Immediately there arose a great number on both sides, with a great heat and fury—Mr Menzies insisting on his former motion.
Mr Ja. Guthry, backing him, said, that these persons behoved to be scandalouse who had led the Kirk and Kingdome to a course of defection, and told he had noe better termes to expresse their proceedings by.
Mr Pat. Gillespy, Mr John Hamiltoun, and some others, did back this motion.
To this motion replyed Mr Blair, saying he saw the seasonable admonitions given in the preceeding sermons, to meekness, peace, and unity, made noe use of by those who propounded the former motion; but that Mr Menzies’ and Mr Guthry’s speaches wer feirce and bitter.
They replyed that their motion was for the exoneration of their conscience: likewise Mr Ja. Wood, Mr D. Dickson, Mr Bailay, Mr Ramsey, the King’s Commissioner, with some others, replyed to Mr Menzies’ and Guthry’s motion, saying that nothing could be said in that or any other bussiness untill ther should be a constitute Assembly to be judge.
The contrary party said that the report of a scandal was enough to debarr any to sitt in a Kirk Judicatory quhille once they wer freed judicially of a scandall.
Mr Douglasse replyed, that they could not be debarred till judicially they wer found scandalouse, quhich could not be till the Assembly wer once constatute, and did examine their proceedings; and said, that upon that ground the other party should not be admitted, in regard they wer more hurtfull to the work, and scandalouse, by their opposing the safty of religion, King, and Kingdome, then the Commission of the Kirk had been.
After this Mr Sam. Rutherford offered a paper to this purpose, against the constitution of the Assembly, but, with much difficulty and long debate, it was laid aside; for the drift of the motion and paper, by confession, was to hinder a Generall Assembly, to hold quhich was thought very dangerouse.
Mr And. Cant and some proponed a conference to take away the former heat and division; but it was replyed, that that could not be untill the Assembly should be constitute; for they being a confused multitude, and noe judicatory, they could not appoint a Committy for that purpose.
They went to chuse a Moderator; and the old Moderator named Mr Blair, and Mr Wᵐ Rait. Besides, the Assembly added Mr Douglasse, Mr Ja. Hamiltoun, Mr And. Cant, Mr Jo. Hamilton, Mr Dickson, by the naming any three of these as the Members thought fitt.