It is to be observed, that the scope of the Overture made by the Protesters is, That all claims to power and authority from the controverted Assemblies at Dundee and Edinburgh upon the one hand, and all controverted power, as derived from the General Assembly 1650 on the other hand, being laid aside during endeavours for union; as likewise all Censures, or Acts enjoyning Censures for the late differences since the said Assembly 1650, at which time this Kirk was of one judgment, and all Papers against these controverted Assemblies not yet published, being also for that time suppressed, There should be a friendly Conference agreed on by mutual consent, for searching into the Lords Controversie against the Land, and for removing our differences. The Brethren who stand for the Publick Resolutions are so far from wayes of peace, as they refuse all conferrence, except they Treat and confer as the lawful Representative of this Kirk, and be cloathed with their Commission and Authority; and therefore their Answer to the Overture is returned in the Name, and by the Authority of a Commission of the Kirk, and a Committee is, by Act of the pretended Commission, appointed for that purpose, viz. Their Moderator and some Brethren of the Presbytery of St Andrews.
2. In that Act the said Committee is limitted in their conference to the particulars exprest in the Answer to the Overture.
3. The Answer to the Overture, not only refuseth all things demanded by the Protesters, as previous and preparatory to a Conference, but also maketh the end of the Conference (which was modestly and fairly exprest for both in our Overture) to be, to hold forth light to the Protesters in the matter of difference from the Publick Judicatories, and (as the Letter to Presbyteries expresly beareth) that the dissenters from the Publick Resolutions may be brought up to unite with the Publick Endeavors of this Kirk, and so the state of the difference betwixt them and us, is now again (upon what considerations, or expectations I shall not descant) made as wide as it was before, when all the Malignant party was in Arms to protect them therein.
4. The Answer asserts and justifies, not only the Calling and Constitution, but all the Acts and Proceedings of the late pretended Assembly and their Commissions, and condemneth all Testimonies against the Publick Resolutions, and the said pretended Judicatories.
The said Answer declareth, That no Agreement is to be expected upon other terms then the late pretended Assembly at Edinburgh did propose; for the Answer doth affirm that they have found that the said Assembly hath endeavored to the utmost of their power to compose the present differences, and did condescend upon such Overtures as possibly they could perceive most conduceable to that end.
Now, these Overtures, by them mentioned, do require an express passing from all our former Testimonies, and that in time coming we shall never give any Testimony against the Publick Resolutions, and other late corruptions and novations brought into the Church, for it is required to be set under our hands, That we shall not hold up debates by preaching, writing, or otherwise, for any thing which doth concern the late differences that hath arisen in this Church: So that we may not give Testimony or declare our Judgements in any case, but must either be altogether silent in these things, or else conform our language to the judgment of the pretended Assembly, and if any Minister or Elder cannot in conscience comply with these Overtures, though they be men eminent for gifts and graces, and have been very useful and profitable servants in the Lords Vinyard, and differ in nothing in judgment with their Brethren in the Confession of Faith, Directory for Worship and Government, yet they must be cast forth as unsavory salt, because they cannot agree to a Novation which never was heard of before in this Church, and which themselves in their Vindication grant to be indeterminati juris. The same severity is enacted against expectants to the Ministry, and they must be debarred for his sole cause, though they were never so wel qualified. If this be not Usurpation and Tyranny, the Prelats are very excusable for their carriage.
6. Observe how their Answer to us, and Letter to the Presbyteries is stuffed with carnal policy, and very far from that simplicity and candor which becometh Ministers of the Gospel. They say, they are desirous to have the memory of our differences and distractions buried, yet with the same breath they give out sentence, That we have not only been agents, but active agents, and vigorously active; and affirm this to be conspicuous, not only to some, but to all who have been looking on the matter. But were it so, what need was there to tell it? If they would have these things buried, why did they assemble so frequently this Summer, to dig them out of their grave? Were it not greater ingenuity to tell the truth (as some of their number do) that these Publick Resolutions must stand as the Authority and Warrant for the Body of the People, to rise all in Arms (without making distinction of Friends and Enemies to the Lord his Work and People) and associate among themselves, and with Forreigners, when they shall land with the King. They say they will not question whether we did, from a desire of removing differences, forbear to act in the capacity of Commissioners from the General Assembly 1650, yet in the very next words they do expressly question it, and say, It seemeth not to consist well with our Answer to the Synod of Lothian. This is but a seeming inconsistency grounded on a real mistake; for the Overture mentioned by us is not the same with that proposed by the Synod of Lothian, neither for the Matter, Persons, Propounders, or the time of making thereof: It was a more equal Overture then that from the Brethren of Lothian, for it did not condemn the Authority of the Commission 1650, more then that of 1651, as that from Lothian did; and it was propounded at a Conference with some of the Brethren of the Presbyterie of St Andrews; and that diverse moneths after the Overture made by the Brethren in Lothian: If our Brethren had been well advised they had spared this reflection. They say, they absteined from meeting so much as to adjourn the Commission, and that to prevent the heightning of differences til the time of the Assembly did approach that they behoved to meet. I will not say, as our Brethren do, That I will not question if it was for that end they did abstein, and then follow it with a contradiction; I do plainly and ingenuously profess, That I think it was another reason which made them abstein: It was a clear case to all who conversed with them at that time, That fear of interruption by the English, and drawing prejudices on their persons, made them abstein, until the Malignant party (their penitents and correspondents) began to have power and favour, and procured some under-hand assurances for their security. And it may be well remembred, that their Meeting at that time in May, before their Assembly, was coloured with specious pretences, of using endeavors for union with the Dissenters from the Publick Resolutions; yet here they plainly tell us, that the express end was, To determine the place of the ensuing Assembly; to which I do readily give credit: for they slighted the sending advertisement to us, and would not delay one fourtnight at the earnest desire of some few of our number, that were present at that Meeting. They say, they could not delay to constitute themselves into a General Assembly without unfaithfulness, notwithstanding they know that it was agreeable unto the practice of diverse Gen. Assemblies, to adjourn without constitution, and no prejudice at all to their Liberties, as was represented to them at the same time. They say, that it hath been constantly holden in this Church, That a lawful General Assembly (such as this was) is the most sovereign mean to heal ruptures and distractions in the Church. If they take out these words “such as this was” which they have foisted in to destroy the Text, their own consciences will bear witness to us, that we are of the same judgment: But to say, That a pretended Assembly, made up of such as have brought in Novations and carried on a course of Defection, and continuing therein without Repentance, is a Soveraign mean to heal ruptures and distractions, is so far contrary to all reason and experience, as it hath proved to be a main cause of the evils and troubles of this Church, as is declared by the General Assembly 1639, in their Act of the 17 of __________. They do without cause, resent, That the Narrative of our Overture doth cast upon them reflections and aspersions, and yet all along their Answer they make it their study under the covert of Albeits, Althoughs, and Parentheses to abuse us with Calumnies. They declare, That they shall not at this Meeting, nor hereafter, until the third Wednesday of February, act in prosecution of Censures already pronounced, or which may be incurred by their Brethren; and that they will interpose with Synods and Presbyteries for the like. But what Sophistry is there here to delude the world, or rather to mock their Brethren? For, first, They act what they had a mind to act, in reference to matters in difference; and then after their Meeting is dissolved, and no sooner, they declare to us they will act no more at that Meeting, nor hereafter, till the third Wednesday of Febr., and that is the time of their next Quarterly-Meeting. 2ly, This seeming forbearence to act during that time, is not general, but limitted to the matter of censures. 3ly, That’s clog’d with another limitation, for, say they, We must leave Synods and Presbyteries to that prudence and discretion which the exigence of their condition shall require, for putting in execution the Acts for debarring Elders from Voting in these Judicatories, and Expectants from the Ministry, which themselves the last year did accompt to be no small Censure, in the debarring Malignants from trust; but how much more in this case, which hath great influence to corrupt the Ministrie and Judicatories. 4ly, Their expressions which they chose in their Letter to the Presbyteries and Synods, are such, as do rather incite to Censures, then prohibit; for they insinuate a dislike of their former moderation in Censures, which (they say) is well known to them, and to all men. 5ly, They well knew by the Conference which we had with them in July last, that it was not their Censures we feared, or much valued, but that we desired that both of us might be in the accompt of either in a fit capacity to confer together, and not they looking on us as Delinquents at the bar, and themselves as our Judges; otherwise we see not to what good purpose we should meet. 6ly, The time, place, way, and number of Persons (which indeed is least of all) ought to have been agreed upon by mutual consent; yet even in these smaller matters they must keep a state, and authoritatively enjoyn all, without the giving us the least intimation of their Resolutions, till they were risen and the Meeting was adjourned. In the close of their Paper they would fain vindicate themselves from persecution, but they would consider, that justified defection endeth ever in persecution of the witnesses against it. Some, who at the begining of this Defection, abhorred the very supposition of troubling any godly Brethren who differed from them in judgment, within some moneths were perceived to make no great scruple to help forward the persecution; others, who called it a persecution the last year, to debar Malignants from Civil and Military Trust, will have it this year no persecution to debar godly and faithful Elders, from Trust in the Kirk; and able, gracious and well qualified Expectants, from the Ministry: Conjunction with Gods Enemies, is alwaies attended with persecution of his Friends; and experience may teach us, that large Charity to Malignants will dry up much former love to Gods People. Mans heart is deceiptful above all things. I say no more, but I desire heartily to pray the Lord, to forgive them the deed and thing, who storm so grievously to be told of the name of persecution.
1651.
Excerpts from the Chronicle of Fife; being the Diary of John Lamont of Newton.
Jul. 16.—The Generall Assemblie satt att St Androus, where the Lord Balcarresse was comissioner for the K. Majestie. At the meiting of this Ass. Mr Andro Cant, m. in Aberdeine, preached in the forenone, on Heb. 12, v. 12, 16, and Mr Robert Douglas, m. att Edenbroughe, in the afternone, in Ps. 122, 6, 7, 9. The said Mr Robert was chosen moderatour. The 20 of Jul. being Sunday, the Ass. meet at night, (upon the defeate Cromuell had given our people about Dunfermling), and did adjourne this Ass. till the 22, to Dundie. The forsaid night, at St Androus, ther was a protestation given in by Mr Samuel Rutherfoord, m. of St Androus, subscribed with 21 or 22 severall hands of ministers, protesting against the lawfulnes of this Ass.; alleadging it was corrupt, ill constituted, and not frie. The names of some of the protesters were these, viz. Mr And. Cant, Mr Ja. Gutherie, Mr Pa. Gillespie, Mr Sa. Rutherfoord, Mr Alex. Moncriefe, Mr Will. Oliphant, Mr An. Donaldsone, Mr Jhone Hart, Mr Ja. Sympsone, Mr Jho. Meingzes, and on Mr Neasmith. The day appointed, they meet att Dundie, where the proceedings of the comission of the former Gen. Ass. was approven; a warning, appointed to be read in the severall churches; the westland remonstrance (before spoken of) condemed and declaired against; a letter penned to be sent to the K. Majestie; Mr Ja. Guthrie, m. of Stirling, Mr Pat. Gillespie, m. of Glasgowe, Mr Ja. Sympsone, m. of Airth, neare Alloway—thir three were deposed; Mr Neasmith suspended. Some of these things brought against them were, that they did publicklie preach and speake against the proceedings both of the church and state, and were ring leaders in the meater of the remonstrance and protestatione; for the rest of the protestors, the Commiss. of the Ge. Ass. was appointed to deale with them, and, give they could not be convinced, to processe them. Mr Rob. Ramsay, m. of Glasgowe, was appointed Principall of the colledge ther. Mr Jho. Heart, m. of Dunkell, did supplicatt the Ass. that his name might be taken out of the said protestatione. This Ass. did ryse the 1 of Aug. 1651. More, the planting of the church of Newburne was referred to the presbetrie of St Androus; and Chancelour Campbell (anent the meater of adulterie), referred to the comission of the kirke. A fast appointed to be keiped throwe the kingdome, Aug. 31, 1651.