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VVHen the Protesters bring Arguments from the Word of God, from sworn Covenants, and the Acts and Decla∣rations of this Kirk, to prove a defection in this Kirk, and that in the Publick Resolutions they have departed from former Principles then this Reviewer takes himself to generall Arguments from the light of nature, and self-preservation, &c. Which sheweth that he hath nothing to answer in particular to the Arguments brought a∣gainst
them: Many Acts and Declarations of this Kirk have been made use of in former Papers against the Publick Resolutions, but never any one Act or Declaration could be produced for them; all their arguments from the light of nature have been an∣swered formerly by the Protesters, and it hath been shewed that it is against natures light to associate with actuall enemies and bloudy rebels, they have but a poor plea to plead before consciences bar, to say that nature taught them to pronounce absoluution to all the Malignant Party, and to declare them friends to the Lord, his Work and People, without evidences of Repentance, to the end they might be strengthened by their help and assistance for defence of Religion and the Country. It is a sad matter that Ministers of the Word of God, who should magnifie the Law and make it honourable should make it a hand maid to the light of nature, whereby it is to be fear∣ed the Lord may be provoked to remove Scripture light from his seers, and to let them walk in the light of their own fire, and in the sparks which they have kindled. I do not easily believe, that he who delights so much in reflections and aspersions against these whom he disliketh, would passe any by-past acts of the Protesters (as he saith) if there were any thing he could with any shew of reason quarrell, yet he concludes the Protestation was needlesse, and the grounds of it frivolous, and he would fetch a proof hereof from themselves, because they say they do Protest for all or some of the reasons following, which saith, he doth insinuate that some of them wil not hold water: But he wittingly omitteth in the same place that they do also Protest upon the grounds before mentioned, wherein they all did agree, and these alone had been sufficient to infer the conclusion. The true reason of that expression, for all or some of the reasons following was this; There were amongst the Protesters a∣gainst the late corrupt Assembly at Edinburgh, diverse who were fully perswaded concerning the sinfulnesse of the Publick Resoluti∣ons, and accounted the Assembly at Dundee corrupt, for the mat∣ter, yet had some doubts anent the form, but perceiving this year a corrupt constitution continued according to that corrupt act, and rule of constitution of Assemblies made at Dundee, they were clear, that it was their duty to Protest against this Assembly at Edin∣burgh, as corrupt in the form and constitution: But the most part by far were clear, that it was a duty to Protest against the constitu∣tion
of that Assembly at St. Andrews and Dundee, yet did not judge it expedient to make two severall Protestations because of this difference when they agreed in the main: Therefore that all might joyn in one Protestation, that manner of expression was used; and what hath this Reviewer to insult in against the Protesters when all the matter is, that the number of the Protesters against the late Assembly at Edinburgh is increased above the number of Protesters against their Assembly at St. Andrews.