any factious disposition or siding
with this or that party whatsoever, Nor from any contentious humour about
light or small matters, Nor from any favour to or complyance with
Sectaries, against whose cursed opinions and ungodly practises, we have
heretofore given ample testimony, and are still obliged by Solemn Covenant
to endeavour the extirpation of Heresie and Schism; But from the
Conscience or our duty when the glory of God, the Kingdom of his Son, his
Word, Ordinances, Government, Covenant, Ministery, Consciences of People,
Peace and Liberties of the Kirk are incompassed and almost overwhelmed
with great and growing dangers.

How freely and faithfully the servants of God of old have rebuked sin in
persons of all ranks, not sparing Kings, States nor Kingdoms, the
Scripture maketh it most plain to all that looks thereon; Neither want we
domestick examples, if we look back a little upon the behaviour of our
zealous Ancestours in this Kirk, who not only in their Sermons severally
with great gravity and freedom reproved the sins of the time, But more
especially in the Kirk Judicatories plain and downright dealing was most
frequent and familiar, as appears in the Assemblies holden in _June_ and
in _October_ 1582. in _October_ 1583. in _May_ 1592. in _May_ 1594. and in
_March_ 1595. And not only the Generall Assembly by themselves, but also
by their Commissioners faithfully and freely laboured to oppose all the
steps of defection; as at other times, so in the yeer 1596. wherein four
or five severall times they gave most free admonitions to the King,
Parliament and Councell, with a Protestation at the last before God, that
they were free of their blood, and of whatsoever judgement should fall
upon the Realm, and that they durst not for fear of committing High
Treason against Jesus Christ the onely Monarch of his Kirk, abstain any
longer from fighting against their proceedings with the spiritual armour
granted to them of God, and mighty in him for overthrowing all these
bulwarks set up against his Kingdom; And in their Declaration then emitted
to the Kingdom, they shew that it was a main design to have the freedom of
the Spirit of God in the rebuke of Sin by the mouthe of his Servants
restrained and therefore they warne all Pastours of their duty in applying
Doctrine and free preaching. Like as the Assembly, 24. _March_ 1596,
reckons up amongst the corruptions of the Ministery to be censured with
deprivation, if continued i