A BRIEF Seasonable warning with some ty­mous remedies to ptevent the putrefing maladies of pur oresent distemper amongst all ranks of professors in Scotland.

  • I. IF ground be givene hereby, to dis­solve all Church communion, the dreadfullest effects shall be seene that ever was hard in a Church, yea reduce it to that period, not as to have the face of a judicatorie which is too patent in neighbouring chur­ches yea alas, increase heart burn­ings animosities and so mutually prove one anothers burriors, so that the adversaries game shall be wrought to his hand and Satan shall gain his designe to breaking up and extirpating all Christian fellowship, the sad ex­perience whereof is found in our Land yea ist not well knowne to the greatest matter of grief and Pressage of future strokes that ever, we were trysted with so that those meetings who continued Instant servant in prayer wrestlings with the Lord hath now given it over some of them proven not only backsliders from some denties most to be performed, but also all kind of Christian sympathie deutie void of a excitating conscience to any such thing, some making the rule regulating even there [Page 2]own judgement yea worse it not known of these that they did live more Atheistically then Christianly yea hath not our Dissentions beene a woful mean to break up a conjugaltie raising fearful divisions betwixt man & wise, which in no church entertaining familie and society but doth produce strange fruits, separatisme but blessed be the Lord those forementioned have gotten such a blessed fruit of this trial so as that Afflictione did run graces errands to them, and now (aster they had de­sistned most brutal like from any such deutie) they have lively recovered but not till the Lord in a great manner humbled them yea temporal strokes.
  • II. As to the hearing of many of those Godly men, (we abstract from justifying any Kinds of Professions) If it shall be conceded that they are not to be heard we shall not know well where to land the seall of some of whose Ministry doth rend the conscience of any man to hear the like, and this not in the least (the Lord is the heart searcher, to comply with any defectione alleadged or favourities thereto) but to be as a Caveat to people to keep them from splitting upon dangerous rocks, nei­ther can we think the Cons. of any godly tender faithful soul could assent thereto a who designes peace with truth and do we not also know the woful fruits of this also how many have been rendered sceptick watering unstable in the way of God and so tostied with are noth­in ear, that they know not well where they should rest, so that the sensible grouth of grace was utterly decayed as to the exercise thereof all the time.
  • III. 3. We could heartily wish that the way of God were walked in for reclaming of any Brethren, so as to make them sensible of lapesss and to remove that which might be a scandal to others of this by mutual submission of all [Page 3]to the justitutions of Discipline in the church which did not a little conduce to the Bohemans in there fiery de­bats the very representable or appearance of a Govern­men so that private Christians also of other might be brought to accompt who are sinistrously Informitive o­thers yea dropping in truths to ears of worthie men to Authorize there fables to concease credit honout re­pute to them which hath been known to have been the way of to many and thereupon have prevaild with them to publish it abroad what misrepresentations pretended reflections of this nature have past.
  • IV. All this does really argue Little or nothing of a hum­bled Spirit ripinning for a delivery but rather for judg­ment.
  • V. Nor can no have peace nor ought any to have peace or think it shame in the least to acknowled a our debording, from the Lord, tho uncharitably it may so be thought by some) be they Ministers be thy people neither sole ack­nowledgment bur further degrees of repentance and this to do in Christs way with the Spirit of meeknesse with out the Least respect to any thing displeasing to God or bran­kling the peace of a good conscience.
  • 6. As we are to pray so likewise to studie and Endeavout to promote a Love union Joh. 1 [...]. prayd for by Chist himself and shall, be accomplished the efficatie of Christs prayer making it so lett all oppose as they please and then and ne­ver till then shall the day of Jezreel be great but when Ju­dah and Israel hast appointed themselves oue head, O sad matter that union should sound so harshily and digest so bitterly with some who, are all professing to keep whole the gurments of Christ.
  • VII. We shall not stand to rehearse he Invasions Intrusions [Page 4]corruptions & fearful Infections the Church hath suffered thereby.
  • VIII. But how are some brought of the soul of religione and in searching of the vitals and Kernel do hunt rather after the shel so that those who used formerly to have much soul exercise are emptie of the same as if they never had been tristed therewith yea poor things pursuing this are igno­rant of the very fundamentals of Religon it may be said yet very zealous this we grant & dedesire to blesse the Lord therefore yet that ought to be temperate with Knowledge, neither upon the other extream to magni­it as to derogat from the other extishinguish and put out the same.
  • IX. Know that some eminently worthy Ministers for piety and more particularly zeale, and yet continuing in the same, inveig [...]t as much gainst this and stood upon this controverted head before it ever was so sifted, and can­not now have so much peace, in prosecuting the same, O but zeale is commendable being pure, the temper of the person, having up physical Influx therein, but its evident the Lord polities gradually even as young colts having mamy excrements and exorbitancies to be cut of, if ye are critick ye may obj. I beleeve it, but now the edge of zeal is lost; O would to the Lord be thow who thow wilt that thow were endewed with the same measure.
  • X. Tender loving Symphatizing Christians would try be­fore they crust, and the clashings of some particular pri­vate Christians also would be quassat whose privat Judg­ment of discretion, we gram it to be honoured, yet also we know vaine idle childish pamphlets by way of letters have gone so from some Christians, whose faculties [Page 5]we most say without breach of charity the Divel misera­bly imployed.
  • XI. Does it quadrat to the directions of the General Assem­bly in all former times that Ministers are not to spend there time in Pulpit insisting upon controversies Irritaring he bating stupesing the work of grace, O how palpably hast it worne out our frame from the most part, it may be replyed when need calls its most convenient, yea when the great necessity was all our Divines determine that they were, but a little of speak to that seeing as many excellent men sayes out of one warre springs another, and so we shall fall into an endless labyrinth.
  • XII. If those eminently Godly Ministers be reflected upon who have continued suffering in the h [...]zard of there live these many years by past me knows not who are enduring hardship for, the name of Jesus, we speak not now con­cerning any Indul [...]ed men tho we charitably Judge Sym­pathie in the spirit not to be wantin [...], [...]ea in some we are sure for to our own hearing we can testify a wor [...]hy man, who upon serious consideration of this diasmul day cryed out, O for a passe from Jesus.
  • XIII. The Judgment of Luther to the Bohem. Churches is worthy of Imitatione herein, since there be so many con­tentions its no new thing in the Church of God notice that some shak not from the fundamentals.
  • XIV. Remember if thou art suffering for Presbytery, that it may be countenanced by thee, and so all debates shall be soon decided.
  • XV. If any hath broken up fellowship because of this, the Lord shall double his stripes we mean Christian society, [Page 6]and those who give occasion thereto directly or indirectly for many? do not now narrowly mark there, passions venting by indignatione upon some which cannot but hurt and irritat strangers yea in prayer.
  • XVI. Wo be to them who takes offence at Christs Person hereby hsi word worship Government or shameful crosse and Professors have as much to reckon for who do not, notice there carriage therein for fear of giving offence.
  • XVII. Dear Friends love the image of Jesus, we are sure there are upon either hands many, whose heart if opened would be found, the impression of each other, mutually.
  • XVIII. Parishes Societies again we alarme who do not join harmoniously to work, in entertaining the Gospel amongst them the Lord shall remove it beyond the seas from you, and ye shall be stigmatized of God a caster up thy heel against the holy one.
  • XIX. Young Christians would be sober and walk with a low sail, and all ranks as they respect the mystical body of of Christ would shun irritating speeches.
  • XX. O be Cautions of railing against any mans person Michael could not bring a railing accusatione against the Divel for one being tainted with the least tinctue there­of we shall be brought at length to be empty of a republ. spirit in any Kind of commerce.
  • XXI. Let us as Melanchton honour the Judgment of the pious worthy & learned, yet no further then its own sphereand station, for were we never so dexterous in our Judgment we have ground to suspect.
  • [Page 7]XXII. But we come closely home O soul wha tis the mind of God to the in this Affair Ans. I find God against it, grant it be so, that course to regain, some is not the mind of God but obtest the to distinguish the harbouring of tentations in the heart, which are not nothing but suggestions per­suasions allurements of Satan from those weel grounded impulses of the Spirit of God, but surethese manifestations that thou art tristed with of God doth nevifer thouexa­mine right induce thee to any such violent carriage which indeed breeds a great reluctancy in the heart of many god­ly to keep correspondency.
  • XXIII. If men be other wayes minded God shall reveale it his is his promise stay upon the Lord do not haste thy own nay rather roll all the burden on Christs shouldiers.
  • XXIV. If this had been debated among our Reformers as to the matter of hearing, we are perswaded we should have been esteemed in the categ one of lesuits, its true indeed, it may be Ans the case is altered, and otherwise stated here Ans as to this point of hearing its not nor can any sutuable pertinent or equivalent Scripture to this effect for the con­trary be adduced.
  • XXV. It may be objected this is a strengthning of the common adversary, this I deny since on either hand many are wrestling against such oppositions.
  • XXVI. Does not this clearly introduce a Explicite Church Covenant and render all Scripturally called Ministers yea Ministry, and all odious contemtible yea useless to make Presbyteries to be included in & depend upon the people and so we shall have a well ordered Church.
  • [Page 8]XXVII. If that condition of the Covenant shalicease defence of authority for as to discrepancy of persons we do not now discurse all the terms thereof mutually shall fall to the ground, its true it being mutual did inferre a like obliga­tions but yet the thing intrinsickly so considered doth still oblige the choisest acts of the soul.
  • XXVIII. It may be objected where is the life of religion to this ne [...] answer as fear it measured according to our temper for as much of the vigour of godl [...]ness hast been seen a­mongst some of them as many others.
  • XXIX. Lastly if this shall be the fruit of our Christian com­merce at meeting me thinks it, it shall declare an un­savoury spirit unedifying, take us of the way of our An­cess [...]rs and withal, do freely invite yea as having the mind of God to invite all Kinds to Repentance, and those who have decayed in any measure to cry for restoratione this with Sympathie, Calvin used tho say to Luther should he call me a Divel, yet he is a Godly Man.
FIN.

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