Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

484 LIFE OF COL. BLACKADER. CHAP. XX.
name of God, in the fear of God, and in the love of
truth ; for I hope all of us are come here with up-
right and sincere hearts, to defend and maintain truth*
and suppress error. But if this affair be not yet ripe
for the Assembly, why is it so much pressed to come
on ? It ought to be left with the Committee it was re-
ferred to. And I am persuaded, Moderator, it will
come to this; and I am told by several judicious
members, that it will certainly land there. But, say
they, it is too soon yet, it is not time yet. Moderator,
are we come here without an object, to spend our fire
upon one another — are we come here to spend our ill
humours upon one another — are we come here to list
ourselves under the banners of Mr. Webster and Mr.
Simpson, with a factious spirit to fight and contend,
not for truth but for victory ? Or are we come here
to afford diversion to the town ; for it has now be-
come the common street talk, Come let us go into the
Assembly and see sport* Moderator, and are we
come to this — to make ourselves buffoons and laugh-
ing stocks for the public ? I am afraid, Sir, it may be
like the sport that Samson made to the lords of the
Philistines, pull down the house about our ears, rend
and divide the church, so that neither we nor our pos-
terity may ever see cured.
Moderator, we call ourselves a Venerable Assembly;
it is in every body's mouth, The Venerable Assembly.
What is it that makes this or any Assembly Venerable ?
It is not a great company of gentlemen in black coats
* This practice, it would appear, had become so common and an-
noying, that the Assembly the following year passed an act prohibiting
the admission of idle disorderly people who were not concerned.