ch officers. In the meanwhile, it is no
light imputation upon the Assembly to hint this much, that the harmony and
concord among the members thereof, for such a government as I have now
named (though in some other particulars dissenting), can no more unite
them than Turks and Christians, Papists and Protestants, can be united.
And now I will tell you my news: The Presbyterians and Independents are
both equally interested against the Erastian principles.

He reflecteth also upon the Assembly in the point of _jus divinum_, p. 6.
But what his part hath been, in reference to the proceedings in the
Assembly, is more fully, and in divers particulars, expressed in the
_Brief View of Mr Coleman's New Model_, unto which he hath offered no
answer.

HIS CALUMNIES.

Page 3, He desireth me, with wisdom and humility, to mind what
church-refining and sin-censuring work this church government, with all
its activity, hath made in Scotland, in the point of promiscuous
communicating. I shall desire him, with wisdom and humility, to mind what
charity or conscience there is in such an aspersion. I dare say divers
thousands have been kept off from the sacrament in Scotland, as unworthy
to be admitted. Where I myself have exercised my ministry there have been
some hundreds kept off; partly for ignorance, and partly for scandal. The
order of the church of Scotland, and the acts of General Assemblies, are
for keeping off all scandalous persons; which every godly and faithful
minister doth conscientiously and effectually endeavour. And if, here or
there, it be too much neglected by some Archippus, who takes not heed to
fulfil the ministry which he hath received of the Lord, let him and his
eldership bear the blame, and answer for it.

Page 4, I having professed my unwillingness to fall upon such a
controversy in a Fast sermon, he replieth, "How can you say you were
unwilling?" But how can you, in brotherly charity, doubt of it after I had
seriously professed it? My doing it at two several Fasts (the only
opportunities I then had to give a testimony to that presently
controverted truth) is no argument of the contrary. May not a man do a
thing twenty times over, and yet do it unwillingly?

Page 5, He slandereth those that did, in their sermons, give a public
testimony against his doctrine; the occasion (as he gives out) not being
offered, but taken. But had they not a public calling and employment to
preach as well as himself? And if