Page:Description of the true nature of schism.pdf/3

 of the Assembly 1647. Our Author, when speaking of it, p. 95. tells us, "That many think there wanted not great deal of Tyranny in that Act of Assembly 1647, &c." But, whatever he or others may think, there wanted not a great deal of Scripture reason in it; in regard that all the Ministers of the Church of Scotland, were at that Time holding the same Testimony against Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism and Sectarianism: They were, in their judicative Capacity, asserting and maintaining the covenanted Doctrine, Worship, Government and Discipline of the House of God in this Land, in Opposition to every Thing contrary to sound Doctrine and the Power of Godliness; the Confession of Faith compiled at Westminster was received and approven by this Assembly: And the Introduction to the Act our Author inveighs against runs in the following Manner; "Since it hath pleased God of his infinite Goodness to bless his Kirk within this Nation with the Riches of the Gospel, in giving to us his Ordinances in great Purity, Liberty, and withal a comely and well-established Order." If these Things are considered, it is plain that the Schism condemned by this Assembly is that which the Scripture calls Schism, namely, a separating from such Ministers as are holding the same Testimony of Jesus. But this will further appear, if we consider the Means that are injoined by this Assembly for preventing Schism; and these are of two Sorts, the first concerns Ministers themselves, and the other concerns the People. Our Author thinks fit to report what concerns the People, and, after his partial Manner, he conceals the first Mean that is laid down by this faithful Assembly, "for preserving Order, Unity and Peace in the Kirk, and for maintaining that Respect which is due to the Ordinances and Ministers of Jesus Christ, for preventing Schism, noisom Errors, &c." But, tho' he thinks fit to omit what is injoined Ministers for attaining the above valuable Ends, I think it very necessary to transcribe it, viz. The Assembly "doth