 
 " the greatcft Sway," &c. Anf Ax. is a common Rule of U- 
 nion, Inconveniencies that follow Divifion, are more hurt- 
 ful to the Church, than the Inconveniencies of Union, then 
 the lefTer Inconveniencies of Union are to be chofen, ra- 
 ther than the greater of Divifion. So that when Things can- 
 not be done as Men would fimply, then they are to do as 
 they may comparatively ; that is, make ufe of what may 
 be molt edifying, and leaft hurtful to the Churches Edifica- 
 tion, amongft: all Means probable and pollible. In this the 
 Confcience may have Teitimony, that the Way that had 
 feweft Inconveniencies, and manieft Advantages to Edifica- 
 tion was chofen ; and tho' fome Inconveniencies fall out after- 
 ward, yet the Confcience may be quiet on this Ground. 
 Sometimes the Lord in his Providence, will order fo, that 
 there is no Side, either Union or Divifion, can be chofen 
 without Inconveniencies • then we rnuft regulate our feivrs j 
 fuitably to the Providences and Cafes we meet with, and ! 
 to the Tempers of thefe we have to Co with. But we are ; 
 neither to regulate nor anfwer for Providences, and the Dif-i 
 tempers of others. Indeed in fuch a Cafe the Mind may be 
 difquieted becaufe of Fear, and the Confolation of the liutv 
 may be diminifiied, and Affections may be grieved and jum- 
 bled, becaufe there is not full Satisfaction, yet may the Con- 
 fcience have Quietnefs and Peace in its Duty notwithstand- 
 ing. And Men are fpecially to difcern and put Difference 
 between Peace of Confcience, and the former Difcompofures^ 
 as Mr Durham fays on Scandal Part 4. Chap 7. Rule jj 
 Page 295, 1 96. But I would have it conlidered, whether! 
 the Inconveniencies of Divifion will not be greater : Fori 
 let it be inquired, what fhallwe do next? whether {hall wd 
 unite with any Church in the Nation, or out of it ? or fhait 
 we make an Independent Church of our own, or ihall wej 
 have no Communion or Union at all ? Thefe laft cannot 
 be, 'tis impoiTible we can claim any Relation to Chrift, and 
 hive no Communion with his Body, or fome Part of it. Thd 
 Communion of Saints muft. ftill be an Article of the Creed 
 it mult Hill be the Defire of ail the Saints to have Commu 
 nion in Ordinances ; there is none of them can live wei 
 
 without 
 
 
 
( 97 ) 
 
 without it, PfsL xxvi. 8. P/al. xxvii. 4. Pfal. xlii. I, 2, 
 4. PJal. xliii. 3, 4. P/i/. Ixiii. 1,2. P/fl/. lxxxiv. 1, 2, 3, 
 4, 10. P/j/. lxxxix. 15. P/*/. cxxii. 1, 2, 3, 4. jLjot. i. 4, 
 tyc. Lam. ii. 19, <&c. Can we live without Ordinances to 
 our felves, and Baptifm to our Children ? Shall they be as 
 Heathens within the vifible Church, as if. they were without? 
 Is not this a Mifery and a Punifhment upon ourfelves ? How 
 abfurd is it, that the Unfaithfulnefs of Minifters fhould in- 
 fer the Punifhment of thole that are Faithful ? The fecond 
 cannot be faid, that in this Cafe we mult gather and confti- 
 tute an Independent Church of our own, diflincl from, and 
 not fubordinate unto the National Church, having Officers 
 of our own, in veiled with all Church-Power ; for then, whit 
 Ihall become of Presbyterian Government, and our Ted I- 
 mony for that againft Independency, Sectarianifm and Schifm ? 
 Or ihall not this be a Schifm, if ever there was any in the 
 World ? If the firft be faid, we mull then feek a Church 
 in the Nation, or out of the Nation, where it can be found 
 pureft, and freed of thefe Corruptions. Then I ask, K, 
 .What if fuch a Church, or Society, cannot be found in the 
 Nation ? Shall we then leave the Nation, and in effeel: in 
 our Practice declare, it is unchurched ? if we cannot find 
 it in the Nation, where will we find it out of it } . . The 
 greateft Purity of the reft of the Churches, will be found 
 fcarcely to come the length of this Church, with all its Cor- 
 ruptions. 3. Suppofe it be found in the Nation, or out of 
 it, on what Terms fliall Union and Communion be fettled 
 'with that Church ? Shall it be in thefe that for every Scan- 
 al, Defection and Corruption not confelTed there mult be a 
 Lupture, Divifion and Separation again ? Then how long 
 lali that Church laft ? And if there be a broader Breach 
 then, what fhall be at the End of that Breach ? Muft there 
 jbe endlefs Divisions and Withdrawings ? 4. This particu- 
 lar Church, is either a Part of the National Church, or uni- 
 Iverfal Church, and fubordinate unto it, or it is diftincl: and 
 not fubordinate. If it be diftincl, then we join with Inde- 
 
 idents : If it be a Part of the National Church, then in 
 ig with a Part, we muft join with the W T hole, for all the 
 
 ts make but one Body, and the Church is but one : And 
 
 it will not hz enough to elehew and avoid finful 
 
 N Gcmv 
 
, ( 9« > 
 
 Communion to withdraw from the reft of the Parts of the 
 Body, except we withdraw from that Part, and all the Parts 
 belonging to that one Bocjy fo corrupted. Let any judge 
 then, whether the Inconveniencies of Union or Divifion be 
 the greateft. 
 
 And thus much in Anfwer to the Objections drawn from 
 the Compliances of the former Times. Mow follow fome 
 few Objections which ye have drawn from fomethings fup- 
 pofed to be wrong in the Conftitution and Practice of this 
 Church, to which I iliall endeavour alio to give fatisfacto- 
 ry Anfwers. 
 
 Objeft. i. £ That there are Corruptions in the Conftitu- 
 
 * tionofthe Church, as now eftablifhed, being under the 
 
 * Bondage of m Era/Han Yoke, now fubmitted to •, our iu- 
 c preme Church Judicatories, or General AiTemblies, being 
 
 * only called and indicted, adjourned and dilTblved by civil 
 6 Authority, and prelimited, both with refpedt to Members, 
 c fome being excluded, and with relpect to Matters, fome 
 
 * Terms being laid down by the Parliament of receiving E- 
 
 * ptfeopal Minifters, and clofed with by the AiTembly, tho' 
 e not coming up to what the Word of God requires. And 
 
 * all this yielded to without a Teftimony.' For Anfwer, 
 we fay, i . This Charge is injurious both to Church and 
 State, and contrary to both Truth and Charity, bsfidesthe 
 Ignorance that is in it. For whatever be the Corruptions 
 of the conitituent Membersof this Church in her Judicatories, 
 or the Defects or Mifcarriages of their Adminiftrations, or 
 Obftr actions put to the Exercife of fome of the Churches 
 Powers and Privileges, in many Gafes incident to the belt | 
 Churches in the World ; it is falfe, that the Conftitution of ' 
 the Church is corrupt, having all Things that makes a 
 Church in its Conftitution true, incorrupt and entire, Sound - 
 nefs of Doctrine, Purity of Worfhip, and an Order of Dis- 
 cipline and Government of Chrift's Institution, with all the 
 Officers, Ordinances, and Judicatories appointed by him* 
 felf, and no new Kind of Officers, Ordinances, or Judicato- 
 ries introduced by human Invention or Ufurpation. It is falfe, 
 that the Church is under the Bondage" of an Eraflian Yoke, 
 fmcethe Yoke of Prelacy and Supremacy are removed by 
 Lav:, or that the Church hath fubmitted thereto. It is our 
 
 Mercy 
 
Mercy that we are required to fubmit to nothing but what 
 our Fathers and all the reformed Churches would have glad- 
 ly yielded unto. And yet we have not fubmitted to. every 
 Thing has been required. And as this is falfe, fo 'tis highly 
 uncharitable, to fuppofe the Minifters of this Church, who 
 formerly wreftled againft Prelacy and Supremacy, would be 
 fo contradictory to themfelves, and treacherous to their 
 Mailer, as to betray his lnterefts, and the Churches Pri- 
 vileges, for which they fuflfered, to any Eraftian Yoke* 
 2. The Inftances alledged, are far from proving the Charge. 
 It is true, the civil Magiftrate calls and indicts, adjourns 
 and diffolves our General AfTemblies ; and his adjourning 
 and diffolving of them, hath been a Grievance to many, 
 who have declared their Grief and Diffent : But this is 
 not fuch a Bondage of an Erajlian Yoke, as makes theCon- 
 ftitution of the Church corrupt, nor to be withdrawn from 
 upon this Account j for the diffolving of an Aflembly, can- 
 not make an AiTembly corrupt in its Confiitution. If it be 
 fo before its DiiTolution, it is a Mercy and not a Grievance 
 to diffolve it, and rather a Grievance to call it ; but this 
 Church hath always a :k:vj wiedged, that the King's Majefty 
 hath Power to indicl and call as many General AfTemblies 
 i as he pleafes, and appoint what Time and Place he pleales; 
 fo it is acknowledged, Aflembly 1638. Sefl\ 26. concern- 
 ing yearly Gene;;,! AfTemblies, and in their Supplication to 
 the King, they ova that they were conveened by his Ma- 
 - jetty's fpeciai Indi ::i.>n ; and the Light of Nature feems to 
 inltruct, that he that calls an Affer:. diGnifs them, 
 
 when their BuGne Is is over 3 but this is not private of, nor 
 prejudicial to the Churches Power of calling and adjourn- 
 ing her own AfTemblies j if he declare the Church hath no 
 fuch Power, and to lequire of the Aflembly to own they 
 have it not, if he mould hinder the Convocation of AfTem- 
 blies, when they have OccaGon for them, or diffolve them 
 in the Midft of their Work, when it is needful for them 
 to continue ; this were indeed a Stretch of Eraftian Supre- 
 macy, and a Yoke that could not be fubmitted to. But as, 
 we hope, there is no need to fear that our gracious King will 
 do any fuch Thing, fo we cannot complain that he hath 
 •done often fo. He hath not denied the' Churches Privilege 
 ■N 2 ' in 
 
( ICO ) 
 
 in this Matter, nor hindered our Ailemblies when we need- 
 ed them-, and before ever any of our Ailemblies were dif- 
 folved, the Moderator declared, the Affembly's Work was 
 done. And fo upon the Matter, the AlTembly diffolved it 
 felf, and his Majelty's Commiflioner added his fubfequent 
 Declarator, and Indication of another. As for Prelimitations, 
 we know none offered nor fubmitted to. We never faw 
 Meafures offered for the Choice of Members or- Affemblies, 
 nor a Moderator chofen but by the full Votes of the Affem- 
 bly, nor the Votes over-ruled, nor limiting of Matters treat- 
 ed on, but by the Determination or Order of the Records of 
 the Affembly. Where thefe are not, the AfTembly cannot 
 be called prelimited. We never knew a Minifter excluded 
 but one, for refilling the Oath of Allegiance, which was done 
 by his Majefty's Commiflioner by private Means, to which 
 he yielded for Peace, without the Affembly's Mind ever 
 being fought in that Point. The Parliament indeed by 
 Law allowed Epifcopal Minifters to be received into a Share 
 of the Government, upon their fubferibing the ConfefTion of 
 Faith, if they were neither inefficient nor negligent, erro- 
 neous n©r fcandalous ; which are all the Grounds the Scrip- 
 ture gives for debarring or depofing any Man from the Mi- 
 niftry. In which yet the Affembly was left at their Liber- 
 ty. Thefe cannot be called Prelimitations of Affemblies. 
 3. Let it be granted there be fome Encroachments upon 
 fome of the Churches Privileges and Freedom of Affemblies, 
 and in our Part a finful Weaknels in ceding unto them, 
 without a fcafonable and fuitable Teftimony ; yet a Defect 
 in not aliening our Rights in difficult Circumltances is not 
 a Surrender of our 'Rights, nor Submiffion to an Eraftian 
 Yoke; nor can it impeach the warrantable Conflitution of 
 a Judicatory; far lefs can it be a Ground of Separation from 
 a Church that flill claims thefe Rights, tho' it may be her 
 Servants and Meffengers have no Strength to contend for 
 them. It is ordinary when Reformation is carried on, that 
 many Difficulties are in the Way, and that all Things can- 
 not be done that are wifhed ; nor is every Thing that hath 
 been done formerly and laudably done, neceffary t© be done 
 now, in Circumftanccs far different from former Times. To 
 every .Thing there is required both Time and Judgment, 
 
 a 
 
( lot ) 
 
 a Thing may be lawful 2nd not expedient : Yea an affir- 
 mative Duty may be neceflary at one Time, and necelTari- 
 ly fuperfeded at another, when the Circumftances are fuch, 
 that it would do more hurt than good. This is no difown- 
 ing of the Duty, nor deferring of a Teftimony, nor Compli- 
 ance with an Emcroachment, but a prudent and patient For- 
 bearing of it, until it be more feafonable, and do more good. 
 As Paul withheld a pofitive Teftimony even againft Idolatry 
 at Epbefus, while the People were in a Tumult and Ferment, 
 not at Leafure to hear it. 
 
 Objeft* 2. ■ There is no Zeal to purge the Houfe of God 
 *• of perjured Curates, nor fuitable Endeavours ufed to rid 
 
 ■ the Church of that ungodly Crew, nor are Cenfures duly 
 
 ■ executed againft them upon Account of their national 
 
 ■ fcandalous Defections ; but, upon the contrary, many 
 1 contend for their Continuance, and for receiving them in- 
 ' to minifteriai Fellowship, upon Terms that feem to im- 
 1 port a condemning of die Sufferings of the Godly in their 
 1 Teftimony againft them, laying afide Difcipline againfl 
 
 * corrupt Teachers, and receding from the Rules and Prac- 
 
 * tice of this Church, without Trial and Evidence of their 
 < Repentance. Honefty, Fitnels, and Call to the Mmiftry. 
 
 * Yea now by Act of Parliament much of the Lord's Heritage 
 e is given over to them, without any Dependence on the 
 4 Judicatories of this Church.' Anf. This Objection comes 
 not well from thefe that are following devifed and devifive 
 Courfes in a Separation from this Church, that are fo far 
 contributing to their Help, to do that which they require to 
 be done, that none do more mar the Work, and Weaken 
 Difcipline than they. Is it not a Shame to you to exclaim 
 lb much againft Men, that maintain and promote a Schifrn 
 in this Church, and will not own a Subjection unto, and 
 Dependence upon the Judicatories thereof; and in the mean 
 Time be guilty of the fame Tilings yourfelves,' and con- 
 temn the Communion and Authority of the Church, as 
 much as they I Th:3 Complain* would come better from 
 thefe that were united with the Church, and fo concurring 
 
 . with the Work, had,Accefe to excite others to more Zeal 
 in purging the Church. It would require all the united 
 Fowe* aftd Prudence to expede this Work effectually, and 
 
 •manage 
 
( loa ) 
 
 manage it lb, as none fliculci have Ground of Complaint : 
 This is the Work of an united Church, and not of a divi- 
 ded one. It being a Matter of the greateft Concern, both 
 to the prefent and future Generations, wherein the Church 
 in this broken Condition is very much ftraitned, and can do 
 nothing but what fliaii be cried out againft, and Jafhed with 
 Reproaches on all Hands. One Party complains, that we 
 are fo fevere in our Procedure againft Epiicepal Minifters, 
 and fo revengful in retaliating their Trent ments towards us 
 in purging out fo many of them, and thereby making fb 
 many Congregations dcfolate that reckon themfelves injured 
 and robbed of thefe they adhere to as their Minifters, and 
 in receiving fo few of them into miniiierial Fellowfhip, and 
 at Share of the Government. Another Party complains, 
 that we are to flack in purging out thofe Men that have 
 been fo long the Bane of the Church, and under whofe Mi- 
 niftry the People have fo long perifhed in Ignorance and 
 Profanity, and fo lax in receiving fo many of them into our 
 Communion, and thereby not only continuing them in the 
 -PoiTeflion of what they had before without Right, but ad* 
 mitting them into a Share of the Government which they 
 had not before. This is grievous to many of ourielves. 
 But for more direct Anfwer, thefe Couflderations may lenify 
 the Complaint, and fatisfy the Sober and Serious that this is 
 no relevant Ground for calling at this Church, i. It can- 
 not be denied, but that a considerable Number of them were 
 ecclefiaflically cen lured and purged out for their Intrutlon, 
 -erroneous Doctrine, Perfccution of honed People, and fcaa- 
 dalous Lives ; Witnefs their many Appeals to the firft Af. 
 fembly and ieveral fucceeding. Thefe Sentences were rati- 
 fied by the AiTembly, which appointed Cenfures againft all 
 of them that were infufficient or negligent or erroneous or 
 fcandalous. That was as great a Length as ever this Church 
 could go in former Times. -:. It is granted alfo that a 
 ^cniiderable Number of the k* Minifters that were under 
 the Bifhops, are received into miniiierial Fellowfhip, and 
 ft Share of the Government, but they were reckoned among 
 she beft ^VJiern, and fuch againft whom there were fewefT 
 Exceptions; fome. of them fimply guilty of Conformity 
 v/iiii irekcy, and of the younger Sort bred up under Epi- 
 
 fcopacy, 
 
( io 3 ) 
 
 fcopacy, that, while that flood, had a View of no other 
 organical Church to join with, and fo adted according to 
 their Light, following the epidemick Courfe of the Time 
 lace they lived in, which was difcovered when the o- 
 diuus Ted was impofed, that they refufed. Some of them 
 have been ufeful, and carried w~ell fince. Never any Mi* 
 niftcr contended for receiving all of them, nor could any 
 with Reafon plead, that none of rhem, "even the moft wor- 
 thy and of moft excellent Talents fhould be received at all. 
 If any cenfurabie for InfufRciency, Negligence, Errors or 
 Scandals, have been received, let a Complaint be made, it 
 would be heard : Nor have any of them been received up- 
 on Terms that could import a condemning of the Sufferings 
 of the Godly, as the Objection ailedges ; for nothing irt 
 their Reception can import that, except Prelacy be jufti£ed 
 or not condemned. Now Prelacy is not juftified, but may 
 very well be condemned, tho' ibme that went along with 
 that Courfe be allowed to come off, and received when they 
 do fo. Nor is it true, that they are allowed to be received 
 without ail Trial and Evidence of their Repentance, Hone- 
 fly, Fitnefs, &c. On the contrary the Church hath pro- 
 ceeded with fuch Tendernefs and Caution, difcovering fe 
 much Fear and Jealoufy of bad Effects and Defigns, that, 
 upon the Account thereof, many have complained of too 
 much Rigidity. The Aflembly committing the Trail of 
 this to their Gommiffioners, required, That none fee taken 
 in but fiich as, after due Trial of their Soundnefs in the 
 Faith, and all perianal and miniiterial Qualifications, fhould 
 be found to be orthodox, of competent Abilities, godly, 
 loyal, and of an edifying Gift, giving fome Ground to ex- 
 pect, and believe they will prove confeientious, true and 
 faithful to Presbyterian Government, to which they mult 
 profefs Subjection. Theft Qualifications are very compre- 
 hentlve, and due Regard hath been had to them by inferior 
 judicatories, who at their Admiflion u(e to exhort them to 
 canfidcr their Ways and Offences, Perjuries, and nations! 
 and (candalods Defections. It is alfo a Miftake, that this 
 h ai -edged to be a receding from the Rules and Practice of 
 this Church.; for, in the Year 1638, there was a more ge- 
 neral r< .:r the Worfhip had been more 
 
 cur- 
 
( io 4 ) 
 
 corrupted with Ceremonies : Nothing was then required of 
 them, but the fubfcribing the National Covenant, which was 
 the Confejfion of Faith at that Time. And now the Confefwn 
 of Faith eftablifhed in this Church, which is larger and ful- 
 ler than that was, is enacted to be fubfcribed by all Intrants, 
 and all that we received into minifterial Communion ; and 
 their being now required to profefs Adherence to Presbytery, 
 and Subjection to the prefent Government of this Church, 
 and a relinquifhing and renouncing of their former Ways, 
 and their fubmitting to thefe Terms in their AdmiiTion, is 
 upon the Matter a ProfelTion of their Repentance. If any 
 have practically counteracted this in the Reception of fome, 
 they are accountable to the Aflembly for it. 3. After all 
 that is faid to alleviate the Charge, let it be conceded, and 
 let us take with Guilt in this, that we are defective in Zeal 
 in purging the Houfe of God, and that fome are not put out, 
 and fome are taken in who deferve feverer Cenfures : This 
 will not amount to a Ground of Separation jufUfied in Scrip- 
 ture-Rules or Practices, or the Principles of this or other 
 reformed Churches : This will not make the Church in her 
 Congregations or Judicatories fo fundamentally corrupt, 
 that there is Hazard of Sin in Communion with her. It 
 will only argue Judicatories are guilty of fome particular 
 Aberrations, which none are enjoined to approve fo much 
 as by way of Connivance, and from which, a Protestation 
 may acquit any that concurs in neceiTary Duties. It was 
 a far more corrupt and wicked Judicatory that condemned 
 the Lord of Glory, and yet Jofeph of Arimathea a Member 
 thereof, was acquitted by a Non-confent, L«/<?xxiii. 50,51. 
 ObjeCl. 3. ' It is offcniive and Humbling to us, that an 
 ■ Oath of Allegiance and Alfurance is impofed on all Mini- 
 ' Iters, Preachers, and all that are allowed the Privilege uf 
 c calling Minifters upon a ftrange Certification, and penal 
 6 Sanction, that none are to be received or admitted as Mi- 
 ' n ifters, nor continued as fuch, nor have a Right to any 
 f Maintenance, and that none (hall have the Privilege of 
 'calling Minifters, except they dial take this Oath, which 
 ' wc think an eraftian Encroachment on the Church's Pri- 
 jesi and a fid El'av- 1 >ecau{e it is 
 
 '■ an 
 
( 107 ) 
 
 4 an Allegiance illimiteJ, or without due Limitations not 
 
 * qualified as in the Covenant, granting to the King a Pow- 
 4 cr of putting in and holding out of Church- Officers, and 
 ' privileges whom he pleafes, impofed on Minifters and o- 
 4 thers, as a new Qualification of Church-Members and Of- 
 
 * fice Bearers ; and this without any concciveable Neceffity* 
 
 * which is requifite in all lawful Oaths, becaufe Minifters 
 
 * had many other Ways given abundant Proofs of their 
 
 * Loyalty, appointed inftead of all other Oaths, and abro- 
 
 * gating all other; which feems to infer a burying or lay- 
 4 ing afide of the Covenants : The taking of this feeir^ 
 1 contrary to an Acl of Aflembly 1648. difcharging ail 
 
 * Oaths in the common Caufe, without Advice and Con- 
 
 * fent of the Church. This is grievous to the Godly in a 
 
 * private Station of whofe Offence Minifters mould be very 
 'tender. It hath had fad ErFecls, dividing Minifters and 
 1 People fadly •, and is likely to produce more, being a 
 ' Snare to fome that cannot take it in Rightcoufnefs and 
 ' Judgment, becaufe many honeft People cannot underftand 
 ' the debateable Rights of Kings ; and if it be impofed in 
 
 * fucceeding Governments, it may be of dangerous Confe- 
 
 * quence. We defire either Reafons to prove the Lawful- 
 
 * nefs of it, or an Acknowledgment of the Sinfulnefs of it/ 
 Anfw. In the prefent State of the Queftion, we are neither 
 obliged to prove the Lawfulnefs of this Oath, nor acknow- 
 ledge the Sinfulnefs of it. For that is not the Queftion, 
 Whether it be lawful or iinful ? but, Whether, fuppofing 
 the Sinfulnefs of it, it be a fumcient Ground of Separati- 
 on ? We fay, it cannot be, unlefs you make every Thing, 
 that is fmful in Minifters, a Ground of Separation, which 
 will diflblvc all Communion in the World -, for neither can 
 it be Herefy to allert, that Minifters may fwear lawful Al- 
 legiance to lawful Kings ; the contrary, that they mould 
 be always exeemed from it, were popifh Doctrine : Nor 
 can it be Idolatry in Worftiip, or contrary to the Honour 
 \vc owe to God, to give fo much Honour to the King, as to 
 fwear Subjection to him in Things lawful ; a Duty com- 
 manded in the Fifth Command, can never be forbidden in 
 the Firft or Second : Nor can it amount to the Sin of In- 
 trusion iat© the MinjJby, or Tyranny in Ghurch-Govern- 
 
( ictf ) 
 
 ment, to fubmit to a civil Qualification, required by a c'vil 
 Law in the State- Government : "Nor can it involve Men 
 in the Sin of Schifm in the Church, to avoid all Appear- 
 ance of Sedition in the State : Nor, finally, can any Man 
 have any Ground of Reafon to fay, that a Minifrer's fub- 
 rhitting to the Terms of the civil Magistrate, hi his entring 
 upon or continuing the Pofleflion of his Benefice, doth any 
 way impofe finful Terms of Communion on them that hear 
 them ; there being no Law that no Man fhall hear a Mini- 
 ster preach, except he fwear the Oath of Allegiance, and 
 own and acknowledge that the Minifter did righfin fwear- 
 ihg it. Now, fuppoflng this Oath be finful, yet if it be 
 neither Herefy, nor Idolatry, nor Intrufion into the Mirii- 
 ftry, nor Tyranny in Government, nor Schifm, nor impo- 
 iing any finful Terms in Communion, it cannot be a 
 Ground of Separation warrantable by the Word of God, or 
 the Doctrine of any reformed Divines. 2. AVe fhall further 
 condefcend to them, and grant there are fome Things in 
 thefc Oaths grievous to many of the Godly, of whofe Offence 
 we defire to be tender. It may be grievous, that in our Day 
 publick Oaths, as Teds of Loyalty, have been fo much 
 multiplied, and more frequently impoled than in any Nati- 
 on of the World, to the enfnaring and debauching of* 
 many Conferences, which may juftly make the Tender to 
 fear, a»d be averfe from Oaths. And as to this particular 
 Oath, there are fome Things in the Manner of enacting j 
 and Way of impofing it, very unpleafant and diffatisfying 
 to ourfelves. We arc grieved, that after all our moft pu- 
 blick and folemn Afiertings of the King's Right, and of our 
 Allegiance to it, before God and the World, in our preach- 
 ing and praying for this Government, and giving all 'other 
 Proofs of Loyalty, that ever could be required of, or per- 
 formed by any Minifters, an Oath of Allegiance mould be 
 impofe^, importing fome Sufpicion of our DiiTafTe&ion and 
 Difloyalty, which is odious to all that are confeious of their 
 own Sincerity. If the Government had thought fit to im- 
 pofe it on all Subjects, as fuch, without Diftinclion or Ex- 
 emption of any Rank, none could have quarrelled it ; but 
 it is unpleafant for Minifters to be fpecially fingled out, and 
 required uudcr tkat RedupUcatita to take ajj Oath, that be- 
 bop 
 
( io 7 ) 
 longs to all others, as well as to them, as if they were the 
 Perfons mod to be fufpetted. Nor arc we Citrsfied that it 
 fhould be extended to all that are allowed to call Minifters, 
 and with any Speciality required of them as fuch, fince 
 there arc many who cannot be deprived of a Privilege to 
 call Minifters, that yet do not underftand the Rights of 
 Government, and fo are not in Capacity to take this Oath 
 in JuJgment, as Oaths fhould always be taken ; neither 
 do we approve the annexed Certification or penal Sanction, 
 that none are to be received or admitted as Minifters, or 
 continued as fuch, <bc. except they take this Oath. If 
 any other Thing be underftood by it, than fimply that they 
 fhzll not be admitted to, nor continued in the PofTellion of 
 the legal Maintenance, which indeed the civil Magiftrate 
 may deprive Minifters of for Difobedience, but cannot 
 hinder their being received or continued as Minifters ; we 
 regret all the fad ErTeds of it, in promoting Divifion among 
 Minifters and People in fome Places, and fhall be forry if 
 this be pleaded as a Precedent in all fucceeding Govern- 
 ments. But though thefe Things be grievous to many, 
 and diiTatisfying to ourfelves -, yet they need not be ofFen- 
 five or Humbling to you, fo as to give you any Ground to 
 think or conclude, that Minifters taking this Oath in thefe 
 Circumftances, is a Compliance with an enthraling En- 
 croachment upon the Church's Privileges, granting to the 
 King a Power of putting in and holding out of Church-Of- 
 fices and Privileges when he pleafes, and to impofe new 
 Qualifications upon Minifters, &6. and that therefore you 
 are obliged in Confcience to withdraw from them upon tha 
 Account of this Compliance. Many Things may be Mat- 
 ters of Grief and DiiTatisfaction to the Mind, that are not 
 Grounds of Offence to the Confcience, much lefs Grounds 
 of Separation. Nor will you find that you have Ground to 
 draw fuch harfh Conclufions, if you will confider, 3. No 
 reformed Divine ever denied that the civil Magiftrate hath 
 Power and Authority to impofe all civil Duties on all his 
 Subjects, and confequently on Minifters. He tha t hath 
 Power to command and compel them to be faithful and di- 
 ligent, evta ia all mimfterial Duties, (that all Things be 
 O 2 dilr? 
 
( ioS ) 
 
 diligently done for the Houfc of the God of Heaven, which 
 he hath commanded) may certainly impofe upon them all 
 lawful civil Duties, and in fome Cafes exact of them legal 
 Securities by Oath, or other wife for their Faith falfiefs in 
 thefe Duties. An Oath of Allegiance and Affurance is of 
 this Nature, which may be impofed on Minifters as well as 
 others. The Matter and Form of this Oath is unexception- 
 able. There is nothing in it that can be called unlawful ; 
 nothing but what we and all Subjects are antecedently obli- 
 ged to : No Allegiance is required but that which is true 
 and faithful, which cannot be illimited and unlawful. Nor 
 do we understand any Thing by it, but true Loyalty and 
 Obedience in the Lord, or in the Prefervation Ind Defence 
 of the true Religion, according to the Words exprefTed in 
 the Covenant : Nor doth this oblige us to obey any unlaw- 
 ful Command, or comply with any Encroachment preju- 
 dicial to the Church's Privileges, but rather may give Con- 
 fidence to oppofethem ; becaufeby this it may appear, fuch 
 Oppofition doth not now from a Principle of Difloyahy, 
 fince we go the full Length, in paying all Duties we owe 
 to the King. Nor can Minifters Amply taking of the Oath, 
 infer or import their homologating or juftifying the Sanction 
 of it, or every Claufe of the Act enjoining it. We declare we 
 never looked upon this Oath of Allegiance, as anew requir- 
 ed Qualification of Minifters, fo as without this they were 
 not to be received as fuch by Chriftian People ; we look 
 «pon true Loyalty and Allegiance to Magiftrates, as a ne- 
 ceffary Qualification of all Chriftians and Minifters, but not 
 .the fwearing of it. Neither did any Miniftcr fwear it under 
 that Reduplication as a Miniftcr, to be thereby further qua- 
 lified for the Miniftry ; but as a Subject required to give 
 this lawful Signification and Demonftration of lawful Loyal- 
 tv to a lawful King. And as the Matte* of the Oath could 
 not be fcrupled, fo neither the Object whom God hath fb 
 oracioufly let over us as his lawful Vicegerent, who mud 
 be acknowledged as weil ds jure as de fafto to be only 
 King of the Realms, whofe Right is fo undoubted, and Go- 
 vernment fo encouraging, that they that refufe Allegiance 
 to King Willlawy muft be fuch as no King on Earth can 
 pleafe. That which is objected with greateft Shew of Rea- 
 
 fon 
 
ion, is, That there could be no Doubt nor Queftion of 
 Minifters Loyalty, who had given fo many Proofs of it ; fo 
 there could be no Neceflity of an Oath for Confirmation, 
 without which Oaths cannot be warranted. But let it be 
 confidcred, that as it is not necclTarily required of Subjects 
 to underftand all ihe Reafons of State, or the NecelTities for 
 the Laws which they are bound to obey, if they know the 
 Lawfulnefs of them ; Christians are not under Bondage in 
 fuch Cafes, but God calls them to Peace : So when this 
 Oath was firft enacted, there were feveral Things in the 
 State of Affairs obvious to all Men that feemed to plead for 
 the NeceiTity thereof. It was a Time of War, where* 
 in many Subjects, and not a few in the ProfefTion of Mini- 
 fters, viz. Epifcopals, were involved in Rebellion, it might 
 feem necelTary there mould be fomething impofed to diftin- 
 guifh and difcover the King's Friends from his Foes. It was 
 in a Cafe of Competition between two Kings, like that between 
 Joa/b and At ball ah, 2 Kings xi. 4. &c. wherein Jehoiadah 
 impofed an Oath of Allegiance upon the Levites as well as 
 others. The like was done not long after the Reformation 
 in Scotland, in the Competition between King James and 
 his Mother Mary, Minifters were to fwear the Oath recog- 
 nofcing the King's Authority out of the Pulpit, under 
 the Pain of Deprivation. Act 46. Parliament 3. King 
 JAMES VI. Anno 1572. In which Cafes fuch an 
 Oath to one King is a Testimony againft the other, and a 
 fecuring of his Title, againft the Pretenfions of the other. 
 It is likewife very natural to fuppofe, many about the 
 I King, that are none of our belt Friends, might fugged to 
 ! his Majelty, that Presbyterian Minifters, thoigh now pro- 
 ; fefling Loyalty ; yet if they were tried, would not engage 
 for it, nor promife by Oath to be fo. This might induce 
 1 the King to judge it necelTary to try them with this Oath, 
 and fo put an End to the Contr-werfy, and the fame might 
 induce Minifters to think it necelTary to take this Oath, and 
 fo confute all thefe Calumnies, and evil Surmifes. It is 
 vain to imagaine, that this being appointed inftead of all o- 
 ther Oaths, and abrogating of all other, feems to infer a 
 burying, or laying afiJe of the Covenants. We are confi- 
 dent no fuch Thing was in the Mifld or Defign of the En- 
 actors, 
 
 
 
( "• ) 
 
 *fters, nor can the Words bear any fuch Senfe, but only 
 that this was appointed instead of all other Oaths of Allegi- 
 ance, or Supremacy, or others impofed by the late Govern- 
 ment, which may rather commend than afford any Matter 
 of {tumbling at it. Neither is that other Scruple better 
 founded, that an Act of Affembly 1648. difcharges all new 
 Oaths in the common Caule, impofed without Advice and 
 Conient of the Church, for that Ad refpects new Oaths a- 
 bout Religion, or Reformation, or for approving forue of 
 the Adminiftrations of the State, which the Church could 
 not approve, and efpecialiy (as is there expreffed) * Nega- 
 
 * tive Oaths or Bonds, which may any "Way limit or re- 
 1 flrain Men in their Duties, whereunto they are obliged by 
 
 * Covenants.' This Oath is not at all of that Nature, but 
 only refpecVing civil Allegiance to the King, which we are 
 obliged to by the Covenants, which neither obliges us to ap* 
 prove any Thing unlawful, nor can any Way limit or re- 
 ftrain us in, or from any Duty. 
 
 Now to draw to a Conclufion, Dearly beloved, our Wit- 
 nefs is in Heaven, that the Defign of what is here faid, is 
 neither to irritate nor expofe you, but oat of fincere Love 
 to your Souls Welfare, to undeceive you, and reclaim you 
 from your fad Miftakes. We do therefore befeech, exhort, 
 and obteft you, as you love your Souls, and the Churches 
 Peace, confider without Prejudice, what is here offered to 
 you. Be not ftiffnecked, but yield your felves unto the 
 Lord, and enter into his Sanctuary, which he hath fancUfi- 
 ed for ever, and ferve the Lord your God, that the Fierce- 
 nefsofhis Wrath may turn away. If you will lay thefe 
 Things to Heart, it will not be in your Power to fiiift the 
 Convi&ion of your being a confiderable length out of the 
 good Old Way of Truth and Peace. And if you be not re- 
 fractory, we would offer you fome Directions, whereby you 
 may find it again. Search and try your Ways, and turn a- 
 gain to the Lord, remember whence you are fallen, and re- j 
 pent and do your firft Works •. True Contrition for your own 
 Sins, would remove the Caufes of Schifm, and fo th« Effect 
 would ceafe. It would drive you to Ghfift the Prince of 
 Peace, which would remove the Holy Caufe oftt, the Anger; 
 •f the Lord, and would rcnjove the finful fomenting Caufe 
 
 « of 
 
( tit ) 
 
 ofit, Pride and Self-conceit of your being wore righteoi^ 
 than thofe you feparate from \ be more humble, and you will 
 form be reconciled to tke Way of Peace : Strife (hall ceafe, 
 if nothing be done in vain Glory, but in Lowlinefs of Mind; 
 each efteem others better than themfelves ; endeavour to 
 encreafe your Knowledge of the Truths of God, and you 
 (hall foon difcover the Folly of Divifion : Ignorance is the 
 Mother of Schifm. Be more fpiritual and exerciftd in the 
 Purfuit of Communion with God, and you (hall have a great- 
 er Defire toentcrtain Communion w*th the Church. If you 
 would know where he feeds, and makes his Flocks to reft 
 at Koon, you muft go to the Shepherds Tents. If you 
 would feek him whom your Soul loveth, you muft go about 
 the City and Streets thereof, and afk at the Watchmen. 
 The more Concern you kave for your own Soul, and pant- 
 ing Hunger after God, the more Defire you would have for 
 the Ordinances of his Courts and Tabernacles. Get more 
 Love to Chrift and his People, and this will natively lead 
 you to Union and Communion, with all that keep his Way, 
 and will remove that Spirit of Faclioufnefs, and Prejudice, 
 and Jealoufy that nouriJhes Divifion. Ketp your Zeal 
 lively againft all Sin, but let it have two Edges, to refent 
 the Diinonour done to God, by Schifm as well as Defection ; 
 let it be balanced with Charity, and managed with Difcre- 
 titn. And we requeft you, that you ftudy Uniformity ia 
 your Zeal, that you be not like Cakes unturned, hot for 
 fome leffer Points in Religion, and cold for others that are 
 greater and mtre weighty. Be fervent for all Truths, and 
 in all Duties, but with a regular Proportion to their Concern 
 in the Vitals ©f Religion. Let Religion be more in your 
 Heart tha* Head, in Practice than in Controveriy. Ne- 
 glect not the Duties of your general Calling of Piety towards 
 God, Sobriety in your felves, Righteoufnefs and Mercy to 
 Men, brotherly Love, and holy Chriftian-fellowfhip ; and 
 forget not the relative Duties of your particular Callings. 
 Have a Care of the Idlenefs of bufy Bodies, i Theff. iv. 
 1 1. But ftudy to be quiet, and do your own Bufinefs, and 
 to work with your own Hands. Beware of them that caufb 
 Divifions and Offences, and avoid them. And look on them 
 that blow the Bellows of Con,teaj.ioa as &o Friends to your, 
 
 or 
 
( H2 ) 
 
 or th« Church's Intereft. Finally, Study to be united one 
 with another, and with your Pallors make Acquaintance, 
 and entertain frequent and friendly Converfe with them, 
 receive the Law at their Mouth, for they are the MeiTengers 
 of the Lord of Holts : Grieve them not by your Contempt, 
 •r continued Withdrawing, left they be put to complain of 
 you to God, and it become Sio unto you. 
 
 I (hall (hut up all with one Word to all the Lord's Peo- 
 ple, and that in the Words of the Apoftle, Philip, ii. 1,2. 
 Dear Brethren, If there be any Confolation in Chrifl, if any 
 Cmfort of Low, if any Felloivfhip of the Spirit, if any Bowels 
 and Mercies ; fulfil ye my Joy, that ye be like minded, having 
 the fame Love, being of one Accord, of one Mind. 2 Cor. xiii. 
 1 1 . Finally, Brethren, farewel : Be ferfefl, be of good 
 Comfort , be of one Mind, live in Peace \ and the God of Love 
 *nd Peace Jhall be with you. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
ACTS 
 
 O F 
 
 PARLIAMENT 
 
 Made by King William and Mary for re-eftablifhing the true 
 reformed Religion, with the A&s refcinding the p rfe- 
 cuting Ads made by Charles the II. and James the VII. 
 
 Together 
 
 With King William's Letter to the National AiTembly 
 met at Ed'niburgh, Otfsber 16. 1690. Alio the Acls of 
 that AfTembly, anent receiving Mefliecrs Thomas Lining, 
 Alexander Shields, and Williaifi Boyd, into Communion 
 with this National Church. , g 
 
 As alfo 
 
 Some Acls of her Majefty Queen Anne, for the Security of 
 the true reformed Presbyterian Religion. 
 
 EDINBURGH 
 
 Printed by WilliamGrat, and fold at his Houfe at 
 Magd*kn\ Chapel, within the Cowgate Head. 1747. 
 
( "4 ; 
 
 ACTS -of ■ p A R L I A M E N T> 
 
 Made in the Firft Parliament of King WILLIAM and 
 MARY, for the re-eft ablijhing Prebyterian Church-Go- 
 ucrnmenj in Scotland, 
 
 All alolijhing Prelacy. 
 
 ^Hereas the Eflates of this Kingdom in the Claim of 
 Right, of the Eleventh of April laft. Declared, 
 That Prelacy and,, the Superiority of any Office, in the 
 Church above Presbyters, Is, and hath been a great and in- 
 supportable Grievance to this Nation, and contrary to the 
 Inclinations of the Generality of the People, ever fmce the 
 Reformation, they having reformed from Popery by Presby- 
 ters, and therefore ought to be Abolifhed : Our Sovereign 
 Lord and Lady, the King and Queen's Majefties, with Ad- 
 vice and Confent of the Eftates of Parliaments, Do hereby 
 abolifh Prelacy, and all Superiority of any Office in the 
 Church of this Kingdom above Presbyters ; And hereby re- 
 fcinds, caffes and annuls the firft Act of the fecond Sejf. of 
 .the firfl: ParL of King Charles the Second, and the fecond 
 Act of the third Sejf. of the. firft ParL of King Charles the 
 Second, and the fourth Acl: of the third Pari, of King 
 Charles the Second, and all other A&s, Statutes and Con- 
 ilitutions, in fo far allenarly -as they are inconfiftent with 
 this Act, and do efjablifh Prelacy, or the Superiority of 
 Church-Officers above Presbyters. And the King and 
 Queen's Majefties do declare, That They, with Advice and 
 Confent of the Eftates of this Parliament, will fettle by Lav) 
 that Church- Government in this Kingdom, which is moll: j 
 agreeable to the Inclinations of the People. 
 Scots A&s, Vol. III. Page 214. 
 
 > 
 Acl; re finding the Firft Acl of the Second Parliament, 1669. 
 
 OU R Sovereign Lord and Lady, the Kipg^nd Queen's 
 Majefties, taking into their Coniideration, That by 
 the Second Article of the Grievance? preiented to Their 
 
( tig ) 
 
 Majefties, by the Eftates of this Kingdom ; It is Deck 
 That the Firft Act of the Second Parliament of King Charles 
 the Second, Intituled, Aft ajferting His ftfajcfl/s Supremacy 
 r all Perfons,and in allCaufes Eccleji aft ical, is inconfiftent 
 with the Eitafeiilhment of the Church- Government now dc- 
 fired, and ought to be abrogate. Therefore, Their Majc- 
 flies, with Advice and Confent of the Eftates of Parliament, 
 do hereby abrogate, refcind and annul the forefaid Act, and 
 Declares the feme in the whole Heads, Articles and Claufes 
 thereof, to be of no Force or Effect in all Time coming. 
 Septs Acts, Vol. III. Page 210. 
 
 Aft Rzftoring the Presbyterian Mimjlers who ivere thrv.ft 
 from their Churches fine e the firft Day of January, 166 1. 
 
 FOrafmuch, as by an Act of this prefent Parliament, Re- 
 lative to, and in Profecution of the Claim of Right, 
 Prelacy, and the Superiority of Church- Officers above Pref- 
 byters, is abolimed : And that many Mi-nifters of the Presby- 
 terian Perfwafion, fince the Firft of January^ One thoufand 
 fix hundred fixty one, have been deprived of their Church- 
 I es, or banifhed for not conforming to Prelacy, and not com- 
 plying with/the Courfes of the Time: Therefore, 1 
 Majeiiies, with Advice and Confent of the Eftates of Parlia- 
 ment, Ordain and Appoint, That all thsfe Presbyterian 
 Minifters yet alive, who were thruft from their Charges 
 \ fince the firft Day of January, One thoufand fix hundred 
 I iixty one, or banilhed for not conforming to Prelacy, and 
 I not complying with the Courfes of the Time, have forth- 
 I with free Accefs to their Churches, that they may prefently 
 I exercife the Miniftry in their Parodies, without any new 
 1 thereto ; and allctws them to bruik and enjoy the Be- 
 es and Stipends thereunto belonging, and that for the 
 >le Cropt One thoufand fix hundred eighty nine, and im- 
 /.lately to enter to the Churches and Matties, where 
 Churches are vacant, and where they are not vacant, then 
 hereto is declared to be die Half of the R 
 
 . and payable at for 
 
 P 2 
 
( ix6 ) 
 
 the half Year immediately preceding, betwixt Whitfunday 
 and Michaelmas ; Declaring, That the prefent Incumbent 
 lhall have Right to the the other Half of the Stipend and 
 Benefice payable for the Wbitfunday lait bypaft ; And to the 
 Effect that thefe Minifters may meet with no Stop or Hin- 
 drance, in entring immediately to their Charges, the prefent 
 Encumbents in fuch Churches, are hereby appointed upon 
 Intimation hereof, to defift from their Miniftry in thefe Pa- 
 rities, and to remove themfelves from theManfes and Glebs 
 thereunto belonging, betwixt and Whitjunday next to come, 
 that the Presbyterian Minifters formerly put out, may en- 
 ter peaceably thereto. And appoints the Privy Council to 
 fee this Act put to Execution. 
 
 Scots Acts, Vol. III. Page 2 19. 
 
 A& ratifying the Confefjion of Faith, and fettling Presby* 
 terian Church -Government, 
 
 OO R Sovereign Lord and Lady, the King and Queen's 
 Majefties, and three Eftates of Parliament, conceiv- 
 ing it to be their bound Duty, after the great Deliverance 
 that God hath lately wrought for this Church and Kingdom, 
 in the firft Place to fettle and fccure therein the true Prote- 
 itant Religion, according to the Truth of God's Word, as it 
 hath of a long Time been profefXed within this Land; As 
 alfo the Governmemt of Chrift's Church within this Nation, 
 agreeable to the Word of God, and moft conducive to the 
 Advancement of true Piety and Godlinefs,and the Eftablifh- 
 ing of Peace and Tranquillity within this Realm; And that 
 by an Article of the Claim of Right, it is Declared, That 
 Prelacy, and the Superiority of any Oflice in the Church 
 above Presbyters, is, and hath been a great and infupport- 
 abie Grievance and Trouble to this Nation, and contrary to 
 the Inclinations of the Generality of the People ever flnce 
 the Reformation, they having reformed from Popery by 
 Presbyters, and therefore ought to' ^e abolifhed ; Likeas, 
 by ait Ad of the laft Sejjion of this Parliament, Prelacy is 
 aboiifhed: Therefore their Majefties, with Advice and Con- 
 P 2 &nt 
 
( n.7 ) 
 
 fent of the faid three Eftates, Do hereby revive, ratify, 
 and perpetually confirm, all Laws, Statutes and Acts of Par- 
 liament made agamft Popery and Papifts, and for the Main- 
 tenance and Prefervation of the true reformed Proteftant 
 Religion, and for the true Church of Clrrift within this 
 Kingdom, in fo far as they confirm die fame, or are made 
 in Favours thereof. Likeas they, by thefe Prefents, ratify 
 and eitabliih the Confeftion of 'Faith, now read in their Pre- 
 face ; and voted and ap proven by them, as the publick 
 and avowed ConfefTion of this Church, containing the Sum 
 and Subilance of the Doctrine of the reformed Churches - p 
 (which ConfefTion of Faith is fubjoined to this prefent A&.) 
 As alio they do eitabliih, ratify and confirm the Presbyteri- 
 an Church-Government and Difcipline : That is to fay, 
 the Government of the Church by Kirk-SefTions, Presbyte- 
 ries, Provincial-Synods, and General Aflemblies, ratified and 
 eftabhlhcd by the 114 Acl, JAMES VI. Pari. n. An- 
 no 15:92. Entkuled, Ratification of the Liberty of the true 
 Kirk. &c. And therefore received by the general Confent 
 of this Nation, to b* the only Government of Chris's 
 Church within this Kingdom ; reviving, renewing, and con- 
 finning the foreiaid Act of Parliament, in the whole Heads 
 thereof, except that Part of it relating to Patronages, which 
 is hereafter to be taken into ConfKieration : And refcind- 
 ing, annulling, and making void the Ads of Parliament 
 following, viz. Acl anent Reflitution of Bi/hops, JAMES 
 VI. Pari. 18. Cap. 2. Acl ratifying the Ads of the Af 
 fembly 16 10. JAMES VI. Pari. 21. Cap. 1. Aft anent 
 the tHeclion of Arcb-Bifhops, and Bi/hops, JAMES VI. 
 Pari. 22. Cap 1. Act Intituled, Ratification of the five Ar- 
 ticles of the General Apmhly at Perth, JAMES VI. Par!. 
 23. Cap. 1. Act Intituled, Fat the Reflitution and Re-eftj- 
 biitbment of the ancient Governinent of the Church, by Arch- 
 Bijhops and Bijhops, CHARLES II. Pari. 1. Sef. 2. 
 Acl 1. Anent the Conftitution of a National Synod, 
 CHARLES "II. Pari. 1. Sef 3. Acl 5. Acl againft 
 fuch as refufed to depone againft Delinquents, CHARLES 
 \\. Pari. 2. Sef 2. Acl 2. Ad Intituled, Acl acknow- 
 ledging and aferting the Right of Succeftion to the Imperial 
 Croiun of Scoihnd, CHARLES li. Pari. 3. AH 2. Ac> 
 
 In- 
 
( "8 ) 
 Intituled. AS anent Religion and the Teft. CHARLES 
 II. Pari. 3. Afl 6. With all other Acts, Laws, Statutes, 
 Ordinances and Proclamations, and that in fo far allenarly 
 as the faid Acts and others generally and particularly above- 
 mentioned, are contrary, or prejudicial to, inconilftenl with, 
 or derogatory from the Proteftant Religion, and Presbyteri- 
 an Government now eftablifhed •, And allowing and declar- 
 ing, that the Church-Government, be eftablifhed in the 
 Hands of, and excreifed by thefe Presbyterian Minifters, who 
 were Outed fince the Firft of January 1661. for Non-confor- 
 mity to Prelacy, or not complying with the Courfes of the 
 Times ; and are how reftored by the late Acl of Parliament, 
 and fuch Minifters and Elders only as they have admitted 
 or received, or (hall hereafter admit, or receive : And alfo, 
 that all the faid Presbyterian Minifters have, and (hall have 
 Right to the Maintenance, Rights and other Privileges, by 
 Law provided, to the Minifters of Chrift's Church within 
 this Kingdom, as they are, or fliall be legally, admitted to 
 particular Churches. Likeas,,in Purfuance of the Premif- 
 fes, thein Majefties, Do hereby appoint the firft Meeting of 
 the General Aflembly of this Church, as above-eitablifhed, 
 to be at Edinburgh^ the Third Thtirfday of OElober next to 
 come, in this inftant Year 169a. And becaufe many eon- 
 form Minifters either have deferted, or were removed from 
 preaching in their Churches, preceeding the thirteenth Day 
 of Aprils 1689. and others were deprived for not giving O- 
 bedience to the A el of the Eftates, made in the faid Thirteenth 
 of April 1689. Intituled, Proclamation againft the owning 
 *fthe I ale King James, and appointing publick Prayers for King 
 ^ William and Queen Mary : Therefore Their Majefties, with 
 ' Advice and Confent forefaid, Do hereby declare all the 
 Churches, either deferted, or from which the conform Mini- 
 fters were removed, or deprived, as laid is, to be Vacant, 
 an'd that the Presbyterian Minifters exercifing their Miniiiry, 
 within any of theft Parifhes ; (or where the laft Incumbent 
 is dead) by the Defirc or Confent of the Parifh, (hall con- 
 tinue their Pofle/fioti, and have Right to the Benefices and 
 Stipends, according to their Entry in the Year 1689. And 
 in Time coming, ay and while 'the Church, as now efla- 
 blifhed, take further Gourft therewith. And to the Erjecl 
 
 Ae 
 
( up ) 
 
 the Di (orders that have happened in this Church may be 
 redreifed : Their :cc, and Content fore- 
 
 fa id, Do hereby allow the general Meeting, and Rejrefen- 
 tatives of the forefiid Presbyterian Minifters and Elders, in 
 whofe Hands the Exerciic of the Church-Government is e- 
 flabiifhed, either by themfeives, or by fuch Minifters and 
 as (hall be appointed and authorized Vifitors by them, 
 according to the Cuftom and Practice of Presbyterian Go- 
 vernment throughout the whole Kingdom, and feveral Parts 
 thereof, to try and purge out ail infurncient, negligent, 
 fcandaious and erroneous Minifters, by due Courie of Ec- 
 ciefiaftical Procefs, and Cenfures ; And likeways for redref- 
 fing all other Church Diforders. And further, it is hereby 
 provided, that wl Miniflers, being conveened be- 
 
 fore the faid General Meeting, aad Reprefentatives of the 
 Presbyterian Minifters and Elders, or the Vifitors to be ap- 
 .d by them, (hall either prove Contumacious in not 
 appearing, or be found Guilty, and (hall be therefore cen- 
 tred, whether by Sufpenllon, or Deposition, they fhall ipfo 
 fafto be fufpended from, or deprived of their Stipends and 
 
 -. . 
 
 ts Ae:, Vol. III. Page 222. 
 
 ^* *i> *<* *«► *.-* %» ♦«» *». ♦*» *.» '.. y*» w »;» <g? %S 
 
 Aft aguinfl Prcfanenefs. 
 
 OUR Sovereign Lord and Lady, the King and Queen's 
 Majelties, and three Eftates of Parliament, confider- 
 ing how much it concerns the Honour and Glory of God, 
 ice, Welfare, and Profperity of the Kingdom, That 
 all Vice and Profanenefs be punifhed and fuppreffed, and 
 Virtue and Godlinefs encouraged , Do therefore, with Ad- 
 vice and 'Confent of the three Eftates of Parliament, Revive, 
 , andconL .3 of Parliament mace 
 
 of before, againft Curling, Swearing, Drunkenncfs, Fornica- 
 tion and Ud Profanation of the Lord's Day, and 
 Mocking and Rep f Religion, and the Exercifes 
 ereof, and particularly the Act daied the Eleventh of Sep- 
 .■ 1672 Years, Intituled, Aft agcinjt Profanenefs^ with 
 <ie Acts therein-mentioned, and Manner of Execu- 
 ..ribvij Rt Their Majefties 
 
 
( no ) 
 
 hereby peremptorily require ail Magiftrates, Officers, and 
 others concerned, to put the faid Acts to exact and punctu- 
 al Execution, with all Care and Diligence, as they will be 
 anfwerable. 
 
 Scots Act, Vol. III. Pape 315. 
 
 Acl refunding the Law for Conformity. 
 
 OUR Sovereign Lord and Lady, the King and Queen's 
 Majefties, and three Eftates of Parliament, confider- 
 ing how neceffary it is for the Well and Peace of this King- 
 dom, and of Chrift's Church within the fame, as now by 
 Law eftaklimed, that the Acts following be refcinded ; Do 
 therefore refcind, cafs, annul and make void the Acl, Char. 
 II. Pari. 1 Sejfl 2. Cap. 4. Concerning Mafters of Uni- 
 versities, Minifters, <&c. Acl 5. ibidem, Concerning the 
 Declaration to be figncd by all Perfons in publick Truth 
 Acl: Char. II. Pari. 1. Stff. 3. Cap. 2. Againft Separation 
 and Difobedience to Ecclefiaftick Authority, Acl, Cap. 2.. 
 Ibidem, Aditional Act concerning the Declaration, Acl Char. 
 II. Pari. 2. Self. 2. ^ a P' 3- Againft Conventicles. Acl, 
 Cap. 6. Ibid. Againft difbrderly Baptifms. Acl 9 Cap. 7. 
 Ibidem, Againft Separation and withdrawing from the pu- 
 blick Meetings of Divine Worfiiip. A3, Charles II. Pari. 
 2. Sejf. 3. Cap. 9. Againft unlawful Ordinations. Act, 
 Charles II. Pari. 2. Sejf. 3. Cap. 17. Againft Keepers of 
 ConvenHcles, and Withdrawers from pubiick Worfhip. 
 Acl, Char. II. Pari. 3. Cap. 4. For fecuring the Peace 
 of the Country. Aft, James VII. Pari. 1. Sejf. 1. Cup. 
 6. Obliging Husbands to be liable for their Wives Fines. 
 Aft, Cap. 8. Ibid. Againft Preachers at Conventicles, and 
 Hearers at Field -Conventicles. Acl, Cap. 24. Ibidem, 
 Ordaining, That Tenants be obliged by their Tacks to live 
 regularly ; and generally all other Acts, Claufes, and Pro* 
 vifions, in Acts whatfoever, made fincethe Year 1661. In- 
 elufrue, againft Non-conformity, or for Conformity to the 
 Church, and Government thereof, asthen eftabli&ed under 
 Arch-Bifhops and Bifhops. 
 
 Serfs A&, Vol. III. Pag« 3 1 6. AS 
 
( 121 ) 
 
 Aft re feinting feveral Afts of Parliament. 
 
 OUR Sovereign Lord and Lady, the King and Queen's 
 Majefties, and three Eftates of Parliament, Confider- 
 ing, That during thefe late Years by pa ft, feveral Acls of 
 Parliament have been made, which are now either ufelefs, 
 or found to be hurtful, Do therefore Refcind, Gafs, Annul, 
 and make void in all Time coming, the Acts of Parliament 
 following, viz. Aft, Charles II. Pari. i. Setf. i. Cap. 
 17. Anent a folemn Anniverfary Thankfgiving, with the 
 Aft, Charles II. Pari. 2. Seff. 3. Cap. 12. to the fame 
 Purpofe, Aft, Charles II. Pari. 1. Sef. 2. Cap. 25. For 
 denouncing excommunicate Perfons. And Pari. 1. Seffl 3. 
 Cap. 23. Anent Sentences of Excommunication; with all 
 other Acls of the fame Import, and but Prejudice of this 
 Generality, all Acls enjoyning Civil Pains upon Sentences 
 of Excommunication, Aft, Charles II. Pari. 3. Cap. 6. 
 Anent Religion and the Teft. Aft, Cap. 18. Ibid. Aflert- 
 ing His Majefty's Prerogative in Point of Jurifdiclion, with 
 the Acls following, made^during the Reign of the late King 
 James, viz. In the firft SelTion of his firll Parliament, A3 
 2. Except in fo far as concerns the Annexation of the Ex- 
 cife to the Crown. ^#5,6,7,8,11, 13,16,17,23,25*, 
 26, 27, 30, 36, 37, 40 and 42. All pad in that SelTion of 
 Parliament. As likewife in the 2 SefTion of that Parliament, 
 Aft 1, 6, 7, 9., 13, 26, 27, 2%. All paft in that Parliament, 
 with an imprinted Act alfo paft therein, Refcinding a former 
 Act , annexing the Lands and Barony of Tarbet to the Shire 
 of Cromarty \ Declaring, Likeas Their Majefties with Con- 
 tent forefaid, hereby declare the whole forefaid Ac>s hereby 
 above-refcinded, to be of no Avail, Force, Strength, nor 
 Effed, in Time coming. 
 
 Scots Acts, Vol. III. Page 317. 
 
 The 
 
( 222 ) 
 
 Afls of Her Majefty Queen Anne. 
 A3 for Securing the True Proteftant Religion and Presbyteri- 
 an Government. 
 
 OUr Sovereign Lady, the Queen's Majefty, with Advice 
 and Content of the Eftates of Parliament, Ratifies, Ap- 
 proves, and perpetually Confirms all Laws, Statutes, and 
 Acts of Parliament made againft Popery and Papifts ; and 
 for Eftabl idling, Maintaining, and Preserving the True Re- 
 formed Proteftant Religion, and the True Church of Chrift, 
 as at prefent owned and fettled within this Kingdom : As 
 like wife, for Eftablifhing, Ratifying, and Confirming Pres- 
 byterian Church Government and Difcipline ; That is to fay, 
 The Government of the Church by Kirk-feiTions, Presbyte- 
 ries, Privincial Synods, and General .AiTemblies, as agreea- 
 ble to the Word of GOD, and the only Government of 
 Chrift's Church within this Kingdom. And particularly 
 without Prejudice to the Generality forefaid, Her Majefty 
 with Advice and Confent forefaid, Ratifies, Approves, and 
 Confirms the fifth Act: of the fecond SelTion of King William 
 and Queen Mary's Parliament, Intituled, A 8 Ratifying the 
 Confejfwn of Faith, and fettling Presbyterian Church Government; 
 in the haill Heads, Claufes, and Articles thereof, as if at 
 Length herein fet down : But Prejudice, neverthelefs, to 
 the Twenty feventh Act of the fifth Seffion of King William's 
 Parliament, Intituled, Aft concerning the Church, as to the 
 Allowance therein given to certain Miniflers not actually a£ 
 fumed by the eftablifhed Church Judicatories, under the 
 Conditions and Provifions always expreffed in the faid 
 A&. 
 
 Scots Acts, Vol. III. Page 695. 
 
 A a for Securing the Proteftant Religion, and Presbyterian 
 Church Government. 
 
 Gyr Sovereign Lady, and the Eftates of Parliament, 
 (fconfidering, That by the late Act of Parliament for a 
 Treaty with England, for stir Union of both j^ngdoms, itig 
 
( 12 3 ) „ ,, 
 
 provided, That the CommifTioners for that Treaty fnould 
 
 not Treat of, or concerning any Alteration of the Worfhip, 
 Difcipline, and Government of the Church af this King, 
 dom, as now by Law Eftabliftied. Which Treaty being now 
 reported to the Parliament, and it being reafonable and ne- 
 celTary, that the True Proteftant Religion, as prefently pro- 
 feffed within this Kingdom, with the Worfhip, Difcipline 
 and Government of this Church, mould be effectually and 
 unalterably Secured ; Therefore Her Majefty, with Advice 
 and Confent of the (aid Eftates of Parliament, doth hereby 
 Eftablifh and Confirm the faid True Proteftant Religion, and 
 the Worfhip,- Difcipline and Government of this Church, to 
 continue without any Alteration to the People of this Land 
 in all fucceeding Generations. And more efpecially, Her 
 Majefty, with Advice and Confent forefaid Ratifies, Ap- 
 proves, and for ever Confirms the fifth Act of the firft Par- 
 liament of King William and Queen Mary, Intituled, Aft 
 Ratifying the Confeffion of Faith, and fettling Presbyterian 
 Church Government, with the haill other Acts of 'Parliament 
 relating thereto, in Profecution of the Declaration of the fi- 
 liates of this Kingdom, containing the Claim of Right, bear- 
 ing Date the Eleventh of April, One thoufand fix hundred 
 and eighty nine. And Her Majefty, with Advice and Con- 
 fent forefaid, exprelly Provides and Declares, That the lore- 
 faid True Proteftant Religion contained in the above mentio- 
 ned Confeflion of Faith, with the Form and Purity of Wor- 
 fhip prefently in Ufe within this Church, and its Presbyteri- 
 an Church Government and Difcipline ; That is to fay, The 
 Government of the Church by Kirk-feflions, Presbyteries, 
 "Provincial Synods, and General AfTemblies, all Eftablifhed by 
 the forefaid Ac~ts of Parliament, purfuant to the Claim of 
 Right, fhall remain and continue Unalterable; And that the 
 faid Presbyterian Government fhall be the only Government 
 of the Church within the Kingdom oi Scotland. And farther, 
 for the greater Security* of the forefaid Proteftant Relig ; on, 
 and of the Worfhip,DifcipIine and Government of this Church, 
 as above Eftablifhed, Her Majefty, with Advice and Confent 
 forefaid, Statutes and Ordains, That the Univerfities and 
 Colleges of St. Andrews, Glafgoiv, Aberdeen % and Edinburgh, 
 as now Eftablifhed by Law, fhall contir. this Kirig- 
 
 Q 2 
 
 
( 124 ) 
 
 dom for ever. And that, in all Time coming, no Profeflbrs, 
 Principals, Regents, Matters, or others bearing Office in a- 
 ny Univerfity, College or School within this Kingdom, be 
 capable, or be admitted or allowed to continue in the Exer- 
 cife of their faid Functions, but fuch as fhali own and ac- 
 knowledge the Civil Government, in Manner prefcribed, or 
 to be prefcribed by the Acts of Parliament. As alfo, That, 
 before, or at their Admiffions, they do and fhall acknowledge 
 and profefs, and (hall fubfcribe to the forefaid ConfefTion of 
 Faith, as the ConfefTion of their Faith, and that they will 
 praclife and conform themfelves to the Worfhip prefently in 
 Ufe in this Church, and fubmit themfelves to the Govern- 
 ment and Difcipline thereof, and never endeavour, directly 
 or indirectly, the Prejudice or Subverfion of the fame ; and 
 that before the refpective Presbyteries of their Bounds, by 
 whatfoever Gift, Prefentation or Provifion, they may be 
 thereto, provided. And further, Her Majefty, with Advice 
 forefaid, exprefly Declares and Statutes, That none of the 
 Subjects of this Kingdom (hall be liable to, but all and every 
 one of them for ever free of any Oath, Teft, or Subfcription 
 within this Kingdom, contrary to, or inconfiftent with the 
 forefaid True Proteftant Religion, and Presbyterian Church 
 Government, Worfhip and Difcipline, as above Eftablifhed : 
 And that the fame, within the Bounds of this Church and 
 Kingdom, fhall never be impofed upon, or required of them 
 in any fort. And Laftly, That after the Deceafe of Her 
 prefent Majefty, (whom GOD long preferve) the Sovereign 
 fucceeding to Her in the Royal Government of the King- 
 dom of Great Britan, fhall, in all Time coming, at His or 
 Her AccefFion to the Crown, Swear and Subfcribe, That they 
 fhall inviolably Maintain and Preferve the forefaid Settle- 
 ment of the True Proteftant Religion, with the Government, 
 Worfhip, Difcipline, Right and Privileges of this Church, 
 as above Eftablifhed by the Laws of this Kingdom, in Pro- 
 fecution of the Claim of Right. And it is hereby Statute 
 and Ordained, that this Act of Parliament, with the Efta- 
 blifhmcnt therein contained, fhall be held and obferved in 
 all Time coming, as a Fundamental and Effentlal Conditi- 
 on of any Treaty, or Union, to be concluded betwixt the 
 Two Kingdoms/ without any Alteration thereof, or Deroga- 
 tion 
 
( i*<r ) 
 
 tion thereto, in any Sort for ever. As alfo, That this A<St 
 of Parliament, and Settlement therein contained, (hall be 
 Infert and Repeated in any Act of Parliament that fhall pafs, 
 for Agreeing and Concluding the forefaid Treaty or Union 
 betwixt the Two Kingdoms ; and that the fame fhall be 
 therein exprefly declared to be a Fundamental and EiTen- 
 tial Condition of the faid Treaty or Union, in all Time 
 coming. 
 
 Scots Acts, Vol. III. Page 800. 
 
 A Table of federal ABs and Ratifications in the fifth Sejfion of 
 King William \f firft Parliament which are not printed. 
 Scots ACls, Pages 350, 351, 352, 353. 
 
 AC T refcinding the Forfeiture of the Laird of Jervif- 
 wood. 
 
 Act refcinding the Forfeiture of the Earl of Melvill. 
 
 Act refcinding the Forfeiture of the Laird of Torwoodfie. 
 
 Act refcinding the Forfeiture of Sir Patrick Home of Pol- 
 wart. 
 
 Act refcinding rhe Forfeiture of — — — Hamilton of 
 Munkland. 
 
 Act refcinding the Forfeiture of the Earl ofTdrras. 
 
 Act refcinding the Forfeiture of the Lairds of Cefnock. 
 
 Act refcinding the Forfeiture of Thomas Stewart of Cultnefs. 
 
 Act refcinding the Forfeiture of William Denholm of Weft- 
 JhieL 
 
 Act refcinding the Forfeiture of Mr. Gilbert Elliot Coun- 
 cil-Clerk. 
 
 Act refcinding the Forfeiture of James Stewart, Ad- 
 vocate. 
 
 Act refcinding the Forfeiture of William Laurie of Black- 
 wood. 
 
 Act refcinding the Forfeiture of Sir Archibald Johnfton of 
 Warifloun. 
 
 Act refcinding the Forfeiture of Mr. James Guthrie. 
 
 N. B. Many more worthy Acts might be here inferted that 
 were nude at and fince the Revolution-Settlement, for 
 
 the 
 
( 12* ) 
 the Security of the true reformed Religion and Presbyte- 
 rian Church-Government, which are to be feen in the 
 Scots Acts of Parliament, Vol. III. which we refer the 
 Readers to : So that it is evident, from what worthy Acts 
 are above inferted, that the civil Authority hath given 
 all the Security for the true Religion and Government 
 thereof that could be demanded ; fo that from all it evi- 
 dently appears, that the true Religion fworn to in fome 
 Burgefs-Oaths, can be no other than the true Religion 
 formerly attained and profeiTed within this Kingdom by 
 our worthy Forefathers, there being no other Religion au- 
 thorifed by Law, fince the Revolution-Settlement, but 
 the true presbyterial Profedion ; and therefore whatever 
 Backflidings and Corruptions hath crept into, or are in 
 this National Church, cannot be imputed to the civil 
 Government, but muft be allenarly imputed to the eccle- 
 Caftick Government ; and the AlTociate Synod with her 
 Adherents have not to this Day made a Seceflion from 
 this "National Ceurch, but from the Corruptions and 
 Backflidings therein, which is evidently made to appear 
 by their own Act and Teitimony emitted by them. 
 
 SiS? SISg ^<S£ o3c>£ ocS^ l)§3i 535c S 53^ S^2 S§x 5§52 
 
 Acts and Proceedings of the General Aflenibly, 1690. 
 
 His MAJESTY' s Gracious Letter to the Afimbly. « 
 
 Edinburgh 17 October 1690. Ante Meridiem, Seff. 2. 
 
 This Seflion, his Majefb/s Gracious Letter Direct: to this 
 General AfTembly, was publickly Read and Heard with great 
 Refpcct; and appointed to be Recorded in the Books of the 
 AfTembly, The Tenour whereof follows. 
 
 William R. 
 
 Reverend, Trufly and Well Beloved, 
 
 OUR Concern for the Good of Our Ancient Kingdom, 
 hath been fuch, That We have left nothing undone, 
 that might Contribute to the making of it Happy : And 
 
 there- 
 
( 1*7 ) 
 
 therefore having been informed, that Differences as to the 
 GoverAment of the Church have caufed greateft Confufions 
 in that Nation ; We did willingly concur with Our Parlia- 
 ment, in In-acting fuch a Frame of it, as was judged to be 
 molt agreeable to the Inclinations of Our Good Subjects : To 
 which as We have had a particular Regard, in Countenan- 
 cing this AlTembly, With Our Authority, and a Reprefen- 
 tativeofOur Royal Perfon; So We expect, that Your 
 Management mall be fuch, as We (hall have no reafon, to 
 Repent of what we have done. A Calm and Peaceable Pro- 
 cedure, will" be no lefs pleafing to us, thanitbecometh You. 
 We never could be of the Mind, that Violence was fuited to 
 the advancing of True Religion: Nor do We intend, 
 that Our Authority mail ever be a Tool, to the Irregular 
 Paffioris of any Party. Moderation is what Religion enjoins ; 
 Neighbouring Churches expect from You,- and We Recom- 
 mend to You. And We afTure You of Crur conftant Fa- 
 vour and Prote&ion, in Your following of thefe Methods, 
 which fhall be for the real Advantage of True Piety, and the 
 Peace of Our Kingdoms. Given under our Royal Hand, 
 At our Court at Kenfington, the 10 Day of OBober 1690. 
 
 By His Majeflys Command, 
 Direct MELVILL. 
 
 Tor the Reverends Trufly and Wei-Beloved Miniflers and 
 Elders met in the General AJfembly of the Church of Scot- 
 land ; At Edinburgh. 
 
 The Proceedings of the Affembly, anent Mr. Thomas Lining 
 and others. 
 
 Edinburgh 2 $th O&ober 1690. Ante Meridiem. SeiT. 9, 
 
 T He General Affembly, having received a Report, from 
 the Committee of Overtures, anent two Papers given 
 in to the faid Committee, and mbferibed by Nix. Thomas Lin- 
 iagt Mr. Alexander Shields, and Mr. William Boyd, who had 
 followed feme Courfes contrary to the Order of this Church ; 
 whereby, " The faid Committee out of their ardent Defire 
 " of Union in the Church, Recommend to the AiTembly, 
 
 " the 
 
 ■ 
 
< "8 ) 
 
 m the reading of the Shorter of thefe two Papers : In which 
 *' the fore-named Perfons oblige themfelves, after the cxhi- 
 <c biting of the larger Paper (which they offer, as they pro- 
 " fefs, for the Exoneration of their Confciences) and laying 
 M it down at the AiTembly's Feet, to be difpofed upon as 
 " the AfTembly mould think fit : That they fhall in all re- 
 V quired Submimon, Subject themfelves, their Lives and 
 " Doctrine, to the Cognizance of the Refpclive Judicatories 
 • { of this Church, and equally to oppofe Schifm and Defec- 
 
 * tion, in any Capacity, that they mould be capable of. 
 " But the faid Committee, Judgeth the reading of the lar- 
 u ger of the faid two Papers, in full AfTembly, to be Incon- 
 4t venient : In regard, that though there be feveral good 
 
 * Things in it, yet the fame doth alio contain, feveral Pe- 
 ** remptory and grofs Miftakes, unfeafonable and Impracti- 
 •< cable Propofals, and uncharitable and Injurious Reflecli- 
 " ons, tending rather to kindle Contentions, than to com- 
 " pofe Divifions : Neverthelefs, the faid Committee gives 
 " it as their Opinion, that the forefaid Offer of^he above 
 w named Perfons their Subjection and Obedience, to the Au- 
 " thority of this Church, in her respective Judicatories, con- 
 
 * tained in the faid Shorter Paper, mould be entertained 
 
 * and accepted of, by the AlTembly, and they received in- 
 " to Communion with this Church, according to their feve- 
 * c rai Capacities." 
 
 Likeas the above-named Perfons, having compeared, in 
 Prefence of the AfTembly, and judicially owned and adhered 
 nnto their faid Shorter Paper : And the A (Terribly having 
 heard the above-written Report of the Committee of Over- 
 tures concerning both the faid Papers; as alio the faid Shor- 
 ter Paper Read in their Prefence : The General AlTembly, 
 after mature Deliberation, did unanimoufly, and without a 
 contrary Vote, approve the above-written Report and Opi- 
 nion of the Committee of Overtures, in the haill Heads there- 
 of. "Which being Intimate to the fore-named Perfons, they 
 acquiefced thereto. Upon all which the following Act was 
 made. 
 
 ACT 
 
( "9 ) 
 
 ACT snent Mr. Thomas Lining and others. 
 
 WHereas Mr. Thomas lining, Mr. Alaxander Shields, 
 and Mr. William Boyd, have prefented to this Aflcm- 
 bly two Papers : One containing the Expreffions of their 
 Purpofe and Promife, of being fubjecl to the Authority of 
 this Church, as formerly confliiuted, and now relloi'ed, in 
 its feveral Judicatories : The other offered for the Exone- 
 ration of their Confciences. . Which Paper, containing their 
 Submiffion and Subjection,, did after the Exhibition of theo- 
 ther to the Aflembly, become binding upon them, accor- 
 ding to the Promife therein made. Likeas, after that o- 
 ther^nd longer Paper had been Read, before the Commit- 
 tee of Overtures, it was exhibite to and received by the Afc 
 fcmbly ; together with the Reafons from the faid Commit- 
 tee, why it fhould not be pubJickly read in full AfTembly. 
 "Which R«afons being duly confidered, and the faid other 
 Paper of Submiffion and Subjection publickly read, and ju- 
 dicially owned by the fore named Perfons in Prefence of the 
 Aflembly : The Aflembly did conclude by one fingle Vote, 
 that the fbrefaid longer Paper fhould not be Read : And 
 that the aliove-named Perfons fhould be received into the 
 Fellowfhip of this Church on the Terms of Submiffion and 
 Subjection contained in the Shorter Paper : And after pafc 
 fingof the faid Vote, and that they were gravely admonifh- 
 ed by the Moderator to walk orderly in Time coming, in 
 Oppofition to all Schifin and Dirifion ; it was declared to 
 them, by the Moderator, in the Name of the Aflembly, 
 that the Aflembly did receive them into the Fellowfhip of 
 this Church, to enjoy the Privileges thereof, and perform 
 tile Duties therein, whereof they are, or fhall be found ca- 
 pable. Whereupon, and at their Defire, it was ordained 
 that this Act fhould be made ; and an Extract thereof given 
 to them in good Form, Folhm the Tenom cfthefoidShor^ 
 tir P*?*r. 
 
To the Moderator and Remanent Members of the General Jf- 
 
 Jemblyofthe Church ^Scotland. 
 
 Right Reverend and Honour a tie, 
 
 a \ ~\ 7 **k l ^ e S reate ^ Earneftnefs of longing we have de- 
 cc Y y fu'cd, and yet, with a Patience perhaps to Excels, 
 ** we have waited for an Opportunity to bring our unhap- 
 " py Differences (of which all Parties concerned are wea- 
 " ry) to a happy and holy Clofe : And for this End to 
 " have Accefs to apply our felves to a lull and free General 
 " Aflembiy of this Church, invefled with Authority and 
 " Power, in for o Diviuo 6' Humano, to Determine and Cog- 
 " nofce upon them. The Want of which, an Afiernbly 
 " constitute in that Vigour, to which, through the Mercy 
 " of God, this venerable National Synod hath arrived, hatli 
 4C been the greateft Let and Impediment of our compofing 
 " thefe Differences, in a Way, wherein not only we, but 
 " all of the fame Sentiments would acquiefce. Now having 
 " obtained this much longed, and long prayed-for Privi- 
 " lege , we cannot forbear any longer, humbly, to accolfc 
 " and addrefs this venerable AlTembly, with a free and In- 
 u genous Rcprefentation of our Minds and Dcfires. The 
 " Scope of which is, to reprefent thefe Things, which hare 
 " been mod {tumbling to us, for the Exoneration of our 
 * Confciences ; and to declare our Defign, after we have 
 " exhibited our Teftimony againft thefe Courfes, which 
 *' we underftand to have been Corruptions and Defections 
 <c in this Church, and laid it down at the AiTembly's Feet, 
 <£ tobedifpofedof, as their Wifdoms mall think fit : That 
 €i we (hall, in all required SuhmifTion, fubjefl our felves, our 
 <( Lives and Doctrine, to the Cognizance of the Judicatories 
 « of this Church, and mall equally oppofe Schifin and De- 
 «' fection, in any Capacity, that we fhall be found capa- 
 iC bleof. And live, by thefe Prefab wc bin4 and ot %s 
 
 * 9m 
 
C 131 ) 
 
 " our (elves faithfully, to live in Union, Communion and 
 * entire Subje^ion, and due Obedience in the Lord, to tho 
 " Authority of this Church, in her refpedive Judicatories;' 
 M As witnefs our Hands at Edinburgh the 22 Day of Q&+- 
 ■ her 1^0. 
 
 Thomas Lining* 
 
 Alexander Shields. 
 
 William Bojck 
 
 * 1 N i * 
 


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