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

FIRST REGISTER : ANSWER TO PAPER 131
and passing the verie sore reflections at the present con¬
stitution of the judicatories of this Kirk, and their way
of exerciseing disciphne, wee say, passing those things as
being unwilling that more oyle be added to our flammes,
wee shall only say this, that we could not, nor yet can,
see a better way how to goe about that so necessarie a
worke of purgeing than the same which wee expressed in
the end of the 4th section of ovTt Concessions (supposeing
the other particulars premitted thereunto which wee
desire to be againe seriously considered with Christean
and charitable prudence), viz:—That in ordmarie cases,
etc., as followeth in our Concessions. But as for the way
proponed by our Brethren, wee still doe conceive that
thereby either we must runn into such sinfull separa¬
tion as is expressed in our papers, or shall condescend
unto such Commissions or Committees as to our judge¬
ment are long since expired, and submitting to which
would necessarily inferr a renounceing of our judgement
concerning the authority of the two late Generali Assemblies,
or shall turne the discipline and government of this Kirk
out of the usual channell. Of this last (which indeed is
a reall pourport of a part of the way proponed by them,
to witt, the appointing of Committees with authority
above or not countable unto provincial! Synods respec¬
tive), some of the Brethren seeme to be sensible, who
have said to us that they see not how it maks the disci¬
phne and Government of this Kirk to run out of its usual
channell further than may consist with the preservation
of government or further than is necessarie for the edifica¬
tion of the Kirk. Suire we are all of us that the usual
channell of the discipline and government of this Kirk
is the ordinance of Jesus Christ, and we would take good
heed what warrand we have ourselves to turne them into
another channell different from that. That which these
Brethren alledge from the practise of Provincial! Synods—
their bringing in of these who were formerly purged out,
and appointed to be brought in by Generali Assemblies
only, will not, as we conceive, be found a just parallel
to the way proponed by them, viz:—Committees with