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

FIRST REGISTER: PROTESTERS’ REPLY 183
say could have weight with our Brethren, we would desire
them to consider, 1, Whether the publick resolutions or
any branch thereof hath been blest of God unto this
Church and Nation, or whether may wee not read the
visible character of his indignation written upon all these
things. 2, Wee would desire them to consider whether
under the shaddow of these resolutions, profanitie and
malignancie and enimitie and opposition to godlines hath
not growne to such a height as was not to be scene in our
land, no, not in the days of the prelates. 3, Whether
their passing from these resolutions as the definitive
sentence of this Kirk would indeed be a reall prejudice
to the Kingdome of Jesus Christ and to the power of
godlines, or would be any real ground of stumbling and
offence to the consciences of the godly throughout the
land. 4, We would desire such of our Brethren of whom
we have a more precious esteeme for their ability and
godlines and for what they have done in the work of the
Lord, to consider well whether it be probable that the
House of God in this land would be purged from insufficient
and scandalous Ministers in most places by Presbytries
and Synods, as they now are. Sure wee are that before
the beginning of our differences, these our worthie Brethren
had no such expectation nor confidence, and therefore
they were arranged amongst the most forward for per¬
suading the Generali Assemblie to appoint and authorize
men nominated by the Assemblie itself for doeing of the
worke. And is there anything now to be found in most
part of Presbytries and Synods, that gives them more
reall cause of a weell grounded expectation that way,
than they had before ? And we would also desire these
our Brethren to consider that the men whom they did
once know and acknowledge to be newtrall and indifferent
or backward and untoward in the worke of the Lord, and
none of the fittest to preach the Gospell, nor none of the
best friends to those that desire to live godlie, are but
the same that they were before, if not something worse,
and that, if they were not a little covered and strengthened
by being joyned in one way with these our Brethren who