peaceableness in the church; of which sentence
he was appointed to make public intimation unto him, for which purpose
he read his commission under the hand of the arch-bishop of Glasgow.

Mr. Guthrie answered, "I judge it not convenient to say much in answer
to what you have spoken; only, whereas you alledge there hath been much
lenity used toward me--be it known to you, that I take the Lord for
party in that, and thank him first----yea, I look upon it as a door
which God opened to me, for the preaching of this gospel, which you nor
any man else was able to shut, till it was given you of God; and as to
that sentence, passed against me, I declare before these gentlemen
(meaning the officers of the party) that I lay no weight upon it, as it
comes from you, or those that sent you--though that I do respect the
civil authority, who, by their law, laid the ground for this sentence
passed against me.----I declare I would not surcease from the exercise
of my ministry for all that sentence.----And as to the crimes I am
charged with,--I did keep presbyteries and synods with the rest of my
brethren; but I do not judge those who do now sit in these to be my
brethren, who have made defection from the truth and cause of God; nor
do I judge those to be free and lawful courts of Christ, that are now
sitting; and as to my peaceableness--I know I am bidden follow peace
with all men, but I know also I am bidden follow it with holiness; and
since I could not obtain peace without prejudice to holiness, I thought
myself obliged to let it go.----And as for your commission, Sir, to
intimate this sentence,--I here declare, I think myself called by the
Lord to the work of the ministry, and did forsake the nearest relation
in the world, and gave up myself to the service of the gospel in this
place, having received an unanimous call from this parish, and was
licenced and ordained by the presbytery; and I bless the Lord, he hath
given me some success and seals of my ministry, upon the souls and
consciences of not a few, who are gone to heaven, and of some who are
yet in the way to it.----And now, Sir, if you will take it upon you to
interrupt my work among this people, I shall wish the Lord may forgive
you the guilt of it; I cannot but leave all the bad consequences that
may fall out upon it betwixt God and your own consciences, and here I do
further declare, before these gentlemen, that I am suspended from my
ministry for adhering to the covenants