The Presbytery of the Merns, having chosen the Lord Arbuthnet in his absence from the Presbytery, to be Commissioner as Ruling Elder to the General Assembly 1651, did send two of their Number unto him to take his Oath to be faithful in that imployment; and withal, to take tryal whether he were satisfied with the publick Resolutions; and to signifie to him, That if he were not satisfied with these Resolutions, the Presbytery could not be answerable to give him a Commission for sitting in the Assembly, but behoved to chuse another.
These Instances may suffice for verifying of what is alleadged in the former Debates concerning the influence that the Letter and Act of the Commission of the General Assembly had upon several Presbyteries and Synods and Persons therin, in the Election of Commissioners to the Assembly 1651, and in Citing of these who were Dis-satisfied with the publick Resolutions, and therefore it shall not be needful to trouble our selves or the Reader with the bringing and setting down of more of this kind.
No. IV.
Papers betwixt the Assembly and Committee [of Estates.]
Offers and Desires from the Committee of Estates, Presented by the Earle of Glencarn, the Thesaurer-Depute, and Archibald Sydserf, to the Gen. Assembly.
As we cannot but with sad hearts regrate that notwithstanding of the many endeavors of, and great pains taken by the Parliament and Committee of Estates, for removing of Differences, and offering all just satisfaction to the Desires of the Commissioners of the General Assembly concerning the necessity and lawfulness of this present Engagement; yet they have all hitherto proven ineffectual, and Divisions betwixt us are rather increased, then lessened; so we cannot but here promise to our selves better Success from the wisdom of this grave and venerable Assembly, especially whilst our consciences bears us witness, that in all our undertakings we have nothing before our eyes but the glory of God in the first place; and in the second, the good and preservation of Religion; and next therunto, the safety of his Majesties Person now in danger, and the pursuance of the same ends of our Covenant which hath been sealed with the blood of so many of our friends and country-men: And that our sincerity and reallity in all these may be manifested to all the world, we are content now again at this time, not only to renew all these offers which were formerly made by the Parliament to the Commissioners of the Gen. Assembly, for the security of Religion; but hereby we offer to grant what further security the General Assembly shall be pleased to demand in reason of us for Religion: And although we cannot lay negatives and restrictions on the King, but must, as obliged in conscience and duty, endeavor his Rescue, that he may come with honor, freedom, and safety to some of his Houses, in, or about London; yet we are most willing to give what Assurance can be demanded for our selves and our Army, even by an solemn Oath, if so it shall be thought fit by the General Assembly, that we shall not be satisfied and lay down Arms, until Religion be secured in all his Majesties Dominions, according to the Covenant: Therfore out of the deep sense we have of the great danger that the further growth of these Divisions may bring to Religion, the Kings Majesty, and to these who doth sincerly wish the settling of Presbiterial Government in all his Majesties Dominions, We cannot but desire you seriously to weigh the sad Consequences may ensue, if, at this time there be not found amongst you, some who will endeavor to heal, and not to make wider the Breaches betwixt Church and State, to remember that no such effectual help can be yeilded at this time to that ___________ _______ as to have the hearts and consciences of the people preposessed with prejudices against the Resolutions of the Estates and their so pious and necessary Engagment. And for this cause, to the end these unhappy Differences may spread no further, we do intreat you would be pleased to appoint some of your Number, to meet with such as shall be appointed by us, for Composing these mis-understandings betwixt Church and State: And likewise for so cleering the Marches betwixt the Civil and Ecelesiastick Power in these Questions hath been Debated betwixt the Parliament and the Commissioners of the Gen. Assembly; as the Kirk may be freed of all scandals in medling with Civil Business, and the Estates from the scandals of Erastianism: And seeing our desires herein are only to remove all jealousies betwixt the Church and State, and to witness to the world our unfained intentions to do al that is in our powers for the most satisfaction of the Gen. Assembly, We do desire that ye would be pleased to forbear the emitting of any Declaration either to this Kingdom, or the Kingdom of England, relating to our present Engagement and proceedings, considering how unseasonable it may prove whilst our Army is in the Fields against the great obstructions of any Enemies to our Reformation, to do any thing may encourage and strengthen the hands and hearts of that __________ who doubtless will encourage themselves in their own wayes, the more they have ours disaproven by you: And as their unhappy differences and divisions have already so wrought upon the hollow hearts of some of our Countrymen, as to move them to rise in Arms against the Parliaments Forces, and of some to run and joyn themselves with these ______ _______ so much the more wil these ______ be strengthned and encouraged against us by their hearing of our Divisions: We do likewise desire, That before the Gen. Assembly proceed to any approbation of the actions of the Commissioners of the Gen. Assembly, That in these things that may relate to the present Engagement and to these Questions [that] hath been Debated betwixt the Parliament and them, we may be first hard. All these we desire for no other end, but that these untimely Differences and Rents now grown to so great a height as that they threaten the ruin both of Church and State, may by the blessing of God in the spirit of Meekness be cured and bound up, That neither Malignants on the one hand may have occasion to laugh at our Divisions, nor ______ on the other hand encouraged and strengthned against us: But that we (as formerly) may go on in one way, being all engaged in one Cause for one and the self-same Ends; And so may receive a blessing from the Lord of Peace and Order (which hates the instruments of Division and Confusion) upon all our endeavors, for advancing the blessed work of Reformation, and for bringing to an happy end all the Miseries and Confusions now, which these Lands bath been so long tossed and consumed with.
Before the Assembly give any Answer to the Paper produced from the Honorable Committee of Estates, The Assembly thinks fit to enquire at the honorable Persons who presented the Papers, If the Committee of Estates have any new Objections against the Proceedings of the Commission of the late Assembly, or only the same Objections made by the Parliament, or their Committees before.
Sic subscrib.
A Ker.
The Committee of Estates do make this Return to the Paper of the Gen. Assembly, That they have just and material Exceptions against the proceedings of the Commissioners of the Gen. Assembly, besides any formerly made by Parliament or Committee of Estates.