Series 3 > Register of the consultations of the ministers of Edinburgh and some other brethren of the ministry > Volume 1

102 THE REGISTER OF CONSULTATIONS
them on, from being members of any ensueing Generali
Assembly, wee do declare that, the former article being
granted, we have no such meaning nor purpose.
For satisfaction anent the 3d article, 1, Wee doe not
meane of a Covenant or engagement to be solemnly taken
or subscrived by all, but of a declaration or profession
of adherence to those things to be recorded in the booke
of everie Presbytrie and Synod, and to be subscrived by
all the members of the Presbytrie and Synod, which wee
conceave to be necessarie in ordour to the mutuall jealousies
upon both hands, whereof there may be just ground in
not a few, and that we may hereafter know and have
mutuall confidence of the rules (next to the word of God)
whereby we are to walke and proceed. 2, Wee have, as
we conceave, distinctly exprest what articles of our
former covenants we do mean of, to wit those that con¬
cern the doctrine, worship, government, and diciphne
of this Church, and the enemies of trueth, and godliness,
and the worke of Reformation. 3, By the literall and
genuine sense of these articles we doe mean that which
hath been given by the uncontraverted Assemblies of
the Church, which no senses that are taken up by particular
persons can alter or varie.
To the 1st queree upon the 4th article we give the same
answer that we have given to the 1st queree upon the 3d
article. To the 2d we say that, by requyring censures
for the same causes as was formerly, we meane that what
former Generali Assemblies did declare and judge censure-
able, should still be declared and judged censureable,
and with the same degrees of censure. As to what
follows in that second queree, we conceave it to be no
queree upon the meanihg of any thing contained in the
article. Yet for satisfaction thereanent, wee answer
that causes of censure that are not in being, cannot inferr
censure upon any, and that we do only desire the rule to
be keept for those causes which are or shall be found in
being, and whatever other causes are or shall be, that
were not formerly, which are more dangerous than some
of those formerly as to this present tyme or to future