An Answer to the declaration of the pretended assembly at Dundee and to a printed paper intituled The protestation given in by the dissenting brethren to the General Assembly, July 21, 1652, reviewed and refuted &c., in which answer are set down ten steps of their defection who follow the way of publick resolutions : together with observations upon some of the acts of the p. assemblies at Dundee and Edinburgh and some papers concerning the endeavors of the protesters for union with their brethren who differ from them in judgement.

REASONS why the Minister, Elders, and Professors, who protested against the Pretended Assemblies as St. Andrews, Dundee and Edinburgh, cannot agree to the Overtures made unto them at the Confe∣rence, 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 arquited our consciences, and clea∣red 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 de∣sire 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 Pro∣positions,

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 un∣to your selves the power of, or constitute your selves into a Gen. Assembly. And when we found this in-effectual, and our Union rendred more hopeless, by your denying a desire so just and rea∣sonable, 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 As∣sembly 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 deser∣ving Censure, should pass from their Protestation against the for∣mer and present Assemblies, and judicially before their Presby∣teries 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 be∣cause it was divers wayes represented by such of your number as did confer with them, but also that they might the more perfect∣ly and better understands 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.

1. 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.

II. Because our passing from our Protestant doth import a real acknowledgement of the lawfulness and freedom of the Assemblies in regard of their constitution, and of power in them to inflict and take-off Censures, and so by our own consent, doth not only retract and condemn the testimony which we former∣ly gave against the same; But also obstructeth the remeading of what is past, and the attaining a lawful, free, General Assem∣bly for the time to come, and so wreaths about our own neck, and the necks of the Lords People, the yoke of unfree, corrupt, and unlawful Assemblies.

III. Because the offer which is made, though it contains Im∣munity in regard of these who have not a quiesced unto, or op∣sed these Acts for the time past, yet the Acts of themselves do not withstanding thereof, still stand in force, as a ground of per∣secution against all these Ministers and Professors, who shall not accept of the conditions contained in this offer, or thereafter fail in performance of the same.

IV. Because this offer is so far from reaching satisfaction to all, or most part of the Propositions offered by us, that it doth not give satisfaction to any one of them, put pitcheth upon a particular, which ought to be of least consequence with us, (as importing but our personal suffering) without taking notice of the Lands defection, and of those things which do concern the Kingdom and Interest of JESUS CHRIST, and the purging of his House; and what a sin and provocation should it be a∣gainst the Lord, and what a stumbling and grief of heart unto the godly who have concurred in these Propositions, and after such a defection, do expect repentance and reformation, and the purging of his House of corrupt Officers and Members, if we should make such a transaction, as seems to promise present se∣security to our selves, but doth not contri••ute for preserving of the Truth, and attaining a solid Peace and Union in the Lord.

V. We cannot see how the passing from these Propositions, and the taking upon us such Engagements for the time to come as are desired, should not involve us in the condemning of our own judgments, and in the acknowledgment of a sin and of∣fence in making these Protestations, and bearing testimony a∣gainst the Publick Resolutions, and import that what is done by you in taking off of Censures and censurableness (as you term it) is an Act of meet favour and grace upon your part, unto De∣linquents, upon their repentance. And though we hope that we shall never be ashamed, but esteem it our mercy and glory to ac∣knowledge any thing whereby we have provoked the Lord, or offended others, yet being more and more convinced in our con∣sciences, that what we did in these things was a necessary duty, we dare not purchase immunity and exemption from Censures at so dear a rate, as to deny the same, we shall rather choose still to be sufferers, and to wait upon the issue that the Lord shall give, then to provoke the eyes of his Glory, grieve the spirits of his People, and would our own Consciences, by so unsatisfying and so sinful a transaction.

And conceiving that, we shall not have the opportunity to speak unto you hereafter, as being now about to dissolve our Meeting; We do from the zeal that we owe to the honour of God, and from the tender respect we owe to you as Brethren, and for exonering our own Conscience, most earnestly beseech and obtest you, by your appearing before the Lord Jesus Christ, to give your selves unto Prayer, and searching of your own hearts and way, in Order to Publick Resolutions and Actions, untill each of you finde out wherein ye have turned aside from the straight way of the Lord, and imployed your gifts and power not for Edi∣fication, but for grieving the spirits of many of the Godly, and strengthening of the hands of the wicked, and to Repent thereof, and to do no more so, least wrath be increased from the LORD, the Godly of the Land more offended, and our breach made wider, and our wound more incurable. If both you and we might obtain mercy of the Lord to know our trespasse, and why he contends, and to accept the punishment of our iniquity, and humble our selves before hime, who knoweth but that he might yet have com∣passion upon us, and pardon our sins, and heal our Land.