That as we are ready to our station, to follow all religious and conscionable means and Overtures for securing and guarding the Cause and Work of God against Error, Heresie, and Schism on the one hand, so they would hold out to us a solid way for securing the same against dangers from Malignancy on the other. And we would know what shall be the Characters in time coming, by which Malignancy may be known and judged.
That a reall and effectuall course be taken, according to the established rules of this Kirk, for purging out, and holding out all such Church-Officers as have not the Position, and qualifications required in the Word of God, and Acts of this Kirk, particularly, where Ministers deposed by lawfull Assemblies, have intruded themselves, or have been unwarrantably restored by Synods and Presbyteries to their Charges, contrary to the form and order prescribed in the Acts of Assemblies, be removed, and condign censures inflicted, and that sufficient Provision be made for preventing the like in time coming.
That after means be fallen upon and followed for censuring of all scandals and scandalous persons, and casting out of these who shall be found grosly and obstinatly scandalous or ignorant, after they are made inexcusable by sufficient means and pains taken for their instructing and reclaiming.
That some course more effectuall than any hath been fallen upon hitherto, may be condescended upon, for putting in execution the Acts of this Kirk, anent debarring from the Lord’s Table such persons who are found not to walk suteably to the Gospel, and have not knowledge to examine themselves, and to discerne the Lord’s Body.
That in the receiving of Penitents, care may be had that none be admitted to the publick Profession of repentance, or reconciled to the Church, but these who are found to give such evidence of their repentance, as is exprest in the Acts of the Assemblies, concerning the receiving of Penitents.
That an effectual course may be taken for securing of the Work and People of GOD from the harm and evill consequences which hath already, and may further ensue from the late pretended Assemblies at S. Andrews and Dundee, and the Acts thereof.
No. II.
Reasons why the Ministers, Elders, and Professors, who protested against the Pretended Assemblies at St Andrews, Dundee, and Edinburgh, cannot agree to the Overtures made unto them at the Conference, upon the 28 and 29 of July, 1652, &c.
Albeit the Essayes and Endeavors which were used by us, before our coming hither, for removing of Differences, and attaining of Union and Peace, upon such grounds as might (indeed) bring forth a discovery of our, and the Lands Sin, and contribute for removing the guilt thereof, and for securing and promoving the Work of Reformation amongst us, might in a great part have acquited our consciences, and cleared us before the world; yet the deep sense that we had of the many and great prejudices which do ensue to the Work and People of God, by our continued Divisions, and our ardent desire of Peace and Union, upon the grounds foresaid, constrained us to lay hold upon the opportunity of your meeting together at this time, and to represent unto you, some necessary and just Propositions, as a fit subject of our conference; and that we were willing to hear what should be offered by you to us, in order to these ends; and, that therefore you would forbear to assume unto your selves the power of, or constitute your selves into a Gen. Assembly. And when we found this ineffectual, and our Union rendred more hopeless, by your denying a desire so just and reasonable, and so agreeable to the practice of former Assemblies, as was instanced before you by these who knew the records: Nevertheless upon a surmise of a purpose in you to confer with us, we did for divers dayes wait upon you, being desirous to have seen upon your part, some serious applying of your selves to the real means of healing, and to have found solid satisfaction unto the things contained in the Propositions offered to you by us: But in place of this, the Brethren who were appointed by you to confer with some of our number, did intimate unto us, that all which they had in Commission to make offer of, was, That ye were willing to take off the Censures inflicted by the former Assembly at St Andrews and Dundee, and the Censurableness that persons, who have transgressed against the Acts thereof might be liable unto: Providing, that these Brethren censured, and deserving Censure, should pass from their Protestation against the former and present Assemblies, and judicially before their Presbyteries and Synods, engage themselves under their hands, not hereafter to deliver their Judgments in Preaching or Writing, or any way else to hold up the late differences. Which Overture when it was earnestly desired by these of our number to be given to them in writing according to their Instructions, not only because it was divers wayes represented by such of your number as did confer with them, but also that they might the more perfectly and better understand the same, and be able to make an exact report thereof to these who sent them, and mistakes thereupon might be Prevented: It was most peremptorily refused, albeit most earnestly urged and desired during the whole time of the Conference: Therefore having set down the same as truely and impartially as our judgments and memories could attain; We do for our own vindication, and satisfaction of others, give these Reasons following, why we cannot accept thereof.
“I. Because there is hereby no remedy at all offered for the course of defection involved in the Publick Resolutions, nor for preventing the like for time to come, which is the main ground of difference; but upon the contrary we are required upon the matter to retract our Testimonies thereanent, and judicially to give Bonds and Engagements hereafter to be silent concerning the sin and guilt thereof.