1645.

REPRINTED BY A. W. MURRAY, MILNE SQUARE, EDINBURGH.

1844.

NOTICE.

In order to render the following controversial writings of Gillespie
intelligible to the general reader, we have judged it expedient to prefix
to the "Brotherly Examination" that portion of Coleman's sermon on which
Gillespie thought it his duty to animadvert. And as a tolerably full
account of the whole controversy between Coleman and Gillespie will be
found in the Memoir of Gillespie's Life, we refrain from occupying space
with any additional remarks here.

EXTRACT FROM COLEMAN'S SERMON.

"All eyes are upon government, they look upon it as the only help. If
anywhere, here let wisdom be used. To prescribe is above me, only let me
offer two or three rules, which may either be helpful to the work, or
useful to the workmen.

"1. _Establish as few things by divine right as can well be._ Hold out the
practice but not the ground: it will gather more, nay all, that hold it
not unlawful; men differently principled may meet in one practice. _It may
be_, will be of larger extent than _it must be_. This (the divine right)
was the only thing that hindered union in the Assembly. Two parties came
biassed, the one with a national determination, the other with a
congregational engagement. The reverend Commissioners from Scotland were
for the divine right of the presbyterial, the Independents for the
congregational government. How should either move? where should both meet?
Here was the great bar, which, if you can avoid, you may do much.

"2. _Let all precepts, held out as divine institutions, have clear
scriptures._ I could never yet see how two co-ordinate governments, exempt
from superiority and inferiority, can be in one state; and in Scripture no
such thing is found, that I know of. That place, 1 Cor. v., takes not hold
of my conscience for excommunication, and I admire that Matt. xviii. so
should upon any; yet these two are the common places on which are erected
the chiefest acts of ruling. And when I see not an institution, nor any
one act of government in the whole Bible performed, how can it be evinced
that a ruling elder is an instituted officer? Let the Scripture speak
expressly, and institutions appear institutions, and all must bow.

"3. _Lay no more burden of government upon the shoulders of ministers than
Christ hath plainly laid upon them._ The minist