The reasons of a pastors resolution, touching the reuerend receiuing of the holy communion: written by Dauid Lindesay, D. of Diuinitie, in the Vniuersitie of Saint Andrewes in Scotland, and preacher of the gospell at Dundy

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR IOHN SCRYMIGEOVR of Dudope Knight, Sheriffe principall of Anguse, Constable of Dundy, and his Maiesties Standard-bearer in the Armies of Scotland, his very good PATRONE.

WE are exhorted by Saint Peter, to be euer ready to make answere to euery man, that asketh a reason of the hope that is in vs, with meeke∣nesse and feare. So must wee bee ready to giue an account

of all our actions, if the ho∣nour of God, the edification of the Church, and the truth of our profession doe so require. Hereby I haue beene mooued, at the desire of my Brethren of the Synode of Brechin, to set downe these reasons of my Re∣solution, which I propounded before them briefely in a Ser∣mon; to shew in what faith, and assurance of a good con∣science, both they and I might and ought to giue obedience to the Acts of the late Assembly holden at Perth. These I pre∣sent vnto your Worship, to whom I know, they shall bee most acceptable; not onely be∣cause they are conform to your

owne wise & solid iudgement against the whole externall or∣der of our Church; but also, by reason of the sincere affecti∣on that you haue euer carried to his Highnes Person, and the great estimation, or rather ad∣miration, that you haue of his Maiesties surpassing wisdome, as well in the Ecclesiastike, as Politike Gouernment. And I hope, by the grace of God, that as vnder the protection of that Standard, which you haue frō your Noble Progenitors, and they for their valour haue had the honour to carry these ma∣ny hundreth yeeres in the Ar∣mies of Scotland; our Nation hath been often victorious, and

euer inuincible: So the veritie shall march with courage vn∣der the Patrocinie of your name, and according to that Martial Motto of your Armes, DISSIPATE, shall scatter and driue away these doubts, scrupo∣losities, anxieties & feares, wher∣with custome, opinion, and preiudice, doe enuiron and as∣sault the weake & tender con∣science, as with Armies of im∣placable enemies, who will ac∣cept no conditions of Peace, and hauing deliuered her out of their hands, shall restore her to that liberty wherwith Christ hath made her free; that with confidence she may draw neere to serue the liuing God, know∣ing

to put difference betweene circumstantial indifferent alter∣able Ceremonies, wherevnto shee is not tyed in the worship of God; and the necessarie sub∣stantiall points of Religion, which cannot bee changed, without the vtter exterminatiō of a good Conscience, and the shipwracke of Faith. In this hope I consecrate D.D.D. this testimonie of my sincere affec∣tion to your worship in Christ.

Your Worships most affectionate and deuoted, DAVID LINDESAY.